I spent about four months looking for a place in the GTA and learned that how you search matters more than how much you look. A few things that actually helped, in case you're just starting out.
Filter by property type early. I wasted weeks scrolling everything before I narrowed down. Once I focused on Toronto condos for sale instead of the whole market, the noise dropped and I could actually compare like-for-like.
Townhouses are the sweet spot a lot of people skip. If you want a bit of space without detached prices, the Toronto townhouse listings were where I found the best value — more square footage per dollar than condos in a lot of neighbourhoods.
Know what "detached" really costs before you fall in love. I almost got attached to a house I couldn't afford. Skimming Toronto detached homes first gave me a realistic anchor so I didn't waste anyone's time.
Look outside the core. Prices shift fast even 30 minutes out. I ended up seriously considering Markham condos and a few Mississauga condo listings once the commute math worked out.
Get a real number, not a guess. Before making any offer I ran a free home valuation so I wasn't negotiating blind.
None of this is revolutionary, but filtering by type and area early saved me weeks. Hope it saves you some too.
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