In this episode of The Last Honest Realtor, David shares the advice he wishes every young buyer could hear: your first home isn’t just an investment—it’s the place that will shape your friendships, routines, career, relationships, and some of the most memorable years of your life.
Most first-time buyers obsess over price per square foot, interest rates, and trying to perfectly time the market. But after 22 years in Toronto real estate and looking back on buying his own first condo at 25, David Fleming believes those aren’t the decisions that will matter most. Drawing on personal stories from his own move to downtown Toronto, David explains why choosing the right neighborhood often matters more than finding the absolute lowest price, along with other factors that often get overlooked. If you’re in your 20s or helping someone buy their first property, this episode offers a perspective you won’t find in market reports.
In This Episode:
- 01:28 – The condo I didn’t buy
- 04:57 – The biggest mistake first-time buyers make
- 05:18 – Why location shapes your entire life
- 10:33 – Don’t buy “somewhere”, buy into a community
- 12:08 – Do you really need a real estate agent?
- 13:14 – Which condo amenities are actually worth paying for?
- 17:49 – Designing your condo around your lifestyle
- 26:40 – Should you wait for the market bottom?
- 28:03 – Why your twenties are worth more than perfect timing
