17 BRALORNE CRES., TORONTO
ASKING PRICE $599,000
SELLING PRICE $790,000
PREVIOUS SELLING PRICES $290,000 (2002); $150,000 (1997)
TAXES $3,610 (2013)
DAYS ON THE MARKET Seven
LISTING AGENT Jeanette Grant, Keller Williams Neighbourhood Realty
The Action: In the past decade, only 17 semi-detached residences backing onto the Humber River in the Lambton Baby Point community have appeared on the market. This larger two-storey version with a gate to Etienne Brulé Park was posted in February for less than $600,000, which was a standard price for similar three-bedroom and two-bathroom semis nearby. The sellers waved off a bully offer on Day 1 and welcomed over 150 visitors, including 100 open house attendants in the following days. Sixteen bids were logged and the one accepted was nearly a third more than the list price.
What They Got: This 56-year-old house has a classic layout and modern appointments, such as marble and ceramic finishes in the kitchen, hardwood floors in an open living room and dining area with a walkout to a deck, and broadloom carpeting in the lower-level recreation room.
The last two owners replaced the roof, windows, front and side doors, installed a new furnace and repaved the driveway on the 22-by-121-foot lot, which also has a shed and south-facing backyard.
The Agent's Take: "It was a very special property with a beautiful covered deck overlooking the landscaped, architecturally interesting, private backyard and a gate with direct access to Etienne Brulé Park and the Humber River," agent Jeanette Grant said.
"Young families are really seeing the value of being there – so close to nature, where the kids can play safely right outside the backyard and even toboggan in the winter – and yet only be a couple of minutes' drive to Bloor West, the Junction, Kingsway.And TTC is readily accessible a few steps from the front door."
This house's condition was also its calling card. "Loads of nice and functional updates had been taken care of and everything had been looked after with pride," says Mr. Grant, who fluffed the home for extra measure.
"We worked hard to prepare, stage and present the home and garden in their best light."
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.