Forest Hill Home Inspection Market Report — May 2026

The panic buying has settled, and homeowners along Old Forest Hill Road and Dunvegan are finally taking time to properly assess what they bought during those wild market days.

Forest Hill's housing stock averages 60 years old, which puts most homes squarely in that tricky era where original systems are failing but renovations might have been done on the cheap during the market frenzy.

That's the kind of selective renovation I'm seeing everywhere from Forest Hill Village up to the Loblaws area, where cosmetic improvements mask serious infrastructure problems.

Spring rains have been particularly heavy this May, and I'm finding moisture issues in basements that owners never knew existed. The clay soil around Spadina and St. Clair is notorious for foundation settlement, and all this water is exposing cracks that were probably there for years.

HVAC systems are another story entirely. Most of these homes still have their original oil furnaces from the 1960s and 70s, and switching to gas or electric is becoming a necessity rather than a luxury. The City of Toronto's new emissions standards are making oil heating increasingly expensive, and insurance companies are starting to balk at covering homes with aging oil tanks.

What worries me most about the current market is that people are still thinking with a 2021 mindset. Back then, you bought first and asked questions later.

The homes near Forest Hill subway station are particularly interesting right now. These properties have always been desirable, but I'm seeing a lot of DIY electrical work that was clearly done without permits. Panel upgrades that look professional at first glance but use incorrect breakers or improper grounding.

Roofing season is in full swing, and the spring inspection rush is revealing some concerning trends. Many of the slate and tile roofs that give Forest Hill its character are reaching the end of their lifespan. I'm finding patches and repairs that were clearly done as quick fixes rather than proper restoration.

Asbestos is another issue that keeps surfacing in homes from this era. Those beautiful original hardwood floors often have asbestos-containing adhesive underneath, and the basement tiles that were so popular in the 1960s are almost guaranteed to contain asbestos. Removal and abatement costs have skyrocketed since the pandemic, and proper asbestos remediation for a typical Forest Hill home now runs between $25,000 and $40,000.

The good news is that May 2026 feels like a return to rationality. Buyers are doing their due diligence, sellers are being more realistic about condition, and there's actual time built into the process for proper inspections and negotiations. The frantic waiving of conditions that characterized 2021 and 2022 has largely disappeared from this market.

I'm also seeing more preventive maintenance awareness among homeowners who bought during the crazy years and are now realizing what they actually purchased. That's exactly the kind of thinking that saves money and protects property values long-term.

Forest Hill's charm lies in its mature trees, established neighborhood feel, and solid construction from an era when homes were built to last. But that doesn't mean these properties are maintenance-free. The infrastructure in 60-year-old homes needs attention, especially when you're dealing with investments of this magnitude.

If you're buying or already own in Forest Hill, don't let the neighborhood's prestige fool you into thinking everything is perfect under the surface. These homes need professional eyes on them, particularly the electrical, HVAC, and structural systems that might have been ignored during the renovation rush of recent years.

Get a thorough inspection done by someone who knows this neighborhood and its specific challenges.

Rio, InterNACHI Certified