Posted 18 Jun, 2019
Living in Barrie Ontario
It’s not a fluke, and it’s not a fad. It’s a fact. People are moving out of the city and into Barrie. They’re saying ‘sayonara’ the ever-increasing housing prices of the GTA and heading north to a place that fits their needs perfectly.
But, you might be surprised to know there’s more to it than just better housing options and affordability. The truth is there’s so much more to consider. To fill you in, here are the top reasons to choose a life in Barrie, Ontario that you never knew about.
Lower Cost of Living
Nevermind the lower housing prices, living in Barrie, Ontario makes everything less expensive. One pleasant surprise you’ll find is that your car insurance rates will go way down. What some people don’t know is that insurance companies base their rates off of statistical information for geographical areas. What that means is that insurance rates go up for everybody when an area has a higher number of accidents, break-ins, thefts, and claims in general. Essentially, the more crowded and urban an area is, the more expensive it will be to own a car there.
Living in Barrie, Ontario solves this problem right away. Just from the move alone, your insurance broker will be able to offer you a substantially lower rate. Seriously, if you're the type of person who's lived in the city your whole life, you may not even be aware that car insurance could be so cheap. Plus, if you’re also working in Barrie or taking the GO Train into Toronto for work (more on that later), then you’ll be using your car a lot less and end up saving even more!
You’ll also find that gas is a little cheaper, items in the grocery store have a slightly lower mark-up, and let’s not forget about the drastically lower housing costs (like the kind in Urban North, for instance).
Amenities You Just Can’t Get in Toronto
Sure, Toronto is a big city. A lot of people even love to call it a world-class city which, to be fair, it is. It’s got three major sports teams, world-renowned landmarks, and some of the best food anywhere in the world. But, what it has in urban amenities, it lacks on the natural side of things.
That’s where living in Barrie, Ontario really takes the cake. Because not only does it have all the incredible natural wonders you’d imagine it to have, but it has all the urban comforts you’re used to as well. The best of these can be found in Barrie’s downtown core, the highlight of which is the well-known Dunlop Street.
This iconic street features gourmet restaurants and cafés, trendy bars and breweries, and a hopping nightclub scene. You could spend every weekend getting to know a new place, and still end up finding something new in a year. It’s quaint but accessible, traditional yet vibrant. It’s a place where adventure and sophistication collide, the result of which is one spectacular place to live.
Beyond that, you also have the best of cottage country living. Barrie’s biggest geographical feature is the preeminent Lake Simcoe. Even if you were to discount all the other natural amenities in the Barrie area, Lake Simcoe could provide you with all the summer fun you would ever need.
On this lake, you can rent kayaks and canoes, and go exploring. You can cruise around on a boat or sea-doo if you’re so inclined. You can relax on the beach and swim, or you can even go fishing. Quite honestly, living in Barrie, Ontario is like owning a cottage, but without all the hassle of actually having to own one.
Keeping City Life without the City Price Tag
Now we’ve come to it, the big one. The primary reason most people love living in Barrie, Ontario is that the cost of housing is much, much cheaper. In fact, if you consider its size and proximity to Toronto, it’s remarkably affordable.
When you take into account the fact that a mortgage on a townhome in Urban North, for instance, would actually cost you a bit less than renting an apartment in Toronto, it becomes very easy to see why so many people are choosing a smart alternative by living in Barrie, Ontario.
Plus, if you’re living in Urban North, you’ll have easy access to the Barrie South GO Station. This is where your car costs really go way down. While it's likely you’ll still need a car to run errands and transport the family around - you won’t need to use it to commute to work every day. You’ll find yourself saving a lot of money, especially when compared to driving in the city.
The Benefits of Living in Barrie, Ontario
The evidence seems clear, living in Barrie, Ontario as a lot going for it. Even besides the more-living-space-for-less factor, Barrie is a thriving urban community with all of the best parts of cottage country right in your backyard. Truly, a community like Urban North is a buying opportunity that doesn’t come along every day.