By International Standards, Toronto Rocks!

By Barbara Lawlor

The City of Toronto used to be a hidden gem, but no longer. Now, our city is considered one of the most cosmopolitan – and desirable – in the world. We have world-class shopping, entertainment and culture at our doorstep, and when it comes to condominium living, we have outpaced the other major international cities such as London, Tokyo, Shanghai and New York. We have reached the grand standard here, with our condominiums being more sophisticated and advanced. No wonder so many immigrants to Canada zero in on Toronto for their home base. Condominiums are a natural for these newcomers, as they are used to apartment-style living – have been for decades.

What we offer over and above those other cities is relative affordability, especially when you consider apples and apples. You will have a difficult time finding condominiums in the United States, for example, that offer the range of styles and choices we sometimes take for granted. Builders there usually offer a specific package, and what you see is what you get. Our purchasers here have such glorious freedom to select features, finishes and upgrades to personalize their surroundings.

And as for lifestyle, where better than Toronto, which by world standards is both exciting and safe. Residents can take public transit or walk to an array of amenities including renowned museums, excellent schools, significant art galleries, wonderful entertainment venues, popular sports facilities and absolutely incredible shopping! And there is nothing I love better than going home after work, changing into casual clothes and strolling to a restaurant for dinner. Whatever kind of food I fancy on any given evening, Toronto has it. Thai, Italian, Indian, French, Greek, Canadian cuisine – name your preference. For evenings when fine dining is on the menu, Toronto shines with possibilities. We are so fortunate to have some of the world’s finest chefs working their culinary magic right in our city. Another fabulous aspect of Toronto is the underground PATH system, which connects 27 km of shops and services in weather-protected convenience. It is literally the world’s largest underground shopping complex!

It’s easy to understand why Toronto continually ranks high in surveys of the world’s best cities; we enjoy a quality of life that is the envy of people around the globe. In 2011 alone, Toronto ranked second overall in the fourth annual Cities of Opportunity report from Price Waterhouse Coopers and the Partnership for New York City, and was listed in the top 10 American Cities of the Future 2011/12 by fDiIntelligence, a division of the Financial Times. Once again, Toronto placed fourth in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s ranking from the world’s livability survey, and in the fall, Forbes magazine declared Canada the number-one place in the world to do business. In addition, in the 2011 Corporate Knights Sustainable Cities survey, Toronto was named Canada’s most sustainable city, and we were ranked 9th overall in the USA and Canada Green City Index. Isn’t it amazing?

Topping it all off, more than 28,000 new condominium suites were sold in the GTA in 2011, which set a new record for the market’s high-rise sector and took a 62 per cent market share of the total 45,926 new homes sold. What a difference from 2000, when high-rise sales accounted for only a 25 per cent share!

The result is that we live in one of the world’s premier cities, where condominium choices are spectacular. Gone are the days of looking at condominiums as a retirement option for empty-nesters, which by the way, they still are for many. Our developers are also creating residences that can accommodate just about any other lifestyle, from first-time homeowners seeking the utmost in value, to families wanting spacious living quarters and move-up purchasers looking for luxury. You can travel the world in search of the perfect condo, but chances are that it’s right here in our own backyard!

Barbara Lawlor is president of Baker Real Estate Incorporated and an in-demand columnist and speaker. A member of the Baker team since 1993, she oversees the marketing and sales of condominium developments in the GTA and overseas. Keep current with The Baker Blog at blog.bakerrealestate.com