Benefits of Real Estate Investing in Brantford
When you start to invest in real estate, most investors start by deciding on a province, then a metropolitan area and narrow it down from there. If your research has taken you to the Toronto area, you might consider Brantford. Brantford is a charming town in the Greater Golden Horseshoe that ranks in the top 20 percent of communities in Canada, and its real estate opportunities are plentiful. The former railroad hub turned manufacturing municipality has been booming for years now, and the time is ripe for investing.
Read on to learn more about Brantford and why it could play a stellar role in your portfolio.
Brantford's history and geography
Brantford is situated in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, near the shore of the Grand River. As you may already know, the Golden Horseshoe is part of the Greater Toronto area.
The Attawandaron First Nations tribe first populated the area where Brantford lies today. After the Iroquois declared war over the fur trade, their settlement was destroyed. In the late 18th century, Joseph Brant, along with the Mohawk Nation, received a land grant that included what is now Brantford. The town was named in reference to him fording the Grand River and quickly developed into a railroad hub. Throughout its history, First Nations tribes and European immigrants have ranged from co-existing to jockeying for power and resources.
Brantford is still home to First Nations citizens as well as a robust immigrant population. In fact, one of its most famous residents emigrated from Scotland in the late 19th century. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone while living in Brantford; his home is now one of Canada’s National Historic Sites, along with the Bell Memorial. In fact, the town’s nickname “Telephone City” comes from Bell’s achievements. Any Canadian or First Nations history buff is sure to enjoy the town’s background.
Brantford's Demographics
Brantford (City) has a population of about 97,000 residents, and Brantford CMA is home to about 134,000; it’s a mid-sized metropolitan area. It’s about an hour away from Toronto, making it an excellent choice for people who want to enjoy the cultural and entertainment opportunities of the big city, without having to live in the city—or pay the skyrocketing housing prices. Brantford has a ten-year growth rate of 12.8 percent, which means the area is steadily growing. In fact, the province of Ontario expects the population to exceed 163,000 by 2041.
Brantford’s average age is 41, and nearly 46 percent of the population has a post-secondary degree. The average individual income is about $42,000, and the average household income is $83,000. About 20% of Brantford’s population is made up of immigrants and indigenous peoples. If you invest in residential real estate here, you’ll likely have good luck marketing to families and young professionals.
A staggering 72 percent of the Brantford CMA population own their own home, with about 28 percent renting. The average home price hovers around $337,000. Compare that to Toronto, whose average home price is $944,000.
Of the 28 percent who rent a home, the average rental cost is around $1,200. 16.5 percent of tenants are in subsidized housing, and over 40 percent of renters spend 30 percent or more of their monthly income on rent. As of the 2016 census, there was a 6.9 percent unemployment rate. In 2019, that rate had dropped to 4.6 percent, lower than the overall Ontario rate.
The 1980s and 90s were an economically depressed time for Brantford, as numerous major manufacturers went bankrupt and closed their plants and headquarters in the area. However, Procter & Gamble, Westcast Industries, Inc., Ferrero SpA, SC Johnson, GreenMantra Technologies and Gunther Mele are all headquartered in the area. The economy has recovered, and the metropolitan area is ranked as one of the best places to live in Canada.
Discover How To Buy Unlimited Rental Properties With This Step By Step Guide
Brantford's Culture and entertainment
While Brantford could hardly be considered a college town, there are several post-secondary schools in the area. These include Laurier Brantford, Six Nations Polytechnic and Nipissing University.
In addition to educational opportunities, there’s plenty of sports, arts and culture to be had, too. Brantford hosts the annual Wayne Gretzky International Hockey Tournament and is home to the Brantford Red Sox, Braves, Blast and the Bandits, among other local sports teams. There are also many local theatre groups and a summer theatre festival.
There are museums and historical sites available to peruse, like the Canadian Military Heritage Museum, Bell Homestead and more. Brantford is also home to the Mohawk Chapel, built by the British Crown in the late 18th century for the Mohawk and Iroquois people, and dedicated as a royal chapter in the early 20th century. It’s one of only two royal Chapels in all of Canada.
Brantford's Real estate outlook
With the population growing—and home prices rising—Brantford has been a hidden gem in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. In 2017, it was identified as one of the hottest up-and-coming areas in the Greater Toronto Area. Last year, MoneySense ranked Brantford as the third best place to buy real estate. Residential real estate tends to be a mix of single-family detached homes and townhomes near the downtown core.
Commercial real estate is also booming in Brantford. In 2019, it was named as one of the best locations for businesses to invest, too. According to the city website, “Brantford saw $25.45 million permit value in Industrial Building Permits in 2019.” As always, the more business a town brings in, the more commercial and residential real estate will be needed. Since the population is expected to continue to grow steadily, now is the perfect time to get in on both commercial and residential real estate.
If you’re looking to join local real estate investment groups, Brantford options multiple options available. It’s always a good idea to get more information from local experts. Overall, this rapidly growing, affordable community is poised to become a smart investment for your portfolio.
Real Estate Professionals in Brantford
We have searched high and low for real estate investing professionals in Brantford. Below, you can find professionals we have researched and can confirm they specialize in working with Real Estate Investors.
To ensure the maximum success in real estate investing in Brantford, or any city, you should always use professionals who understand and work with investors, your income depends on it.
This list may not fully list all the professionals in the area, but the ones we have personally investigated and that we would refer our clients to.
If you’re a real estate professional and would like us to consider adding you to the list, please contact us.
Mortgage Broker
LendCity Mortgages – Website – Click to Email – Click to Call