In 2014, Justin Maguire relocated from Perth, Australia, to Toronto with aspirations of eventually owning a home in the city. However, the real estate surge beginning in 2016 made purchasing a property within Toronto increasingly unattainable. While condos downtown or houses in the suburbs were possibilities, neither option suited his preferences. Instead, Maguire continued renting in the city, and in 2018, began considering buying a cottage as a personal retreat and a means to establish deeper roots in Canada.

By late 2019, Maguire acquired a three-bedroom cottage on Head Lake in the Kawartha Lakes region for $330,000. Over several years, he extensively renovated the property, updating its interior, installing a fireplace and sauna, and enhancing the landscaping. In 2023, he completed a permaculture course focused on sustainable, small-scale farming methods aimed at minimizing environmental impact. This education motivated him to explore owning a larger farm property where he could practice these principles, including growing a natural garden, fruit trees, and learning food preservation techniques.

Maguire listed his cottage for sale in 2024, but it did not find a buyer until June 2025, when it sold for $565,000. He envisioned a farm property serving initially as a weekend retreat, with a longer-term plan of full-time residence. That fall, he initiated a search for a farm within three hours of Toronto, setting a budget of up to $800,000. His priorities included a minimum of 10 acres of land, open space to accommodate his four-year-old silver Labrador, Jake, and at least three bedrooms for hosting guests. Given his renovation experience, he was open to fixer-uppers. Growing up near the ocean in Australia, Maguire preferred locations near water and settled on Prince Edward County, Ontario, for its fertile land and waterfront opportunities, as well as its proximity to restaurants, wineries, and breweries—advantages for generating rental income through Airbnb.

Working with Century 21 agent Elyse Gallagher, Maguire evaluated three primary properties. The first was a modern, recently updated three-bedroom bungalow on just over 10 acres in southeast Prince Edward County. Featuring an open-concept layout, finished basement, and recreational amenities including a dirt bike track and volleyball court, the $749,900 property lacked significant waterfront but included a stream and pond. Its recent renovations left limited scope for further updates, which was a drawback for Maguire.

The second option was a four-bedroom farmhouse on 67 acres in southwest Prince Edward County, listed at $774,900. The land encompassed farmland, a sugar maple grove, woodlands, and multiple outbuildings, with potential for renting fields to other farmers. However, the house required extensive repairs and a complete overhaul. The third property, located in Napanee, about 30 minutes northeast of Picton, offered seven acres with 300 feet of waterfront on Hay Bay and an established orchard with fruit and nut trees. Priced at $599,000, the home was in fair condition but had structural issues including a damp basement and sloping floors due to rotted joists.

Maguire ultimately chose the Napanee farmhouse, finding the property met several key criteria, including waterfront access and existing fruit trees, despite having less land than initially desired. After negotiating the price down to $585,000, he addressed the structural concerns by installing new supports and undertook cosmetic improvements such as refinishing floors and renovating bathrooms.

Maguire plans to use the farmhouse as a weekend and vacation retreat while renting it on Airbnb to offset costs. Currently, he resides in a shared apartment in Toronto’s Annex neighborhood, paying $1,300 monthly. He hopes to transition to full-time living at the farm within a few years, anticipating starting a family and embracing a lifestyle centered on self-sufficiency and connection to the land. “It’s such an enjoyable experience to gather in a place where you actually have some privacy,” he remarked, emphasizing the appeal of accessing homegrown and locally sourced food in a rural setting.