Top 5 Reasons to Relocate to Oakville, Ontario

by Eugénie Eckler | Feb 16, 2022 | Featured, Neighbourhoods

My personal top 5 Reasons to Relocate to Oakville, Ontario… the little Hamlet next to Toronto.

If you are searching for a new place to call home, the Town of Oakville is a great choice for new immigrants, a place to raise a family, and those looking to retire.

There are many reasons why online MoneySense Magazine has recognized Oakville as the best place to live overall out of a ranking of 415 cities, towns, and villages. Their comparison criteria include factors such as safety and culture, access to transit, schools and health care, overall affordability, and the economy.

I have lived in Oakville with my husband for 14 years now and we understand the appeal… It is truly a wonderful place to call home! There is a real sense of community here and as we raise our two boys, we can’t help but agree with the assessment that this beautiful lakeside town is an amazing place to bring up a family.

This is not your typical bedroom community as Oakville has established itself with its unique character, a revitalized downtown core with plenty of interesting shops and restaurants. It feels like you have the better of two worlds here with all the amenities you need in a city but with a whole lot of town charm!

Oakville schools are truly top-notch

No matter what specific neighbourhood you choose, Oakville schools are truly top-notch. As a Realtor with a genuine family-focus, a good school is often on the criteria list for the families I work with. It is not uncommon for parents to have specific school requirements in mind when searching for a home.

Perhaps they find the overall ‘score’ of the school to be paramount. A helpful website that lists school rankings is this one: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/school-performance

While I believe there could be some value to the scoring system, I will say from the hundreds of parents I speak to, how the school ‘ranks’ seems to be less critical than the actual quality of teachers and the direction of the principal.

Other families will want to live near a school that offers French Immersion. Sometimes regardless of what specific school it is, the main objective is to be within walking distance because they are a one-car household.

Oakville also offers a number of private schools and if that is a consideration for your family check out this great resource: https://www.ourkids.net/oakville-private-schools.php

Currently, there are 27 public elementary schools and 16 Catholic elementary schools to choose from. Regardless, of the decisive factors that are important to you about school criteria, Oakville definitely has some of the best ones to choose from!

Oakville’s natural landscape

Situated along the picturesque shores of Lake Ontario, another major draw is Oakville’s natural landscape. The great outdoors definitely surround you and it is not uncommon to find homes backing onto ravines, siding on lovely parks, or being near the waterfront.

Oakville’s 17-kilometer shoreline is home to two magnificent harbours and a plethora of lakefront parks, making it a hidden gem for visitors seeking to enjoy life on the water.

The Pileated Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Baltimore Oriole, and Red-Tailed Hawk are among the forest birds and waterfowl that may be seen in Oakville by both novice and experienced birders.

Among my favourite places to visit to appreciate Oakville’s beauty: Lions Valley Park, Bayshire Woods, Gairloch Gardens, Lakeside Park and Tannery Park to name a few!

My family finds that in Oakville, it is easy to stay active!

Enjoy the numerous acres of parkland, many of which have well-kept hiking paths. Oakville’s 200+ kilometers of recreational trails – great for walking, jogging, cycling- spread across the town’s neighbourhoods and link many areas.

Oakville is home to the impressive Bronte Provincial Park! Here you can enjoy five hiking trails, tobogganing, cross country skiing, and swimming.

Oakville, known as the “Home of the Canadian Open,” has a wide range of golf courses and amenities to suit all skill levels. Spend the day swinging on iconic courses like Glen Abbey Golf Course, which has hosted the Canadian Open Golf Championships for the past 28 years!

If you have young children, have a look at my Facebook Activity & Outings group where I feature different parks, splash pads, and activity ideas that a young family can enjoy. Click to join here!

Oakville is safe & diverse!

According to Statistics Canada (2020 data), the total crime rate here is 56% below the national average.

While English is the most common language, over 70,000 Oakville residents (out of a population of approximately 200,000) identify different languages as their mother tongue. The most common include Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Urdu and Portuguese. (Source: Environics Analytics, 2020 Estimate)

The percentage of visible minorities in Oakville has climbed from 18% to 31% over the past 10 years.

Oakville, with its lakeside mega-mansions, is undeniably a wealthy town. Oakville’s 2020 average household income is estimated at $192,562.04, with the provincial average at $111,866.84. Almost 65 percent of Oakville households earn an annual income of more than $100,000.

This is only one side of the story. There are plenty of mainstream areas attracting families in all different stages of their lives. New developments can be seen all over town offering something for everyone. I help purchasers buy their very first condo apartment, townhome, semi-detached or fully detached home.

Accessibility and proximity to other major cities

Residents here enjoy the perks of a smaller town atmosphere but are conveniently located in proximity to other major cities. From a commuting standpoint, Oakville is actually in a fantastic geographical position being 30 minutes from Toronto or Hamilton while also located between Mississauga and Burlington! The GO Train and major highways are easy to access.

Overall accessibility is a benefit to reach other robust employment centres but is also advantageous for recreational and practical reasons. I often find myself dining in the many lakeside restaurants that Burlington has to offer or enjoying a shopping spree in Toronto’s city core. You can get to the many family attractions either going East or West (Oakville is 90km northeast of Niagara Falls) and Oakville has always felt to us to be ideally located for all these reasons.

If you need help deciding on an area to move to, I’d love to help you navigate our beautiful neighbourhoods and assist you in your home buying journey! Contact me here: https://www.eugenieeckler.ca/contact/

Looking to Buy a Home Outside the GTA?

by Eugénie Eckler | Nov 19, 2021 | Neighbourhoods

When you are choosing a good area to move to, I bet you might take into consideration good schools, safe neighbourhoods, access to major highways for commuting and probably somewhere that will provide good value for your money.

It is no secret that some families are leaving the GTA in search of more affordable housing in great up and coming communities. You may feel home options in Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville & Burlington are too pricey and perhaps you are seeking even more space for your money and more bang for your buck.

If this sounds like you, check out what Hamilton, Ontario has to offer! Canadian Real Estate Magazine named Hamilton one of the best places to invest in real estate in 2021.

There are so many great home options to be found in this area while being nicely situated, just a short drive to Niagara or Toronto and anywhere in between! Hamilton continues to grow and offers amazing restaurants, a good transportation system, job opportunities and stunning nature.

Did you know that the region is home to over 150 waterfalls? It is promoted as “City of Waterfalls” and if you haven’t been to the Devil’s Punchbowl yet, you’ve got to check it out! There is SO MUCH to do & see in the area but I’ll leave that for another post.

In addition, the other five municipalities of the Hamilton–Wentworth Region should not be overlooked: Ancaster, Flamborough, Dundas, Glanbrook and Stoney Creek. Each area will have a different ambiance with plenty to offer and one of them may be a great place to consider home!

Ancaster: Offers a small town feel within an urban setting. With many amenities located in the smaller neighbourhoods, you’ll find it is a very walkable community. Founded in 1793, you’ll fall in love with the historic buildings in the Heritage Village. This close-knit community is only a 15-minute drive to Hamilton, 35 minutes to Mississauga, or just over an hour to Toronto. Be sure to visit Tiffany and Sherman Falls!

Flamborough: This growing area is located at the top of the Niagara Escarpment. Young families seem to gravitate towards the town of Waterdown because it hits the mark on overall livability and affordability. You can still feel connected to Toronto and GTA via accessible means of transportation while enjoying local festivals, great schools, recreation centres and parks. Be sure to visit Smokey Hallow Waterfall!

Dundas: If you love the outdoors, you’ll love Dundas – also known as Valley Town, being situated at the base of the Escarpment. With lots of protected green space, this area is so pretty with its abundance of trees, hiking trails and gorges. This quaint community exudes ambiance and charm as you’d expect in a small historic town. Be sure to visit Webster Falls and Spencer Gorge!

Glanbrook: Located in the South-Western district of the city of Hamilton, you will find the fast growing community of Binbrook. This town is a really safe area to raise a family and offers lovely newer homes at more affordable prices as compared to some other areas of Hamilton. Be sure to visit the Farmer’s Market, a highly anticipated event that highlights local growers and artisans and takes place at the Fairgrounds.

Stoney Creek: This community situated along Lake Ontario offers lots of beautiful trails and waterfalls. It attracts many families who still want to be within commuting distance of the hotspots of Toronto, Oakville and Burlington. Be sure to visit Felker’s Falls, a hidden gem in the Conservation Area.

If you are looking for a new neighbourhood to move to, I’d love to help you figure out what area can work best for your family’s needs and budget.