The Masters, 284-300 Mill Rd: Markland Wood Condo, Every Utility Included

The Masters is the condo for people who want Markland Wood: the golf course, the ravine parks and the quiet streets at Toronto’s western edge, without the cost of one of its houses. The suites are large, every utility is in the fee, and the price per square foot is among the lowest in Etobicoke. The fee is high, though, and at 50 years old the building’s finances matter as much as the suite. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A condo inside a house neighbourhood

Markland Wood is a 1960s subdivision built on former Silverthorn family farmland, on the border with Mississauga. The Etobicoke Historical Society notes that the floodplain at its south end, which could not be built on after Hurricane Hazel, became the Markland Wood Golf Club in the mid-1960s. Wikipedia records that two condominium apartment buildings went up along Mill Road in the mid- to late 1970s; The Masters, registered in 1976, belongs to that wave.

That history explains the setting. You are surrounded by bungalows and split-levels on large lots, mature trees, Millwood Park and Bloordale Park, and Etobicoke Creek. Very little in this neighbourhood has been torn down or rebuilt, and it is not a place where new towers are going up next door.

The trade-off is that Markland Wood is quiet and car-oriented. The shopping centre and medical centre are close, but most errands mean a drive. The panel on this page shows transit and walkability details.

Several addresses and lettered suites

The Masters spans several addresses on Mill Road, including 284, 288 and 300, under one corporation, YCC-266. Listing records show suites numbered by letter, such as A, C, D, E and F, plus a penthouse level. When you look at a suite, confirm which building and section it is in, because elevators, views and distance to the amenities can differ.

Suites range widely, from about 663 square feet up to about 1,791 square feet. Current listings include one-bedroom-plus-den, two-bedroom and three-bedroom suites, and the larger plans are as big as many semi-detached houses.

Expect the layouts of the 1970s: separate kitchens, formal dining areas, wide hallways and generous storage. Many suites have been renovated, and some are close to original. The original ones are where the price per square foot is lowest, and they leave you room to design the kitchen you actually want.

Before you buy a suite to renovate, get the corporation’s renovation rules. Buildings of this age commonly require board approval for flooring, plumbing and electrical changes, and may need acoustic underlay under hard floors. Price the renovation with those rules in mind, not after the deal closes.

Tennis, squash and a security desk

The amenity list is an athletic one: a tennis court, a squash court and a sauna, plus security staff, a security system, a car wash bay and permission to barbecue. Tennis courts are uncommon in Toronto condos, and next to a golf course it fits the neighbourhood.

With 498 suites sharing the cost, the corporation can keep facilities like these running without each owner carrying the full burden, but courts and saunas still need resurfacing and replacement. Ask when the tennis court was last redone. Condos.ca also flags pet restrictions. I could not confirm the details, so read the rules in the status certificate before you buy if you have a pet.

Every utility in one bill

The fee covers almost everything a household pays for: heat, hydro, air conditioning, water, cable, parking and building insurance, on top of the common elements. Very few buildings include hydro, and it makes the monthly cost highly predictable. Internet and phone are likely your main extra bills.

The downside is that you have little control over the cost. When energy prices or reserve contributions rise, the fee rises for everyone, regardless of how much electricity your suite uses. In a building this age, those increases tend to be steady.

Bulk metering also means you cannot cut your own bill by turning the thermostat down, and you cannot easily compare the building’s energy use with a newer one. Ask management whether the corporation has studied suite sub-metering or energy retrofits, and what that would cost owners. The answer tells you a lot about how forward-looking the board is.

Cheap per square foot, expensive per month

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $411 per square foot, one of the lowest figures I see in Etobicoke. Thirteen suites were for sale when I checked; the eight with full details ask between about $450,000 and $640,000, across one-plus-den, two-bedroom and three-bedroom plans.

Fees on those eight listings run from about $1,110 to $1,960 a month. For the smaller suites, that is well above $1.00 per square foot, which is high on paper. Remember that it includes hydro, heat and cooling, which you would otherwise pay yourself.

Fees at this level matter for your mortgage. Lenders count the full monthly fee against your borrowing, so a $1,400 fee can reduce what you qualify for by a large amount. Have your lender run the numbers before you choose a price range. Also note that a large number of listings at once can give you room to negotiate.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Masters

Tennis and squash on site suit active buyers, especially downsizers who want to keep playing without driving to a club. There is no pool on the condos.ca list, which keeps one of the most expensive amenities out of the budget.

Jatin’s honest take on The Masters

The Masters — frequently asked questions

Looking at Humber Bay Shores, Mimico, the Queensway and central Etobicoke more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.