K
atie Fahrland, a 44-year-old single mother, had lived in 15 cities across the US, Britain, and Africa before plotting a course to Canada. After losing her job and au pair in Washington D.C., she moved to Denver, where her brother lived. However, she soon became unhappy with her new life, feeling isolated from friends and family.

    In 2020, Fahrland applied for permanent resident status in Canada, which would allow her to purchase a home despite the country's ban on most foreign buyers. She wanted to live somewhere that aligned with her values, where people were kind, friendly, and supportive, and where she could access subsidized education and national healthcare.

    After selling her Denver house, Fahrland set out for Montreal but was delayed by paperwork issues. She temporarily moved to Jupiter, Florida, before finally receiving her residency in 2024. With a budget of $660,000 CAD, she began searching for the perfect apartment in Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood.

    Fahrland's agent, Monique Assouline, said that Fahrland had specific criteria: at least four rooms, two bathrooms, and a car-free lifestyle. However, finding an affordable option proved challenging due to Montreal's hot condo market. Among her options were three condos on Monkland Avenue, each with its pros and cons.

    The first condo had 1,775 square feet, two bedrooms, and an office space, but needed updating and had issues with the building's brickwork. The second condo had a main floor with most of the living spaces and a finished basement, totaling around 1,500 square feet, but came with more traffic and noise due to its location on Monkland Avenue. The third condo had four bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, and an office space, but only had one and a half bathrooms and a tenant whose lease was expiring in June.

    Fahrland ultimately chose the first condo, which met her criteria despite needing some updates.