At 209-299 Rue de la Rotonde, on the north point of Nuns' Island (Île-des-Soeurs), the garden-level condo's terrace door opens straight onto the landscaped courtyard. Morning coffee happens right outside, no elevator to wait for, sometimes no shoes either. Garden-level units are rare here, and this one more so: it runs 116 sq ft bigger than the matching units on the upper floors, for a total of 966 sq ft.

Inside, there's little to do before moving in. The walls were just repainted, quartz counters dress the kitchen and both bathrooms, and the three California Closets, including a walk-in with a built-in laundry chute and shoe storage, keep everything in its place without effort. The current owner has lived here since the building went up, with the same care since day one; she has never rented the unit, only lived in it.

Evolo2, a LEED-certified building, takes care of the rest. In summer, the outdoor pool and the private dock make it easy to take out a kayak or a paddleboard without driving anywhere. In winter, the indoor pool and the two saunas, dry and steam, take over. There's also a gym, a yoga deck facing the river, and a doorman on site around the clock -- guest suites on the second floor are even ready for family visiting for the weekend.

The St. Lawrence River and the Jacques-Cartier Bridge fill the view from the terrace, from morning light to sunset. Downtown Montreal is a few minutes away by bike path or by the REM, and Atwater Market and the grocery stores near the Champlain Bridge are just as close. It suits a retiree looking for a low-maintenance pied-à-terre as much as young professionals who want the city without the upkeep: private indoor parking, a bike rack and a storage locker are included, nothing left to add.

Garden-level units don't come up often on Nuns' Island. Visiting this one feels like coming home.