The Place 

Scrubby Laird Drive delineates one of those phantom boundaries between the pre-war city and the newer suburbs.

A four-lane “collector” road with a certain working-class charm, Laird is the dividing line between Leaside’s tree-lined streets and a sprawling expanse of industrial land that has turned into a monster mall zone. 

Laird T-bones Eglinton at one end and morphs into Millwood, which begins in the middle of Leaside, at the other.
Its function in life is to gather up cars from the residential neighbourhoods and propel them over to the Don Valley Parkway. 

Click here to read the full Globe and Mail article  

It’s tough to have the best of both worlds. The Leaside neighbourhood is a perfect example. It’s both central to downtown and yet it has a reserved quiet feeling. The well debated Bayview extension would alleviate much of this problem but the City does not have any plans to build it any time soon. 

All of this has changed with the construction of the big shopping mall at Laird and McRae. Most of that extra traffic ends up on Laird Drive but some of those drivers in a hurry cut across this neighbourhood in order to reach Bayview or Mount Pleasant Road.  

Don’t hold your breath!

Posted on Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale 

Laird Drive’s Off-Kilter Intersections Snarl Leaside Traffic – Toronto Neighbourhoods is a post from: Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale

Welcome to this spacious one bedroom in the Tridel built “Village by the Grange”.

This cozy and spacious one bedroom in the Tridel Built Village by the Grange features and open balcony, unique building with gated rooftop garden terrace leading to fitness centre.

At the fitness centre you will find a swimming pool, weight room, and sauna and billiards room.

You can walk to St. Patrick’s subway station or 24-Hour T.T.C. link along Queen Street. This unit is also located within walking distance to the financial district, U. Of T. campus, Ryerson and hospital district and also within a short stroll to the Art Gallery of Ontario.

There is a Floor Plan Available.

Extras include refrigerator, stove, parquet flooring. 

This is the ‘Modigliani’ model with approximately 530 sq ft. The unit features a west and south view of the Toronto skyline.

Offered at $249,000

To view this great unit or for further information, please write to me, Rosalin, at rsmithcarr (at) simpatico.ca  or call me at 416-482-8360 ext. 3519

Downtown Toronto – Affordable Bachelor Condo Available is a post from: Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale

Superb Leaside Neighbourhood

This detached home on a generous 33’ foot lot offers abundant space for a growing family. The well proportioned dining and living room with cozy fireplace allow for easy entertaining.

The galley kitchen opens into the family room with its view overlooking the private south rear garden .. delightful for a quiet BBQ.

The current owners enjoy the easy access to downtown, highly regarded schools and the much-enjoyed stores, boutiques and restaurants on Bayview and Mt Pleasant.

Leaside is one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Toronto and is in especially high demand with upper middle income families who value this neighbourhood as an ideal place to raise children.

Leaside’s Tudor-style houses were built largely in the 1930′s and 1940′s and most of the houses contain beautiful wood trim, hardwood floors, and a working fireplace.  The typical Leaside house is situated on a generous size lot with a private drive and a garage. 

There is a good mix of two-story detached homes, bungalows, and semi-detached houses.

Looking for your dream home?  Click here to find all Leaside homes for sale.

This home has been sold.

Superb Leaside Neighbourhood Four Bedroom Home Now Available is a post from: Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale

In a delightful quiet enclave! Nestled on a quiet child-safe street in Wanless Park, this home has recently undergone a meticulous renovation. The main floor offers an expansive, light-filled space with gleaming hardwood floors and cozy fireplace … perfect for entertaining.

The new fully-applianced kitchen overlooks the formal dining room while the family room ensures quiet enjoyment with its view overlooking the private rear garden … delightful for a quiet BBQ.

The current owners have enjoyed the many amenities of Wanless Park, the easy access to bus and Subway, highly regarded schools, and the renowned neighbourhood shops, restaurants and boutiques on nearby Yonge Street.

Wanless Park

In 1912, Toronto Suburbs Ltd., guided by George Kappele and D.F. Crowagen registered a plan of subdivision for the old Waverley farm at Mount Pleasant Road and Lawrence Avenue. The developers named this new subdivision Waverley Park.

Like other Toronto neighbourhoods from this era, the actual building of homes in Waverley Park was stalled initially by the First World War and then by the depression.

In 1931 the City of Toronto expropriated the properties in the centre of Waverley Park for the creation of a public park. The Park was named Wanless Park, and eventually the entire neighbourhood adopted this name.

Wanless Park, Wanless Road, Wanless Avenue, and Wanless Crescent are all named after John Wanless, a former Toronto alderman and educator.

For more information or to view this delighful Wanless Park home email Rosalin Smith-Carr or call 416-482-8330 ext. 3519

Delightful Newly Renovated Home in Wanless Park for Sale is a post from: Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale

This traditional Lawrence Park home on an ample 50′ foot lot offers abundant space for a growing family. The attractive centre-hall design with generously proportioned formal living and dining rooms allows for easy entertaining. The spacious renovated kitchen opens to a delightful sun-filled sitting room.

A sunken family room with a “Muskoka” style opens to the south deck. The private garden with a concrete pool ensures the new owners recreation and tranquility in the summer sun.

The current owners enjoy the easy access to downtown, highly regarded schools and the much-enjoyed stores, boutiques and restaurants on Mt Pleasant and Bayview.

Lawrence Park
Lawrence Park is one of Toronto’s most exclusive residential neighbourhoods. It is located in a very peaceful and safe setting that includes gently rolling hills, winding roads, and a lush blanket of mature trees.  The beautiful setting, and exceptional private and public schools, keeps Lawrence Park in high demand as an excellent place to raise a family.

Most of this neighbourhood’s recreational facilities centre around Lawrence Park, east of Yonge Street, and south of Lawrence.  This park has three clay surface tennis courts, a lawn bowling club, and the Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens, an award winning multi level strolling garden. This park also provides access to the Lawrence Park Ravine footpath that is popular with fitness and nature enthusiasts.

Shopping
Lawrence Park’s shops, schools, and recreational facilities are located on its periphery, keeping traffic on the residential streets to a minimum. There are three wonderful parks which make life very enjoyable for children.

Another thing that draws families to Lawrence Park is The Granite Club, which is located two minutes north on Bayview Avenue.  The Granite Club is a family, athletic, dining, and social club.  It offers a range of services and activities that are too numerous to mention, but include something for every member of the family, ranging from five-pin bowling to computer classes, and from ballet and dance classes to art and wine societies.

Offered at $1,595.000

This home has been sold.

For more information or to view this gracious Lawrence Park home email Rosalin Smith-Carr or call 416-482-8330 ext. 3519

This Lawrence Park home has been sold.

Lawrence Park Home on Ample 50 Foot Lot Offers Abundant Space for a Growing Family is a post from: Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale

This traditional Moore Park home on a wide 40′ foot lot offers abundant space for a growing family. The attractive side centre-hall design with generously proportioned formal living and dining rooms, allows for easy entertaining.

The spacious eat-in kitchen opens to a delightful private garden with many flowering shrubs. The current owners enjoy the easy access to downtown, highly regarded schools and the much enjoyed stores, boutiques and restaurants on Mount Pleasant and Bayview in Toronto.

Featuring four bedrooms, two and half baths and a perfect teen retreat in the lower level, this very attractive home is perfect for a growing family.  The large third floor attic affords great possibilities for an ideal new master suite.

Extras included in this sale: Slate foyer, Dacor dual range, Bosch dishwasher, refrigerator, built-in microwave oven, second refrigerator in basement, all window treatments, all electric light fixtures, broadloom where laid, water softener, washer and dryer, furnace rental from Enbridge at $58.71/month.

Avail of this great opportunity- Moore Park four bedroom with private drive and generous lot.

This traditional side centre-hall home boasts excellent curb-appeal.

Offered at $899,000.

This home Moore Park home has been sold.

For more information or to view this traditional Moore Park home email Rosalin Smith-Carr or call 416-482-8330 ext. 3519

Traditional Large Four Bedroom Home Available in Toronto’s Moore Park is a post from: Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale

Comparing home sales in Lawrence Park for the period January to October 2008 with the same period in 2007.
Last year there were 51 homes sold, versus 35 in 2008, a 35% drop, but the average sale price managed to climb 10% from $1,969,000 to $2,164,000.

The median sale price also climbed from $1,705,000 to $1,975,000, an increase of 16 percent.

The listing (asking) price as a percentage of the sale price saw a minor adjustment from 100 per cent to 99 per cent. However, it took 12 days less to sell a home in this neighbourhood.

Lawrence Park and Leaside continue to defy the trends from most other markets throughout Canada.

Lawrence Park – Average and Median Sale Price, Days on The Market

Please note that because of privacy laws in Ontario, we are not able to publish individual addresses or selling prices of sold homes. Such information can only be given to you individually.

To receive complete information and details on any home sold, send me an email, or call me Rosalin Smith-Carr, at my direct line (416) 482-8330 ext. 3519

Do you know the value of your home in today’s market? Click here to receive a complete Opinion of Value by email. No one will visit.

November 2008 – Lawrence Park Market Report and Average Sale Price is a post from: Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale

Leaside sales came down by 33%, but the average sale price climbed by 13%.

Surprisingly, the listing price versus the sale price decreased from 104% to 97%, which is a relatively modest decline compared to other Toronto neighbourhoods. 

As I have mentioned before, Leaside buyers don’t appear to be too concerned about the economic turmoil in the U.S. and Canada.
Will they be proven right? The jury is still out.

Leaside 

There were 2,546 transactions recorded last month in the City of Toronto, an 11 per cent decline from the 2,854 sales in September 2007, and a five per cent drop from the 2,680 sales in September 2006.

The average price of $393,647 came down six per cent from the September 2007 average of $420,182.

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) showed a six per cent decline with 6,424 homes changing hands last month, compared to the 6,866 sales that took place in September 2007. The GTA resale housing market has seen home sales decline by 14 per cent from the 73,827 transactions recorded a year ago.

There have been 63,595 sales through the Toronto MLS system this year. In the City of Toronto, year-to-date sales have declined 16 per cent from last year’s figure of 30,059 to 25,257 transactions in 2008.

I will be reporting changes in these areas as they occur, so be sure to check back for the latest updates.

You can also have this information delivered direct to your inbox. Simply enter your email address in the section above “CATEGORIES” on the left-hand side the page.

Would you like to know the value of your home in today’s market?

Click “What is my home worth” and I will send you an evaluation by email.

Leaside Market Report and Average Sale Price – October 2008 is a post from: Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale

Home sales in Leaside comparing August 2007 with August 2008 using total homes sold, average sale price and days on the market. 

It is important to point out that these one month statics do not necessarily reflect a market trend. To keep abreast of home sales in Leaside visit our site frequently.  

One Year Home Sales Comparison – August 2007 to August 2008

For more information on any of these homes, call me at 416-482-8330 ext.3519 or send me an email,

Leaside Homes for Sale and Average Price – September 2008 is a post from: Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale

Circa 1910 wonderfully spacious three storey with prime mid-town address! Steps to Yonge St. with Rosedale boutiques, restaurants, ramsden park and subway.

Located on a premium 26.17′ x 140′ south lot. Slate floor foyer enters to open concept living and dining rooms, powder room and an inviting kitchen with fireplace! Sunny breakfast area overlooking treed street.

Walk-out  to private south-facing deck and low-maintenance garden. Two garages. Parking For Five Cars! Lower level teen-suite!

Extras include, fridge, stove, dishwasher, washer, dryer, all closet organizers. Back porch awning. Fridge, stove – 3rd Floor, 2 Microwaves.

Priced at $1,295,000

To receive more detailed information about this home, call Rosalin Smith-Carr at 416-482-8330 ext. 3519 or send me an email,

This home has been sold.

Prime Mid-Town Toronto Home with Five Car Parking Available for Sale is a post from: Toronto Real Estate-Toronto Homes For Sale