Sophisticated property investors continue to fill out their portfolios with brick-and-mortar assets in Toronto due in large part to its stable economy and diverse population. Not put off by Toronto’s white-hot market, many investors see the city as a strong long-term investment.

Moreover we are seeing a growing number of clients who also see Toronto real estate as a great investment for their university-bound children. We’re seeing more and more clients from abroad drawn to Toronto for its high calibre post secondary schools. After all, setting children up on the right foot with proper housing and education is always the best investment.

Toronto is a world-class city — a hub of finance, arts, culture, innovation, and academics. Indeed if it’s higher education you seek for your growing children, Toronto leads Canadian cities with several reputable universities within its city limits. Topping this list is the University of Toronto with an overall international ranking of 17 (U of T, as it’s known locally, is the number one university in Canada).

U of T is cultivating some of the brightest minds in medicine, technology, business and law. Across the board it is an outstanding institution. Ryerson University, also located in downtown Toronto, is a leader in innovative career-focused education, while York University is helping train engaged social justice leaders, teachers, and business people.

OCADU is one of only four accredited art and design universities in Canada and the largest with an exclusive focus on training professional artists. Along with these universities, Toronto boasts exceptional colleges, like George Brown and Humber, offering a range of practical hands-on training in applied arts and technology, from the culinary arts through film and television programs, nursing through networking.

Tuition rates

The attraction doesn’t stop there for foreign investors with dollar or euro accounts, where extremely favourable exchange rates suddenly make paying for university that much more affordable. Not to mention government regulation in Canada means university tuition rates are far less than their US counterparts, including for foreign students.

New graduates and young professionals the world over are also attracted by the prospect of settling down here. It’s a great place to make a strong and impressive start to a career as well as a good city for long-term professional — and personal- growth. Canada’s Top 5 banks employ the lion’s share of new graduates and offer programmes specifically designed to integrate new graduates into the workforce.

Additionally, the University of Toronto is affiliated with multiple world-class teaching hospitals that make the city and school a phenomenal place for those in biotech, medicine and rehabilitation sciences.

For those with an entrepreneurial streak, Canada is ranked number five internationally for start-ups. Programmes and facilities like Ryerson University’s Digital Media Zone, maRs Discovery District as well as government programmes and grants that support both social innovation and new business alike, make launching your own calling an attractive proposition.

But life is about more than work and unlike other economy driving cities Toronto is also a great place to raise a family. Consistently rated as one of the safest cities in the world, Toronto has a solid public education system, great health care and is decidedly family-focused with parks, programmes and loads of child-centred museums and play centers for every pint-size interest from science and technology to art and sports.

Support systems

We have seen young adults make the move from abroad for university and acclimatise with ease. Universities in Toronto integrate solid orientation programmes and provide support systems to properly support international students into broader Canadian life. As a multiculturally diverse city it’s easy to feel at home and find community.

Whether you welcome full immersion in the diversity or prefer to find home comforts, Toronto really is a city for everyone.

There are many clients who as university students came to Toronto and chose to purchase real estate rather than rent. On graduating they found employment, while their parents worked on immigrating to Canada, so that the family as a whole could build a long-term home here.

And whether or not you’re contemplating an international move, Toronto remains the location for well-performing investment properties, especially now with the generous exchange rates.

The writer is a Director at Buttonwood Property Management.