Francine Allan

Ah, 1990! Big hair, questionable fashion choices, and me, blissfully unaware of just how much I didn't know about buying a house. Three years of wedded bliss under my belt, and my husband and I were ready to take the plunge into homeownership. Having rented for ages, we figured we were practically experts. Spoiler alert: we aren't.

Young and impulsive, we didn't care where we lived and had our poor real estate agent crisscrossing the city. Work? Amenities? Schools? None of that mattered. All we knew for sure is that we were adding a dog to the family, to join our two very unimpressed cats, and living happily ever after - that was the extent of our planning.

Armed with a parental down payment, a first-time buyer incentive (thanks, government!), and a whole lot of optimism, we dove in head first. We ended up with a townhouse condo and a mortgage with a charming 13% interest rate. Ouch!

Looking back, I really wish we'd had someone to guide us through the process to help us with all the things we didn't know. Despite the eye-watering interest rate, that little townhouse was ours for three years. And guess what? We sold it for a tidy profit and managed to upgrade to a house across town with a much more reasonable 8% interest rate.

Oh, and yes, we got that dog. The cats, bless their furry little hearts, were not amused. We also added a human to the mix - our first child, who, everyone adored.

Now, as a real estate agent myself, I'm passionate about helping others navigate the sometimes crazy world of home buying and selling. I use my years of experience (and hard-earned wisdom!) to educate my clients every step of the way, so you can make the best decisions for your happily ever after. Let me help you find your perfect place - without the 13% interest rate, of course!