Sale of the Week: The $900,000 home that shows the possible fate of low-rise rental housing

Sale of the Week: The $900,000 home that shows the possible fate of low-rise rental housing

Listed At
$898,000
Sold For
$900,000

Address: 474 Brock Avenue

Neighbourhood: Dufferin Grove

Agent: David Bailey and Tracey Logan, Re/Max West Realty Inc., Brokerage


The property: A recently converted Victorian duplex.


The history: The house was built in 1875 and divided into two separate units after the seller bought it in 2011. She has been living in the main floor and basement unit while renting out the upstairs. Now, she’s looking to leave the city for a bungalow with some acreage.


The fate: The buyer intends to convert the duplex back into a three-bedroom, single-family house. The tenant upstairs will be looking for a new rental.


The sale: The house was on the market for just over a week. There were about 30 showings and more than 40 groups at an open house. Because the property is a duplex, it didn’t appeal to everyone. There was just one offer, $2,000 over asking. The seller accepted.


By the numbers:

  • $900,000
  • $3,536.18 in taxes (2016)
  • 9 days on the market
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 bathrooms
  • 1 parking space

The house is split into two units. The lower unit’s living areas are on the main floor, and its bedroom is in the basement. Here’s the living room, at the front of the house:

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The lower unit’s dining room:

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In a house this narrow, you take your seating areas wherever you find them:

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The kitchen:

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And there’s a little office in the back, with a door to the backyard:

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As the house is currently set up, the lower unit has exclusive access to this lush backyard:

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The upper unit is another one-bedroom apartment. Here’s the living room:

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And the kitchen:

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And the bedroom:

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Although the upper unit doesn’t have backyard access, it does have this rooftop deck:

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