Meet Emilio

I'm Emilio Ortiz-DeSantis, a real estate agent in Toronto serving Mimico, Humber Bay, Etobicoke, Toronto's west end, and beyond. My path here has been anything but typical — and that's probably my biggest asset.

I've spent years working in the public sector, eventually leading a team of 40 people and serving thousands of community members — from low-income families and seniors to newcomers, teens, and small business owners. My job was about helping people navigate complex systems, find the information they needed, and make informed decisions about things that mattered to them. I taught classes, built partnerships with local groups and MPs, worked on system-level initiatives, and spent a lot of time on the front lines making sure people had access to resources and support. It taught me how to listen, how to communicate with all kinds of people, and how to find answers when I don't immediately have them.

But real estate has been part of my life long before any of that. I grew up helping my dad, a carpenter, with renovations — both for his small business and at home. We rarely hired contractors. It was usually my uncles or grandfather coming over to help with roofing, flooring, full gut jobs, kitchen and bathroom overhauls, veranda extensions. I learned early that renovation isn't just about making things look nice — it's about understanding what adds value and what's just expensive.

By the time I was a teenager, I was helping my family manage their rental properties in North Etobicoke. I saw the landlord-tenant relationship from the inside — the challenges, the successes, what it takes to actually help people while protecting your investment. When I started my own small portfolio almost 9 years ago, I already knew what I was getting into. I've been the one crunching numbers, analyzing deals, doing renovations, and managing tenants ever since.

I got my real estate license initially to handle my own transactions, but quickly realized I could help others do the same. My background — a Bachelors' degree in Kinesiology and a Master's in Library and Information Science — might seem unrelated at first, but it's shaped how I approach this work. I'm used to doing deep research, finding credible information, and breaking down complicated processes so they make sense. I believe in doing things by the book, maintaining professionalism, and using every resource available to get the best outcome.

Whether you're buying your first home, selling a property, or building an investment portfolio, I bring real-world experience and a commitment to finding the right answer — even if it takes some digging. My goal is straightforward: help you make decisions you'll feel confident about, not just now, but years down the line.

B.Kin, MLIS