King West has been one of Toronto’s go-to neighbourhoods for young people for decades, and while the restaurants, nightlife and energy are still there, condo prices have changed dramatically. In this week’s Pick 5, David Fleming goes back to King West proper, focusing on five condos that could appeal to a first-time buyer looking to get into the neighbourhood without spending a million dollars.
David compares layouts, square footage, maintenance fees and locations, then looks at what owners actually paid at different points in the market. With several of these condos now listed significantly below their previous purchase prices, this episode gives a look at what buying into King West looks like in today’s market.
This week’s picks:
- 04:06 — 75 Portland St: A 465 sq. ft. one-bedroom in one of the iconic King West buildings from the neighbourhood’s condo boom, listed at $450,000. The location, amenities, relatively low maintenance fees and soft-loft feel give this unit appeal, although the U-shaped building looks directly across at other units
- 08:48 — 95 Bathurst St: At 572 sq. ft. and listed at $509,900, this one offers a noticeably more functional layout, with a proper living area, dining space and separate kitchen. It also has outdoor space and a central King West location, and David ultimately calls this his favourite of the five particularly at its current price
- 12:43 — 560 King St W: Listed at $549,000, the Fashion House offers 600 sq. ft. in a 2014 building with a rooftop infinity pool and other amenities that fit the King West lifestyle. David isn’t sold on the interior layout, the large living-room pillar or the virtual staging, and ultimately prefers the previous unit despite this condo being slightly larger
- 19:06 — 501 Adelaide St W: A newer 2020 building listed at $549,000 with just 132 units and a surprisingly spacious 640 sq. ft. one-plus-den layout. The square footage and the price present value, although the inset bedroom, limited natural light and Juliet balcony are compromises
- 22:20 — 50 Camden St: A 750 sq. ft. condo listed at $579,000 dates back to 2000 and sits in a part of King West surrounded by some of the area’s older and more distinctive loft buildings. The higher maintenance fees are the trade-off, but David likes the generous living space, home-office area, dining space and overall loft feel
For a first-time buyer who wants to live downtown, this Pick 5 is really about the trade-offs. If King West is on your radar, these five condos offer a look at what you can actually get in the neighbourhood today.