Top Reasons Home Buyers Are Choosing to Live in the Suburbs

Posted Saturday, May 17th, 2025 | 155 views

If you’re thinking about buying a home this year, it’s a good idea to look beyond the city. While urban-centre markets are facing delays, cancelled projects, and increased prices, buying in the suburbs is becoming a more practical and stable choice for families, couples, and first-time buyers.

This where growing communities like those in Norfolk and Haldimand Counties come into play by offering real value, and the reasons to head in their direction are stacking up.

Continue reading for why more and more buyers are skipping condo towers and choosing full-sized homes with lots of space to grow.

You Get More Home for Your Money in the Suburbs

City real estate comes with a very high price tag and extremely limited square footage. On the other hand, in the suburbs, you can often get a full detached home for the same price as a two-bedroom condo in the GTA – plus a driveway, a backyard, a garage, basement, lots of windows, space and no condo fees.

Some of the basic gains of buying a home vs a condo:

• More bedrooms and bathrooms
• Outdoor space for pets or kids
• Garage and workshop space
• Room to customize or expand
• No monthly condo fees eating into your budget
• Private entrances and direct street access
• No elevators or shared hallways
• Greater resale appeal for families who prioritize space and privacy

In the end, square footage counts, but there’s also about comfort, function, and freedom to grow into your home instead of growing out of it.

Fewer Construction Delays and Disruptions

This is key to home buying decisions. In major cities, condo buyers constantly face multi-year delays and project cancellations. In contrast, suburban builders are delivering homes on schedule, without the uncertainty and surprise builder fees.

Why suburban home-builds are more reliable:

• Less red tape and faster municipal approvals
• Smaller-scale developments with more oversight
• Local builders with strong community roots
• Fewer labour and supply chain disruptions compared to large-scale city projects
• Easier access to your builder for questions, walkthroughs, and support
• More predictable timelines, with fewer layers of corporate management slowing things down

The idea of accessibility, efficiency, and builder accountability, are just some of the driving forces behind decisions to move to the suburbs and out of the big cities. If you’re tired of waiting or second-guessing your builder’s timeline, the suburbs offer a clearer, more confident path to homeownership.

Real Neighbourhoods Create Stronger Community Connections

Suburban life is much different than condo life. You’re basically buying into communities that last, where people live year after year, and not just in investor-owned units or short-term rentals where people come and go and barely look at you.

What a real neighbourhood Looks like:

• Kids playing outside, not in elevators, stairwells and hallways
• Local events, markets, and active community centres
• Familiar neighbours and long-term connections
• Front porches, shared block parties, and friendly morning hellos
• Safer, slower streets that make walking, biking, and socializing easier
• Schools, libraries, and sports fields that serve local families, and not commuters

Suburban life is a lifestyle that supports families, fosters friendships, and builds real roots, while offering a kind of neighbourhood-feeling that’s extremely difficult to find in big cities.

Greater Long-Term Stability

Unlike the speculative condo market, suburban housing is mostly driven by people who want to live there, instead of flipping the homes they buy. This kind of commitment creates a healthier and more stable market that’s less prone to extreme ups and downs.

Some advantages of this type of stability:

• Slower price swings
• Consistent demand from local families
• Safer investment for long-term value
• Less vulnerability to investor pull-outs and market crashes
• Stronger emotional connection to homes, not just profit potential
• Neighbourhoods that grow and evolve together, rather than constantly turning over

If you’re buying to live – and not to gamble – suburban housing markets are where you’ll find peace of mind, and a property that holds its value through real demand vs not short-term hype.

You Experience Lower Carrying Costs

Monthly costs in the suburbs are generally accepted as being significantly lower than the carrying costs of a home in the city.

Lower-cost areas often offer:

• Lower property tax rates
• Cheaper home insurance premiums
• Less expensive utilities (especially for detached homes)
• More energy efficiency with newer home builds
• Access to affordable local trades for maintenance and repairs
• Fewer hidden fees like parking permits, strata contributions, or building levies

These types of lower carrying costs will add up to more breathing room in your budget and the ability to actually enjoy your home, instead of just affording it.

There’s Room to Grow Inside and Out

Urban housing is designed to be compact, while on the other hand, suburban homes are built for growth. With many extras like a finished basement, a garden, or a home office, you’ll always have the flexibility to evolve your space and take advantage of the ability to grow.

Key points that make the difference:

• Unfinished basements with renovation potential
• Bonus rooms or loft spaces
• Outdoor sheds, decks, and garden areas
• Space for home gyms, playrooms, or hobby studios
• Flexibility to add on or reconfigure areas over time
• Privacy for growing families or multi-generational living

The attractiveness in living in the suburbs is being able to make your home work for you, which makes suburban living ideal for people whose lives, families, or priorities may change over the years.

You’ll be Closer to Nature, but Still Connected

In the suburbs, peace and green spaces are a part of daily life, but it doesn’t mean you’re disconnected from essentials. In areas like Cayuga and Simcoe, they offer quiet neighbourhoods which are just a short drive from local shops, schools, and, amenities and important services.

In the suburbs you’ll enjoy:

• Trails, lakes, and parks at your doorstep
• Less noise, less traffic, more serenity
• A healthy balance between calm and convenience
• Backyard dinners, morning walks, and star-filled skies
• Clean air and natural beauty that encourages outdoor living
• Nearby access to hospitals, grocery stores, and community hubs—without sacrificing peace of mind

The bottom line is, in the suburbs you don’t have to choose between connection and. You’ll find both in a home and a setting that make sense for the life you actually want to live.

If you’re uncertain about the current housing market, check out our post on why buying a home in Ontario still makes sense in the current market.