Olde Oakville
Olde Oakville exudes class and charm with its mix of historic heritage homes and new custom built residences. Some of Oakville's most prestigious streets are located here - including Balsam Drive, Chartwell Road and Gloucester Drive - with estates valued in the range of $5 million to $15 million. Though half acre lots are not uncommon, there are also a number of townehome and condominium developments close to the downtown core.
Residents here enjoy taking advantage of the proximity to downtown Oakville, strolling to the quaint shops and fine restaurants along Lakeshore Road. Nestled south of Lakeshore Road are private lakefront properties, public walkways and parks. This vibrant community boasts annual events such as the Oakville Jazz Festival, Midnight Madness and various arts and crafts shows.
Olde Oakville possesses distinct Heritage districts just to the north of downtown, as well as south of Lakeshore Road. Protected by the Ontario Heritage Act, modification of homes with historic significance is regulated to maintain and preserve the distinct charm of the era in which they were built.
Morrison
Arguably the most desirable location for custom home building in Oakville, this area is lush with 100 year old trees, large lots offering loads of privacy, and a tranquil, Muskoka-like feel to the community. Typical lots are 100 ft wide by 150 ft in depth, though 3/4 of an acre is not uncommon. Builders and individuals looking to construct their dream homes spend an average of $1 million on these prime plots of land.
Reputed as one of the most affluent communities in Canada, estate homes in Morrison have sold for as much as $37 million. Located in one of the best school districts in Ontario, teenagers here have the privilege of attending one of Ontario's top rated public high schools for academics - Oakville Trafalgar High School. Families opting for private schooling don't have to send their daughters far to provide them with the finest quality education, as offered by the acclaimed St. Mildreds-Lightbourn School for Girls.
A drive along Lakeshore Rd. E. reveals homes of the grandest scale, where private, gated entrances and acreage abound. Although much of the waterfront is privately owned by these estates, all Morrison residents can enjoy Lake Ontario at Gairloch Gardens, with its lavish gardens, walking trails and art gallery.
Ford
The Ford community encompasses the Southeast corner of Oakville. Minutes to the QEW, commuters love the easy access to downtown Toronto (25 minutes by car or GO train). At the end of the day, they enjoy returning home to a neighbourhood rich in wooded areas and parks.
Ford offers a blend of traditional family homes as well as newly constructed custom residences. Much of the residential development took place in the 1960's and 1970's, with many homes refreshed over the years through renovations. Many buyers now seek to tear down older homes and construct newer residences. Generally, smaller homes are located in subdivisions in the northern section of the community, where lot sizes are not conducive to building new. As one heads south to the lake, properties increase in house size, lot size and in value. In fact, this stretch of Lakeshore Rd. boasts some of Oakville's most beautiful lakefront and estate homes.
Clearview
An Oakville address with a Mississauga flavour, this community offers a combination of house styles for families at every stage - affordable towns and semis for young families, as well as larger 3 and 4 bedroom detached homes to grow into. Lot sizes for these homes are quite decent, averaging 50 ft width by 100 ft depth.
A planned subdivision that was built in the 1980's, this neighbourhood is tucked away east of Ford Drive, between the QEW and Royal Windsor Dr. Residents are attracted by its proximity to Mississauga and easy access to the QEW and 403.
Bronte
This community is made up of the Village of Bronte as well as the neighbourhoods that have been developed to the west of the village in the past 30 years. Waterfront properties and others south of Lakeshore are significantly more expensive than the average home in the area.
There are three distinct areas within Bronte: The Village itself, which is home to many condo and townhome developments which many seniors find desirable; numerous older, detached homes surrounding the village (between Third Line and Burloak and south of Rebecca to Lake Ontario); and the newest development of Lakeshore Woods (located at the most westerly point of Oakville, stretching from Rebecca Street to Lakeshore Road West). Lakeshore Woods is a trendy newer development of single family homes and townhomes.
Bronte also offers high rise condos. The prestigious Ennisclare condominiums are made up of 4 buildings and attract a large senior population. They enjoy the lake views, short walking distance to the shops, amenities in the village and the walking trails along Lake Ontario.
Two new condo developments are in the works in the Bronte area. Fernbrook's "The Shores" has just commenced development, and the Pemberton Group's "Bluwater Condominiums" is to commence development in 2011/2012. Both are large projects with multi story buildings and impeccable views of Lake Ontario. Bronte is known for some great restaurants and parks. The most notable park is Shell Park, which boasts a skateboard park, dog walking park and many sports facilities.
Joshua Creek
One of the newer subdivisions in Oakville, Joshua Creek is an upscale community of luxury homes. One of the many elements residents find appealing is its proximity to Toronto and Mississauga, and easy access to highways. Located close to the 403, 407 and QEW, this community boasts a travel distance of a mere 30 kms (approximately) to downtown Toronto. For those who prefer public transit, it is only a 25 minute train ride to Union Station (the heart of downtown Toronto) from nearby Clarkson GO Station.
This neighbourhood is located close to excellent shopping (big box stores) and is next to the White Oaks Golf Course. Ravine properties and larger homes with premium lots sell above $1 million. A typical town home sells in the $500,000 range.
The Joshua Creek development was essentially built in two phases. The first phase began construction in the mid to late 1990's, then began to expand north around 2004. New builds continue today, they boast newer designs with luxury finishes. The primary home builders in Joshua Creek are Dawn Victoria, Ballantry, Sundial, Mattamy, National and Fernbrook - all enjoy reputations as good quality home builders.
Joshua Creek is known for its great schools with access to both private and public schools.
Wedgewood Creek
Much of the development of homes in Wedgewood Creek happened in the mid-to-late 1980's, with newer phases following. Located just west of Joshua Creek, residents here enjoy the same commuting benefits as the newer Joshua Creek area, with easy access to the 403, 407 and QEW. Large shopping plazas and big box stores are also abundant in this area.
Many of the original homes in Wedgewood Creek are being renovated up to modern standards, allowing residents to enjoy contemporary designs on more generous lot sizes and with more mature greenery than their more recently built counterparts. Homes here are generally of a traditional style with a brick facade and double car garage. Most are detached, but townhomes are also available. A typical lot size for a 4-bedroom detached home might be 50' in frontage and 110' in depth.
Falgarwood
Located in North East Oakville just above the QEW, Falgarwood is a mature community rich with parks. Many homeowners here enjoy moderately priced homes, ravine lots, plus quick and easy access to the QEW, 403, GO Stations and downtown Toronto.
Though detached bungalows and 2 storey homes abound, Falgarwood also offers an excellent selection of affordable townhomes.
River Oaks
River Oaks is a newer community bordering on the east side of Sixteen Mile Creek, centrally located in North Oakville. It is a family oriented neighbourhood with most homes built in the late 1990's or early 2000's. Some more recently built condominium apartment buildings are also located here. Newer homes with an old fashioned charm add character to the area. These include Colonial style carriage homes with detached garages at the back, and quaint townhomes, semis and detached homes designed in a vintage urban style. Larger and more upscale homes built along the banks of Sixteen Mile Creek average well over $1 million. River Oaks residents enjoy miles of nature trails, several parks and very close proximity to major retailers.
College Park
Located in North East Oakville, College Park is home to the renowned Sheridan College, which is known for its great arts programs amongst others. Fittingly, College Park offers plenty of apartment living for college students and seniors, and some of the most affordable housing in Oakville. A wide variety of housing is available overall, including detached (bungalows, split-levels, and 2-stories), semi-detached and townhomes.
In addition to the moderately priced homes available, College Park offers some beautiful lots backing onto Sixteen Mile Creek, many of which are in a desirable area known as "The Enclaves". "The Enclaves" is a collection of quiet cul-de-sacs where some of the largest homes in the area are located. Many boast 3 car garages and generous lots backing onto the creek. Some of these homes have sold in excess of $1 million. In addition, the Oakville Golf Club is located in College Park, surrounded by modest homes with the attractive feature of backing onto a golf course.
Generally speaking, most homes in the College Park area were built in the 1970's and early 1980's, with some newer development over the years. Residents enjoy mature treed lots and easy access to the QEW and the Oakville GO Station.
Glen Abbey
Glen Abbey is one of the first truly planned communities in Oakville and home to the world famous Glen Abbey Golf Club. Most homes were built in the 1980's and 1990's, with fewer new builds. Many of the original houses are now going through the renewal phases with windows, roofs, kitchens and baths being replaced.
Glen Abbey offers maturity by way of landscaping and tree canopies. Generally, lot sizes range in frontage from 40 - 60' and depth from 115 - 120'. Though there are many mid-priced homes here, higher end properties do sell for over $1 million. Those fetching these kind of prices are usually located on big lots backing onto ravines, or are located in the exclusive Fairway Hills development. Fairway Hills is an enclave of luxury homes built adjacent to and bordering Glen Abbey Golf Club.
Westoak Trails
Westoak Trails is a newer community of homes, most built in the late 1990's and early 2000's. Typical to newer areas, lot sizes here tend to be smaller than those located south of Upper Middle Road.
Homes here are available in a wide range of price points, many of which are moderate. Though plenty of townhomes, semi's and detached homes are available for young families and first time buyers, some of the largest, most luxurious homes on ravine lots come with price tags in excess of $1 million.
This area is known as a wonderful family community with fantastic walking trails nestled throughout the neighbourhood, as well as plenty of playgrounds and splash pads. It is centrally located within North Oakville, making it close to shopping and access to major highways (407, 403 and QEW).
Westmount
One of the newest communities in North Oakville with some parts still under development, Westmount is located in the west end of town. It is a planned subdivision with access to all of the amenities North Oakville has to offer. The largest detached homes here can be in excess of 4000 sq. ft., valued at more than $1 million. Plenty of smaller detached homes, as well as semi's and townhomes define the area. As is typical for a newer area, lot sizes are smaller here than in more mature neighbourhoods.
Bronte Creek
Built on the grounds of the old Richview Golf Club, this community has been developed by Monarch Homes and features other builders including Fernbrook Homes and Branthaven Homes. Nestled between Bronte Rd. and the Oakville/Burlington town line, Bronte Creek borders the lush parklands of Bronte Creek Provincial Park. This is one of Oakville's newest communities, with the last development occurring in 2011. Some of the most luxurious homes here are valued at well over $1 million. Typically these are the larger homes loaded with upgrades and custom features which also back onto the Provincial Park or boast other ravine exposure.
This community can be considered the west-end counterpart to Joshua Creek, as the two developments are quite similar. Interestingly, there tends to be a location premium from North West Oakville towards North East Oakville, as buyers in the east end are willing to pay more for the benefit of a shorter commute to downtown Toronto.
