141 Garden Ave.
141 Garden Ave., Toronto
Asking price: $449,900
Selling price: $556,500
Taxes: $3,175 (2009)
Lot size: 20 by 126 feet
Days on the market: nine
Co-op agent: Nutan Brown, Royal LePage West Realty Group Ltd.
Agent Nutan Brown and her clients were looking for a home renovation project in Roncesvalles Village, where bidding wars were common with so few properties on the market late last year.
After touring nearly a dozen candidates, this semi-detached, two-storey proved worthy enough for the buyers to offer $106,600 more than the asking price.
"Garden is a lovely Roncesvalles street," says Ms. Brown, who points out that many locals are long-time homeowners who frequent the parks, shops, cafés and a cinema nearby.
So it was no surprise that only one family had occupied this century-old home, which was outfitted with a new wiring system, heating and cooling equipment and laundry machines. The roof and front porch were also repaired about three years ago.
"The house had good bones, but it just needed a lot of cosmetic updates," Ms. Brown says.
Nine-foot ceilings are featured on the main floor, where there is a combined living and dining area, an eat-in kitchen and a sunroom with a walkout to a deck and fenced south-facing backyard.
"It has a lovely yard and a garage," the agent says. "To find street parking is not always easy or desirable at the end of the day."
A powder room serves the main level, while a four-piece bathroom is on the floor above, along with three bedrooms, including one with access to a rear sunroom.
For additional living space, the basement could be finished.