26 FRIZZELL AVE., TORONTO
ASKING PRICE $559,000
SELLING PRICE $610,400
TAXES $3,951 (2011)
DAYS ON THE MARKET eight
LISTING AGENT Christopher Kowal, Royal LePage Urban Realty
THE ACTION: A quiet street near Withrow Park was heavily trafficked by over 50 shoppers visiting this two-storey, semi-detached house throughout the work week, plus another 40 groups during a weekend open house.
A week later when bids could be registered, seven buyers pitched clean proposals with no conditions. A realtor making a personal purchase ultimately assembled the best deal.
WHAT THEY GOT: For six decades, the same owners occupied this roughly 80-year-old house, which is composed of three bedrooms, one bathroom, a combined living and dining room and an eat-in kitchen with a pantry and sliding doors to a deck.
Notable highlights include hardwood floors hidden beneath the carpeting in several rooms, storage space in an unfinished basement and newer shingles and hot water tank, as well as a detached garage off a laneway.
THE AGENT'S TAKE: "It's in prime Riverdale, just half a block from Withrow Park," says agent Christopher Kowal, who explains that the average semi there sells in the mid $500,000s, but renovated comparable can top out over $1-million. "This just needed some work, but if you put $150,000 into it, you'd still be ahead of the game."
Buyers also liked what they saw beyond the house - literally - at the back of the 17 by 105 foot lot. "It actually has parking, which is somewhat unusual in Riverdale," Mr. Kowal adds.