Condomonium: $1.4 million for a Forest Hill condo that thinks it’s a house
ADDRESS: 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D
NEIGHBOURHOOD: Forest Hill South
AGENT: Janice Williams, Bosley Real Estate
PRICE: $1,369,900
THE PLACE: A three-bedroom, two-level condo in a former apartment building in Forest Hill. The structure was built in the 1920s according to a design by W.C. Charters, the architect behind many of the matching low-rise “apartment houses” that share the street.
BRAGGING RIGHTS: The quaint building may seem petite from the outside, but the 2,000-square-foot suite has plenty of space. It’s the largest unit in the building and spreads out over two levels—plus, the lower-level rec room and private garage make it more house-like than most condos we’ve seen.
BIG SELLING POINT: Though the exterior belongs to a time of silent movies and bathtub gin, the interior has been updated for this century. A massive revamp brought in walnut hardwood floors, an open-concept living space and a master bedroom with heated flooring.
POSSIBLE DEAL BREAKER: One of the perks of living in a condo is living up high, so being down near street level may be a sticking point for some.
BY THE NUMBERS:
• $1,369,900
• $9,952.02 in taxes (2011)
• 2,092 square feet of indoor space
• $1192.66 in maintenance fees
• 150 square feet of outdoor space
• 3 bathrooms
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 patios
• 2 separate entrances (front and back)
• 2 sets of stairs
• 2 parking spaces
145227 The semi-private ensuite elevator 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale18.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale18/ jun12hotwlonsdale18 0 0
The semi-private ensuite elevator
145228 The private garage, accessible from the lower level on the unit 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale17/ jun12hotwlonsdale17 0 0
The private garage, accessible from the lower level on the unit
145229 The private terrace at the front of the unit 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale16.jpg 624 492 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale16/ jun12hotwlonsdale16 0 0
The private terrace at the front of the unit
145231 The third bathroom 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale14.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale14/ jun12hotwlonsdale14 0 0
The third bathroom
145232 The second of the home’s three bathrooms 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale13.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale13/ jun12hotwlonsdale13 0 0
The second of the home’s three bathrooms
145235 The third bedroom 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale10/ jun12hotwlonsdale10 0 0
The third bedroom
145236 The second bedroom 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale9/ jun12hotwlonsdale9 0 0
The second bedroom
145230 The shower in the master ensuite has room for two 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale15.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale15/ jun12hotwlonsdale15 0 0
The shower in the master ensuite has room for two
145233 The master ensuite bathroom has a double sink and mosaic tile flooring 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale12.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale12/ jun12hotwlonsdale12 0 0
The master ensuite bathroom has a double sink and mosaic tile flooring
145237 The master bedroom has heated flooring, a walk-in closet, a south-facing window and patio access 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale8/ jun12hotwlonsdale8 0 0
The master bedroom has heated flooring, a walk-in closet, a south-facing window and patio access
145238 The family room 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale7.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale7/ jun12hotwlonsdale7 0 0
The family room
145239 The family room 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale6/ jun12hotwlonsdale6 0 0
The family room
145242 The kitchen 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale4/ jun12hotwlonsdale4 0 0
The kitchen
145243 The kitchen has Carrera marble counters, stainless steel appliances, an oversized breakfast bar and a gas cooktop 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale3/ jun12hotwlonsdale3 0 0
The kitchen has Carrera marble counters, stainless steel appliances, an oversized breakfast bar and a gas cooktop
145244 A west-facing window lets natural light into the living room. The room also boasts a fireplace with built-in cabinetry and a walkout to the front terrace 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale2/ jun12hotwlonsdale2 0 0
A west-facing window lets natural light into the living room. The room also boasts a fireplace with built-in cabinetry and a walkout to the front terrace
145245 The combined living room and dining room has walnut flooring 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale1.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale1/ jun12hotwlonsdale1 0 0
The combined living room and dining room has walnut flooring
145252 The brick exterior of the former apartment house 319 Lonsdale Road, Unit 1D https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12HOTWLonsdale_intro.jpg 656 500 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condomonium-319-lonsdale-road/slide/jun12hotwlonsdale_intro/ jun12hotwlonsdale_intro 0 0
The brick exterior of the former apartment house
Amazing…..RIP OFF!! You are paying almost $700 per sq ft to say you live in forest hill. Where is the doorman,grand lobby and ammenities for a maint fee over $1000 for living DOWN BELOW?! Get real. For people to think i live in a triplex and apartment building without knowing I live in a $1.4mil condo ? Crazy realtors and vendors like these do injustice to the market. Just utter madness!!
PLEASE, get real! Real estate agents just over inflating the price! Surely anyone with sense would not pay this price and how much for the taxes!!How do people afford to live in this city??
I have to agree this is indeed a rip off. Lonsdale has several buildings like this one. An unrenovated (read: it has character) unit on the same street goes for about $350-$400K, this asking price is extreme. And once again, they ripped out all of the architectural details this place probably had. Pass.
what exactly are these maintenance fee’s covering????. nice place. beautiful detailed work and top quality stuff for a house at this price. maybe if the maintence fees were 0 I’d be interested
Seriously, can anyone explain the maintenance fees? that seems insanely high for something that isn’t a high rise.
The critique on the maintenance fees is legit. That’s hiiiiiiiiiiiigh.
The critique on the price is, not to be rude, very uneducated.
Yes, Lonsdale has a number of low-rise apartments but the vast majority are:
1 – rentals (not owned)
2 – 1-2 bedrooms (not 3)
3 – 1, possibly 2 washrooms (not 3)
4 – limited parking, if any
5 – much much smaller than this one (2000 sq ft!)
6 – not offering the features that this one does (patios, separate entrances, finishes)
Look down on the street – a tiny parqueted crapbox with barely any kitchen, no a/c and maaintenance fees of 600$ and hasn’t been renoed since it was built is up for 340$, a bit further on Montclair will set you back 500+ for a two-bed 20-year old mid-sized condo, and down on Heath nicer but still not as large or nice highrise apartments are up for 740$ and 750$.
In the luxury market, $700 per square foot to live in Forest Hill is eiminently reasonable compared to what people are paying for and getting downtown for $700 psf. Bubble or not, for the current luxury market, this is reasonably-priced.
Think of this as a $2 million Forest Hill home that’s discounted because it is a condo. Forest Hill has very few oppotunities for the mid-riche. This is one of the few. There’s a market for this.
Oh Jeff316 you are the crooked messy realtor listing this or just another self serving realtor in Toronto. GTFOH about uneducated. This forum is for open discussion base don what we see and know not based on all these crooked info you dig up as a crooked agent. Did I say crooked enough?! Get da POINT!!! As one person says, you are simply paying that much money to say you live in Forest Hill. Nothing more.
There seems to be so much negativity and attack on this commentary and for what? I agree with Jeff316 as I live in the neighborhood. It is a beautiful heritage conversion building and was done beautifully two years ago. My husband and I planned to buy a suite there when our youngest went to university in 2010 and he passed suddenly. For prime real estate like Forest Hill, it’s a very good deal and very attractive to a down-sizer who wants the finishes and location but not the price of the homes in the neighborhood. Please don’t bash a profession when there are some hard working, honest, ethical people who work long hours to support their families doing it. The market dictates the price, not the agents.
Don’t do it its going to go down in value. The world/demand is grinding to a halt. You have to look at the big picture,jobs go away housing prices go down..always.Have you seen whats going on in China? SLOWDOWN. Did you see what happened to the USA-Europe? CRASH. We just had a Bank downgraded. This is how it starts, are not immune to this pain.
This is a symptom of what I call Forrest Gump Real Estate.
Stupid is, as stupid does.
Maintenance fees are ridiculous.
Get Mike Holmes to take a look, as this is an old building, that is tarted up for suckers.
The new Depression is here.
Get liquid or get run over.
The listing agent should get his head examined.
This all sounds more like someone’s personal agenda rather than anything that has to do with the property. Like it’s from the same person…pathetic
I’m not a real estate agent and I certainly do not have anywhere near the money for this type of place. I used to rent an old dirty apartment on Spadina and considered purchasing one of the ‘crapboxes’ I referred to early simply because FHV is a really nice place to live.
Take a look a few streets down on Walmer. A 3 bedroom that’s smaller and much older than this with only one parking spot is going for 300 grand higher than this new, larger, better-featured listing.
People can be cranky about real estate. They can hope/predict/expect a bubble. But that doesn’t mean that everything is over-priced. The pricing makes sense for the area.
But then again most people on the internet aren’t looking for a discussion or rational thought. They’re just looking for a chance to say what they don’t get to say in real life.
Maintenance fees make sure the roof doesn’t leak, the plants get watered and replaced, the brick is cleaned, the windows are washed, the elevator works, the hallways are painted, the garbage is collected, and probably include your heat and/or hydro, your water bill – most of the things you pay for separately as a homeowner. Everyone bitches about them, but for those of you you own a house (I question how many people who comment here actually do), add up what you pay each month for maintenance, including all those trips to home depot, and those are YOUR maintenance fees. Now shut up, it’s boring.
Completely agree with Nicki. The older the building is, the more short term issues its bound to have. Even beyond basic day-to-day items like garbage removal and cleaning, the maintance fee is necessary to keep a reserve fund in place for when something does go wrong, or for when parts of the building have to be reeplace. Window caulking/sealant, replacing damaged mortar/brick, replacing the roof, balcony slab and railing repair, garage roof and/or indermediate slab repair, garage membrane replacement… they all cost money. Even the legally mandated reserve fund study that each condo must undergo every 3 years costs money. Maintance fees are how they get paid for.
Also, A., as odd as it would seem, low-rises incur larger maintance fees than high-rises. A lower unit to common area number results in each unit owner being responsible for the maintance of a larger area. Also, given the unit’s large size (over 2000 sq ft) the maintance fee doesn’t really throw me.