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In North America’s fast-paced, new condo development market spotting the best pre-construction condos to invest in can be tough. Every year, developers announce new pre-construction units being developed in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) that are great for investment. But the problem is that all pre-construction project launches come with the same promise – “Register now before it’s too late”.
Amidst all this clutter, how do potential buyers or investors then identify a great pre-construction property? From my perspective, there are a number of other factors to consider when you’re looking to buy a pre-construction condo: from builder reputation to location and most obviously, the prices of pre-construction units in Toronto!
Below, I share my 6 best pre-construction condo projects for 2023 and later on in the blog, I go on to cover some of the basics for anybody new to the world of real estate investment.
Project Address: 10 Dawes Rd, Toronto, ON M4C 5A7
Developers: Marlin Spring
Neighbourhood: Danforth Village
Launch Date: March 2022
Completion Date: 2023
REGISTER HERE
Main and Danforth, also known as Danforth Village is one of our favourite up-and-coming neighbourhoods in Toronto! This area has seen great price growth in recent years and yet is still on the cusp of gentrification. Ask our investors – specifically those that invested in the Linx Condos and Danny Danforth projects. Not to mention that real estate values favor properties on transit lines and this is one of the very few projects launching this year within walking distance of a TTC Subway Station and GO Station. If you’re thinking about investing in a pre-construction condo in Toronto in 2023, this is the project you won’t want to miss out on.
Dawes Condos architect is designed by IBI Group. The new project will be located at 10-30 Dawes in Toronto, a major intersection is Danforth Avenue & Main Street in Danforth Village.
As influential as Dawes Condos will become, it will also literally change the face of the neighbourhood. To allow the site to coalesce into a cohesive single entity, Guest Avenue to the west will be re-routed southwards to the end of the property before making a turn east and re-joining Dawes Road.
Clearly an ambitious undertaking, this luxury residence looks to provide immeasurable benefits to everyone — not the least of which is its own residents, which you can become. To make convenience and luxury yours, make your next residence 10 Dawes Road. The two towers will also share a centrally located lobby that will have pedestrian access from Dawes Road and a passenger drop-off/car entrance from Guest Avenue to the west.
When it comes to public transportation, Dawes Condos is nearly unbeatable with its Rider’s Paradise Transit Score of 93. In just 8 minutes by foot, condo residents can walk to the Main Street Line 2 TTC subway station, allowing them to commute downtown in just 36 minutes. Conversely, residents can also walk to the nearby Danforth GO Station in the same amount of time, allowing for downtown commutes of just 23 minutes.
Limited-Time Investment Opportunity: Fantastic incentives coupled with an up-and-coming neighbourhood make this one of our favourite deals available today in Downtown Toronto. Only a 10% deposit until 2025 and up to $33,000 in off-book incentives will have your money working for you and have your returns on this project outperform other Downtown Toronto condos.
Offer available for a limited time only: speak to a member of my team or book a call now!
Project Address: 316 Campbell Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6P 3V9
Neighbourhood: Junction Triangle, West Toronto
Developers: Marlin Spring
Launch Date: 2023
Completed Date: 2027 (est.)
Toronto’s West End is gentrifying at a rapid pace with Junction Triangle as its epicenter. According to me, Junction Triangle is an awesome neighbourhood for both investors and home buyers. Investors are going to love it because it commands a premium price and is under-supplied by only condos in the vicinity. A resident is going to love all the life and convenience the neighbourhood brings to their doorstep. In fact, with about 20+ only condos slated for development over the next 5 years, I believe that getting your feet wet early is a good idea keeping rental investments and the future market value of the unit in mind.
316 Junction Condos gets part of its name from the address: 316 Campbell Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6P 3V9 – close to Landsdowne & Dupont Street. The project consists of one tower, 28-storeys high with 287 units adjoining/including over 12,000 sq ft of indoor and outdoor space filled with amenities.
Let’s talk accessibility & transit line connectivity next. It has a Walk Score of 82, a Bike Score of 88, and a Transit Score of 72. Dundas West TTC stop is a 15-minute walk away. High Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art aren’t too far away either, a 10-minute and 5-minute bike ride away respectively.
Yes, let’s face it – other pre-construction projects offer better transit connectivity and if that’s your “must-have”, Dawes Condo & 8 Elm Condo might interest you more!
Project Address: 1700 Bovaird Drive West, Brampton, ON, Canada
Neighbourhood: Mt. Pleasant Village, Brampton
Developers: Daniel’s & Choice Properties
Launch Date: 2023
Completed Date: TBD
Daniel’s MPV 2 Condos is an early, first-phase pre-construction condo with a design that’s deeply rooted in sustainable living. Located far away from downtown Toronto, it’s a master-planned community self-sufficient in its own right with public transit lines & acres, and acres of greenery filling the neighbourhood. Remember: this is just the first phase of the master community plan. When it comes to phased pre-construction launches, it is often the early bird who gets the worm – the worm in this comparison being equity gains as future launches will undoubtedly launch at higher prices. Not to mention, when it comes to renting or selling your condo, there is substantially less competition.
Daniel’s MPV 2 Condos will be occupying the address: 1700 Bovaird Drive West, Brampton, ON, Canada. Both the towers – an 11-storey West Tower and 14-storey East Tower – are going to be built right next to their master-planned community park. The park is expected to have multiple playgrounds, walking paths, an amphitheater, and lots of open, green space to exercise in. Residents will be delighted to have public transit system stops a walk away: Zum Transit stop (2-minute walk) & GO station (3-minute walk).
The developers deliver on their promise of enabling their residents to live a luxurious life – sustainably. Energy for the heating, cooling, and electric systems is sourced from renewable sources of energy leveraging modern, energy-efficient systems like geo-exchange to do so. This is just one of the many facets illustrating the group’s commitment to sustainable architecture.
It’s not at all surprising that this ambitious, modern, highly-anticipated pre-construction project is located in Mount Pleasant Village. It has all the characteristics that make it attractive for young professionals and families alike. By now you know that it’s filled with acres of green spaces but decorating this greenery is a lot of art – public installations and galleries alike. The neighbourhood also has its fair share of public schools, shopping centers & entertainment venues.
Investing in pre-construction condos on a transit line obviously has its benefits but did you know that real estate values actually favor condos on transit lines, with a direct connection to the subway said to carry an 18% premium to property values? Now those are some stats we can get behind.
Project Address: 8 Elm St, Toronto, ON M5G 1G7
Developers: Reserve Properties & Capital Developments
Neighbourhood: Downtown, Toronto
Launch Date: 2022
Completion: 2027 (est.)
8 Elm Street is the newest addition to Downtown Toronto Skyline, located at Yonge St/ Gerrard st W. The proposal is highlighted by the slender design which creates a tall thin tower. The residents of 8 Elm Condos will be just steps from Dundas Square and the newly-renovated Eaton Centre, one of the city’s major shopping destinations. Dundas Square is a major urban hub, lined with restaurants and office space, while the square offers festivals, live music and other attractions all year round.
The location has a perfect Walk Score of 100 out of 100. The transit score is 100 out of 100. This location is in the Bay Street Corridor neighbourhood in Toronto. Nearby parks include College Park, Joseph Sheard Parkette and Larry Sefton Park.
Downtown areas like this command high rental rates and are unceasingly popular with some of the city’s top tenants, thanks to their proximity to world-class shopping, dining, transit, and high-density employment districts. If you’re looking for an investment property in one of the city’s most buzzing pockets, this could be your ticket.
Project Address: 266 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1H8
Developers: Great Gulf Homes, Westdale Properties, Dream Unlimited Corporation
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District
Launch Date: 2023
Completion: TBD
Register here for access to the Forma Condos launch
Location! Location! Location! It doesn’t get any more Downtown or more exciting than The Forma Condos. This is the hottest and most architecturally significant project to launch since Bjarke Ingel’s building on King. While you’ll be paying a premium to own this historic Toronto building you’ll own a piece of history. Plus, this project isn’t set for completion for 8 years. That means you’ll get a long runway to hold your investment (work and worry-free) while the market appreciates. Get in on the first phase of this master-planned community. Investment condos purchased in the early phases of masterplan communities are great for investors. Phased launches mean that future launches will set price-precedence, meaning you can only gain equity as future phases of the building launch.
Forma Condos will be a project unlike any other project seen in the last decade in Toronto. Designing sky-scrappers all around the world, Frank Gehry has changed the course of architecture and design on a global scale. Now, he is coming home to Toronto with Forma. It is a visionary statement of beauty that will define the Toronto skyline: This is where modern luxury meets smart design to provide a mindful and curated experience for both residents and visitors. It is still in the very early phases so details about this pre-construction condo launch haven’t been released yet. On completion, it’s set to become the tallest development designed by Frank with its two 6-story stepped podiums, which relate in scale and enunciation to the neighbouring structures, bested by two unique condo towers.
The master plan for Forma has 209 hotel units, a new art gallery, and includes over 85,000 sqft of multi-level retail opportunities in the heart of Toronto’s Arts and Entertainment District. These spaces offer unlimited potential for all kinds of businesses, from national retailers to international brands, specialty restaurants, fashion boutiques, and furniture shops. Forma Condos is set to house 1716 suites across two towers in this prime King West location.
The condos are within walking distance of some of the city’s most popular post-secondary schools. When it comes to public transportation, Forma Condos is the best you can get with its Rider’s Paradise Transit Score of 100 making it the ideal investment for savvy investors.
Project Address: 105 Colborne St, Whitby, Ontario
Developers: Brookfield Residential
Neighbourhood: Whitby, Durham
Launch Date: 2023
Completion: TBD
Station 3 Condos developed by Brookfield Residential is located in downtown Whitby – an hour’s drive away from downtown Toronto. Lake Ontario, Highways 401, 402 & 407 & Go Transit – and public schools, are all within a 10-minute radius. Whitby is a burgeoning neighbourhood in the Durham region. Job opportunities – among other developments in Durham – are attracting many new residents every year. As per the region’s projections, by 2031, Durham expects to face a shortage of 20,000+ homes. If you’ve been reading our blogs or are a keen investor yourself, you know what this means: high demand + low supply = investment opportunity! This project greatly appeals to families because of the multiple schools, colleges, parks and trials, the waterfront, and entertainment options nearby.
Station 3 Condos is a planned community with 160 modern, luxury condos. Residents have multiple different 1-bedroom – 3-bedroom floor plans to select from, with the largest suite being around 1200 sq ft.
It’s an extremely well-planned community giving its residents all that they need – either within the premises or in the immediate vicinity. It’s packed with useful amenities for everyone in the family (furry friends are family, yes). Schools, grocery shops, restaurants, and other entertainment chains are all extremely accessible to residents. Nor does it hurt to have Lake Ontario a 10-minute drive away – in case you ever need a change in scenery!
Address: 990 Bloor St, Toronto
Developers: Sierra Communities
Neighbourhood: Dovencourt Park, Toronto
Pre-Construction Launch Date: 2023
Completion: TBD
REGISTER HERE
Motto Condos is a great opportunity to be part of a west-end stretch of Toronto’s downtown that’s seeing some dynamic transformations right now. This particular pocket – known as Dovercourt Park – is an excellent spot, home to shops, cafes, and community resources that are popular with young professionals and growing families. This new condo project is a sophisticated midrise set to both complement and enhances its existing neighbourhood.
Motto Condos is conveniently located between Ossington and Dufferin stations at Bloor and Dovercourt while capturing the city’s authentic urban atmosphere. Imagine being able to walk out your door and be completely connected to the rest of Toronto via the metro! Featuring architecture by Diamond Schmitt, the plans for this building show a three-storey podium with a tasteful, brick-accented façade that reflects its surrounding streetscape. Above, a nine-story residential element with a more contemporary feel and a series of terraces is planned. 102 dwelling units are proposed, with a mix including 18 bachelor units, 56 one-bedroom, and 28 two-bedroom layouts.
With 88 out of 100 on its Walk and 91/100 on its Transit Scores, it’s a lively, walkable location where almost everything you need is at your fingertips. The Ossington subway station is just steps away and a network of surface transit routes makes it easy to navigate the city.
Historically, condos in Toronto have been gaining roughly 6% equity year on year. But when it comes to pre-construction condos in Toronto, not all projects or even Platinum launches are equal. If you can afford to, I believe that investing in Toronto’s real estate market can yield much higher returns when done strategically. See my client’s above-average returns here. From an opportunity cost perspective, I believe that buying a pre-construction condo in Toronto is a good idea for those who first, can afford to and second, for those who want to leverage their funds and make their money work for them.
Buying a pre-construction condo is different from buying a rental or resale condo in Toronto. Here’s a condensed 9-step process laying down how to buy a pre-construction condo in Toronto:
1. Choose a location: Identify the right location for you. Toronto is a big city. Condos in downtown Toronto are very, very expensive delivering on all counts of luxury. As you move towards the east and west, away from the center, (we love the East End!), condos start becoming more affordable. With that being said, the average price per square foot of a condo in Toronto has now exceeded $1400. But there are always deals to be found. Ask us about our exclusive off-book discount that we’ve negotiated on behalf of our buyers. We can’t share this one publicly so book a call with my team here.
2. Pick a good realtor: Next step is to pick a good Realtor – a partner – to help you with all the other steps in the process. We have a whole blog on “how to choose a real estate agent” but the gist of it is – do your research, interview many different Realtors (not just references from family and friends), and pick one that aligns with your values and investment objectives. Just as important though, pick a Realtor that has Platinum Access to the best pre-construction launches in Toronto and one who is an avid investor.
3. Inspect the list of launches for the year: Every year, as new pre-construction projects are planned, developers share their plans with the top VIP & Platinum brokers of the city. Some brokers analyze this list for you and share their recommendations directly with their clients. If they don’t, you need to analyze this list and identify properties with the potential to generate high returns. (P.S: I’m constantly analyzing the Toronto real estate market on the lookout for the best pre-construction condos in Toronto for my clients. In 2021, my investors realized equity gains of 8% to 28% on their 2018 Toronto pre-construction condo investments.)
4. Pick your investment opportunity: In addition to analyzing the overall project, real estate brokers, such as me look at some of the finer details relating to the unit: floor plans, amenities, square footage etc. Some brokers give you expected returns for each opportunity to help you make a better decision. Your job is to now pick the best opportunity that you feel aligns with your investment goals. Typically, my investors come to me as they would their financial advisor and I analyze their unique financial situation and make recommendations accordingly.
5. Secure your unit: Once you have decided and conveyed your decision to your real estate agent, you will need to send a few documents to finalize and secure your unit. (Eg: Identity proof like driver’s license, SIN etc.). It’s important to note that with popular Platinum stage launches that you’ll need a Realtor with Platinum Access and that just because you submit a Suite Request Worksheet for a specific unit doesn’t mean it’s yours. Find a Platinum Agent who has the pull with the developer and sales team as they will be your best bet at securing that highly competitive unit.
6. Sign the ‘Agreement Of Sale’ & pay your deposits: Next step for you is to sign the ‘Agreement of Sale’ that will be prepared by your developer. On signing the agreement, you will have 10 days to present your mortgage pre-approval letter to the developer. In case you need help getting this letter, some real estate agents help. (we do!)
7. Wait for one year prior to project completion: About a year before the project gets completed, you will be contacted by the developer to determine the nitty-gritties of your unit/suite. This is the pre-construction stage where you select your suite finishes.
8. Prepare for interim occupancy period and closing costs: As the project nears completion, you will be notified of your interim occupancy date: the date from when you can begin living or leasing out your condo unit. Also, on interim occupancy buyers are expected to pay up the final installment of the deposit – in addition to other closing costs such as legal fees and Land Transfer Tax.
9. You’re now a homeowner: Congratulations to you and your team – you made it, and you’re now a proud homeowner.
Our exclusive off-book discounts aren’t something we can advertise publicly. We harness the buying power of our Toronto Real Estate investors and our connections with Toronto developers to get our clients discounts that simply put aren’t publicly available. These discounts are structured to help you make your money work for you and dramatically increase your return on investment. Our last exclusive off-book discount saved our buyers on average $40,000 per unit and was so popular among investors that we sold nearly half of the building!
Ready to secure an off-book discount of your own? Book an investor consultation with me today for all of the details we can’t share publicly.
Hopefully, this little listicle on the best pre-construction condos launching in Toronto in 2023 introduced you to some new condo developments while giving you a small glimpse of how I think about real estate investments in Toronto.
Remember: these are just the top 6 pre-construction launches for 2023 – not the only ones. Check out our pre-constructions page for all of Pierre’s Top Picks. For more information on any of these pre-construction launches, the process, or anything Toronto real estate, book a call and I’d be happy to help!
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