Handy owners can make a house in need of renovations as stylish as their time and money (and taste) allows. The east end offers plenty of needy properties and we’ve found four under $500,000.
The Danforth 23 Drayton Ave. (pictured above) #DAN
The price $319,000 (last sold for $131,000 in 2003)
The draw This two-bedroom pre-war bungalow is astonishingly well priced, considering it’s within walking distance of Coxwell station and Monarch Park. It’s possible to move in without renovating if you don’t mind small rooms—one is just 64 square feet.
The catch Buyers will likely want to add a second storey, like many others on the street have. While its one bathroom is newish, it’s in the basement.
Leslieville 874 Eastern Ave. #LES
The price $338,000 (last sold for $113,000 in 2001)
The draw With 700 square feet of living space on a 115-foot-long lot, this semi-detached is a condo alternative with a respectable yard (plus a partially finished basement and central air). It’s also close to the lakeshore bike trail and the aromatic Weston bakery.
The catch Wood panelling in the foyer, yolk-yellow paint in one bedroom and an unattractive kitchen with dated appliances. There’s no parking, and Eastern is a busy street with few permit spots.
East York 139 Springdale Blvd. #EYK
The price $459,000 (last sold for: unknown)
The draw There’s some hardwood flooring and gum-wood moulding in this two-bedroom bungalow,as well as a fireplace and a long backyard. The place is just a bit north of Danforth’s burgeoning Ethiopian strip, as well as Coxwell subway station.
The catch The kitchen linoleum has a bold 1970s pattern, while the dining and living rooms have old-school plush carpeting. The bedrooms are rather small and the basement is unfinished.
Woodbine-Lumsden 22 Epsom Ave. #EYK
The price $435,000 (last sold for $190,000 in 1999)
The draw Many cash-strapped buyers dream of a property like this, where they can rent out part of the house while renovating the rest. Split into two one-bedroom apartments, this detached home has a big backyard as well as a sizeable second-storey balcony.
The catch It would be simple to boost this house’s curb appeal, but its interior lacks character. One bathroom needs a complete gut job. Downstairs, the light fixtures and parquet flooring are both eyesores.
