Where do I go?

I’m downsizing, where do I go?

Ok, we are still in the thinking and options stage.

Let’s consider where outside of the GTA we can travel to within one to two hours, so we still are close enough to see our friends, keep appointments, and enjoy Toronto.

Looking east of Toronto there are many nice small towns of interest.  Many are on the lake on the way to Kingston. There is a bit of a larger population in Cobourg and close to the lake.  Remember larger means something very different from the metropolis of Toronto.  There are mature communities out this way in towns like Brighton and a string of small towns that you could consider, also some rural properties as well.  Belleville is a nice town and then there is Prince Edward County (PEC) which is a wonderful option for those downsizers who enjoy quaint towns and wine country.  The PEC wine community is growing and thriving and brings lots of tourists each year and so many new and thriving restaurants and organized upscale social events.

How about to the north?  There are many communities purpose built to accommodate mature buyers.  Builders have answered the demands for condo and townhouse living for us.  There are many awesome communities in Muskoka. More affordable or not that far there is the Peterborough area where the builders have also responded to meet our needs for bungalows.  Easy and quick access to the area with the extension of Highway 407 to highway 115.  Maybe you love winter sports like skiing and snowshoeing.

Then there is my favourite, going west around the Lake into the Niagara region.  Lots of bungalows and very affordable when considering that many of us have been made millionaires simply by owning Toronto real estate.  Niagara region is bountiful for many reasons which include the bounty of the farmers and not the least of which the wonderful wines and wineries, the restaurants and the active social scenes.  Do you want the city of St Catharines or Niagara Falls, or do you enjoy the more bucolic surroundings of Niagara on the Lake?  Niagara has many options. Not to mention the weather here is more temperate due to the lake effect. Less snow and less extremes…hum I like that.  Proximity to the US for short jaunts, shopping, travelling, etc, etc. 

Now the next question to ask yourself Downsizers is what is this going to cost me? Do I have the money it takes to move forward?  Now that’s where I come in …