Bidding war for an Etobicoke bungalow

73 TWELFTH ST., ETOBICOKE, TORONTO

ASKING PRICE $469,900

SELLING PRICE $521,000

PREVIOUS SELLING PRICES $363,000 (2010); $320,000 (2007)

TAXES $2,600 (2012)

DAYS ON THE MARKET Seven

LISTING AGENT Chris Taylor, Sutton Group Old Mill Realty Inc.

The Action: Just a block east of Colonel Samuel Smith Park and Humber College campus by the Etobicoke waterfront, this brick and stone bungalow was viewed by about 40 buyers with private showings and nearly 100 more during two weekend open houses. Offers were held off for one week, which was enough time to generate a bidding war.

What They Got: This nearly 70-year-old residence underwent a modern makeover with some new windows and heating and cooling systems installed five years ago and the hardwood floors refinished and two bathrooms and galley kitchen remodelled within the last two years. Perennial gardens, a wood deck, patio and Cape Cod shed are also recent additions to the 33- by 125-foot grounds, along with an eco-friendly pebble driveway.

To accommodate formal and casual gatherings, there is a fireside living room and an adjacent dining space with original arched entryways, as well as a lower level recreation room refinished with an electric fireplace and access to an office and guest bedroom.

The Agent's Take: "It is a detached house on a big lot with a really nice garden and a private driveway, which is very hard to get for under $500,000," says agent Chris Taylor. "Most of the houses in that pocket are on a 25-foot lot, so they have a shared driveway with a neighbouring property."

The interior also offers more features than expected from an older home. "It had been extensively updated," says Mr. Taylor, though its vintage charm was preserved. "[The sellers] kept a couple of the old wooden windows."