Ontario couple gives up city living, buys 7-room bed and breakfast in Nova Scotia for less than $350K
An Ontario couple say they have no regrets over their decision to leave the big city behind and move into a seven-bedroom Victorian bed and breakfast in Nova Scotia during the pandemic.
Stefan Palios and Marty Butler decided to uproot their lives in 2020 after spending years living in a one-bedroom apartment building in downtown Toronto.
“In the earlier stages of our search, we thought we were going to stay in the City in Toronto for a little bit longer, and so we originally were looking at condos and things like that,” Butler said.
“We quickly realized that a one-bedroom wasn't going to cut it and that we would want more space just to feel a little bit more grounded and be able to have family over.”
The couple had a budget of about $350,000—which was slightly adjustable to account for transportation or other fees—when they set about their search. Because of this, they quickly ruled out larger cities such as Toronto or Vancouver, which have seen skyrocketing real estate prices over the past few years.
According to data released earlier this month by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, the average benchmark for a home in the GTA in July was about $1,074,754.
The couple also had a long list of requirements. They wanted their new home to be in Canada so that Butler could continue his work as a registered nurse, and it had to be within an hour of a city and international airport.
At the same time, the couple didn’t want to completely give up their walkable lifestyle. It was necessary for the home to be close to a café, bar and grocery store.
“We started looking (and) we found a couple properties that were beautiful. This one stood out,” Palios said. “It's actually been a bed and breakfast since the 1980s. It's got seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, was in our budget and is in the middle of our small town of Windsor.”
However, because the home was in Nova Scotia during a time in which Atlantic Canada bubbled themselves to protect against the spread of COVID-19—Butler and Palios couldn’t physically go see the property.
Relying on the word of multiple inspectors and a friend who sent them video from inside the home, the couple decided to take the risk and sign the paperwork. They moved in June 2021.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
A year later, the bed and breakfast is open for business. They have two guest rooms available for rent, and a third is being renovated. They are also transforming a fourth room into a co-working office space for guests who anticipate a longer stay and require space to work remotely.
For Palios, a self-described lover of large and old homes, the purchase was a dream come true.
“I’ve always wanted a big old house,” he said, noting that renting out rooms was a big part of how they could afford that dream.
The couple said they love to host people and have acted as Airbnb hosts in the past. They don’t mind having multiple guests over and enjoy meeting new people.
“I don't think either one of us has regretted the decision,” Butler said. “We had that checklist that we discussed and I think that that helped us avoid a lot of the pitfalls that we've heard of other people kind of falling into by finding dream properties, whether it's still in Ontario or somewhere else, and then shortly thereafter they realized that the house was not what they expected, or they weren't in the location that they wanted to be in.”
On top of being able to own a home, the couple says the lifestyle changes have been generally positive. They cite more green space and a close-knit community as the reason why they have abandoned their two-year plan in hopes of establishing a real home in Windsor.
“I love Toronto. I love going back,” Palios said. “It is great to see, but then I'm always happy to get on the plane and get in the half-hour drive from the airport to our house and then be home.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.