AFTER COMING HOME we began to think more about buying a condo there. We decided the most important thing was a location in the Plateau directly west or north of Parc la Fontaine. From time to time (for 3+ years) I browsed the Montreal MLS database. Prices always seemed quite reasonable for the location, a neighborhood named the 7th best in North America in November 2004. Wallpaper Magazine went even further, calling it the "coolest neighborhood in North America". It is officially the most creative place in Canada. Don't miss the Plateau video to see more. 

ONE DAY I moved the price range up slightly to see what it would bring up and there it was . . . . the perfect place for us on the west side of the the park, and only 75 yards away from it. It was on the second floor of a three-story, three-unit building built in 1906 which had been completely renovated in 1996. It had 1100 square feet, a bay window with an unobstructed view of the park, built-in bookcases and desk, a great kitchen, two balconies, windows on three sides, and was just around the corner from the cobblestone Duluth Street near St. Denis: the amazing epicenter of restaurants and shops that draws people from all over the city.

WE KNEW it was an A+ location, but were we ready to do it? After one week of discussion, we called our agent and made an offer without seeing the property in person. The seller accepted our offer and we made a trip up to see it two weeks later. Of course we had a contingency in the contract that we could see it in person and then make a final decision on whether to proceed. We closed the sale in May, 2006.

THE SELLER stayed until July 31 and during August we furnished it and made it our Montreal home. When we left on August 31, an outstanding tenant moved in for an 11-month term. With three universities in the city (plus our excellent location in the Plateau) finding a good tenant was not difficult. We intend to return each August until retirement and then live there from May-October each year.

WE LIVE IN a high-density neighborhood with many people on foot, roller blades, bicycles, and in small cars (very few SUVs). It is a safe, old city (in Old Montreal you can stay in the same lodging as Benjamin Franklin) and it is possible to live without a car altogether. If you decide to do that, you can join CommunAuto to have access to one when needed. Montreal is also a city of children, and you see them everywhere: in strollers, playing in the park, preschoolers walking down the sidewalk tied together with their teachers, on bikes with parents. It's always a pleasure to watch as they explore their city.