Sale of the Week: the $1.7 million Don Mills home that proves downsizers love bungalows
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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
278506 The house looks tiny from the street, but there's an entire lower level that's hidden from view Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-1.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-1/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-1 0 0
278507 The living room. That gas fireplace is made of granite and mahogany Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-2.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-2/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-2 0 0
278508 And here's the dining area Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-3.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-3/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-3 0 0
278509 The kitchen overlooks the garden and deck Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-4.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-4/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-4 0 0
278510 This office space could also be used as a bedroom Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-5.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-5/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-5 0 0
278511 And here's the first of several washrooms. This one is on the main floor, between the kitchen and dining room Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-6.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-6/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-6 0 0
278512 The master bedroom is on the main floor. It has a walk-in closet Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-7.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-7/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-7 0 0
278513 And here's the master bedroom's en suite washroom. Yes, that's a bidet Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-8.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-8/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-8 0 0
278514 The lower level also consists of this rec area and two bedrooms. Note the small auxiliary kitchen in the background Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-9.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-9/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-9 0 0
278515 The lower-level laundry room is bigger than most living rooms Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-10/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-10 0 0
278516 This is one of the lower-level bedrooms Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-11/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-11 0 0
278517 And here's the lower-level washroom Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-12/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-12 0 0
278518 The backyard doesn't require a ton of mowing Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-14/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-14 0 0
278519 And here's a view of the back of the house at night Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive Sale of the Week: 39 Chatfield Drive https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-15/ toronto-house-of-the-week-39-chatfield-drive-15 0 0
“39 Chatfield affords its new owners that new-home smell in a great neighbourhood, without the unmanageable size favoured by younger generations.”
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“3700 sf”
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Yeah, gen x’ers won’t touch anything less than 5000sf. Where would they store their jean collection?
you sound jealous. live and let live dude…you’ll be much happier….
Sarcasm. Learning to recognize it will make your like much happier. (Unless you accept the article ridiculous assertion that GenX considers 3700sf “too small”?)
I’m way , way past GenX and quite happy in my 1400sf side split.
Nice Home. I am a big fan of buying the old and building the new to fit seamlessly into the neighbourhood. Don Mills still has decent sized lots so you don’t have to move to the country. Downsizing doesn’t have to mean downsizing your lifestyle.
Find Your Next Home Online, Anytime. http://www.ChooseRemax.ca