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Andrea Yu

Andrea Yu is a freelance journalist based in Toronto. She reports on a wide variety of topics including business, real estate, culture, design, health, food, drink and travel. Aside from Toronto Life, her writing has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Chatelaine and Cottage Life.

Latest from Andrea Yu

This family bought and renovated a Dufferin County farmhouse during the pandemic

This family bought and renovated a Dufferin County farmhouse during the pandemic

Next up: livestock

Even with a combined income of more than $200,000, a Toronto couple couldn't afford a place in the city. So they bought a $900,000 cottage in Bracebridge instead

Real Estate News

Even with a combined income of more than $200,000, a Toronto couple couldn’t afford a place in the city. So they bought a $900,000 cottage in Bracebridge instead

Peter and Sara are planning to Airbnb the place for the summer to earn some extra income

This family left the city and bought a farmhouse in Sandbanks Provincial Park

This family left the city and bought a farmhouse in Sandbanks Provincial Park

They traded their rush-hour commutes for County living and creative pursuits

Growing up, she lived across from a haunted house. She bought it during the pandemic for $840,000

Real Estate News

Growing up, she lived across from a haunted house. She bought it during the pandemic for $840,000

During childhood, Melissa wrote stories about a ghost who lived there

These massive art installations are taking over the Distillery District

These massive art installations are taking over the Distillery District

Including a psychedelic dream version of the Arc de Triomphe

A Toronto couple wanted to avoid buying a vacation property in cottage country. So they purchased this $39,000 getaway in Newfoundland

Real Estate News

A Toronto couple wanted to avoid buying a vacation property in cottage country. So they purchased this $39,000 getaway in Newfoundland

It takes three days driving (plus a ferry ride) to get there, but Sam and Derek are loving their new vacation home

This family ditched city life for a $900,000 house on Lake Simcoe

Real Estate News

This family ditched city life for a $900,000 house on Lake Simcoe

It needs some love, but there's room for everyone (three adults, two kids and a dog), and it backs right onto a canal

He went up to the Kawarthas early in the pandemic. Now he canoes to work

Real Estate News

He went up to the Kawarthas early in the pandemic. Now he canoes to work

And by "work," we mean the Italian restaurant and bakery he launched in November

When the pandemic hit, this family snapped up a fixer-upper cottage on the Crowe River for $525,000

Real Estate News

When the pandemic hit, this family snapped up a fixer-upper cottage on the Crowe River for $525,000

Now the kids play outside after school, instead of staring at their devices

A Toronto couple wanted to ditch the city. They found this $570,000 cottage in Haliburton

Real Estate News

A Toronto couple wanted to ditch the city. They found this $570,000 cottage in Haliburton

Josh and Erika also opened a sporting goods store in the area because, hey, why not?

This family converted a Moore Park duplex into a playful, artsy home, complete with indoor swing

This family converted a Moore Park duplex into a playful, artsy home, complete with indoor swing

Plus: colourful murals, a backyard basketball court and Brillo pop art

A Toronto family bought a three-storey building in Paisley for $272,500. They opened a restaurant and plan to live above it

Real Estate News

A Toronto family bought a three-storey building in Paisley for $272,500. They opened a restaurant and plan to live above it

Ranna and James initially planned to buy an investment property. But when they found out the owner of Marty's Bar and Grill wanted to retire, the couple had a radical idea

When the pandemic put him out of work, this welder and fitness buff began producing condo-size gym equipment

When the pandemic put him out of work, this welder and fitness buff began producing condo-size gym equipment

He started peddling them on Kijiji, and by August he was up to four or five squat racks a week

This family felt cramped in their 750-square-foot rental. So they upsized to a $555,000 Mimico condo

Real Estate News

This family felt cramped in their 750-square-foot rental. So they upsized to a $555,000 Mimico condo

Vipin and Payal wanted something close to transit so they could take trips into the city with their daughter, Ahana

She moved back in with her parents. It helped her save for a $380,000 condo in Scarborough

Real Estate News

She moved back in with her parents. It helped her save for a $380,000 condo in Scarborough

Maria started saving up before the pandemic, planning to buy her first condo within the next five years. But when she began working from home, it sped up that timeline considerably

Real Weddings: Inside a surprise engagement and intimate celebration at a Vaughan photo studio

Real Weddings: Inside a surprise engagement and intimate celebration at a Vaughan photo studio

Lolade Oyefeso and Michael Egere were married at the same venue where Michael had proposed a month earlier

These families just co-purchased a $900,000 semi in Mount Dennis. Now they're learning how to live together

Real Estate News

These families just co-purchased a $900,000 semi in Mount Dennis. Now they’re learning how to live together

The Daley and Truax families each wanted to buy a house in the city, but on their own, they simply couldn't afford it. So the couples decided to pool their money and live together under one roof

"We didn't want to wait around for Covid to end": Inside a speedy millennial wedding at city hall

“We didn’t want to wait around for Covid to end”: Inside a speedy millennial wedding at city hall

Followed by a delightful couple's photo shoot

This guy makes $90,000 a year. How does he spend it during the pandemic?

This guy makes $90,000 a year. How does he spend it during the pandemic?

Elan Shi saves on rent by living at his parents' house in North York. His recent splurges include: a $1,300 camera lens and $350 for car washing equipment

A Toronto family wanted to ditch the city. They just bought this $450,000 detached in Goderich

Real Estate News

A Toronto family wanted to ditch the city. They just bought this $450,000 detached in Goderich

The Daleys originally wanted to purchase a rental property outside the city. But when they stumbled upon this place, their plans changed

A Toronto couple wanted a starter home. The city was too expensive, but they found this $375,000 detached in St. Thomas

Real Estate News

A Toronto couple wanted a starter home. The city was too expensive, but they found this $375,000 detached in St. Thomas

They thought the pandemic might cause a dip in the market, but as property values continued rising, they decided to buy outside of the city before getting priced out

This couple wanted to ditch the city for more nature. They found a $600,000 home in Collingwood

Real Estate News

This couple wanted to ditch the city for more nature. They found a $600,000 home in Collingwood

Matthew and Darcie spent most of their lives in the GTA. But spending time up in cottage country during lockdown made them remember how much they enjoyed being in nature

This guy built a $330,000 laneway house. Now he's renting it out for $1,800 a month

Real Estate News

This guy built a $330,000 laneway house. Now he’s renting it out for $1,800 a month

Grant purchased his current home specifically because it had the potential for a rentable laneway suite

"My caseload has gone up by about 40 per cent since the pandemic started": Five therapists on what it's like to treat patients over text, phone and Zoom

“My caseload has gone up by about 40 per cent since the pandemic started”: Five therapists on what it’s like to treat patients over text, phone and Zoom

Since the pandemic hit, more therapists are offering their services via Zoom, phone or text. We asked five mental health pros how it all works

Summer Camp Guide

Summer Camp Directory 2026

Summer Camp Directory 2026

Discover our top-rated summer camps for kids of all ages

Best New Restaurants

Toronto Life ’s Best Restaurants returns for its 10th-anniversary edition on June 8

Toronto Life’s Best Restaurants returns for its 10th-anniversary edition on June 8

General admission tickets are now on sale for Toronto’s biggest culinary night, featuring top chefs, restaurants and drinks

Big Stories

These are Toronto’s best new restaurants of 2026

These are Toronto’s best new restaurants of 2026

This year’s list includes a 150-square-foot omakase counter, a Parisian brasserie in the Annex, Korean comfort food, Filipino karaoke and a Summerhill seafood spot that’s reinventing the raw bar

Hoop Dreams: Inside the making of the Toronto Tempo, the city’s newly assembled WNBA team

Hoop Dreams: Inside the making of the Toronto Tempo, the city’s newly assembled WNBA team

After years of false starts, months of nail-biting negotiations between the league and the players’ union, and an 11th-hour scramble to build a roster, Toronto finally has its own major-league women’s basketball team. Now it just has to live up to the hype

Live From New York: Inside the slay-or-be-slayed world of Studio 8H with SNL rookie Veronika Slowikowska

Live From New York: Inside the slay-or-be-slayed world of Studio 8H with SNL rookie Veronika Slowikowska

Slowikowska is the first Canadian to join the cast of Saturday Night Live in more than 25 years. She’s also this season’s breakout star. Now all she has to do is keep crushing it

Better Call Deepak: Meet drug lord Ryan Wedding’s self-styled cocaine lawyer

Better Call Deepak: Meet drug lord Ryan Wedding’s self-styled cocaine lawyer

The man who represented the infamous drug lord is unapologetically flashy—he has a Lamborghini and two Maseratis and wears $1,200 Louboutins. But did he become an accomplice to his client’s crimes? Deepak Paradkar says he was just doing his job. The FBI says he crossed a line

The Redemption Tour: The Blue Jays are back. Can they finish what they started?

The Redemption Tour: The Blue Jays are back. Can they finish what they started?

We’re not over it, but they are. Six months after that devastating defeat, the Jays take the field once more, bent more than ever on winning the World Series. Dispatches from the dugout

My Life as a True Crime Spectacle: My father’s crimes fractured our family. Then came the press

My Life as a True Crime Spectacle: My father’s crimes fractured our family. Then came the press

My dad was the infamous Rolex Killer. The news of his crimes nearly broke me. And ever since, my family has been hounded by reporters, podcasters and true crime fanatics—a whole new circle of hell

Robby on the Line: Out and about with Robby Hoffman, comedy’s equal opportunity assassin

Robby on the Line: Out and about with Robby Hoffman, comedy’s equal opportunity assassin

Larry David is the indisputable king of brutal honesty. But if anyone comes close, it’s Robby Hoffman, the suddenly everywhere comic from whom no group is safe

Notes on an Academic Scandal: Why did TMU demote a leading advocate of DEI?

Notes on an Academic Scandal: Why did TMU demote a leading advocate of DEI?

Pamela Sugiman, a former arts dean at Toronto Metropolitan University, was a key player in the school’s push for diversity, equity and inclusion. When the backlash against DEI arrived, she was demoted. The school says it was a coincidence. She disagrees

City of Renters: The dream of home ownership isn’t dead. Maybe it should be?

City of Renters: The dream of home ownership isn’t dead. Maybe it should be?

Scenes from the rent-for-life revolution

This generation was pummelled by Covid high school. Now the job market wants to replace them with AI

This generation was pummelled by Covid high school. Now the job market wants to replace them with AI

It’s hard out here for a 20-something

The High Price of Hope: Inside Toronto’s white-hot fertility market

The High Price of Hope: Inside Toronto’s white-hot fertility market

Desperate wannabe parents are betting their life savings on unproven treatments and false promises

Man vs. Machine: ChatGPT caused him to spiral into delusion. Now he’s suing OpenAI

Man vs. Machine: ChatGPT caused him to spiral into delusion. Now he’s suing OpenAI

Last spring, a chatbot convinced Allan Brooks that he had discovered a revolutionary mathematical theory. He says it nearly destroyed him

Smart City: 20 mind-blowing Toronto inventions that are changing the world

Smart City: 20 mind-blowing Toronto inventions that are changing the world

Homegrown innovations that will transform lives for the better

293 Days Without My Son: I gave up everything to rescue my kidnapped child from my abusive husband

293 Days Without My Son: I gave up everything to rescue my kidnapped child from my abusive husband

When Valentino was abducted, I knew three things: he’d been taken by his father, he was somewhere in India and I would not rest until I found him

The Violent Life of a Tow Truck Driver: How an unremarkable profession turned Toronto into a war zone

The Violent Life of a Tow Truck Driver: How an unremarkable profession turned Toronto into a war zone

The towing industry has been hijacked by criminals and kingpins who fleece customers, beat up dissenters and shoot their enemies. Inside the brutal turf war for the city’s wrecks

Street Fight: Inside the battle raging over Toronto multiplexes

Street Fight: Inside the battle raging over Toronto multiplexes

If this city stands any chance of solving the housing crisis, it will need buildings with multiple units in residential neighbourhoods—a move that has many residents saying, “Anywhere but here!”

Young and Retired: Meet the super-savers quitting work decades before the average Canadian

Young and Retired: Meet the super-savers quitting work decades before the average Canadian

In the age of doomspending, these ultra-driven Torontonians give up their weekends, work multiple jobs and never, ever eat out. The upside: they’ll retire long before the rest of us

Just Listed

For Sale: 171 Durant Ave

For Sale: 171 Durant Ave

This rare property features 2 houses on 1 lot

For Sale: 50 First Avenue

For Sale: 50 First Avenue

A testament to time presiding over one of Uxbridge's most storied streetscapes, this magnificently preserved circa 1880 residence commands its prominent corner lot with the quiet confidence of a true architectural landmark

For Sale: 7 Bentley Drive

For Sale: 7 Bentley Drive

A commanding architectural statement in prestigious Stonegate–Queensway, this newly completed custom residence by Bali Homes Group presents a refined interpretation of contemporary luxury living

For Sale: 75 Queen Street

For Sale: 75 Queen Street

Guelph is having a moment

For Sale: 112 Mildenhall Rd

For Sale: 112 Mildenhall Rd

A rare opportunity to own a custom-built masterpiece in the heart of Lawrence Park beautifully designed by Gray Smith and Arca Design for the most discerning buyer