Selfwealth Real Estate with Luc Boiron

Bill Allen is a retired navy pilot, seasoned real estate entrepreneur with hundreds of units in his portfolio, and the CEO and founder of 7 Figure Flipping, a high-level real estate mastermind. He is with us in this episode to talk about what trends he is seeing in the US real estate market, what makes a successful real estate investor, and more.    Listen now for expert insights from Bill, his advice for investors struggling to keep up with market shifts, and what you can do today to change the trajectory of your business towards the end of the year!   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:11 How did Bill get into real estate investing? 04:37 How has Bill’s real estate business grown through the years? 07:05 What business is Bill more involved in today? 09:43 What should people understand about real estate investing? 10:44 Why is social media so important to real estate businesses today? 12:30 How many units does Bill have in his portfolio today? 16:11 Why should you find your competitive edge in business? 19:19 What are the most important things you should be investing in? 22:52 What are real estate investors focused on in today’s market? 27:04 How important is flexibility when you’re in real estate? 33:39 Why do you need to know when to pivot as a CEO? 35:15 What are Bill’s most favorite deals? 37:50 What lessons did Bill learn from his best deals? 38:58 What was Bill’s worst deal ever? 42:01 What lessons did Bill learn from his worst deal? 47:03 Why is it important to make mistakes if you want to grow? 48:34 What has changed with Bill’s approach to real estate investing? 49:22 What is the most overlooked or overhyped investing strategy today? 51:33 How can you get in touch with Bill?   Quotables   “The visual business card right now is your Instagram account, it’s your TikTok, your Youtube, it’s Facebook, it’s LinkedIn – all of those places are really where people go to figure out who you are.”   “People are the system and so finding the right people that have the same values and character you do, and you know are gonna work hard, that are gonna do the right thing when nobody is looking, and have integrity – all of those things.”   “When you think you got it made, like everything you touch turns to gold, you’re gonna get pinned and that’s where I was.”   Links   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/   Website: 7 Figure Flipping https://www.7figureflipping.com/   Book: 7 Figure Flipping https://7ffbook.com/   Instagram: Bill Allen https://www.instagram.com/billallenrei

In this episode of the Selfwealth Real Estate Podcast, we sit down with Erin Donnelly and Heather Loduca, the dynamic duo behind Pink Wall Designs. Specializing in designing Airbnbs and boutique hotels, Erin and Heather share their journey from real estate investing to creating unique and captivating hospitality spaces. They provide valuable insights into why design is crucial for increasing bookings and overnight rates and offer practical tips for transforming properties into memorable experiences. Whether you're a real estate investor or a hospitality enthusiast, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you stand out in the competitive market.   Key Talking Points: 00:00 Introduction  00:21 Host's Renovation Project 01:04 Importance of Design in Hospitality 01:16 Backgrounds of Erin and Heather 03:11 Differences in Design for Residential vs. Hospitality Properties 04:08 Unique Design Ideas and Examples 10:33 Benefits of Boutique Hotels over Airbnbs 24:21 Design Tips for Airbnbs and Boutique Motels 41:06 Marketing Strategies for Hospitality Properties 48:11 Favorite and Least Favorite Design Projects   Links and Resources Mentioned: Follow Pink Wall Designs on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinkwalldesigns/ Bliss Off-Market Property Deals:  http://www.offmarketbliss.ca/ Tune in next week for another insightful episode!

Allan Orasuk is a construction manager in Ottawa that we have worked with on multiple projects. He has extensive experience as a general contractor managing projects and subcontractors, and he is on the Self Wealth Real Estate podcast today to help us better understand the construction side of real estate investing.   Listen now to learn more about what goes on in the construction side of real estate investing and what you can do to build better working relationships with your contractors!   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:15 What is Allan’s background? 05:05 How has Allan’s experience in construction helped him in managing projects? 06:50 What is the best way for investors to vet their contractors? 09:05 What can investors do to manage their flips the best way possible? 14:13 How does Allan execute a flip? 19:32 What is the best way to build a team for your flips? 25:06 How does Allan manage timelines for his projects? 28:00 Why should you consider incentivizing your contractors for a flip? 30:38 What is a fair pay structure for your contractors? 41:31 What is the most efficient way to manage contractors for a permitted project? 45:34 Who should be handling inspections for your flips? 48:55 What is the best way to deal with smoker houses? 54:01 What is Allan’s favorite renovation that he’s done?  59:06 What was Allan’s least favorite project like? 01:03:55 What has changed with Allan’s approach in managing construction projects? 01:05:29 What is Allan’s advice for his younger self? 01:06:32 How can you get in touch with Allan for your construction projects?   Quotables   “Like any investor, I wouldn’t suggest to hire a GC that just manages the whole project for you. I mean you can, it’s just that those margins aren’t gonna be there that you’re looking for.”   “Construction law, it kinda protects the contractor in Ontario. Let’s face it, it is what it is so at that point, you have to use your electric documentation, your email, as much as you can and then just set the rules.”   “What I look for in signing contracts on your behalf or for myself, is there’s not just protection for the contractor, there’s also protection as a homeowner.”   Links   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/   Phone: Allan Orasuk (613) 884 - 1715   Email: Allan Orasuk construction@blissrealtyinvestors.com  

Jonathan Wallace is a realtor and real estate investor in Ontario with years of experience investing in his own portfolio and listing properties for us alongside other investors in the area. We have invited him on the Self Wealth Real Estate podcast to talk about his experience as a realtor and investor, the opportunities he is seeing in the market, and so much more.    Listen now to hear market insights from a seasoned real estate professional so you know what opportunities to look for and how to navigate markets like we have today!    Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:29 What is Jonathan’s background? 04:50 What should people know about investing in mobile homes? 09:01 What kind of deals does Jonathan specialize in? 11:10 How did Jonathan get into real estate investing? 15:07 What does the market look like today for buyers? 17:26 What challenges is Jonathan seeing in building and flipping properties today? 24:16 Why is it more practical to build multifamily properties in today’s market? 25:36 What kind of investments is Jonathan focused on today? 31:00 What is Jonathan’s advice for investors looking for off-market deals? 36:44 What opportunities is Jonathan seeing in today’s market? 39:53 What was Jonathan’s best deal like? 42:49 What lessons did Jonathan learn from his best deal? 51:54 What is the best way to manage contractors on site? 57:21 What are the biggest mistakes investors are making on their projects today? 01:00:40 What has changed with Jonathan’s approach to real estate? 01:01:12 What is Jonathan’s advice for his younger self? 01:07:06 What is the most overlooked or overhyped investing strategy today? 01:10:01 How can you get in touch with Jonathan?   Quotables   “I feel like the properties that weren’t selling were the ones that were a bit rough around the edges, but sellers were more motivated to move the product so it opened opportunities.”   “Don’t be afraid to make those phone calls to movers and shakers of the market and say “what do you have that no one else knows about?” because that’s where some of the fruit lies.”   “As an investor, start hunting. The deals don’t just typically land on your desk and it’s the home run, slam dunk deal if you don’t go looking for it, if you’re not purposeful in your conversations to say “here’s what I’m looking for”.” Links   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/   Instagram: Jonathan Wallace https://www.instagram.com/jonathanwallacerealestate/

Darren Smith is a commercial real estate investor based in the US with years of experience in flipping, wholesaling, and industrial properties, among many other things. He is on the Self Wealth Real Estate podcast today to talk about the commercial space in the US and how building relationships helped him get to where he is today.   Listen now to learn more about Darren’s real estate operations in the US, the commercial real estate space, and how you can find success in it like he has!   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:33 What is Darren’s background? 04:27 How did Darren get into commercial real estate? 09:37 What kind of commercial deals is Darren focused on doing? 11:44 Why did Darren decide to focus on industrial buildings? 14:32 What is flex industrial real estate? 15:50 Why do investors divide and sell industrial properties per unit? 18:26 How does Darren evaluate industrial properties? 22:21 What are cap rates in real estate investing? 24:40 How are triple net expenses covered for industrial buildings? 28:12 What marketing strategies does Darren use to find industrial properties?  31:25 How does Darren utilize creative financing strategies for industrial properties? 42:34 What do Darren’s industrial deals typically look like? 49:24 What kind of industrial properties has Darren invested in so far? 50:58 What is Darren’s favorite deal? 58:57 What lessons did Darren learn from his favorite deal? 01:00:05 What was Darren’s worst deal like? 01:03:49 What lessons did Darren learn from his worst deal? 01:05:35 What has changed in Darren’s approach to real estate investing? 01:08:19 What advice would Darren give his younger self? 01:09:35 What is the most overlooked or overhyped investing strategy today? 01:11:48 How can you find out more about Darren?   Quotables   “With industrial buildings, yes you can have build outs, there are things to repair, but you literally can have a tenant move out, clean it up, and have another tenant move in the next week.”   “You’ll have an office in the front and a warehouse in the back, but you will have people that will build out those to be more office space or whatever they want it to be.”   “The only difference I would say between residential and commercial on how I do it is I try and make everything just nicer, whereas in the residential space, the whole goal was how cheap can I get this postcard out.”   Links   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/   Website: Solid Growth Properties https://solidgrowthproperties.com/  

Ken Bekendam is the President and CEO of LegalSecondSuites.com, a company focused on helping real estate investors make the most out of their properties by converting them into multi-unit properties. He is a well-known investor, developer, and land use expert, and he is on the Selfwealth Real Estate podcast today to help us learn more about development and conversions so we can take our real estate businesses to the next level.    Listen now to learn more about opportunities in developments and conversions, and some tips, tricks, and best practices from a real estate expert!   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:30 What is Ken’s background? 07:25 When did Ken start getting involved in property conversions? 08:43 What services does Legal Second Suites provide? 12:03 What are the opportunities you can create in converting properties? 18:11 What are the most common challenges with conversion projects? 23:33 How does Ken and his team help clients find the best use for their properties? 28:10 Why should more investors look into conversion investments? 31:01 What are some factors to consider when deciding what conversions to do? 35:57 What does it take to be an effective developer? 37:33 What kind of projects is Ken involved in today? 43:43 What are the challenges in the development space today? 48:44 Why is resourcefulness important in development? 52:14 What is Ken’s favorite deal?  56:14 What is Ken’s worst project to date? 01:03:35 What lessons did Ken learn from his worst project? 01:07:07 What has changed with Ken’s approach to real estate? 01:08:57 What is Ken’s advice for his younger self? 01:10:27 What is the most overlooked or overhyped investing strategy today? 01:13:10 How can you get in touch with Ken?   Quotables   “Right now, interest rates are high and it’s getting tougher to acquire more real estate so sometimes it is easier to pull back and just look at what you currently have and try to maximize that.” “Get a building permit, obviously to make sure stuff is up to code, but all of these other regulations and studies that they make you jump through, a lot of times is a complete waste.”   “You’re gently creating housing. We’re not just doing unit turnovers and trying to evict low-paying tenants and increasing rent on a building.”   Links   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/   Website: Legal Second Suites https://legalsecondsuites.com/   Instagram: Ken Bekendam https://www.instagram.com/kenbekendam/

Ryan DeLaurentis is a serial entrepreneur with experience in building multiple successful businesses including a wholesaling business and a real estate brokerage. He has successfully pivoted through the different challenges that came with the recent market cycles using different strategies and he is on the Self Wealth Real Estate podcast today to tell us how he did that.    Listen now to learn about Ryan’s journey into real estate investing and how he successfully pivots through different market conditions!    Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:24 What is Ryan’s background? 04:51 How did Ryan get interested in real estate investing? 05:39 How did Ryan start building their real estate portfolio? 07:26 What are the benefits of doing JV deals with people that you can trust? 10:51 What kinds of properties does Ryan invest in? 12:47 How does Ryan make use of their profit from their properties? 15:43 What was it like for Ryan to transition to wholesaling? 19:47 How did Ryan adapt to the changes in the wholesaling market in recent years? 22:30 How has the transition to owning a real estate brokerage been for Ryan? 24:55 What other business ventures does Ryan have? 28:08 What are Ryan’s plans for his businesses in the future? 35:13 Why is it important to find your niche in real estate investing? 40:41 How much has Ryan been traveling in the last few years? 44:27 What are the benefits of being part of a community of like-minded people? 46:18 What was Ryan’s best deal like? 50:43 What lessons did Ryan learn from their best deal? 56:01 What are Ryan’s least favorite deals? 01:05:20 What has changed with Ryan’s approach to investing? 01:06:55 What is the most overlooked or overhyped investing strategy today? 01:08:35 How can you get in touch with Ryan?   Quotables   “I think it’s also pretty neat to see people that you see frequently be able to actually use the benefits of something that you brought to the table.”   “We went from 3 employees to 18 – it was a crazy time, it was a lot of fun, but also a lot of stress to figure out how to actually keep the wheels on the wagon and just problem solving every day.”   “Sometimes I think you can learn more from the losses than the wins.”   Links   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/   Facebook: Ryan DeLaurentis https://www.facebook.com/ryan.j.delaurentis   Email: Ryan DeLaurentis ryan@dciproperties.ca    Email: DCI Properties Buyers List adam@dciproperties.ca

Sean McRae is a music producer, real estate investor, and realtor who runs a team at eXp Realty in Ottawa. Through the years, Sean has invested in multiple projects ranging from duplex conversions to subdivisions and he is with us on the Self Wealth Real Estate podcast today to share his experience and the lessons he has learned as he went full time into real estate.   Listen now to learn more about Sean’s investing journey, how he manages his team of realtors and his investments, and what it really takes to achieve real estate success in today’s market!    Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:13 What is Sean’s background? 04:52 How did Sean get into real estate? 07:26 What does Sean do in real estate today? 09:10 What other businesses is Sean involved in? 11:56 How does Sean manage his time between all his ventures? 15:01 How should entrepreneurs approach the idea of delegation? 18:58 Why do most entrepreneurs find it difficult to delegate? 20:32 How did Sean let go of his full-time job for real estate? 25:31 What is the impact of manifesting in your life? 32:18 What makes Sean’s real estate team stand out? 34:35 What kind of clients does Sean work with? 36:54 What kind of properties does Sean focus on investing today? 42:44 What is the best deal Sean has ever done? 46:37 What lessons did Sean learn from his best deal? 49:10 What was Sean’s worst deal like? 53:45 What would Sean change about his worst deal with his knowledge now? 01:00:56 What has changed with Sean’s approach to real estate investing? 01:03:00 What is Sean’s advice for his younger self? 01:05:32 What is the most overlooked or overhyped investing strategy today? 01:10:06 How can you get in touch with Sean?   Quotables   “Because I’m not fueled by basically the bottomline or the money anymore as much, I switch my focus where time and enjoyment and quality of life is worth way more than the amount of money I’m gonna make.” “That’s why it’s not about growing the team in terms of the numbers. If I’m adding somebody or if I’m adding an avenue, it has to be the right fit.”   “Try to make your presence known. Speak when needed, listen when needed, don’t be the loudest in the room.”   Links   Book: Traction https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/   Instagram: Sean McRae https://www.instagram.com/iamseanfrost   Website: Sean Frost https://www.seanfrost.com   Email: Atlético Ottawa Events events@seanfrost.com

Nicholas Brown is a mortgage agent who specializes in commercial and multifamily real estate. He is on the Self Wealth Real Estate podcast today to give us a glimpse into the mortgage world and to understand how much impact financing has on your real estate deals.   Listen now to learn more about commercial and multifamily funding, financing your conversion projects, and what situations look like from a mortgage lender’s side!   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:28 What is Nicholas’ background? 05:02 What did Nicholas realize when he became a mortgage agent? 10:11 What should people know about choosing a mortgage agent to work with? 14:42 How did Nicholas acquire his first real estate investment? 22:07 Why should investors look into conversions in commercial real estate? 26:44 Why do commercial conversions make more sense with CHMC guidelines today? 33:00 What is the biggest challenge with doing commercial conversions? 36:25 What are the benefits of doing commercial conversions? 40:30 How many commercial properties will CHMC allow you to finance as an investor? 43:09 How do building requirements create challenges for real estate investors? 46:43 What could the housing market be like in the next few years? 48:52 How does the MLI Select program work? 51:56 Why is it more reasonable to go for energy efficiency in MLI Select? 58:16 What are the benefits of qualifying for the MLI Select program? 01:00:14 What was Nicholas’ least favorite deal like? 01:04:31 What has changed with Nicholas’ approach to mortgages? 01:06:33 What is Nicholas’ advice for his younger self? 01:07:23 What is the most overlooked or overhyped investing strategy today? 01:09:12 How can you connect with Nicholas?   Quotables   “The one thing I learned doing this mortgage agent role is that you think that’s the way, and then half of these people are doing creative financing deals and never touching a bank.” “The thing is when you look at CHMC, you gotta understand that the product is there not for people doing 8-plexes, 12-plexes, maybe the guys who do 24 are now on the radar – it is for the big builders.”   “The problem with doing commercial conversions is there’s still the downside that our costs are a little bit higher because we do now have to put Ontario builder code minimums and then if you wanna do CHMC, you gotta do energy efficiency 40+ bedrooms.”   Links   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/   Instagram: Nicholas Brown https://www.instagram.com/themortgagearchitect/

Darren Moore is an experienced real estate investor from Ontario and a home buying specialist in Vancouver and British Columbia. He is with us on the Self Wealth Real Estate podcast to share his expert tips on home buying, from evaluating properties to closing the actual deals.   Listen now to learn more about buying properties in Vancouver and British Columbia, the different factors to consider when evaluating properties, and the best ways to approach remote home buying in today’s market!   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:47 What is Darren’s background? 02:49 What does a home buying specialist do? 05:20 How does Darren evaluate a property from a private seller? 07:00 How do you find accurate comparables for a property? 11:39 What factors go into finding comparables for a property? 16:08 How does Darren get information about a property? 17:33 Why should you go to an appointment with a contract? 18:44 What should you do when you get to the property for a walkthrough? 20:52 What kind of conversations should you have with the homeowners? 22:20 What makes Darren’s process different from traditional homebuying? 26:24 How does Darren overcome the most common objections in homebuying? 33:47 How did Darren start building his own portfolio? 35:10 What did Darren learn from his first time managing a rental property? 37:30 What made Darren want to get more involved in real estate? 39:30 What lesson did Darren learn about buying properties for his portfolio? 41:04 How can you raise rents for a property? 43:53 What are the challenges in getting mortgages for smaller properties? 46:35 How does Darren buy properties in Saskatchewan without going there? 50:17 What was Darren’s favorite deal like? 55:49 What lessons did Darren learn from his favorite deal? 57:12 What was Darren’s least favorite deal like? 01:02:54 What has changed with Darren’s approach to home buying? 01:06:06 How can you find great off-market deals in Canada?   Quotables   “In this market, the speed of transaction, to know that your home is actually sold is a huge selling point.”   “In our business, we’re not developers so we will buy any property but we’ll buy it if we can make it make sense for us.”   “What I’ve found in buying for this company and in buying real estate is to put yourself in an investor’s shoes and think like an investor, or some people say, think like an owner.”   Links   Website: BC Assessment https://www.bcassessment.ca/   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/

Not another real estate investor talking about crypto'. I get it. I'm a real estate investor first and foremost - but it just so happens that my brother Marc Boiron is one of the greatest minds in the blockchain/cryptocurrency space. Since I've never been interested in crypto myself, I sat down with him and we discussed why someone investing in real estate would be interested in this. This is an excellent episode for anyone interested in learning about crypto without the hype or the sales pitch, and an excellent episode for anyone in the crypto space to share with their real estate or traditional investment friends as an introduction   Listen now to learn more about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and what you need to know before you make decisions to invest in them!   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 03:30 What is Marc’s background? 04:41 What does Polygon Labs do? 07:20 Where did the idea of cryptocurrency come from? 10:32 Why would you use Bitcoin as a form of currency? 13:36 How do Bitcoin transactions work? 18:39 What are the other purposes for Bitcoin? 20:04 Why will the demand for Bitcoin continue to increase? 23:20 What do most financial advisors recommend to invest in? 25:51 What factors do you need to consider when investing in Bitcoin? 32:47 How does borrowing against Bitcoin work? 34:05 What is defi in cryptocurrency? 37:46 How easy can it be to borrow against cryptocurrency? 40:01 How do interest rates move in cryptocurrency? 43:22 What other options do people have when investing in cryptocurrency? 47:48 What is the difference in the risks between holding and staking cryptocurrency? 51:07 What does the future look like for cryptocurrency in real estate? 58:14 What is Polygon Labs focused on today? 59:46 What would the future look like for cryptocurrency in general?   Quotables   “Unless every government in every country can collectively do that at once, the Bitcoin network is going to continue to exist.”   “The original cryptocurrency really served two purposes – potentially money and potentially the stored value, but frankly, there’s so many cryptocurrencies and that’s not what they all do.”   “As much as it is, in my opinion, the area that actually gives us the brightest future when it comes to security and potential, it’s also the area that has the most scams you could possibly imagine right now.”   Links   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/   Twitter/X: Marc Boiron https://twitter.com/0xMarcB   Twitter/X: Polygon Labs https://twitter.com/0xPolygon

Glen Sutherland is a seasoned Canadian investor with years of experience in investing in the US market. He spent years building his real estate business and today, he is on the Self Wealth Real Estate podcast to talk about his experience, what he has learned from investing in the US, and how the right systems helped him achieve stability and success in this industry.    Listen now to learn more about Glen’s US investing journey and the importance of having the right systems in your business no matter where you’re investing!    Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:15 What is Glen’s background? 04:08 How did Glen get into real estate? 08:21 Why did Glen start investing in the US?  10:32 What is the importance of having systems in your business? 16:29 What does Glen’s operations look like today? 24:28 How does a Subject-To deal work? 31:49 How does Glen invest in the US?  35:33 What makes following up challenging when you don’t have a system in place? 40:34 What are the benefits of having the right systems in your business? 50:05 How should you approach building systems in your business? 52:38 What is Glen’s least favorite deal like? 01:00:31 What lessons did Glen learn from his least favorite deal? 01:03:54 What is Glen’s favorite deal like? 01:13:36 What lessons did Glen learn from his favorite deal? 01:16:00 What has changed in Glen’s approach to real estate? 01:17:45 What is Glen’s advice for his younger self? 01:19:02 What is the most overlooked or overhyped investing strategy today? 01:21:05 How can you get in touch with Glen?   Quotables   “A lot of people are waiting and the thing is if you wait for them to do that, what’s gonna happen is when interest rates drop, people are gonna go into the buying frenzy and prices are gonna go back up.” “A realtor, every single one of them will tell you they can buy foreclosures but if you work with someone who is a foreclosure expert, they will know who to call at the bank, how to negotiate this, and understand the process all the way through.”   “Even when people are telling you stories, you have to understand when they sold this property because some of this might not have been because they did amazing things – some of this, the market just bailed them out.”   Links   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/   Website: Glen Sutherland Coaching https://www.glensutherland.com/coaching/   Podcast: A Canadian Investing in the US https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-canadian-investing-in-the-u-s-with-glen-sutherland/id1339243038

This episode of the Self Wealth Real Estate podcast is different from the usual because instead of interviewing real estate investors, we’re talking to members of our team. We’ve invited 4 of our team members for this episode so they can talk about their roles in the team and how they help move deals forward.    Listen now to learn more about the way our team is structured, what each team member’s role means to the overall operations, and how you can implement the same positions in your business too!    Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 03:15 What does a lead manager do? 04:44 Why do calls go to the lead manager and not the sales reps? 06:38 How can you tell when a seller is motivated? 08:17 What has changed in the way we take calls from seller leads? 18:37 What does our closing concierge do?  23:03 When would a transaction coordinator get involved during the process? 25:18 What is the best way to ensure a smooth real estate transaction? 31:23 Why is it important to have a transaction coordinator on your team? 36:48 What does our project manager do for our business? 39:30 Where does the project manager’s responsibility begin and end? 43:17 What other factors after construction do project managers take care of? 45:32 What are the best ways to manage construction projects? 48:06 Where do we find the best materials for our construction projects? 49:26 How do we find contractors that we hire for our projects? 51:50 What does a director of commercial investments do? 54:46 What kind of projects does our director of commercial investments oversee? 57:25 How does financing work for our multifamily properties? 01:03:09 How does the MLS Select program work?  01:06:29 What are the opportunities in commercial real estate today?   Quotables   “It doesn’t really stop in project management once the construction part of it is closed. We’re making sure that staging is there, the realtors are on it, and then also once offers start coming in, we’re working alongside you.”   “You just really wanna make sure when you don’t know them or you’re not getting them as a reference from someone, you are vetting them as best as you can.”   “We like to primarily focus on the energy efficiencies. What we found are the ductless mini splits will get you a ton of points, so you’re probably gonna hit it just based on that.”   Links   Website: Bliss https://offmarketbliss.ca/

Tanya Rooney is a US-based real estate investor with experience in flipping properties, building a rental portfolio, and managing a short-term rental business. She is on the Self Wealth Real Estate podcast today to share her real estate investing journey and what it is like to be in short-term rentals today.    Listen now to learn more about Tanya, the US real estate market, and how short-term rentals are performing in her market in today’s economy!    Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 02:17 What is Tanya’s background? 03:34 How did Tanya get into real estate investing? 06:30 How did Tanya get into short term rentals? 10:52 How did the performance of short term rentals change through the years? 11:31 Why is it important to know when to adjust pricing in short term rentals? 13:25 What factors will contribute to the success of your short term rental? 15:45 How does the design of a short term rental make it stand out to guests? 18:03 What factors affect the experience you’re creating for your guests? 20:03 What apps can help you manage your short term rentals better? 24:10 Where can you find the resources that Tanya uses for their short term rentals? 26:08 Why is it important to have a network of professionals that can help your business? 27:47 What happened to the motel deal that fell through? 31:52 What lessons did Tanya learn from the failed motel deal? 37:26 What does it take for a short term rental property to succeed? 39:11 Why is it important to be comfortable with asking questions? 46:55 What makes Tanya really good at building relationships? 52:17 What is Tanya’s least favorite deal like? 55:50 What is Tanya’s favorite deal among all that she has done? 01:00:07 What lessons did Tanya learn from her favorite deal? 01:03:48 What has changed with Tanya’s approach to real estate? 01:04:34 What is Tanya’s advice for her younger self? 01:05:57 What is the most overlooked or overhyped real estate strategy today? 01:08:21 How can you connect with Tanya?   Quotables   “If you don’t know about that market you’re investing in, then you have to find someone that does know.”   “There’s a lot of opportunity in real estate, don’t pigeonhole yourself to one thing.”   “If somebody is telling you that real estate is passive, they’re lying to you, but it is worth the work.”   Links   Website: Tanya Rooney https://www.tanyarooney.com   Website: Tanya Rooney Referrals https://www.tanyarooney.com/referrals   Instagram: Tanya Rooney https://www.instagram.com/tanyarooneymn/

Tammy and Katarina are dispositions managers in our team – they are the ones who take care of what happens after we get properties under contract, so they have very good understanding of how these investments work and what it takes to keep the deal flow going. They are with us in today’s episode to help more real estate investors understand how the disposition process works and what you can do to be more effective in yours.    Listen now to learn more about dispositions in real estate investing and why you need to have someone in charge of dispositions on your team!   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 02:01 What is dispositions in real estate investing? 04:18 Why is it important to have a dedicated person for dispositions? 09:21 What is dispositions really about? 11:46 What was Kat’s training for dispositions like? 15:35 What kind of person would be perfect for dispositions? 18:45 How many repeat buyers do we have and how many properties do they buy? 20:29 Why do buyers continue buying properties from us? 22:36 What kind of properties are the most and least popular for our buyers? 28:25 What kind of people should not be buying properties from us? 33:10 What does our process look like? 37:07 What do our deals typically look like? 39:17 What is wholetailing? 44:10 What has changed with Kat’s approach to dispositions? 45:43 What strategies are currently being overhyped or overlooked? 49:35 What is Kat’s advice for new real estate investors? 53:29 What is the difference between dispositions in Ontario and BC? 58:25 What properties are popular in the BC market today? 01:00:57 How many repeat buyers do we have in BC? 01:02:13 How can Tammy help investors with their deals? 01:03:24 What is a typical deal like for Tammy? 01:10:37 What has changed in Tammy’s approach to dispositions? 01:11:35 What is the most overlooked or overhyped strategy in BC today?   Quotables   “Everyone kind of has somebody who has their back and my job is to really have the buyer’s back, in all aspects.”   “It’s nice seeing a lot of the people coming back into the game and there’s not too many people back yet, so the numbers that are coming out right now are pretty darn good.”   “We would definitely buy a property off-market in Vancouver if one came up, but the numbers have to make sense for investments so it’s not just buying it a little bit below market value.”   Links   Email: Katarina Jarossy closing@offmarketbliss.ca   Email: Tammy Graham tammy@offmarketbliss.ca   Website: Bliss https://www.offmarketbliss.ca

In this episode of the Self Wealth Real Estate Podcast, we dive into the fascinating journey of Erwin Szeto, a seasoned real estate investor and realtor, formerly known as Mr. Hamilton. With his roots deeply planted in the Hamilton area, Erwin shares his transition from investing in Canada to exploring opportunities in the United States, offering a wealth of knowledge for anyone looking to expand their portfolio internationally. Episode Highlights [00:24] Why Erwin is Venturing into the U.S. Market: Discover Erwin's strategic move to invest in the States, including the criteria for selecting properties and areas with potential for growth. [01:14] From Medicine to Real Estate: Erwin's career pivot from aspiring doctor to a business mogul in real estate, influenced by a simple book that changed his perspective on wealth. [02:15] Surviving Financial Crisis: Learn how Erwin navigated through economic downturns with his real estate investments, proving the resilience of real estate as an asset class. [07:18] The Evolution from Mr. Hamilton: Erwin discusses his rebranding journey from being known as Mr. Hamilton to exploring new markets, and the business decisions behind his successful brand. [10:20] Navigating Market Changes: Erwin reflects on how market dynamics and regulatory changes have influenced his investment strategies and the shift towards more passive investment opportunities. [15:30] The Impact of Government Policies: A discussion on how government policies affect real estate investment strategies and the importance of adapting to regulatory environments. [25:06] Exploring the U.S. Real Estate Market: Erwin shares his approach to investing in the U.S., including the types of properties he's targeting and the financial metrics he uses to evaluate potential investments. [33:29] Exclusive Off-Market Deals with Bliss: Learn about Bliss, a platform offering off-market real estate deals that provide higher returns and lower competition for investors. Links & Resources OpenAI's Text-to-Video Technology: Erwin mentions a breakthrough in AI technology by OpenAI, showcasing the capabilities of generating video content from text prompts. For more information, visit OpenAI's official website. Bliss Off-Marketplace: A platform for real estate investors to find exclusive off-market deals. Check out their services at www.offmarketbliss.ca As we explore Erwin's insightful strategies and experiences, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the nuances of real estate investment, especially those considering cross-border opportunities. Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast if you've enjoyed this deep dive into building and growing a successful real estate portfolio. Your support helps us bring more valuable content your way.

Alfonso Salemi of JAAG Properties is a Rent-to-Own expert in British Columbia. Over the years, Alfonso has done hundreds of Rent-to-Own deals and that helped him develop a passion to help more real estate investors understand the way these deals work and how the strategy can benefit all parties involved.    Listen now to learn more about Alfonso’s background, the Rent-to-Own investing strategy, and why real estate investors today should consider doing them!    Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 00:55 What is Alfonso’s background? 03:26 What was Alfonso’s first real estate deal like? 07:12 How many rent-to-own deals has Alfonso done throughout his career? 08:10 What is the Rent-to-Own strategy? 10:43 What is the difference between a Rent-to-Own and a Lease Option? 12:02 How does a Rent-to-Own deal work? 19:49 What are the common misconceptions about the Rent-to-Own strategy? 23:43 How does Alfonso help investors sell their properties using the Rent-to-Own strategy? 26:19 Why does Alfonso prefer the tenant-first model? 29:45 How did Alfonso build his business to where it is today? 35:28 What role was Alfonso’s first hire for his JAAG Properties? 38:05 How did Alfonso know that it was time to hire someone to help them with business? 41:43 What is Alfonso’s advice for entrepreneurs who want to make their first hire soon? 45:11 What was Alfonso’s favorite deal like? 47:23 What lessons did Alfonso learn from his favorite deal? 48:17 What was Alfonso’s least favorite deal like? 51:11 How does Alfonso handle properties in remote locations today? 54:02 What has changed with Alfonso’s approach to real estate? 56:05 What is Alfonso’s advice for his younger self? 56:53 What is the most overlooked real estate strategy today? 59:01 How can you get in touch with Alfonso?   Quotables   “It’s not like we collect that initial deposit and go to the casino and put it on red – we are actually putting that towards the purchase of the home. It’s an equity into the property and it’s credited back.”   “The tenant buyers are more involved in the process, they have more at stake in the game, and they actually get to pick a home.”   “Ultimately at our core, it’s finding our team of people that believe in what we do – that’s our internal team and then all of the people that we speak to, they’re our referral partners that wanna help their clients and investors.”    Links   Email: Alfonso Salemi alfonso@jaagproperties.com   Website: JAAG Properties https://jaagproperties.com/

Kory MacKinnon is a seasoned real estate investor, entrepreneur, and coach with years of experience investing in different asset classes with different strategies. Today, Kory is focused on coaching real estate investors to help them learn the best ways to grow their portfolios so they can break away from their 9-5.   Listen now to learn more about Kory’s journey in real estate investing and how he’s helping real estate investors become successful!   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 00:55 What is Kory’s background? 05:05 How much has the need for housing changed through the years? 09:36 What kind of events does Kory host for real estate investors? 11:43 What is the importance of networking with people in-person? 12:16 How did Kory get into real estate investing? 17:31 When would it make sense to focus on construction when investing in real estate? 20:01 What should your approach be to contractors you’re working with? 22:01 How can you delegate tasks better to members of your team? 24:40 What is the importance of simplifying your business? 28:21 How much coachin is Kory doing today? 31:18 Why is it important to pick the right mentor for yourself? 34:49 How did Kory grow his real estate portfolio? 37:45 What does Kory’s real estate portfolio look like today? 41:22 What is Kory’s favorite deal like? 44:51 What lessons did Kory learn from his favorite deal? 46:44 What is Kory’s least favorite deal like? 49:46 What lessons did Kory learn from his least favorite deal? 53:34 What has changed in Kory’s approach to real estate investing? 55:49 What is Kory’s advice for his younger self? 56:42 What is the most overlooked or overhyped real estate strategy today? 59:05 How can you connect with Kory?   Quotables   “It’s one thing to follow someone on social media and don’t get me wrong, that’s also another way to expand your network, but until you actually meet them in person and shake hands and meet face-to-face with them, find out what their story is and help each other grow – it’s so important.”   “There are so many people in this industry who are definitely action-takers and that can be a double-edged sword. You took a lot of action, but then the management, the leadership, or the verification and all that stuff falls out the window.”   “Sometimes, the best things are simple. We don’t need to have 100 pages of SOPs for people to follow.”   Links   Website: Kory MacKinnon https://korymackinnon.com/   Website: Strategic Success Consulting https://www.strategicsuccessconsulting.com/

Natalie Cloutier is an Ottawa-based real estate investor who has been using a very unique strategy to build properties and grow their portfolio. She and her husband started their real estate investing journey through house-hacking with the help of the Ottawa Construction Loan and that’s how they realized that they can make a business out of it.    Listen now to learn more about the benefits of house hacking for newer investors and how it can help you gain traction in your real estate investing career!     Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:03 What is Natalie’s background? 04:05 How did Natalie learn about the Ottawa Construction Loan program? 08:36 Why is Natalie’s strategy not commonly used by real estate investors? 10:16 What is the Ottawa Construction Loan for? 15:41 How can a consultation with the municipality help you plan new builds better? 19:30 Why is it important to build relationships that can help you with your projects? 22:09 How can you determine the size of the units you can build on a vacant lot? 27:43 How do unit sizes determine the quality of tenants you’re going to attract? 31:08 Why does Natalie build a max of 3 bedrooms per unit? 34:56 How can you build properties cheaper? 39:05 What is the importance of being transparent with your designer? 44:20 Why is it important to learn how to build cheaper in today’s market? 46:33 What is Natalie’s best deal like? 53:17 What lessons did Natalie learn from their best deal? 56:40 What was Natalie’s worst deal ever? 01:01:23 What has changed with Natalie’s approach to real estate today? 01:04:20 What is Natalie’s advice for her younger self? 01:05:12 What is the most overlooked or overhyped strategy today?   Quotables   “New construction has such a higher value than older homes, so we don’t need as many properties to reach a higher net worth or a higher portfolio value.” “Building can be very overwhelming, so you have to have someone who is willing to kinda teach you and guide you through it.”   “When someone says that it can’t be done, keep trying to get that approval or keep thinking and working the system. There are ways to do it, so don’t give up if someone says you can’t do it right away.”   Links   Website: The New Build Couple https://www.thenewbuildcouple.com/   Instagram: The New Build Couple https://www.instagram.com/thenewbuildcouple/

Jessica Narula is a well-rounded real estate investor based in Ontario, with a strong background as a real estate paralegal. After years of providing legal services to real estate investors, she decided to get involved in the business and she has ventured into different strategies, including flipping in small towns. She is on the Self Wealth Real Estate show today to talk about how she got into real estate investing and what she has learned along the way.  Listen to this episode to learn more about the impact of your mindset to your success in real estate investing and what it takes to start gaining momentum as a new real estate investor today!   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 00:56 What is Jessica’s background? 02:35 How did Jessica get into real estate investing? 05:53 What is the importance of being mentally prepared before investing in real estate? 09:35 What was it like for Jessica to get an education as a real estate investor? 12:50 What lessons did Jessica learn from her first real estate deal?  16:29 What was Jessica’s first flip with a business partner like? 23:50 When did Jessica start building her rental portfolio? 25:18 What lessons did Jessica learn from investing in small towns? 31:21 How can you effectively factor in costs for vacancy in your rental properties? 33:08 Why is clarity important in real estate investing? 34:27 What is Jessica’s focus on her mortgage business? 38:13 What is Jessica’s best deal like? 42:56 What is Jessica’s least favorite deal? 47:21 What was Jessica’s experience with a property manager on her least favorite deal? 52:25 What lessons did Jessica learn from her best and least favorite deals? 55:30 What has changed in Jessica’s approach to real estate? 56:03 What advice does Jessica have for her younger self? 57:19 What is the most overlooked or overhyped investing strategy today? 58:30 How can you get in touch with Jessica?   Quotables   “People can tell you whatever they want, they can give you every step possible, but if you’re not in the right headspace, if you don’t believe you’re actually gonna do it or able to do it, honestly you’re not.”   “It’s like because internally you don’t have clarity on what you want or what is missing, you won’t know what to seek or you won’t know where to seek those answers.”   “We just make it so much more complicated and get overwhelmed with 3,000 different strategies that people talk about on Instagram.”   Links   Instagram: Jessica Narula https://www.instagram.com/jessn.invest/