Selecting a home with a zip in Toronto's downtown probably means that you have chosen to live in a condo. Toronto lofts and condos are all the rage today, thanks to their affordability, convenient living, and the tribute to modern urban architecture that they are. Condos are also popular as investment properties, as they show no signs of slowing down in terms of appeal anytime soon.

A look through any Toronto real estate listing service will yield hundreds of condominium units for sale. So how do you choose from amongst the crowd? One way is to look at the features the different developments offer, and then make your selection based on that. Here are a few different types of condo features that may appeal to you.

View

Living in the city can be a bit of a drag, but condo owners who buy homes with a view often find themselves rising above all the hustle and bustle below, quite literally. Condos built on Toronto beaches real estate are perhaps the best example of this, with wonderful vistas of Lake Ontario on several sides. Downtown, the harbour front offers condos with similar escapes.

On the other hand, you may be a person who can see the beauty in a city from above. There are plenty of developments offering cityscape views, where you can be a part of the scene yet above it all.

Community

Big cities such as Toronto are seeing totally unique developments on the condominium front. These include the concept of the development as a vertical subdivision. Efforts such as those at King West Village condos include not just units, but an entire neighbourhood built on a vertical plane. You can buy groceries, watch movies, even purchase clothing just a few stories down from your unit.

Recreational facilities

One of the biggest considerations for those looking to buy condos are the recreational facilities the development offers. Pools, hot tubs, and recreation rooms have become almost standard in new condo developments. What you need to decide is how big you want those facilities to be, and how much you want to pay in terms of condo fees for them. Find out how what a development such as 761 Bay Street offers in terms of recreational facilities different from others in the city.

Parking

A lot of people forget about the importance of parking when shopping for a condo, but this feature can vary widely from one building to the next. Make sure to find out where parking is, where visitor parking is, and how many personal vehicles you have parking for.

These are just a few of the features you will want to take a look at when it comes to purchasing a condo unit. Good luck in your search!