Purple Sageway Townhomes, 2-122 Purple Sageway: 1974 Towns at Don Mills

Purple Sageway Townhomes is the kind of complex I point families to when they want stairs, a basement and their own front door in North York, but a detached house is out of reach. It dates to 1974, which is both the appeal and the homework. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A townhouse, not an apartment with a hallway

The reason buyers look here is format. These are row townhouses on a private lane, so you get a front door at ground level, an upstairs with the bedrooms, and a basement below. There is no elevator to wait for and no shared corridor outside your door.

That matters most to families with young kids and to anyone moving out of a rental apartment who wants space they can grow into. A basement in a condo townhouse is often the cheapest square footage you can buy in this part of the city, and it is where most owners add a rec room, an office or storage.

The trade-off is that you are still in a condominium. The exterior, the roofs, the lane and the grounds are generally the corporation’s responsibility, which means rules, a board and a monthly fee. Read the declaration to see exactly where the line sits between what you maintain and what the corporation maintains.

What the layouts look like, renovated or original

Recent listings here describe three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes of roughly 1,000 square feet above grade, plus a basement. Features that come up repeatedly are a fireplace, a walkout from the main floor to a private patio, air conditioning, and in-suite laundry.

Parking is one of the strongest points. At least one recent listing advertised room for two cars, plus visitor parking in the complex. In a city where a second parking spot can be a real cost, that is worth confirming for the specific home you are looking at, because arrangements in older complexes are not always identical from unit to unit.

Expect 1970s room proportions. Kitchens in original condition are usually closed rather than open-concept, and bathrooms are modest. Many owners have renovated, so condition varies widely, and that is where most of the price difference between homes in the complex comes from.

Being built in 1974 cuts both ways. The good news is that the complex has a long operating history, and you can actually see how the board has handled roofs, windows, paving and plumbing over decades. Newer complexes cannot show you that.

The harder news is that older townhouse complexes go through expensive cycles. Roofs, windows and doors, balconies or patios, the lane surface and underground services all come due. One recent listing mentioned a newer roof in 2025, and I would want to know whether that was part of a corporation-wide replacement program or a single home.

This is exactly why I ask for the reserve fund study and the last few years of board minutes before an offer is firm. They tell you whether big projects are funded, already done or still ahead of you, and whether a fee increase or special assessment is likely.

Renovated or original: where the money goes

In a complex this age, two homes with the same floor plan can be very different purchases. One may have a new kitchen, updated bathrooms, a finished basement and a newer electrical panel; the next may still be close to original. One recent listing here highlighted an updated electrical panel, which is the sort of detail I look for first.

When I walk a home here with a buyer, I look past the paint. Check the age of the furnace and air conditioner, the electrical panel and wiring, the windows if they are owner-maintained, and any signs of moisture in the basement. Those items cost real money and do not show up in listing photos.

If you plan to renovate, ask management what needs board approval before you buy. Older complexes often have rules on exterior changes, patio work and contractor access, and knowing them up front saves friction later.

Living near Don Mills and Steeles

The location is the north edge of North York, just south of Steeles Avenue, with Markham directly across the street. Daily life here leans on the car: Highway 404 is close for commuters heading north or downtown, and Steeles and Don Mills carry the main shopping and bus routes.

It is a settled, residential pocket rather than a walk-to-everything one. You are buying quiet, space and a short drive to big-box shopping and to Fairview Mall to the south. For transit, schools and walkability, use the data panel on this page rather than my impressions.

How the price stacks up

The comparison that matters is against freehold. A three-bedroom freehold townhouse or semi in this part of North York typically costs meaningfully more than a condo townhouse here, and the gap is what you are paying for with the monthly fee and the shared rules.

There was only one active sale listing when I reviewed the complex, so I will not quote a single asking price or fee. For real numbers, look at the recent resale figures in the panel on this page or ask me for a building sold report, which gives aggregate sold data for the complex.

When you compare fees, compare what they cover. In older townhouse complexes the fee often includes exterior maintenance, building insurance, snow removal and grounds, while heat and hydro are usually on your own meter. Confirm the inclusions from the status certificate rather than a listing description.

Building specifications

Amenities at Purple Sageway Townhomes

Do not expect a gym or concierge. The amenity here is the home itself: private outdoor space, a basement and parking close to your door.

Jatin’s honest take on Purple Sageway Townhomes

Purple Sageway Townhomes — frequently asked questions

Looking at Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.