Editor's note, October 6, 2026: this article was reviewed and rewritten in our accuracy check. An earlier version contained neighbourhood price levels, rent tables and market statistics we could not trace to a published source; they have been removed or replaced with figures from the sources listed at the end of the article.
The Annex is a central Toronto neighbourhood north of Bloor Street West, between roughly Bathurst Street and Avenue Road, beside the University of Toronto's St. George campus. It was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1887, which gave it its name. Its streets are known for large, late-19th-century brick and stone houses.
Homes
Many of the original houses have been divided into apartments, so buyers will see single-family homes, houses with one or more rental units, low-rise apartment buildings and newer condos along Bloor. Parts of the area are heritage conservation districts, which affect exterior changes. If you buy a house with tenants, the tenancies continue after closing; review leases and rents before you firm up (see selling and buying with tenants).
Getting around
- Line 1 and Line 2 meet at St. George and Spadina; Line 2 also stops at Bathurst.
- Bloor Street has protected bike lanes through the area.
Daily life
Bloor Street West has bookstores, cinemas, restaurants and services, and the university brings a steady student population. Casa Loma and the Spadina escarpment are just north.
Schools
Use the TDSB and TCDSB school locators for a specific address.
Costs to plan for
Toronto's 2026 total residential property tax rate (municipal, regional where applicable, and education) is 0.767311% of assessed value: about $7,673 a year on a home assessed at $1,000,000. Outside the City of Toronto there's no municipal land transfer tax, so on a $1,000,000 purchase you pay Ontario's tax only: $16,475 (an eligible first-time buyer gets up to $4,000 of it refunded). In Toronto the same purchase costs $32,950 with both taxes.
Prices: TRREB publishes monthly sales and prices by municipality and by TRREB district, not by neighbourhood, and averages for small areas move a lot from month to month. For a current picture, look at recent sold prices on the streets you're considering, and ask an agent for a comparative market analysis. Across the GTA in August 2026, TRREB reported an average price of $993,410 (detached $1,288,669; condo apartment $617,593).
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a laneway suite, garden suite or more units?
Toronto permits laneway suites (since 2018), garden suites (since 2022) and multiplexes of up to four units on lots in its Neighbourhoods designation (since 2023), subject to zoning standards and permits. Whether a particular Annex lot qualifies depends on its size, access and servicing, so check with the City or a designer before you buy for that purpose.
How is my property tax worked out?
Your bill is your property's assessed value, set by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), multiplied by the total tax rate. Ontario has postponed province-wide reassessment, so 2026 property taxes are still based on assessed values as of January 1, 2016. A recent buyer's bill therefore reflects that 2016 value, not the price paid.
Do I need to declare for the Vacant Home Tax if I live in the home?
Yes. Every Toronto residential owner must declare the property's occupancy status each year, even if they live in it; a home with no declaration is deemed vacant and taxed at 3% of its assessed value. The deadline for the 2025 occupancy year was April 30, 2026.
What should I check before buying an older house here?
The electrical system (knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring), the roof, basement water and drainage, and the material of the water service line. See our inspection guide.
Does rent control apply to a house I buy with tenants?
If a unit was first occupied for residential purposes on or before November 15, 2018, increases for the sitting tenant are capped by Ontario's guideline (2.1% for 2026). Units first occupied after that date are exempt from the cap but not from the 90-day notice and once-a-year rules.
Thinking about buying here? Search current listings and recent sales on Summitly, talk to a licensed Summitly agent who works the area, or ask Zara, Summitly's AI virtual agent, for a neighbourhood briefing.
