[SpongeG]

The five most expensive houses on the market

With banks raising mortgage rates, the Feds tightening regulations and house prices reaching feverish heights, it doesn't exactly seem like an ideal time to buy a house - unless, of course, you're loaded.

For the uber-rich Canadian searching for that perfect home, there's a wide variety of options including the largest house in Canada, which recently hit the market. As the Globe and Mail reports, the 65,000 square foot residence sits on 40 acres of property and is priced at $25 million. And while it boasts a boat house, two elevators and has an indoor pool, it's not exactly a move-in ready. There's no flooring and the bathrooms need work - two projects that could cost an extra $1 million.

And talk about location, location, location. Nestled next to the Quebec border in northern Ontario - the surrounding community of Haileybury is no doubt picturesque, but a long haul from any major city offering the glitz and glam that people in this price range are attracted to.

If this unfinished monster pad doesn't impress you, here's a list of Canada's five most expensive homes on the market that probably will:

1. If you've ever dreamed of owning your own private island, this 5,000 square foot dream home may be the place for you. Located in beautiful West Vancouver, this $29,800,000 residence features breathtaking ocean views, large green lawns and an outdoor pool.

2. Just down the road is another prize, valued at $24.8 million. The 7,000 square foot Grande Tudor residence sits on 1.56 acres of waterfront property and features a guest cottage, swimming pool and a nanny suite.

3. If country life is more your style, take a look at this 28,000 square foot Caledon country estate. For $24 million, you could stroll through your own "magical gardens," feed ducks in one of three spring-fed ponds, practice your backhand on a private tennis court or shoot clay pigeons on your own personal course.

4. Have you always wanted to live on Toronto's most exclusive street? Well here's your chance. For $23 million, you could be the proud owner of a 30,000 square foot Bridle Path estate which features an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, tennis courts and practice golf tee. There's also an eight-car garage - a perfect resting place for your fleet of luxury vehicles and vintage sports cars.

5. Let visions of royalty run wild in this $23 million Whistler castle. The French Chateau-inspired estate features its own private bay and sweeping views of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. There are five bedrooms...

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/yahoocanada/100412/canada/the_five_most_expensive_houses_on_the_market

[mylesmalley]

A 30,000 sq/ft house?!

[feepa]

This thread is nothing with out pictures...

[mike474]

That first house is far from architecturally stunning. Why would they build that on such prime land?

[Coldrsx]

^^what he said.

[agent_imperial]

That first house is far from architecturally stunning. Why would they build that on such prime land?

Agreed x2!

If you follow the link it has an absolutely horrid floor plan as well. :yuck: For example it doesn't even have a walk in closet in the master suite... WTF!

[Coldrsx]

but but for a mere $15,000,000 you can have a whole 3 bedrooms in Edmonton.

http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=9152085

[Phil McAvity]

I can't imagine Winnipeg has ever had a more expensive house than this:

http://images.realtor.ca/listing/reb7/highres/3/1007693_1.jpg?PhotoId=634080779758730000

http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=9415270

They're asking $7,450,000 which is a serious chunk of change in a city like Winnipeg with a depressed market.


That place pales in comparison to this place though in Montreal:

http://images.realtor.ca/listing/reb5/highres/8/83406181.jpg?PhotoId=634105198452100000

http://images.realtor.ca/listing/reb5/highres/8/83406184.jpg?PhotoId=634105198452270000

http://images.realtor.ca/listing/reb5/highres/8/83406182.jpg?PhotoId=634105198452130000

http://images.realtor.ca/listing/reb5/highres/8/83406183.jpg?PhotoId=634105198452200000

http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=9409675

Almost 42,000 square feet! The price tag for this place?

$27,000,000!

[someone123]

Yes, there is a tacky McMansion for any budget.

[Spoolmak]

holy crap

[SJTOKO]

Meh, this list doesn't impress me much. Get more for your money in the Martimes.

http://homes.point2.com/CA/New-Brunswick/Rural-SW-New-Brunswick/St-Andrews/15614272-Photos.aspx

http://homes.point2.com/CA/New-Brunswick/Rural-SW-New-Brunswick/St-Andrews/16941842-Real-Estate.aspx

http://www.fundybaylistings.com/St_Andrews/New_Brunswick/Homes/St_Andrews__Area/St_Andrews/Agent/Listing_883012.html

[PoscStudent]

This (http://homesplus.dcan-nl.com/details.php?propertyID=153486) is probably the most expensive home to ever come on the market in Newfoundland and Labrador, but it's still only $3,990,000.

[Andy6]

but but for a mere $15,000,000 you can have a whole 3 bedrooms in Edmonton.

http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=9152085

Does "generational estate" mean what we used to call an "old house"?

[Waterlooson]

After spending too much time checking out Canadian cities on Google Earth, I have concluded that Toronto and Vancouver (CMAs) each have so many mansions that it is amazing... no other parts of Canada even begins to come close to them (in numbers, size and beauty of mansions).... not even Montreal. If we leave Vancouver out of it, Toronto (CMA) has far more mansions than the rest of the country (combined). If we exclude Toronto (CMA), the Vancouver area (CMA) has far more mansions than the rest of the country (combined).

[MonctonRad]

After spending too much time checking out Canadian cities on Google Earth, I have concluded that Toronto and Vancouver (CMAs) each have so many mansions that it is amazing... no other parts of Canada even begins to come close to them (in numbers, size and beauty of mansions).... not even Montreal. If we leave Vancouver out of it, Toronto (CMA) has far more mansions than the rest of the country (combined). If we exclude Toronto (CMA), the Vancouver area (CMA) has far more mansions than the rest of the country (combined).

On a per capita basis, there are several seaside communities in the Maritimes like Saint Andrews By-The-Sea here in NB or Chester in NS that are probably even better endowed with mansions than Toronto. :)

[vid]

8988 Highway 99
Neighborhood: Alpine Meadows
Property Type: Vacant Land
Year Built: 0
Bedrooms: 5.00
Bathrooms: 7.00
Square Feet: 0.00
Lot Size: .66 acres

The historical value of this building, alone, probably factors into its high price. I mean, it predates its architectural style by over a millennium and is located on a continent that didn't see its first European for over 1000 years after it was built. It is almost as old as Jesus Christ!

I find the various errors on real estate websites mildly amusing.

[Riise]

The historical value of this building, alone, probably factors into its high price. I mean, it predates its architectural style by over a millennium and is located on a continent that didn't see its first European for over 1000 years after it was built. It is almost as old as Jesus Christ!

I find the various errors on real estate websites mildly amusing.

Thank you for making my afternoon!

[GDS]

After spending too much time checking out Canadian cities on Google Earth, I have concluded that Toronto and Vancouver (CMAs) each have so many mansions that it is amazing... no other parts of Canada even begins to come close to them (in numbers, size and beauty of mansions).... not even Montreal. If we leave Vancouver out of it, Toronto (CMA) has far more mansions than the rest of the country (combined). If we exclude Toronto (CMA), the Vancouver area (CMA) has far more mansions than the rest of the country (combined).

Go back to Google Earth and look again.

[SpongeG]

The historical value of this building, alone, probably factors into its high price. I mean, it predates its architectural style by over a millennium and is located on a continent that didn't see its first European for over 1000 years after it was built. It is almost as old as Jesus Christ!

I find the various errors on real estate websites mildly amusing.

haha thats cause its not built yet its vacant land and what its zoned for and what could be

[Vaillant]

in this top5 of most expensive houses they haven't put the 27 000 000$ residence in Montreal west island:yuck:

[zoomer]

Home in Victoria now a consulate for a couple Caribbean Islands. Smells fishy (not the house itself).

Uplands home a Caribbean consulate

By Kim Westad, Times Colonist June 2, 2010

One of the most expensive houses in Canada -- a waterfront Uplands home listed for sale a year ago at more than $28 million -- is now a consulate for St. Kitts and Nevis, two lush Caribbean Islands.

The 15,900-square-foot house, called Sweet Pea, is set on a hectare of land with more than 450 metres of waterfront. The house at 3195 Humber Rd. has seven bedrooms, an indoor swimming pool and spa, doors covered in gold leaf, manicured grounds, a desalination plant and an enhanced security system that slides shutters over windows at the touch of a button. .From the Times Colonist paper: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Uplands+home+Caribbean+consulate/3101577/story.html#ixzz0phhXIg2y

google map view here (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3195+humber+rd,+victoria+bc&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=42.515652,89.560547&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=3195+Humber+Rd,+Oak+Bay,+Capital+Regional+District,+British+Columbia+V8R+3T1&ll=48.448703,-123.29248&spn=0.005309,0.010933&t=h&z=17)

[vid]

They're a tax haven, so it kind of makes sense.

[Waterlooson]

Go back to Google Earth and look again.
Oh I checked out Montreal in depth (Google Earth)... Westmount is great, but relatively small... only a few mansions were shown to be getting rebuilt and not much in the way of new areas around Montreal building mansions... whereas mansions in Toronto & Vancouver are busting loose in so many different places... absolutely no comparison whatsoever! In that regard Vancouver is Canada's 2nd city, with T.O. as numero uno.

Montreal is very much old money not new (and boy, is that obvious), whereas Toronto and Vancouver are busting loose with new mansions ...
It's not surprising that Toronto wins for the number of mansions over any other Canadian city, but for its size Vancouver is amazing... check Google Earth out for yourself.

[dleung]

Actually, even in absolute numbers (not per-capita) Vancouver has more million-dollar houses than Toronto - roughly 65,000 vs 41,000, and 8000 for calgary. Of course, a million buys a lot less here.

[Waterlooson]

Actually, even in absolute numbers (not per-capita) Vancouver has more million-dollar houses than Toronto - roughly 65,000 vs 41,000, and 8000 for calgary. Of course, a million buys a lot less here.

The context of my comments regarded the size & number of mansions (rather than price)... we all know how expensive even a small house is in Vancouver (or West Vancouver) if it is located in a decent area.... so that skews the stats.

A small lot in Vancouver (just the lot) can be worth over $2 million. If we consider prices only, then yes, Vancouver has a lot of very expensive places.... even Whistler has that.

It would be interesting to normalize the housing prices (so comparable houses cost the same across Canada) and then compare the number of mansions in different Canadian cities... Vancouver would still be impressive.

[harls]

in this top5 of most expensive houses they haven't put the 27 000 000$ residence in Montreal west island:yuck:

Maybe because it wasn't on the market yet when that article was written? :shrug:

[yaletown_fella]

If you look on Google Earth looks like Bridle Path is going to beat its own record with a new mansion U/C.

[GDS]

Oh I checked out Montreal in depth (Google Earth)... Westmount is great, but relatively small... only a few mansions were shown to be getting rebuilt and not much in the way of new areas around Montreal building mansions... whereas mansions in Toronto & Vancouver are busting loose in so many different places... absolutely no comparison whatsoever! In that regard Vancouver is Canada's 2nd city, with T.O. as numero uno.

Montreal is very much old money not new (and boy, is that obvious), whereas Toronto and Vancouver are busting loose with new mansions ...
It's not surprising that Toronto wins for the number of mansions over any other Canadian city, but for its size Vancouver is amazing... check Google Earth out for yourself.

You have no idea what you are talking about it. You stated: "If we exclude Toronto (CMA), the Vancouver area (CMA) has far more mansions than the rest of the country (combined)." That is just plain ridiculous, you think there are more mansion in Vancouver then in the remainder of the country except Toronto, so apx where 28 million people live will be less then where 3 million people live. :koko:


I am not saying that Vancouver doesn't have an abundance of mansions, but not to that point. Not that you would even know where to look because when you mention Montreal you talk about Westmount where from an air photo you would have trouble iding mansions because they have a small footprint there because of the terrain but houses in general have 4 stories because they are built into the hill. What about Senneville or Hudson? New mansions - look at Domaine de la Rive Sud; 300 mansions built on lots ~25,000 sqft since 2006, and that is just one of hundreds of similar developments, but how would you know how to find them? What about the massive amount of huge houses that are around Mt. Tremblant and in Muskoka let alone other cities cottage countries?

I mean come on - get a clue.

[vid]

Even if you're just going by CMA statistics, there are dozens of mansions in the rural areas outside of Thunder Bay's CMA. Cheap as dirt too. You can live in a mansion for under $400,000 up here.

[Waterlooson]

You have no idea what you are talking about it. You stated: "If we exclude Toronto (CMA), the Vancouver area (CMA) has far more mansions than the rest of the country (combined)." That is just plain ridiculous, you think there are more mansion in Vancouver then in the remainder of the country except Toronto, so apx where 28 million people live will be less then where 3 million people live. :koko:

Claiming that someone else has no clue, and then providing an obvious fact that is largely irrelevant to support your statement is ridiculous in itself. So what if it's 28 million (actually more like 26 million) vs. less than 3 million, when the number of mansions per capita differs so markedly from one part of the country to an other? You haven't provided any proof that my claim was incorrect.... you only have made an inference based on a faulty assumption instead of providing the proof for your statement. So :koko: right back at cha.


I am not saying that Vancouver doesn't have an abundance of mansions, but not to that point. Not that you would even know where to look because when you mention Montreal you talk about Westmount where from an air photo you would have trouble iding mansions because they have a small footprint there because of the terrain but houses in general have 4 stories because they are built into the hill. What about Senneville or Hudson? New mansions - look at Domaine de la Rive Sud; 300 mansions built on lots ~25,000 sqft since 2006, and that is just one of hundreds of similar developments, but how would you know how to find them? What about the massive amount of huge houses that are around Mt. Tremblant and in Muskoka let alone other cities cottage countries?

I also did searches on mls.ca and found multi story mansions in Montreal that did have a small foot print, even so, Vancouver/Toronto greatly exceed the rest of the country regarding mansions.

I'm very familiar with Ontario's cottage country areas... prices are also skewed due to very high waterfront land values (similar issue with Vancouver) ... but having said that, recall what dleung stated above... Vancouver has around 65,000 homes worth over $ 1 million... while Canada's richest city (GDP/capita) Calgary (with about half Vancouver's population) only has about 8,000... The Vancouver/Calgary comparison demonstrates rather nicely how your assumption is utterly bogus... even after you adjust for cost differentials.

I think the issue here is that you can't get you mind around the fact that Montreal has slipped so far relative to Vancouver regarding the number of mansions each has. Vancouver got so much investment from the US and Asia (especially China) in real estate that Montreal just got left behind.

Sorry, it may be shocking, but it's true.

[GDS]

Claiming ...

I'm very familiar with Ontario's cottage country areas... prices are also skewed due to very high waterfront land values (similar issue with Vancouver) ... but having said that, recall what dleung stated above... Vancouver has around 65,000 homes worth over $ 1 million... while Canada's richest city (GDP/capita) Calgary (with about half Vancouver's population) only has about 8,000... The Vancouver/Calgary comparison demonstrates rather nicely how your assumption is utterly bogus... even after you adjust for cost differentials.

I think the issue here is that you can't get you mind around the fact that Montreal has slipped so far relative to Vancouver regarding the number of mansions each has. Vancouver got so much investment from the US and Asia (especially China) in real estate that Montreal just got left behind.

Sorry, it may be shocking, but it's true.

It's pretty moronic to contradict yourself in the same post. You use a statistic to say that Vancouver has 7 times more million dollar homes then Calgary as proof that Vancouver will have more mansions then the rest of the country minus Toronto combined but just before that you say that Toronto's cottage country doesn't have as many mansion because the property values are skued because they are waterfront properties which is a similar to what happens in Vancouver meaning that price doesn't correlate with size.

Size does not correlate to price. Using Montreal as an example, a 10,000+ sq ft home can range for 700k to 15 million within the CMA.

Secondly, please don't think that panning around on Google Earth is some kind of proof. You have no facts to back up your statements, its heresay to your observations with blinders on Google Earth.

Nor was I trying to say that Montreal would have more mansions then Vancouver. That wouldn't suprise me in the least. Despite having a lower level of condo construction, Montreal has a large stock of older neighbourhoods with large expensive houses that would not qualify as today's mansions. Like this (http://montoit.cyberpresse.ca/habitation/200510/11/01-867934-la-maison-tourville-d039outremont.php) house just sold for 5.3 million in Outremont.

What is obvious though is that the province of Quebec plus the province of Ontario minus the GTA plus all the Atlantic provinces plus the Prairie provinces plus everything the province of BC except Vancouver would undoubtably have more mansions then what would be found in the Vancouver CMA.

[Waterlooson]

It's pretty moronic to contradict yourself in the same post. You use a statistic to say that Vancouver has 7 times more million dollar homes then Calgary as proof that Vancouver will have more mansions then the rest of the country minus Toronto combined but just before that you say that Toronto's cottage country doesn't have as many mansion because the property values are skued because they are waterfront properties which is a similar to what happens in Vancouver meaning that price doesn't correlate with size.

Actually, what's moronic is not understanding the difference between a contradiction and a paradox... I said that even after you adjust for inflated land prices (in several parts of Canada including Vancouver), Vancouver still has more mansions than the the rest of Canada (excluding the Toronto area)... Get it? So I agree that this isn't just a matter of price. BTW, Vancouver has over 8 times as many homes > $ 1million than Calgary (not 7 times), so check your multiplication tables before you post. ;)

Secondly, please don't think that panning around on Google Earth is some kind of proof. You have no facts to back up your statements, its heresay to your observations with blinders on Google Earth.

Heresay? There is no such word. Maybe you meant hearsay or was it heresy?

Hearsay: 1. Information heard from another.
2. Law. Evidence based on the reports of others rather than the personal knowledge of a witness and therefore generally not admissible as testimony.

I'm referring to satellite and street level imagery in addition to information from mls.ca ... none of which qualifies as "hearsay"! That information is objective and anyone can see it with their own eyes... it's not some secondhand account I may have heard... Understand the difference?


Or perhaps you meant "heresy":1. a. An opinion or a doctrine at variance with established religious beliefs, especially dissension from or denial of Roman Catholic dogma by a professed believer or baptized church member. b. Adherence to such dissenting opinion or doctrine.
2. a. A controversial or unorthodox opinion or doctrine, as in politics, philosophy, or science. b. Adherence to such controversial or unorthodox opinion.

Yeah, that fits better. The only thing I contradicted was your preconceived outdated notions.... and to you that amounted to heresy.
Open your eyes (and your mind) and accept the evidence. Otherwise, it's only you who will lose (in arithmetic, spelling, diction, logic and knowledge), and that's no way to go through life son. ;)

One thing I really noticed from Google Earth was that both Toronto and Vancouver have so many new mansions under construction.... both leave the rest of the country in the dust... so they are extending their lead.

What is obvious though is that the province of Quebec plus the province of Ontario minus the GTA plus all the Atlantic provinces plus the Prairie provinces plus everything the province of BC except Vancouver would undoubtably have more mansions then what would be found in the Vancouver CMA.

That's not an obvious fact... it's an obvious assumption that you insist on believing ... show us the proof! Places like Atlantic Canada, Sask and MB have very few mansions. Even K-W/Cambridge/Guelph (population over 650,000), which are more affluent than the Canadian average, have very few mansions. Waterloo - just by itself - with Canada's most successful tech companies, has no fewer than 3 billionaires, and more millionaires than you could count... yet it has very few mansions.

I maintain, that my research/observations are better than your assumptions.

[GDS]

Actually I wrote 7 times more which is equal to 8 times as many. You should have learnt that in grade 4. Did you pass grade 4 yet?

Nitpicking on my typos is really infantile and a cute way of showing your arrogance. I meant to write hearsay because you have no knowledge period of where to look for mansions for the entire country, nor did you even count how many there are in Vancouver. The second hand information is from your impressions of Montreal and the rest of the country's quantity. You are just starting a rumour. I typically write in french, so pardon the spelling mistake.

Now if you had some CAMA data or GIS data or something period that you used to back up your claim it would be one thing. But with Google Earth and properties for sale on MLS - then you are just running your mouth off.

But anyways, that's it for me, good luck with all that.

[SpongeG]

what is a mansion?