Royal LePage study says $1 million can buy a mansion or a fixer-upper

Saskatoon offered the largest lot size for $1 million, where it says homes for that price were virtually unheard of a decade ago.

The study examined two-storey homes in seven Canadian markets in January 2017.

“There are striking differences in the options available for those who are looking to purchase a $1 million two-storey home in Canada,” Dianne Usher, senior vice president of Johnston and Daniel, a division of Royal LePage, said in a news release.

“However, significant value can still be found in the suburbs or city-centres like Saskatoon and Montreal, where homes are more affordable, landing you substantially more home with better features as a result.”

Alberta’s recent economic downturn is good for buyers — and bad for sellers — in Calgary. The report says purchasers looking for $1 million two-storey properties in that city get about the same value they did 10 years ago.

In January 2017, the average property selling for $1 million in Calgary had 3.3 bedrooms, 2.8 bathrooms, 2,477 sq. ft. of living area and a lot size of 7,004 sq. ft.

In Toronto 10 years ago, the report says buyers got a lot more for seven figure. Home searches in the $1 million price range in 2007 often produced larger, fully upgraded homes in prominent areas like Rosedale, Leaside and Lawrence Park.

It said Montreal’s prices have been rising since 2007, but the city still offered a substantial amount of home for $1 million.

The profile of a $1 million buyer was also found to vary by region. Developers and first-time buyers dominated the $1 million two-storey property segment in Canada’s largest metropolitan areas. Wealthy young to middle-aged professional couples with children acted as the predominant purchasers elsewhere.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Royal LePage study says $1 million can buy a mansion or a fixer-upper

What's Happening