Sprawl has taken hold in some Canadian cities, and suburbs stretch from what was once a city’s edge to new communities being built to accommodate more and more buyers and renters.

Renters are faced with a choice — live in close proximity to the city center or pick a place in the ‘burbs.

Both are valid choices for very different reasons.

Lifestyle is unique in both the inner city and the suburbs, and price point comes into play too. How do you choose? You need to evaluate what you are looking for in a home and community before signing the lease.

There are pros and cons to both big city living and having a place in suburbia. Let’s take a look at the options and get some clarity on the city vs suburbs debate.

Suburban Living

Pros:

• The suburbs offer larger apartments and homes for rent and sale at lower prices. Also, if you’re renting a townhouse or single family home you are more likely to have a bigger outdoor space in the suburbs.
• Many suburbs also include a community center, clubhouse, or even private lake geared towards family outdoor activities. These kinds of amenities are particularly attractive to both young couples thinking of having children and mature families alike.
• Some developers are trying to veer away from the cookie-cutter stigmatism associated with many suburbs. If developers of new areas are more mindful of creating suburban communities that retain some of the culture and amenities of inner city neighbourhoods, living further from the city core may become even more attractive.
• Price points are often lower in the suburbs for apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes. In the suburbs, you will probably be able to get more square footage for your dollar.

Cons:

• The biggest con of suburban living, for most, is the excessive daily commute. Developers have tacked on community after community in some of the major Canadian cities without truly thinking about whether existing infrastructure can support the extra traffic.
• A lack of culture and activity is also a bone of contention for many when discussing suburban living. Many people want to be in the middle of cultural activity, and suburbs do not generally offer them that. Inner city communities boast a lot more variety in terms of dining, entertainment, and the arts. If your lifestyle revolves around trendy eateries or live theater, you’ll find yourself out of luck in most suburbs.

Big City Living

Pros:

• One of the biggest pros of living in the inner city is being in close proximity to everything a city has to offer. You’ll be right in the middle of theater, art, entertainment, and incredible dining options. You’ll probably live within walking distance to great restaurants and nightlife.
• Short commutes are another huge draw for those who live close to downtown. When you live close to work, you save hours each week that would otherwise be spent on a long and arduous commute. With an apartment in the inner city, you will probably have quick access to a short transit ride or you might even be able to walk or bike to work.
• Choice of apartment will definitely come into play for those who live in the big city. While apartments might not stay on the rental market for as long when they are located in the inner city, you’ll probably have more options simply because there are more apartment and condo buildings to choose from.

Cons:

• The biggest con of living in the big city is probably expense. You will get less bang for your buck than those living in the suburbs. Space is at a premium in the inner city, and you’ll have to pay more per square foot.
• The lifestyle might not be best suited to young families. Depending on where you live in the big city, there might not be nearby parks for young ones to play in or convenient grocery stores to pop into for a loaf of bread. Also, because you will probably live in close proximity to restaurants and nightlife, you might find your inner city street too loud for little ones.

If you have decided which lifestyle matches your personality the best, find the best neighbourhood for you!

Share some of your pros and cons and thoughts with us on Twitter and Facebook!

The Ups and Downs of renting an apartment in Downtown

If you’ve been looking to move into a new apartment and have always wondered if you should look for a location in the downtown district or in the suburbs, then this article is for you!

While looking to rent an apartment, whether, with a family, just married, or single, many of us have often wondered what it would be like to move into one of the modern-style, gleaming high-rise apartment buildings located in the downtown core. Sometimes we dream that it would be cool to move away from the suburbs, and relocate into the center of a bustling metropolis, but weren’t sure if it was really worth it. Check out Rentseeker’s top four picks for the “Ups and Downs” of renting an apartment in the Downtown!

At RentSeeker.ca we are always looking for new ways to better understand the apartment rental market and to better serve our clients and consumers. As we researched through news articles on apartment rentals in Toronto, we started thinking about how varied and diverse Toronto is as a cultural city. Apartments in Toronto can be found in virtually any location and neighbourhoods. So with all the bewildering choices that face every person new move, one of the big questions we always hear is, is it better to rent downtown or in the suburbs? Wherever you ultimately decide to rent, RentSeeker would like to offer a couple of pros and cons about Downtown apartment (and condo) living to enable you to better understand your choices before you commit to your new dream apartment rental.

Commuting

On the upside, probably the most often heard reason to live downtown is the virtual absence of commuting.

Imagine waking up in the morning at a decent hour and strolling to work instead of getting up an hour early to beat the rush hour traffic. Imagine not sitting behind someone on the freeway for 45 minutes of stop and go traffic, who thinks it’s cool to put the bass on high and belt some rock tunes before you’ve even had your morning coffee.

Imagine not having to leave work an hour late in order to wait 25 minutes in traffic instead of the average 45 minutes.

Living downtown is almost like an extra gift of two hours every day to your hectic schedule, enough time to take your boy/girlfriend, wife, partner or anyone you want to to a movie, dinner or just relax.

Noise

A major drawback for many people is the noise of colleges and parties that can wake up people in the building, including yourself and your family.

While if you’re a student that might not be such a bad thing, for many older people, this is a major inconvenience. If you are looking for a quiet apartment building, RentSeeker.ca offers a feature that allows you to check off your requirements for a building and only shows you the buildings that match your needs. In addition, many buildings often cater specifically to a senior crowd and often include many convenient amenities for their tenants that other buildings won’t have.

If you are a student, check out the RentSeeker.ca’s Student Rental Housing to learn which apartments are available to rent in Toronto and especially downtown Toronto (and cities across Canada), that are near your college or university.

Traffic

Another potential downside of renting an apartment in downtown Toronto or any major downtown metropolitan area is the constant, almost 24-hour snarl of traffic that often surrounds the apartment buildings. While your commute is now a walk, listening to the constant blaring of horns from irate drivers can often take the pleasure out of sleeping in late. Many apartment buildings are now being designed with an emphasis on noise reduction, especially in the apartment suites. However until the technique is perfected, living in the suburbs generally offers a more peaceful environment than living downtown.

Expenses

Living downtown comes at a cost though. Apartment managers in the downtown district often charge 2-3 times more than a typical suburban apartment rental. While this is a major consideration, it should be weighed carefully against the fact that you will be saving quite a bit in gas and especially time.  Calculate the time and expenses that you save for living near your work, against the extra fees you pay for living ion the downtown area, and see what makes sense for you.

Wherever you decide to rent, visit RentSeeker.ca to see apartment rentals in your area. Whether you’re looking for an apartment in the Kensington Market, or the Beaches, from the middle class to upper class, RentSeeker offers an array of professionally managed apartments for rent across Canada by Major Canadian Landlords. The decision is ultimately yours to make, but we hope that we here at Rentseeker have given you some food for thought, about some of the “Ups and Downs” of renting apartments in Downtown.

Good luck with your move!

The RentSeeker.ca Team