Primary Residence Plus / House Hack
When our client first came to us, she wasn’t looking for “just” a home — she was looking for flexibility. Five years earlier, she’d been searching for a triplex investment that could one day house her aging parents. After an extensive search (and a pause to rethink priorities), her goals evolved. She wanted a space that worked for her now, but could also adapt over time — whether as a home, a rental, or a mix of both. And she wanted a partner who could look at both sides of the equation:
We narrowed the search to properties that stood alone as strong investments and could work as a comfortable home base. We focused on:
The winning property was a rare find in Earlscourt:
This setup offered exactly the independence our client wanted — plus income flexibility and long-term upside. We negotiated strategically with lenders who struggled to value the garden suite, securing a purchase price where it was effectively valued at only $30–40K above comparable homes without one — protecting our client’s downside while preserving future upside.
Smart renovations have since maximized the rental value, creating a future-proof property that grows with her needs.
Property Configuration
A forward-thinking move — and a home designed to evolve with life.
Primary Residence Upgrade
Our client and his partner were both young professionals — each with their own condo, each already thinking like investors. Recently married, they wanted to upgrade to a house that would serve as their new marital home without sacrificing financial strategy.
But there was a catch: the condo market was soft. Selling would have meant locking in losses.
The solution? Rent both condos and buy a home that could still fit within their overall portfolio. They also wanted privacy — they weren’t sure they wanted to live with tenants under the same roof.
We worked with their financing team to model out how their two rented condos and a new home could all work together. The key was finding a property that provided:
We found a unicorn in Harbord Village:
That rental income boosted their mortgage qualification, and with $115K negotiated off the price, the garden suite effectively cost only $100K — compared to $400K+ to build one new. They also gained a private backyard office and garage attached to the laneway suite — reserved for their exclusive use.
It was the perfect mix of lifestyle and investment — privacy for them, passive income for their portfolio, and a property positioned for long-term appreciation.
When markets are down, higher-value properties often fall further — creating opportunities to trade up in a down market.
What the smart money does:
Move strategically while others hesitate.
A rare find. A smart financial move. The perfect start to their next chapter.
Development / Condominiumization
Our client approached us exploring multiple development paths: turnkey investments, flips, and multi-unit builds. But each came with trade-offs — limited scalability, higher risk, or saturated competition. He wanted something different — a project that offered multiple exit strategies, strong margins, and reduced risk exposure.
Together, we landed on condominiumization — converting a single property into individually sellable townhomes. It offered:
We sourced the perfect lot in north Corso Italia — tree-free, with clear sight lines and no rear neighbours — ideal for construction efficiency. Working with our network of planners and architects, our client designed a layout featuring:
The project’s pre-sales were supported by creative marketing — drone footage from “future windows,” construction storytelling on social media, and transparency that built buyer confidence.
A technically sound, design-forward project that embodies Toronto’s future: gentle density, smart design, and flexible ownership.
Volition’s network connected o the right planners, architects, and professionals — and our community of active developers provided peer support throughout.
A niche strategy with multiple exits — and a first-mover advantage in Toronto’s evolving housing landscape.
Make smarter real estate moves. Buy, sell or invest with confidence — grounded in strategy, built on trust.
