Townhouses For Sale in Gorham-College Manor, Newmarket

Century homes, split-levels and the older condo towns

The western part of the neighbourhood borders the downtown and includes some of Newmarket's oldest houses. Moving east, the streets fill with frame and ranch bungalows, split-levels and two-storey homes, most with attached garages, along with condominium complexes and townhouse rows.

Many of the townhouse complexes here date from the 1970s and 1980s. They often have larger rooms and more green space between buildings than newer towns, but they also have older roofs, windows and plumbing. A well-run complex with a healthy reserve fund can be good value; one with deferred maintenance can bring special assessments.

Freehold towns exist as well, but condo towns are a larger share here than in the newer subdivisions.

Southlake, Pickering College and the fairgrounds

Southlake Regional Health Centre is the area's biggest employer and draws staff from across York Region and beyond. Pickering College has been part of the community since 1909. Fairgrounds Park, College Manor Park and Gorham Pool give the neighbourhood recreation space, and the York Curling Club and NewRoads Performing Arts Centre are here too.

College Manor Shops cover daily errands, and the downtown and Upper Canada Mall are close.

The area's east side meets the Newmarket Industrial Park, which brings jobs within walking distance but also truck traffic on some roads. Units on the western side, closer to the downtown and Pickering College, tend to be on quieter, leafier streets. Mulock Drive along the southern edge is a busy arterial, so units backing onto it can be noisier.

The century homes near the downtown end give the neighbourhood a more varied streetscape than the uniform subdivisions further south and east.

On the Davis Drive rapidway

The Davis Drive rapidway, opened in 2015, runs through the area with a Viva stop at Southlake. Viva Yellow connects west to the Newmarket Bus Terminal and east toward Highway 404. Newmarket GO on the Barrie line is a short trip into the downtown.

That makes this one of the best parts of Newmarket for a car-light household. Highway 404 is also close for drivers, via Davis or Mulock.

Cyclists can use the Tom Taylor Trail along the river to reach the downtown and Fairy Lake from the western part of the neighbourhood.

For drivers working in the industrial park, the commute can be a short drive or even a walk, which is unusual for York Region.

Who buys here and what to check

Hospital staff, first-time buyers and investors are common buyers. Proximity to Southlake and the rapidway brings steady rental demand.

• Read the status certificate carefully. Look at the reserve fund, planned work and any recent special assessments.
• Ask about the condo corporation's rules on rentals if you plan to lease the unit.
• Check parking. Some older complexes have one space per unit and limited visitor parking.
• Look at windows, balconies and roofs, which are often original in complexes of this age.