Canadian Investors' Path to US Real Estate: Dmitri Bourchtein's Insights

Update: 2025-01-14

Description

In this episode of the Wisdom Lifestyle Money Show, host Scott Dillingham sits down with Dmitri Bourchtein, CIO and Co-Founder of SHARE, a platform that simplifies US real estate investing for Canadians. Dmitri shares his journey from starting in the debt side of real estate after university to joining Starlight Investments, where he contributed to growing a portfolio from hundreds to nearly 20,000 units. He discusses overseeing over $7 billion in US residential real estate transactions through various funds and joint ventures, providing invaluable experience that shaped his approach to institutional asset management. This background led him to co-found SHARE in 2021 with Andrew Kim and Carmen Da Silva, aiming to democratize access to high-quality US single-family rental (SFR) investments for retail investors.

Dmitri explains how SHARE sources properties, blending on-market listings with off-market opportunities from wholesalers, institutional owners, brokers, and builders. He highlights unique deals like leasebacks or subject-to-financing options, often at discounts, and emphasizes thorough due diligence, including third-party inspections, property manager scopes of work, and market validations for rents, taxes, and insurance. Scott notes real-world examples where SHARE's deals appraised above purchase prices, building instant equity for clients. As of November 2025, the US SFR market remains attractive for Canadians seeking diversification amid high Canadian prices, with strong demand in landlord-friendly states driven by population growth and job markets—trends that continue to support long-term appreciation and cash flow.

The conversation covers why investors choose SHARE over DIY approaches: its end-to-end platform handles everything from investment planning and entity setup to acquisition, asset management, and reporting. Dmitri stresses technology-driven insights, exclusive networks, and educational support to avoid pitfalls like tax reassessments or underestimated expenses. This episode offers practical guidance for Canadians eyeing US properties, blending Dmitri's expertise with updated market realities for building wealth through passive real estate ownership.

Key Takeaways

Dmitri's Career Path: Started in Canadian private lending, then moved to Starlight Investments, overseeing $7 billion in US residential deals and growing a 20,000-unit portfolio before co-founding SHARE.
Sourcing Off-Market Deals: SHARE accesses unique opportunities via wholesalers, institutions, brokers, and builders, including discounted properties, leasebacks, and subject-to-financing, often unavailable to individual investors.
Due Diligence Process: Involves initial screenings, third-party inspections, property manager scopes for renovations, and validations on rents, taxes, and insurance to ensure informed decisions and mitigate risks.
Built-In Equity Examples: Clients often see appraisals exceeding purchase prices, creating immediate value, as observed in financed deals through partners like LendCity.
Benefits of SHARE Platform: End-to-end service covers planning, acquisitions, management, and refinancing; leverages technology, institutional tools, and education to outperform DIY investing.
US Market Appeal for Canadians: Focus on landlord-friendly states with growth potential; avoid common pitfalls like tax reassessments by using data-driven underwriting.
Getting Started: Create a free account on SHARE's site for an intro call with Dmitri or CEO Andrew Kim to explore personalized US investment strategies.

Links to Show References