In prior blogs, I discussed some of the myths and realities of small-town and rural living and what amenities and features you might want to consider when researching retiring to a small town. Today, I’d like to feature a couple of small towns you might want to put on your shortlist.
Thinking of retiring in a rural area? Click here to read my blog all about the pros and cons of country living as a downsizier.
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is one of the greatest hidden gems within an hour of Toronto. My parents moved to Uxbridge in 2005, and I have clients who’ve relocated to Uxbridge in retirement. One of the things that my clients love about Uxbridge is that its infrastructure is close to its maximum capacity, so you aren’t likely to see any massive development happen there.
Surrounded by the Oakridge Moraine, there’s plenty of protected green space. It is near the Durham Forest and the Uxbridge Countryside Preserve, with excellent trail systems for active retirees. Dagmar and Lakeridge ski hills are between Uxbridge and Port Perry. Uxbridge is only about 30 minutes from Newmarket, Pickering, and Ajax and just 20 minutes from Stouffville. The 407 is 15 minutes away, and the drive to the airport is about an hour (similar to the drive from Pearson to my house in the Beaches).
Amenities
Uxbridge offers boutique shopping, pubs, and restaurants. You have access to the Uxbridge Hospital, a small community hospital, part of Markham Stouffville Hospital, which is part of the Oak Valley Health Network. There is good access to doctors, dentists, and other health service practitioners.
If you like to shop at big box stores, Walmart is in town, or you can commute to Ajax or Newmarket to shop at the full selection of Stores and plazas you would expect to find in the suburbs. If you are a foodie, my clients recommend Urban Pantry, a locally sourced farm-to-table restaurant. Still, you won’t find the variety of international food establishments that you can find in the GTA. You’d want to travel to Stouffville or one of the other nearby Toronto suburbs for that.
Properties
Uxbridge has more luxury properties than you might see in most small towns. It caters to retirees with golf course communities (both public and private), some spectacular properties, and lots of newer subdivisions on generous lots with one-story living. There are also smaller parcels with townhomes (freehold and condo) and some boutique condo buildings. Uxbridge also offers several options for independent and assisted living retirement homes.
Dreaming of downsizing your home? Check out these related blogs for more advice!
- 5 Tips For Downsizing Your East GTA Home
- I Want to Sell My Home But I Have Too Much Stuff
- Should You Hire a Senior Real Estate Specialist?
Port Perry
I have lived in Port Perry and started my real estate career there over twenty years ago. When you think of a small town in Ontario, Port Perry’s downtown is what you envision. It’s a charming community with many boutique shops, excellent food options, and even a microbrewery. You may have seen Port Perry featured in the TV shows Reacher, Hemlock Grove, and Hallmark romance movies.
“Port”, as locals affectionately refer to it, is an all-season playground. It offers boating, fishing, kayaking on Lake Scugog in the summer, snowmobiling, and skiing at Dagmar and Lakeridge ski hills in the winter. Port Perry is 30 minutes North of Oshawa and Whitby and 20 minutes to the 407. The commute to the airport is also about an hour.
Amenities
Port Perry offers a more extensive variety of restaurants and shops than Uxbridge. Port Perry Hospital is a small community hospital in the Lakeridge health network. Like Uxbridge, there is good access to doctors, dentists, and other health service practitioners. If you like to shop at big box stores, there is a Walmart in town, or you can commute the 30 minutes to Whitby or Oshawa to shop at the full selection of Stores and plazas you would expect to find in the suburbs. “The island” is home to the Great Blue Heron Casino, just a 20-minute drive from town.
Properties
Port Perry has several housing options in some exceptional communities. If you prefer to live in an adult lifestyle community, you will want to put Canterbury Commons on your list. My Canterbury Commons clients love that they can walk downtown and enjoy everything Port Perry offers. If you prefer more privacy and space, Castle Harbour Estates is another community you will want to consider. It’s located along the northwest shoreline of Lake Scugog and is a 5–10-minute drive to downtown Port Perry. Another waterfront lifestyle option is “The Island,” where you can find beautiful custom-built waterfront properties.
Port Perry also has some great Condo options. The apartments at 171 Shanly St, located in the heart of the downtown, are good-sized with excellent floor plans and outdoor space. The condo townhomes at 2 Water St. are exceptional bungalows with good space and functional floor plans—steps to the lake and all the incredible amenities in Port Perry. Like Uxbridge, Port Perry offers various independent and assisted living retirement homes, and West Shore Village offers life-lease bungalows.
As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), I can help guide you through your considerations when moving to a small community. I have had clients who have relocated to each of these communities as well as other small communities from Toronto to Prince Edward County and the Kawarthas. If you are thinking about relocating to a small community in Ontario, give me a call. I’d love to help.
Looking for a Senior Real Estate Specialist to guide your home sale? I can help! Call 647.283.2127 or email me at stuart@stuartnodell.com to get in touch.
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