House of the Week: $1.4 million for an Airbnb-ready home in Kensington Market

House of the Week: $1.4 million for an Airbnb-ready home in Kensington Market

Address: 44 Nassau Street
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
Agent: Patricia Katz, Sutton Group Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage
Price: $1,399,000

The place: A three-bedroom income property in one of the more quiet parts of Kensington.

The history: The house, like most of the others on Nassau, was built in the 1870s. It still has many of its original architectural details: oak floors, transom windows, and a solid-wood staircase and bannister. The owners did plenty of sprucing, though: the wiring and plumbing are all new, and so is the soundproofing between the basement and main house.

Big selling point: The basement unit, with its three bedrooms and two separate entrances, means this house could handle a tenant. There are sure to be plenty of students looking to snag a room in the middle of one of the city’s most exciting neighbourhoods, a short walk from the U of T campus. Or, the buyer could do what the current owners are doing and list the place on Airbnb for $150 a night.

Possible deal breaker: Sure, the house has tons of great original details. But, unless the Barbie Mansion aesthetic appeals, it’ll take a new coat of paint and a little elbow grease to really bring them out.

By the numbers:

• $1,399,000
• $4,568.00 in taxes (2015)
• 1581 square feet
• 904-square-foot finished basement
• 6 bedrooms (three in the basement apartment)
• 4 bathrooms
• 2 parking spaces
• 1 rooftop deck

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The house still has some original 19th-century details, like oak flooring.

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The staircase is also original.

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The living room has a large bay window. The seller’s colour choices are bold, but easily changed.

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There’s an office on the main floor that could probably also be used as a bedroom.

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Here’s one area where the house breaks with Victorian tradition: the kitchen and dining room are combined.

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The dining area has a view of the backyard.

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There are three bedrooms on the second floor of the house. Here’s one of them.

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Another bedroom.

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The rooftop deck looks north.

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All three bedrooms share this updated bathroom.

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And here’s the master bedroom.

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The basement is a self-contained apartment. Those fresh towels are probably for the Airbnb guests.

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The basement kitchen and living area.

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There are three bedrooms in the basement. Here’s one.

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Another basement bedroom.

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And the last basement bedroom.

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The basement bathroom.

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The agent says this backyard is filled with fruit-bearing shrubs in summer.