The Chase: This couple wanted a bigger home for their soon-to-be-born baby
They never imagined they’d find one so fast
The buyers: Abi Warnock, 36, a librarian, and Sukha Rai, 36, head of business development and partnerships for a start-up, with their daughter, Rani, and their golden retriever, Oro.
More House Hunts
The story: In December of 2023, Abi and Sukha were living in a two-bedroom starter home on Sudbury Street. The plan was to upsize eventually, so when they learned Abi was pregnant, they got moving. On the wish list: a backyard for Oro, a basement unit for rental income and at least three bedrooms, plus a guest room for Sukha’s folks, who offered to stay over occasionally to help with the baby. They arranged a private sale for their home, set a $1.3-million budget and started their search in the west end.
Option 1: Silver Avenue near Dundas and Bloor
Listed at: $1,239,000 Sold for: $1,239,000
In late December, Sukha saw this three-bedroom semi in Roncesvalles. He liked that it was relatively close to his family, who live west of the city, and that it was renovated top to bottom, with a sleek black-brick exterior and a finished basement. The downsides: it lacked a separate entrance for would-be tenants, and the neighbourhood wasn’t as walkable as they would have liked. The property had sat on the market for two months, so they put in an offer $100,000 under asking as a test. When the seller refused to budge, Abi and Sukha headed to the east end.
Option 2: Craven Road near Coxwell and Danforth
Listed at: $1,099,990 Sold for: $1,410,000
A month later, Abi and Sukha looked at this two-storey detached just south of Danforth. The property—with three bedrooms plus a den, a backyard and a rental-ready basement—was promising. Abi also liked that it had warm wood accents, including an open-beam ceiling on the top floor. But some features were impractical, like the fact that they would have to scale a flight of stairs to get from the main bedroom to the walk-in closet. Abi and Sukha were willing to go in at the asking price but no higher, and they were outbid by more than $300,000.
The buy: Greenwood Avenue near Queen
Listed at: $849,900 Sold for: $1,151,000
The next day, the couple came upon a listing for this five-plus-one-bedroom on Greenwood and booked a viewing right away. The place needed major renovations, but when they looked past the circuitous layout and the eggshell-blue paint job, Abi and Sukha saw that it had good bones. They offered $300,000 over asking and took ownership that night. They completed renovations in June and moved in six weeks before the birth of their daughter, Rani. “Buying this house was a split-second decision, the biggest of our lives,” says Abi. “And it worked out perfectly.”
NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY
Sign up for This City, our free newsletter about everything that matters right now in Toronto politics, sports, business, culture, society and more.
