As the price of houses escalates rapidly, buyers are looking for other options.
More people are considering townhouse condominiums due to their house-like feel. Problem is, many such condos are in the 30- to 40-year-old range and can be dated with finishes such as golf shag carpeting, almond-coloured appliances and psychedelic vinyl flooring (and perhaps, green or purple bathroom sinks and tubs, for good measure).
That isn’t the case with Sutton Place Condominiums, says RE/MAX Professionals’ Glen Harvey.
“We’ve totally redone these units from top to bottom,” he said of the two- and three-bedroom condominiums, which are located at 305 Sutton Place off Henderson Highway.
“Every unit has been totally refreshed, from plumbing to wiring, to new maple cabinets, bevelled (laminate) countertops, 3/4-inch hardwoods, windows, plumbing, wiring and fencing.”
The result is astonishing, he added.
“Now that the units have been redone, it’s like buying a brand-new home, but for substantially less. Most importantly, these condominiums aren’t makeshift, cosmetically appealing projects, they’re a complete retrofit. And they’re affordable, with very reasonable condo fees.”
Not only are the units affordable, but their square footage is generous; the two bedroom homes are about 1,000 square feet, while the three bedrooms are 1,150 to 1,200 sq. ft. — not including the basements, which add another 500 sq. ft. (or more) of livable space to the equation.
“Our carpentry crew can finish the basement for you, or you can do it yourself,” Harvey said.
“The important thing here is that like a house, you have livable space spread over three levels. There’s enough space to put a rec room, bedroom and bathroom downstairs.”
Both the two- and three-bedroom townhouses are also very livable, with U-shaped kitchens, sunken (and spacious) living rooms with patio doors that provide access to private yards and good-sized bedrooms with ample closet space. Carpeting is also new, as are the white, six-panel doors, which come with smart stainless-steel handles.
These townhouses — which start at $209,900 — are a viable option for couples or young families looking to move up to a larger, better-finished home without paying upwards of $300,000 for the privilege of home ownership.
“The two-bedroom units come with a new bathroom that includes a maple vanity, vessel sink and soaker tub with tile surround (as do the three-bedrooms),” he said. “Both bedrooms in the two-bedroom homes are big, one with a walk-in closet. There’s also tons of glass, which makes for incredibly bright units.”
In the case of the three-bedroom homes, the kitchen/living area was completely redesigned to enhance functionality.
“We took out the wall between the two areas to open the kitchen onto the living room, which makes for more light and greatly improved accessibility. With a functional main level (which includes a powder room off the foyer), second level with three bedrooms and main bathroom — and a good-sized lower level — you get about 1,700 square feet of living space when you finish the basement. That’s great value for $219,900 to $229,900.”
Harvey added that interiors of the condos aren’t drab, either.
“Use of colour in a home is important, so we put accent walls where we could to liven up the interiors,” he said. “We also put in off-white baseboards and door trims to define it from the walls, which makes a difference in how things look.”
With monthly condo fees at $126 to $136 for units (which includes parking), Harvey said it makes sense to switch from renting to owning.
“At a mortgage of 2.25 per cent, the payment would be $159. With condo fees and estimated taxes, the smallest unit (two-bedroom) would cost about $985; the largest three bedroom would be about $1,096. And there won’t be multiple offers. If you buy a unit, you pay the asking price.”
For more information on Sutton Place Condominiums, call Glen Harvey, Victoria Fazekas or Amanda Alstadt at 477-0500.
