Province
One of the most important decisions any family makes is to purchase a home — and it’s a decision that’s both daunting and exciting because for most of us, it’s the biggest financial deal we’ll ever make. And while housing markets across the country are robust, prices and supply vary greatly across the country. With that in mind, the members newspapers of CanWest News Services — including The Province — has compiled this bird’s-eye view of residential real estate prices across the country.
VICTORIA
The starter home:
Address: 108 – 520 Dunedin
Type of house: condominium
Bedrooms: One
Bathrooms: One
Size: 732 square feet
Garage and/or parking: One in a secure underground parking lot
Asking price: $99,900
Selling price: $105,000
Property taxes: $873
Condo fees: $181/month
Number of minutes from downtown: Seven
Major features: Gas fireplace, in-suite laundry.
The middle-of-your-life-cycle home:
Address:
2751 Arbour Lane
Type of house: Two-storey single family detached on a strata lot
Bedrooms: Three
Bathrooms: Two
Size: 1,517 square feet
Garage and/or parking: single car garage, parking for two in driveway
Asking price: $319,900
Selling price: Sale not yet complete
Property taxes: Not assessed; new construction
Strata fees: $15/month.
The dreamhome:
Address:
617 Senanus Drive
Type of House: Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired mansion on oceanfront acreage
Bedrooms: Five
Bathrooms: Six
Size: 7,300 square feet
Garage and/or parking: Oversized two-car garage with ample parking
on two-hectare property
Asking price: $4,675,000
Selling price: Still available.
Property taxes: $22,682
Strata fees: None.
Number of minutes from downtown: 30
VANCOUVER
The starter home:
“Domus“
Address: 1055 Homer St.,
Vancouver
Developer: Qualex Landmark
Bedrooms: One
Bathrooms: One
Parking: One stall
Asking Price: $200,000
Selling Price: Full price
Property Taxes: $2,800 annually
Condo Fees: $205 monthly
Number of minutes from downtown: Zero.
Features: Gym, steam room, entertainment lounge with wet bar
The middle-of-your-life-cycle home: “Springbrook Estates”
Type of House: Executive semi-detached home
Address: 6300 Birch Street, Richmond
Developer: Cressy
Bedrooms: Three
Bathrooms: Two
Garage: Two car attached
Asking price: $433,800
Selling price: Full price
Property Taxes: $971.92 annually
Strata Fees: $142.68 monthly
Number of minutes from downtown: 35 minutes
The dreamhome: “Kamakura“
Address: 7423 Treetop Lane, Whistler
Developer: Vision Pacific Development
Bedrooms: Four
Bathrooms: Five
Garage: 2.5 car
Asking price: $6.5 million
Selling price: Under negotiation
Number of minutes from downtown: 90 minutes
Property taxes: $28,000 – $30,000 annually
Features: 5,000 square feet of living space, media room, Zen garden with hot tub
Calgary
The starter home: “The Brio”
Type of house: Bi-level.
Size: Condos and single-family homes in this market range from 800 to 1,300 square feet.
Bedrooms: Two to three
Bathrooms: 1.5 to 2.5
Price range: Condos and single-family homes in this market range from $70,000 to $150,000.
Buyer profile: Typically renters, married or unmarried with no children.
The middle-of-your-life-cycle home:
Address: In the southeast Calgary community of Copperfield.
Size: Homes in this market generally are two-storey homes ranging from 1,600 to 2,000 square feet.
Bedrooms: Three to four
Bathrooms: 2.5 to 3.5.
Price range: $230,000 to $270,000.
Buyer profile: Repeat buyers, couples between 25 and 45 years old.
The dreamhome:
Type of house: Bungalow
Size: The main level of these bungalows range from 1,800 to 2,200 square feet with another 1,600 on the walkout level.
Bedrooms: Four to six.
Bathrooms: Five or more.
Price range: $700,000 to $2 million-plus.
Buyer profile: Professional couples 35 to 55 years old, with or without children, who like to entertain.
WINNIPEG
The starter home:
Address:
322 Maryland St.
Type of house: Two storey, single family
Bedrooms: Three
Bathrooms: Two
Garage/parking: open carport and garage at back
Asking price: $58,900
Selling price: $58,900
Property taxes: $1,065.71 in 2004
Number of minutes from downtown: Five
Three major features: Within walking distance of major downtown stores and professional offices; located next to major artery with lots of bus service; small kitchen located on the second storey.
The middle-of-your-life-cycle home:
Address:
104 Kinlock Lane
Type of house: Raised bungalow
Bedrooms: Three
Bathrooms: Two including master bedroom en suite
Garage: Double attached
Asking price: $217,900
Property taxes: n/a
Number of minutes from downtown: 25
Three major features of the house: gas fireplace; vaulted ceiling/track lighting; lot 43 by 110 feet
The dreamhome:
Address:
4 Fieldberry Way
Type of house: Two storey split
Bedrooms: Five
Bathrooms: Three full and one half bath
Garage and/or parking: Triple attached garage/driveway at front
Asking price: $599,900
Selling price: $567,500
Property taxes: 2004 Gross Taxes: $7,741.51
Number of minutes from downtown: 20
Major features: Numerous built-in cherrywood cabinets, shelves, china cabinet; fully finished lower level.
Toronto
The starter home:
MLS # W634925
Price: $275,000
Condo Fee: $280/month
Location: Waterfront, Toronto
Type: condo
Bedrooms: One plus den
Bathroom: One
Lot size: 300-sq. ft. ground-floor patio terrace
Features: Fireplace and central air; curved glass wall, granite counter, stainless steel appliances; indoor pool, locker, exercise room, rooftop party room, yoga room and guest suite.
The middle-of-your-life-cycle home:
New, no MLS #
Price: $475,990 plus upgrades
Taxes: About $5,200
Location: Burlington, 30 mins from west edge of Toronto.
Size: 3,437 square feet.
Bedrooms: Four
Bathrooms: Three and a half.
Lot size: 50 x 120
Features: Two-storey ceiling in living room, coffered ceiling in dining room, nine foot ceilings on main level; oak staircase; great room with gas fireplace.
The dreamhome:
MLS# C622578
Price: $4,895,000
Taxes: $21,770
Location: Forest Hill
Type: Large detached stone mansion on double lot
Bedrooms: Six
Bathrooms: Six
Lot size: 98.42 x 146 feet
Features: Original 1929-era wood trim, 18-inch baseboards, hand-carved staircase and mahogany panelling; updated kitchen; full nanny’s suite in basement.
MONTREAL
The starter home:
Address: 735 Rockcliffe Ave. in Dorval
Type of house: Bungalow
Bedrooms: Three
Bathrooms: Two
Taxes (municipal and school): $2,177
Asking price: $224,000
Sold for: $202,000
Features: Fireplace; home theatre room; located on 9,466-square-foot lot.
The middle-of-your-life-cycle home:
Address: 18071 Hardouin St., Pierrefonds
Type of house: Cottage
Bedrooms: Three
Bathrooms: One
Taxes (municipal and school): $3,690.
Asking price: $309,900
Sold for $305,000
Features: Powder room, sunken living room with fireplace, above-ground pool.
The dreamhome:
Type of house:
Bungalow
Size: The main level of these bungalows range from 1,800 to 2,200 square feet with another 1,600 on the walkout level.
Bedrooms: Four to six.
Bathrooms: Five or more.
Price range: $700,000 to $2 million-plus.
Buyer profile: Professional couples 35 to 55 years old, with or without children, who like to entertain.
The dreamhome:
Address: 4255 Old Orchard Ave., Notre Dame de Grace
Type of house: Cottage
Bedrooms: Three
Taxes (municipal and school): $6,065
Asking price: $524,000
Sold for $522,000
Features: Ground floor family room, solarium, fireplace.
HALIFAX
The starter home:
Address:
6436 Vienna St.
Type of house: Bungalow
Size: 750 square feet
Number of bedrooms: Three (all small)
Number of bathrooms: One
Garage/parking: Driveway — no garage
Asking price: $186,500
Selling price: Buyers asking that it be private — but close to asking price
Property taxes: $2,132
Condo fees: Not applicable
Minutes from downtown: Five minutes
Three major features: Large eat-in kitchen, interior brick, plenty of mirrors to create the illusion of space.
The middle-of-your-life-cycle home:
Address:
149 Cresthaven Dr.
Type of house: Two storey
Size: 2,385 square feet
Number of bedrooms: Three
Number of bathrooms: Three — two full and one powder room
Garage/parking: Double attached garage and driveway
Asking price: $455,000
Selling price: N/A
Property taxes: $4,909
Number of minutes from downtown: 15 minutes, 30 minutes during rush hour
Major features: Attractive, meticulously landscaped property with built-in irrigation system and a view of the Bedford Basin; large master bedroom with ensuite.
The dreamhome:
Address: 770 Young Ave.
Type of house: Three storey historic home built in 1897 in the Queen Anne Revival Style
Size: 4,880 square feet
Number of bathrooms: Four — three full and one powder room
Number of bedrooms: Five
Garage/parking: Double detached garage off the private laneway out back
Asking price: $1,250,000
Selling price: N/A
Property taxes: $9,313
Condo fees: Not applicable
Number of minutes from downtown: Two minutes
Major features: Extremely private half-acre property surrounded by trees on one of the most prestigious streets in the city; renovated kitchen with sunroom.
© The Vancouver Province 2005