The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) plays a vital role in Canada economic life. The GTAis home to more than five million people and generates more than 20% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The GTA is the industrial and financial capital of Canada. Business and financial services, manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, and transportation are the foundations of the region’s dynamic, diverse and growing economy.

The region’s residents are drawn from across the globe, making the Toronto area the most multicultural urban centre in the world. Closely linked with the continued expansion of these globally competitive sectors is the growth of the GTA’s deep pool of educated, skilled and creative people.

Toronto offers a full range of investment opportunities including brown and greenfields, Portlands, built-up urban areas and expansive suburban parks. All share excellent access to customers, suppliers and skilled labour. 

Industrial
The City of Toronto has 283 million sq ft of industrial space, approximately 40% of the industrial space in the GTA. This places the Toronto GTA 3rd in North America for amount of industrial space. 

Office
The City of Toronto has 116 million sq ft of office space, approximately 73% of the office space in the GTA making Toronto the largest office centre in Canada.

Residential
Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods. Some of the most desirable neighbourhoods are located in walking and bicycling distance of the downtown. House prices in the City of Toronto are higher than in the rest of the Toronto region and most of Canada; however, they are still very reasonable compared to similar sized American cities.

Retail
With annual retail sales of almost $50 billion, the Toronto region is Canada's largest retail market. It is also a market that is more monocentric than most North American cities of similar size. "The Toronto downtown thus remains the most important agglomeration of commercial nodes in the GTA"

Building Permits
In 2004 over $3.7 million was spent on building permits in Toronto.

Office Space
The GTA provides a wide range of office space choice, from luxury to utility, busy city core to suburban calm. With an office vacancy rate of 12.6% and another 1.7 million square feet under construction, net absorption of office space remains positive with plenty of opportunity for both the discriminating buyer and the bargain hunter.

Real Estate Investment In Toronto
The Greater Toronto Area offers the 2nd largest concentration of industrial space after Chicago and the 4th largest concentration of office space in North America.

The GTA Real Estate Market is an above average asset performer. Donald Trump described Greater Toronto as “The biggest real estate secret in North America…the most undervalued real estate in North America".

GTA real estate demand is driven by business growth, competitive interest rates and good market returns compared to securities and other global investments.

The housing market, within driving distance of the Toronto core, is characterized by variety, availability and affordability for home ownership and rental accommodations. When choosing a house in the Greater Toronto Area, a number of options are available to suit varying lifestyles.

A full range of housing, from condominiums to large executive homes can be found throughout Greater Toronto, including the heart of the city core, which is safe and friendly. Homes in much of the GTA are traditional brick, single-family houses. The inner city of Toronto offers a variety of semi-detached and row houses, while several neighborhoods feature handsomely restored red brick homes from the Victorian era.

In recent years, a number of new multi-story condominiums have been built in all areas with concentration near the central business district. The downtown core also features several former manufacturing and warehouse facilities that have been converted to modern lofts and condominiums.

The GTA, including the City of Toronto, is one of the “greenest” urban regions in North America. Tree lined residential streets and neighborhoods are common and many beautiful neighborhoods are located in downtown Toronto. Smaller towns offer a wide variety of single-family housing types, including preserved heritage properties and rural living options ranging from hamlets to farms.

"Toronto is the best place in the World to Live In!"

REAL ESTATE LINKS & USEFUL INFORMATION

TORONTO's Business Profile and Cost of Doing Business

Canadian Government Support Programs

Toronto Economic, Transportation and Industry Sector Maps - GTA