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Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by sharkus
(Post 12853063)
I've spent quite a bit of time in Port Dalhousie over the years and concur it's a rather nice place. A friend used to drive to Burlington GO and then take the train into Union Station. I think there is (well not right now of course!) GO train service from St Catharines into Union, so that might be better than having to drive to Burlington and switch to the train.
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Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by sharkus
(Post 12853063)
I've spent quite a bit of time in Port Dalhousie over the years and concur it's a rather nice place. A friend used to drive to Burlington GO and then take the train into Union Station. I think there is (well not right now of course!) GO train service from St Catharines into Union, so that might be better than having to drive to Burlington and switch to the train.
Concur that Port Dalhousie is nice - but small... and hardly cosmopolitan from what I recall from visiting there frequently up until a couple of years ago... and there is a lot of construction going on :( https://nexthome.ca/neighbourhoods/s...lhousie/30095/
Originally Posted by katehul
(Post 12852901)
Hi, my fiance has accepted a job in St Catharines and I am totally stuck on which areas to look at for our property search. We are 38 and 42 and have no kids and no plans to. We are moving from Leeds City Centre. We like dining out in nice places, wine/cocktail bars and the cosmopolitan vibe of the City Center. I am originally from Lytham St Annes so also happy with a more small town feel but more upmarket. We would like 3 beds min so guests can stay from home and some outdoor space and have around £500k (+ for the right place). We are happy for a commute to get the best place for our needs to make the most of our move. Is it like UK where you look on say Right Move and find things you like with various agents or do you instruct a broker to find something suitable? I have heard areas of St Catharines would be suitable but which, also maybe Burlington or Niagara on the Lake. all offer different things that we may like. Please help me with where to start I have never made a move like this before.
Niagara on the Lake is a tourist town - but quite lovely.. and lots of vinyards in the area, if you are into wine :D |
Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by Siouxie
(Post 12853244)
:drinkingwine: Niagara on the Lake is a tourist town - but quite lovely.. and lots of vinyards in the area, if you are into wine :D |
Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by spouse of scouse
(Post 12853248)
I've always thought that being into wine should be one of the forum rules :):drinkwine:
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Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by spouse of scouse
(Post 12853248)
I've always thought that being into wine should be one of the forum rules :):drinkwine:
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Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by dbd33
(Post 12853350)
Something one can do in Niagara is to take one's classic motor on a tour of the vineyards. That's quite fun but all the wine is from those vineyards which is a shame as it's cumbersome to make stew at the roadside, it would be nicer to have wine for drinking.
:drinkingwine: |
Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by dbd33
(Post 12853350)
Something one can do in Niagara is to take one's classic motor on a tour of the vineyards. That's quite fun but all the wine is from those vineyards which is a shame as it's cumbersome to make stew at the roadside, it would be nicer to have wine for drinking.
I went here last summer https://www.sue-annstaff.com/ The owners gave us lots of free wine and we did end buying quite a bit. I'm more of a beer guy (stricly ale primarily IPA) but this was very good wine. |
Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Many thanks for your comments so far. Having taken your advice on board I think we will rent initially. I think somewhere between St.C and Toronto is a good option to be in a position to easily experience big city and small town to get a good feel for when/if we buy. I was therefore thinking Burlington would be a good idea. Thoughts?
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Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by katehul
(Post 12854255)
Many thanks for your comments so far. Having taken your advice on board I think we will rent initially. I think somewhere between St.C and Toronto is a good option to be in a position to easily experience big city and small town to get a good feel for when/if we buy. I was therefore thinking Burlington would be a good idea. Thoughts?
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Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by Siouxie
(Post 12853244)
The OP's partner will be working in St. Catherines .. so no commute needed to Union :D
Concur that Port Dalhousie is nice - but small... and hardly cosmopolitan from what I recall from visiting there frequently up until a couple of years ago... and there is a lot of construction going on :( https://nexthome.ca/neighbourhoods/s...lhousie/30095/ :drinkingwine: Niagara on the Lake is a tourist town - but quite lovely.. and lots of vinyards in the area, if you are into wine :D That construction thing has been on going for a long time, at least five years. they tore down a few things and then it seemed to pause, not sure if it's actually going on right now, been a while since I've popped down that way. Looking at google maps from june 2019 the housing stuff near where the old port mansion used to be isn't happening, but a lot can happen over a year. NOTL is also very nice too. Not sure how affordable it is though. Spent time down there, mainly at the sailing club, and really do like the place.As you say, rather touristy, so in the summer months it can be a nightmare getting around. |
Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by katehul
(Post 12854255)
Many thanks for your comments so far. Having taken your advice on board I think we will rent initially. I think somewhere between St.C and Toronto is a good option to be in a position to easily experience big city and small town to get a good feel for when/if we buy. I was therefore thinking Burlington would be a good idea. Thoughts?
https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Renting-Canada How about a beachfront townhouse on the edge of Hamilton if you don't mind spending 2.5k a month.. :) https://www.padmapper.com/apartments...73728,43.30388 Commuting to St. Catherines will be soul destroying after a while if driving, and getting stuck due to weather or traffic around the skyway bridge won't be a pleasant run at all. There is the option of taking the GoTrain / Bus etc., which will require over an hour travel time each way plus time to get to/from the Go Stations. |
Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by dbd33
(Post 12854303)
I find Burlington to be charmless suburbia and isn't it on the wrong side of the bridge?
As I also mentioned before - I am a real estate agent who doesn't work in St Catharine's- however my office is in Burlington and I would still advise you not to live in Burlington if you work in Niagara region. |
Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
My advice is to move to St C. The QEW is a grim commute in all seasons, and the 'benefit' of being half way to Toronto is not worth it. If you need the big city fix, drive to one of the outlying Go stations and train it in. Port Dalhousie is fine [I grew up less than a kilometre from it], but the St C area is small enough that it does not really matter where you live; Brock and whatever else local is readily accessible. Having said that, driving the length of what is a small city to get to work can take longer than one might expect. Also, do not be on the eastern side of the Welland Canal [ie: Port Weller out to Niagara on the Lake, Queenstown, etc]. The charm of watching a laker traverse the locks during the shipping season wears out really quickly.
For access to Brock, alongside the aforementioned Thorold, you can also consider Fonthill, or a little further out, Welland. Welland is on the grim side and the 406 used to get very snowy up that way in the winter. Note that Brock sits at the top of the escarpment, St C is in the shadow. The difference in the amount of snow can be surprising. If I was returning to Brock [which is where I did my undergraduate], I would look to get within cycling distance of the place. Although remember the escarpment... And not every day in the winter is cycle-able, but a surprising number of days can be. So, areas like Burleigh Hill, Western Hill and Vansickle are all very accessible with a range of prices. I agree with the other posters - buying [and then selling] is expensive in Canada, take your time and be sure you are settled where you want to be before taking on the expense. Good luck. |
Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by Siouxie
(Post 12854316)
How about a beachfront townhouse on the edge of Hamilton if you don't mind spending 2.5k a month.. :)
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Re: Help! UK to St Catharines. Which Area?
Originally Posted by I am I said
(Post 12854564)
My advice is to move to St C. The QEW is a grim commute in all seasons, and the 'benefit' of being half way to Toronto is not worth it. If you need the big city fix, drive to one of the outlying Go stations and train it in. Port Dalhousie is fine [I grew up less than a kilometre from it], but the St C area is small enough that it does not really matter where you live; Brock and whatever else local is readily accessible. Having said that, driving the length of what is a small city to get to work can take longer than one might expect. Also, do not be on the eastern side of the Welland Canal [ie: Port Weller out to Niagara on the Lake, Queenstown, etc]. The charm of watching a laker traverse the locks during the shipping season wears out really quickly.
For access to Brock, alongside the aforementioned Thorold, you can also consider Fonthill, or a little further out, Welland. Welland is on the grim side and the 406 used to get very snowy up that way in the winter. Note that Brock sits at the top of the escarpment, St C is in the shadow. The difference in the amount of snow can be surprising. If I was returning to Brock [which is where I did my undergraduate], I would look to get within cycling distance of the place. Although remember the escarpment... And not every day in the winter is cycle-able, but a surprising number of days can be. So, areas like Burleigh Hill, Western Hill and Vansickle are all very accessible with a range of prices. I agree with the other posters - buying [and then selling] is expensive in Canada, take your time and be sure you are settled where you want to be before taking on the expense. Good luck. Good to know for future reference! Thanks for the helpful info :) |
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