A clear, practical crash course in moving to the GTA. From two realtors, who specialize in selling and renting properties in Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga (the west suburbs) and Toronto.
Having lived on three continents and sold real estate on two, we bring a global perspective that local agents simply can’t match. We know what you don’t know yet—and we’re here to bridge that gap.
This guide covers the essentials of finding a home when relocating to Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, or Burlington. With tens of thousands of immigrants arriving in the GTA annually, our goal is to help guide our clients through the extremely stressful process of finding a home while relocating overseas.
People we work with regularly:
- Families relocating from the USA (especially during election years).
- Temporary corporate relocations.
- Families returning to Canada.
- Europeans looking to for the “Canadian Experience” for a few years.
Essential Prep: Navigating the GTA Rental and Mortgage Market
The first step to finding a rental in the GTA is to prepare your documents. Our market has a very low vacancy rate, and often good properties lease out in less than a fortnight. Not only do properties lease fast, the best properties in the best neighbourhoods often have multiple applications from multiple potential tenants.
Newcomers often face hesitation from landlords. Janette and I have spent decades working with landlords and newcomers, so we are quite well-versed in how to handle landlord objections when it comes to newcomers.
Rental applications in the GTA usually consist of the following documents: Government issued ID, pay stubs, employment letter, credit score, and references. Newcomers are often missing a few of these items, but together we can put together a package that shows you in your best light. At the end of the day, the landlords are just looking for good, reliable tenants.
What To Expect When Relocating To Toronto
The transition to a new country comes with an urgency to settle down and plant roots as soon as possible. This is especially common if you have kids and you’re trying to return to a sense of normality as soon as possible.
We want to help you find the right neighourhood without settling for the first neighbourhood.
If you’re ready to discover the GTA through the eyes of local experts, we’d love to show you around and help you find a place where you truly belong.
Discovering Your City: Toronto vs. The Western Suburbs
Most families relocating to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) find their ideal lifestyle either within the vibrant core of Toronto or in the prestigious suburbs to the west or north of the city, such as Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Richmond Hill, or Vaughan. Each of these cities offers a distinct community feel.
For families, the home search is often a school search first and foremost. In Ontario, your residential address dictates which school your children will attend. You generally choose between two publicly funded systems: the Public School Board and the Catholic School Board. One of our favourite communities, Oakville, has some of the highest ranked schools in all of Ontario, with 3-4 high schools commonly ranking in the top 20 of over 700 schools.
Real Estate Agents that help people relocate
Real Estate Agents are licensed provincially and help clients throughout the province. In Ontario, real estate agents share listings on what we call the TorontoMLS. Real Estate Companies in Ontario contribute to a shared pool of listings, that any agent can show. So you only need one real estate agent, and that one agent can show you all the available homes. However, not every agent is knowledgable with relocating families, and they won’t anticipate your needs.
Toronto
Relocating To Toronto
If you’re relocating to Toronto, you will find the greatest demographic diversity, which is reflected in the many ethnic neighbourhoods like Chinatown, Greektown, Little Italy, and Little Portugal. Each neighbourhood has a unique architecture and cultural flair, which makes it interesting for both residents and tourists alike. Toronto has many beautiful, historic neighbourhoods that feature homes with true woodworking skills and design. The formal feel of these homes and neighbourhoods, like Wychwood and Rosedale, is what drives families to move to Toronto.
Relocating to Oakville
Oakville is one of the most desirable communities for professional families with young kids. The town has three major highways connecting it to the GTA, and has express trains running into the heart of Toronto’s financial district. The neighbourhood also has some of Ontario’s highest ranking schools, with several of their high schools ranking in the top 10 out of more than 700 high schools.
Homes in Oakville are usually better value than those in Toronto because for the same cost, you can get a bigger, newer home.
Relocating to Mississauga
Mississauga is the second biggest city on Ontario, and is home to many company headquarters. Because of the vast size of Mississauga, the city has many unique pockets of real estate. On the banks of Lake Ontario, you will find the community of Port Credit. Port Credit is known for its beautiful harbour, and mature-tree lined streets. Port Credit is also locally known as the financial hub of Mississauga. Mississauga is very accessible by car, having three major highways and one toll way connecting it to Toronto and surrounding neighbourhoods. Mississauga also has some top ranking schools.
Relocating to Burlington
A quick google search will show you that Burlington is frequently ranked one of the happiest cities in Canada. The attention is well deserved. Burlington is found just west of Oakville, and shares the up-kept look of Oakville. If you can live a little farther from the city, you will find a very comfortable lifestyle in Burlington. Burlington has many winding streets, and dead ends. The courts are filled with kids, and most houses have a basket ball hoop or hockey net in the driveway. Burlington is probably the most affordable of the four communities mentioned, and is very safe, friendly, and family oriented.
Why Sotheby’s International Realty Canada
Janette and I were drawn to Sotheby’s because of their global presence. Sotheby’s is truly global, and we have an incredible network to connect buyers and sellers around the world. One of the reasons we chose to work at Sotheby’s was because of their stringent standards when hiring agents. When we have a new client moving to Canada, we can very confidently refer them to a Sotheby’s agent in their hometown to help lease or sell their current home.
If I’m Relocating Should I Buy Or Rent?
The pressure to put down roots quickly is common for newcomers. However, it’s nothing to rush. Not only is there a foreign buyer ban, there’s also provincial and municipal foreign buyer taxes for buyers who are exempt from the ban. Even if you find yourself exempt from the ban and all the potential tax hoops, it’s still difficult to qualify for a mortgage as a newcomer to Canada.
The best course of action is to rent in a good neighbourhood and feel out if it’s the right place for you and your family. After you’ve spent around a year in Canada, you’ll have a credit profile, Canadian work experience, and a good sense of where you want to live. Once you’re at this point, you can start your purchase journey.
Essential Next Steps: Setting Up Your Life in Ontario
Once you land, your first few days are critical for establishing your financial and legal footprint in Canada.
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Build Your Canadian Credit Score: Credit history does not follow you across borders. To qualify for a mortgage or premium rental later, open a bank account and apply for a credit card immediately. BMO, for example, has a dedicated NewStart Program that offers newcomers two years of no-fee banking and credit cards with no Canadian credit history required.
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Secure Your Social Insurance Number (SIN): You need a SIN to work and access government benefits. You can apply online via Service Canada or visit a local office to receive it the same day.
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Apply for OHIP (Health Insurance): As of 2026, Ontario has maintained the removal of the three-month waiting period. This means you can apply for OHIP coverage at a ServiceOntario location as soon as you arrive, with coverage beginning immediately upon approval for eligible residents.
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Ontario Driver’s License: A license is the standard form of photo ID in the province, however, you can use your international passport until your ID comes in. Depending on where you are moving from, you may be able to exchange your existing license or fast-track the testing process.
- Ontario Identification Card: If you do not drive, you can apply for an identification card at ServiceOntario.
Visit ServiceOntario to find a location near you and verify the specific document requirements for your health card and license.
Are you moving to the GTA anytime soon? get in touch, we offer a free discovery call over zoom.
