Willowdale Homes and Real Estate Toronto

When Jacob Cummer built his mill among the great willow trees on the banks of the Don River in 1797, he could not have imagined the large, diverse and thriving community that today spreads north from Highway 401 to Steeles Avenue and east from Senlac Avenue to Leslie Street. Today, Willowdale is home to more than 80,000 residents and, until the 1998 merger that created the new City of Toronto, the neighbourhood was the commercial and government centre of the City of North York.

Yonge Street runs north-south through the centre of Willowdale, forming a restricted corridor of high-density, high-rise residential and commercial development. Elsewhere, however, Willowdale is a middle-class residential neighbourhood, with housing stock that typically comprises detached homes — primarily modest post-war brick bungalows and back-splits in the $450,000 range. Prices tend to be lower west of Yonge, with the least expensive opportunities currently to the north and west of Senlac Road.

However, new townhomes are being added to the mix, as are massive new mansions in the $800,000-plus range. (The term “monster homes” was first coined in Willowdale.) Numerous condo buildings have also been built along Yonge and Finch streets in the past 10 years — evidence of keen developer and buyer interest in this area.

Streets are typically lined with mature shade trees, and Willowdale lot sizes tend to be generous. The area attracts many young families and new immigrants, drawn by the relatively affordable Willowdale homes and real estate, by the close availability of strong elementary and middle schools, and by easy access to the Yonge and Sheppard subway lines and Highway 401.

Area attractions include the Douglas Snow Aquatic Centre, North York Centre for the Performing arts, and the Gibson House Museum, as well as the broad selection of restaurants, bars and movie houses along Yonge.

For current information on available listings for Willowdale homes and real estate, please see the column at the left of this page. Listings are updated daily, so we recommend that you bookmark this page and check back frequently.