depends on where do you lived la. and to whom you stay with? like me, i don't drive, but i lived with my 66 so he is my driver.
some house, townhouse, (not only cond) are close to supermarket and mall, so you could choose those to stay with. or if you lived closed to the public transportation area... then you could take the bus /TTC/VIVA to go anywhere you want to go
i don't go to scarborough center over ages since i moved up to markham, as i found out more and more south east asian people live over ther, i could not say they are 好雜, but i don't like the smell lor...
there is a lots of condo, town house on highway 7/warden, or along the hyw 7 /kennedy. they do have a super market and plaza for you to go shopping, or if you don't mind to buy the second hand house, then there should be a lots of choice closed to markville mall....
我剛搬咗去Coquitlam, British Coloumbia. Either my hubby or my relatives drive or mostly I take the bus and sky train. 所以我都少去Richmond啦, 真係好遠. 我自己連Metrotown都少去咗啦. 但我的屋在山上, 夜景真係一流, 遠望個景真係同喺香港山頂望去尖東個景噤上吓 (夜晚係咪都望唔到海景,淨係得D燈光).
yes my office closed to fairview mall, really convenience and have all sorts for facility around.. but not sure if the school in that area is good or not. most of the people will (like HK) pick the location where they have good school of their first priorty if they have kid.
for me - i pick the location with 交通方便 - i.e. closed to highway to ease of the traffic jam.
in downtown, and those condo on yonge do have the grocery stores and bakery just right on the main floor of the condo, so you don't really need to walk outside or far away to buy things. but those condo prices are expensive..