"I want other people to feel that same satisfaction I felt when I got my first home."
Chelsea Winton
I paid rent for years. There was always some excuse for not buying my own place. I figured I’d wait until I got married … figured I couldn’t afford a mortgage …
Finally, I decided it was time to quit throwing away money in rent. I was earning a good living in downtown Vancouver as a real estate paralegal. Through my job I realized the potential of owning and investing in real estate, and it excited me. It was truly endless, and I just had to get started.
I found a great condo in a new development, made an offer, and went to my bank (of 16 years) to ask for financing. When they turned me down, I couldn’t believe it.
Disappointed, I went to cancel the deal. But when a lady from the financing department overheard me saying I couldn’t qualify for the mortgage, she came to me and offered to help. She knew I had a secure job, she knew how much I loved the new place and was determined to find a way for me to get it. And she did.
Soon after, I was a homeowner and on my way to financial independence. That first condo changed my life dramatically. Every place I owned since then increased in value. Now I’m living in my dream home on Vancouver Island in Yellow Point near Nanaimo.
It was all because someone helped me and believed in me. I want to do that for my clients. I want other people to feel that same satisfaction I felt when I got my first home. I want to educate and empower my clients the way that lady helped and empowered me financially.
Buying your first home is one of the best ways to gain financial independence. And the confidence that comes with it is priceless.
My Experience
Before getting her Realtor license in 2006, Chelsea worked as a paralegal in residential real estate conveyancing for 15 years. She spent 10 years with Allan Francis & Pringle in Vernon, B.C., and five years with McCarthy Tétrault in Vancouver. She knows the ins and outs of all the legal and real estate paperwork, and thinks it’s important to help buyers understand it, too.
