Sale of the Week: the $1.7 million Don Mills home that proves downsizers love bungalows

Sale of the Week: the $1.7 million Don Mills home that proves downsizers love bungalows

Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive
Click to view gallery

Address: 39 Chatfield Drive
Neighbourhood: Don Mills
Agent: Ecko Jay, Ecko Jay Realty Ltd., Brokerage

The Property: This five-year-old raised bungalow attempts to “bring the outside in” using numerous windows, a wraparound deck, a landscaped backyard (with firepit) and walkouts on each level. Both the main floor and the finished basement have 10-foot ceilings. The master bedroom sets itself apart with a spa-like six-piece en suite washroom and walk-in closet. Adding to its curb appeal, the property is situated on a private cul-de-sac.

The History: The original owners completed this house in 2009 after demolishing the lot’s previous occupant, a home they’d lived in since the 1990s. As such, they only added a few finishing touches in the years leading up to the sale, including wood floors in the master en suite, new kitchen cabinets and mahogany framing for the gas fireplace in the family room. They decided to sell because they wanted a smaller place to spend their old age.

The Fate: A pair of downsizers themselves, the buyers are a couple in their 70s who wanted to avoid retiring to a glass box in the sky—and they’re not the only ones. Demand for new-build bungalows in the quiet Don Mills area is at an all-time high, even as more small homes are torn down to make way for larger mansions. 39 Chatfield affords its new owners that new-home smell in a great neighbourhood, without the unmanageable size favoured by younger generations. Adding to the appeal are the parks, tennis courts, shops and hospital nearby.

The Sale: Tapping the selling agent’s 28 years of experience in the Don Mills area, the sellers intentionally set the price at an eye-catching $1,388,800 million, though they were hoping to sell between $1.65 and $1.8 million. They were prepared to either keep the property or rent it out if offers didn’t make the cut, but the strategy worked like a charm, according to the agent. On top of several bully offers, the bungalow received four serious bids (most of them from downsizers) and closed at $321,200 over asking.

By the Numbers:

• $1,710,000
• 3,700 square feet, approximately
• 10-foot ceilings
• 9 days on the market
• 5 years old
• 4 parking spaces
• 2 storeys
• 1 cul-de-sac
• 1 bidet