Condo of the Week: $699K for a family-sized condo just off Main

It’s not quite a lawn, but this home’s private patio is the next best thing

The details: 105-225 E. 19th Ave. | $698,900 | 969 sq. ft. | 2 bed, 2 bath

The condo: This spacious renovated home with a large south-facing patio is located smack in the middle of the burgeoning Main Street hub. Private access right off E. 19th Avenue makes this abode feel like a townhouse—and is therefore great for those with kids or dogs. Generously-sized bedrooms plus a bonus office nook add to the sense of space, while the living area has tall windows, hardwood floors, and perhaps best of all, a cozy gas fireplace to gather around. The big patio is great for summer entertaining, weekend lazing, and even a little gardening. In other words, this one offers good value compared to newer buildings in the area.

The building: The Newport was built in 1993 and rain-screened in the early 2000s. It’s one of the few older buildings in East Vancouver that has a gym in the building. It also has a pleasant common courtyard garden and an on-site caretaker. Pets and rentals are allowed.

The neighbourhood: Right on the corner of 19th Avenue and Main Street, you are right in the midst of one of the hippest neighbourhoods in the city. With an eclectic dining scene, a plethora of drinking holes, and a variety of funky shops all at your door step, you’ve got plenty of options to keep yourself entertained without leaving the neighbourhood. Transit is good once you get to Broadway.

The potential downsides: The home is slightly below ground level and has a couple of trees in the yard, which means that even though you are south-facing, not a lot of the natural light actually makes it inside.