Montreal, Quebec is a very cosmopolitan city. It's a center of culture, history, fashion, and the French language while simultaneously welcoming those who speak English and other languages. With so much to offer, it's no wonder many people putting up homes for sale in North Toronto are doing so to move to Montreal. However, when it actually comes time to look at the real estate listings, a lot of people are taken aback by the variety of neighborhoods, each one totally different in character from the others. Which one will you choose? Though there are too many to list in one article, we can give you an overview of a few of the most famous.

Quartier Internationale

French for "international quarter" this neighborhood centers around the city's world trade center and is known as an upscale shopping destination. This area has been recently gentrified and contains some of the newest high rise real estate in Montreal, comparable to St. Lawrence Market condos in Toronto. Shop for real estate here if you're in the market for a stylish, high end condo or apartment within spitting distance of a job at one of the city's financial centers.

The Plateau

Known colloquially as "Canada's Most Creative Neighborhood" because of the high proportion of artists who make their home here, the Plateau offers stunning views of Mount Royal Park from many of its windows. Originally a working class neighborhood, housing here is mostly low-rise brick apartment buildings with some Victorian style homes interspersed. Comparable to North York properties for sale in Toronto. The character is laid back, with cafes and book shops, though the gentrifying night club crowd is making inroads.

Old Montreal

Old Montreal is a historic district in the downtown area. It contains Montreal's original port, city hall, and some of its oldest churches. Historic architecture in styles ranging to Romanesque to Italianate abounds here, and most of the buildings are low rise and close together, the total opposite of Mississauga real estate. Housing is hard to come by here and expensive, but the character of the neighborhood is unparalleled. Think cobblestone streets and horse drawn carriages. The only drawback is the tourists.

Milton Park

From the desirable and exclusive we slide down the ladder to the cheap and broad ranging area known colloquially as the "McGill Ghetto." Located adjacent to one of Canada's top universities, this neighborhood is characterized by a population heavily weighted to the young end of the spectrum. Though they'll be able to afford properties off the North York MLS once they graduate, these students can only afford apartments in the low rises and row houses of this neighborhood. Architecture here is from the 1800s and the neighborhood is characterized as young, cheap, and safe.