Moving from Markham to Downtown Toronto: A Downsizer's Guide

The short answer

• A downtown condo trades house maintenance and yard work for a monthly condo fee and shared building rules.
• Condo prices in the City of Toronto have softened over the past year, which can work in a downsizer’s favour.
• The GO train from Markham into Union Station typically runs 35 to 50 minutes depending on the station and time of day.
• Selling a Markham house to buy downtown involves timing decisions: sell first, buy first or try to line up both closings.
• Day-to-day costs like parking and dining tend to run higher downtown, even if your housing payment drops.

Why Markham Homeowners Are Considering Moving from Markham to Downtown Toronto

A lot of the downsizers I talk to in Markham are at a similar stage: the kids are gone or nearly gone, the house feels too big and the upkeep (snow removal, lawn care, a roof that’s due, a furnace that’s aging) has gone from a minor chore to a real weight. At the same time, downtown Toronto offers something Markham can’t: a walk to a show, a hospital, a favourite restaurant or a subway line without getting in the car.

Moving from Markham to Downtown Toronto is rarely just about real estate. It’s about trading a commute and a big property for convenience and a smaller footprint. Some people love that trade immediately. Others miss the quiet and the space more than they expected. Before you commit, it helps to be honest with yourself about which type of person you are.

Pros and Cons of Moving to Downtown Toronto

The pros and cons of moving to downtown Toronto look different for every household, but a few themes come up again and again with clients who are downsizing out of a detached Markham home.

What people tend to gain

• Less physical upkeep: no lawn, no driveway to shovel, no roof or furnace to worry about on your own schedule.
• Walkability to restaurants, theatres, hospitals and shopping that Markham simply doesn’t offer in the same density.
• Shorter or eliminated commute if you work downtown or frequently need to be there for appointments, culture or family.
• Building amenities like a gym, concierge or guest suite that replace things you used to maintain yourself.

What people tend to give up

• Storage space: a two or three car garage and a basement become a locker and maybe one parking spot.
• Outdoor space: a backyard becomes a balcony, if the unit has one at all.
• Monthly condo fees, which rise over time and cover things you may not personally use.
• Quiet. Downtown living means more noise, more neighbours and less control over who’s next door.

Downsizing from Markham to a Toronto Condo: What Actually Changes

Downsizing from Markham to a Toronto condo changes your monthly budget in ways that aren’t always obvious at first glance. Your mortgage payment might drop if you’re moving from a large detached house to a smaller unit, but condo fees replace a chunk of what you used to spend on maintenance, insurance and utilities. Those fees cover building staff, reserve funds, amenities and often heat or water, so compare the full picture rather than just comparing a house payment to a condo payment.

Space is the other big adjustment. A 2,500 square foot house holds a lot of furniture, seasonal decorations and “just in case” items. Most downtown units run far smaller, so expect to sell, donate or store a meaningful portion of what you own. Walk through your current home room by room and be realistic about what actually fits in 700 to 1,200 square feet.

Cost of Living Downtown Toronto vs Markham

The cost of living downtown Toronto vs Markham comparison isn’t as simple as “the city is more expensive.” According to TRREB’s Q2 2026 condo market report, the average condominium apartment selling price in the City of Toronto was $667,916, down from $717,403 a year earlier. Broader GTA benchmark pricing from WOWA’s August 2026 update shows condo apartment average prices around $618,000, also down year-over-year. That softening has created more negotiating room for buyers than existed a few years ago, which is worth knowing if you’re planning to buy downtown after selling in Markham.

Where downtown tends to cost more is in day-to-day living: parking (if it isn’t included), dining out and the general price premium that comes with density. Where it can cost less is in avoiding the expenses of running a full house: property maintenance, a second vehicle you may no longer need and utilities on a much larger space. Run your own numbers rather than assuming either direction automatically wins.

Selling Your House in Markham to Buy a Condo Downtown

Selling a house in Markham to buy a condo downtown means coordinating two transactions in two different markets and that timing matters. Detached homes in York Region and condos in the City of Toronto don’t always move at the same pace, so you’ll want a clear plan for whether you sell first, buy first or try to close close together.

A few practical things worth sorting out early:

• Get a realistic valuation on your Markham home based on current comparable sales, not what the house two doors down sold for three years ago.
• Understand that condo market conditions in Toronto have shifted. Urbanation and Globe and Mail reporting through 2026 both describe a market with elevated inventory and a slow, gradual recovery expected over the next couple of years, which can favour buyers on price and selection.
• Talk to your lender about bridge financing if there’s a gap between closing dates.
• Budget for moving costs on both ends: a full-service move out of a detached home is a bigger job than most people expect, especially if you’re also downsizing belongings at the same time.

Markham to Toronto Commute: What to Expect If You Keep a Foot in Both Cities

Some downsizers don’t make a clean break. They keep ties to Markham through family, a church, a community group or a doctor and want to know what the Markham to Toronto commute looks like if they need to go back regularly. The GO train from Markham to Toronto typically takes somewhere in the 35 to 50 minute range into Union Station, depending on which station you board at and whether you’re travelling during peak or off-peak hours. Confirm current schedules and trip times directly with Metrolinx, since GO service levels and timetables are adjusted periodically.

If you move downtown but still visit Markham often for family, groceries at familiar shops or a specific doctor, factor that recurring trip into your decision. It’s a very different experience to visit Markham once a month versus needing to be there every week.

Best Downtown Toronto Neighbourhoods for Downsizers

Not all of downtown suits every downsizer the same way. A few patterns show up often with Markham clients making this move:

• St. Lawrence Market / Distillery District area: historic character, walkable, good for people who want a slower, village-like feel within the core.
• Yorkville: quieter streets, high-end amenities, close to hospitals and shopping, popular with downsizers who want a premium, low-key building.
• Harbourfront / CityPlace: newer towers, often larger units with better amenities, good access to the waterfront trail system.
• Entertainment District: lively, close to transit and theatres, but noisier and busier than some downsizers prefer.

Visit at different times of day before you commit. A neighbourhood that feels great on a Sunday afternoon can feel very different on a Friday night.

Comparing Markham and Downtown Toronto at a Glance

Factor	Markham (detached home)	Downtown Toronto (condo)
Typical maintenance	Lawn, snow, roof, furnace, your responsibility	Handled by condo corporation, covered by fees
Space	More square footage, garage, basement storage	Smaller footprint, limited storage, maybe a locker
Monthly costs	Utilities, property tax, maintenance reserve of your own	Condo fees, property tax, often heat or water included
Walkability	Car-dependent for most errands	Walk to groceries, restaurants, transit, culture
Commute to downtown	35 to 50 minutes by GO train (confirm current schedule)	Minutes on foot or transit
Market conditions (2026)	Detached prices have eased from recent peaks	Condo prices down year-over-year, more buyer choice

What to Do Next

If moving from Markham to Downtown Toronto is on your mind for this year, start with a few concrete steps rather than browsing listings in isolation.

• Get a current, realistic valuation of your Markham home based on recent comparable sales, not outdated assumptions.
• Tour a handful of downtown buildings in person, at different times of day, in the neighbourhoods that interest you.
• Ask for condo fee statements and status certificates on any building you’re seriously considering and have them reviewed.
• Talk to your lender early about timing, bridge financing and what your budget looks like once a condo fee replaces your current house costs.
• Make a real decision about what you’re keeping, selling or storing, since that shapes which unit sizes actually work for you.

I’m Kirby Chan and I help Markham homeowners work through exactly this kind of move, from pricing your current home correctly to finding a downtown condo that actually fits your life rather than just your budget. If you’re weighing a move like this, reach out through kirbychandigital.com and let’s talk through your specific situation before you list anything.