Toronto House On Sale For Free .. If You Can Figure Out Where To Put It | HuffPost

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LOOK: Toronto House On Sale For $0 (There's A Catch, Of Course)

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A historic coach house in downtown Toronto can be yours for free … you just can’t have the land it’s on.

And oh yeah, you’re going to have to move it out of its present location by Labour Day.

The 3,000-square-foot brick coach house at 9 Isabella St., on the east side of downtown, belongs to Casey House, an HIV/AIDS treatment centre that is undergoing a major redevelopment.

Casey House had originally hoped to integrate the coach house, built in 1889, into its new complex, but discovered the plan would be impractical, the Toronto Star reports.

So the clinic and the city are looking for alternatives. City councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam got the ball rolling Tuesday, announcing in a tweet that the property is “yours if you can move it.”

The alternative is to raze the building, something to which the city has apparently given permission.

“This is our last ditch attempt” to save the property, Wong-Tam told news channel CP24. “I know it is not going to be cheap but ... this house has a lot of character. For someone with a real passion for property restoration this could be the project of a lifetime.”

The building will be down torn down by September if no one buys it, the CBC reports.

So could this be a good deal?

Single-family residential homes for sale in the area range from $900,000 to around $1.3 million. The Star estimates the cost of moving the house would be in the hundreds of thousands -- potentially cheaper than buying a house in the neighbourhood.

But then there’s the problem of where to put it. The further the house has to travel, the more expensive the move becomes. And finding empty space in Toronto on which to place a single-family home is becoming more difficult by the day.

In all likelihood, the costs of land and transport would ouweigh the rock-bottom price tag.

Twitterers responding to Wong-Tam have suggested moving the building to Alan Gardens, a nearby botanical park, or to Black Creek Pioneer Village, on the north side of the city.

Check out the coach house that can be yours for free, if you can figure out what to do with it:

House On Sale For Free In Toronto

9 Isabella St., Toronto(01 of92)

(credit:Google Street View)

9 Isabella St., Toronto(02 of92)

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9 Isabella St., Toronto(03 of92)

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What $390,000 Will Buy You Across The Country(04 of92)

The average price of a house in Canada in the fall of 2013 was about $390,000. Here's what that amount will buy you in the country's various real estate markets. (credit:HuffPost composite image)

Trois-Rivieres, Que. - 3-bedroom house(05 of92)

Trois-Rivieres is one of the most affordable housing markets in Canada, and here the average house price will get you something close to a palace. Three bedrooms and some pretty awesomely fitted-out bathrooms in this 2,000-square-foot home. (credit:Re/Max Quebec)

Trois-Rivieres, Que. - 3-bedroom house(06 of92)

(credit:Re/Max Quebec)

Trois-Rivieres, Que. - 3-bedroom house(07 of92)

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Trois-Rivieres, Que. - 3-bedroom house(08 of92)

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Trois-Rivieres, Que. - 3-bedroom house(09 of92)

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Trois-Rivieres, Que. - 3-bedroom house(10 of92)

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Trois-Rivieres, Que. - 3-bedroom house(11 of92)

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Toronto - 1-bedroom house(12 of92)

This 580-square-foot cottage is located in Toronto's inner east end and has one bedroom on the main floor and a second in the basement. It may be small, but it's actually sort of remarkable that you can still buy a standalone house anywhere in the 416 for under $400,000. Listed at $389,000. (credit:Re/Max Hallmark)

Toronto - 1-bedroom house(13 of92)

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Toronto - 1-bedroom house(14 of92)

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Toronto - 1-bedroom house(15 of92)

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Toronto - 1-bedroom house(16 of92)

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Toronto - 1-bedroom house(17 of92)

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Regina, Sask. - 3-bedroom house(18 of92)

This custom-built split-level house on the east side of Regina has 1,800 square feet of floor space, and features a family with room with a fireplace. (credit:Sutton Group)

Regina, Sask. - 3-bedroom house(19 of92)

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Regina, Sask. - 3-bedroom house(20 of92)

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Regina, Sask. - 3-bedroom house(21 of92)

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Regina, Sask. - 3-bedroom house(22 of92)

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Regina, Sask. - 3-bedroom house(23 of92)

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Regina, Sask. - 3-bedroom house(24 of92)

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Vancouver - 1-bedroom loft(25 of92)

At 548 square feet, this loft condo is only slightly smaller than that cottage in Toronto. But it's certainly slicker; it's located in yuppie-ish Yaletown and features a stainless-steel appliance kitchen with a movable island. Listed for $384,000. (credit:Re/Max Crest Westside)

Vancouver - 1-bedroom loft(26 of92)

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Vancouver - 1-bedroom loft(27 of92)

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Vancouver - 1-bedroom loft(28 of92)

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Vancouver - 1-bedroom loft(29 of92)

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Vancouver - 1-bedroom loft(30 of92)

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Vancouver - 1-bedroom loft(31 of92)

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Summerside, P.E.I. - 4-bedroom house(32 of92)

$388,000 will get you this house with four bedrooms and as many fireplaces in charming little Summerside. A whopping 4,464 square feet of floor space on a half-acre lot makes this easily the largest home on this list. (credit:Royal LePage Country Estates)

Summerside, P.E.I. - 4-bedroom house(33 of92)

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Summerside, P.E.I. - 4-bedroom house(34 of92)

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Summerside, P.E.I. - 4-bedroom house(35 of92)

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Summerside, P.E.I. - 4-bedroom house(36 of92)

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Summerside, P.E.I. - 4-bedroom house(37 of92)

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Summerside, P.E.I. - 4-bedroom house(38 of92)

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Summerside, P.E.I. - 4-bedroom house(39 of92)

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Fort McMurray, Alta. - 2-bedroom condo(40 of92)

Fort McMurray, the heart of Alberta's oilsands, may be a small city, but thanks to enormous oil business salaries, it has real estate prices like a big city. This two-bedroom condo on the south side of town features oak cabinets and a gas fireplace, and lists for $393,500. (credit:Re/Max Fort McMurray)

Fort McMurray, Alta. - 2-bedroom condo(41 of92)

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Fort McMurray, Alta. - 2-bedroom condo(42 of92)

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Fort McMurray, Alta. - 2-bedroom condo(43 of92)

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Fort McMurray, Alta. - 2-bedroom condo(44 of92)

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Fort McMurray, Alta. - 2-bedroom condo(45 of92)

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Montreal, Que. - 3rd floor, 2-bedroom apartment(46 of92)

Like in Toronto and Vancouver, $390,000 isn't quite enough to buy you your own standalone home in central areas of Montreal these days. But you can still get a lot more space for the money than you would in those other cities. This two-bedroom apartment on the third floor of a gorgeous stone building in the Plateau has 962 square feet of floor space. Lists for $389,000. (credit:Sutton Group)

Montreal, Que. - 3rd floor, 2-bedroom apartment(47 of92)

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Montreal, Que. - 3rd floor, 2-bedroom apartment(48 of92)

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Montreal, Que. - 3rd floor, 2-bedroom apartment(49 of92)

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Montreal, Que. - 3rd floor, 2-bedroom apartment(50 of92)

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Mississauga, Ont. - 2-bedroom condo(51 of92)

Mississauga is not known for its architecture, but maybe it should be, because some of the condo towers going up around Square One are far more interesting than the ones going up in downtown Toronto, 35 km to the east. For $385,000 you can move into a two-bedroom condo in the buildings known as the "Marilyn Monroe towers." The twin buildings were the 2012 winners of Emporis' best new skyscraper in the world award. Listed at $385,400. (credit:Royal LePage Meadowtowne)

Mississauga, Ont. - 2-bedroom condo(52 of92)

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Mississauga, Ont. - 2-bedroom condo(53 of92)

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Mississauga, Ont. - 2-bedroom condo(54 of92)

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Mississauga, Ont. - 2-bedroom condo(55 of92)

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Mississauga, Ont. - 2-bedroom condo(56 of92)

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Mississauga, Ont. - 2-bedroom condo(57 of92)

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St. Catharines, Ont. - 5-bedroom house(58 of92)

At 2,400 square feet, this is definitely one of the larger houses you can buy in Canada for the cost of an average home. Kitchen features granite countertops and the master bedroom has a walk-in closet and three-piece bath. Lists for $385,900. (credit:Royal LePage Niagara)

St. Catharines, Ont. - 5-bedroom house(59 of92)

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St. Catharines, Ont. - 5-bedroom house(60 of92)

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St. Catharines, Ont. - 5-bedroom house(61 of92)

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St. Catharines, Ont. - 5-bedroom house(62 of92)

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St. Catharines, Ont. - 5-bedroom house(63 of92)

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St. Catharines, Ont. - 5-bedroom house(64 of92)

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St. Catharines, Ont. - 5-bedroom house(65 of92)

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St. Catharines, Ont. - 5-bedroom house(66 of92)

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St. Catharines, Ont. - 5-bedroom house(67 of92)

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Greater Vancouver (Surrey), B.C. - 3-bedroom house(68 of92)

Who says you need a million bucks to own a house with a backyard in Greater Vancouver? Here's a three-bedroom property on 1,040 square feet, and it's SkyTrain-close. OK, a beauty it isn't, and Surrey isn't exactly close to downtown, but still. Listed at $389,880. (credit:Homelife Benchmark Titus Realty)

Greater Vancouver (Surrey), B.C. - 3-bedroom house(69 of92)

(credit:Homelife Benchmark Titus Realty)

Greater Vancouver (Surrey), B.C. - 3-bedroom house(70 of92)

(credit:Homelife Benchmark Titus Realty)

Greater Vancouver (Surrey), B.C. - 3-bedroom house(71 of92)

(credit:Homelife Benchmark Titus Realty)

Greater Vancouver (Surrey), B.C. - 3-bedroom house(72 of92)

(credit:Homelife Benchmark Titus Realty)

Winnipeg, Man. - 3-bedroom house(73 of92)

This 1,820-square-foot house, on the very southeastern tip of Winnipeg, features a master bedroom with walk-in closet and a three-piece ensuite bath. It's two years old and lists for $389,900. (credit:Re/Max Professionals)

Winnipeg, Man. - 3-bedroom house(74 of92)

(credit:Re/Max Professionals)

Winnipeg, Man. - 3-bedroom house(75 of92)

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Winnipeg, Man. - 3-bedroom house(76 of92)

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Winnipeg, Man. - 3-bedroom house(77 of92)

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Winnipeg, Man. - 3-bedroom house(78 of92)

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Winnipeg, Man. - 3-bedroom house(79 of92)

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Edmonton - 3-bedroom house(80 of92)

Nine-foot ceilings in this 14-year-old house on a cul-de-sac in West Edmonton. Finished basement includes jacuzzi and sauna. Listed for $392,000. (credit:ComFree Commonsense Network)

Edmonton - 3-bedroom house(81 of92)

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Edmonton - 3-bedroom house(82 of92)

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Edmonton - 3-bedroom house(83 of92)

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Edmonton - 3-bedroom house(84 of92)

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Edmonton - 3-bedroom house(85 of92)

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Sidney, Man. - 3-bedrooms, 75 acres(86 of92)

This house, in a rural area 150 kilometres west of Winnipeg, is about as close to a southern plantation-style home as it gets in Canada. It's newer than it would appear, built in 1991, and sits on 75 acres of land. (credit:Royal LePage Portage)

Sidney, Man. - 3-bedroom house(87 of92)

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Sidney, Man. - 3-bedroom house(88 of92)

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Sidney, Man. - 3-bedroom house(89 of92)

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Sidney, Man. - 3-bedroom house(90 of92)

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Sidney, Man. - 3-bedroom house(91 of92)

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Sidney, Man. - 3-bedroom house(92 of92)

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