When most people talk about Markham’s new development pipeline, they mention Downtown Markham’s condo towers — Gallery Towers, UnionCity, Pangea. Those projects are important and well-covered. What is less covered — and what Michael John Lau and Neeraj Moolchandani, top real estate agents in Markham Ontario, have been quietly positioning buyers in — are two master-planned communities delivering something the condo pipeline cannot: freehold homes built to premium standards in established luxury community contexts. Springwater and Union Village deserve significantly more attention than they are getting.
Springwater — Net-Zero Ready Living in Victoria Square
Springwater is a pre-construction development by Mattamy Homes at 3217 Elgin Mills Road East in Markham’s Victoria Square community — one of the city’s last large greenfield development areas before the Oak Ridges Moraine boundary. The development offers townhomes and single-family detached homes ranging from 1,536 to 3,100 square feet, priced from $1,074,990 to $2,230,990.
What makes Springwater distinctly different from every other active freehold new construction project in Markham is its building standard. Springwater homes use GeoExchange technology — geothermal heating and cooling that extracts and transfers heat from the earth via underground loops — to achieve Net Zero Ready performance standards. This means homes that are 80% more energy efficient than code-minimum new construction, with heating and cooling costs approximately 60% to 70% below a comparable natural gas-heated home.
The energy savings math: On a 2,500 sq ft Springwater home, annual energy savings versus a gas-heated equivalent is approximately $2,000 to $3,500. Over ten years — before energy price inflation compounds the advantage — that is $20,000 to $35,000 in cumulative utility savings. For buyers signing before March 31, 2027, the HST rebate of up to $130,000 on eligible configurations further reduces the net purchase price.
Victoria Square’s location in northwest Markham positions Springwater buyers near the Oak Ridges Moraine’s natural landscapes, within reach of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Secondary School catchment (shared with Angus Glen and Cachet), and accessible via Highway 404 and Highway 7. The community’s rural-to-suburban transition character — one of the last places in Markham where new homes border genuine countryside — is a lifestyle proposition that urban condo living cannot provide.
Union Village — The Angus Glen Community’s Newest Chapter
Union Village is a master-planned community developed by Minto Homes and Metropia at Major Mackenzie Drive East and Warden Avenue, positioned adjacent to the Angus Glen Golf Club — designed by Davis Love III and twice host to the Canadian Open — and within the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Secondary School catchment.
Union Village offers a mix of freehold townhomes and detached homes completing the community vision that began with Angus Glen’s established phase. For buyers who want Angus Glen’s school catchment, lifestyle infrastructure (the 160,000 sq ft Angus Glen Community Centre, the Golf Club, the mature tree-lined streets), and the quality of a new Minto construction home — Union Village is the only place in Markham where all three currently coexist in a new construction context.
Minto’s construction track record in the GTA is well-documented. Their homes are built to a higher standard than most volume production builders, and their post-occupancy warranty administration has a reputation for responsiveness that matters when you discover the inevitable punchlist items after moving into any new home.
Get Independent Analysis Before Signing Any Builder Agreement
Michael John Lau & Neeraj Moolchandani represent buyers at both Springwater and Union Village with independent market analysis, contract review coordination, and comparative context for every decision.
Why These Two Communities Are Underappreciated
Both Springwater and Union Village are being marketed directly by builders with lower-profile launches than the tower developments in Downtown Markham. They do not have the same marketing budget as a 500-unit condo project. They are targeting a specific buyer — a family or couple who wants freehold ownership, a premium building standard, Markham’s best school catchment access, and a neighbourhood character rooted in established community rather than emerging urban density. That buyer profile is underserved by the current conversation about Markham new construction, which focuses heavily on the condo pipeline.
Michael John Lau and Neeraj Moolchandani, top real estate agents in Markham Ontario, represent buyers at both Springwater and Union Village with independent market analysis, contract review coordination, and the comparative context needed to make an informed decision before signing any builder agreement.
Michael John Lau and Neeraj Moolchandani are licensed REALTOR®s and members of the Kaizen Real Estate Team at eXp Realty (eXp Luxury), serving buyers and sellers in Markham, Ontario and across York Region. Licence #4784577. Office: 8763 Bayview Avenue #127, Richmond Hill, ON. Pre-construction real estate involves significant risk. All pricing, specifications, and timelines are subject to change. Always retain a qualified real estate lawyer to review purchase agreements before signing. School catchments subject to change — verify with YRDSB.