This $670K Toronto house feels like a step back into the 1800s
Toronto's real estate market isn't exactly overflowing with historic detached houses for under $700,000.
But 71 King St. in Weston is a circa-1860 home currently listed for just $669,000.
The home is located on King St. in Weston, one of Toronto's oldest neighbourhoods.
The original staircase.
European settlement in the area dates back to the late 18th century, with a sawmill established along the Humber River around 1800 and a grist mill following in 1815. The community that developed around the mills eventually became Weston.
The front entrance.
And 71 King St. certainly reflects its neighbourhood's history.
A weaver's wheel.
In fact, if it weren't for the modern-day fridge, you might genuinely think this house was still stuck in the 1800s.
The foyer.
The wonderfully preserved time capsule is packed with character. And when we say character, we mean a lot of character.
The main floor.
From the groovy wallpaper and antique furniture to an old-timey baby pram and spinning wheel, parts of the house look more like something you'd stumble across at Black Creek Pioneer Village than on a Toronto real estate listing.
A bedroom with antique furniture.
But look past all the historic decor, and there's actually a lot of potential here.
The living room.
The four-bedroom home offers more than 1,800 square feet of space, with soaring 10-foot-three-inch ceilings on the main floor that make the already grand old house feel even more impressive.
Two pianos that come with the sale of the house.
Wood floors, vintage light fixtures, ornate trim and old-fashioned floor grates all contribute to the home's decidedly historic feel.
The basement.
Of course, with a house that's roughly 166 years old, a buyer will probably want to find out exactly how much of what's behind the walls is as historic as the decor.
The bathroom.
The house also has just one bathroom, which might have worked perfectly well in 1860 but is a tougher sell for most modern families.
The kitchen.
The kitchen has at least graduated from an icebox to an electric fridge, and the stove looks more 1970s than 1870s, but otherwise the room could definitely use some modernizing.
The kitchen walks out to the backyard.
A dishwasher might be a good place to start.
A bedroom.
Upstairs, the bedrooms continue the home's maximalist aesthetic, with more patterned wallpaper, antique furniture and plenty of reminders that this isn't your typical grey-and-white Toronto flip.
The back deck.
The house is clearly looking for its next custodian rather than someone searching for something completely turnkey.
A bedroom with missing floors.
The listing describes it as being ready for a "royal touch," and several of the home's inclusions — including the fridge, stove, washer, dryer, furnace, air conditioning and hot water tank — are being sold in "as is" condition.
Vintage wallpaper covers the bedroom walls.
Interestingly, the sale also includes bookshelves, furniture and contents, meaning the new owner could potentially inherit some of the home's eccentric decor. Yes, possibly even that slightly creepy stroller.
The upstairs landing.
The $669,000 asking price is arguably as much of a throwback as the house itself.
The living room.
Detached homes in Weston can sell well above this price point, so for someone willing to take on a serious restoration project, there could be an opportunity to add substantial value to the property.
A bedroom turned into a library.
The neighbourhood itself has also managed to retain something of a small-town feel despite being firmly within Toronto. 
The front balcony.
The Humber River and its trails are nearby, as is the Weston Farmers' Market, while Weston GO station provides access to both GO Transit and the UP Express.
The kitchen.
So, while 71 King St. may need a fair amount of work to bring it into the 21st century, its combination of size, history and a sub-$700,000 asking price is pretty unusual for Toronto.
The back of the house.
For the right buyer, it could be a chance to restore a genuinely unique piece of the city's history — hopefully without getting rid of all the wallpaper.
