The 92-year-old house has been overhauled with an updated exterior and operating systems.
280 South Kingsway, Toronto
Asking price: $1,499,000
Selling price: $1,850,000
Taxes: $6,123 (2017)
Days on the market: Eight
Listing agents: Irene Kaushansky, Keller Williams Neighbourhood Realty, and Philip Brown, Keller Williams Portfolio Realty
THE ACTION
There were few Swansea homes available for sale early this May, much less ones as uniquely situated as this three-bedroom house on a 30-by-207-foot lot just 450 metres from Jane subway station. Thus, of the almost 100 visitors, including open house guests, 11 made formal offers. One topped all others, adding $351,000 to the list price.
“The street is quite busy, so there are people who would have stayed away … but the backyard and pool were a really big draw,” agent Irene Kaushansky said.
“We thought it was a fair price for where it is, so we were certainly hoping to get a little more, but we had not expected 11 offers. That was a pleasant surprise.”
The living area off the kitchen leads to the backyard, which features a salt-water pool and cabana.
WHAT THEY GOT
Over time, this 92-year-old house has been overhauled with an updated exterior and operating systems, as well as small luxuries inside, such as a bathroom with an oversized shower and heated floors.
There are formal living and dining areas, as well as casual entertaining spaces on the main and lower levels, including one off the eat-in kitchen with double doors to the salt water pool and cabana.
THE AGENT’S TAKE
“It’s not a neighbourhood that has a lot of swimming pools, and the other unique part was the size of the lot at 200-feet deep. It’s private and very treed, it was like Muskoka, but you could walk to the subway,” Ms. Kaushansky said.
“Before, everyone was going to cottages, but between the price of a cottage, traffic, gas and time to get there, the desire for a pool has increased because people can have a resort in their backyard.”
The home design also provides extra room to play indoors. “Having the main floor family room was a huge selling factor because that’s even more rare in that neighbourhood,” Ms. Kaushansky said.