102 | The Chase Who said you can’t find a decent house in Toronto for less than $600,000?

They only had a modest budget, so they handdelivered letters in hopes of persuading a seller

The buyers: Kayleigh Arnott, a 25-year-old land use planner with the Ontario government, and her boyfriend, Danny Costa, a 28-year-old logistics coordinator for a transportation company, with their golden border collie, Bear.

The sTory: In 2019, Kayleigh and Danny lived in an apartment at Yonge and St. Clair. They liked the place but figured their $2,300-a-month rent would be better spent on a mortgage, and worried that if they didn’t buy soon, they’d be renting forever. Even with parental help, their budget was $650,000, so they hand-delivered letters to shabby-looking unlisted houses in the east end—where they thought they could score a deal—in hopes of convincing someone to sell. No takers. So, realizing they needed help with the hunt, they enlisted a real estate agent.

Blackthorn avenue near St. Clair and Caledonia Listed at $598,000 Sold for $720,000

This townhouse in Weston-Pellam Park felt immediately welcoming. “There were kids on bicycles, lots of people walking dogs. It felt safe,” says Kayleigh. The place had a big backyard, a cute breakfast nook and a fireplace in the living room, where they imagined setting up a Christmas tree. They liked that it had three bedrooms, since it would have given them space to start a family. The downside: the place only had one small bathroom, which wasn’t even big enough for a vanity. Though they made an offer of $620,000 anyway, it didn’t get them past the first round.

Gledhill avenue near Woodbine and Danforth Listed at $599,000 Sold for $700,000

This two-bed, one-bath bungalow was located in Woodbine-Lumsden, a familyfriendly neighbourhood dotted with parks and schools. They liked the open-concept main floor, the fenced-in backyard and the fact that it came with a parking spot. But the house was listed as a fixer-upper—it had an old, mildewy main-floor bathtub and ugly beige carpeting upstairs. Also, the basement ceiling was so low that Danny, who’s six foot six, had to duck. Their agent told them not to waste their time on an offer, since it would likely sell above their budget. And the agent was right.

cosBurn avenue near Woodbine and Danforth Listed at $499,000 Sold for $588,500

The former owner of this two-bedroom bungalow was a stonemason, who decorated the exterior with river rock. Inside, it felt like a cozy cottage, with wood beams in the kitchen adding to the charm. Kayleigh fell in love when she saw the lilac bush outside. “I grew up with one in my backyard, so it felt like a sign,” she says. On offer night, they submitted $525,000 with no conditions, along with a letter saying they would maintain the home’s character. After three rounds, during which they upped their bid by $63,500, they closed the deal. Last September, they moved in.