{"id":296900,"date":"2023-12-15T21:13:27","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T21:13:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wahi.com\/ca\/en\/?p=296900"},"modified":"2023-12-15T21:13:27","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T21:13:27","slug":"what-its-like-to-live-in-ontarios-most-affordable-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wahi.com\/ca\/en\/learning-centre\/real-estate-101\/buy\/live-in-ontarios-most-affordable-city\/","title":{"rendered":"What It\u2019s Like to Live In Ontario\u2019s Most Affordable City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”||-24px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||-24px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”||-34px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”55px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][wahi_breadcrumb _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”30px||-10px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][wahi_breadcrumb-link title=”Real Estate 101″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”default” link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjcyMiJ9fQ==@” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/wahi_breadcrumb-link][wahi_breadcrumb-link title=”Buy” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”default” link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjE2MzIifX0=@” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/wahi_breadcrumb-link][wahi_breadcrumb-link title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”title” _module_preset=”default” module_text_color=”#686E6E” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/wahi_breadcrumb-link][\/wahi_breadcrumb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”16px||4px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”3.5rem” header_line_height=”4.5rem” header_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_font_size_phone=”1.5rem” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_line_height_tablet=”3.5rem” header_line_height_phone=”2.1rem” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IjxoMT4iLCJhZnRlciI6IjwvaDE+In19@[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1px||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][wahi_socialsharing _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/wahi_socialsharing][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”15px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font_size=”1.25rem” header_3_line_height=”1.88rem” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_font_size=”1.25rem” header_4_line_height=”1.88rem” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]

North Bay<\/a> is the only Ontario city that\u2019s affordable for homebuyers with average household incomes \u2014 here\u2019s what to know before considering a move there.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font_size=”1.25rem” header_3_line_height=”1.88rem” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_font_size=”1.25rem” header_4_line_height=”1.88rem” custom_margin=”||11px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

By Josh Sherman<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>| 3 minute read<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title title=”off” author=”off” date_format=”M j” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||26px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||3px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||9px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” width__hover_enabled=”off|desktop” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”src” _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”1px||29px|||” border_radii=”on|32px|32px|32px|32px” border_radii_tablet=”on|32px|32px|32px|32px” border_radii_phone=”on|0px|0px|0px|0px” border_radii_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”1.13rem” text_line_height=”1.75rem” custom_margin=”-18px||2px|||” custom_padding=”||7px||false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”||7px||false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|15px|7px|15px|false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_tablet=”1.13rem” text_font_size_phone=”0.9rem” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

North Bay<\/a> might be the perfect spot for Ontario homebuyers who love the outdoors, a slower pace of life, and more affordable housing.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1px||39px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”16px||16px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font_size=”1.25rem” header_3_line_height=”1.88rem” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_font_size=”1.25rem” header_4_line_height=”1.88rem” min_height=”158.4px” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]


Nestled between Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake, North Bay<\/a> is known as the Gateway to the North, acting as a regional hub as well as a destination for outdoor tourism, sailing, skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing. The municipality of approximately 50,000 is also the only city in the province that is affordable for homebuyers who earn the average household income, according to recent Wahi analysis<\/a>. <\/span>This relative affordability has attracted both homebuyers and investors in recent years, especially during the pandemic. But big-city homebuyers vying to score property on the cheap should be aware of a few major differences between large urban centres and North Bay<\/a>, which is located more than four hours from both Toronto and Ottawa.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#edf7f3″ custom_padding=”32px||32px||true|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||25px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#38505b” header_2_font_size=”2.63rem” header_2_line_height=”3.75rem” max_width=”800px” module_alignment=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”21px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_line_height_tablet=”3.75rem” header_2_line_height_phone=”32px” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

“We haven\u2019t dipped as much as some of the cities have with the interest rate climbing, because, again, we\u2019re still affordable and our inventory is still low.”<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”32px||23px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”11px||14px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font_size=”1.25rem” header_3_line_height=”1.88rem” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_font_size=”1.25rem” header_4_line_height=”1.88rem” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

The biggest adjustment for North Bay<\/a> newcomers from the south is the weather, Jessica Diggles, Sales Representative at Century 21 Blue Sky Region Realty Inc. Brokerage, tells Wahi. \u201cIf you\u2019re coming from Toronto, you don\u2019t get much snow,\u201d she says, noting that if you\u2019re kids are in school, expect a lot more snow days. Lifestyle considerations should also be top of mind. \u201cIt\u2019s just not for everybody: if you\u2019re used to more of a city lifestyle, there\u2019s not that much open here past 9 p.m.,\u201d Diggles, who moved to North Bay<\/a> from Toronto, in 2012, adds, suggesting adjusting to a sleepier city could be a challenge for some.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Benefits of North Bay\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Homebuyers from bigger cities who can adjust to the inclement weather and slower pace of life will probably like what they see when it comes to real estate<\/a> listings. \u201cAcross the board in Ontario we are definitely affordable,\u201d Diggles says.<\/span>
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<\/span>In fact, according to Wahi\u2019s analysis, the median price of a North Bay<\/a> home was $401,950 in the first quarter of the year, putting it just on the edge of the affordability range for households earning $100,000 annually, roughly the provincial average. For comparison, households need to bring in between $200,000 and $300,000 per year to purchase a Toronto home, depending on the area. (Wahi assumes a 20% downpayment, a mortgage rate of 5.24% (provided by Rocket Mortgage as of July 14), and a 25-year amortization period. To meet the affordability threshold, households shouldn\u2019t be spending more than 25% of their pre-tax income on monthly mortgage payments.)<\/span>
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<\/span>The much lower price point also means that homebuyers are generally less sensitive to rate hikes from the Bank of Canada, a factor that has helped stabilize local home prices, too. \u201cWe haven\u2019t dipped as much as some of the cities have with the interest rate climbing, because, again, we\u2019re still affordable and our inventory is still low,\u201d says Diggles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

North Bay<\/a> hasn\u2019t just attracted homebuyers looking for a more affordable place to live. \u201cMuskoka also got way too unaffordable for people to buy cottages and recreational properties,\u201d explains Diggles. \u201cWe have the same lakes, the same topography, but we have way cheaper properties \u2014 so then people started to discover that and then tell their friends.\u201d<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” height=”30px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f0faf4″ min_height=”334.8px” custom_padding=”3px||0px|||” global_module=”849″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|3px|auto||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”60px||43px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||65px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#38505b” header_2_font_size=”2.63rem” header_2_line_height=”3.2rem” custom_margin=”||25px|||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”2.63rem” header_2_font_size_phone=”2rem” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_line_height_tablet=”3.75rem” header_2_line_height_phone=”2.5rem” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

We put the real<\/em> back in real estate.<\/span><\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#e8db3a” text_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”90%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”35.8px” custom_margin=”5px||35px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|26px||26px|false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”0.85rem” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment_tablet=”” module_alignment_phone=”center” module_alignment_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

Join Wahi today and find out how easy it is to get real estate in Canada.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”\/ca\/en\/real-estate\/sign-up” button_text=”Get Started” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”17px” button_border_radius=”7px” button_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”|40px||40px|false|true” button_text_size_tablet=”” button_text_size_phone=”13px” button_text_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” height=”1px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ admin_label=”Column” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_button button_text=”post popup button” button_alignment=”right” module_id=”dipi_popup_id_295151″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”absolute” horizontal_offset=”-10000000px” z_index=”-1000000″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_text=”page popup button” button_alignment=”right” module_id=”dipi_popup_id_295299″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”absolute” horizontal_offset=”-10000000px” z_index=”-100000″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]