Toronto Real Estate with the Julie Kinnear Team

• 83 Monarch Park Avenue
• Asking price: $429,900
• Selling price: $495,625
• Taxes: $2,627 (2007)
• Lot size: 19 by 100 feet
• Days on the market: seven
• Listing agent: Julie Kinnear, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.

This semi-detached, two-storey house generated a lot of interest, agent Julie Kinnear says, because of several desirable attributes, including its proximity to amenities, move-in condition and separate apartment in the basement.

There were several bidders, and the residence sold at a premium of $65,725.

"First of all, you're nice and close to the subway and Danforth [Avenue]," Ms. Kinnear notes, as well as Monarch Park at the end of the tree-lined street. The beaches and boardwalk are a short drive to the south.

The three-bedroom house — which is roughly 90 years old — has a separate back entrance to a one-bedroom basement suite with a kitchen, full bathroom and recreation room.

"The basement is very appealing if you were to rent it out for extra income to offset the price of the house," the agent says.

Within the past seven years, the previous owners updated the wiring, replaced the furnace, refurbished the home's old-fashioned porch, and added a shed and flagstone steps in the garden.

Other renovations include makeovers of the main bathroom upstairs and the kitchen, which has new appliances, cork flooring and a pantry. It opens to an oversized deck and private backyard.

The living room includes a decorative brick fireplace and bay window; the latter is also a feature of the dining room. A three-piece bathroom rounds out the main floor.

The principal rooms, the bedrooms upstairs and a heated sunroom off the rear bedroom all have hardwood flooring.

"[The house] really has a lot of nice charm and character," Ms. Kinnear adds.