Housing bargains to be found in Oshawa, Pickering: TRREB report

If you’re looking for bargains in the real estate market you need to keep an eye on Durham Region – in particular Oshawa – to find housing value close to the big city.

According to data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s November affordability report (compiled by real estate company Zoocasa), Oshawa offered the most affordable condo townhouses in the 905 area, with an average selling price of $564,448. The city was also first for semi-detached homes (tied with neighbouring Pickering) at $660,778; second for condo apartments at $424,181; and fourth for townhouse prices at $802,000.

The average price for semi-detached homes in the GTA/905 is $956,789. For condos, the average selling price is $639,390.

Other Durham Region communities to make the list included the aforementioned Pickering – tied with Oshawa for most affordable semi-detached homes in the 905 – and Clarington, which was third for best value in condo apartments at $512,600.

If you don’t mind the drive north, Essa Township (southwest of Barrie) offers the best value for detached homes at $709,583 and for row/townhouses at $631,950.

The average price for detached homes in Eassa is barely over half the average price in the GTA, which stands at $1,369.132.

And you really need to be in Toronto, there are some affordable neighbourhoods in the condominium market, with West Hill (Scarborough) and Centennial Park (Etobicoke) averaging $426,167, and Dorset Park and Kennedy Park in Scarborough and Black Creek and York University Heights in North York all averaging less than $510,000.