david stark

anyone live/lived in toronto

It looks increasingly likely that I may be moving to toronto for a year or more for some work. Just wondering if anyone on here lives or has lived in toronto.

If so do you know any websites or papers/agencies that are good for appartments to rent. Also any areas to avoid or try and get in particular? I'll be looking to rent a 1 or 2 bedroom appt in toronto within half an hours travel (by public transport or foot) to the bay street area.

thanks for any info.

KerryK

I live in Toronto - been here for a while, actually.

Finding an affordable and decent apartment in TO is actually pretty tough. Here are some sites to try:

www.nowtoronto.com (Free weekly "alternative" paper with decent apt listings - it's where I found my last place.)
www.thestar.com (Toronto Star - Canada's largest newspaper. It's actually where I found my current place.)

I can't think of any others offhand, but if something else comes to mind...

As for places to avoid, I guess I'm not the person to ask. My neighborhood is pretty seedy, but I love being downtown. Don't love the rent, though. Toronto's a very neighborhoody city, most of them have their good & bad points, it just depends on what you're looking for.

Bay and what? Do you know the cross-street?

Oh, and don't listen to the rest of Canada, it's not as bad here as people say!

Luis Esp

That's right, they're just jealous because they don't live here.

For cheaper rents, I suggest looking into the subs and it's easier to get around town with the TTC or the GO Trains.

KerryK

Don't listen to him! Downtown's where it's at. Especially if you're working downtown. I walk & ride my bike to work and it's way worth having a small apartment. I'm never there anyway.

Bob Barlen

I live in Downtown Toronto on Bloor Street West, and I love it here. I'm about 30 seconds from the Dufferin subway station and I can get around wonderfully without a car.

For apartment listings you should also try the globe and mail: http://www.globeandmail.com I'm not sure if they have their classifieds online but I think you can pick up the paper anywhere in Canada.

Another way to find a place is to just walk around parts of town and look for "apartment for rent" signs. I always see a few up in the store windows around my house. This might not be practical if you can't get down here to check things out.

My girlfriend and I looked at about 30 apartments this summer before we found our current place - it's an apartment over a butcher shop, which sounds bad, but the place is amazing. They just built it, so everything's brand new. Rent is $1200 per month, it's got central air, natural gas heating, a huge kitchen, two skylights, and our own (non coin) washer and dryer. I looked at some places for $1400 that didn't have half the things this one does, so it really pays to search around.

I'd recommend living somewhere on the subway line as opposed to the bus line. You can always tell in ads because if they say "Close to TTC" rather than "Close to Subway". The major bus routes are OK, but two years ago I lived on Avenue Road, which is a pretty major road, and the busses only came 3 times an hour. It just meant that if I wasn't outside at 8:17 8:37 or 8:57 I'd be waiting for the next one. I'd say it's always better to live a little farther away from downtown if it's close to the subway.

Speaking of the subways, the metropass (bus/subway/streetcar) costs $98.75 per month, so it's kind of pricey. Still beats owning a car I guess, since I don't like driving.

As far as good parts of town, I don't really know the bad/good neighbourhoods. As KerryK suggested, the Star has a really great online classified search engine where you can specify how many bedrooms you want, what else you're looking for, and what part of town.

Feel free to send me a message if you have any other Toronto questions, I'll be happy to help you in any way I can.

Bob

david stark

The place I would be working is near the cross of bay and front I think.

Thanks for your responses and hopefully if all things go well I will be there in a months time or so.

KerryK

Good luck! Bob's right about the bus lines. Even the streetcars can be iffy so it's better to be near the subway. I live near Carleton St (major streetcar line) and I've waited over 20 min for a car on off-peak hours. During rush hour don't even bother.

Anyway, point being: live near the subway if possible.

David Susilo

I hate downtown. I have lived in Canada for almost 12 years and although it's only about 15 minutes drive through the DVP, I've never been more than 10 times downtown.

Then again, I love the farm area I used to live in when I lived in Australia.

Luis Esp

Where are you moving from? If you're coming from the U.S., you'll find the $ exchange great until you get your first Cdn. paycheque

david stark

I'm from the UK originally but living in belgium at the moment (for another week and a half anyway). I'm not entirely sure how I will be paid, I may be paid in euro, sterling or maybe canadian dollars. still have to sort that out.

should be there in toronto at the end of the month..

Neil Joseph