The North Court, 2835 Islington Ave: Low Fees, Big Suites, New LRT

The North Court is a building I point to when a buyer tells me low monthly fees matter more than anything else. It is a small, nine-storey 1975 mid-rise near Islington and Finch, the suites are large, and the fee per square foot is noticeably lower than at most of its neighbours. The reason is what the fee leaves out, and that is the first thing we need to talk about. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Why the fee is lower than its neighbours

Across current listings, fees work out to about $0.72 per square foot, with monthly amounts running from roughly $550 to $710. For a 1970s building with suites this size, that is on the low side. Many older towers in northwest Toronto sit at $0.90 to well over $1.00 per square foot.

The difference is mostly in what is included. The North Court’s listed inclusions are water, cable TV, building insurance and common elements. Heat, hydro and parking are not on that list. Many buildings of this era roll heat into the fee, so a lower number here can mean you are paying for heating separately.

Before you compare this building with a neighbour on fee alone, ask the listing agent for recent utility bills for the suite, and confirm whether a parking space comes with it and whether there is a separate charge. Once you add those back, the gap may be smaller than it first appears, or it may still be a clear win. Either way, you want the real number.

Small building, big suites

With 152 suites over nine storeys, this is a much smaller community than the 20- and 24-storey towers common in this part of the city. Smaller buildings tend to mean fewer neighbours per elevator and a board that is closer to the owners, though it also means fewer owners sharing the cost of any major repair.

Condos.ca lists suites at roughly 961 to 1,304 sq ft, although at least one current listing is in the 800 sq ft band, so take the range as a guide. The building offers one- and two-bedroom plans in the listings I reviewed, and the two-bedrooms in particular are sized for people who are leaving a house.

Expect 1970s construction and mixed condition from suite to suite. Some owners have renovated kitchens and bathrooms; others have not been touched in decades. That variation is where the real value, and the real risk, sits.

Islington and Finch, and what Line 6 changes

The building sits near Islington Avenue and Finch Avenue West in Humber Summit, the pocket on the north side of Finch between the Humber River and Highway 400. The Humber valley and its trail system are right at the west edge of the neighbourhood.

The biggest change here in decades arrived on 7 December 2025, when the TTC opened Line 6 Finch West. The line runs along Finch from Humber College to Finch West station on Line 1, and its Rowntree Mills stop sits at Islington and Finch, on the bridge over the Humber. For a building that used to depend entirely on buses for the trip east, a direct rail link to the subway is meaningful.

Line 6 also ties this corner to Humber Polytechnic’s North Campus at the line’s western end, which matters for student renters and for staff. If you are buying to live in, it matters more simply because it gives you a second way across the city that runs in its own lanes instead of sitting in Finch traffic.

This is still a car-oriented part of the city, and the data panel on this page shows the real walking and transit times. But the case for owning here without a second car is stronger than it was two years ago.

The North Court and Swiss Court next door

Swiss Court at 2825 Islington Avenue is the North Court’s immediate neighbour, and the two are close twins on paper: both were built in 1975, both are nine storeys and both have 152 suites, and both are listed as managed by Castle Condo Management. Condos.ca names Dalecore Construction as Swiss Court’s builder but lists no developer for the North Court, so I could not confirm whether the same company built both.

The differences that matter: Swiss Court lists an indoor pool and includes parking in its fee, while the North Court lists a gym and rec room and does not show parking in its inclusions. If you are shopping this corner, look at both and compare total monthly cost.

What it costs, in aggregate

The building average on condos.ca is about $429 per square foot. That is well below what newer condos in North York ask, and in line with other 1970s buildings in this part of the city.

Three suites were listed for sale when I reviewed the building, with asking prices ranging from about $349,000 to $455,000. Three listings in a 152-suite building is a normal level of supply for a small building, but it does not give you a lot of choice on any given week.

For a first-time buyer, the combination of a sub-$460,000 price and a fee under $710 a month is unusual in the City of Toronto, especially with a new rapid transit line now open. Just make sure your budget includes heating and parking if they apply to your suite.

Building specifications

Amenities at The North Court

The amenity list is modest: a gym, a sauna and a rec room for gatherings, plus a security system. You are not paying for a pool or concierge, which is part of why the fee stays lower.

Jatin’s honest take on The North Court

The North Court — frequently asked questions

Looking at Downsview, Weston, York University Heights, Rexdale and northwest Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.