Realtor Sam McDadi just racked up another high-end deal, this time setting a record for selling the highest-priced home in Mississauga, Ont.’s history. It’s also the most expensive house sold in the Greater Toronto Area on MLS this year.

The Doulton Avenue estate known as Saint George Mansion was listed for sale for about four months with McDadi of Sam McDadi Real Estate and co-listing agent Victor Brewda of Forest Hill Real Estate.

Image courtesy Sam McDadi

The almost 26,000-square-foot mansion was listed at $25-million, then reduced to $22-million and finally $20-million, the sweet spot that attracted a flurry of interest—seven or eight showings, an impressive number for properties in this price range, McDadi says.

Closing the deal: Balancing price with timing

It sold for $17.1-million about two weeks later. For the owners “it was a tradeoff—money versus time,” he says. “The owner was ready to get a deal done.”

The property was first listed five years ago, for $50-million. (McDadi was not the listing agent during that time.) 

Image courtesy Sam McDadi

It was on the market for several years under different brokerages that were unsuccessful in their efforts. Then it was McDadi’s turn. He says he was chosen to take over because of his strong foothold in the market, good image and national and international clients. 

A strategic marketing plan for a unique property

He quickly spread the word to his client base. Some checked out the mansion, however, he says potential buyers were not in abundance because of the home’s still-high price.

McDadi created a multi-pronged marketing plan, spreading the word far and wide, first with his own client list of local and international clients, including those in mainland China and the Middle East, he says.

In addition to traditional media, he leveraged social media to create fresh excitement around a property that had been exposed to the market for years. He reached out to influencers, including athletes, a well-known artist and business people, to create buzz and to expose the house to a variety of markets. Photo shoots for different publications were done at the property and video tours were created. He was in talks with athletes to create marketing videos but the property sold before they could be produced.

Image courtesy Sam McDadi

A rare match between buyer and seller

McDadi received two offers, one from a buyer from the Greater Toronto Area and the other from his client, a successful businessman who had lived not far from Doulton Avenue and was familiar with the property.

“It was a good fit for buyer and seller,” McDadi says, adding that the property offers great value to the purchaser. To replace the two-acre property alone would be $10-million and to replace the limestone on the residence would be another $10-million, he says. “It gets to $20-million pretty fast. The purchaser fared well.”

Saint George Mansion: A French-inspired “architectural marvel”

Saint George Mansion is a French-inspired chateau. It’s an “architectural marvel” designed by world-renowned architect Ferris Rafauli and offers seven bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, an indoor pool and Parisian-inspired interiors, he says. “No expense was spared.” 

Other highlights include imported heated marble floors, intricate workmanship with 14-karat gold details, mirror inlays and extravagant fireplaces.

McDadi says the chef’s kitchen blends with the great room to provide unmatched entertaining space.

Image courtesy Sam McDadi

The primary bedroom has a seating area with a gas fireplace, as well as his-and-her walk-in closets and his-and-her four-piece ensuites. The balcony overlooks the grounds.

The three-tiered theatre room has Lamborghini leather seating.

The property, secured by wrought iron gates, has a fenced backyard, a 15-car attached garage and parking for 12 cars.

Built about 10 years ago, the mansion took three or four years to construct, McDadi says. “It’s a special house that was built to live in for generations but plans changed.”

If the mansion looks a little familiar, you may remember it from Netflix’s series Painkiller starring Matthew Broderick, Uzo Aduba and Taylor Kitsch or Amazon’s series The Boys, starring Anthony Starr, Karl Urban and Jack Quaid.

Image courtesy Sam McDadi

A motto for success: Every client counts

When he started in real estate over 35 years ago, McDadi focused on first-time buyers and leases. Over the years, he and his clients have grown together.

Team McDadi has sold more than 16,000 homes totalling more than $10-billion in real estate transactions (according to TRREB stats 1988-2023).

The brokerage’s motto, “No home is too big or too small for Team McDadi,” is the secret to his success. McDadi sold the mansion for a record-setting $17.1-million one day and the next day he finalized a $2,000-a-month rental agreement for a family.

He says some agents won’t take leases because the deals are too small, but McDadi’s team treats every client with the same level of dedication and professionalism. “You never know where that deal will lead. Treat every client like they’re the only client.” 

Image courtesy Sam McDadi