The Wexford-Maryvale area in Toronto and Fraser Mills in Coquitlam are among the enclaves recognized by ReMax Canada in its Next Neighbourhoods Report, which identifies emerging districts in the two cities where homebuyers want to live.

The two neighbourhoods scored highly in the report for the infrastructure investments they have attracted and their increasing populations.

Highlighting emerging communities in the Greater Toronto and Greater Vancouver areas, ReMax studied the factors that are drawing in homebuyers – particularly the increasing investment into transportation, their livability, and the comparatively low cost of housing.

As the population in both the Greater Toronto Area and Metro Vancouver continues to grow, public transit has been a focus for local governments to connect neighbourhoods to downtown cores, the report says. These connections are helping overcome the perception they are too distant from the city centres, which has historically devalued the neighbourhoods.

"New transportation links, often developed alongside housing, are transforming once overlooked and undervalued neighbourhoods into magnets for buyers seeking shorter commute times while achieving better affordability," Don Kottick, president of ReMax Canada, said in a release.

"Expanding access strengthens connectivity in community and creates excellent potential for long-term liveability and value."

The GTA’s up-and-coming neighbourhoods

Two Scarborough neighbourhoods made the list, Clairlea-Birchmount and Wexford-Maryvale. Affordability has been improved by rapid construction of housing, Cameron Forbes, a manager at Markham-based ReMax Realtron Realty Inc., said.

For example, the average price of a home in Leaside/Don Mills is over $300,000 more than a similar property in Clairlea-Birchmount. The average in Clairlea-Birchmount is $932,014, and $1,070,857 in Wexford-Maryvale across all housing types.

"With studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units also coming on the market soon, combined with vibrant independent businesses, restaurants and cultural vibrancy, there are lots of attractive options for homebuyers," Forbes said.

The scheduled opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT this fall is expected to increase the attractiveness of Toronto’s east end, particularly pockets around Birchmount and Wexford.

The Eglinton Crosstown has already affected the Don Mills-Victoria Village area by improving downtown access, ReMax says. The neighbourhood offers arts schools and larger, more affordable homes than Leaside and Don Mills, priced at an average of $1,126,000.

Downtown Markham’s new York University campus, a rising number of condominium developments and improved transit were identified as draws in that community. The average home prices here range from $660,000 to $1,625,000, depending on the housing type.

Seaton, a master-planned community in Pickering, a city between Toronto and Oshawa with an average home price of a little over $1 million, was a standout for “its strategic location and infrastructure.”

Going west from Toronto, Aldershot South in Burlington was noted by ReMax for its access to the Queen Elizabeth Way and Highway 403 and a GO Transit station. Prices here averaged just under $900,000.

Further west is Hamilton’s Crown Point neighbourhood, a community of primarily owner-occupied detached homes that have easy access to a highway, schools and amenities, with an average home price of $570,000.

Conrad Zurini, a broker and owner of ReMax Escarpment and Niagara, said Hamilton’s residents appreciate the chance to support local small businesses, plus its growing cultural and arts scene.

Greater Vancouver’s emerging neighbourhoods

In the Greater Vancouver Area, access to the SkyTrain and major highways have improved over the past two years, the ReMax report states.

Vancouver's Mount Pleasant East area, home to Everett Crowley Park, is becoming increasingly affordable ReMax says, with an average home price of $873,933.

Fraser Mills in Coquitlam is considered “a promising long-term investment” because of the active high-rise condo development. Prices here for condos with waterfront access range from $732,000 to $1,796,600.

Coquitlam West, a land assembly project which is converting former industrial properties into housing developments near the SkyTrain, also presents early investment potential. Pricier than Fraser Mills, homes here go from $838,071 to $1,963,039.

Bridgeport in Richmond is becoming an enticing neighbourhood because older detached homes are approximately $300,000 cheaper than neighbouring Steveston. The average home price at Bridgeport is $1,069,900.

"Buyers are prioritizing affordability, with walkable and complete communities falling second,” Adam Wachtel, a sales representative with Richmond-based ReMax West Coast, said.

Willoughby Heights in Langley, with an average home price of $894,516, is one of the more affordable up-and-comers, with ReMax emphasizing its linkage to Highway 1.

In South Delta, Ladner on the Surrey-Richmond border has homes available for almost $1 million less than the Greater Vancouver Area on average (the average home price in Ladner is still $1,149,100). Though a tunnel connecting to the city centre presents a psychological barrier because of the traffic and infrastructure work, ReMax says it is also a reason for the lower prices.

Capstan Way in northern downtown Richmond was another neighbourhood noted for its investment potential. A revitalization effort is bringing in businesses and residents. With average home prices under $900,000, "Come back in 10 years and watch it explode,” ReMax says.