It’s timely that on the heels of this week’s post on the more traditional tastes of Boomers and Zoomers, this month’s ‘Home Of The Month Feature’ is about the acquisition of a new Zoomer nest of domestic bliss! For those of you who are new to my blog, this monthly feature provides a snap shot of what urbaneer.com’s Buyers have recently bought in the City of Toronto.
I’ve learned working with my Boomer and Zoomer buyers that the qualities they seek in a dwelling have more to do with space plan, storage, and flow than the latest aesthetic trends or styles. They don’t need the latest finishes and gadgets, or the open concept layout that leaves all their dishes and cooking pots on display. They appreciate ‘zones for living’, where culinary creation is executed in a separate kitchen, dining is at a table that can accommodate the extended family, and television is watched in a curl-up-on-the-couch location. Although opinion may be split on this, I tend to find Boomers and Zoomers gravitate to ‘rooms with purpose’ rather than the singular ‘Great Room’ living space.
Although we’re all aging, Boomers and Zoomers begin paying more acute attention to the accessibility of a prospective residence. This is where the condominium lifestyle serves us well, especially those that are located centrally like the one they chose in proximity to shopping, pubilc transportation and green space. This particular building, located off Yonge Street by Davisville, is a hop, skip and a jump to all your everyday amenities, steps from the subway line and offered the added bonus of abutting the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail.
Boomers and Zoomers are often willing to pay for the privilege of quality services and amenities in a condominium, like a concierge and recreation facilities, which typically translate into higher common fees. Like this building, a concierge provides peace of mind and assurance that there’s someone to count on when your family or friends might be unavailable, and amenities like the fitness centre can serve as the necessary motivation to keep ourselves active and engaged in staying healthy.
For these particular buyers, who were moving from a semi-detached dwelling and a townhouse, finding a suite that had ample storage and a decent sized locker was paramount. The Boomer and Zoomer have often collected a life’s worth of memories, many of which are too cherished to be disposed of. Accompanying this requirement is a generous space plan, usually consisting of a spacious entertainment area including a place for a formal dining room suite, and at least 2 bedrooms (theirs and his for when he’s snoring, which also accommodates guests) plus 2 full baths (he always gets the one with the shower).
This suite featured over 1220 square feet of well-proportioned one level living wrapped in windows on two sides. Featuring a sun-drenched south-east exposure, the suite boasted an oversized entertainment area of 16×22 feet and an extremely rare-to-find 15×16 foot eat-in kitchen with spectacular views, access to a generous terrace and plenty of space to cook while hosting guests. Here are some of the pics prior to upgrading:
Outdoor space is also of great importance to this target market, as having a place to relax and enjoy the seasons, tend to growing flowers and herbs, and enjoying drinks at sixes outdoor is ideal. Not any outdoor space will do. Boomers and Zoomers like their space to be quiet, sunny, private and with an appealing view. Noisy roads, traffic dust or an urban concrete sightline just won’t do! What made this suite special is that, located on the sixth level, it overlooks the treetops of the Kay Gardner Beltline which is chock fill of urban wildlife and birdsong. It’s like being nestled in the country while being in the heart of the city.
Like all my buyers with a wish list this specific, some times one just has to be patient to find the right place. Especially when your intention is to occupy the dwelling for a long time. In fact, the first time buyer is more likely to make compromises based on the limitations of their budget and the likelihood that their stay will likely be limited to around three to five years. When it comes to the Boomer and Zoomer market, who have often occupied their existing residence closer to ten to thirty years, the prospect of moving again is simply not in the plans. Plain and simple, they’re looking for a place to put down roots for an extended period of time.
Listed at $599,000, my buyers were proactive and viewed this suite within hours of it coming to market. They weren’t the only keen buyers. It swiftly went into competition and a bidding war ensued. Having seen a number of properties already, my clients stepped up with a strong offer of $500 per square foot that secured this exceptional suite with parking and locker. On closing, my buyers refreshed the suite by installing some engineered wood floors, repainted and did some cosmetic tweeking. Now it’s the perfect Home for a new chapter in my Buyers lives. Congrats!
If you, or a Boomer or Zoomer you know, is looking for a special spacious suite like this, please know urbaneer.com is here to help!
~ Steven
Buy Of The Month
