As we roll into 2014, we thought we'd share this past year's “Home Of The Month' Features in one post, to demonstrate the breadth of properties we sell in the City of Toronto. Operating across the central core, here's what some of our Buyers purchased this past year!
January 2013 Home Of The Month – Playter Estates – List $1,275,000 Sold $1,250,000 – Located in highly coveted Playter Estates near Broadview and Danforth, this detached three bedroom, two and a half bath home with family room addition and dug-down basement had been substantially renovated and rebuilt by the current Sellers just two and half years earlier. Having originally paid $900,000 the Sellers, who had relocated, had priced it fairly – if not below – market value. This was evident both by the recent sales on the street, and the fact it would cost nearly $300,000 to renovate it to the same standard today.
February 2013 Home Of The Month – Midtown – List $389,900 Sold $392,000 – This gorgeous midtown suite overlooking a park at Mt. Pleasant and Davisville had 732 square feet of interior space with a near 50 feet of balcony. Configured as a one bedroom and private den, this suite had recently undergone a stylish transformation with an upgraded kitchen featuring a new sink, faucet, subway tile backsplash, caesarstone counters and a new cooktop. Featuring a dreamy kitchen, excellent room proportions, wood floors, and a sensational sun-drenched park view, our buyer was quick to submit an offer. And with good reason. Within 48 hours of coming to market this suite went into competition.
March 2013 Home Of The Month – Minto Skyy At Broadview Danforth – List $409,000 Sold $405,000 – This sun-splashed suite in the LEED certified Skyy Condo completed in 2010 at Broadview and Danforth was around 800 square feet with a sun-kissed balcony overlooking the Don Valley. It boasted lush panoramic north-east views over Playter Estates, East York and Lake Ontario beyond. Situated on a corner on the fifteenth floor, it offered two exposures of floor to ceiling glass. The well-appointed suite has two split bedrooms and baths (one an ensuite) which was ideal for our down-scaling Zoomers.
April 2013 Home Of The Month – Midtown – List $879,000 Sold $895,000 – This detached dwelling situated near Mt. Pleasant and Davisville featured the traditional living, dining and galley kitchen with breakfast room (former enclosed porch) configuration typical of Toronto's 1920s/1930s midtown housing stock. The property has three generous bedrooms with a tandem room off the back bedroom (above the breakfast room) and a so-so finished basement with second bath. The upside of this house was being mechanically sound (including no knob-and-tube upgraded wiring, a newer furnace with four slim-jim air conditioning units), including a recently renovated kitchen and bath, a generous landscaped lot and legal front pad parking, making it perfect for our newlywed Buyers.
May 2013 Home Of The Month – Little Italy – List $749,900 Sold $820,000 – This two and a half storey five bedroom Edwardian semi with two car parking on Grace at College Street came to market at $749,900. Aggressively priced and poised for a bidding war, our client snapped it up with a bully offer for 9 percent over the list price to secure it. The property, a beleaguered rooming house with failing building components, had zero features of merit other than being structurally sound in a Triple AAA location. Purchased by one of our investors with an eye to quality and intelligent design, this dwelling is currently being gutted to a shell and transformed into a contemporary high-end legal triplex.
June 2013 Home Of The Month – Seaton Village – List $899,900 Sold $880,000 – When the Flipper of this house served up a property that was mechanically upgraded, but finished in bland predictable Big Box Store finishes, our Buyer saw an opportunity. Located in Prime Seaton Village north of Bloor Street West, just steps from the Bathurst subway station, this three bedroom, 2.5 bath semi with a finished basement and laneway garage had been renovated for resale in a mid-grade calibre with somewhat ubiquitous finishes. After languishing on the market, our busy Buyer low-balled and scored a great deal.
July 2013 Home Of The Month – South Annex – List $999,000 Sold $1,085,000 – This stately merchant-class Edwardian semi-detached ten-room manse with laneway parking was most recently used as a rooming house. Located south of Bloor west of Bathurst in the South Annex, it is steps to the Bathurst subway station, the cafe cultures of Mirvish Village & College Street and a short bike ride to the University of Toronto. Situated on a coveted street of high-end real estate, the house offered ample proportions including a massive third floor and a large but low-ceiling basement. Our investor Buyer, looking to expand his real estate portfolio, competed against another Purchaser to secure this property for about 9% over list. The property is now under demolition under permit, and will soon be 2 or 3 luxury 2 to 4 bedroom rentals.
August 2013 Home Of The Month – The Annex – List $1,795,000 Sold $1,850,487 – Situated on a premium street in the Prime Annex renowned for its architectural continuity, mature trees, proximity to two subway stations and the enchanting Jean Sibelius Square – the area's most popular outdoor green space and playground- this gracious 3000 square foot residence boasts ten rooms above grade plus an additional three in the high-ceiling basement, five full washrooms, a generous 27 x 132 foot landscape lot and rare-to-find legal front pad parking. Substantially rebuilt in the 1990s including all the major building components, this property offered our Buyer with a young family an enormous amount of versatility. It can be three suites or a massive single family, which our Buyers can grow into over time.
September 2013 Home Of The Month – Wallace Emerson – List $690,000 Sold $691,000 – This vintage Corner Store came back on the market after its second conditional sale collapsed. Massive, at almost 2500 square feet above grade, this weather-beaten building with four car parking (including garage) just steps to the Lansdowne subway and Bloor Street represented incredible value for those ready to tackle a substantial renovation. Now gutted to the studs and being rebuilt into multiple units – each with their own separate entrance, outdoor space and parking – this rare-to-find property in a demand up-and-coming location will only become more desirable over time.
October 2013 Home Of The Month – St Lawrence Market – List $549,500 Sold $540,000 – In the heart of St. Lawrence Market in a converted vintage warehouse dating from 1860 – before Canada was even a country – this top floor 2-storey 1100 square foot end-unit loft featured vaulted ceilings, skylights, and plenty of exposed brick. When one of our investors requested we find a hard loft condo in a Triple AAA location to put into their property portfolio, we suggested this as the perfect space to attract a quality tenant who'd appreciate its proximity to the central business district and all the urban amenities one could want (which is exactly what happened). The loft commands $2700 per month in rent.
November 2013 Home Of The Month – Coxwell Danforth – List $549,999 Sold $629,100 – Located near Coxwell subway on The Danforth, this 3 bedroom 3 bath semi-detached dwell with mutual drive and garage was the estate sale of an Italian widow. Meticulously maintained, with a well-constructed addition, this listing came to market without any photos but with a lot of emphasis on its abundance of parquet and tile floors. While it ultimately had a distinct cultural stamp (including a 'white marble staircase'), which initially caused pause for our Buyers, we collectively agreed it had lots of space and could be reinvented with a very cool vibe. This was one of most extraordinary negotiations, which begs sharing in person should you be curious enough to enquire!
December 2013 Home Of The Month – Midtown – List $899,000 Sold $1,000,100 – Our Buyers, an engaging pair of 30-something professionals, bought this property in Wanless Park near Mt. Pleasant and Lawrence East in North Toronto after a lengthy search and several bidding war fails. The property, a detached three bedroom residence with legal front pad parking, is situated a short stroll to shopping, the subway, green space and calibre schools. Owned by the same family for fifty years, the house had been lovingly cared for over the years, but still required modernizing. The kitchen and baths date from the 1980s, but overall the house was impeccably maintained. This is the kind of house our Buyer's stretch to afford, and then 'grow into over the next decade or two'.
These 12 diverse urban properties reflect the range of real estate Urbaneer sells. Serving first and second time buyers, down-scaling Zoomers, renovators and those building their property portfolios, our mandate is to help our clients realize the highest return on their real estate investments, while ensuring their property best serves their practical needs and their dream of “Home”. We identify a property's best qualities, features and insouciant charm in the context of your future target market. Although searching for the right property can be an intense and sometimes lengthy process it is, without fail, rewarding both to our clients and the Urbaneer team.
If you, or someone you love, has specific real estate needs, wishes and desires, and would enjoy the personalized service of Top Producing boutique real estate outfit who subscribe to a pressure-free approach, please know we're here to help at urbaneer.com.
~ Steven and the urbaneer team
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