Pickering, Ontario
Pickering real estate with Laura McBride
Pickering is the first Durham Region city east of Toronto, and that one fact explains most of its market: shorter trips downtown, more condos and townhomes, and prices that usually run above the towns further east. Laura works Pickering and Ajax as one connected market, and two of her recent Pickering sales were townhomes in very different parts of the city.
Why location is the whole story here
Pickering is a lakeside city of roughly 100,000 people on the western edge of Durham Region, about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto by GO Train. Pickering GO is on the Lakeshore East line, Highways 401 and 407 both cross the city, and Pickering Town Centre anchors the middle of it. North of the 407, a large new community called Seaton is being built.
Because the commute is so much of what people are buying, minutes to the station and to the highway often carry as much weight as another bedroom. That is also why a condo or townhome near the Town Centre can be a better fit than a larger detached home a few kilometres further out.
Pickering in four parts
- The lakefront
- Bay Ridges and Frenchman’s Bay, by the Nautical Village and Pickering GO, with older bungalows, newer infill and townhomes. West Shore is the quieter lakeside pocket west of the bay, mostly detached homes on mature lots.
- The established west
- Amberlea, Highbush and Rougemount, near Petticoat Creek and the Rouge. Established family neighbourhoods with larger detached homes.
- The core
- Liverpool and Village East around the Town Centre, plus the condo and apartment area around Pickering City Centre and the Esplanade, built for living near transit.
- The north
- Duffin Heights and Brock Ridge, with newer detached homes and townhomes, and Seaton above Highway 407.
Two Pickering townhomes, forty years apart
Both of Laura’s recent Pickering sales were townhomes, but they could hardly be more different, and the difference is the point: Pickering is not one market.
West Shore, built 1977
A fully renovated three-storey townhouse near Oklahoma Drive and Whites Road, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a private fenced yard, minutes from Frenchman’s Bay. Listed at $679,900.
See 10-765 Oklahoma Drive
Duffin Heights, built 2017
A two-bedroom, two-bathroom stacked townhouse of about 1,029 square feet near Brock Road and William Jackson Drive, with an east-facing balcony and one owned parking spot, steps from Pickering Golf Club.
See 2598 William Jackson DriveFrequently asked questions
Pickering real estate questions
Why are Pickering homes priced above Ajax?
Pickering is the Durham Region city closest to Toronto, so shorter commutes and GO access are built into the price. Detached homes in the established west end and the lakeside pockets sit at the higher end, while condos and townhomes near the Town Centre and the Esplanade are the more accessible entry point.
What is Seaton?
Seaton is a large master-planned community being built in Pickering north of Highway 407. It is one of the newer-build areas of the city, alongside Duffin Heights and Brock Ridge.
What kinds of homes are near Frenchman’s Bay and West Shore?
Around Frenchman’s Bay and Bay Ridges you will find older bungalows, newer infill and townhomes, walkable to the waterfront and Pickering GO. West Shore, just west of the bay, is mostly detached homes on mature lots, with some townhomes such as the renovated one on Oklahoma Drive.
Does Laura McBride sell in Pickering?
Yes. Pickering sits directly west of Ajax, where Laura is ranked the number one REALTOR® on RateMyAgent, and she works the two as one connected market. Her recent Pickering sales include a renovated townhouse in West Shore and a stacked townhouse in Duffin Heights.
Deciding where in Pickering?
Start with a conversation about your commute and your budget. Laura McBride, REALTOR®, Revel Realty Inc., Brokerage.
Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers already under contract with a brokerage.