Townhouses For Sale in Keswick South, Georgina

Simcoe Landing's later phases and other new rows

Construction in south Keswick slowed for a time before the highway arrived. Once the 404 extension opened in 2014, building resumed, and a ninth phase of Simcoe Landing got under way in 2017 on former farmland spanning Ravenshoe Road to Glenwoods Avenue, and The Queensway South to Woodbine Avenue. Plans for the phase included a school and parks.

Townhouses in this part of Keswick are mostly freehold or POTL rows built by production builders, with brick and stone fronts, single-car garages and two storeys over a basement. Some phases include rear-lane designs. The look is consistent from street to street, which makes comparing units easy.

Because many units are under ten years old, buyers here are often weighing a resale against a brand-new home in a later phase. Resale gives a finished street and established neighbours; new gives full warranty coverage and choice of finishes.

Minutes from the highway, far from the train

The main selling point is the drive. From south Keswick, Woodbine Avenue connects straight to Highway 404, and Newmarket is a short trip south. For commuters heading to Markham or Toronto, it is the most practical part of Georgina.

Rail is less convenient. There is no GO station in Georgina, so train commuters drive to East Gwillimbury GO or Newmarket GO. Local York Region Transit service exists but is less frequent than in the southern towns.

The Queensway South and Woodbine Avenue carry most of Keswick's shopping, including a Walmart that opened in 2010 and has become the community's largest business. The Maskinonge River crosses both streets.

Being at the south end also means Newmarket's hospital, mall and recreation centres are closer than from anywhere else in Georgina, which matters for families with busy schedules.

Near Cook's Bay without being on it

Cook's Bay forms Keswick's western edge, and the lake is only a short drive from most of the new subdivisions. Units here are generally set back from the shoreline, which means fewer of the flood and shoreline concerns that come with older lakefront streets in Keswick North.

Units near the Maskinonge River or stormwater ponds can still be in regulated areas, so check before planning backyard work.

Parks and stormwater ponds are built into each phase.

What to check on a Keswick South town

• Tarion warranty start date and any open deficiency items on units built in the last seven years.
• Whether the town has assumed the roads and parks in your phase.
• POTL documents if the unit shares a private road or lane.
• School assignments, since new subdivisions may open before their schools.
• Parking: single-car garages are common, so check street parking rules.

Young families moving from Newmarket, Aurora or Richmond Hill are the main buyers, attracted by a newer freehold town at a lower price point. Investors also buy here, though the rental pool is smaller than in the towns further south.

Resale towns from the first phases built after the highway opened are now showing up regularly. They give buyers a chance to see how a builder's work has held up after several winters, which is useful information when comparing with a new unit from the same builder.