Average sales price freehold (2009): $1,577,157; (2010): $1,663,589

Lowest price sold (2009): $529,000; (2010): $571,000

Highest price sold (2009): $7,637,500; (2010): $6,250,000

Average sales price condo (2009): $567,689; (2010): $705,368

Postal code: M4W

Boundaries: C.P.R. Tracks – Rosedale Valley Rd; Bayview Ave – Yonge St

Subway Stations: Rosedale and Summerhill

Rosedale is Toronto’s distinguished neighbourhood, known for the grand homes that line the winding, tree filled roads. It’s been said that “Old Money” lives here. The wealthiest families live in Rosedale; their incomes are second only to those living in The Bridal Path.

The neighbourhood is closed off from the rest of the city, engulfed by gorgeous ravines and streets that follow the earth’s natural topography, resulting in low traffic and a remarkably quiet atmosphere. Yonge St, north of Church St, is lined with upscale boutiques, fine restaurants and luxury condos.

Real Estate: For the most part, the homes were built between 1860 and 1930 and the architectural integrity has been well preserved. A good percentage of the buildings are protected by the Ontario Heritage Act, making it difficult to alter the appearance of the historically significant facades, let along demolish the buildings completely.

The prevalent architectural styles are Georgian and Edwardian. Georgian architecture, in particular, is very easy to observe. The front door is typically gabled with transom windows, decorative pilasters and a crown over the front door.

Quoining is used at the corners either to give the impression of strength and firmness.

The Adam is a variation on a Georgian style, symmetrical and often three stories. Windows are typically double-hung and there are usually six panes of glass per window. The front door typically has a fanlight with side lights, elaborate pilasters and a crown.

Parks: The Don Valley Brick Works is a former quarry and industrial site located in the Don River valley. Currently the buildings sit mostly unused while the quarry has been converted into a city park which includes a series of naturalized ponds. The park section of the Brick Works includes a series of three ponds, a large meadow and a small forest.

Chorley Park is a beautiful plot of naturalized land filled with trails, also boasts a beautiful view of the Don River Valley.

Hot Spots:

Summerhill Market – 446 Summerhill Ave
Summerhill Market is a hidden gem beloved by Rosedale residents and other mid-town locals. It’s not cheap but inside are the finest quality groceries, meats, fish, produce and gourmet treats.

Pastis – 1158 Yonge St
Right in the heart of Rosedale, Pastis Express is a well-known restaurant with an extensive menu and a classy ambiance.

Olliffe – 1097 Yonge St
Olliffe is Rosedale’s favourite butcher. The meat selection is probably without equal in Toronto and there are always new prepared creations ready to be picked up for a no-fuss dinner.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $429,059; (2010): $581,522

Lowest price sold (2009): $175,000; (2010): $525,000

Highest price sold (2009): $658,000; (2010): $965,000

Average sales price condo (2009): N/A; (2010): N/A

Postal code: M4J and M4C

Boundaries: Falstead Ave – C.P.R. Tracks; Woodbine Ave – Donlands Ave

Subway Stations: Donlands, Greenwood, Coxwell and Woodbine

Danforth Village makes for an interesting study. At the western end just off Greektown, the avenue is thriving. The eastern end of the Danforth is an entirely different story.

There is a Middle Eastern pocket from Jones to about Greenwood, with some well reviewed Halal pizza shops and butchers, as well as two mosques.

Past Coxwell, seedy looking business (dollar stores, used appliance and pawn shops) line Danforth. Bland, old signage above store fronts doesn’t help curb appeal one bit. The area is developing, but it may be a while before Starbucks opens shop.

A lesser known fact about the land north of the Danforth is that it was once owned by the Church of England. Local street names like Glebemount, and Glebeholme, are reminders that this was once Church land.

Real Estate: Two storey semis are the most common type of home in the village, but detached homes start popping up north of the Danforth into East York.

There is no particularly consistent style of architecture, but a good percentage of the homes are reno’d with modern interior design, and have meticulously well groomed lawns.

A few of the streets closer to Woodbine, like Roseheath, are filled with cute cottage-like semis with Gambrel roofs.

Parks: There is a bit of green space between East and West Lynn, but residents head to Monarch Park (north of the C.P.R. Track between Greenwood and Coxwell) for a variety of outdoors activities, such as skating.

Hot Spots:

Carter’s Ice Cream – 3 Woodmount Ave
Carter’s Ice Cream is just steps off the Danforth. The parlour serves locally made Kawartha Dairy ice cream.

Sarah’s Café and Bar – 1426 Danforth Ave
Sarah’s Café and Bar is the neighbourhood hot spot where Toronto locals meet to eat. The menu features Bistro-inspired Canadian classic cuisine.

Rendez -Vous – 1408 Danforth Ave
Travel to Africa with Rendez-Vous restaurant. Savour the dishes of the exotic continent and immerse yourself in the alluring environment of traditional African cuisine and coffee roasting rituals.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $445,974; (2010): $472,190

Lowest price sold (2009): $200,000; (2010): $320,000

Highest price sold (2009): $713,587; (2010): $759,000

Average sales price condo (2009): N/A; (2010): N/A

Postal code: M6H

Boundaries: Davenport Rd – Wallace Ave/Shanly St; Dovercourt Rd – Lansdowne Ave

Subway Stations: Lansdowne and Dufferin

Although Wallace Emerson is zoned for residential and business uses, it’s the Wallace Emerson Community Centre at the heart of the neighbourhood that gives the area a family oriented vibe. A lot of the land between Dupont and Davenport is still post industrial development; warehouses and automotive operations line Geary Ave.  However, as gentrification moves slowly further west, noise and pollution gradually declines. The residents of Wallace Emerson are for the most part Portugese, however, a large Ethiopian population is also present in the neighbourhood.

Real Estate: Buyers priced out of Brockton head north of Bloor and west towards the Junction, as prices are a little lower. Small, 100 year old brick homes lining narrow one way streets are a common sight.

Many of those homes have been changed dramatically on the inside and out, as young design-happy couples spend the money they saved moving north of Bloor on extensive renos. It’s quite easy to spot the dream homes among the unkempt ones.

Many of the buildings originally built as residences for factory workers have been converted into 10-12 unit boutique lofts. The Iron Works Lofts are a new development, with contemporary open concept living, destined to attract artists and entrepreneurs to the neighbourhood.

Parks: Wallace Emerson Community Centre is equipped with a complete fitness facility, an indoor 25 metre pool with large window for viewing, and dance/yoga studios. The park next to the Centre has an ice rink with changing facilities, as well as a playground.

Hot Spots:

Churrasqueira Aveirense – 1184 Bloor St W
Churrasqueira Aveirense is as authentic a Portuguese dining experience as you can find on this side of the Atlantic. The large space is comfortably designed reflecting its country of origin including large TVs for football coverage. 

Ciro’s – 1316 Bloor St W
Ciro’s is a small west end bar that doesn’t take themselves too seriously. They they have an intimidating beer list chocked full of world class ales.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $568,992; (2010): $645,894

Lowest price sold (2009): $250,000; (2010): $250,000

Highest price sold (2009): $1,225,000; (2010): $1,445,000

Average sales price condo (2009): $355,652; (2010): $417,668

Postal code: M6K and M6R

Boundaries: Dundas St W – Lake Shore Blvd W; Brock Ave/Cowan Ave – Roncesvalles Ave

Subway Stations: Dundas St West and Landsdowne

At the western tips of King St W and Queen St W is Parkdale, a 160 year old neighbourhood that has seen its share of ups and downs. The few mansions scattered around are a reminder of Parkdale in the early 20^th century, when it was considered an upper income residential area. However, when the city built the Gardiner Expressway in 1955, a large portion of the neighbourhood was demolished. As a result, the wealthy residents moved further west leaving the local economy in decline. Nowadays, the neighbourhood attracts lower income families and newcomers to Canada. Many of the notable mansions have since been converted into rooming houses, and many of the older warehouses and factories have been turned into authentic residential lofts.

Nevertheless, the neighbourhood is seeing increasing signs of gentrification, as the Queen West hipster bars, and art galleries slowly extend further west. Roncesvalles is also undergoing a slow gentrification, as young couples replace old couples; the whole area is experiencing a slow renovation.

Real Estate: It’s common to find homes in every state of repair, from dilapidated homes in the process of foreclosure or an estate sale to immaculately restored and completely renovated Victorians, with well maintained lots. The general style of architecture in the area is Victorian, and many of the houses are over 100 years old. The  homes in this area are larger, and built on bigger lots compared to neighbourhoods like Little Italy.

The oldest homes in the neighbourhood  have distinctly round Romanesque arches over windows and entrance ways. The walls are masonry and often feature different patterns of rough faced stone-work.

The southern end of the neighbourhood is filled with low rent apartment complexes. There are a few well-known lofts north of Queen St, the most popular are the Robert Watson Lofts, which was once a was candy factory warehouse.

Parks: Sorauren Ave Park is a site reclaimed by the local community, after the city’s attempts to convert the land into a storage facility for city vehicles.  The park has two mini-soccer fields for youth soccer, two tennis courts and one baseball diamond for sports. Open space is set aside for a dogs ‘off-leash’ area. A farmer’s market is set up each Monday for local produce.

Hot Spots:

The Rhino  – 1249 Queen St W
Great food and great beer in Parkdale at the newly renovated Rhino, with regular exhibitions showing in The Thick Skin Gallery.

The Mascot – 1267 Queen St W
The café doubles as an art gallery, the espresso is great, the furniture is antique and the woodworking is done by local artist Kwest.

Café Taste – 1330 Queen St W
Cafe Taste is an environmentally-mandated business modeled after a European cafe, featuring local products with a focus on Wine & Cheese.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $521,587; (2010): $534,914

Lowest price sold (2009):$290,000l; (2010): $320,000

Highest price sold (2009): $821,000; (2010): $1,199,000

Average sales price condo (2009): N/A  (2010): N/A

Postal code: M4J and M4K

Boundaries: Mortimer Ave – Danforth Ave; Dewhurst Blvd – Chester Ave

Subway Stations: Chester, Pape and Donlands

Greektown on the Danforth is one of the major settlement areas of early Greek immigrants to Toronto. To this day, the neighbourhood still has a large population of Greek residents and a high concentration of souvlaki shops, Greek restaurants, Greek butchers, bakeries and delis.

Greektown on the Danforth boasts one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per kilometre in the world, and once a year the vendors sell moderately priced samples of their cuisine at the annual street festival, The Taste of the Danforth. The three day event held in August, celebrates Greek food and culture.

Real Estate: The neighbourhood is comprised of mostly 2 storey semis, but the further north you go – the more detached homes you will encounter. Aldwych Ave is known for its detached homes, with bonnet roofs and large single dormers.

Vinyl siding is very common in this part of town, and many of the houses feature this exterior cladding in various arrays of colour.

Muriel Ave showcases some more colourful 2 ^1/2 storey homes, with bay windows, verandas and dormers.

The Glebe Lofts is a true loft conversion of the architecturally magnificent Presbyterian Church. Many of the units have two stories, but the interior design is mainly modern – without the characteristics of a hard loft. There are very few units in this development, and rarely go up for sale.

Parks: In the heart of Greektown is Alexander the Great Parkette, complete with a fountain, benches, a large stone dais, and a semi-circle of doric columns. Within these columns is a sculpture of the bust of Alexander of Macedon.

Hot Spots:

Kalyvia – 420 Danforth Ave
In business for over 20 years, this family run restaurant prides itself on its authentic Greek menu prepared traditionally by Greek people.

Megas The Art of Greek Cuisine – 402 Danforth Ave
The chefs at Megas create a variety of classic yet modern Greek temptations to indulge your taste buds with contemporary flavours and spices.

Athens Pastries Pies – 509 Danforth Ave
Athens serves a variety of “pies” (filling wrapped in several layers of phyllo pastry): spinach (spanakopita), cheese (tiropita), and custard.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $453,305; (2010): $480,759

Lowest price sold (2009): $188,000; (2010): $200,000

Highest price sold (2009): $1,310,00; (2010): $975,000

Average sales price condo (2009): N/A; (2010): N/A

Postal code: M4J and M4C

Boundaries: Strathcona Ave/Falstead Ave – Gerrard St E; Coxwell Ave – Carlaw Ave

Subway Stations: Pape, Donlands, Greenwood and Coxwell

Blake-Jones and Greenwood-Coxwell are neighbourhoods which aren’t known for much. The quiet residential area has not really established an identity yet, and the majority of commercial buildings along Danforth are somewhat colourless and unexciting. Nevertheless, the many dead end streets create a low traffic family friendly environment, and residents participate in neighbourhood clean up parties and other community events. The TTC owns 32 acres of land right in the middle of the neighbourhood, which they use for maintaining, storing and repairing subway cars – the sight is unattractive to say the least, luckily there is an equally unattractive fence blocking off the side streets which back onto the yard.

Real Estate: The streets are lined with mostly uninspired semis, however wide verandas and large bay window on the upper level are the trend.

Mismatched brick row-houses are a common sight as well.

There aren’t any high-rise condos in this part of town, but the multi level town houses along Strathcona averaged around $250,000 in 2009.

Parks: Monarch Park, just south of Felstead Ave is a popular point of interest for residents. The outdoor rink at the centre of the park adds value to the neighbourhood in the winter months. Monarch Park Stadium is located right next to the park. It’s used mostly for amateur soccer, baseball and athletics by the TDSB.

Hot Spots:

Dukem – 950 Danforth Ave
Art lovers will enjoy Dukem’s decor. Owner of the Ethiopian restaurant, supports local artists by lending his wall space for art shows.

Katya Trischuk – 755 Danforth Ave
Gallery of Ukrainian Artist, Katya Trischuk, features portraits of women who are often exaggerated, with elongated limbs and softened faces.

Corner Lot Home Décor – 745 Danforth Ave
Corner Lot Home Decor is Toronto’s leading supplier of Canadian made sofas and home decor items.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $449,782; (2010): $489,769

Lowest price sold (2009):$168,000; (2010): $273,000

Highest price sold (2009): $827,000; (2010): $975,000

Average sales price condo (2009): $372,892; (2010): $382,418

Postal code: M4M and M4L

Boundaries: Gerrard St E – Lakeshore Blvd E; Coxwell Ave – Carlaw Ave

Subway Stations: Pape, Donlands, Greenwood and Coxwell

Appointed as the New Queen West, Leslieville is undergoing rapid gentrification. The neighbourhood is now known as one of Toronto’s hippest places to shop and dine. There are still plenty of old corner stores and mom and pop shops nestled in between more modern establishments, but the atmosphere is very fresh.

Along Gerrard, is the India Bazaar – a strip between Greenwood and Coxwell, crammed with restaurants, cafés, and miscellaneous stores catering to the South Asian communities.

The neighbourhood as a whole still has some challenges though. In 2007, Toronto police raided the Hell’s Angels headquarters along Eastern Ave. At the foot of Leslie is the massive Ashbridges Bay Sewage Treatment Plant – making it occasionally unpleasant for residents living on the south side of Leslieville, especially when there’s a southerly wind.

Real Estate: Leslieville is a cheaper alternative to its neighbour to the west, Riverdale and neighbor to the east, the Beaches. It draws in families who want the ‘east end’ vibe on a smaller budget.

The housing stock is similar to that of Riverdale; the standard brick semi is a common sight north of Dundas.

Small worker’s cottages are popular further south, while clusters of new red brick townhouses are popping up along Queen St E.

Parks: The Maple Leaf Forever Park, at the southeast corner of Queen and Leslie has historic significance. It is the site where Alexander Muir, composer of the famous anthem ‘The Maple Leaf Forever’, was inspired by a maple leaf that had freshly fallen from a tree onto his jacket.

Hot Spots:

It’s The Icing on the Cake – 1238 Queen St E
It’s The Icing on the Cake in Leslieville bakes custom crafted cupcakes, desserts, bread and other baked treats

Bone House – 946 Queen St E
The Bone House features 85% Canadian made and 100% eco friendly products for pups.

Brayham Contemporary Art – 1318 Queen St E
Brayham Contemporary Art presents an ambitious exhibition program bringing the work of important national and international artists to Toronto

736 Dundas St East

A small industrial loft conversion, known as the Tannery Lofts, was built over 100 years ago. The original use for the building was to manufacture soap; however it was re-purposed and most recently used by the Adam Beck Cigar Box Manufacturing Company. Oddly enough, the loft conversion was named ‘The Tannery Lofts’, which is nothing more than a marketing ploy, since the building has never been associated with the production or storage of leather.

Specs: The building is quite small, with only 5 stories and 36 units. The units themselves are also very small, with cramped layouts and minimal storage space (particularly the 1 bedroom units). The developers kept the loft authentic with features such as sandblasted exposed brick walls, high wooden ceilings, large industrial windows, industrial doors and exposed ducts, yet managed to incorporate new finishes such as granite kitchen counters and engineered hardwood floors.

Amenities: None. No owned parking spaces either. The building is located next to the D.V.P., and the street car runs along Dundas 24 hours a day.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $573,871; (2010): $606,429

Lowest price sold (2009): $183,500; (2010): $225,000

Highest price sold (2009): $1,010,000l; (2010): $956,000

Average sales price condo (2009): N/A; (2010): N/A

Postal code: M4K

Boundaries: Hogarth Ave – Gerrard St E; Logan Ave – D.V.P.

Subway Stations: Broadview, Pape and Chester

Significantly more expensive than its neighbor to the south, North Riverdale is nestled in a prime location – bordering on the subway line and the D.V.P.  North Riverdale is home to an architectural landmark – the Don Jail. The prison is historically significant as it was built before the Confederation –however, it is now considered ‘an overcrowded dungeon’, and described as ‘an insult to humanity’. Further east along Gerrard, between Broadview and Carlaw, is East Chinatown, a smaller version of Spadina’s Chinatown. North Riverdale is also known for Riverdale Farm, a largely wooded area with an actual farm and farmer’s market.

Real Estate: North Riverdale attracts families with children, as the houses are bigger and so are the lots. 2 ½ story semis dominate the leafy streets, but it’s common to see detached homes here and there. Verandas are an apparent trend which can be seen on a large number of homes in the area.

Parks: Withrow Park boasts an off-leash dog area, a fenced and dog-free children’s playground and summer wading pool, a clubhouse for indoor classes and community group use, plus plenty of outdoor space for sports and recreation including tennis, tobogganing, hockey, baseball and soccer.

Hot Spots:

Lil’ Baci – 892 Queen St E
With a selection of creatively dressed pizza pies and microbrews, Lil’ Baci’s Pizza offers a slightly upscale twist to the classic pizzeria.

Pan on the Danforth – 516 Danforth Ave
This eatery delivers a unique take on Greek Mediterranean cuisine by eschewing the limited, conventional dishes associated with Greek dining.

Bad Dog Theatre Company – 138 Danforth Ave
The Bad Dog Theatre is an improv comedy club in Toronto with shows most nights of the week, improvisation workshops, and acting classes.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $480,585; (2010): $532,902

Lowest price sold (2009): $212,000; (2010): $331,000

Highest price sold (2009): $715,000; (2010): $827,900

Average sales price condo (2009): $423,310; (2010): $387,445

Postal code: M4M

Boundaries: Dundas St E – Lakeshore Blvd E; Carlaw Ave – D.V.P.

Subway Stations: Pape and Chester

South Riverdale has rebounded drastically since the 70’s and, for the most part, is now entirely gentrified. The neighbourhood pulls in young professionals mostly couples looking for a condo alternative, as the value of homes in the area is still relatively low – and the concentration of cafes, antique furniture shops and contemporary restaurants is high. South Riverdale is also known for the film studios along Eastern Ave, the Pinewood studio is one of the largest, with over 250,000 square ft of production space. At the most southern end of South Riverdale are the Port Lands – a vast industrial park, but also home of Cherry Beach and Tommy Thompson Park

Real estate: Many of the houses in South Riverdale were built between the 1880’s and the Great Depression, and so the architectural style complements that era.

However, the neighbourhood has seen the rise and fall of prosperity.

In this day and age, there is very little architectural consistency – the area is filled with a mix match of styles: some homes are colourful, some dull, some are grand, while others are small worker’s cottages.

For the most part, the houses in this neighbourhood (especially between Dundas and Queen) are charming, and have a ton of character.

The Broadview Lofts is a true loft conversion, originally used by Rexall as a drug warehouse. This magnificent building features original exposed brick walls and wooden ceilings – truly raw and authentic.

Parks: Tommy Thompson Park is located on a man-made peninsula, known as the Leslie Street Spit, which extends 5 km into Lake Ontario and is over 500 hectares in size. The park represents some of the largest existing natural habitat on the Toronto waterfront. Recreational activities include nature-watching, hiking, cycling, running, rollerblading and fishing.

Hot Spots:

The Opera House – 735 Queen St East
The Opera House is a unique and intimate concert venue still holding all the charm of its original 1900’s vaudeville theatre architecture.

Mercury Espresso Bar – 915 Queen St East
The comfy unpretentious spot serves only fair trade and organic coffee and uses 100 per cent biodegradable take-out cups.

Dangerous Dan’s – 714 Queen St East
Dangerous Dan’s prides itself on its heart-attack inducing menu, which boasts such options as the coronary burger special.