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Price: $14,998,000
Neighbourhood: South Burlington
Land Size: Nearly three-quarters of an acre
On a private laneway lies a 11,417 square foot home “designed to feel like a complete escape away from the city,” according to real estate team Carlos Clavero Pinto, David Bakowsky and Christina Clavero.
“It offers a lifestyle, like you don’t need a cottage, pretty much,” Clavero Pinto said. Built in 2019, the home stands out against the many homes currently offered along the waterfront, which are very outdated, he said, adding that it’s one of the few in the area that offer an infinity pool and private tennis court all facing the lake. It also offers riparian rights, meaning unobstructed access to its 103 ft. of shoreline.
Nicknamed “The Haven,” 140 Secord Lane was designed by David Small, an Oakville-based architect, Clavero said, who is known for incorporating modern design with nature.
“The elements he likes to work with are stone, which you see on the exterior of the home, but he also brings it inside in the office, around the fireplace, and in the lower level,” she explained. The use of wood beams throughout the house, as well as the windows highlighting the lake, are what “allows you to bring the outside in,” Clavero added, as most of the rooms have views of the water.
Another one of Small’s trademarks is his incorporation of skylights, Bakowsky said, featured in the home’s second level. This, combined with the windows, allows for “a lot of natural light,” Clavero added.
Layout
Upon entry, guests are greeted by the open-concept great room with two-story-high ceilings, from which the kitchen, living room and dining room are all visible.
Buyers’ eyes will immediately be drawn to the two-story window overlooking the water, Clavero said, which lends itself to “this sense of calm when you walk in.” Sliding doors allow guests to walk out of the kitchen onto one of three terraces overlooking the water.
The kitchen, done by Downsview Kitchens, is finished with appliances, including an eight-burner Wolf gas range. The kitchen’s freezer and fridge, as well as the lower level’s wine and under-counter beverage fridges, are by Sub-Zero.
The home boasts five bedrooms, with the primary ensuite offering panoramic lake views and a spa-like bathroom featuring two sinks, a free-standing bathtub, and a separate dressing room with a custom island.
The home’s private office boasts 18-foot ceilings and the aforementioned stone accent wall.
On the lower level can be found the home’s key entertainment facilities, including its golf simulator, tiered movie theatre, gym, sauna, bar, wine cellar with capacity for over 700 bottles, and infinity pool overlooking the lake.
Rounding out the home’s key features is a four-car tandem garage.
“The great feature of this home is it was built for entertainment, with that in mind,” Clavero Pinto said, highlighting how the lower level was designed to offer access to all the home’s amenities.
Three terraces overlook the lake, with the terrace off the second living room containing ceiling heaters and a screen for privacy.
An outdoor kitchen boasts a built-in BBQ with a fridge and sink.
Clavero said the newness of the home contributes to its energy efficiency, as the quality of construction and insulation will be higher. Other features that make the home more energy efficient include in-floor heating, where the temperature of each floor can be controlled separately, motorized blinds, and a fully integrated Crestron home automation system controlling lighting, security and music, which can play through the in-ceiling speakers throughout the home.
She also pointed out the home’s high-quality windows, a particularly important feature due to the wind that can come off the water during winter.
“I think you get almost the perfect trifecta with this home,” Bakowsky said. “You get the big property size, you get the quality, and you’re getting a new build.”
A top city to live in
The home’s proximity to “pretty much everything” makes it a prime location, Clavero Pinto and Clavero said.
“I think Burlington attracts luxury buyers because it’s been ranked one of the top cities to live in Canada multiple times in a row,” Clavero said. The realtors highlighted the home’s proximity to downtown Burlington and Toronto, top public and private schools, and the Hamilton International and Pearson airports.
Clavero Pinto also pointed out the property’s closeness to hospitals, highways, and the wine region.
Paletta Mansion, a city-owned park, lies just to the west of the home, which Clavero said adds to the sense of privacy and exclusivity as only one home lies between 140 Secord and the park.
So, who’s the ideal buyer?
“Someone who truly understands how rare a property like this is on Lake Ontario,” Clavero Pinto said. He envisions the ideal buyer as a successful entrepreneur, executive, or family looking for both privacy and a “sense of retreat,” he said.
He reiterated the infinity pool, private tennis court, and riparian rights the home offers, emphasizing the lifestyle it can provide as a home that acts as both a cottage and a home.
Not all homes offer riparian rights, “and that’s what makes this home special,” Clavero said, as potential buyers can engage in sports like paddleboarding or jet skiing right from their home.
To sum up, “a buyer for this property isn’t simply purchasing a home, they’re drawn to the idea of living on the water,” Clavero Pinto said.
