My family and I are looking to settling at Kingston or Cambridge. Appreciate all views whether positive and and/or negative (esp anything seriously negative which we ought to be aware of). Kingston appears quite attractive and not too far from Toronto/Ottawa/Montreal.

Welcome to the board tanner. I'd look more closely at Cambridge than at Kingston. The latter is dominated by Queens University, the Royal Military College, numerous prisons and the ghost of Don Cherry. There's very little else going on there out of tourist season and the locals are openly hostile to newcomers.

Cambridge has much more going for it IMO.

Haven't been to Cambridge, but live close to Kingston. We shop there a lot and haven't noticed any hostility from the locals, quite the opposite in fact.

We considered living in the Kingston area but decided it wasn't for us and instead settled about 70km to the west near Belleville.

Kingston was too big for us and we just didn't fell right there. The downtown area comes across a a bit rough, although that can be said for a lot of places in Canada as the businesses move to "out of town" locations. Even in smaller Belleville the downtown area is definitely getting neglected whereas the shopping areas on the edge of town are thriving.

Kingston does have a great waterfront, but is also home to lots of jails, although the one in the picture attached has to be one of the most ornate jails anywhere!

The shopping is great in Kingston, you can get just about anything there. It is also very close to the 1000 lakes area and of course the US border, so has a lot going for it.

What is it you are looking for in your new location?

"We shop there a lot and haven't noticed any hostility from the locals, quite the opposite in fact."

That's because you're spending money there, not trying to earn it. Kingstonians give networking a whole other dimension.

I work in Cambridge (live in Milton) - it's OK, has everything you need nearby (big box stores, etc.). I admit that I spend the vast majority of my time on one edge (Galt), but the parts I've seen are pretty charmless...I figure it's got to be prettier than this somewhere in Cambridge!

Only thing to watch is that Cambridge is growing slowly, but it seems to have almost maxed out it's size, and a lot of resources (medical care, hospitals, etc.) (says the person who lives in the fastest growing town in Canada, still with only 1 hospital!).

Thanks for the replies. Toronto/GTA was our original destination, but after our first visit there last month, we are looking at somewhere much less expensive, smaller community (yet not too far from bigger cities), relatively safer, more country-side feel and nearer to good university for our kids. Thinking that with our C$350K, we hope to get some decent house for say C$150K and new car for about C$25K. That leaves with us with about C$175K. We are used to simple lifestyle and if we could budget monthly expense at C$2500, then I need not worry about work or high-salaried work for the next 5-6 years. So, looking at Cambridge / Kingston to achieve our plan.

BTW, is Cambridge commutable to Hamilton?

Yes Hamilton is commutable. I live in Guelph just next door to Cambridge where my sister lives. I 've been in the area for 8 years now and it's not so bad... I like it more the London/Sarnia way though personally. I would never move any father than Guelph..ie Toronto...etc just not interested in the cost of living and the high volumes of traffic/commuting.

$150,000 won't get you a house in Cambridge. The problem being that Cambridge is commutable to Toronto.

Yeah and if you do find one its so small or falling apart... but I'm sure anyone on here will tell you that if you are looking to spend only 150 thousand you might want to look at smaller cities. If you want a decent house Cambridge way get prepared to spend over 250 to get something decent .. unless you are big into renovations.....

Oh well, I suppose I'll need to look into some mortgage loan of C$100K - C$150K, and give myself one year to look for a decent paying job.

How about Kingston? Any possibility of getting a decent house for around C$150K?

I don't suppose they have townhouses in Cambridge or Kingston?

Do they really? Genuinely interested in your experience there.

You should take a look at mls.ca. They have all the properties that are for sale by Realtors in any area of Canada. You can search by location and price. It will give you an idea of what you can get for your money.

BTW: Have you considered the London area?

Nope, have not considered London area cos' prefer to live closer to Toronto/Niagara/Ottawa. Also, have family staying at Binghamton, NY and prefer not to be too far from them (drivable distance).

Heard that Detroit is not doing too well, and not sure whether it will spill over to London area (the proximity thing).

mls.ca shows there are properties available in the region of C$150K for Cambridge!!

i would pick kingston, although love cambridge as well.......

depends on your trade and where the jobs are and what you are looking for in the move.
we have friends in kingston and was there is january this year
downdown is full of students and we rented a house there.
Best areas are bayridge area, but $150 wont buy much in the area.....
i have a couple of contacts in kingston if yo want to pm me, i pass there details over, they are real estate people.
i never found people to be horrible o me and NO they didnt know i didnt live there, i foud the opposite, friendly helpful and fantastic with the kids!!!

i would move there tomorrow if the jobs where there, but sadly for hubby there not:curse:
best thing is to take a trip and see

some love toronto, but i hate it, others love living in middle of nowhere, that would be pure hell
best advise i have ever received and is soooooo true, is go rent and see what you think, if you love buy and settle, if not move onto the next area
i find canadians to be really friendly no matter where you go, but that probably just me and i have some great friends over there
hope it helps or maybe just confused you more

Hi

Why Bayridge area ? (and how much do you think it will cost to buy/rent?)


Will PM you for the contacts, thanks