Hunting for the perfect location

Couple wanted to be close to downtown, but not too close, and have easy access to nature

- CAROLA VYHNAK

Anima Hossain and Prateek Madhikar are enjoying their new home, an upper-unit, stacked condo townhouse in Etobicoke. When they started house-hunting in April, Madhikar was living with her family in Scarborough and Hossain was renting an apartment in Kitchener. "We were ready to have a home we could call ours," explains Madhikar.

The buyers Anima Hossain and Prateek Madhikar

What they wanted Two-bedroom townhouse; budget $750,000 to $900,000

Their agent Dakwan Henry

Hossain, 27, and Madhikar, 30, had been saving separately for a home for several years. Combined, they had about $200,000 for a downpayment.

When they started house-hunting in April, she was living with her family in Scarborough and he was renting an apartment in Kitchener.

“We were ready to have a home we could call ours,” Madhikar explains.

The search While neither one knew much about the process, they say Henry prepared them well, explaining the steps and market realities, while providing advice and insight on listings.

“The biggest thing for us was location,” Madhikar says. They wanted to be close to downtown, but not too close. They also wanted access to nature and green space and to live in a neighbourhood where they could walk places.

The right home would have two good-sized bedrooms; a decent kitchen with an island and gas stove, so they could do a lot of cooking; and “good sunlight” and central air-conditioning.