Thinking of Moving North of The GTA? Here’s Why It’s A Great Idea And Exactly What You Need To Know About Making The Move!

Southern Ontario as a whole is an absolutely beautiful place to live, but many Ontarians are discovering new opportunities outside the parameters of the City of Toronto and the GTA. What was once typically a place to retire is now booming with jobs, activity, amenities and opportunity for residents who no longer have to sacrifice the comforts and entertainment living in the city and surrounding areas in order to enjoy a relaxing home life North of the GTA.

What does “North of The GTA" mean?

There tends to be a lot of confusion when it comes to defining the GTA, which means Greater Toronto Area. The overall consensus is that the GTA encompasses the following regions:

• York Region

• Halton Region

• Peel Region

• Durham Region

• Toronto

For the purpose of this article, we will also include any areas in the Northern fringes of York Region, areas North of Newmarket including Georgina, along with Simcoe County, Georgian Bay and beyond. North of the GTA encompasses areas like Bradford and Barrie all the way up the west of Lake Simcoe and extending into Midland and beyond.

Reasons Why Canadians Love Moving North:

You don’t need to drive very far North to enjoy the beauty that Canada has to offer. Northern GTA residents enjoy a slower, quieter lifestyle that is still close to amenities and everything that the city has to offer. With plenty of lake access, along with access to parks and natural life. This makes moving North of The GTA a great place to raise a family.

This area is also constantly evolving and developing new jobs, new roadways, new amenities and you tend to get more value for your investment with larger properties, larger homes, and more access to nature and activities. With many jobs moving to permanent remote work environments, there is plenty of opportunity for residents to take advantage of the benefits of working in the city while enjoying the opportunities and benefits of living in a more rural or remote location.

Tips for Moving North Of The GTA

Get to know the area

Give yourself a chance to become familiar with and fall in love with the areas North of the GTA. Spend the day or the weekend in the area visiting coffee shops, checking out local attractions or amenities, and getting to know the space. There are plenty of resources online that can help give you a general direction of where you would like to move and what might work best for you and your family.

*Helpful Hint: Sit down and write out a vision for what you want your new home and new community to look like, and how your day-to-day life would look. This is a great starting point because you will be able to look at where you are and compare that to where you want to be.

Find a local Realtor^® to work with

Local Realtors^® know the area better than anyone and will give you the Professional Guidance that you need on the entire process moving North of the GTA. Not only can they give you advice about what day-to-day life will be like living in that area, but also they are experts in that particular market and they will be able to help you navigate Real Estate in that region better than anyone. Research Google Reviews in the area, and get to know the Brokerage’s website and credibility. A great Local Realtor^® will be able to also provide you with a wealth of information and contacts to help you through the moving process. From moving companies, to plumbers, to mortgage agents, to property management, they will be able to make sure that the move is seamless in every way possible.

Consider your work and family logistics

With the rising gas prices and inflation in Ontario, you may want to consider the reasons that you are moving and the implications of moving away from your where you previously lived. Fortunately, Ontario has plenty of highway access that makes accessing anywhere in Southern Ontario quickly and easily. You may want to test out your new commute to the office or begin interviewing for new positions closer to your desired location. There are plenty of logistics to figure out on the way towards the decision to make the move to the perfect place for you.

Consider the environment

North of the GTA tends to see different weather conditions than what you might be used to living closer to the city, which is located on the more Southern Tip of Ontario. While the weather might not be as extreme as moving to different provinces, you may notice a little more snow in the winter. This can, of course, be a great thing if you are a snow-lover and enjoy snow activities! It is something you may want to account for when it comes to clothing and vehicle preparation.

Final Thoughts

Your Realtor^® will be your guiding star when it comes to the entire process. Choosing a great team can be the difference between a stressful move and making it the Best Real Estate Experience for you and your family. You want to choose someone who will go full out for you^® from start to finish.

If you’d like to learn more about the different communities North of the GTA, we have an exciting new Communities page on our website featuring all areas that we serve north of the GTA, including the schools, amenities, and utility information. You can also book an appointment with one of our Professional, Loving, Local Realtors^® who will be happy to answer any questions you might have about our serving areas North of the GTA.

If you already own a home in the city, we have local Realtors^® living in your area as well who would be happy to get you the most value for your home. Click here for a FREE No-Obligation Home Evaluation to find out what your home could be worth.

We’re here to make your experience stress-free! For an up-to-date list of our current homes hosting an Open House, click here.

Call us today at 1.888.918.6570, send us an email or book an appointment.

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While the information contained in this site has been presented with all due care, Faris Team assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions.