150 MOUNTJOY AVE., TORONTO
ASKING PRICE $439,900
SELLING PRICE $440,000
PREVIOUS SELLING PRICE $178,900 (1997)
TAXES $2,870 (2011)
DAYS ON THE MARKET Nine
LISTING AGENT Julie Kinnear, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
The Action: On a quiet street in a family-friendly neighbourhood, this semi-detached house presented an ideal setting and space for young families working with a budget under half a million. Yet only two buyers made an offer as others likely wanted to steer clear of a bidding war.
What They Got: Over the past decade, this 80-year-old brick structure was given some new components, from stylish tile flooring in the kitchen and two full bathrooms to updated roofing, windows, shed and fencing around the 17-by-80-foot lot.
There is 1,220 square feet of living space divided with three bedrooms upstairs, including one with a wood burning fireplace, a fireside living room and an adjacent dining area with hardwood floors, plus a carpeted recreation room in the 600-square-foot basement.
The Agent's Take: "It was a very cute, little starter home," says agent Julie Kinnear. "It wasn't fancy or newly renovated, but it had good size bedrooms and it was quite a wide house, so it had a good size living room, dining room and kitchen."
This property – like many others on the street – lacked parking, but it was not an issue for most buyers. "It had a really nice bonus of being within walking distance to the subway and Monarch Park," adds Ms. Kinnear. "That east-end pocket is still affordable and it's really pretty."