Waterloo Apartments
Hillsdale Apartments123 Vine StWaterloo |
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from $730 per month |
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About Waterloo
Waterloo is home to about 165,000 people and counting and is considered a bedroom community. Waterloo's location makes it a prime destination for commuters looking to relocate outside the GTA. With GO Train access to downtown Toronto, people can live comfortably in Waterloo and be to work in 45 minutes.
Waterloo is conveniently located 10 minutes from Hamilton, 45 minutes from Toronto and 1.5 hours from Buffalo, NY. It is also about 3.5 hours from the Windsor - Detroit border crossing. Waterloo, much like its neighbour Hamilton, seems to be at the center of all the action. Commuting just 30 - 45 minutes take you to cities such as Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and St. Catharines, expanding the area in which you can find a job.
Being close to Hamilton has its advantages. Hamilton is home to many beautiful parks and waterfalls not to mention world class golf courses and many other big city attractions. It also provides easy access to one of Canada's best health care systems, Hamilton Health Science.
Finding an apartment in Waterloo should be pretty easy. Prices and quality vary widely however there is a large selection of apartments to choose from so take your time when searching. You should be able to find what you're looking for in the location you want.
Where to live in Waterloo
Waterloo is basically cut in half by the QEW. On the east side of the QEW is the downtown area. Waterloo does not have your typical downtown. Located along the shores of Lake Ontario, Waterloo's downtown is full of condos, shops and restaurants and is very vibrant. The vast majority of apartment buildings are located in this area and prices do range quite a bit
Look for any number of apartments in and around the hospital and all along the lakeshore. These will be your priciest apartments since they often have a lake view and they put you in the center of the action. If you move inland just a little though, you can find some more reasonably priced properties. Look on Maple Avenue, Elgin Street and Nelson Avenue for an apartment that might be suitable to your budget.
To the west of the QEW you have mostly newer housing and retail. There are a few apartments to choose from and prices are lower here than in the downtown area.
Transportation Routes
As you can already tell, Waterloo offers excellent highway access. Downtown apartment dwellers have the option of getting to the QEW via North Shore Boulevard or by taking one of Brant Street or Guelph Line.
If you live in an apartment on the west side of the QEW you have the added benefit of being able to easily access Hwy 407. Note: Hwy 407 is a toll highway and can be rather costly to travel on. While it can be expensive to use, it does provide a fast and reliable route to locations in the north end of Toronto all the way to Oshawa.
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Rental rates in Waterloo
Apartments in Waterloo are quite expensive when compared to other cities of similar size such as St. Catharines and Oshawa. One bedroom apartments can cost anywhere from $800 per month to about $1,125. Two bedroom apartments typically start at $900 per month but can easily cost as much as $1,350. Vacancy rates in Waterloo are below provincial averages at 2.4%.
Industry in Waterloo
Waterloo benefits heavily from its strategic location and excellent transportation system. Most people living in Waterloo, work somewhere other than Waterloo. With an easy commute by care or on the GO Train, jobs in cities such as Hamilton, Oakville, Mississauga and Toronto are possible. If you're looking for a career in retail or fine dining, you can find a job in Waterloo.
Safety __google_idelines for Waterloo
Waterloo as a whole is a very safe city. Crime is low and there are few if any trouble areas in the city. The downtown is very vibrant and active which is great for keeping crime to a minimum. To be certain the apartment building you're considering is managed to the highest standards; look for the Certified Rental Building symbol. For more information, visit http://crbprogram.org/index.php
Other locations to consider
Waterloo is located in close proximity to Hamilton, Oakville, Stoney Creek and Milton. Oakville apartment prices are comparable to Waterloo's. Hamilton apartments on the other hand cost much less than Waterloo apartments. Milton offers access to Hwy 401 which could lead to job opportunity in cities north of Mississauga and Toronto. Stoney Creek will likely be too far out if you want easy access to the GO Train but offers easier access to jobs in the Niagara Region as well as jobs in East Hamilton or Ancaster.