This Toronto house sold for above asking price in just 10 hours
Toronto's real estate market hasn't exactly been having the best year.
Homes have been sitting on the market for weeks, sometimes months, and sellers are being forced to slash their asking prices or sell for less than they paid when they purchased them.
Recent reports also show that home prices could dip even further before the end of the year, as economic uncertainty keeps many buyers on the sidelines.
The family room.
In short, it's not exactly the ideal time to be selling a house. But apparently, nobody told the owners of 263 Glenholme Ave.
The five-bedroom home near St. Clair West managed to sell above asking in less than 24 hours, proving that even in a sluggish market, some properties can still attract buyers in a hurry.
The open-concept kitchen and dining area.
According to homeowner and real estate agent Troy Lamsee, the house was listed for $1,879,555 at 11 a.m. on a Thursday and had a firm sale by 9 p.m. that same evening.
That's just 10 hours on the market. And the final sale price? $1,880,055.
One of five above-ground bedrooms.
Sure, that's only $500 over asking, but in a market where sellers are often lucky just to get an offer, it's still pretty impressive.
One of five bathrooms.
"We were absolutely shocked that it sold that quickly in this tough market," Lamsee told blogTO.
So, what made this particular Toronto home so irresistible? Well, for starters, it's not your average five-bedroom house.
The breakfast nook.
Lamsee and his wife, partners in the interior design firm Ace of Space Interiors and champions of HGTV's hit series Renovation Resort Showdown Season 1, bought the property in 2014 and undertook an extensive renovation, essentially rebuilding the interiors from the brick.
The primary ensuite bathroom.
And more than a decade later, the design has apparently aged pretty well.
"I guess the renovation style held up," Lamsee joked.
The kitchen.
The house offers almost 3,000 sq. ft. of living space spread across three storeys, plus a fully finished basement.
On the main floor, there's a custom kitchen with a 36-inch Smeg gas range, an oversized island and a sunny breakfast nook.
The family room and front entrance.
The kitchen opens into a spacious family room with a built-in fireplace, integrated speakers and custom shelving.
The kitchen with plenty of storage.
There's also a large dining room and a dedicated home office, which is always a nice bonus for anyone who's tired of working from their kitchen table.
The primary bedroom.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom feels more like a private retreat than just somewhere to sleep.
The sunroom.
Along with two closets and a spa-inspired ensuite, it has an adjoining sunroom complete with its own fireplace and built-in shelving.
A bedroom.
Two additional bedrooms, a full bathroom and laundry facilities round out the second floor.
The second office.
The third floor has two more bedrooms, a bathroom, and a second office, making the house particularly appealing for larger families or anyone who needs a little extra space.
A bathroom with laundry facilities.
But the real selling point might actually be everything that comes with the house beyond the main living areas.
The basement apartment.
For starters, the basement contains a self-contained two-bedroom apartment with its own kitchen, bathroom, laundry and separate entrance.
The basement apartment kitchen.
That could be a pretty useful mortgage helper, especially when you're spending nearly $1.9 million on a house.
The backyard.
Then there's the backyard. Along with a massive entertaining deck and a double-blooming magnolia tree, the property features a four-season garden studio.
Inside the backyard shed.
Unlike your average backyard shed, this space can be used year-round as a home office, art studio, gym or just somewhere to escape the rest of the household.
Plenty of patio space in the backyard.
And as if that weren't enough, the sale also included an additional side lot at 185 Earlsdale Ave.
Another bathroom with laundry.
The separately identified parcel provides parking for two additional vehicles, a large storage shed and potential future possibilities, subject to zoning and municipal approvals.
In a city where even finding a decent parking spot can feel like winning the lottery, having an entire extra parcel of land is a pretty substantial perk.
The large kitchen island.
Add in the home's proximity to the restaurants, shops and cafés along St. Clair West, and it's not hard to see why buyers might have been interested.
Of course, one quick sale doesn't mean Toronto's real estate market is suddenly bouncing back.
The back deck and back of the house.
But 263 Glenholme Ave. is a reminder that even when the broader market is struggling, a thoughtfully renovated home with a few unusual extras can still make buyers move fast.
Really, really fast.
