What $ 500,000 will get you in cities across the country
A condo in Vancouver, a lake in Edmonton, a 13- room house in Regina, a loft townhouse in Toronto and a pool in Montreal
In late December 2013, the Canadian Real Estate Association predicted that the national average price for a home will be $ 391,000 this year.
But it’s hard to compare how far your buck will go in Canadian cities using that figure, since the average prices at year’s end are so very different: $ 785,574 in Vancouver and $ 320,693 in Montreal, for instance. So we’ve found a round figure in the middle and asked, what could approximately $ 500,000 have bought homebuyers in various markets across the country in January?
VANCOUVER
The place: 1- bedroom, 1- bathroom condo in The Grafton List price: $ 483,000 Square footage: 850 Where: Situated in a prime Yaletown neighbourhood in the heart of downtown, with trendy eateries, entertainment, sports venues and shopping on the doorstep, as well as the seawall and transportation options. Top features: A New York- style home that merges original heritage features — exposed brickwork and wood beams — with a modern open- concept interior. Features include hardwood floors, expansive windows and a functional floor plan, a gas fireplace, custom kitchen, master bedroom with walk- in closet, five- piece ensuite, storage locker and parking stall. Taxes: $ 2,000 Monthly fees: $ 431 per month Contact: Faith Wilson at Faith Wilson Group; 604- 224- 5277; toll- free: 1- 855- 760- 6886
EDMONTON
The place: Two- and- a- half storey, three- bedroom show home, with double detached garage and 2.5 baths List price: $ 499,900 Square footage: 1,901 Taxes: $ 3,400 Monthly fees: HOA $ 300/ month Where: Late stage of an established development in city’s southeast, south of the ring road. Forty minutes to downtown, 10 minutes to the airport, and five minutes to a residentsonly recreational lake. Top features: Loft- den, bonus room with Juliet balcony, hardwood, gas fireplace, all appliances, deck and landscaping included. As a bonus, all the furnishings are included. HOA fee includes access to a 32- acre freshwater lake with sandy beach, dock, tennis courts and all- season clubhouse. Contact: Madeline Sarafinchin, Jayman Realty ( Edm) Inc.; 780913- 6595
MONTREAL
The place: Four- bedroom bungalow, two baths, built in 1959 List price: $ 492,500 Square footage: 1,442 Where: The Beaurepaire area of Beaconsfield, a western suburb of Montreal. Not far from Lac St. Louis and a commuter train. Top features: Comfortable bright living room with wood fireplace opening to dining area. Fully renovated three years ago, with spacious and modern kitchen with granite counter tops. Unique south- facing den adjacent to master bedroom. Fenced yard with new salt water pool on a lot of 9,122- square feet. Extra- large basement family room with fourth bedroom, laundry room and workshop. Taxes: $ 4,746 Monthly Fees: N/ A Contact: G. Shepherd Abbey, Abbey & Olivier Real Estate Agency; cell: 514- 951- 6008; office: 514- 694- 7866; shep@ abbeyandolivier. ca
OTTAWA
The place: Two- storey singlefamily home with four bedrooms and four bathrooms List price: $ 499,900 Square footage: 3,200 Where: In the east- end suburb of Orleans, separated by a 20- to 25- minute highway drive from downtown Ottawa. This home is a short walk to shopping, cafés, parks, schools and public transit. Top features: Classic crown moulding and gleaming hardwood floors run throughout the main level of this Naismith model by Minto. The kitchen is open to the family room to allow ease of flow when guests visit. An elegant curved hardwood staircase leads to the upper landing. Two spacious ensuite bathrooms and three walk- in closets. The backyard is fully fenced with no rear neighbours. Taxes: $ 4,879 Monthly Fees: N/ A Contact: Jason Pilon, Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, Jason@PilonHamilton.com, PilonHamilton.com; 613- 845- 0271
REGINA
The place: A two- storey split with 13 rooms, including three bedrooms and three bathrooms List price: $ 519,900 Square footage: 2,090 Where: Situated in a well- established, well- treed neighbourhood in southeast Regina, close to schools, parks and shopping. Only a few minutes from downtown. Backing green space. Top features: A spacious family home, built in 1984, featuring updates and upgrades, including a modern, eat- in kitchen with granite countertops, and heated slate flooring through the kitchen, dining area and hallway. A garden door leads to the deck overlooking landscaped yard with patio, pond and flower beds. Over- sized garage is insulated and drywalled. Taxes: $ 3,263 Monthly Fees: N/ A Contact: Leanne Tourney, Re/ Max Joyce Tourney Realty; 306791- 7666
SASKATOON
The place: Two- storey, four bedrooms, four bathrooms List price: $ 504,900 Square footage: 3,975 Where: Premium Stonebridge location in the south end of city. New development full of young families, close to shopping, parks and leisure facilities. Quick access to freeway means downtown only a short drive away. Top features: Former show home with all the bells and whistles: hardwood floors, kitchen island and walk- in pantry, central air, central vac, four bathrooms and a fully finished basement. Open concept. Mainfloor laundry. Taxes: $ 3,975 Monthly Fees: N/ A Contact: Listed by Manning Luo, Re/ Max Saskatoon; 306242- 6000; manning@ saskatoonrealestates.ca
TORONTO
The place: Two- bedroom, twostorey loft townhouse with one bathroom and one parking space List price: $ 489,900 Square footage: 806 Taxes: $ 2,802.21 in 2013 Monthly fee: Maintenance/ HOA of $ 503 per month Where: Excellent downtown-west location in the trendy Niagara neighbourhood, with transit, cafés and restaurants nearby. Walking distance to the 37- acre, uber- popular familyand pet- friendly Trinity Bellwoods Park. Top features: Exposed concrete feature walls, floor- to- ceiling windows, custom kitchen, gas hookup for barbecue on patio. Contact: Brad Lamb, Brad J. Lamb Realty Inc.; 416- 368- 5262; brad@torontocondos.com
WINDSOR
The place: Executive two- storey, four bedrooms, master ensuite bathroom, 2.5- car garage. Located in Lakeshore suburb List price: $ 499,900 Square footage: 3,300 Taxes: $ 5,200 Where: Situated in a two- yearold subdivision, 20 minutes from downtown Windsor. Just minutes away from four golf courses and Lake St. Clair. Top features: A games room and office above garage, hardwood floors throughout, maple staircase and designer granite kitchen, large fenced yard, covered porch and fenced, inground pool. Contact: Larry Pickle, Re/ Max Preferred; 519- 944- 5955