December 11, 2009: Few properties have been selling in High Park south of Bloor recently. November brought the highest number of homes sold since the beginning of 2009, and that was only seven. It was, however, more than double the number of listings sold at the same time last year.
Four of these homes were sold above the asking price; two by 20%! Only one property was sold considerably below asking, by 11%, but it still took only one week to sell.
Interesting sale happened in September. A boarded-in home was listed at the beginning of the year under power of sale on a beautiful street centrally located in High Park. The house could not be shown, and was sold 'as is'. Listed well under market value was sold for 153% of the asking price. Over the course of the following months the house was completely restored, and re-sold for more than double the previous selling price.
Graphs shown below illustrate the current state of real estate activity in High Park and compare it to the data from 2008.
The south section of High Park neighbourhood is approximately half the size of the north section, and contains fewer semi-detached homes and very few attached. It is not surprising then that the number of sales is smaller here.
Seasonal variations here seem to have three peaks and three valleys, not a usual two - one in the spring and one in the fall. But November sale numbers were so far the strongest this year.
Average real estate prices kept at or below last year levels for most of the year, showing an increase only since October.
No attached homes changed ownership this year, and average prices of detached residences remained flat, while semi-detached homes show an increase of about seven percent.
The last graph shows that majority of sales involved detached homes. That is typical for this neighbourhood.
For active real estate listings in High Park south and surrounding area please follow this link.
High Park neighbourhood (south of Bloor)
This part of High Park neighbourhood is conveniently wedged between the tranquility of High Park grounds and lively Roncesvalles Avenue with its many specialized shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Serviced by a bus route on Parkside Drive and streetcar line on Roncesvalles it has an easy access downtown, whether by public transport or by car.
Homes of High Park are shaded by towering trees, and a short walk takes the residents to one of the most beautiful Toronto parks. An ornate wrought iron gate provides the main entry from the east, at the west end of High Park Boulevard.
In the area between High Park Boulevard and Bloor residences tend to be larger, and majority of them are detached, two and a half or three storey in height. Mansions of High Part Boulevard are truly impressive. Many of them have been divided into units, but a number of extraordinarily elegant residences still exist, and some of these were beautifully restored. South part of the area has also smaller homes, many of them semi-detached.
A beautiful church on Sunnyside Avenue and Marmaduke has been converted into lofts.
East-west running streets have one-way traffic, with only a few exceptions, one of them being High Park Boulevard. Recently renovated Public Library is located on Roncesvalles Avenue at the corner of Wright.
Some of the streets in the south portion of this neighbourhood have soil stability problems, and many of the homes there have settled, some considerably. Even these are popular with home buyers, being located in this lovely residential neighbourhood.
If you are interested in finding a home in this location, or would like more information about any of the available or sold properties, please contact Ellen and Marisha.
For information on Roncesvalles Village, please visit Roncesvalles Village page.
