There is no such thing as "cheap rent"
If a place is cheap, there is a reason it is cheap. It's a shit box, or it's in a shit neighbourhood, or (bestter yet) it's a shit box in a shit neighbourhood. If that's how you want to live, then knock yourself out. Not too many women will be too impressed (over the age of 28) with a man (so called) who lives in a shitty rental in a shitty area (or your parents basement). (Of course, all bets are off if you are simply "paying for it", but if that's all you're capable of, well, again.....)
Anyway, not to be accused (again) of anti-semitism, but if you look at what the Jews do - they all buy property. All the places I've ever been involved that were rentals were owned by Jews. They're not stupid. Make the goy pay for the mortgage. Smart. Even if real estate CRASHES in Toronto by 30 percent (which unless interest rates spike about 5 points, it's not going to) - that's still less than you can lose in a week on the stock market in the wrong play AND your stock won't give you a place to call home and bring women home to.
As to having to fix the place up. Well, a real man knows which end of the hammer is which and there's very little that can go wrong on a house that will send him running with his head in his hands screaming like a little girl. Some of us truly enjoy building things because we get the sense of satisfaction that comes from it.