We're considering moving to London (ON) to be near family and friends, since we're both remote workers anyway. Interesting to hear the prices down there are falling.
If you aren’t raising a family you’ll find Woodstock to be devoid of stuff to do for adults unless you hate people.
A lot of good programs, especially at the library. There’s a great robotics program at the highschool level. Lots of sports leagues… it’s kinda wild how many quality ball parks there are here (with fences and clay infields and lighting). Good hockey arena. Good curling program for adults and kids.
Both my partner and I volunteer at schools and they’re generally great. Filled with teachers who care quite a lot.
It feels like what Waterloo was when I grew up there in the 90s. I love seeing roving bands of kids on bikes without parents in tow.
Of course a lot of it is subjective. Everyone has to make their own decisions.
And therein lies the rub. The 401 and 403 (heck, even the QEW and most other major highways) were (and still are!) so congested that it was a deciding factor to moving away from Toronto.
The only other place that reminded me of my days in sitting endlessly in stop-and-go traffic on major highways in Toronto was LA, which is a different major North American city famous for its gridlock.
Family wealth going up is somewhat written in fake money. Especially if you’re paying a mortgage with a rate that might renew at double.
Toronto is still super desirable but I think there’s real risk, versus it being a guaranteed good investment the way the boomer generation has been hammering into us about real estate. Can you imagine buying a home at $900k, only for it to fall 33% in value and your mortgage interest payments double?