Since 2018, Rent Live Own has been helping Sudbury-area renters become homeowners through its rent-to-own program, designed to provide an alternative financing option for families who can’t qualify for a traditional mortgage. Working alongside mortgage brokers, realtors, and property managers, the company has built a reputation for guiding regular Canadians into homeownership through a structured process.
Now, Rent Live Own has introduced a new initiative called “Match Your Down Payment.”
Tackling Sudbury’s down payment challenge
Last year, Rent Live Own noticed a troubling trend. Canadians weren’t able to grow their down payments, and this year household savings actually declined. “We realized very quickly that it’s harder now than ever for people to save their down payment,” says Jason Chessar, who joined Rent Live Own as CEO in 2021.
As rents climb across Greater Sudbury and beyond, families often face higher monthly costs and moving expenses when forced to relocate. “It keeps nipping away at that down payment,” Chessar adds.
Founder Zach Cahill, who spent eight years as a paramedic in Sudbury before transitioning into real estate, says the solution comes back to the company’s mission. “It’s why I started the business, and why Jason joined it. We have a passion for helping people become homeowners. We’re problem-solvers, and we believe the rent-to-own strategy is one of the best ways Canadians can build long-term wealth.”
How “Match Your Down Payment” works
Rent Live Own’s new program was created specifically to fight the savings gap. It’s designed for employed Canadians with a minimum of $12,000 or 4% saved, and a household income of around $75,000 annually. Many applicants are working to repair their credit after challenges such as bankruptcy, divorce, or other hurdles.
Once approved, clients choose a home with a realtor, move in, and pay a monthly rent that includes a built-in savings component. For example, a monthly payment might be $2,700—$2,200 toward rent and $500 toward savings. That $500 is placed in a savings account, and Rent Live Own matches it dollar-for-dollar up to $12,000.
Over a 2–4 year term, a client saving $500 monthly could accumulate $24,000 on their own. With Rent Live Own’s match, their down payment grows to $36,000—substantially improving their ability to qualify for a mortgage.
“It’s one of the only programs in Northern Ontario where renters can literally double their savings while living in the home they intend to purchase,” Chessar says.
A structured path to ownership
The Match Your Down Payment program is designed for people with bruised credit, high debt ratios, self-employment income, and other hurdles— many of whom are denied mortgages when taking the traditional route through a bank, despite steady employment and financial discipline.
Zach and Jason first help their clients understand how applying for a mortgage with a bank works. Some of Rent Live Own’s clients apply for their services because they’re simply unsure if they can qualify for a traditional mortgage. The company looks at the best option first, which is a traditional mortgage, but “if you don’t fit in that little box,” says Jason, they’ll help you.
Applicants do still need that initial $12,000 down payment, because Jason and Zach have found that people who have the ability to start saving are the ones they can help. Rent Live Own clients follow a customized financial action plan, developed free of charge with the company’s guidance. Quarterly check-ins ensure progress is steady and any obstacles are addressed. This approach has delivered results: 92% of families who complete the program successfully purchase their home.
Recent success stories include Sara and Tom, a couple denied a traditional mortgage during COVID due to credit challenges and self-employment income. Through Rent Live Own, they repaired their credit, saved consistently, and earlier this year officially became homeowners in the very house they had been renting for three years.
Investing back into Sudbury
Although Rent Live Own has expanded across Ontario, Cahill and Chessar say their focus is shifting back to Sudbury. “We see huge potential here,” Cahill says. “This community matters to us, and we want to double down on helping local families break out of the rental cycle and build equity in their own city.”
The Match Your Down Payment program is initially accepting two applications per month, with plans to grow as demand increases. For the team, it’s not just about housing—it’s about creating stability, financial literacy, and long-term wealth for Sudbury families.
“To help someone who was otherwise renting and had poor credit or bankruptcy in the past, and then see them own a home—it’s something truly special,” says Cahill.