23 Brant St., No. 1007, Toronto
Asking price: $449,000
Selling price: $510,990
Previous selling price: $321,071 (2006)
Taxes: $2,380 (2009)
Days on the market: seven
Listing agent: Julie Kinnear, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
Shortly after the final touches were added to this one-bedroom-plus-den sub-penthouse suite, the original owner - and seller - decided to replace many of the builder's finishes with more high-end, custom upgrades to complement its industrial look, agent Julie Kinnear says.
"It was very sexy and hip," she says of the three-year-old unit. "It's like you were buying a cool lifestyle."
Situated in the second and newest tower within a four-building development called Quad Lofts, this 878-square-foot space was built with 10½-foot ceilings, exposed concrete ceilings and full-height windows that look out over a courtyard and historic buildings to the west.
The seller left those elements intact, but refinished the polished concrete floors, remodelled the semi-ensuite bathroom with new shelving, custom-glass shower door and flooring, and renovated the kitchen with glass mosaic tile backsplashes and more sleek cabinetry.
Stainless-steel organizers were added in the walk-in closet off the bedroom, which has sliding doors to the hall and a principal room with a walkout to a 170-square-foot balcony newly outfitted with a gas line. "It's an amazing terrace," Ms. Kinnear says. "A lot [of units]don't have terraces."
Other practical features include a spacious front den, stacked laundry machines and stainless-steel kitchen appliances, including a gas cooktop.
A designated parking spot is free of charge until the sister building it is located beneath is completed. "It's an unusual situation," the agent says. "Parking is a rarity."
The monthly fee is $492, plus hydro.
Residents are an elevator ride away from a gym, lounge and party room, plus concierge serving the entire complex.
Buyers also appreciated that the building is set back from the street, yet steps from boutiques, upscale restaurants and night clubs, as well as public transit, highways and airport. "You're downtown, but it feels like you're in a quiet spot," Ms. Kinnear says.