Oshawa Real Estate Overview

Oshawa is the largest municipality in Durham Region, with a booming real estate market.

According to the Toronto Real Estate Board, the composite benchmark selling price for a residential property in Oshawa in March 2013 was $247,400, which is an increase of 7.4 percent from March 2012.

Downtown Oshawa is the historic core, featuring a wide variety of properties with easy access to shopping and amenities. Kingsway Village is an older community that is home to the Energy Star and GreenHouse Certified Kingsway Forest subdivision. North Oshawa is quickly becoming known as the "New Oshawa" with its abundance of commercial buildings, modern facilities, and new properties.

Oshawa Population (2011)149,600
5 Year Population Change5.7%
Number of Homes in Oshawa61,300

Data source: Statistics Canada

Why Buy a Home in Oshawa?
Oshawa is a close-knit and friendly suburban community boasting a large number of properties, parks, and amenities. It has a strong economy centered on the General Motors Canadian headquarters, which has lent it the title of "Automotive Capital of Canada."

Several downtown wall murals, museums, and historic sites celebrate Oshawa's illustrious history and culture. The city is known for its civic pride, hosting several festivals throughout the year including Fiesta Week, the International Festival, and the Stellar Literary Festival.

Many Toronto commuters choose to live in Oshawa for its affordable housing. Highway 401 and the GO Transit system allow for easy back-and-forth travel between the two cities.
Explore Oshawa's Rich Cultural Heritage
"Oshawa" is a native word that loosely translates to "crossing of a stream." The name reflects the city's early history as a fur trading transfer point, where animal pelts were transported via canoe to and from trading posts at the mouth of the Credit River.

In the late eighteenth century, United Empire Loyalists began settling in the region after fleeing from persecution in the United States. A "colonization road" known as Simcoe Street was constructed, intersecting with Kingston Road at the historic "Four Corners."

Oshawa was incorporated as a village in 1850. It quickly became an industrial centre with the establishment of several tanneries, mills, and factories - most notably the General Motors of Canada factory. By 1924, Oshawa's population had grown enough for it to attain City status.
Getting around in Oshawa
Several transportation routes provide access within Oshawa and to the surrounding area.

GO Transit connects the city with Toronto, Hamilton, and points in between via train and bus. Local bus service is provided by Durham Region Transit, which operates 16 routes within Oshawa.

Highway 401 passes through the south end of town. The other major transportation corridor is Durham Highway 2, which connects with Bowmanville in the east and Pickering in the west.

Boats can be docked at the Oshawa Harbour. Nearby, Lakeview Park and Darlington Provincial Park offer some of the best trails in the area.
Shopping and Amenities
The Oshawa Centre features over 230 stores and services to suit all your needs. Several big box stores are located at the intersection of Harmony and Taunton, while unique boutiques can be found Downtown.

Oshawa boasts over 2,600 acres of parkland with 27 kilometres of trails. Some popular indoor sporting facilities are the Donevan Recreational Complex and the new Legends Centre - which includes an arena, leisure pool, fitness centre, and indoor track.

More than 50 elementary and secondary schools can be found in Oshawa. Post-secondary education is available through Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology - the only university in Canada to offer degree programs in Automotive Engineering and Nuclear Engineering.
Entertainment and Attractions in Oshawa
Oshawa contains a number of must-see historic and cultural attractions including the Parkwood National Historic Site, the Canadian Automotive Museum, and the Robert McLaughlin Gallery.

For the outdoors enthusiast, the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens, the Oak Ridges Moraine, and the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve are sure to be of interest.

The General Motors Centre is home to the Oshawa Power NBL team and the Oshawa Generals OHL team, as well as being host to countless entertainment and musical acts throughout the year. Top-notch restaurants and bars can be found all over town, especially along King Street, Simcoe Street, and Taunton Road.