Cottage Country Tudor-Style Home Near Toronto

Caledon: 6263 Finnerty Rd $938K - 4 BR - 3 WR - 243 x 327 ft. lot. SOLD

Welcome to 6263 Finnerty Side Road. Tucked away in a serene wooded setting, this 1.82 acre property offers a rustic retreat with privacy, space, and natural beauty. Visited frequently by the neighbourhood deer, you will become one with nature and all it has to offer. Built in 1970, this home has been lovingly maintained throughout the years and is now being offered for sale for the first time in over 50 years. This home offers an exceptional layout filled with abundant natural light, anchored by a spacious kitchen and a cozy main-floor fireplace in the sunken family room. Three generously sized bedrooms and an impressive great room with soaring vaulted ceilings-perfect for entertaining or relaxing in style. Set on a private, tree-lined property with two serene ponds, the home is rich in character and surrounded by nature. With a touch of TLC and thoughtful updates, this property presents a rare opportunity to create a personalized retreat in a truly special setting.

Nick's Notes:

Turning onto Finnerty Road immediately transports you into back-country life. You are suddenly driving on a well-groomed dirt road through an Eastern White Cedar forest, only an hour from downtown Toronto. In this cottage country–esque pocket near Caledon East village, just south of Mono Mills, it is hard to find unique real estate for under $1M, even with the price correction of the past couple of years. Affordable back-country living is largely gone due to the conservation of the land, its inherent beauty, and its proximity to the GTA. This is the perfect escape hatch for people who want solitude while remaining within spitting distance of the action.

With that context in mind, you know that at $938K the house is not going to be perfect, but can still be hopeful that maybe for once the Realtor’s MLS description is accurate. Maybe all it needs is “a touch of TLC and some thoughtful updates.” And maybe the war in Iran will be over quickly and a new dawn of peace in the Middle East will arise.

Those hopeful, if not naive thoughts are quickly dashed as two bats fly past your head while you inspect the unfinished basement and the pools of water gathering on the bare concrete floor. It is not surprising that the basement is wet, given the property’s low-lying position, the mild weather, and the melting snow. There are two picturesque runoff ponds on either side of the driveway after all. The bats, I will admit, startled me. Creeping through a dark basement alone with only your iPhone light, then noticing dark objects racing past your head, will get you back upstairs into daylight pretty quickly.

If I am being honest, my nerves were already slightly peaked before exploring the basement. Other than a clearing on the southwest portion of the property, the cedar forest engulfs the home. On a cold, windy, dreary day, the trunks of the trees audibly crack and whine as they gently sway. Many downed trees rest silently deeper in the woods. I applaud the decision to build a Tudor-style home in this environment. It feels darkly intentional, if not brilliant. The house complements the haunting beauty of the property.

Upstairs, the house is vacant and less surprising. You can see the potential, but also the work. The layout is functional and unique, with a sunken family room and fireplace that could be re-imagined. Plaster walls, glass-fused electrical, and various ceiling repairs are evident. The kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and appliances are clearly of their era and carry a great vintage vibe, but salvaging them may not be realistic for many buyers. The large vaulted bedroom or 'great room' above the garage is noticeably cooler and poorly insulated. Replacing those windows aren't going to be cheap. Given the condition of the house, it is not surprising that bats have found their way in. Speaking of the basement, the foundation is solid concrete block and the ceiling height is generous. A gurgling sump pump has been hastily installed to mitigate further water ingress.

The home is far from perfect and definitely needs more than a touch of TLC, but the house was listed earlier this year and has already been reduced once. Given the location, negotiating a good value in the current market may present an opportunity for the right buyer. If you aren't working with an agent, please contact me for more thoughts, exclusive photos, plus video of the property and to book a viewing.

Do you enjoy this newsletter? I would love if you could find a moment to write a few appreciative words on my Google Business page.

​​Listed by Josh Horowitz, Forrest Hill Real Estate Inc