Smart guide to a toronto scarborough apartment 1 bedroom 750: price vs. size, risks, and opportunities
When buyers and renters search for a “toronto scarborough apartment 1 bedroom 750,” they typically mean one of two things: a 1-bedroom around 750 square feet, or a 1-bedroom renting at roughly $750 per month. These are very different targets with very different realities in 2025. As a licensed Canadian real estate advisor, I'll outline what's realistic in Scarborough (part of the City of Toronto), how zoning and bylaws affect both occupancy and investment, and where resale potential and seasonal patterns can work for or against your plan.
What “750” usually means today—and how to budget
In today's market, a 750 sq. ft. 1-bedroom is achievable, especially in older condo buildings or purpose-built rentals. By contrast, a $750 monthly rent for a private 1-bedroom in Scarborough is typically not realistic for new leases. At that number you're more likely encountering:
- A room in a shared unit rather than a true 1-bedroom.
- An older rent-controlled unit where the tenant is assigning or subletting at an older rate (due diligence is critical).
- A subsidized/community housing unit with eligibility rules.
- A potential rental scam—verify ownership and use established platforms.
As a budgeting reference point, many newer 1-bedrooms in Scarborough lease above $2,000/month (varies by building, transit proximity, and finishes). If your target is a cheap 1 bedroom apartment scarborough $750 or a 1 bedroom apartment scarborough $750 under $1,000, expect limited supply and heightened diligence. A broader search on a data-driven site like KeyHomes.ca can help you benchmark typical sizes and fees across the GTA and beyond, while cross-checking neighbourhood metrics.
Zoning, building types, and what affects day-to-day living
Scarborough includes a mix of Apartment Neighbourhoods (many 1960s–1980s towers), Mixed Use corridors (Kingston Rd., Eglinton, Sheppard), and stable low-rise Residential zones. The citywide Zoning By-law 569-2013 and the Official Plan govern what's permitted; local site-specific exceptions are common.
- Purpose-built rentals vs. condos: Older purpose-built rental towers often provide larger floor plans (some near 700–800 sq. ft.) and include utilities, but finishes and amenities may be dated. Condos can offer modern amenities, but maintenance fees and special assessments must be analyzed via the status certificate.
- Multi-tenant (rooming) housing: Toronto now licenses multi-tenant houses citywide with operating standards. If you plan to occupy or invest in shared housing configurations, ensure proper licensing and property standards compliance in Scarborough; fines for non-compliance are significant.
- Garden suites/secondary suites: Citywide permissions exist subject to criteria (setbacks, lot coverage, fire/life safety). While more relevant to owners of houses, increased secondary suite supply can influence local rental competition.
Nearby mixed-use nodes—like those you might compare to World on Yonge's mixed-use setting—can add retail convenience and walkability, which helps both livability and resale.
Investment lens: rent control, STR rules, and tenancy realities
Rent control: In Ontario, units first occupied for residential use on or after Nov. 15, 2018 are generally exempt from the provincial rent increase guideline (2.5% in 2025), while older buildings are typically subject to it. This materially affects long-term cash flow and risk if you're an investor. Always verify a building's first-occupancy date.
Short-term rentals (STRs): Toronto restricts STRs to a host's principal residence, with an annual 180-night cap for entire-home rentals; operators must register with the City. In Scarborough, the same city rules apply. For investors eyeing nightly rentals near UTSC or Centennial College, plan for principal-residence-only and compliance costs, or pivot to 12-month leases.
Tenant demand drivers: Proximity to transit, UTSC, Centennial campuses, and hospitals underpins year-round demand. Comparisons to student-heavy markets can be useful—review how leasing velocity behaves in university zones such as apartments near Laurier in Waterloo or housing near York University to gauge seasonality and turnover expectations.
Finding a toronto scarborough apartment 1 bedroom 750: realistic search strategies
Size-based search (around 750 sq. ft.): Focus on older condo corporations or purpose-built rentals east of the DVP where 1-bed layouts ran larger. Screen for hydronic heating vs. electric baseboards (utility cost implications) and check whether parking/locker is included.
Price-based search (around $750/month): Expand radius to include basement suites in the eastern suburbs, or consider roommate situations. Validate before you commit: request proof of ownership, run a quick title search if in doubt, meet in-person at the unit, and never wire funds to “landlords abroad.” A quick scan of broader GTA inventory—say, contrasting downtown options like a 1 Charles St. condo in Toronto or central properties like 40 Park Road in Toronto—can help you spot outliers and detect too-good-to-be-true pricing.
Lifestyle appeal: where Scarborough shines
Scarborough's draw is value-for-space, green space, and commuter options:
- Outdoors: The Scarborough Bluffs and Rouge National Urban Park deliver unique weekend escapes within the city boundary—rare lifestyle assets that compare favourably to suburban lakeside pockets you might research alongside lakeside communities in Brampton.
- Transit: The Scarborough Subway Extension (Line 2) is under construction with future stations around Scarborough Centre. Timelines can shift, but major transit investments historically lift values near stations.
- Retail and services: From Scarborough Town Centre to Kingston Rd. plazas, essentials are close by; check walk scores and bus headways if you won't have a car.
Resale potential: size, location, and building health
For condos, resale strength rests on fundamentals you can test up front:
- Layout and size: Units in the 650–750 sq. ft. range with efficient floor plans and outdoor space typically resell better than micro-suites. Downtown case studies—e.g., 1 Charles St.—illustrate how balanced layouts command premiums; similar logic applies in Scarborough submarkets.
- Building governance: Order a status certificate to assess reserve funds, litigation, and special assessments. Elevators, balconies, and envelope projects affect both carrying costs and buyer confidence.
- Walkability and transit: Consider proximity to GO (Guildwood, Eglinton) and future subway stops; buyers typically pay up for easy commutes.
- Comparables beyond Scarborough: Reviewing stock in nearby nodes—from family-oriented Mississauga neighbourhoods to Cambridge condo offerings—helps calibrate value and buyer preferences if you plan to move or trade up later.
Seasonal market trends and timing
Scarborough's leasing pace tends to accelerate March–June, with a secondary lift in August/September as students and new hires arrive. Winter can bring softer demand and occasional concessions, but selection is thinner. For purchases, spring typically sees more listing volume and competition; late summer and late Q4 can offer negotiability on stale listings. KeyHomes.ca's market data tools are handy for reviewing month-by-month trends and inventory shifts without hype.
Financing nuances, closing costs, and risk checks
- Down payment and stress test: Investors generally need 20% down; all borrowers must pass the federal stress test (rate buffer over the contract rate). Keep an eye on lender treatment of condo fees and property taxes when calculating debt service ratios.
- Insurance and utilities: Budget for condo insurance (owner or tenant), contents coverage, and check what utilities are included. Electric baseboard heat can push winter bills higher.
- Status and special assessments: A $20–40/month fee difference can be overshadowed by looming capital projects. Read the engineer's reports and minutes before you waive conditions.
- Non-Canadian buyer rules: The federal prohibition on residential purchases by non-Canadians is currently extended (with exemptions); Ontario's NRST is 25% province-wide for foreign buyers unless exempt. Regulations evolve—verify current rules before drafting offers.
If you're comparing affordability across the province, browse examples like Kitchener owner-listed properties or Caledonia in Hamilton to understand what your budget buys outside Toronto, then weigh commute and lifestyle trade-offs.
Risk flags specific to “1 bedroom apartment scarborough $750” searches
- Listings far below market: Cross-verify on trusted platforms. If a unit is priced near $750 when comparables sit above $2,000, assume increased fraud risk until disproven.
- Assignments/sublets: Ensure the landlord consents in writing and that the rent amount is legal under the Residential Tenancies Act. Clarify whether parking/storage are included and whether any arrears exist.
- Accessibility to campus and transit: If you depend on buses to UTSC or Centennial, visit at rush hour. Minor timing differences can meaningfully affect your daily life.
For benchmarking urban vs. suburban amenities, compare mixed-use addresses like World on Yonge to central Toronto locations such as Park Road, or explore suburban family inventory like Mississauga family homes and commuter corridors that compete with Scarborough for value, such as Brampton's lakeside-adjacent pockets.
Regional considerations and comparables that inform value
Scarborough's relative value is clearer when you scan comparable urban-suburban corridors:
- Downtown premium vs. east-end space: Central condos—think 1 Charles St.—carry higher $/sq. ft. Scarborough often trades larger layouts for lower absolute prices.
- University-driven demand: Markets like Waterloo near Laurier and York University show pronounced August turnover; Scarborough shows similar patterns near UTSC/Centennial.
- Satellite city affordability: Compare to Cambridge condos or Kitchener stock if you're hybrid-working and willing to commute a few days a week.
Platforms like KeyHomes.ca let you triangulate list-to-sold gaps, strata fee trends, and unit sizes in one place, helping you separate signal from noise as you assess whether a 750 sq. ft. 1-bedroom in Scarborough meets your long-term needs.