Forest Heights Real Estate: Homes for Sale in Forest Heights, Kitchener

By Stephanie Catcher, REALTOR® with RE/MAX Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd. Selling in Kitchener-Waterloo since 2008.

Forest Heights is west Kitchener's big, established family neighbourhood: the square between Highland Road West and the Conestoga Parkway, from Fischer-Hallman Road out to Ira Needles Boulevard. It was built mostly from the mid-1970s through the 1990s, with the Westheights section coming last, and it's about 85 per cent owner-occupied, which tells you most of what you need to know about how it feels. Three- and four-bedroom brick two-storeys, sidesplits, backsplits and raised bungalows on quiet crescents, a high school, a pool and a library all on one campus, and The Boardwalk five minutes away. If you're a family moving to KW and you want the classic suburb done well, this is where I start the tour.

Why people love Forest Heights

• The community campus. Forest Heights Collegiate, the Forest Heights Pool (a 25-metre lap pool and a warm pool) and the Forest Heights Community Library sit together on Fischer-Hallman, and the Forest Heights Community Centre on Queen's Boulevard adds a gym, an outdoor rink and program rooms.

• Parks on every side. Westheights Park has a forest, a pond and sports fields, the Forest Heights Community Trail links the parks along the south edge, and Fischer Park brings tennis, soccer and a skatepark. There are around ten smaller parks in between.

• Schools inside the neighbourhood. Meadowlane, John Darling and Driftwood Park public schools, Westheights for grades 7 and 8, Forest Heights Collegiate for high school, and St. Dominic Savio for Catholic families. Confirm boundaries with the board.

• Shopping without the highway. Plazas along Highland Road for groceries and banking, Highland Hills Mall and Sunrise Centre nearby, and The Boardwalk at Ira Needles for everything else.

• A real commute option. GRT's 201 iXpress runs the length of Fischer-Hallman from Conestoga Station to Conestoga College, and the Conestoga Parkway puts the 401 about 25 minutes away.

The real estate market in Forest Heights

Forest Heights is one of the deepest markets in Kitchener for detached family homes, which makes it a good place to buy: there's usually a choice, and prices tend to sit a little below the city average because the homes are practical rather than showy. The sweet spot is the three-bedroom sidesplit or backsplit with a garage and a finished lower level, but you'll also find larger two-storeys in Westheights and a healthy supply of semis and townhomes that make it one of my go-to areas for first-time buyers who need more room than a condo. Many homes have their original 1980s kitchens; the renovated ones sell fast. Ask me for the current sold prices and days on market for Forest Heights and I'll send them over.

Stephanie's local take

I've helped a lot of families into Forest Heights over the years, and the reason they pick it is simple: the kids can walk to school, the pool and the park, and the parents can be at The Boardwalk or on the Parkway in five minutes. It's not fancy and it doesn't try to be. When I'm showing here, I steer buyers toward the streets that back onto the trail and the parks, and I always check the age of the roof, windows and furnace, because a lot of the neighbourhood is hitting the forty-year mark at once. Get those right and you have a house that will look after you for decades.

Ready to buy or sell in Forest Heights?

Whether you're buying your first family home or selling one you raised a family in, I'd love to help. Book a no-pressure chat for buying or selling, call or text 519-404-4834, or read my guides for first-time buyers, families moving to KW and sellers and downsizers. For the bigger picture, start with my Kitchener guide.

Forest Heights FAQ

Where is Forest Heights in Kitchener?

In west Kitchener, bounded by Highland Road West, the Conestoga Parkway, Fischer-Hallman Road and Ira Needles Boulevard.

What kind of homes are in Forest Heights?

Mostly three- and four-bedroom detached homes from the mid-1970s to the 1990s, including brick two-storeys, sidesplits, backsplits and raised bungalows, plus semis and townhomes, with the Westheights section built last.

What schools are in Forest Heights?

Forest Heights Collegiate Institute, Westheights Public School for grades 7 and 8, and Meadowlane, John Darling and Driftwood Park public elementary schools; St. Dominic Savio for Catholic families. Confirm boundaries with the board.

Is there a pool or community centre in Forest Heights?

Yes. The Forest Heights Pool and Forest Heights Community Library share a campus with the collegiate on Fischer-Hallman Road, and the Forest Heights Community Centre on Queen's Boulevard has a gym and an outdoor rink.

How is the commute from Forest Heights?

The Conestoga Parkway is at the south edge of the neighbourhood, with Highway 401 about 25 minutes away, and GRT's 201 iXpress runs along Fischer-Hallman Road.