I have watched 38 Victor Avenue change hands twice in less than a year.  In each case the Real Estate Agent suggested changes in the house to increase its value.

I watched Seller #1 paint the entire house a lighter colour and put in new carpeting.

Buyer #1/Seller #1 repainted the entire house and fluffed it

The other day I was looked out the window and saw this

There was the carpet that Seller #1 spent $900 a year ago, taken up and put out for the trash.

In additions, painters have been in and out for a week changing the colours again.

So explain to me why Real Estate Agents suggest making all these changes when the new buyers do what they want anyway. Not sure who the makeover benefits?

Okay, so you know you need to spruce up before you sell. But how much money do you pour into the house you’re vacating? According to a 2005 study conducted by Maritz Research for Royal LePage, 54 per cent of Canadians believe that $2,000 or more is the magic number. And they’re right. Toronto-based real estate agent Michele Chan says most well-maintained homes merit $2,000 to $2,500 in small fix-ups, though Tim Badgley, designer and co-owner of Acanthus Interiors in Port Hope, Ont., argues that even a meager $1,000 goes a long way in paint and throw pillows. Listen to home editor Virginie Martocq as she breaks down by price just how far $1000 can go.

Asking Price: $899,000

Will it hit One Million?

Description:

Victor Victorian! Impecably Restored Masterpiece. This 1892 Beauty Has Been Carefully Returned To It’s Original Architectural Splendeur. Elegant Decor, Formal Rooms, Dramatiic* Decor, High Ceil ,Period Details, Mouldings,Stained Glass, Window Transoms, The List Goes On. Fabulous Gourmet Kitchen W/Tin Ceiling, Island & Loads Of Storage. Walk Out To Large Deck, W/ Lush Gardens, Rare Private Dr & Parking. Design & Decor By Top Firm Powell & Bonell. Feat’d On Hgtv

* more proof real estate agents can’t spell

More pictures here

3 Victor Avenue Panania

Stunning Family Home on 734m2 Block

$575,000

Set in sought after Victor Avenue location opposite a park, is this beautifully renovated 3 bedroom family home. Set on a huge 734 square metre block, this stunning home boasts a large stylish kitchen with dishwasher, plus updated bathroom and two toilets. Immaculately presented throughout, this spacious home features formal lounge and dining rooms, opening to a covered entertaining patio and huge grassed backyard with double carport. Location, Location, Location! This is the one you’ve been waiting for. For further details and for all inspections, please phone Belinda Owsnett on 0417 433 313.

Oops wrong country

$699,000 with PARKING

Super Huge Family Home In Riverdale! Rare 5+ Bdr Home With Main Floor Family Room! One Bdr Basement Apartment(7.6 Foot Ceilings) With Sep Entr! 9 Foot Ceilings On Main, Fireplace, Walk Out To Deck From Family Room! 4 Bathrooms, Skylights. Wonderful 3rd Floor Master Retreat With 4Pce Ens, Private Open Den & Nursery/Office! Coveted Withrow School District! Steps To Riverdale Park, Ttc & Greektown! Freshly Painted Thru/Out. Spacious And Bright Rooms! Shows Well!**** EXTRAS **** Ss Fridge, 2 Stoves, B/I D/W, B/I Micro(Bsmt), Front Loading W/D. Gb&E(07) & Cac (2006). All Elf’s, Window Coverings, BrdlmW/Laid. Shed And Treehouse In B/Y. Ceiling Fans. Hwt(R) Alarm(R)Approx $35/Mo. Open House Sat & Sun 2-4!

The lot beside this house was severed to create 71 Victor Avenue.

See that blue Honda Civic in the backyard. Has anyone ever seen it move.

Update

Rob and Russell and their Wheaten Terrier, Oscar, bought the house in 1992. Russell died and Oscar moved to Edmonton. Now, Rob and Chip live there. No pets

This information was collected by word of mouth from residents or from information found by searching on the net. It may not be completely correct. If you have corrections/information please comment.

• Demographics for Riverdale
• Another great site for Researching Riverdale
• Reason why the great site below is not longer working. Appears the Toronto Real Estate Board didn’t like the competition.
• Here is the launch story for Real Estate Plus
• Check this out as Street Addresses are out but prices are as reported (ca n’t get it to work)
  
• #3 listed at $599,000 sold for $664, 333
• #3 listed at $699000 sold September 2009 $675,000
• # 7 listed at $599.000 sold before the open house for 670K$ on 2007-04-17
• # 14 sold for $926,042 in March’04
• #15 listed at $629,000 sold for $629,000 May 2009
  
• # 16 listed at $689,000 (2006) sold for $650,000
• #38 listed at $679,000 (Aug 2008) sold Aug 2008 $673,000
• # 38 listed at $659,900 sold for $678,000 May 2009
• # 40 listed at $459,000 March 2007) sold for $610,000
• #40 listed at $769,000 June 2009 sold July 2009 for $760,000
• # 51 listed at $729,000 sold $665,000 Feb 2009
• # 53 listed at $619,000 sold at 690K and the Globe wrote about it.
• #55 listed at $499K and sold for 515K
• #55 relisted at 729K sold for $760,000
• #56 listed at $569,000 sold for $610,000
• #73 listed at $899,000 Sept 2009 sold for $899000
• #81 listed at $599,000 June 2006
• #107 listed at $749,900 sold for $715,000 July 2008
• #111 listed at $465,000 sold for $460,000
• #113 listed at $489,900 sold for $489,000
• #114 listed at $439,900 sold for $455,000
• #118 listed at $459,000 sold for $405,000 June 2008
• # 118 listed at $719,000 sold for $690,000 May 2009
• #121 listed at $699,000 sold at 695,000 in 13 days
• #123 was listed for $489,000 and sold for $537,500
• #141 listed at $595,000
• #157 listed at $799,000
• #137 listed at $519,000
• #211 listed at $475,000
• #37 Howland listed at $749,000

Here is the site to read about the Don Jail Tours

Victor Avenue 1890

These are the houses that existed on Victor Avenue in 1890.  (Research by Colin Gerrard)

No 10; KEANE Cynthia (widow Albert)

No 12; POWELL Francis R

No 52; SWANTON Samuel

No 54; SCHOFF Elgin

No 111; vacant

No 113; vacant

No 115; TAYLOR William

No 117; POLLOCK John

No 119; vacant

No 121; vacant

No 123; vacant

No 125; vacant

I have been criticized for telling what houses are listed and sold for on Victor but I found this information invaluable when I appealed my house assessment.  This information should not be private since house assessement in Toronto is Market Based and market data is not readily available.  I found one house that was assessed for $200,000 for less than was paid for it.

15 Victor Avenue  – $629,000

Price:$629,000.00Beds/Baths:4+2 / 3Address:15 Victor Ave, TorontoMLS#:MLS� # E1610072more details

Prime Riverdale: Wonderful Family Home(Circa 1907). Solid Brick, *2 1/2 Storeys*4 Br’s*Legal Front Pad Parking*Basement Apt W/ Separate Entrance(Not Rented)*Open Concept Lr & Dr W/

38 Victor Avenue -$678,000

Prime riverdale Just listed Classic Riverdale beauty. Lge 3 stry brick semi. 4+ bedrooms, hardwood flrs, 4 baths, Xtra high bsmt….ready to rent. Private landscaped yard. Good Mechanics. Shows a 10! $659,900. OH Sat & Sun 2-4pm. 38 Victor Ave. Christine

Prime riverdale Just listed Classic Riverdale beauty. Lge 3 stry brick semi. 4+ bedrooms, hardwood flrs, 4 baths, Xtra high bsmt….ready to rent. Private landscaped yard. Good Mechanics. Shows a 10! $659,900. OH Sat & Sun 2-4pm. 38 Victor Ave. Christine Breen, 416-462-1888. Re/Max Hallmark Realty

118 Victor Avenue – $690,000

E1552485 – E01 – 118 VICTOR AVE,TORONTO, Ontario, Canada – $719,000

Renovated Riverdale Beauty! Completely Redone From Top To Bottom, Stained Glass Windows,Beautiful Designer Palette, Great Flow, New Gourmet Kitchen With Granite Counters & New Stainless Steel Appliances, Two New Bath, New Hardwood & Broadloom Throughout, New Electrical, Plumbing & Heating, Finished Lower Level & Parking For 3. 2009 Survey Available. See Photo Gallery. Oh Sat & Sun 7th & 8th 2-4 Pm**** EXTRAS **** Frgidaire Stainless Steel Fridge, Stove,…

This is  research done by Colin Gerrard on his house.

81 Victor Avenue History feb/09/08

1892- 5 houses unfinished (#73-81).

1891-1908; Ward 1, Div 2.

1916; Ward 1, Div 3.

No 81

1893-1895; 1^st occupant SMITH, Isaac D, Salesman Furrier (28 yrs)

(BLACK Thomas (o)-1893-1900. $450 + $1250)

1896-1897; HOGG, Thomas, Conductor Toronto Railway

1898-1900; STEWARD, Ansell C, (49 yrs, 4 people, 1 child -$1350)

Clerk for Heir & Devisee Court Osgoode Hall

1901-1906; THOMAS, Lucien J, Stereo Views & supplies (349 Spadina Ave.) (owner-1901-1906, 37yrs, 6 people incl 1 child. $480 + $1200)

1907; CHAPMAN, Elizabeth Mrs. Frederick, Plumber

(McKAY, James & Ellen (o)-1907-1932)

1908; CHAPMAN, Robert, Plumber (30 yrs)

1909-1920; DOUGLAS, Joseph R, Accountant for Anglo-American Fire, (47yrs 5 people) (1915 2194)

1921-1926; McKAY, Ellen  (o-39 for 1940 to 44 for 1945)

(5 people $1031 + $1350)

1927; Vacant

1928; TUTT, Harry, Immigration Agent for Ontario Government Imm. Office

1929; CALLIGHEN, Harry A, Hardware (583 Gerrard Street E) GE8647?

CALLIGHEN, John, Clerk

CALLIGHEN, Aileen, Clerk

CALLIGHEN, Richard J, employed by Dom Bridge Co.

1930-1931; ALLEN, Alex DG, Painter.

1932; JONES, Thos A, Carpenter

1933-1951; NIMMO, Catherine Mrs. (widow Robert) employed by Ruth McDougall Town & Country Wear (o-for 1949 for 1950)

1952; Vacant.

1953-1956; BANNICK, Stanley (o-for 1954 for 1955)

1953-1954; ETHERIDGE, Harry no job

1955; SKAU, Hans employed by St. Clair Oil Burners

1956-1957; ENRIGHT, John A, charger Dept. Street Cleaning?

1957; HASTINGS, May Mrs. (widow Harland)

FOOTE, Douglas, packer for Nerlich & Co.

GOODE, Hugh C, Order filler for Dingle Davidson Ltd.

ROY Fred & Elda (o-for 1959 for 1960 to 64 for ’65)

1958-1961; WARD, John, no job

1960-1961; SWEENEY, Nan, no job

1962; HACHAY, Henry, employed by Rapid Grip & Batten

WILLIAMS, Martin, shpr Woolworths

ROBERGE, Robert, no job

1963; BAXTER, James,

BAXTER, Robert, employed by City parking.

1964-1969; MATHEWS, Edward, employed by Lever Bros.

1965; BOUCHER, Ronald, no job.

1966; McLEOD, Joe, no job.

1967-1969; PARSONS, Randall, labourer.

1970-1972; KARASPILIOU, Antonia, (o-1969 for ’70) teller for The Bank of Nova Scotia.

1973-1976 LOW, Mo-Nin, (o-1974 for 1975) cook for Happy Garden

KELLY, Jessie Mrs. No job.

1977-1986; LOW Henry, cook (o).

1987;?

1988-1991; TAM, Oilai, no job.

1992-1993; KWAN, Kiu Lam, (o) no job.

1994; LI, Qui-Rong, student.

1995; LIU, Hui Juan

MARK, Kin

1996-2006; MacDONALD, Hadley (o).

1998?-2006; McLAREN, Hugh.

2006-; GERRARD, Colin (o)

2006-; GRIFFEY, Martin (o).

Again this is the research of Colin Gerrard 81 Victor

THE STREET- VICTOR AVENUE

St Matthew’s Ward:

The dates of the houses built on Victor Avenue and the First Occupant’s names are taken from the Toronto Directories and Assessments and are 1 year earlier than the printed dates). All details are taken in the fall of the previous year.

NB: There have never been any records for numbers;

North side

2, 34, 84, 86, 88, 90, 94, 138, 202, 204,

South side

65, 67, 69, 89, 91, 127, 129, 131, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193 & 195.

163 ex Store?

Intersections:

Howland Road: Numbers 125/133 & 136/140.

Logan Avenue: Numbers 163/197 & 180/182.

Victor Avenue ends with Numbers 226 & No 237.

1887 (actually1886) unfinished houses.

1888

North side

SE house, private grounds x 3, vacant lots x 3, unfinished house x 1.

1e of Broadview- CATHRO William H ( Cathro, Kent & Rogers. Moved after 1 year to 54 Broadview)

2e of Broadview – BERTRAM Jacob (car conductor. Moved after 1 year to 1 Bell)

3e of Broadview – FLINT Albert J (of Grote & Flint. Moved after 1 year to Quebec)

4e of Broadview – SCHOFF Elgin (Barrister at 90 Church street)

South side-not built on.

NB: These numbers never existed in the directories after this year.

1889

North side

No 6; GREER John (of Smith, Rae & Greer)

No 8; POWELL Frank R

No 22; STROWGER Walter

These numbers were not present for the next few years.

South side

6-8 x unfinished houses.

1890

North side

No 10; KEANE Cynthia (widow Albert)

No 12; POWELL Francis R

No 52; SWANTON Samuel

No 54; SCHOFF Elgin

Howland Road

No 144; JUTSON Thomas

No 146; MANDER Henry

No 148; DUNTON Silas

No 150; ANDERSON John C

South side

No 111; vacant

No 113; vacant

No 115; TAYLOR William

No 117; POLLOCK John

No 119; vacant

No 121; vacant

No 123; vacant

No 125; vacant

Howland Road

1891

North side

No 124; McCORD Samuel

South side

No 111; POOLE William

No 113; JOHNSON Charles

No 119; POULTON William

No 121; PATTERSON J A

No 123; WORTH Robert

No 125; PHILLIPS John

Howland Road

1892

North side

No 100; ALLISON John

No 102; vacant

No 118; POLLOCK John

No 120; CRAWFORD John

No 122; McCORD Samuel

No 124; MOORE Harry

No 126; JOHNSTON Adam

No 128; vacant

No 130; MacBEAN Angus

No 132; WALTON Franklin

Howland Road

1893

North side

No 102; SUMMERS George

No 104; GIBLING George

No 128; THORN Charles

Howland Road

South side

No 73; BRADLEY Albert

No 75; ALISON Andrew

No 77; CHRISHOLM Daniel

No 79; MABLEY Elisha T

No 81; SMITH Isaac D

Howland Road

No 197; vacant

No 199; BONGARD Conrad

1894

North side

No 8; ADIE Edward

South side

Howland Road

No 197; HILL Alexander

1895

North side

Logan Store se

1897

North side

No 96; unfinished

No 98; unfinished

1898

North side

No 96; HARRISON George

No 98; WILSON John

1903

North side

Howland Road

No 158; PERSALL John C

No 160; vacant

South side

No 23; WOODCROFT William

No 109; GRACEY William

1904

North side

No 134; vacant

No 136; DIMOND Arthur

Howland Road

No 142; TEDD Joseph

No 152; CALLIGHEN Ernest

No 154; NEWTON George

No 160; GALLAGHER James

No 168; ROBB Alfred

No 170; vacant

South side

No 105; BURNILL Walter

No 107; FREEMAN Henry

4 x unfinished houses

1905

North side

No 58; SPARKHALL William

No 60; WEST Albert

No 62; IGLESTROM Frederick W

No 64; FARRINGER Carl

No 66; AUSTIN William

No 68; ROBINSON Edwin

No 134; REDWAY Stanley

Howland Road

No 170; DAVIS James

South side

No 37; YATES George

No 39; WARNAULT Octave

No 41; BULLEY Charles

No 43; LISTER Henry

No 45; MORROW William

No 47; JOHNSTON Edward

No 99; PINKERTON James A

No 101; HENTHORN Adam

Howland Road

1906

North side

No 16; vacant

No 28; BRICK John

No 50; CALLADINE John K (no record of No 50 in 1908-possibly changed house number, Calladine lived in No 46 in 1908)

No 70; vacant

No 72; vacant

No 92; vacant

No 112; vacant

No 114; vacant

No 116; vacant

Howland Road

South side

No 25; SPARLING William

No 27; LYDIATT Mrs. Bertha

No 29; HUTTON Mrs. Mary

No 31; CASHMAN Albert E

No 53; SHERIDEN Frederick

No 55; DAY Frederick W

No 57; BLACKLOCK Stephen

No 59; vacant

No 61; RAWLESS George

No 63; PYE Charles

No 103; vacant

Howland Road

No 133; LYONS William

No 135; PATTERSON George S

No 137; PRITCHARD Robert

No 139; DOLSON George

No 141; vacant

No 143; WILLIAMS Mrs. Sarah

No 145; WATT John

No 147; DICKEY Alfred

No 149; HAYDEN George

1907

North side

No 14; McCORD Samuel

No 16; GRADY John

No 18; GRADY John

5 x unfinished houses

No 70; LIGHTLE Robert J

No 72; URMY George W

2x unfinished houses

No 92; AYRE Howard

No 112; YORKE George F

No 114; ANDREWS William

No 116; CHALMERS George

Howland Road

No 162; WILLIAMSON George

No 164; MITCHELL Edward

No 166; GILL William

South side

No 33; vacant

No 35; McBRIDE Mrs. Monica

No 59; McCLURE Mrs. Ann

No 103; MILLWARD John

Howland Road

No 141; DALE George W

No 151; McGRATH Henry A

No 153; unfinished

No 155; unfinished

Logan Avenue

1908

North side

No 30; CONBOY Daniel

No 36; EDWARD John

No 38; FROST Harold R

No 40; GRAHAM Samuel R

No 42; DOBSON William C T

No 44; MORRISON James

No 46; CALLADINE John K

No 74; ASMUS Charles

No 76; HOOD Arthur

No 78; vacant

No 80; vacant

No 82; MacLEAN Donald

Howland Road

No 172; MISKELLY William

No 174; HODGKINSON Joseph

No 176; FISHER Alfred

No 178; LUCAS Charles

Logan Avenue

No 192; Sporting Goods store;

APPLETON Walter when did 192 become a store?

South side

No 1; MAINS Henry

No 3; MILLER A J

No 5; BROWN Walter

No 7; DAVIE Robert

No 9; WEST H Glanville (music teacher)

No 11; WEBSTER Colin

No 13; LIGHTLE William

No 15; TOBINS William

No 17; vacant

No 19; vacant

No 21; MILLS William

No 33; GUNN Rev. William T

No 93; vacant

No 95; vacant

No 97; vacant

Howland Road

No 153; vacant

No 155; HERRON Archibald G

No 157; JUDGE Thomas

No 159; BODY James

No 161; DOUGLAS John

No 163; BRODIE William C (becomes a grocery store in 1910)

1909

North side

No 32; HILL Richard J

No 78; WESTAWAY William

No 80; CATES William

South side

No 17; LEWIS John

No 19; ROSS Donald C

No 93; GREY Thomas

No 95; WHALEY William

No 97; SEAL Robert

Howland Road

No 153; HAZEL Mrs. Etta

Logan Avenue

No 205; DAVIE Alfred A

1910 North side

No 108; DOHERTY Robert

No 110; MACIVER John K

No 182; BARRETT Mrs. Ann J

South side

No 49; JOHNSTON Frank

No 51; DAY Frederick W

No 83; NORRIS Mrs. Jetta

1911

North side

No 182; McFADYEN Thos, Arthur & George.

No 184; BARRETT Mrs. Ann

South side

Logan Avenue

No 205; vacant

1912

North side

No 106; TRAILL Mrs. Agnes H

Howland Road

No 140; RIDOUT Samuel

Logan Avenue

No 194; vacant

South side

No 85; vacant

No 87; GILCHRIST Hugh

Logan Avenue

No 203; EYOY Jeremy

No 211; WAUCHOPE Thos W

No 213;

1913

North side

Logan Avenue

South side

No 85; YOUNG Henry

1914

North side

No 20; SHRUBB Alfred

Logan Avenue

South side

Logan Avenue

No 201; TURNBULL Rev John R

No 207; vacant

No 209; PRESTON Leon

13 x unfinished houses

1915

North side

Logan Avenue

No 226; BAILEY John

South side

Logan Avenue

No 205; MANN Albert

No 207; vacant

1916

South side

Logan Avenue

No 207; FRYDAY Frank

No 211;  WAUCHOPE Thos

No 213; CURZON John

No 215; ANDREWS John

No 217; RICHARDS Mrs. Mary

No 219; COX Arthur

No 221; McLAREN John

No 223; LOCKE William S

GIBSON John E

No 225; McCAULEY Annie

No 227; RIGNEY Mary A

RIGNEY Kate Music teacher

1917

North side

Howland Road

No 156; LEMON William J

No 180; LUCAS Chas R

1920

North side

Logan Avenue

No 218; SPALL Arthur F

No 220; WHITE Frank T

No 222; RICHARDSON Jas

No 224; SCOTT William A

No 226; DRYBOROUGH David

1923

North side

Logan Avenue

No 206; STEVENS Mrs. Edna

No 208; HAMLIN William G

No 210; SIMMONS Isidore

No 212; MUTLOW Jas

No 214; COLEMAN Mrs. Agnes

No 216; COLES Jas

1924

North side

No 56/56A; vacant

South side

Logan Avenue

No 229; RYAN John

No 231; HAYMAN Syrtle

No 233; LOCK John

No 235; McFAYDEN Archibald

No 237; SHERIFF David

1925

North side

No 56/56A; 56; BLACKLOCK Margaret A

56A; BEATTY William

Logan Avenue

No 194; CONNOLLY John C

No 196; DOUGLAS Geo

No 198; JOHNSTON Robert

No 200; CAY William

1960

South side

Howland Road

No 163; Stitchcraft Specialist Sportswear Store

(1950-Sinclair’s Bakery)

(1988-became residence to POTVIN R A –owner of the store to at least 2001)

1976

North side

No 48/50;

No 48;McCARTEN M

1978/9

North side

No 48/50;

No 50; McCARTEN J

1981/82

North side

No 8; Riverdale Park Nursery School

(1950-Catholic Children’s Nursery School)

(Closed in 1983, Apartments built in 1988)

1988

North side

No 4; WIATR Edward

No 6; LAI Simon

No 8; CHANCE H

South side

No 9a; TOUSIGNANT Jocelyn

No 9b; MOFFAT T S

No 49; vacant A?

No 49; CRONENBERG D

HAGAN Rex

1999

South side

No 71; who?