Toronto is a wildly diverse city with many, many neighborhoods. Which one you choose to buy your new home in will depend greatly on your lifestyle and your budget. For instance, if you're a young up-and-coming couple with great jobs in the financial district, you might look at Etobicoke townhouses, while if you were a quiet, retired couple you might rather look at a home in the suburbs. This article will provide you with a quick overview of the different areas there are to choose from.

Downtown/Old Toronto

The area that was originally known as Toronto occupies the southernmost portion of the metropolis, bordering on Lake Ontario. Most of Toronto's jobs, especially in the Finance and Entertainment sectors, are located here, and there's a heavy emphasis on condos because it's the most densely populated areas. Its popularity and the possibility of water views make downtown Toronto condominiums extremely expensive - nearly half a million dollars in many neighborhoods - and downtown Toronto houses worth millions.

Eastern Districts

The homes in the eastern suburbs of East York, Scarborough, and beyond (including Pickering and Markham) gradually decrease in price the further you get from Leslieville real estate in Central Toronto. East York is known for its small, old-working-class brick homes and low rise apartments, while Scarborough is more suburban and contains many planned housing developments created after World War II. The suburbs beyond retain a town-like feel.

Western Districts

To the western side of Old Toronto there's Etobicoke, and beyond it, the city of Mississauga and the towns of Brampton and Burlington. You won't find many homes like Liberty Village condos in Toronto, as it was once an industrial district and though it's up and coming, still retains some of that working class flavor. Mississauga is a city in its own right with expensive downtown real estate and cheaper suburban neighborhoods, while Brampton and Burlington are essentially bedroom communities without much in the way of commercial activity.

Northern Districts

Looking north, there's York, North York, and the outer boroughs of Vaughan and Richmond Hill. York is a former working class town that is now one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the city, while North York contains a mixture of poor neighborhoods and rich ones. Some of the homes for sale in Vaughan can be as expensive as those in the Central Toronto neighborhoods of Moore Park or Forest Hill, while Richmond Hill is one of the fastest growing communities in the country.