Totally unliveable Toronto house is somehow still selling for $800,000
The Toronto real estate market is, by all metrics, kinda terrible right now. And yet, it somehow still has the audacity to ask almost $800,000 for an unliveable house.
120 Castlefield Ave. is literally falling apart — but because it's in Toronto’s coveted Allenby neighbourhood, it's still considered valuable.
At one point, this house was probably fine. It's a classic three-bedroom, one-bathroom semi-detached with original hardwood floors, tall ceilings, and a fireplace. But those days are long gone.
A bedroom.
After what looks like years (decades?) of neglect, the inside of the home resembles a horror movie set more than a real estate listing.
The kitchen.
The walls are crumbling, the paint is peeling, the ceiling is literally falling in, and the kitchen looks ... terrifying.
A bedroom.
Despite this, the house is listed at $799,900 — a relative "bargain" in a neighbourhood where semi-detached homes usually sell for $1.1 to $1.75 million.
A bedroom.
So at first glance, you might think: "What a great deal!"
The living room.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
The bathroom.
As the listing makes abundantly clear, this is a sale for "land value only." The house is "not livable," and calling it a fixer-upper would be extremely generous.
The kitchen and entrance to the basement.
This is more of a burn it to the ground and start over type of job.
The dining room.
So why bother? Well, the answer — as always — is location.
The basement.
This crumbling relic sits on a corner lot in one of the city's most sought-after school districts, with parks, shops, and the TTC just steps away.
The front hall.
If you're a builder, investor, or someone with deep pockets and even deeper patience, this is your chance to get a foothold in Allenby for a fraction of the cost.
The yard.
But a word of caution: renovating or tearing down a semi-detached home in Toronto isn't exactly a breeze.
The front entrance.
Since you're sharing a wall with your neighbour, any major construction will require careful coordination — and definitely their blessing.
A bedroom.
Full knockdowns are allowed, but you'll have to rebuild another semi, not a detached or multi-unit.And don't expect a smooth ride through the permit office; the city will want detailed plans, engineering reports, and probably a blood sample.
The yard.
Even if you're just gutting the place, you’ll likely run into some hidden costs that can turn an "affordable" reno into a financial sinkhole.
A storage room in the basement.
Just remember, renovation costs are anywhere between $100 to $400 per square foot.
The side of the house.
Still, for the right buyer, this place is a blank slate — one that happens to come with a premium postal code and a lot of potential. Just don't expect to move in anytime soon.
