I was only kidding about the voting.
Here's the Cliff Notes version of our day.
Mimico. Ewwww. Oh no, is this all we're going to see in our price range? How depressing, this sucks.
Home to walk Cody and receive email from current LL that annoys and infuriates us.
Beaches. Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod, this is the greatest house, I must live here. But wait, should we? Oh, maybe not.
Guildwood 1. Wow! Wow! Wow! Is it...? Yes! Is it? Yes! This is great! What? Oh no! Never mind.
Guildwood 2. Eww, I hope it's not that shack over there. Uh-oh. Ha ha ha ha ha, I don't think so.
Home to walk Cody, fax application to Beaches house, eat dinner, and receive further infuriating email from current LL. Exhaustion. One more house to see in Mississauga. Should we bother? I don't want to call the guy, let's just go. But we don't care because we're going to take the Beaches house.
Mississauga. We love it, let's live here!
* * * *
The house in The Beaches is amazing. Little front porch, great back deck, a kitchen to die for, a working fireplace (which I crave and have never had). Spacious yet cozy, dog-friendly, long-term rental, although not without some question about that.
Downside. $150 more a month than we're paying now, which we could do, but you know how that is - that's $150 less breathing room every month. We thought the change in transportation would even out the costs, but when we actually crunched the numbers, we'd only save about $25 a month on the commute.
More importantly, the location is not really walking distance to anything. It would seem a little odd to move into the city but have to drive or take buses to everything. This particular house is actually less convenient than most suburban places we've seen.
Also, it has no yard to speak of, just a small dirt patch. I felt that the beautiful deck makes up for that... until we saw places with nice yards.
Going from The Beaches to the Guildwood section of Scarborough was a bit of a revelation. The Guildwood house is on a quiet, suburban street, has a large, fenced-in yard, and is walking distance from a Lakeshore GO train and from good shopping.
We liked it right away, and were getting really excited... until we learned the that the basement apartment is rented to a woman and her two little kids. I'm glad the landlord isn't tossing her tenants, but if I wanted to share a backyard with children, I'd have some of my own. Plus, no basement means renting only one floor - kind of like living in an apartment that happens to have a shared backyard. Deal-breaker.
All afternoon it was Beaches, Beaches, Beaches, I hope we get the house, I hope we get the house. We went to the last house, the one in Mississauga, only because we didn't want to cancel after confirming twice.
And then we loved it.
It's immaculately maintained. The owner has been renting it for 18 years; it's his permanent rental property, and he wants the longest-term tenants he can find. (You can imagine that's very important to us right now!) It has a very large, fenced-in yard that's completely private - high hedge on one side and garage on the other - with a small patio and a walk-out from the dining area. It's dog-friendly. It's $100 less than we're paying now. It's walking distance from shopping, and extremely convenient driving distance to everything in Mississauga.
Downside: It's not near the Lakeshore GO line. I vowed I'd never live without that, but now I'm not so sure. It's only three trips a week, one way. (Like all evening law-firm employees, I get a cab home paid for by the company.) Maybe a bus from the nearby GO station on a different line? Maybe a bus to the Port Credit go? I'm not sure.
That is the only downside to this house. Other than that, it is perfect.
So after spending the afternoon singing Beaches, Beaches, Beaches, I suddenly lost my desire for that house. Deck vs. backyard? Backyard. Urban vs. suburban? Suburban. Space and quiet vs. hip and happening? Space and quiet. My, how I have changed!
The owner of the Mississauga house was excited to find gainfully employed, long-term renters, and pretty much told us that if our applications check out, he'd be happy to offer us a lease. So today we're driving back there to see further check out the neighbourhood.
We're not going to answer any other ads until we see if we are offered either of these houses. I'm a big believer in everything in life being a trade-off, nothing being perfect, and this may be as close to perfect as we're going to find.
* * * *
My own desire to live in the suburbs continues to amaze me.
I grew up in the suburbs of New York City - bored, depressed, rebellious, and counting days (for years!) til I could leave the loony bin my home had become. I always loved The City, spent as much time there as I could, and always wanted to live there.
When I left for college (university) in Philadelphia, I moved out of the house for good, never coming back for more than a weekend again. After Philadelphia, I moved to New York, and that was that. I swore I'd never live in the suburbs. (Never is such a stupid word!) I thrived on urban life for more than 20 years.
But my last several years in New York, I really wanted to live in a house, to have a little outdoor space, to own a car. There seemed no way to make this happen - until we moved here. But if our grand experiment with suburbia wasn't working out, this would be the prime opportunity to end it. Because apparently we could rent a really nice house in a great Toronto neighbourhood, retaining the benefits of some outdoor space and a car, but going back to urban life.
But we don't want to. We want to live out here. Part of me can't quite believe it, but there it is.
36 comments:
I love the Beaches (though if you move there, you have to start calling it "The Beach", and complain about all those ignorant non-Beachers who call it "The Beaches" ;) ), but I wouldn't want to live there. As you said, it's a little far from downtown (though not bad for me -- it's a great bike ride in! -- and the Queen trolley'd get you downtown pretty quickly), though the main thing that bothers Lori & I about it is the summer crowds.
I love how you've turned having to make a choice you didn't really want to be faced with into a positive learned-something-about-myself experience. I hope you get the Mississauga house and then reveal the neighbourhood! When I come back to Canada I will consult your research!
Congrats. If things go through, the only question remains if you will you have that nagging feeling that you could have found something that much better if you just looked that little bit more.
Or maybe that's just me.
Wow, that sounds like you have two very valid options. Rock on!
though if you move there, you have to start calling it "The Beach", and complain about all those ignorant non-Beachers who call it "The Beaches" ;)
Funny thing, many people have said this - but only people who don't live there! Our two friends who live there both call it "The Beaches".
One is Doug, who comments here. (And who found us this house possibility - before it was even officially listed on the rental market!!) He seems to say Beaches.
The other is a co-worker who has lived there for 15 years, has always called it The Beaches, and says that the argument is fabricated - that most residents call it Beaches! Funny!
the only question remains if you will you have that nagging feeling that you could have found something that much better if you just looked that little bit more.
We actually just talked about that. :)
I would say, no, that's not us.
Since this is our second time looking for rental houses in this price range, I feel I have a handle on what's out there, and what the drawbacks will usually be. We are on a deadline, and passing up 90% in the hopes of finding 95% is more risk than we are comfortable with.
The Mississauga house would be perfect if it were on the Lakeshore GO line. However, finding a house with all it has to offer, at the right price, on the Lakeshore line, seems highly unlikely, if not impossible. Anything we're seeing nearer the Lakeshore is either (a) really run-down, (b) out of our price range or (c) also on the market to be sold.
Thanks for the good wishes, all. :)
As Laura says, everything is a trade off, and since we have a deadline to find a place -- though a generous deadline -- turning down a beautiful house with a very private yard that is actually about 2/3 (!) the size of the football field we have now in the hopes of finding something that can match that PLUS have a bit more perfection (Lakeshore line) seems silly. And way too risky for us.
I'm completely sold on the Mississauga house, a bit more than Laura at this point.
Today, we are going to check out the street and area during daylight. When we got there last night and were waiting for the owner, there were dozens of parents and kids out for Halloween. It was quite nice.
a very private yard that is actually about 2/3 (!) the size of the football field
Oh my... you are from the US aren't you? Everything compares to a football field down there, so funny!
And this from people who hate football! :)
But we hate football!
How about "a soccer field"?
damn - beat me again!
In general, Canadians rarely use comparative sizes, especially for area. For real estate, you'll find people refer more often to the frontage and depth... oddly enough in feet.
For instance, my property is 50x150 with the house centred.
I don't ever recall people describing their backyard in comparative terms, unless it's personal (ie. "my new backyard is almost twice the size of my old one!"). My backyard is 50'x30'.
That could be a personal quirk of ours. We never measure anything or know how big anything is in metres, feet or anything else. Remember, we're permanent renters. :)
unless it's personal (ie. "my new backyard is almost twice the size of my old one!").
In fact, that's what Allan did. The new one will be 2/3 the size of the current one, and thank goodness, because the current one is TOO big and it floods all winter!
Mmmm... swamp.
I can attest that it is, indeed, not just you who compares things to football fields. It seems to be a very "American" thing to do and occurs a lot in the US media, both news and entertainment.
It's actually quite humourous to hear it repeatedly used in US shows as some of the comparisons sound, to my ears, almost ridiculous.
Well, whatever.
I didn't mean it was peculiar to us to use football-field comparisons, merely that we never measure anything. My guess is that's the first and last time we've ever used such a comparison at all!
Off to look at neighbourhoods now, ta-ta!
One thing I'm wondering is why it has to be near the Lakeshore GO line, if you're working downtown. Although I don't know what area you're looking at now, is it also too far from the Milton line?
In any case, best of luck with it!
Good luck with the neighbourhood! You may find you're closer to the Milton line at the (potential) new location. It has 6 trains in peak direction running from about 6:30 in the morning (arriving 7:17) to 8:00 in the morning (arriving 8:52). Lots of buses.
Good luck I hope it all works out, however it goes it sounds like you'll be happy....
in regards to the Beaches, Beach thing it's a crock the library is called the Beaches branch and has been for a 100 years,,,plus the Beaches is comprised of 4 beaches so by my re-collection in English class,Beach plural is Beaches.Everyone here calls it Beaches,,,it's like to me Rogers Center will always be the Skydome...no matter how manty times I am corrected
Oh... btw, the times are from Milton (your times would be later and shorter).
Ah, it occurs to me that you'd want to be on the Lakeshore line because the Milton line only has buses on the weekend.
The "eventual" (ie. 10+ year) plan is to offer all day, seven day service on the Milton line. When the Lisgar station was announced they specifically mentioned that there was provision made for a third track which would allow this.
Funny thing, many people have said this - but only people who don't live there! Our two friends who live there both call it "The Beaches".
Last time I read the neighbourhood newsletter, there was a three or four article spread on "Beach" vs "Beaches" and what would go on the neighbourhood street signs, which included the standard "Yea vs Nay" editorial pairing. So at least some people over there think it's a real debate! :)
here's the lowdown on the Beaches "controversy"..new Business association a couple years ago, they want street signs like Leslieville, Riverdale etc.....so blah,blah, blah....vote held in May....Beach wins, goes on the street signs....Blah,blah,blah....issue over...anyone who lives here doesn't even talk about it now as it was 5 months ago...it was just a amusing antedote in the coffee shops etc...
Ah, it occurs to me that you'd want to be on the Lakeshore line because the Milton line only has buses on the weekend.
You are correct, sir - and not just weekends.
Only the Lakeshore line has trains all day, 7 dys/wk. I'll take a train into the city in the middle of the day or late afternoon to do something fun, take a train home at 10 pm. I would miss that freedom. It was hard enough for me to get used to trains that run only once an hour (as opposed to a subway that runs very frequently).
All the other GO lines have only a few morning trains into Toronto and a few evening trains coming back, for people who work a strictly 9-5 kind of day.
I'm trying to get my mind around commuting by bus. The bus goes direct from Cooksville to Union, so maybe it's not so bad.
And frankly, we had forgotten all about the buses. We were imagining the trains stop - and then there's nothing. The existence of the buses does make it more possible.
The "eventual" (ie. 10+ year) plan is to offer all day, seven day service on the Milton line.
With any luck that won't be like the "eventual" Second Avenue Subway. As in, never.
the library is called the Beaches branch and has been for a 100 years,,,plus the Beaches is comprised of 4 beaches so by my re-collection in English class,Beach plural is Beaches.Everyone here calls it Beaches
Sounds pretty logical to me.
it's like to me Rogers Center will always be the Skydome
Me too. :)
Someone recently laughed at me for calling a NYC subway fare a "token". Hey, I know there are no tokens anymore, I was there for that - but to me and millions of other people, it's still a token.
You may find you're closer to the Milton line at the (potential) new location.
Oh yeah, I meant to say that. We'd be near the Cooksville stop on the Milton line. The owner told us his daughter takes a GO bus from Square One (the mall) to Union Station, and that's even closer. So there are some options.
Right now we have the luxury of being walking distance from the GO. But that is very rare, we know we can't expect that. Allan would have to drive me, or else I'd leave the car at the station. Very different. Tres suburban.
Glad to hear the hunt is going well!
Don't panic about time - compared to most house-hunters, you have tons of time. Maybe too much. Most people work with 2 months notice, meaning a lot of houses available for your move-date may not even be on the market yet... the current tenant knows they're moving but the landlord is still in blissful ignorance...
Anyway, I'm sure it will work out. This house sounds great.
Most people work with 2 months notice, meaning a lot of houses available for your move-date may not even be on the market yet...
Our landlord told us this, too. But there are plenty of places on the market for Dec 1 or Jan 1, and we can take one of those. It doesn't have to be Feb 1.
We're not panicked, or anything even approaching that, but we would like to settle on something quickly. We don't feel the need to look for months or see 20 places. When we see the right place, we'll go for it.
Which may have already happened, but we'll see. :)
I always found the Milton line (and associated buses) very frustrating compared to the Lakeshore line. Milton, you have to know the schedule, and if you miss your train/bus the wait is uncomfortably long. Lakeshore, I can just show up at the station and something will come along within an acceptable period of time. It might be less frustrating if you're only going from Cooksville though.
Another thing to look at if you haven't yet is how convenient it is to take a Mississauga bus (or drive) to Islington station and then take the subway downtown. I know it sounds like a silly idea, but I know several people in different parts of Mississauga who find this easier at certain times of the week.
As Impudent Strumpet points out, Square One has frequent service to the Subway. If it's closer, and you like the subway, you can always get downtown or home easily. Even if you don't use it regularly it's comforting to know the option is there.
I'd still prefer the GO bus.
Re Islington, that doesn't sound like a silly idea. More options are always better.
Lakeshore, I can just show up at the station and something will come along within an acceptable period of time.
During the day, after rush hour, the trains once an hour, period. Everyone's different, but for me, that's not a "show up and wait" schedule. I have to know the schedule and time my trip.
The buses from Cooksville run once an hour, too. I haven't taken a GO bus yet, but we'll see.
It's a long, long ride though. From Square One to Islington is 30-35 minutes. From Islington to St. George is about 20-25 minutes. From St. George to Union is about 10-15 minutes. With two transfers, add 10-15 minutes wait time.
So in total the trip is between one and a quarter and one and three quarter hours.
Contrast this with a GO Bus or Train time of 30-40 minutes and GO looks very attractive especially considering during the week it's running very frequently (almost always half-hourly to Cooksville GO).
The other cool thing? GO is actually *CHEAPER* than TTC + Mississauga Transit. Both TTC and MT's ticket-based fare is $2.10 per ticket and you need both to go one way, therefore the one-way discounted cost is $4.20. With GO, the one-way discounted cost is $4.05 (a ten ride is $40.50). With cash fares the savings is even better: $5 for TTC/MT vs. $4.40 for GO.
I'm just dwelling on this because I'm jealous... travelling GO to Newmarket is considerably more expensive than TTC/YRT. And our service is much less frequent.
Just looked again... Weekend service to Cooksville is half-hourly too! The only exceptions are around 10pm at night and later. And they go as late as the Subway on all days except Sunday! You lucky ducks!
Doi, brainfart! I completely forgot that the additional Lakeshore buses go straight to Hamilton instead of stopping everywhere, so you would have to know the schedule anyway.
It's a long, long ride though. ... So in total the trip is between one and a quarter and one and three quarter hours.
Argh! No way. At that point, I'd just drive in.
Contrast this with a GO Bus or Train time of 30-40 minutes and GO looks very attractive especially considering during the week it's running very frequently
Yes, definitely.
Doi, brainfart!
Hee hee.
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