For the serious home cook, a decent kitchen is at the top of the real-estate wish list. These four homes all have good spaces for chopping, stirring, and simmering.
NIAGARA: 33 Shaw St., Unit C. #KGW (pictured above)
The price: $529,000 maintenance fees $465
Last sold price: $479,000 (2008)
The draw: A windowseat in a huge, 178-square foot kitchen is the perfect place for guests to lounge while you fix dinner using stainless-steel appliances. Each of the two big bedrooms has its own washroom.
The catch: The townhouse is 1,300 square feet, with two small decks and no yard. Electric heating means winter utility bills will likely be high—maybe you can survive autumn just using the fireplace.
KING WEST: 80 John St. Unit 3104 #ENT
The price: $399,000 maintenance fees $375
Last sold price: N/A
The draw: Fancy Miele appliances will draw foodies to this never-lived-in Lightbox unit, and the kitchen island is big enough to hold dinner for two. TIFF-y amenities include festival passes and private audiences with directors and stars.
The catch: Those awesome amenities (there’s also a pool and hotel services) will surely keep maintenance fees rising for the 568-square-foot apartment. The sleeping space is small, with a teeny-tiny closet.
THE JUNCTION: 164 Maria St. #JNC
The price: $499,000 sold for $495,000
Last sold price: $375,000 (2011)
The draw: This two-bedroom semi has undergone a gleaming renovation, including a new shiny gas stainless-steel stove and a mosaic-tile backsplash in the kitchen. There’s a bathroom in the finished basement and patio stones in the big backyard.
The catch: It should come as no surprise that the backyard is right up against a mess of railway tracks. TTCing downtown involves plenty of transfers (and patience).
WOODBINE-LUMSDEN: 63 Everett Cres. #EYK
The price: $435,000 sold for $445,000
Last sold price: $300,000 (2009)
The draw: Slate floors, a stone backsplash, and a custom wood breakfast bar are the perks of the kitchen in this two-bedroom detached house. The master has a big bay window, and the rentable basement apartment is bright and homey.
The catch: It’s a 20-minute walk or a long bus ride to Main Station. Local grocery stores are somewhat scarce, but they’re budget-friendly, which is a pro or a con depending on how much you like fancy cheese.
