Francesca Lampert grew up in the Bay Area as an only child with two supportive parents. She loved horseback riding and dreamed of a career in children’s book publishing, working toward an English degree at UC Berkeley to make that goal a reality. After entering the publishing world, however, she found the corporate atmosphere stifling and too cutthroat for her personality. Though the Bay Area offered opportunities in tech, that path didn’t appeal to her either. With a father who was a builder by trade, Francesca grew curious about exploring another field. She decided to try real estate, “falling into” the industry as an assistant. “I just completely caught the bug and I loved it more than I ever expected,” Francesca says of her entry into real estate.

About a year into her career, Francesca worked with a client looking to purchase a large plot of land. The go-to expert for transactions like this was her colleague, Bob Johnston, who had extensive experience in land development and assisted with the sale. As they worked together, a friendship grew alongside their professional relationship, and today the two are inseparable. “We’re best friends!” Francesca gushes. They see each other every day and remain in constant contact. In 2024 alone, they reached $91 million in sold and pending transactions, with 41 properties and 16 remodels. “We have a really great team working behind us. We have a great village,” Francesca says. Bob echoes the sentiment: “We have an exceptional team.”

Bob Johnston also grew up in the Bay Area. “The Bay Area has been my home for a long long time,” he says. From a young age, Bob was a natural entrepreneur, delivering papers, mowing lawns, and taking business courses at a junior college. At just 19, he started his first official company with his father, Johnston Mill Work, selling high-end building products. After running the business for 16 years, mostly on his own following his father’s retirement, Bob felt the pull to explore the real estate side of the industry. “I really took to the designing of homes as well as developing and building. I love the design process. When it comes to real estate, building, and development, even land development, I’ve done a lot of different things,” Bob explains. His first year in real estate was highly successful, and he soon decided to sell his business to focus solely on real estate.

Bob’s extensive knowledge of the building process, paired with his understanding of every detail of construction, combined with Francesca’s hands-on background from her father’s career and her eagerness to learn under a mentor, makes them a powerhouse duo. Francesca notes that Bob often knows even more than the building inspectors, giving them a significant advantage that their clients benefit from.

Bob, Francesca, and their team are known for handling the area’s most complex and challenging cases. “There’s not a tricky real estate situation that I haven’t handled,” Bob says. One notable case involved an elderly couple who had lost everything in a fire, escaping their home with only their cat and a few belongings. Their sole remaining asset was a rental property in Redwood City, but the tenant refused to leave. After trying to sell the property with no success, Bob and Francesca decided to purchase it themselves. They paid the renter a generous amount to relocate and even assisted with her move. In just three months, they remodeled the property for a handsome profit and with all parties happy. 

This example highlights both their business acumen and the heart they bring to every transaction. They are always on the lookout for lucrative opportunities for their clients, with a clear plan to turn each vision into reality. “We don’t want you to be just a homeowner, we also want you to be a savvy real estate investor,” Bob explains. They truly offer a one-stop shop for their clients. “Hand us the keys and we’ll take care of the rest!” Francesca adds. Their success stems from diligence, patience, and expert handling of every transaction. “It’s the execution, the presentation, and the way we market. We take care of people,” Bob says. As a result, they often field calls from new clients. “Referrals are the backbone of our business,” Francesca explains. Their hard work has not gone unnoticed: Francesca was named to Coldwell Banker’s 2019 30 Under 30 and the National Association of Realtors’ 2020 30 Under 30, while the Johnston Lampert Group earned recognition as Coldwell Banker’s 2024 SF-Peninsula Top Medium Team. The following excerpt from a recent testimonial perfectly illustrates the level of service they provide:

“Choosing Francesca and Bob was one of the best decisions Mitch and I have ever made--second only to marrying each other. That's how much they mean to us. That's how extraordinary they are.

From the very first meeting, they didn't just ask about the house--they asked about us. Our life here. Our family. Our memories. They wanted to understand what this home meant before ever talking about how to sell it. That told us everything about who they are: real people who care deeply, and professionals who do things with purpose and heart.

And then they got to work--and wow, did they work. Fran and Bob are a dynamic, powerhouse team with unstoppable energy, unmatched experience, and absolute commitment to their clients. The market in our neighborhood was quiet. Other homes were sitting. But with their strategy, staging, marketing, and vision--it felt like they lit a spark. We launched, had an open house and broker tour, and within 48 hours, our home was sold. We are 100% confident: no other team could have pulled that off.”

While Francesca and Bob are deeply committed to their business, they both have interests outside of real estate. Bob lives on a family compound with his two children and two grandsons. “They are a big highlight in my life,” he says of his family and partner, Rhonda. In addition, Bob serves as President and CEO of Premier Art Acquisitions, Inc. PREMR is a digital asset security token that offers fractional ownership while highlighting the cultural significance, lasting value, and importance of Premier Art Acquisitions’ fine art collection.

Francesca is very close to her family and has a large circle of close friends. She enjoys traveling and attending events with them, including numerous weddings over the past few years. She was even ordained and performed a wedding for a friend this year. Francesca is also passionate about providing affordable housing and has put her beliefs into action, owning seven rental units in Oakland that she rents exclusively to Section 8 low-income families. “I really believe in Oakland and the people and community there,” she says. She is a strong advocate for accessible, safe housing in the area. In line with this vision, Bob also founded the Community Builders Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to helping seniors facing housing issues.

For Bob and Francesca, success isn’t just measured in sales, but in the lasting relationships and impact they create along the way. With their unmatched knowledge, dedication to clients, and genuine care for their community, the Johnston Lampert Group continues to set the standard for real estate in the Bay Area.

You can follow The Johnston Lampert Group on Social Media @johnstonlampert