Blog > Markham for Young Professionals
Markham for Young Professionals — Where to Buy or Rent
Markham isn't just for families — it's an increasingly appealing home base for young professionals, offering a rare mix of career opportunity, urban lifestyle, and connectivity.
Where should young professionals buy or rent in Markham? Young professionals gravitate to Markham's urban, transit-connected areas — Downtown Markham (Markham Centre) for modern condos, walkability, and nightlife near York University and Highway 7; the Highway 7 corridor for condos near jobs and transit; and Unionville for charm with connectivity. These areas offer the condo and rental options, lifestyle, and commute access that suit young professionals — in a city with a powerful job market of its own.
Markham isn't just for families — it's an increasingly appealing home base for young professionals, offering a rare mix of career opportunity, urban lifestyle, and connectivity. Michael John Lau, a top real estate agent in Markham and a CPA/CMA, maps out where young professionals should look to buy or rent, and why Markham works for them.
Why Markham Works for Young Professionals
A powerful local job market
Markham is "Canada's High-Tech Capital," home to over 1,500 technology and life sciences companies (including global names like IBM and AMD), plus strength in finance and business. For young professionals — especially in tech — that means career opportunity right where you live, not just in downtown Toronto. Living near work is a genuine draw.
Urban lifestyle options
Downtown Markham has brought a genuinely urban, walkable lifestyle to Markham — modern condos, dining, cafés, entertainment (including a VIP cinema), fitness, and nightlife. Young professionals can have an urban experience without downtown Toronto prices.
Connectivity to Toronto and beyond
For those working in or visiting Toronto, Markham offers GO Transit (Unionville and other stations), VIVA bus rapid transit, and highway access — with the future Yonge North Subway Extension set to improve connectivity further. You can access Toronto while living in Markham.
Relative value
Compared to downtown Toronto, Markham can offer better value — particularly in the condo segment, which has become more accessible recently. Young professionals can potentially get more for their money while staying connected.
Where to Buy or Rent: The Best Areas
Downtown Markham (Markham Centre) — the urban hub
The top choice for young professionals wanting an urban lifestyle. Downtown Markham offers modern condos (to buy or rent), walkability, dining, nightlife, fitness, and entertainment — plus proximity to York University's campus, Highway 7, and major employers. For young professionals who want a vibrant, connected, low-maintenance lifestyle, this is the spot. Primarily condos, with more accessible entry points than detached homes.
The Highway 7 corridor — jobs and transit
The Highway 7 corridor (including areas near Leslie, Warden, and Downtown Markham) offers condos and rentals close to major employment, VIVA transit, and amenities. Ideal for young professionals who want to live near work and transit in a connected, urbanizing area.
Unionville — charm with connectivity
For young professionals who want character and charm alongside connectivity, Unionville offers condos and rentals near historic Main Street, Toogood Pond, great local spots, and Unionville GO. A more charming, established alternative to the pure-urban options, still well-connected.
Yonge & Steeles / Thornhill area — emerging transit node
For those wanting to be near the future subway, the Yonge & Steeles area (with a growing cluster of condo and rental development near the coming Steeles station) is an emerging option — urban, transit-focused, and forward-looking.
Buy or Rent? Considerations for Young Professionals
The case for buying
Buying builds equity over time rather than paying rent, offers stability, and gets you into a strong market. With the condo segment more accessible recently and tools like the FHSA (First Home Savings Account) to help first-time buyers, buying may be within reach — and can be the first step in building wealth through real estate. For young professionals ready to commit to the area, buying can be a smart long-term move.
The case for renting
Renting offers flexibility (valuable if your career or life might take you elsewhere), lower upfront cost, and no maintenance responsibility. If you're not ready to commit to a location or don't yet have a down payment, renting makes sense — and Markham's rental market has recently become more favourable for renters, with softening rents and more choice. Renting while you save (perhaps in an FHSA) toward buying is a common path.
How to decide
Consider your timeline (how long you'll stay), your finances (down payment, stability), your career trajectory, and your priorities (equity-building vs. flexibility). There's no universal answer — it depends on your situation. A conversation about your specific circumstances helps clarify the right move.
A note for young professionals thinking long-term: If you buy an accessible condo now, it can be the first rung on the property ladder — building equity that can eventually help you move up to a larger home. Even a starter condo in Markham puts you in a strong, desirable market from the start. Thinking about the long game (not just today) is part of a smart strategy — and a financial lens genuinely helps.
The Bottom Line
Markham is a genuinely appealing home base for young professionals — offering career opportunity, urban lifestyle (especially in Downtown Markham), connectivity, and relative value. The best areas are the urban, transit-connected ones: Downtown Markham, the Highway 7 corridor, Unionville, and the emerging Yonge & Steeles node. Whether you buy or rent depends on your timeline, finances, and goals — but either way, Markham offers young professionals a lot. The key is finding the area and approach that fit your life.
Michael John Lau, one of Markham's leading REALTORS® and a CPA/CMA, helps young professionals navigate their options — whether buying a first condo, renting smart while saving, or planning a long-term wealth-building strategy — with both market knowledge and financial insight. If you're a young professional considering Markham, let's talk about the right move for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find Your Move as a Young Professional
Michael John Lau, REALTOR® CPA, CMA, helps young professionals navigate buying, renting, and long-term strategy with market and financial insight. Let's talk about the right move for you.
Michael John Lau is a licensed REALTOR® and CPA/CMA at Kaizen Real Estate (eXp Realty, eXp Luxury), Licence #4784577, serving Markham, Ontario and York Region. This blog is general information only and is not legal, tax, financial, or planning advice. Details, figures, and programs are current as of the date of writing and subject to change — always verify with the relevant authority or a qualified professional. Not intended to solicit clients currently under contract with another brokerage.
More From the Blog
