Nestled in the southeast corner of Toronto lies the lovely neighbourhood of The Beach (also known as The Beaches). This vibrant neighbourhood is mere minutes away from the heart of downtown Toronto and houses four separate beaches – Balmy Beach, Scarborough Beach, Kew Beach and Woodbine Beach. Because of the multiple beaches in this neighbourhood locals utilize both names of The Beach and The Beaches interchangeably, although there is great debate as to which one is correct!

The prime location makes The Beach a popular summer tourist destination as many frequent the area to enjoy the white sand, cool water, dynamic outdoor activities and water sports, or to simply stroll the boardwalk. A wide array of concerts, fairs and festivals use The Beach as a wonderful backdrop. The Beach also boasts an eclectic variety of specialty shops, boutiques and restaurants. These small businesses give this community an independent spirit that is hard to ignore, although one can’t help but notice the creeping commercialization with the influx of Starbucks and Tim Hortons. Such is life.

In addition to the rich culture, The Beach is an ideal place to raise a family. Excellent schools are a strong asset to this community, and the neighbourhood is very safe with a low crime rate. The Beach is home to generations of families that have planted deep roots, with locals constantly joking that there are more baby strollers than cars. With great schools and so much to do, it is hardly surprising that this is the case.

If you can afford it, buying a home in The Beach is a sound real estate investment as real estate prices have continued to increase year over year. This location allows residents to enjoy the best aspects of a vibrant neighbourhood with small town feel, just minutes away from the thriving downtown core of Toronto. For this reason homes tend to stay within families and get passed down through the generations, creating proud life-long Beachers.

The diverse architecture also helps give this neighbourhood a lot of character. Walk the streets and you will find just about any type of home imaginable, including cottages, Victorian era houses, new builds, stately mansions and low-rise apartment buildings. Increasingly condos are starting to dot the landscape. Residents embrace a vast numbers of streets are designated as heritage streets, the affluent community is home to 20,000 residents, and the median household income is considerably higher than the average income for Toronto.