Downsizing in The Kingsway

About downsizing in The Kingsway

The City of Toronto's official name for the area covered here is Kingsway South. This page describes that neighbourhood only, not the whole city, and the City's neighbourhood profile boundaries are what to check against a property address. For the wider picture, see the Toronto region page.

The area is part of the City of Toronto, so the same property tax, the same Municipal Land Transfer Tax and the same conservation authority apply as elsewhere in the city. Decisions about whether to stay, move within the area or leave are worth reading alongside aging in place or moving.

Smaller homes in The Kingsway for downsizers

The Kingsway is a house-heavy area, so smaller-home choices may be fewer than in a downtown neighbourhood and often sit on or near the main roads. They can include condominium apartments, townhouses and smaller houses. This page does not name individual buildings because it has not confirmed which are condominiums or what they charge. Ask for current examples and confirm each through its documents.

Three guides help frame the decision: condo, townhouse or house, buying a condo in Ontario and preparing an older home for sale if you are selling a house. The net proceeds guide and the net proceeds calculator give a rough sale figure.

Getting around The Kingsway without a car

The TTC lists Line 2 Bloor-Danforth among its subway lines, and Bloor Street West runs through this part of Etobicoke. Use the TTC trip planner to see which station or bus serves a specific address and what the trip to a doctor, downtown or the airport involves. This page does not name stations or give distances because it only states what an agency page confirms. GO Transit publishes the regional options.

If driving is likely to change, getting around Ontario after 65 covers the options across the province.

Hospitals near The Kingsway

St. Joseph's Health Centre is at 30 The Queensway, and Unity Health Toronto lists a 24-hour emergency department there. Etobicoke General Hospital is at 101 Humber College Boulevard and is part of William Osler Health System. Test the route to each from the address you are considering, and call 911 in an emergency.

Everyday life in The Kingsway

The City of Toronto's parks, gardens and beaches pages and the Toronto Public Library branch finder show what is near a given address. In a more car-oriented area, check how many daily errands you could do on foot and what you would do if you stopped driving.

Flood mapping and insurance in The Kingsway

Flood risk in Toronto is mapped by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Its Flood Plain Map Viewer shows riverine flood plain extents only and describes itself as a generalized representation, not a formally approved regulatory map. It does not show urban flooding caused by local drainage limits, so it is not the whole picture. Check the address, then ask TRCA for precise limits and ask your insurer about overland flood and sewer backup coverage. Our flood and storm insurance guide lists the questions to ask.

Property tax relief and land transfer tax in The Kingsway

Property here is taxed by the City of Toronto. The City publishes a property tax and utility relief program with a Property Tax Increase Cancellation and a Property Tax Increase Deferral. Each has age, income and ownership conditions, and the City says to reapply each year. Read the City's page for the current rules and whether you qualify.

A buyer in Toronto pays two land transfer taxes: Ontario's and the Toronto Municipal Land Transfer Tax. The seller pays neither. The City introduced graduated Municipal Land Transfer Tax rates for high-value homes from 2026, so check its rates page for the figure on a specific price. The land transfer tax guide sets out Ontario's tiers, and costs and money covers other closing costs.

Planning a move to or from The Kingsway

Most downsizers face the same sequence: decide what to keep, price the current home, work out how the sale and the purchase line up, and budget for the move. The step-by-step downsizing guide walks through it, and buy first or sell first covers the timing question. If you are helping a relative, read helping a parent sell their home. For age-restricted options, browse the 55+ communities directory.

None of this is legal, tax or financial advice. Questions about title, a condominium's documents or the tax treatment of a sale belong with a lawyer and an accountant licensed in Ontario. The principal residence guide explains the general rules.

Questions to ask before you buy in The Kingsway

• If the home is a house, can the main floor work as your living space?
• If it is a condominium, what do the status certificate and reserve fund study say?
• Is any part of the property in a TRCA regulated area near the Humber River, and has the street had sewer backup?
• How would you reach a hospital or your own doctor from this address?
• Which transit stop is closest, and is the walk to it manageable in winter?

Have a question this page does not answer? Contact us. See also resources.