Vancouver's most expensive apartment is Batman-worthy
More real-estate eye-candy, more soul-searching.
Checking in on the 1%
We've already found out that an apartment for under $100,000 exists in Vancouver. Well, it's surely gone by the time you read about it, but just enjoy the moment:
Let's move to the other end of the spectrum: Vancouver's most expensive apartments. I was going to revisit the city's most expensive houses, but let's mix it up a bit.
Besides, funny enough, buyers haven't snatched up last month's most expensive house in Vancouver: you'd think an epic super-villain mansion could still command a $23,800,000 asking price, but that's apparently no longer the case.
The Canadian Real Estate Association says that Greater Vancouver's residential sales are at a 12-year low, so you could probably grind the seller down to $23.5, maybe even $23 million. It's worth a try. You could spend the money you save on more henchmen. Henchpeople. Whatever.
In the meantime, let's look at the most expensive apartments our fine city has to offer.
Affordable unaffordable living
Vancouver East really disappointed me when it came to cartoonishly-expensive apartments. MLS showed me nothing-- nothing-- over $2 million. Pshh.
However, the most expensive listing still managed to surprise me: it's in The Keefer, at Keefer and Quebec in Chinatown. There are only four residential floors in this building, and we're looking at the 2300-square-foot penthouse: 2BR, 1 1/2 bath, and a private elevator (since this is a floor-through apartment).
Sunlight on three sides. No property taxes for six years. A parking spot, even. However, one suspects you'll have to provide your own giant pear.
You also get a private patio and a massive rooftop deck (100 square feet larger than the apartment itself), which includes a pool and a hot tub. I'd have thought this would all cost more than $1.7 million.
That said, you are looking at the shape of things to come in Chinatown, and some longtime locals are angry about it. Indeed, with the annual income of $370,000 required to swing the mortgage, you'd be the poster-child for the rapid gentrification of the Eastern Core. Just keep that in mind as you check for soft-close drawers.
To give this place its due, The Keefer's apartments are not the cookie-cutter crap you're used to finding in new buildings. Pinky extended as you swirl your wine glass, you'd be secure in the knowledge that relatively few of your friends had a flat like yours.
Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, the same price would get you a three-unit building in Williamsburg, complete with backyard.
Old-ish World charm on the North Shore
The North Shore offers surprisingly few options above $5 million (I know, right?).