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55 BERKSHIRE AVE., TORONTO

ASKING PRICE: $499,000

SELLING PRICE: $604,000

PREVIOUS SELLING PRICE: $165,000 (1988)

TAXES: $2,688 (2013)

DAYS ON MARKET: Seven

LISTING AGENTS: Cameron Weir and Scott Hanton, Keller Williams Advantage Realty

The Action: More than 100 couples booked visits to this two-bedroom bungalow near Jones and Eastern avenues and another 275 came through on a weekend open house. The location in trendy Leslieville, the back-lane parking, Bruce Public School across the street and the finished basement with rental potential added up to a powerful draw. Six offers were registered and the winner bid $105,000 over asking.

What They Got: The squat building opens out to a surprisingly large living space, says agent Cameron Weir. The owners had made numerous upgrades to the home, including digging out portions of the basement to increase ceiling height and adding skylights to bring in more natural light. "The home actually had quite a few unique features," Mr. Weir said, pointing in particular to the front mud room and loft spaces off the master bedroom that could serve as play areas for children or a home office.

The Agent's Take: Having transportation and Queen Street's shops and restaurants within easy walking distance were major factors in the sale, said Mr. Weir. But it was also clear that many house hunters were eager to buy – and knew what they wanted. "I find people looking in Leslieville know exactly what they're looking for, and this location met most of their criteria." It helped that the house was staged for best effect. "The owners had lived here for more than 25 years and they had designed it to their own tastes. We came in and created a more open atmosphere."

Editor's Note: Done Deals contain information gathered from real estate agents, home buyers, home sellers and sale prices that are publicly available from government sources. While we try to publish Done Deals as soon as possible after the transaction has occurred, long closings can cause delays.

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