The Chase: They wanted out of the rental market, so they did what comedians do best—they improvised
Kris Siddiqi and Aurora Browne (of Baroness von Sketch fame) were renting a four-bedroom on Ossington with their 14-year-old son. When their landlord informed them that the building would be sold, they set out to search for a home of their own
The buyers: Kris Siddiqi, 44, and Aurora Browne, 52, both comedians.
More House Hunts
The story: Near the end of 2023, Kris, Aurora and their 14-year-old son, Sebastian, were living in a four-bedroom apartment on the Ossington strip. Then came bad news—their landlord was planning to sell, meaning they’d have to vacate by the end of March 2024. After renting for 16 years, they’d built up some savings and were ready to break into the market. Kris and Aurora’s wish list was simple: a house in the west end (preferably near the subway) with at least two bedrooms and a parking spot. They set a maximum budget of $1 million and began their search.
Gore Vale Avenue near Dundas and Bellwoods
Listed at: $999,999 Sold for: $1,275,000
Kris and Aurora viewed this semi in Trinity-Bellwoods first. The couple loved that it faced the park and had three bedrooms, a renovated kitchen, a sunroom and a backyard. But there was no private parking, and they got the sense from their agent that there would be a bidding war. The house was full of nice-to-haves but not quite right for the price—the sellers wouldn’t entertain any offer under $1.3 million. The buying process was new to Kris and Aurora, so they chalked it up to a learning experience and continued their house hunt.
Brandon Avenue near Dufferin and Dupont
Listed at: $749,000 Sold for: $1,050,000
Next they visited this two-storey home in Junction–Wallace Emerson. Newly renovated, it had three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a detached two-car garage. But the price, Aurora felt, was “weirdly low,” most likely as a tactic to spark a bidding war. And while the brick façade had charm, the two were turned off by the interior aesthetic: everything was new, cold, grey and lacking personality. “It looked like a fake residence, like an IKEA showroom or a set you’d use for TV,” says Kris. “And the place only had one closet!” They kept looking.
The buy: Davenport Road near Shaw
Listed at: $1,050,000 Sold for: $985,000
In December, they visited this Wychwood Victorian. It had white cotton-lace drapes everywhere and was chock-a-block with porcelain figures, but the couple saw potential. The place had three bedrooms and a parking pad, and the location was ideal. Kris and Aurora submitted an offer of $900,000. Following six weeks of negotiations, they settled on a price of $985,000, and they took occupancy in April of 2024. One of the first things Aurora did was tear down those drapes—but she transformed a few panels into a dress for the couple’s August wedding.
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Amanda Whalen is a Toronto-based journalist who works as a communications professional for a tech hub. She has also worked at BNN Bloomberg and CP24, and her writing can be found in Toronto Life, the CBC and the Toronto Star
