Homes for Sale in Casa Loma, Toronto, ON

It should be pretty obvious that living in a neighbourhood named for Toronto’s sole castle is quite agreeable — all one needs to do is be able to afford it. Just south of Forest Hill lies Casa Loma, a Gothic Revival mansion built in the early 20th century, as well as the surrounding neighbourhood that shares its name.

Once translated from Spanish “casa loma” becomes “hill house,” and this name is about as accurate as it gets: the neighbourhood is situated over a steep hill between St. Clair Avenue West and Dupont Street.

Casa Loma became the exclusive area it is today after the construction of its namesake castle. Funnily enough, Casa Loma cost a little over three million dollars to build, a price often beat by many of the single-family homes in the area today (not counting inflation of course). As much as Torontonians are used to hefty price tags on homes today, the price Sir William Henry Mill Pellatt paid for his home was practically unheard of at the time.

Besides its proximity to Casa Loma, the neighbourhood is also located right next to Forest Hill South — one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in the city. According to Toronto’s 2016 census, about a quarter of the Casa Loma neighbourhood’s residents have a household income of $200,000 or more. Casa Loma condos might be more affordable than single-family houses in the neighbourhood, but they still command high prices tags compared to Toronto condos for sale in other midtown neighbourhoods, and are generally better suited to established buyers.

Casa Loma is almost entirely residential in nature, which makes for a serene atmosphere but not much choice when it comes to shopping. Thankfully residents needn’t travel far to reach an expansive Loblaws on St. Clair, which also boasts a Joe Fresh and an LCBO.

Sir Winston Churchill Park also contributes to the serenity of Casa Loma, as well as the fact that this green space overlooks a ravine that runs right through the neighbourhood. Besides offering stunning views of treetops rooted in the ravine below, the park also features an off-leash dog area and an outdoor tennis court.

While Casa Loma is probably best known for its detached houses, whether Edwardian, Tudor, or Georgian in style, approximately half of the homes in the neighbourhood actually consist of Casa Loma condos or apartment buildings taller than 5 storeys.

Even the most contemporary of Casa Loma condos don’t resemble the typical glass towers that fill the downtown core, though. Rather, mid-rises like The Code Condos and the Kenair Apartments, plus townhouse complexes like Castle View Terrace and the Residences Of Russell Hill, are quite common here.

Residents can still count on the usual extras such as gyms, party rooms, and parking garages in most buildings, but properties in this neighbourhood are often boutique in nature — even 20-storey tall buildings like The Avenue, have just 73 suites.

Biking toward the city centre from Casa Loma is a breeze, but cyclists should be prepared for the uphill battle they’ll face on the way home. Thankfully, anyone who gets tired can simply hop onto a bus making its way up Spadina, Bathurst, or Avenue Road.

For a midtown neighbourhood, Casa Loma is also well connected to the TTC. Residents can take a short walk over to St. Clair West Station in order to access trains heading north or south along the University-Spadina Line.

Last but not least, drivers living in Casa Loma will have an easier time getting around than those in the downtown core, thanks to the wider, less congested streets of midtown Toronto. Avenue and Bathurst can be used to reach the 401 in no time, while a southbound ride down Spadina leads drivers toward downtown neighbourhoods like The Annex, Chinatown, and the Entertainment District.

The Locals: Those who can afford sizeable, picturesque homes next to Toronto’s resident castle.

Code of Conduct: No matter how many additions are made to a home, it’ll never be the largest in the neighbourhood.

What You’ll Find: Toronto’s very own castle.

What You Won’t Find: An array of boutiques, cafés, and restaurants within walking distance.

The Homes: Condos that don’t soar into the sky – after all from this hilltop vantage point, they don’t really need to.

Sealing the Deal: The perfect marriage of tranquility and extravagance.