Where the most (and least) expensive condo areas are along the subway

WHERE THE MOST (& LEAST) EXPENSIVE CONDO AREAS ARE ALONG THE SUBWAY

Tess Kalinowski, Toronto Star

Image courtesty of: Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star File Photo

Want a condo but don't want to compromise on TTC access? Consider something in the Danforth area where the price per square foot is substantially lower than buildings on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway.

If you're looking for luxury, get off at Museum where condos in the vicinity average $1,029 per square foot; inventory is limited, but you're close to the ROM, the funky Annex neighbourhood and Yorkville.

Condos.ca has come up with a map illustrating the price per square foot of condos around TTC stations.

It shows that you can buy more for less around Yorkdale, where a square foot of space averages $375. That's because the builders tend to be a little older, says Condos.ca.

The map provides the average cost of a square foot around subway stops from Jan. 1 to May 10th of 2017. The average is based on a radius of about the halfway point from one subway station to the next along the line.

TTC stops average about 800 metres apart but the distance can be more than 1km north of Spadina station toward Sheppard West, formerly known as Downsview station, and as close as 400 to 500 metres apart on the Danforth, said transit spokesman Brad Ross.

Price per square foot is the best measure of what you're getting for your money. 

It's not just about average price. Average price doesn't take into account how the size of units have been (historically) trending downwards, although there has been a slight rise in the average size of new units in the last year. It gives you a more accurate sense of how prices are changing.

The Danforth has been undervalued. It hasn't attracted as much development as some other areas of Toronto but mid-rise condos are emerging. The 12-storey Carmelina condos near Danforth and Woodbine Avenue averages $734 per square foot.

The Sheppard subway line also includes some of the lower costs per square foot, according to the map.

The Cost of Condos on the Subway System

Image courtesty of: Condos.ca

The average price per square foot in the city is $678, up 4.8% in the last 60 days, and 31.5% higher than last year, according to Condos.ca. The average unit sold for $580,917 and the average size was 857 square feet.

Among major world cities, Toronto apartments are still relatively low in price. Last year, Toronto units averaged $518 per square foot compared to $3,086 psf in Hong Kong, $2,732 psf in London and $900 psf in Vancouver. 

There may be buyer opportunities along new transit lines such as the Spadina subway extension to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, expected to open late this year and along the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which won't open before the next decade. Those lines are already under construction.

Be warned however, the city has a long, spotty history when it comes to building the transit it talks about.