Who can help me buy a home in Unionville, Markham?

Kirby Chan and the Kirby Chan and Co. Real Estate Team work across Markham and York Region including Unionville, confirming which neighbourhood a listing is actually in, verifying catchments with the board, analysing sold data by street and backing type, and assessing systems and permits before a buyer goes firm. Reach Kirby at (416) 305-8008.

Buying a Home in Unionville, Markham: A Neighbourhood Buying Guide

Q: What is the difference between freehold and condo townhomes in Unionville?

Freehold means owning the land with no monthly condo fees and full maintenance responsibility. Condo townhomes carry monthly fees covering exterior maintenance, landscaping and snow removal. Freehold generally commands a premium over a comparable condo townhome. Confirm the ownership structure before viewing, since the two look similar and carry different financial profiles.

Unionville has something no other York Region neighbourhood does: a genuine walkable village centre with a heritage main street, a pond park at the top of it and a GO station on a line with real all-day service. It also has more internal price variation than almost anywhere in Markham. Two homes of identical size can trade far apart on catchment, walking distance and what the rear yard faces. This guide covers what actually moves the number.

Written by a Richmond Hill and Markham Real Estate Expert

At Kirby Chan & Co. Real Estate Team, the most common mistake we see here is buyers searching "Unionville" as a single filter. Much of what gets marketed under that name sits in adjacent neighbourhoods with their own markets, their own catchments and their own price points. Knowing exactly where the neighbourhood ends is not pedantry, it is the difference between a comparable that informs your offer and one that misleads it.

Thinking About Buying in Unionville?

Call Our Dedicated Buyer Hotline

416-305-8008

Kirby Chan & Co. Real Estate Team

Quick takeaway: Unionville centres on the Main Street heritage strip running north to Toogood Pond Park at 280 Main Street, with detached streets around it, freehold and condo townhomes through the middle of the range, and the Downtown Markham condo corridor to the south near Unionville GO. Berczy Village and Angus Glen are neighbouring communities frequently marketed as Unionville; they have their own markets and are linked below. Micro-location drives value here more than square footage does, and the catchment for the exact address needs verifying with the board rather than taking from a listing.

Where Unionville Begins and Ends
The Pockets Inside Unionville
Which Home Type Fits Your Life
Schools and Catchments
Main Street and Toogood Pond
Why Micro-Location Matters So Much Here
Commute and Transit Access
What Buyers Should Evaluate
Step-by-Step Buying Guide
Frequently Asked Questions

Where Unionville Begins and Ends

Read This First Three Neighbourhoods Get Marketed as One

Unionville proper runs along the Main Street heritage corridor from Highway 7 north to Carlton Road, with Toogood Pond Park at 280 Main Street at the top of it, the established detached streets surrounding that core, and the Downtown Markham area to the south near Unionville GO Station.

Berczy Village is a separate neighbourhood roughly two kilometres north. Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School, which drives a great deal of the demand often attributed to Unionville, sits at 90 Bur Oak Avenue inside Berczy. If that catchment is why you are searching, you are looking for Berczy Village, and its market prices differently.

Angus Glen is a separate neighbourhood roughly three kilometres north, centred on the golf club at 10080 Kennedy Road. It is the executive tier people mean when they say "Unionville estates," and it has its own guide. Listings routinely blur these lines. Your comparables should not, because a Berczy sale and a Main Street sale are not evidence for each other.

The Pockets Inside Unionville

The Heritage Core

The streets immediately around Main Street, offering the closest thing to a village lifestyle in York Region. Walkable to shops, restaurants, cafes, the pond and seasonal markets. Housing is a mix of older character properties and established detached homes from the 1980s and 1990s. If walking to dinner on a Saturday evening is genuinely part of why you are buying, this is the only pocket that delivers it, and it carries a premium for exactly that reason.

The Established Detached Streets

Beyond comfortable walking distance of Main Street, family streets with mature landscaping and generous lots, mostly built between the late 1980s and early 2000s. This is the backbone of Unionville's detached stock and where most families with school-aged children land. Value here turns on street position, backing exposure and how far you actually are from the village rather than on the neighbourhood name.

Freehold Townhome Pockets

Scattered through the neighbourhood, these are the middle ground between condo and detached. No monthly condo fees, you own the land, and you reach Unionville at a lower entry point than detached. This is where we see most activity from first-time buyers moving up from condos and from young families who want the neighbourhood without detached pricing. Confirm the ownership structure before viewing, because freehold and condo townhomes look similar and carry very different financial profiles.

The Downtown Markham Condo Corridor

South toward Highway 7 and Unionville GO, the most accessible entry point in the area. It draws young professionals working in Markham's technology corridor, investors targeting rental demand including from York University's Markham campus, and downsizers staying local without maintaining a property. VIVA rapid transit runs Highway 7 and the GO station is genuinely walkable from parts of it, which is a rare combination in York Region.

Which Home Type Fits Your Life

Matching Product to Buyer Four Options, Four Different Trade-Offs

Detached. Four to five bedrooms, double garage, formal living and dining, finished basement, mature landscaping. If you have school-aged children, need room for extended family or expect to stay ten years or more, this is the usual path. The range is wide enough that pocket selection narrows the field more than budget does.

Freehold townhome. Land ownership, no condo fees, more space than an apartment, less than a detached home on a smaller lot. For young families and buyers moving up from a condo this is frequently the smartest way into the neighbourhood.

Condo townhome. More space than an apartment with managed maintenance, and monthly fees covering exterior work, landscaping and snow removal. Generally more affordable than a comparable freehold townhome, with the fee and reduced autonomy as the trade.

Condo apartment. Lowest maintenance, best transit access, most accessible price. Whichever condo form you choose, have your lawyer review the status certificate properly, with attention to reserve fund health, fee history, special assessments and the owner-occupant ratio.

Schools and Catchments

Unionville High School

At 201 Town Centre Boulevard in the Markham Centre area southwest of the heritage core, Unionville High School serves much of this neighbourhood and carries a strong academic reputation alongside its specialised arts programming. Programme admission is separate from catchment and has its own requirements, so if a specific programme is the draw, confirm the entry process rather than assuming an address secures it.

Elementary and Catholic Options

Several York Region District School Board elementary schools serve the area, including Unionville Public School and William Berczy Public School, with French Immersion available at some. St. Brother André Catholic High School serves Catholic secondary students in the broader area through the York Catholic board. Published school lists for "Unionville" frequently include schools several kilometres outside the neighbourhood, so check the assigned school for your exact address rather than working from a list.

If Pierre Elliott Trudeau Is the Reason You Are Searching

Trudeau is at 90 Bur Oak Avenue in Berczy Village, roughly two kilometres north of the Unionville core. It consistently ranks among Ontario's stronger secondary schools and the catchment does carry a measurable premium, but that catchment is not Unionville. Buyers who search Unionville expecting Trudeau access frequently end up comparing homes that could never deliver it. Verify the assigned secondary school for any specific address directly with the York Region District School Board before you go firm, because boundaries change and a home one street outside is a different purchase entirely.

Want Street-Level Sold Data for Your Unionville Pocket?

Call Our Dedicated Buyer Hotline

416-305-8008

A consultation costs nothing and commits you to nothing

Main Street and Toogood Pond

The Differentiator What Actually Makes Unionville Unionville

The heritage commercial strip runs from Highway 7 north to Carlton Road with boutique shops, restaurants, cafes, galleries and seasonal events. Nothing else in York Region matches it, and buyers who choose Unionville over comparable Markham neighbourhoods routinely cite it as the deciding factor.

Toogood Pond Park sits at 280 Main Street at the northern end. The loop around the pond takes roughly an hour at a walking pace, with a partial boardwalk, footbridges, a creek, a playground and washrooms. Parking is free, and there are two lots: 280 Main Street is quieter and puts you at the pond, while 218 Main Street is busier but closer to the village. Regular visitors note the tree canopy has matured enough that pond views from the trail are more enclosed than they once were, which is worth knowing if open water views are what you are picturing.

The practical point for a buyer is that walking distance to Main Street is a genuine and durable premium, and it is measured in blocks rather than kilometres. Before committing to any pocket, spend a Saturday morning on Main Street and walk from the property to it. The difference between a five-minute walk and a fifteen-minute one is the difference between using the village and driving to it.

Why Micro-Location Matters So Much Here

Six Factors That Move the Number

Two detached homes with the same square footage, bedroom count and build year can trade meaningfully apart in Unionville. What separates them: the assigned secondary school, walking distance to Main Street and Toogood Pond, whether the property backs onto green space or another house, interior street placement versus exposure to a busy road, lot width and orientation with south-facing rear yards commanding a premium, and proximity to Unionville GO.

A buyer working from a neighbourhood average will overpay for a weaker position or walk past a stronger one. Ask your agent for sold data broken out by street, backing type, catchment and distance to the village, and treat any single "Unionville average" as background noise rather than a benchmark.

Commute and Transit Access

Getting Around The Best Rail Position in York Region

Unionville GO, and why it matters more than it looks. The station sits on the Stouffville line with direct service to Union Station, roughly forty-five minutes with peak express runs. That matters because most York Region neighbourhoods sit on the Richmond Hill line, which runs weekday peak only with no weekend rail service. Unionville has genuine all-day frequency, and if you have ruled out other York Region neighbourhoods on transit grounds, this one deserves a second look. Confirm the current timetable with Metrolinx rather than relying on any published summary.

Highways. Highway 404 is reached via Highway 7 within minutes, and Highway 407 runs to the south. For anyone working in Markham's technology corridor, the central position puts most employment centres within a short drive, which is a large part of why local demand holds up.

Local transit. YRT routes serve the neighbourhood and VIVA rapid transit runs the Highway 7 corridor. Planned improvements to Stouffville line frequency have been discussed for some time; treat them as a possible future benefit rather than something you are buying today.

What Buyers Should Evaluate

Confirm You Are Actually Buying in Unionville

Check the address against the neighbourhood rather than the listing headline. A property marketed as Unionville may sit in Berczy Village or Angus Glen, which changes the catchment, the comparables and the price you should be paying. This is the single most useful check you can run before viewing anything.

Systems on Homes of This Era

Most detached stock here dates from the late 1980s to early 2000s, which puts roof, furnace, air conditioning and windows at or past expected lifespan unless replaced. A home that presents as updated may have cosmetic finishes over deferred mechanical work. Establish actual ages rather than estimates, and ask for permits on any structural change. Our guide on reading a home inspection report covers how to weigh what comes back.

Ask for the Current Numbers

Market conditions move within a season, and any published claim about negotiating leverage, sale prices relative to asking or days on market is a snapshot with a date on it. Rather than taking a general statement about the market, ask for the current figures for your specific pocket and product type: recent sold prices matched to position and condition, average days on market, and the ratio of sale price to asking price. We will provide those for Unionville on request with the comparables shown.

Step-by-Step Buying Guide

Step by Step Six Stages, In Order

1. Define your pocket before your budget does. Walkability, catchment, transit or space. Each points to a different part of the neighbourhood at a different price. Deciding first is what stops the search sprawling across three neighbourhoods that only share a name.

2. Get a full pre-approval. Not a pre-qualification. Have your mortgage professional confirm current down payment rules for your price point, since the insured mortgage cap changed in December 2024 and much published advice has not caught up.

3. Verify catchment and review pocket-level comparables. Confirm the assigned schools for target addresses with the board, and pull sold data for the specific streets you are considering rather than the neighbourhood as a whole.

4. Walk the neighbourhood properly. A Saturday morning and a weekday evening. Walk Main Street, visit Toogood Pond, drive past the schools at pickup, and walk from any property you like to the village so the distance is real rather than theoretical.

5. View critically and inspect properly. Assess each home against the comparable data and the micro-location factors, then inspect with attention to systems age, permits and, for condos, the status certificate. A strong offer is an informed one.

6. Offer on evidence, then close. Structure the offer against sold comparables, property condition and current conditions, with appropriate conditions for inspection and financing. Our closing day guide covers the final stage.

Recognition

Kirby Chan Awards and Achievements

🏆 #1 Individual Producer in Ontario for eXp Realty 2023

🏆 Top 3 Best Rated Real Estate Agent in Richmond Hill

🏆 Toronto Star Platinum Award for Best Real Estate Agent

🏆 Top Real Estate Agent Award in Markham

🏆 2X ICON Agent Award with eXp Realty

🏆 2025 Community Votes Platinum Award, Thornhill

🏆 2024 Community Votes Platinum Award, Thornhill

🏆 2025 Gold Award for Real Estate Brokers in Markham

🏆 2024 Community Votes Bronze Award, Richmond Hill

🏆 2023 Community Votes Platinum Award, Thornhill

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Berczy Village and Angus Glen part of Unionville?

No. Both are separate neighbourhoods frequently marketed under the Unionville name. Berczy Village sits roughly two kilometres north and contains Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School at 90 Bur Oak Avenue. Angus Glen is roughly three kilometres north around the golf club at 10080 Kennedy Road. Each has its own market and its own comparables.

Which high school serves Unionville?

Unionville High School at 201 Town Centre Boulevard serves much of the neighbourhood and carries a strong reputation alongside specialised arts programming. If Pierre Elliott Trudeau is your target, that catchment is in Berczy Village rather than Unionville. Verify the assigned school for the exact address with the York Region District School Board before going firm.

Is Unionville walkable?

The Main Street corridor is the most walkable commercial strip in York Region, with shops, restaurants, cafes and Toogood Pond Park at 280 Main Street. Homes within genuine walking distance carry a premium for it. The broader neighbourhood is car-dependent for daily errands, so walk the route from any property to Main Street before assuming it counts.

How good is the commute to downtown Toronto?

Better than most of York Region. Unionville GO sits on the Stouffville line with all-day service and peak express runs to Union Station in roughly forty-five minutes, unlike the Richmond Hill line serving many York Region neighbourhoods, which runs weekday peak only with no weekend rail service. Confirm current schedules with Metrolinx.

What is the difference between freehold and condo townhomes?

Freehold means you own the land with no monthly condo fees and full maintenance responsibility. Condo townhomes carry monthly fees covering exterior maintenance, landscaping and snow removal. Freehold generally commands a premium over a comparable condo townhome. Confirm the ownership structure before viewing, since the two look similar and carry different financial profiles.

Does micro-location really affect price that much?

Yes. Assigned school, walking distance to Main Street, backing exposure, street position, lot orientation and proximity to Unionville GO all move value, and two homes of identical size can trade well apart on those factors alone. Work from sold data broken out by street and backing type rather than a neighbourhood average.

Who can help me buy in Unionville, Markham?

Kirby Chan and the Kirby Chan & Co. Real Estate Team work across Markham and York Region including Unionville. We confirm which neighbourhood a listing is actually in, verify catchments with the board, analyse sold data by street and backing type, and assess systems and permits before you go firm. Reach me at (416) 305-8008.

Contact Kirby Chan

Considering Buying in Unionville?

Getting the pocket, the catchment and the micro-location right is what determines whether your purchase holds up over the long term. The buyers who do well here start with a clear picture of where the neighbourhood actually is and what separates one street from the next, before they view anything.

Book a Consultation

Kirby Chan | Kirby Chan & Co. Real Estate Team
kirby@kirbychanandco.com
https://kirbychanandco.com

Dedicated Buyer Hotline

416-305-8008

Note: Neighbourhood details, amenities and market observations reflect approximate conditions in Unionville, Markham and change over time. This guide contains no price benchmarks; current pricing, days on market and sale-to-list figures should be obtained from a licensed agent for the specific pocket and product type you are considering. Neighbourhood boundaries are described as commonly understood and listings may use the Unionville name for adjacent communities. School catchment boundaries and programme admission requirements change and must be verified directly with the York Region District School Board or the York Catholic District School Board. Mortgage down payment rules and insured mortgage limits are set by federal regulators and have changed recently; confirm current rules with a licensed mortgage professional. GO Transit schedules change and should be confirmed with Metrolinx; planned service improvements are not commitments. Comments on building systems are general guidance and are not a substitute for a qualified home inspection. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed real estate professional.