233 Cathcart Street

Property Overview

This 1974 bi-level home at 233 Cathcart Street offers a practical and private living arrangement in the established Varsity View neighborhood. Its key appeal lies in the combination of a large, 5,047 sqft lot with a rare, in-ground swimming pool—a significant private oasis not commonly found in the area. The home itself is modest in size at 828 sqft of living space, featuring a finished basement, but ranks highly for its lot size within its immediate surroundings. It suits a specific buyer: someone seeking outdoor space for recreation and privacy over expansive interior square footage, and who is comfortable with a home that requires appreciation for its functional layout and mature neighborhood charm over modern finishes. A thoughtful perspective is that while the interior space ranks below most in the city, the asset here is truly the land and the unique lifestyle amenity of the pool, making it ideal for those who prioritize summer living and garden potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does the home's ranking for lot size compare to its overall assessment value?
The property ranks very highly for its lot size within the street and neighborhood (top 4-6%), but its assessed value ranks lower (top 28-31% locally). This suggests the municipal assessment may place more weight on the home's smaller living area, potentially indicating room for added value through updates or expansion.

2. What is the typical maintenance and operating cost for a pool of this age?
As an in-ground pool installed with a home built in 1974, prospective buyers should budget for higher utility costs for heating and filtration, and potentially plan for updates to older equipment, liners, or decking. A specialized inspection is highly recommended.

3. Does the "finished basement" account for any additional living space?
The listed 828 sqft living area likely refers to above-grade space. The finished basement provides additional functional rooms but does not officially increase the square footage of living area, which is a key factor in its lower ranking for space.

4. The home ranks low for living area but high for lot size. What does this mean for daily living?
This indicates an efficient indoor layout on a very spacious property. Daily life would likely revolve around the main living areas, with the lot and pool serving as a primary extension of the home for much of the year, perfect for entertaining or family activities.

5. Is the lack of a garage a common feature in this area?
While the data doesn't specify, the home's high rank for lot size suggests there is ample space for adding a garage or carport, which could be a valuable future investment and mitigate the current lack of covered parking.