Cambridge REALTOR® | Mathew Toussaint
Mathew Toussaint is a REALTOR® with eXp Realty of Canada working with buyers, sellers and investors in Cambridge, Ontario. Cambridge is not one town with one market. It was formed in 1973 from Galt, Preston and Hespeler, and those three communities still feel like three different places. Knowing which one you are dealing with matters more here than almost anywhere else in Waterloo Region.
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Buying a home in Cambridge
Galt is the largest of the three and holds the most recognisable architecture in the region: stone and brick buildings along the Grand River, a walkable historic core, and streets of century homes climbing away from the water. Preston sits on the Kitchener side and has a more mixed character, with older housing near its own main street and newer development spreading outward. Hespeler, to the north on the Speed River, is the smallest of the three and keeps a distinctly small-town feel around its mill-era core.
Around those cores, Cambridge has substantial post-war and modern subdivision housing, plus newer construction on the east and north edges. Buyers often look here when they want more space or more land for the money than the equivalent street in Kitchener or Waterloo would offer, and are willing to trade the light rail for highway access.
Character homes in the older cores need the same care as anywhere: check the age of the systems, the foundation and any heritage designation on the property before you get attached to it.
Selling a home in Cambridge
Pricing in Cambridge rewards precision. Because the city is three former towns, comparable sales need to come from the right community and ideally the right side of it. A Galt core century home and a Hespeler subdivision two-storey are not comparables for each other even though they share a postal city.
Heritage and character homes take a different marketing approach from suburban product. Buyers for a stone home on a Galt street are often coming from outside the region and buying the building as much as the floor plan, so the photography and the story matter.
Start with a home value estimate, then read through the selling process.
Investing in Cambridge real estate
Cambridge has a large manufacturing and logistics employment base, including the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada operations, and the Highway 401 corridor keeps drawing distribution and industrial employers. That supports a steady long-term rental market rather than a seasonal or student-driven one.
The older cores contain a lot of converted duplexes and triplexes. Some are legal and some are not, and that distinction is the single most important thing to verify before you buy. Ask for the retrofit status and confirm the zoning with the City rather than relying on the listing description.
As anywhere in Ontario, buying a tenanted property means taking on the existing tenancy and its terms. Management after closing is a property management function, separate from brokerage.
Cambridge neighbourhoods
- Galt (city centre and West Galt) — the historic core on the Grand River, stone and brick architecture, century homes, the most walkable part of the city.
- East Galt and Southwood — post-war and newer residential, closer to Highway 401 and the retail on Hespeler Road.
- Preston — toward the Kitchener boundary, its own main street, a mix of older homes and newer subdivisions.
- Hespeler — north end on the Speed River, small-town core, newer subdivisions around it.
- Blair and the south-west — rural and semi-rural edges, larger lots, close to the river valley.
- Hespeler Road corridor — the retail and commercial spine, with condo and townhouse development along it.
Commuting and getting around Cambridge
Cambridge has the best Highway 401 access in Waterloo Region, which is the practical reason a lot of buyers choose it. That matters if you drive to Milton, Mississauga, Toronto or west toward Woodstock and London. What Cambridge does not yet have is the ION light rail; the regional plan extends it here in a later stage, but today the transit connection to Kitchener and Waterloo is by bus. If train service to Toronto is part of your plan, you would be driving to the Kitchener GO station.
How to choose the best REALTOR® in Cambridge
There is no published ranking of the best REALTOR® in Cambridge, so compare on things that actually affect your outcome:
- Local knowledge — do they treat Galt, Preston and Hespeler as separate markets, because they are?
- Market knowledge — can they show the comparable sales behind their price opinion, from the right community?
- Character and heritage homes — relevant if you are buying or selling in the older cores.
- Investment experience — particularly around legal versus non-conforming multi-unit conversions.
- Communication — responsiveness and the method you actually use.
- Negotiation — how they handle conditions, inspections and competing offers.
- Reviews — what past clients say about the difficult parts.
Mathew works across Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and the wider region on buyer, seller and investor files. Read client reviews or start a conversation.
Frequently asked questions about buying and selling in Cambridge
Who is a local REALTOR® in Cambridge?
Mathew Toussaint is a REALTOR® with eXp Realty of Canada serving Cambridge and Waterloo Region. He can be reached through the contact page.
What is the difference between Galt, Preston and Hespeler?
They were three separate towns until 1973 and still have separate downtowns, housing stock and character. Galt is the largest, with the historic stone core on the Grand River. Preston is closest to Kitchener. Hespeler is the smallest and sits on the Speed River to the north. Prices, lot sizes and commute times differ meaningfully between them.
How do I find homes for sale in Cambridge?
You can search Cambridge listings on this site and save a search so new listings reach you by email. Mathew can set the search up around your area, budget, bedrooms and timing.
Is Cambridge cheaper than Kitchener or Waterloo?
It depends entirely on the property and the community. Buyers often look at Cambridge when they want more land or square footage for their budget, but there is no single answer across a city made of three former towns. The honest comparison is done property by property, which is what a market review is for.
Does Cambridge have the ION light rail?
Not yet. The regional plan extends light rail to Cambridge in a later stage. Today the connection to Kitchener and Waterloo is by bus, and Cambridge instead has the strongest Highway 401 access in the region.
Does Mathew work outside Cambridge?
Yes. He works across Waterloo Region and Southern Ontario, including Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Wilmot Township, Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville.
Next steps
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