Top-5 Things The Sale of the Four Seasons Penthouse Tells Us
In case you missed it, Menkes has confirmed that the penthouse at the Four Seasons in Yorkville has sold to an international buyer. 8000+ square feet for $28M. So what does the sale of the most expensive apartment in Canadian history tell us about the condo market in Toronto? I think it says a few key things:
- Four Seasons is King. By setting such a massive record that will likely not be surpassed for possibly 10 years or more, The Four Seasons brand is now clearly the number one luxury condo-hotel in Toronto. I often talk about the “Big Four” of Toronto condo-hotels: The Ritz-Carlton, Shangri-La, Trump Tower, and The Four Seasons. The penthouse sale once again solidifies The Four Seasons as the most prestigious brand in this sub-market.
- Yorkville is King. As much as there are many great streets, intersections, and neighbourhoods in Toronto, this sale reminds us that Yorkville is still #1 in the eyes of the truly elite buyers.
- Toronto is King. This could not happen in any other city in Canada. Vancouver, for all its high-priced real estate, has (to my knowledge) never seen a condo sale north of $22M. Montreal? Forget about it. The penthouse of the Ritz in Montreal sold for $15M. Toronto is the best market in Canada to invest in real estate and we should be proud.
- Expect other Dominoes to Fall in 2011. I have a feeling the other condos on the market in the $10M+ range will sell this year. No one likes to be the first to set a new price precedent, but once it is set, similar properties tend to move quickly. Suddenly the penthouse at Aura at 13,000 square feet is looking like a bargain at $17M…
- No more complaining about $600 per square foot! With this property selling at over $3000 per square foot, Toronto buyers need to see this as a signpost for the future of Toronto. Those who are stuck in the mindset that anything over $600 per square foot is ‘too high’ or irrational may be right, but they need to consider the overall trajectory of the market as well.
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