If you’ve spent any time at all on HGTV over the last decade, you know Drew and Jonathan Scott. They’re everywhere. They are the ubiquitous faces of home renovation, seemingly born with tool belts and real estate licenses already attached. But when people ask where did the property brothers grow up, they usually expect a flashy answer involving a Toronto penthouse or maybe a suburban Vancouver mansion.
The reality? It’s way dustier than that.
The twins weren't raised in a city. They didn't grow up with the sleek, modern aesthetic they now push on homeowners in Nashville or Los Angeles. No, Drew and Jonathan Scott grew up on a sprawling horse ranch in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. It was a place defined by manual labor, early mornings, and a very "do-it-yourself" Canadian grit that explains a lot about how they operate today.
The Rugged Roots of Maple Ridge
Maple Ridge is located about 45 minutes east of Vancouver. Today, it’s a booming suburban hub, but back when the brothers were kids in the 1980s, it felt a lot more remote. Their parents, Jim and Joanne Scott, moved the family out there because they wanted their boys—including the older brother, JD—to understand the value of a hard day’s work.
They lived on a large property that wasn't just for show.
It was a working ranch.
Jonathan has often joked in interviews that his childhood wasn't about video games; it was about mucking out stalls. When most kids were playing tag, the Scott brothers were fixing fences or tending to horses. This wasn't some hobby for the wealthy. Jim Scott had immigrated from Scotland with almost nothing, working as a stuntman and a film industry pro, and he brought that "fix it yourself or it stays broken" mentality to the household.
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Business at Seven Years Old
You can’t talk about where did the property brothers grow up without mentioning their first business venture. It’s a bit of a legendary story in the Scott family lore. At just seven years old, Drew and Jonathan started a company called JAM (Jon, Andrew, Mom) Enterprises.
What did they sell?
Hangers. Specifically, thousands of nylon-covered clothes hangers.
They didn't just sell them to neighbors. They actually managed to get their product into a Japanese wholesaler. Most kids are struggling with long division at seven, but these two were already tracking inventory and managing a supply chain from their bedroom in Maple Ridge. This weirdly specific business venture was the catalyst for their future real estate empire. It taught them that if you want something, you have to build the machine that generates it.
The Transition from Ranch Life to Real Estate
By the time they hit their teens, the brothers were already looking for ways to avoid being "broke college students." While still living in the Vancouver area, they realized that the ranch lifestyle had given them a specific set of skills: they knew how to use power tools, and they weren't afraid of a renovation.
They bought their first "fixer-upper" right out of high school.
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It was a total wreck.
They managed to snag the property with a tiny down payment, moved in, renovated it while living in the mess, and flipped it for a profit of $50,000. For two kids who grew up on a ranch in British Columbia, that was a staggering amount of money. It was the "aha" moment. They realized they didn't have to just be actors or magicians—two of their other early passions—they could actually make a living by transforming spaces.
Why the Location Matters for Their Brand
A lot of people think the "Property Brothers" persona is just a marketing gimmick. But when you look at the geography of their upbringing, it makes sense. British Columbia is a rugged province. The weather is unpredictable, the terrain is tough, and the culture is very much "pull yourself up by your bootstraps."
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest also gave them a front-row seat to the massive real estate boom in Vancouver. They saw how land value could skyrocket and how a simple renovation could completely change a family's net worth.
Misconceptions About Their Upbringing
There’s a common myth that the Scott brothers were "nepo babies" who had everything handed to them by a wealthy Canadian family. If you look at the archives of their early days, that couldn't be further from the truth. Jim Scott was a hard-nosed worker who insisted the boys pay for their own equipment and ventures.
The "Property Brothers" identity was forged in the dirt of Maple Ridge, not the boardrooms of Toronto.
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What You Can Learn from the Scott Origin Story
Understanding where did the property brothers grow up actually provides a roadmap for anyone interested in the trades or real estate. It wasn't about having a secret connection; it was about a specific environment that fostered a high tolerance for risk and a low ego when it came to getting dirty.
If you want to apply the "Scott Method" to your own life or real estate journey, focus on these three things they learned in Maple Ridge:
- Master the Basics of Maintenance: Don't hire out what you can learn to do yourself. The brothers saved thousands on their first flips by doing the demolition and basic carpentry they learned on the ranch.
- Start Small, Start Early: You don't need a multi-million dollar portfolio to be a real estate investor. You need one house that you can improve.
- Diversify Your Skillset: Jonathan’s background in magic and construction combined with Drew’s background in acting and real estate is what made them TV stars. They didn't just stay in one lane.
The next time you see them on screen in a perfectly tailored suit, remember that beneath the TV makeup and the expensive haircuts, there are two guys who spent their formative years hauling hay and painting fences in the Canadian rain. That ranch in Maple Ridge wasn't just a home; it was the training ground for a billion-dollar brand.
To truly understand their success, you have to look beyond the "Property Brothers" name and see the two kids from British Columbia who were too busy working to realize they were building an empire. Their trajectory proves that where you start—even if it's a quiet ranch in the middle of nowhere—doesn't dictate where you finish, as long as you're willing to do the work.
Next Steps for Aspiring Investors:
Research the zoning laws in your local area to see if "ranch-style" properties or older suburban homes offer the same "fix and flip" potential the Scotts found in their early 20s. Look for properties with solid bones but cosmetic "ranch-wear" that can be modernized for a quick equity boost.