Downtown Toronto Apartment Hunting - What Can You Rent For $2,000 Per Month (or less)?!

[@stephandden]

Have you seen increased rent prices where you live? Also - let us know which unit was your favourite! ⬇

[@TraderPulse]

I'm not even looking to move, but I still love browsing to see what the rent prices are every now and then

[@stephandden]

Same! It’s definitely a fun activity

[@rachelcarter7620]

I work on designing high rise architecture in Toronto and the dots on the windows are called Bird Frit! It's supposed to prevent birds from flying into the glass and is usually only on the lower levels of condo buildings 😊

[@stephandden]

Totally makes sense! Thanks for sharing 😊

[@timtamtums]

As someone who is conscious of the environment and impacts of urbanization- THANK YOUUUUU

[@michaelb1082]

I got a new job near Union station and I'm looking to move downtown. I've definitely felt these rent prices, I wish I had a partner to split rent with LOL. Thank you for making the videos, it's nice to see Canadian-focused content and this gave me some insights for my apartment hunting journey :)

[@stephandden]

Good luck with the search! 😊

[@soggybox]

I used to live on Madison Ave, but in a rooftop unit :) The Annex is just amazing. The historic architecture, walkability, proximity to the subway, delicious food options, and community feeling. I used to bike up and down the tree-lined streets for hours. Great memories!

[@stephandden]

Agreed, it's a great neighbourhood! 😊

[@JadenHercules]

Been a bit MIA lately, but just wanted to say that I still love your guys' content! Getting a lot of things done and got a pay raise of like 5 bucks more per hour, so I'm trying to focus on making my new position permanent and start a second job to increase my savings! :) You are the channel that really changed my perspective on money. Yours, Meet Kevin, Graham and a few others.

[@stephandden]

Hey Jaden! So glad you're back and a big congrats on the pay raise! 🙌🏿🙌🏻 We're happy to hear that you're crushing it 😊

[@PWingert1966]

I used to live about a block from the second unit on Huron Street. Nice area and you have complete access to Bloor St. and all the food and restaurant goodness that is in that area.

[@stephandden]

It's nice to hear your first hand thoughts on the area! 😊

[@cynthiareid5331]

Not sure if you’ve touched on this but people should be wary of 1 year leases on buildings newer than 2018 as there is apparently no cap on rent increases once your lease is up! My sister is currently dealing with a 500/month rent increase.

[@stephandden]

None of the places we showed in this video were brand new, but that is something to be aware of!

[@nathanhastings9450]

Hey guys! I realize this isn't relevant to this video, but I'm currently interviewing to go from mid-market to Big 4. Granted it's at the manager level, but your videos from that time period have been invaluable in helping me to navigate that move, and I wanted to say thank you.

[@Christina-ns5tb]

Awesome video guys! Love this idea. Could you do a video on assessment on Toronto neighbourhoods? Like which areas have good restaurants, are safe, average rent prices etc? Keep making amazing content! I wish you guys success! (Also new subscriber here!)

[@latoyabarrow4154]

Love you guys. You should do an update to this video since offices are asking for people to back to in person as well as schools

[@stephandden]

Thank you! We'll try and do another one soon 😊

[@niloofarzarif7225]

I'd go with the last apartment. I can't stand an old kitchen 'cause no matter how you maintain and clean it, it'll never look really neat.

[@stephandden]

That's true - it's a being clean vs being and looking clean feeling!

[@jagirl_vendetta2197]

Living in Brampton and prices have definitely increased significantly here😫 currently paying $1650 for a 1 bedroom (older kitchen, no microwave, huge living room and bedroom, a storage room and a balcony). However I know someone who moved to Brampton about 5 years ago in a 2bedroom and only pay $1250!!!!! Crazy 😩 I decided I needed to move out a basement apartment and get into an actual apartment complex before rent became too high for me (single person income )

[@stephandden]

It's always crazy to compare how quickly prices can go up!! Space and updated features feel like the biggest compromises for sure

[@soleilnotalexis]

Hey Steph & Den! As I type this I'm in the middle of watching the video but I was just wondering. Could you guys do a video like this but focusing on 2 bedrooms/1or2 bathroom units?

[@cocoa_cake]

apartment hunting vids are my fave!

[@stephandden]

🥳🥳 us too!

[@Democromentor]

As someone who grew up around eglinton, hearing the annex be called “midtown” is quite jarring to me, basically just outskirts of downtown (though true midtown probably wouldn’t make for diverse content since it’s becoming more analogous to downtown every day)

[@stephandden]

The Annex is basically the bottom left corner of midtown - not centre midtown 😊 and definitely closer to downtown!

[@chloepenguins]

lol same, annex is not midtown lmaoo

[@kais1539]

Yes more videos about life in Canada & Toronto pls! Greetings from Germany

[@stephandden]

Hi! Thanks for watching 😊

[@MsFiorella1996]

I rented my condo in the downtown core for $1550/month in March 2021, now a similar unit in my building is renting for $2100 😅

[@asadb1990]

because many buildings are not rent controlled

[@lr7035]

Rent prices were also down at that time due to the pandemic. In Nov 2020, my partner and I rented a unit for $1600/mo. Now that we've moved, that same unit is renting for $2000.

[@aubreytraverse.]

Loved this Keep up the great work guys you know the vibes!!!

[@stephandden]

🙌🏿🙌🏻 thank you!!

[@yasinnabi]

I am very grateful that we can find great educational videos on KZbin nowadays. I really appreciate your efforts making these videos. subbed and liked ! a fellow creator :)))

[@stephandden]

So glad you're here! Thanks for watching 😊

[@amyhainsworth3739]

Are you two using an agent to look at apartments? Is that recommended (I know in Hong Kong and London that is the norm) or can you contact landlords directly?!

[@Hannah-dj3nf]

@8:06 fraternity nearby yet a quiet street. Must've been Saturday morning 😅😅

[@stephandden]

Hahaha, it was! 😂

[@mdte5421]

I live in in young and DAVISVILLE - moved in during Covid and I’m paying 1600. Very nice with indoor pool and gym .. I think now rents around this area has gone up .

[@dawsoniezen]

Does Den hold the camera low or is Steph just really tall? Love the videos guys!

[@stephandden]

I’m 5’7! 😊 & thank you!

[@joannapatterson4625]

My home! I miss downtown Toronto. Lived there for years. I’m now in AB (moved for work)

[@stephandden]

We love it, and there's so many different neighbourhoods to see 😊

[@PWingert1966]

That house is almost identical to the rooming house I lived in Operated by a social housing provider with RGI rents. My room was only $149 a month. In our case, the upper floor has a bathroom and three bedrooms. One of the bedrooms would have been your kitchen. There was a total of ten Rooms: rented in the building including three TMoloc's in the Basement #ThetimeMachineHGWellsReferences

[@niloofarzarif7225]

Can you please do a video on GICs. Assume the scenario where one is saving to buy a property, putting that money in the stock market can be risky but should we use a GIC instead of HISA for that money? It would be nice to do a comparison between HISA and GIC and the cases in which one is better than the other.

[@mvk72]

Superintendents were running a big scam saying 3 months free but the lease was for 15 months

[@stephandden]

That wouldn't be a good situation to run into if you were planning to only stay for twelve months!

[@Pessimismprincess]

This literally came at the perfect time!! I was just about to go rewatch your last apartment tour video!

[@stephandden]

Amazing timing! Are you planning on moving? 😊

[@Pessimismprincess]

@@stephandden Yes! I’ll be moving from Ottawa to Toronto soon.

[@larry6682]

That was fun to watch. First place, the bathroom and tiny fridge would be a deal breaker for me but liked the natural light, view, and the deck. Second place, basement units are just too dark and depressing to contemplate. Third place, unimaginative layout and felt cramped. Fourth place, kind of nice but too cramped for a couple (and maybe even a single).

[@stephandden]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Larry! 😊

[@Steven-uq2sj]

I’m in a boutique-ish loft at Richmond and Spadina. A few months back we had 750sqft units going for 2,100. Still a few in the area floating in that price range.

[@stephandden]

Thanks for sharing! 😊🥳

[@Kblackm0]

oh I'm moving to Toronto in a few months, so this is great insight!

[@stephandden]

Woo, have a great move! 🎉

[@bilingualdiaries5110]

Hello from Australia! I was wondering with your budgets and savings, what are your thoughts on having children? Also the cost of childcare in Toronto? Thanks

[@6thonyGodtano]

The word "invest" when used with housing honestly disgusts me now. Just my two cents...houses should be for living, not for investing.

[@justincosplay]

is there a reason you guys are staying in toronto ? if you are doing everything online could you move elsewhere for cheaper to save even more $$

[@stephandden]

We like living in Toronto for now 😊 that could change in the future!

[@CanadianDividendInvesting]

Interesting stuff, thanks for sharing!

[@stephandden]

Thanks for watching! ✨

[@ninod3020]

That first apartment looks similar to Steve Antonioni, fellow Canadian KZbin personal finance dude.

[@stephandden]

We love Steve’s channel!

[@KevBautista]

Hi Steph and Den, thanks for the video. Not sure if you're also looking to move into one of these places but, does an apartment being under rent control a big consideration for you two? These new condos/townhouses sure looks good but I'm afraid that they are non-rent controlled. I can't imagine how I'll feel if all of a sudden I'm forced due to unreasonable rent hikes after a year. Long term stays are usually more compatible on older apartments, no? Thank you and looking forward to more of your videos.

[@stephandden]

Good point - we showed a mix of different styles in this video, and some of the units were older 😊 we're not looking to move ourselves at the moment! & thank you, more to come!

[@KevBautista]

@@stephandden Thanks for responding. Looking forward to your future videos! Maybe you can talk about on your next video how rent control affects tenants. Pros/cons and minor considerations. Just a thought. I'm sure a lot of your subscribers would appreciate that.

[@ornela2]

I love the annex area for the peaceful vibes( completely unbias opinion lol) also I didn’t think the kitchen in the first unit that was bad 😭🤣

[@stephandden]

Hahaha yes so nice around that area! And 😂😂 it was a nice amount of space and the balcony was beautiful - we couldn’t get over the yellow microwave though!

[@dmfaccount1272]

There is another KZbin channel like steph and den a couple who give financial advice the guys name is Craig I think they even have a wealthsimple ad on KZbin that keeps playing. I swear I've seen some of their videos before but I cannot find their channel. Does anyone know what the channel is or if they closed it?

[@dmfaccount1272]

Also love your guys show watch it all the time!

[@sampow44]

The dots on the windows are so birds don’t fly into them :)

[@stephandden]

Ou, interesting - that makes sense! 😊

[@thenotoriusl.i.t.8010]

«Buying an apartment is the worst investment you can make. Freedom is your number one asset» - Anton Kriel

[@stephandden]

This video is showing rentals!

[@NyfeNyte]

wow you guys literally viewed an apartment thats a few doors down from mine lol

[@stephandden]

Ha, that must've been funny to see!

[@vallisdiaries3062]

Can you suggest a place for a short term, say two months for two people for around 1k?

[@stephandden]

Thanks for the suggestion 😊

[@jecamartinez]

Maybe because im still somewhat new to Toronto but how much is the ideal hourly rate to be able to comfortably afford rent at 2k a month? I imagine the only way this works is by partners living in together to share rent (or a housemate if you convert the living area into a bedroom?)

[@asadb1990]

the min is like 40/h

[@ornela2]

4th unit is def my fav minus the price lol

[@stephandden]

Ha, yes minus the price! 😂🤧

[@JustInvestToday]

Get one before prices increase again... Toronto....

[@stephandden]

Prices have definitely been going up across the board!

[@shesallaboutthebusiness316]

I live I'm montreal and l want to move to Toronto but it's too expensive

[@stephandden]

It's definitely more expensive than Montreal, but there are some cool neighbourhoods that offer a lot, with manageable monthly rents . Let us know if you end up moving here! 😊

[@shesallaboutthebusiness316]

@@stephandden what about the job market is it easy to find a job there

[@katyaaquilani7728]

How tall are you guys?

[@stephandden]

5’7 and 5’11! 😊

[@klangkarussell4599]

What was the parking situation for these places?

[@stephandden]

Only the one unit had parking included!

[@showdown2006]

Yorkville is not what it once was, I have no idea why anyone would want to pay a premium to live there

[@stephandden]

What changes have you seen?

[@shilpasarah7229]

Are you both planning on moving?

[@stephandden]

Not at the moment 😊

[@AwesomeEliz]

steph is super tall

[@stephandden]

5’7 😊

[@simplyaizhan]

It doesnt make any sense to pay so much for old houses or tiny condos. Toronto is way overpriced🤦🏻‍♀️

[@stephandden]

Ha, you’re not wrong about that!

[@thecunningkrugereffect]

Why do you guys put American money in your screen grabs if you're Canadians living in Canada?

[@stephandden]

Because it’s the most recognized currency 😊 we’re in Canada, but our videos aren’t only for Canadians!

[@FinancialQnA]

Not gonna live Im from Toronto and I think it a scam to live here lol

[@pavanp1130]

👍First comment

[@stephandden]

🙌🏿🙌🏻

[@David-ey7xx]

put your hands down for a second when talking lol

[@stephandden]

We’re expressive 😊

[@FitFoodAE]

Had a small fridge at my old place (Entertainment district) and learned the hard way that a big fridge is the way to go!!

[@stephandden]

Ha, good advice!!