For Sachi and Tushar Kittur, purchasing their new home was a buyer’s dream come true. After almost two years of searching for a home in a highly sought-after North Toronto neighbourhood, they finally found their home sweet home — and at a lower asking price, to boot. The catch? The outdated pad meant extensive renovations, but the Kitturs say they have transformed the house from old-fashioned to modern, creating a home their family of four can grow into.
Selling their previous home over asking price and buying a new home under asking price is the ultimate dream for any homeowner, the Kitturs say. Being a mere six blocks from their former home, they had their eye on the property, nestled near Eglinton Avenue and Bayview Avenue, for some time.
“We found the prices [in the area] to be a bit too high, so we waited it out,” says Sachi, who moved into her new house at the end of summer.
After a long 18 months, they purchased 51 Hoyle Ave. for $94,000 less than the original asking price. Being an estate sale, the Kitturs say it seemed as though the sellers just wanted to get rid of it because it had been on the market for a long time. By that time, summer had wound down and the Kitturs began to update the house. “We knew we wanted to get an old place and renovate it,” says Tushar. “We saw the bones and instantly had the vision.”
And doing it themselves has paid off. After taking out a wall, adding a bedroom and full bathroom in the basement, installing a fireplace and redoing the kitchen, their house has transformed into a contemporary manor. Rather than hiring a professional, Sachi took on the role of amateur designer herself.
“In a market where prices tend to be a bit inflated, you can get value with the right strategy,” Sachi says. “Be patient and don’t just use emotions.” Tushar says, “Some of it was luck, but we like to think we timed it well.”
Real value in the Village
This one-of-a-kind dwelling is all about decadence. With a wine cellar, recreation room and a curved staircase, this home is sure to impress.
| CURRENT PRICE $1,395,000 | ORIGINAL PRICE $1,595,000 |
| ADDRESS 46 Strathearn Road | INTERSECTION Glen Cedar & Strathearn |
| SIZE 60 by 128 feet | AGENCY Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. |
| SPECIAL FEATURES Stained glass windows, wine cellar, wall oven, second-floor sitting room | |
Bayview for a bargain
This home offers more bang for your buck, with heated floors and a chef’s kitchen, not to mention that it’s steps away from hospitals and schools.
| CURRENT PRICE $1,999,000 | ORIGINAL PRICE $2,199,000 |
| ADDRESS 5 Sunnydene Crescent | INTERSECTION Bayview & Blythwood |
| SIZE 50 by 139 feet | AGENCY Century 21 Leading Edge Realty Inc. |
| SPECIAL FEATURES Newly renovated family home with heated floors,spa- like bathrooms, finished basement and stainless steel appliances | |
Reduced in Richmond Hill
With the holidays upon us, this Richmond Hill refuge is perfect for hosting and boasts a kitchen with a servery; it also has a separate basement entrance.
| CURRENT PRICE $1,149,000 | ORIGINAL PRICE $1,189,000 |
| ADDRESS 30 Naughton Drive | INTERSECTION Yonge & Elgin Mills |
| SIZE 47 by 117 feet | AGENCY Coldwell Banker Real Estate Centre |
| SPECIAL FEATURES Custom-built home with a kitchen servery, maple hardwood floors and California shutters | |
