Sale of the Week: the $930,000 semi that hints at a pricey fate for west-end real estate
Address: 261 Pacific Avenue
Neighbourhood: High Park
Agent: Wendy Hammond Page and Jennifer Percival , Sutton Group Old Mill Realty Inc., Brokerage
The Property: This three-bedroom Victorian semi is within walking distance of the Junction’s shops, restaurants and bars. It features loft-like details throughout, including exposed-brick walls, hardwood floors and high ceilings. A third-floor master retreat sports its own walk-in closet, four-piece en suite washroom and skylights.
The History: The home was built in 1909, the same year the Junction was annexed into the city of Toronto. The previous sellers renovated it by upgrading the kitchen, opening up the third floor and adding a family room with a walkout to the backyard patio. The current sellers outgrew it, and decided to move into a detached home with more space.
The Fate: Ever since its alcohol ban was lifted in 1998, the Junction has continued to grow in popularity. Semi-detached homes in the vicinity are destined to hit the million-dollar mark in the next few years, a trend that started in the Annex and is making its way west.
The Sale: Taking into account the home’s deceptively narrow, 15.54-foot frontage, it was strategically priced at $799,000 to encourage suitors to view it in person and discover the large, 100-feet-deep lot. The home received six offers, the highest of which was negotiated up to a closing price of $930,000.
By the Numbers:
• $930,000
• 1,797 square feet above grade
• 523-square-foot basement
• 116 per cent of list price
• 105 years old
• 7 days on the market
• 6 offers
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 washrooms
• 1 third-level master retreat
• 1 parking spot in the laneway out back
293366 The house is over a century old. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-1-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-1.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-1/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-1 0 0
293367 The main floor is totally open-concept. Here's the living room. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-2-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-2.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-2/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-2 0 0
293368 The view toward the back of the house. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-3-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-3.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-3/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-3 0 0
293369 The dining area. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-4-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-4.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-4/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-4 0 0
293370 The kitchen, looking toward the back of the house. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-5-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-5.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-5/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-5 0 0
293371 And the family room. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-6-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-6.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-6/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-6 0 0
293372 There are two bedrooms on the second floor of the house. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-7-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-7.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-7/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-7 0 0
293373 Here's the second-floor hallway. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-8-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-8.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-8/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-8 0 0
293374 Bedroom number one. Note the exposed brick. There's scarcely a room in the entire house that doesn't have it. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-9-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-9.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-9/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-9 0 0
293375 The second-floor washroom has a slightly weird shape because of an incursion by the third-floor staircase. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-10/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-10 0 0
293376 And here's the other second-floor bedroom, which makes a nice office. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-11/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-11 0 0
293377 The master bedroom has the third floor to itself. It may be hard to fit a dresser against those slanted walls, but at least there are skylights. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-12-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-12/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-12 0 0
293378 The walk-in closet, also a little slanted. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-13-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-13/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-13 0 0
293379 And the master en suite. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-14-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-14/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-14 0 0
293380 The basement is a little rough, but it offers plenty of room for storage. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-15-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-15/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-15 0 0
293381 And here's the backyard. Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue Sale of the Week: 261 Pacific Avenue https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-16-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-16/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-261-pacific-avenue-16 0 0