“I bought a lot of older houses that were rented out, on the open market or to students,” he said. “After those homes increased in value and some even doubled or tripled in value, I started selling these older homes and buying vacant lots.
“We only own in this province, so that gave me the opportunity to learn exactly how all the building codes work here. Then we developed just four of what we call products: larger houses with four and five bedrooms, two or three bathrooms and a maximum width of 6.5 meters.”
Designs for families and functions
One of those designs, a 1,900-square-foot, five-bedroom, three-bathroom model called the Pelican, has become a cornerstone of the company’s approach.
“It’s actually a four-bedroom house,” Maynard explained. “We converted a garage into a bedroom because it is more important for affordable housing and families in need to have a fifth bedroom – and that bedroom on the ground floor. Many families in need need that for different reasons – sometimes for medical reasons, sometimes because they are hosting their mother or father.”
Each home includes on-site parking and meets all local and zoning requirements, a priority in a city where more than half of downtown homes lack driveways.
Maximizing land value
As the supply of affordable infill lots has dwindled, Maynard has been forced to get creative.
“It has become harder to find vacant land where I need to be to make my program work,” he said. “We want to build four- and five-bedroom homes on lots with land prices in the $50,000s, which is virtually unheard of now.”
To make up the numbers, Maynard often looks for properties where he can build two units.
“If I buy a lot for $100,000 and I can build two, I’m back to my $50,000 per house land fee,” he said. “That’s the economic criteria we’re looking for: $50,000 per home built in dirt money, as they call it.”
Typical construction costs hover around $250,000 per unit, a figure that has risen with material price increases but remains manageable even with recent tariffs, Maynard said.
“Our construction costs have gone up, but we haven’t seen the kind of increases that would mean it’s not worth doing,” he said. “We haven’t had any supply chain issues since COVID, so that’s not yet a reality in our market.”
Destination shifts, new opportunities
Recent zoning changes in Wilmington have made accessory dwelling unit (ADU) construction more viable.
“Last May, all lots in the city of Wilmington became eligible for ADUs,” Maynard said. “They used to have a size restriction, so most lots were ineligible.”
That change allowed his team to develop new, freestanding ADU models that complement the main buildings.
“I would just disconnect the ADU because when you connect an ADU you have essentially built a duplex,” he explained. “There are more people who can enjoy having their own home and a detached house nearby or behind them, or with tenants.”
When scouting land for future projects, Maynard focuses on specific configurations.
“I look for corners, very wide lots, or through lots with street access at both ends,” he said. “Those are the best options for ADUs because they allow off-street parking in front of two homes.”
Impact and future growth
To date, Our House Your Home has completed more than 50 rental homes and currently provides stable housing to approximately 200 residents, including 150 children.
“We house 200 people across the 40 that we built and still own,” Maynard said. “About 150 of them are minors, and most of the families are single mothers.”
Looking ahead, Maynard plans to continue to steadily expand the program despite rising land and construction costs.
He said the long-term goal is both practical and personal and hopes to make Our House Your Home a traditional family business.
“We want it to be big enough that it’s worth it for the kids to potentially be involved,” Maynard said. “We want to keep looking for these cluttered lots that people don’t want, that are narrow or overlooked – and if our product fits, there will be a family there six or eight months later.
“It’s hard to stop helping people. Moving every few months gives our housing program an energy where we continue to meet new people and meet the demand for housing in our area – and that feels good.”
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