Townhouses For Sale in South West, Ajax

Lake Driveway and the 1980s lakeshore

In the early 1980s, upscale housing was built along Lake Driveway, giving south-west Ajax a different character from the planned postwar core. The lakefront itself is largely public land: in the early 1970s, the conservation authority bought much of the shoreline for parkland.

The result is a neighbourhood with direct access to the water, the Waterfront Trail and the creek valley, and a housing mix that includes detached homes, semis and a range of townhouse complexes.

Townhouses close to Ajax GO

The South West is one of the best-placed parts of Ajax for train commuters. The station sits on Westney Road South just below the 401, and its parking garage, opened in 2013, takes some pressure off the surface lots. From many South West streets, the station is a short drive, bus ride or bike ride, without crossing the highway.

Lakeshore East local trains run about every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends. Townhouses here tend to attract buyers who value that commute, and tenants who do too, which matters for investors.

For drivers, the Westney Road interchange gives direct access to the 401.

Checklist for a South West Ajax townhouse

South West Ajax has a range of townhouse types, from older condo complexes to freeholds. Depending on which you're looking at, check:

• Condo complexes: the status certificate, reserve fund study, recent fee increases and any special assessments.
• Freehold towns: roof age, shared roof lines with neighbours, windows and mechanicals.
• Lake and creek exposure: whether the property is in a conservation authority regulated area, and signs of moisture or drainage problems.
• Parking: how many spaces come with the unit, and whether visitor parking is easy.
• Noise: units close to the 401 or the rail lines will hear them; visit at different times of day, including a weekday morning.

The right answer depends on the complex, not the neighbourhood name.

The waterfront trail and Durham Live next door

The William Parish Waterfront Trail runs along the Ajax lakeshore. Ajax paved a walkers-only path along its shore in 1995, ahead of every other town on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, and South West residents use it every day for runs, dog walks and bike rides to the beach.

To the west, across Duffins Creek on the Pickering side of the border, is the Durham Live entertainment district, which includes a large casino resort. It brings jobs and traffic. If you're buying close to the border, check how event-night traffic affects your route home.

South West Ajax for commuters and downsizers

The South West suits two groups especially well. GO commuters like being south of the 401, close to the station without crossing the highway. Downsizers like the lake, the waterfront trail and the quieter streets near the shore.

Families also look here for the parks and the creek valley, though the newest freehold stock is generally north. If you're choosing between a South West complex and a newer town north of the 401, weigh the commute and lake access against age and maintenance, and compare full monthly costs, including any fee. Being close to the station and the water is something you can't add to a house later, while most interior updates you can.