777 Steeles Ave W: A 72-Suite Boutique Mid-Rise at Bathurst and Steeles

777 Steeles Avenue West is a building most buyers drive past without noticing, and that is part of its appeal. It is a seven-storey, 72-suite mid-rise from 2008 at Bathurst and Steeles, with roomy suites, a security guard and a fee that covers heat and parking. It will not suit everyone, and I will tell you who should look elsewhere. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A small building on the city’s northern edge

Seventy-two suites over seven floors makes this one of the smaller condominiums on the Steeles corridor. You share the lobby and elevators with a few dozen households rather than several hundred, and listing descriptions call it a boutique building. In my experience, a building this size tends to attract owner-occupiers who stay for years.

Steeles is the city limit here. The building sits on the Toronto side, so you pay Toronto property tax and fall under Toronto rules, while Thornhill and Vaughan start across the road. That matters for shopping and services, because much of the daily retail at this intersection is on the Vaughan side.

I could not confirm the original developer or architect from a reliable source; condos.ca does not list one either. If that matters to you, ask the property manager or look at the condominium declaration, which names the declarant.

Suites that are bigger than the norm

The suite range, about 609 to 1,577 sq ft, is the main reason I bring buyers here. The smallest suites are larger than many one-bedrooms in new towers, and several plans include a den, which in a suite this size usually means a room you can actually use as an office or a guest room.

The building also has lower penthouse suites on the upper floors, including corner plans. On a seven-storey building, a top-floor suite gets you a wider view over the low-rise neighbourhood rather than a skyline, and fewer neighbours above you.

Listing details show suites coming with parking and a locker, which is common in buildings of this era. Do not assume it for every suite: confirm on the status certificate that the space and locker are owned and transfer with the unit you are buying.

In a building this size, the gap between a corner suite and an interior one is large. Corner and end-of-corridor plans get more exterior wall and more natural light, while interior suites can feel darker for the same square footage. Ask to see the floor plan for the specific unit, and visit in daylight before you make an offer.

The fee, and what it buys

When I checked, the active listings showed fees around $1.08 per square foot. That is on the higher side for North York, and it reflects the cost of running a small building with a security guard; fixed costs like staff and the roof are spread across only 72 owners.

The fee covers common elements, heat, building insurance, parking and water. Compared with a newer tower where parking is a separate charge and heat is on your own meter, the gap narrows once you add those costs back. Hydro is not listed as included, so budget for your own electricity.

Because there are so few suites, a single large repair can move the fee or the reserve fund noticeably. That is the trade-off you accept for the quiet.

Security staffing is usually one of the largest lines in a small building’s budget. When you read the financial statements, look at what the guard contract costs, when it renews, and whether the board has discussed changing the hours. A cut in coverage is one of the few ways a building like this can hold fees down, and owners do not always agree on it.

Daily life at Bathurst and Steeles

This is a car-friendly, family-oriented corner. The surrounding streets of Newtonbrook West are mostly low-rise houses, and the Bathurst corridor north into Thornhill is lined with synagogues, kosher grocers and community services. For many buyers who search here, being close to that community is the whole reason for the search.

Promenade Shopping Centre in Thornhill is a short drive north up Bathurst. Transit is mainly by bus along Steeles and Bathurst; the panel beside this review shows the nearest stops and stations, and the walk to them.

The Steeles corridor is also changing. Larger redevelopment proposals keep appearing along Steeles and Bathurst on both sides of the city line, so check the City of Toronto development applications map before you buy, particularly if you are paying for an open view.

What 777 Steeles Ave W costs

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $673 per square foot. That is below what newer towers in North York ask, and the larger suites pull the average down, because bigger suites almost always trade for less per square foot. Read it as good value per square foot rather than a discount on a small suite.

When I checked, three suites were for sale and one for lease. Asking prices ranged from $498,000 to $729,000 across one-bedroom-plus-den and two-bedroom-plus-den plans, with monthly fees from about $700 to about $1,320.

With only 72 suites, there are only a few sales a year, so one unusual sale can move the average. For what has actually sold, see my building sold report, and compare on price per square foot rather than headline price.

If you are deciding between this building and a newer tower closer to Yonge, line them up on total monthly cost: mortgage, fee, hydro, parking and heat. That comparison is usually closer than the asking prices suggest.

Building specifications

Amenities at 777 Steeles Ave W

The amenities are basic: a party room, a meeting room, visitor parking and a garage. The real feature is the security guard and security system, which is what owners in a small building like this tend to value most; if you want a pool or a big gym, this is not your building.

Jatin’s honest take on 777 Steeles Ave W

777 Steeles Ave W — frequently asked questions

Looking at Willowdale, Yonge & Sheppard, Bayview Village and North York Centre more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.