Dear reader, 

As someone who grew up on the Etobicoke-Mississauga border—where my greatest exposure to culture was Jumbo Video and my mom’s melon soup—I’m thrilled by the constant evolution of Toronto’s suburbs. All of the urban amenities I craved for my neighbourhood as a kid have finally arrived: cosmopolitan energy, fantastic food, cool shops. 

It’s why so much of our real estate coverage these days features suburban success stories. Take the case of Sarah Israel and Adrian Chung, Curb Appeal’s top piece this week. They were renting in midtown when they received an N12 notice from their landlord, which gave them four months to find a new home. Instead of starting the frustrating and futile search for an affordable space in the city, they set their sights on Durham. A few years ago, ditching a condo off Eglinton for a semi in Oshawa would have felt like defeat. But I suspect that, today, even the most diehard downtowner can appreciate Sarah and Adrian’s choice. I think you will too. 

Also in today’s newsletter: an Edwardian overlooking Mount Pleasant Road that holds the city’s highest heritage rating. Plus, a rare five-bedroom house on Euclid and a deep dive into Toronto Life’s shiny new neighbourhood rankings. Visit torontolife.com for all our real estate coverage.

In January, Adrian and Sarah were renting a condo off Eglinton when their landlord gave them an N12 notice. It was a surprise, but they needed more space anyway. Sarah’s vintage inventory was being stored in three locations, and a new home would allow her to bring it all under one roof. They set their sights on Durham, where they could get more for their money. With a $2,700 monthly budget, they began the hunt. Find out what happened next.

How about a Rosedale mansion listed at a staggering $11.8 million? It has six bathrooms, a basement theatre and a 1,900-square-foot coach house in the backyard. 

Located at one of Little Italy’s busiest intersections, this $1.6-million semi comes with two units, two patios, four floors, a crystal staircase and a main suite that looks like a tent. 

Do you disagree with Toronto Life’s 2023 Neighbourhood Rankings? Don’t like Danforth up top? Try our nifty interactive tool to generate a new list based on your own wants and needs. 

Five years have passed since we last ran our neighbourhood rankings, and oh, how things have changed. In our November issue, a mostly scientific, slightly inflammatory, deeply informative portrait of this ever-evolving city. Plus, the scary pursuit of the perfect face, a taxonomy of Toronto’s new socialites, and more. Still not receiving Toronto Life at home? Subscribe today.