25 Grenville St., No. 1406, Toronto
Asking price: $300,000
Selling price: $300,000
Previous selling prices: $220,000 (2007); $184,500 (2003); $126,000 (1998); $105,000 (1995)
Taxes: $1,515 (2009)
Days on the market: nine
Listing agents: Nutan Brown and Anil Khera, Royal LePage West Realty Group
What drew buyers to this one-bedroom plus solarium suite is its location in a high-rise on a short side street close to shops, eateries and the subway line on Yonge Street, as well as major medical and educational institutions, says one of the listing agents, Anil Khera.
“It’s one block north of College and it’s between Bay and Yonge streets, so you’re extremely central,” he says. “It’s very convenient for people who work at the hospitals or … for U of T students.”
The roughly 20-year-old unit was in move-in condition. “People are always impressed when they see things are taken care of, they assume it’s going to be a relatively headache-free place,” Mr. Khera says.
The sellers recently removed doors between the solarium and combined living and dining area to create one large entertaining area.
New laundry machines were brought in and hardwood floors were installed everywhere but the kitchen, which another owner revamped with ceramic floors and stainless steel appliances.
The rest of the unit is filled out with a bedroom, four-piece bathroom and foyer with a deep closet, “which also served as an ensuite locker,” Mr. Khera adds.
The monthly fee of $524 covers utility and cable costs. “The maintenance fee included everything, except for taxes, which is important for people so they knew what their costs were going to be every month,” he says.
Amenities within the building consist of a gym, squash court and party room, as well as a rooftop deck, visitor parking and lobby staffed by 24-hour concierge.
88 Hazelwood Ave., Toronto
Asking price: $469,900
Selling price: $532,000
Previous selling price: $410,000 (2007)
Taxes: $2,562 (2009)
Lot size: 16 by 115 feet
Days on the market: six
Co-op agent: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
For a young professional who couldn’t afford a property in the Annex where he rented, this semi-detached house was an east-end alternative with a more affordable price tag, but equally central and lively location, says his agent Anil Khera.
It is just a block south of popular Greek restaurants, shops and cafés, as well as a subway station.
“The Danforth is just like the Annex, but without the drunk students,” Mr. Khera jokes. “It’s a vibrant scene late at night, but it’s a different scene.”
The buyer was also pleased no major repairs were needed to improve the over 80-year-old house, which was outfitted with new roof, windows, mechanical systems and stainless-steel kitchen appliances a few years ago.
“[The sellers] took care of the place like they would live there forever,” adds Mr. Khera.
The main floor was laid out with a sunroom, a living room and a formal dining room all with hardwood floors similar to the three bedrooms on the second floor.
The kitchen features vinyl floors and a walkout to a deep, private backyard and garage at the end of a laneway. “Every other property has the lane running behind the house,” says Mr. Khera. “So this property is a bit bigger.”
For additional space, the basement was partially finished with a carpeted family room with one of two full bathrooms and a walkout.
1001 Bay St., No. 1519, Toronto
Asking price: $319,000
Selling price: $331,000
Previous selling price: $194,500 (2003); $128,559 (1990)
Taxes: $2,000 (2009)
Days on the market: 11
Co-op agent: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
After agent Anil Khera and his client lost a few bidding wars for downtown properties in the low $300,000s, they finally outbid another buyer for this one-bedroom-plus-solarium suite in a 20-year-old high-rise on Bay Street.
"It's very competitive out there in this price range, which is normal," Mr. Khera says.
His client paid a $12,000 premium for this 15th-floor suite, which is ideally placed on the northwest side of the 36-storey tower facing the University of Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum.
"There are no high-rises obstructing the views," the agent says. "It is relatively rare because of the number of high-rise developments in the area."
Wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows also allow sunlight to reach the solarium, an open living and dining area and a master bedroom with a walk-in closet.
"It was a nice, usable space," Mr. Khera says of the unit's overall layout.
The kitchen features ceramic floors, while other areas have laminate. "It's one of few units in that building that have that," he says.
A four-piece bathroom, high-efficiency laundry machines, an exterior locker and parking complete the unit. The monthly fee of $369 does not include heat or hydro costs.
For more room to exercise or socialize, residents can use the indoor pool, squash and basketball courts and a party room. Guest suites, visitor parking and 24-hour security are also on-site.
"A lot of my clients ... love that building because it seems to be much better built than a lot of the newer condos," Mr. Khera says. "It's very well maintained and it shows like a posh hotel."
227 GILMOUR AVE., Toronto
ASKING PRICE: $674,900
SELLING PRICE: $650,000
PREVIOUS SELLING PRICE: $492,000 (2006)
TAXES: $3,150 (2008)
LOT SIZE: 25 by 120 feet
DAYS ON THE MARKET: 18
LISTING AGENTS: Nutan Brown and Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
This detached, two-storey house has a rear addition that made it much larger than it appears, which is a big asset when the home is compared to other west-end properties nearby, says agent Nutan Brown.
"[The previous owners] took what was a typical Upper Bloor West Village home and expanded it to a size that would accommodate a family very nicely," she says.
The expansion allowed for a new lower level studio, a second floor master bedroom with an ensuite powder room and Juliet balcony and an extra space off the kitchen with a walkout to a deck.
"The main floor family room was a very huge attraction," Ms. Brown says. "Most homes do not have that kind of addition in the Bloor West Village area."
The wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling systems were also updated, the roof replaced and interior gutted and remodelled by another owner within the last decade.
Modern finishes within the 1940s house include hardwood floors and pot lights in the open living and dining area, stainless steel kitchen appliances and broadloom in the lower level recreation room.
The main bathroom services the three bedrooms upstairs.
Other assets include three-car parking accessed from a lane, a private back yard and a front garden with native plants and perennials. "It's a beautiful showpiece of colours," says Ms. Brown.
Local amenities include parks, schools and places of worship, as well as High Park and Bloor Street shops and subway further south.
81A Front St. E., No. 214, Toronto
Asking price: $425,000
Selling price: $415,000
Taxes: $2,616 (2008)
Days on the market: 21
Co-op agent: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
For buyers wanting to relocate from their loft-style apartment downtown into an authentic loft, this one-bedroom unit in the St. Lawrence Market Lofts was the best contender, their agent Anil Khera says.
"They wanted something with exposed beams, exposed brick, high ceilings and a very open space," he says. "This building offers all of that."
The designated heritage building - one of several converted into condominiums in the area - was constructed in 1857 to house offices and activities of a wholesale grocery warehouse.
Ten-foot ceilings, exposed brick walls and wood posts and beams preserve the past of this 901-square-foot space, which also displays modern details.
"They have partial-height walls for the bedroom, which has sliding pocket doors at right angles that close off the room," Mr. Khera says.
Sunlight floods the interior through large windows and balcony doors overlooking Front Street. "There are only a few units in that whole building that has Juliet balconies," Mr. Khera says. "There's lots going on in this area, but if you close the door and windows it's quiet."
The unit is also equipped with kitchen and laundry appliances and a four-piece bathroom.
The monthly fee of $524 covers heat and hydro costs.
Rental parking is available nearby, though the building is home to street-level shops and restaurants, and is steps from St. Lawrence Market, Distillery District and Financial District.
"The area offers so much, all within walking distance ... not to mention its proximity to the subway and Union Station," Mr. Khera says. "It's one of the most sought after locations, certainly for young people or anyone who enjoys the best of the city."
101 LAKEHURST ST., BRIGHTON
ASKING PRICE: $359,900
SELLING PRICE: $270,000
PREVIOUS SELLING PRICE: $45,000 (1979)
TAXES: $2,614 (2008)
LOT SIZE: 244 by 168 feet
DAYS ON THE MARKET: 172
CO-OP AGENT: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
Anil Khera was on the hunt for a country home within driving distance of Toronto for a client who was living in an apartment above his massage therapy clinic. This 1-1/2 -storey house offered an idyllic setting just 90 minutes east in Brighton.
"This allows him the flexibility to keep his practice in the city and commute if he desires," the agent says. "It's very close to the entrance to Presqu'ile Provincial Park, so it's definitely in a very desirable community."
Built over three decades ago, the residence is near Lake Ontario. The land encompasses a vast amount of green space and trees, as well as a patio area, double garage and a wraparound porch with walkouts.
One big attraction of the 2,732-square-foot house is a separate entrance to an office that is linked to one of three full bathrooms with a whirlpool tub and shower stall.
There is a main floor bedroom, laundry room and eat-in kitchen, along with dining, living and family rooms. Upstairs includes an open concept recreation room with skylights.
6 Fiesta Ln., Toronto
Asking price: $620,000
Selling price: $550,000
Previous selling price: $330,000 (1999)
Taxes: $4,326 (2009)
Lot size: 63 by 135 feet
Days on the market: 25
Listing agent: Nutan Brown, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.; co-op agents: Nutan Brown and Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
This two-storey Georgian-style house sits on a spacious city lot that feels more like a countryside property, says agent Nutan Brown.
Not only are the grounds lined with trees, but the entire community is bound by parkland, a nature trail and the Humber River.
"This is very tucked away, exclusive neighbourhood of maybe 30 to 40 homes," she says.
"It's a great location for any nature lover because you are surrounded by all kinds of outdoor activities at your fingertips, and yet, it's still ... accessible to highways and shopping."
As for the appeal of the 1950s residence, it is in need of some updates, since it was last remodelled around 1990. "Now [the buyer] could ... personalize this home to her own taste," adds Ms. Brown.
The property has a classic centre-hall plan with a foyer between the living and dining rooms. The former has a walkout to the deck, while the latter is open to the eat-in kitchen via a pass through.
Also visible from the kitchen is a rear family room with built-in shelves and a wood-burning fireplace.
Like the main floor, there are hardwood floors in the three bedrooms upstairs, which is where the main bathroom is located.
A fourth bedroom is in the basement, along with a panelled recreation room and powder room.
Attached to the side of the house is a garage.
111 Elizabeth St., No. 210, Toronto
Asking price: $300,000
Selling price: $300,000
Previous selling price: $212,481 (2007)
Taxes: $1,724 (2008)
Days on the market: three
Listing agent: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
After removing excess clutter and furniture from this one-bedroom plus den unit, it could have passed for a model suite, which effectively helped to sell the place within three days, agent Anil Khera says.
"We were prepared to stay on the market for longer because most of the units there have been taking longer to sell," he says. "This presented so well that when people walked in they were just amazed by it."
The private setting of the roughly 600-square-foot unit within the 16-storey condominium - named One City Hall for its proximity the downtown landmark - was also attractive, Mr. Khera says.
It was completed a couple of years ago on the second floor, between a stairwell and the upper ceiling space of a ground-floor supermarket. "They had no neighbours on either side," he says.
Otherwise, the unit has a standard floor plan with open concept space, nine-foot ceilings and nearly full height windows.
The kitchen cabinetry and appliances are lined up against one wall and a central island contains a built-in table. The adjacent living and dining area has sliding doors to a balcony.
Laminate flooring throughout stops at the carpeted master bedroom.
Other features include a full bathroom and energy-efficient laundry machines, plus a locker and parking.
The monthly fee of $359 covers heating costs and maintenance of a shared gym, indoor pool and hot tub, as well as a party room and guest suites down the hall. A rooftop garden is also on site.
More recreational facilities, restaurants, a multiplex cinema, performance theatres and university campuses are located nearby. In addition, commuting is easy by subway or streetcar.
"It truly offers everything for the urban professional or student," Mr. Khera says.
17 Ravenal St.
Asking price: $289,900
Selling price: $304,900
Previous selling price: $163,000 (2002)
Taxes: $2,056 (2008)
Lot size: 22 by 95 feet
Days on the market: seven
Listing agent: Julie Kinnear, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.; co-op agent Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
The real estate market is slowly recovering from the recession, but properties in the lower price brackets - such as this semi-detached house in the former city of York - are snatched up quickly by first-time buyers, agent Julie Kinnear says.
"It was a very interesting experience," she says. "We did not hold back offers [until a certain date] and we had three offers anyway."
Between 2003 and 2008, the 1930s house received upgraded wiring and copper plumbing, new high efficiency furnace and air conditioning systems, and updated roofing and windows.
Cosmetic changes to the 1,098-square-foot house included freshly painted interiors, refinished hardwood floors in the living and dining rooms, new broadloom on the second floor, and two modernized bathrooms.
"It was a really nice house," Ms. Kinnear says. "It had what buyers are looking for right now, which is an old home with character and charm, yet is completely turnkey with all the hard work done."
Slate floors and Shaker-style cabinetry spruce up the kitchen, which has access to a mudroom and deck.
The front yard can be reached from the enclosed porch.
Three bedrooms are upstairs, while the fourth is off the lower-level recreation room.
The extra wide lot accommodates a large backyard, shed and a private driveway for three cars.
The quiet dead end street is close to parks, malls and schools, plus amenities in Bloor West Village and the Junction.
92 Merrick St.
Asking price: $529,000
Selling price: $561,000
Previous selling price: $321,000 (2002)
Taxes: $3,750 (2009)
Lot size: 25 by 86 feet
Days on the market: seven
Co-op agent: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
Working with a budget of $500,000, agent Anil Khera had the difficult task of finding a large detached property for a growing family hoping to live near High Park.
Eventually, his clients were prepared to boost their budget for this traditional four-bedroom house near St. Joseph's Health Centre.
"There's so little inventory that anything in this price range garners multiple offers," says Mr. Khera. "And often in that style house you get three [bedrooms] at most."
The nearly century-old house also has an enclosed sunroom, "which a lot of the homes on that street do not have," adds Mr. Khera. "You can actually see the lake from the front window."
Should the buyers need more space, the lower level offers about seven-foot ceilings, a roughed-in bathroom and newer concrete floors, as well as a separate entrance. "There's huge amount of potential with the basement ready to be finished," says Mr. Khera.
Otherwise, extra work is not necessary prior to moving in, as the roofing, wiring, copper plumbing and boiler were all updated in the past few years.
Period details were left intact, from its brick façade, cedar shakes and stained-glass windows to interior wood trims, oak staircase and refinished oak hardwood floors. "There is lots of original character," says Mr. Khera.
The fireside living room is entered through decorative archways from the hall and sunroom, while the dining room can be opened or closed off with French doors.
The main hall leads to a kitchen with a breakfast area by the back door. "It's got a cute private backyard and an older garage that is mostly used for storage," adds Mr. Khera.
The sole four-piece bathroom is set amid the second floor bedrooms.
Amenities nearby include Queen's Park, Yorkville shops and subway lines.
80 Western Battery Rd., No. 101, Toronto
Asking price: $249,900
Selling price: $267,599
Taxes: not yet assessed
Days on the market: seven
Co-op agent: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
Agent Anil Khera began searching for an authentic loft within cycling distance of his client's workplace in the Entertainment District, but found this relatively new ground-floor corner suite to be a comparable alternative in Liberty Village.
It boasts an open-concept layout, 14-foot ceilings and full-height windows facing north and east. "It's got the feel of conversion loft," Mr. Khera says. "It's very rare to come across units with floor-to-ceiling windows like this, especially at this price point."
Plus, this unit has a handy street-level entrance off the spacious 225-square-foot patio. "There's also an entrance in from the building, but you almost never use it unless accessing any of the amenities in the building," the agent adds.
The interior finishes are modern, including granite kitchen countertops, mirrored backsplashes and stainless steel appliances along one wall, as well as laminate flooring in the principal room and carpeting in the master bedroom.
Rounding out the unit is a four-piece bathroom and laundry facilities.
The monthly fee of $222 includes heating costs.
Residents can use several recreation facilities in this building and its sister tower, including a gym, indoor pool, cyber café, theatre and party room with a patio. A car wash bay, guest suites and visitor parking, as well as 24-hour concierge are also on site.
"It's got all the things you would expect in a new building," Mr. Khera says.
The unit does not come with parking, but there is a supermarket, shops and fitness studio nearby, as well as an increasing number of restaurants and bars and cafés serving the growing community. "It's a very cool, hip and urban environment," he says.
153 Christie St., Toronto
Asking price: $619,000
Selling price: $558,000
Taxes: $3,300 (2008)
Lot size: 24 by 130 feet
Days on the market: 31
Co-op agent: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
Agent Anil Khera was asked to find a west-end home with lots of space for a client couple looking for a comfortable place to raise children and create artwork, while being able to rent out a portion of the house to generate income.
This 11-year-old, custom-built house was the best candidate of about two dozen prospects, most especially because of its central location north of Christie Pits Park.
"It's very close to Bloor Street, the subway and grocery stores," says Mr. Khera. "It's on a busy street, but because it's a relatively modern home and all the materials that were used were highly soundproof, they really don't get a lot of traffic noise."
What impressed the buyers even more was the size of the four-bedroom, back-split residence and its heated 400-square-foot garage, complete with a mezzanine.
"[The buyers] can convert that garage into studio space for one of them," says Mr. Khera. "And the house was large enough that they ... took two of the bedrooms and converted it into a studio space for the other one."
The buyers will install a kitchen on the lower level, so that floor can be used as a self-contained unit with a recreation room, family room and bedroom, which all have over seven-foot ceilings.
"It doesn't feel like a basement because it's quite high, very modern and fairly bright," adds Mr. Khera.
The main floor above houses a kitchen with a rear walkout, and a combined living and dining room with a marble fireplace and stone floors with ceramic accents, as well as a skylight, stained-glass window and custom blackout shutters.
There are four-piece bathrooms on the main and lower levels, plus a pair of two-piece bathrooms, which the buyers will combine into a large bathroom/laundry room on the upper floor, Mr. Khera explains.
Tall fencing surrounds the perennial gardens and cedar decking in the backyard. "They used every square inch of the property line," says Mr. Khera.
313 Richmond St. E., No. 1062, Toronto
Asking price: $268,000
Selling price: $270,000
Previous selling price: $235,000 (2006)
Taxes: $1,763 (2009)
Days on the market: 10
Co-op agent: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
Agent Anil Khera had the challenge of finding a one-bedroom plus den suite for renters wanting to live close to their workplace downtown, yet still have outdoor space.
This 10th-floor unit presented the best combination of both qualities, starting with its location within a decade-old condominium at Richmond and Sherbourne streets.
It is close to the Eaton Centre, St. Lawrence Market and Distillery District, plus transit and Moss Park, which is where the buyers often walk their dog. "It was very important to them to have good access to the downtown core," Mr. Khera says.
For more privacy outdoors, the unit has a west-facing terrace of more than 100 square feet.
"This has an amazing terrace," the agent says. "Some units have no balcony at all, some units have a smaller balcony ... and there are only a handful of units that have a balcony terrace like this one has."
Glass balcony doors to the principal room and large windows throughout also bring the outdoors inside. "It is a very bright and airy unit," Mr. Khera says.
"It is also across from an older six-storey building that will never be replaced, so they will always have the terrific view of the downtown skyline."
The buyers replaced the carpeting with laminate floors; the kitchen already displayed hard surfaces, such as ceramic floors and granite-topped counters and breakfast bar.
Laundry machines and a four-piece bathroom with a whirlpool tub round out the space.
Utilities are included in the monthly fee of $272, "which is very reasonable," Mr. Khera says. Residents are also free to use the two-level gym, indoor basketball court and sauna, as well as a rooftop terrace, and games and party rooms.
"The building is extremely well maintained and clean," Mr. Khera adds. "I've shown a number of units in that building and everyone has always been impressed."
82 AVONHURST RD., Toronto
ASKING PRICE: $539,000
SELLING PRICE: $566,000
PREVIOUS SELLING PRICE: $5,600 (1943)
TAXES: $3,666 ( (2008)
LOT SIZE: 50 by 120 feet
DAYS ON THE MARKET: seven
CO-OP AGENT: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
Anil Khera's clients were initially outbid on this brick bungalow by someone offering a few thousand dollars more.
But once it was discovered that Mr. Khera's clients wanted to raise children in the 1930s residence - which had been owned by the same family for 66 years - their offer came out on top.
"[The sellers] couldn't stand the thought of it being torn down," says Mr. Khera, who has seen many bungalows demolished or topped with a second floor. "They said, ‘We want another family to live there.' "
The three-bedroom house is very kid-friendly, starting with its location on a short, tree-lined street close to schools and recreation facilities, as well as Bloor Street shops and subway.
"The whole area is so nice," Mr. Khera says. "It's surrounded by busy streets ... but that little pocket is very quiet."
The property is a secluded space with perennial gardens, a fenced backyard and a private drive to the detached garage. "It has a nice wide 50-foot lot," Mr. Khera adds.
The house needs some updates, though the windows were replaced and the original garage was converted into a family room with panelled walls and a walkout.
The fireside living room and adjacent dining room features hardwood floors beneath broadloom carpeting, like most rooms except the kitchen.
A full bathroom rounds out this level, while a toilet and shower are in the partly finished basement, which has a recreation room with nearly seven-foot ceilings.
"They could easily put in another bedroom and den ... without any issues," Mr. Khera says.
45 DELAYNE DR., Aurora, Ont.
ASKING PRICE: $448,000
SELLING PRICE: $427,500
PREVIOUS SELLING PRICE: $345,000 (2003)
TAXES: $4,083 (2008)
LOT SIZE: 43 by 134 feet
DAYS ON THE MARKET: 79
CO-OP AGENT: Anil Khera, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
To accommodate a family with members from three different generations, this updated two-storey house in Aurora, Ont., offered much more space than the bungalow they owned in Scarborough, says their agent Anil Khera.
"They had some friends that had moved up to Aurora, so they had been up to visit a few times," says Mr. Khera. "[They] really liked what they saw in terms of the amount of space in the house you got and the amount of land you got."
This over 20-year-old residence also offered a practical layout where children could sleep undisturbed upstairs while parents relax or entertain on the main floor, Mr. Khera explains.
Plus, there is a lower level in-law suite with two bedrooms, a full bathroom, kitchen, fireside living room and a family room with a walkout. "They wanted the mother-in-law to have her own unit within the house," says Mr. Khera.
Most of those rooms are carpeted, along with three second floor bedrooms. Hardwood floors cover the main floor living and dining area and the family room, which contains a second wood burning fireplace.
The eat-in kitchen has a walkout to the deck and fenced south-facing backyard. "There was a good amount of space for gardening and for their children to play in," says Mr. Khera.
A powder room and laundry room completes this level.
Two bathrooms are upstairs, including one in a master bedroom with a walk-in closet.
There is parking on the driveway or in the double garage, though the quiet, tree-lined street is steps from a trail system and park, plus schools, shops and recreation facilities.
"They didn't want something completely suburban or rural, so this gave them the best of both worlds," adds Mr. Khera.
