“I think it is the price point and the fact that it's a concrete building,” says Yuin Kim, of Kimcorp Properties, when asked of the brisk movement of the project.

Just five units - one two-bedroom plan and four one bed-rooms - remain up for grabs in the 32-unit, four-storey walk-up building at 501 57 Ave. S.W. that's expected to sell out by the end of this month.

Two show suites are a testament to high-end finishing would-be residents net in Chinook units - from wide-plank laminate floors, granite countertops, a kitchen appliance package worth $6,000 and including a stainless steel fridge with a bottom-mount freezer, designer lighting, hardware and faucets, to high-end choices of cabinetry for bathrooms and kitchens.

The furnished showsuites, themselves, are already sold - one within hours of opening - but are still available for viewing with an appointment.

Wide, flat-profile baseboards paired with door headers and plinth blocks, ceramic tile in storage rooms and kitchens, as well as wood shelving in all in-suite storage rooms and closets are among other “extras” being offered up as standard fare.
“We take a lot skinnier margins, and it shows in what is included as the standard in our units,” says Kim.

Suites also boast all new wiring to accommodate the latest in lighting, including Decora switches, while balconies have also undergone a facelift.

“We have refurbished right down to the bare concrete, removed all windows, and are even putting porcelain tile in the (common area) hallways because it looks better and lasts longer,” says Kim, adding the common passageways boast spacious five-foot widths versus a cramped average of three feet.

One thing not included with the pricetag is GST, as condo conversions are immune from the dreaded sales tax, making the project an even more affordable option for first-time buyers looking to acquire a home of their own and start building equity for the future.

“On a $150,000 unit that adds up to about $7,000 you're saving without GST,” says Kim.

And since the bulk of buyers so far have been young singles, particularly women aged 22 to 32, chances are there are a host of better things on their shopping lists to shell out hard-earned dollars toward  - such as furnishing new digs
in style.

Chinook condo fees won't send a chill down buyers' spines, thanks to reasonable monthly dues of $200 to $250, which account for reserve fund contributions, snow removal and maintenance of common areas such as a new hot tub being installed outside for enjoying when a balmy day blows in.

And since location is always a hot button when it comes to real estate, proximity to shopping, eateries and the C-Train are key pulls of The Chinook for buyers, says Kim.

A handful of residents have already taken possession, while a slew more were expected to be crossing their Chinook thresholds officially over the holidays, bringing the building to nearly a third of its ultimate residential capacity.   CL