Beginner's Luck

When the condo market went cold, these 20-somethings pounced to buy their starter home

- BY LINDSEY KING

The Buyers: Anna Cianni, 29, who works in film, and Ethan Solomon, 27, an account executive at a legal software company. The Story: After nearly six years as a couple, Anna and Ethan were ready to move in together. They'd been saving money by living with their respective families while watching the market closely. By November of 2024, Toronto's glut of condos had created a buyer's market, so they decided it was time. On their wish list were two bedrooms, a south-facing view, and above all, a kitchen built for cooking and hosting—a rarity in the city's condos. They set a budget of $750,000 and began their search.

1 Yonge Street near Finch

Listed at $699,000

Unsold

IN THEIR first few months of hunting, Anna and Ethan saw roughly 20 units with no luck. Then they came upon this two-bedroom condo in Willowdale and loved its open-concept design and 250-square-foot wraparound balcony. But the amenities—including an ancient golf simulator and a party room with peeling walls—looked old and shabby. The death blow came during their second viewing, when they realized that one of the bathrooms' toilets stood next to the balcony's floor-to-ceiling window, which felt bizarre and invasive. They passed.

2 Bloor Street near Parliament

Listed at $699,000

Unsold