Casa Loma, ON
Guide de location
Expansive, expensive, exclusive homes in a very enviable setting
About
Casa Loma is a neighbourhood within a neighbourhood, being a section of South Hill that is named after a landmark house located here. It's one of the priciest communities in Toronto thanks to its exclusive real estate, proximity to downtown's Financial District and Entertainment District, and a very attractive natural landscape with tons of trees and rolling hills. Casa Loma is the name of a castle-like house built here in the early 1900s and is now a museum. Renters looking for housing in Casa Loma will find few options, but those rentals that are available are surprisingly on par with what you'd pay for the same size of place in downtown proper, while purchase prices are extremely high for the same reasons.
Rental Options
The Market
Avg. rent by housing type and size
Studio/Bachelor: $1,100
1-bedroom: $1,500
2-bedroom: $1,700
3-bedroom: $2,700
Avg. rent compared to other Toronto neighbourhoods
Casa Loma is 4% lower than TO average
Casa Loma Rental Market: Buying a house in Casa Loma is completely unaffordable for most, with prices surpassing the million-dollar mark in most instances. For renters, on the other hand, it's possible to track down the odd Casa Loma house for rent, townhouse or Casa Loma apartment for rent that comes available, and prices are comparable to what you'd pay for a downtown loft or lakeview unit. That said, you're likely to get a bit more space and privacy for your buck in Casa Loma than downtown Toronto.
Life & Style
Much like the rest of the South Hill neighbourhood, Casa Loma enjoys being tucked into a serene enclave of big, lovely houses surrounded by enormous old-growth trees and safe parks. That aside, the community is still rather close to downtown, meaning it's easy to get out for a swanky dinner or cocktails at one of the many lounges downtown or along the harbourfront. The neighbourhood itself is like a refuge from the city, though, without any of the noise and excitement of downtown. The streets are so quiet that even a game of road hockey is a rarity in the summertime and while some streets comprise a tight-knit community of friends who host get-togethers, there's also sometimes the sense that neighbours almost never see each other through their expansive back yards.
Neighbourhood
Casa Loma and South Hill share a big, lovely park called Sir Winston Churchill, which has tennis courts and winding trails. Within Casa Loma neighbourhood is Nordheimer Ravine as well, which has a pretty creek within it and some rolling hills and pathways. For shopping, there's a commercial strip along Avenue and at St. Clair to the north, as well as Forest Hill Village nearby and, of course, downtown Toronto within a reasonable distance.