Master-planned communities – a type of development that is meticulously designed to incorporate a range of buildings and features like parks, lanes or community resources – are popping up all over the GTA. Master-planned communities have the obvious advantage of elaborate planning that standalone developments don’t, and that makes them a superior investment.

From the expansive SmartCentres Place in Vaughan’s new downtown core to M City, which sits next to Mississauga’s Square One Shopping Centre, developers are realizing that today’s homeowners want to live in more than just a residential tower. They want shops, services and green space at their fingertips, so they can experience an overall sense of community.