Gary chats with Jared Henderson, a real estate investor from the Montreal area. Sometimes investors get nervous investing outside where they live, but Jared has had great success as an investor since 2012 in Hamilton, Niagara Falls, St. Catherines and numerous properties in the Peterborough since 2017. They talked about how an investor should not do this on their own, but surround themselves with a core team of talented professionals like tradespeople, that you need to help ensure you DON’T fail. He specializes in student rentals, and Gary and he took a deep dive into the future of student rental space.

What you'll learn:

• Why you need a core team of professionals like tradespeople, lawyers, etc to help ensure you DON’T FAIL
• Don’t be afraid of investing outside of where you live, and HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULDN’T BE AFRAID
• How “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” changed his life
• Why investing in real estate offers more possibilities and benefits than commodities
• How he initially considered real estate investing a part time gig
• Why his first investment property in 2012 was in Niagara Falls
• Why he chose Ontario to invest in
• How he educated himself about the markets he was investing in, to determine WHY his properties were appreciating
• The unique benefits and challenges of investing in student housing
• Why he considers real estate a ‘puzzle’, and when you puts the pieces together it turns into something beautiful
• MOST investors start with ONE property, and how they move to multiple properties!
• What systems he’s put in place to manage his properties from Montreal
• The PROS and CONS of managing properties from another location
• Why You NEED an Investment Focused Realtor!
• How tools like cash flow, proformas, neighbourhood information, vacancies, affordability, jobs, etc. help you determine if you should buy a property
• What is the “evergreen strategy”?
• What are the 3 things to consider with a basement unit?
• Why you need to be aware of the flood plane before you renovate the basement
• And MORE!

Jared’s Bio

Jared is a real estate investor from the Montreal area. Sometimes investors get nervous investing outside where they live, but Jared has had great success as an investor since 2012 in Hamilton, Niagara Falls, St. Catherines and numerous properties in the Peterborough since 2017. He has been focusing on housing for students, but has also gotten into joint ventures.

Website/contact info for guest

Web: www.HatleyFunds.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaredh55

Please a leave a review, as it helps Gary understand if he’s bringing on the right guests that you want to hear from!

Interested in learning more about Real Estate Investing? Visit https://www.smarthomechoice.ca

Gary chats with good friend Georges El Masri!  Georges is a fellow investor with numerous properties (12 doors), a real estate agent and podcaster with the Well Off podcast! Georges primarily works in the west end of the GTA. Gary was previously a guest on Georges' podcast, and he has an incredible story. Georges' parents had to flee from Lebanon due to civil war in 1989, and they moved to Toronto to start over. Georges learned from his father about being an entrepreneur. Gary and Georges touched on the market, what Georges is personally seeing in freehold properties, condos, etc. They also discussed digital currencies, why it’s important to learn from the past, as history doesn’t necessarily repeat but leaves clues and rhymes.

What you'll learn:

• How he got 12 doors in 3 years! He felt it was a slow growth, but he has 12 in 3 years, which is incredible!
• Why it’s important as an investor to use an agent that is more than familiar with an area, but invests there themselves!
• Why his dad hated his job, and how that affected Georges
• Why his own dislike of jobs after university pushed him into real estate - he felt he couldn’t grow and was ‘stuck’
• Depression is like ‘not growing’ for George, when he feels he’s repeating himself
• Anxiety is worrying about future ‘problems’
• Georges' 4 year journey from getting his license to buying his first investment property
• Why his broker’s unexpected request for an additional 10% on his deposit changed everything, and forced him to buy this first property
• How raising capital plays into his aggressive expansion plans
• How some investors don’t put their own capital in to JVs (joint ventures), their partners qualify for the mortgage yet they own it 50/50
• Why he property manages all new investments for 2 years, then offloads them to a property manager
• Why 4-6 unit buildings are his next strategy
• Why some banks treat multi units as residential and NOT commercial
• How commercial mortgages can allow more money to be borrowed
• Off market opportunities are on his radar as well
• The mistakes that investors make in multi family units - fire code inspections; bed bug infestations, etc
• Why Georges still uses a coach, who has also helped him avoid pricey real estate mistakes
• Why condo rents are dropping as well as their values
• Will rates stay low and will stimulus money continue?
• And MORE!

Georges' Bio

Born in Canada after my parents fled the civil war in Lebanon. They sacrificed their home to give their children a better life. I grew up with an inherited survival and partly scarce mindset. With that said, I was also gifted an entrepreneurial spirit and a hunger for a better life. I strive for financial freedom through real estate investing.

Website/contact info for guest

Web: welloff.ca  welloffpodcast.ca 

Facebook: https://facebook.com/georgeelmasriwo 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welloffx

Please a leave a review, as it helps Gary understand if he’s bringing on the right guests that you want to hear from!

Interested in learning more about Real Estate Investing? Visit https://www.smarthomechoice.ca

Gary chats with good friend, mentor and owner of Butler Mortages, Dave Butler. Butler Mortgages has consistently been the #1 mortgage brokerage across Canada for the past 3 years in a row! Dave also had a huge impact on Gary, and has helped in various ways, including the startup of Smart Home Choice and helping him get started in private lending.

What you'll learn:

• How Butler Mortgage grew to be Canada’s favourite
• It’s not always about the lowest rate!
• What will happen to interest rates?
• Dave’s opinion of current and future market conditions
• If you are new to investing, is THIS the time to jump in, or hold off?
• Dave talks about the stock market, and some of the cannabis stocks he’s been dabbling in
• The election (as of Oct 29 when this was recorded) and how it has factored into the markets depending on who won
• The evolution of the Canadian real estate investor
• How Dave’s first gig in high school as a bookie factored into his future
• Why he started getting into mortgages as it felt good to help others with the biggest financial challenge of their lives
• How he cared about what people thought of the process of working with him
• Why when he worked with his dad
• When he went out on his own with another agency, how he built a stable of real estate agents
• He did $17 million in his first year!
• His team will likely hit $500 million this year!
• How his team has adapted to working during pandemic times
• Why he’s been referral only and does no advertising
• Why you have to plan out your mortgage applications, and go to banks in a certain order - why Butler does this
• If you want multiple properties, you need a plan, it’s going to be an experience, and you need to work with someone who knows how to get to the destination
• If your mortgage agent isn’t passionate and excited about your journey as an investor, you need a new agent
• Why companies will have to innovate & evolve, and won’t sit still during COVID
• Why urban condos are emptying and why they’ll continue to empty
• Why the Toronto condo market may come back, and may present an interesting opportunity for someone that con handle risk
• Supply and demand is at play
• Why work from home will be the standard going forward…
• Why he has an interest in cannabis stocks - he’s not a ‘stock guy’ but is a value investor in many sectors
• Why work life balance is important, as Dave had a heart attack at 39!
• And MORE!

Dave got started in mortgages at 23 years old after attending the University of Toronto.  His parents and Brother are also in the mortgage industry.  In Dave’s 1^st year in mortgages he was named the Canadian Rookie of the Year and since that time his business has grown leaps and bounds, he currently holds the title of Canada’s #1 Ranked Mortgage Broker by Volume for the last 3 years in a row.

Website/contact info for guest

Web: www.bmselect.ca

Phone: 1-888-684-8326

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMSelect

Instagram: @BM.Select & @DaveButlerMTG

Please a leave a review, as it helps Gary understand if he’s bringing on the right guests that you want to hear from!

Interested in learning more about Real Estate Investing? Visit https://www.smarthomechoice.ca

Gary chats with friend and fellow investor Sarah Larbi. They’ve done several podcasts and webinars together, they touched on market predictions, but the focus of this episode is cottage properties. Sarah bought a short term rental cottage, sight unseen and has done well renting it out, but she provides some indispensable information on purchasing a cottage, whether it’s to create income or provide a place of rest and regeneration. She spoke of due diligence, ensuring the property is suited to your needs and avoiding issues later. Sarah also managed to purchase 9 properties by age 33!

What you'll learn:

¥           Gary provides a current market update - what does rolling back to a modified Stage 2 mean to investors, and the markets?

¥           Why Sarah, in a former life as a financial planner, determined that investing in mutual funds, etc. because the commissions took all the profit

¥           The banks want you to buy their mutual funds because of commissions and fees, and don’t have your best interests at heart

¥           Sarah rents her cottage during July and August for $550 per night for 4 bedrooms, 7 night minimum. If it’s rented every night of a month it will be $16,500 for the month! You’ll make your money back buying a recreational cottage in Ontario

¥           Long weekends can make even more

¥           You can get bookings in May, June and September at $350-$400 per night

¥           Long weekends or March break will be shorter rentals

¥           Why ‘your network is your net worth’

¥           Why a 3 season vs. a 4 season have differing down payment amounts!

¥           Proximity to a town for supplies

¥           Proximity to a larger city for renters

¥           The more bedrooms the better

¥           If you have 4+ you can rent to two couples

¥           Cell coverage and internet is HUGE

¥           Ensure you have the correct number of supplies to match potential renters (10 guests max, 10 glasses, etc)

¥           How private is the cottage and property

¥           Does the value of the cottage and property increase on open lakes vs. closed lakes?

¥           Deeded land vs. leased land, and why appreciation may be slower

¥           Leased land and rules of use

¥           Septic systems vs holding tanks

¥           Drilled wells and dug wells

¥           Do you manage the property yourself, or hire out?

¥           Cleaning and prepping for visits, groundskeeping

¥           Security cameras for safety and security - being able to unlock the door, arm the security system and adjust the heat

¥           Why Air BnB is the tool Sarah uses for rentals, and why you may need to qualify differently

¥           Are you BRRRR-ing, or flipping?

¥           Why 16 weeks is the magic number for rentals

¥           Main road vs. side road and are there maintenance fees

¥           And MORE!

Sarah’s Bio

Sarah Larbi had the drive and focus to embark, build and grow a seven-figure, 10 property investment portfolio by her early 30’s, all whilst full-time employed. Known as the BRRRR Expert, her results-oriented approach has been featured in numerous Canadian media, on the stage at events like Canadian Real Estate Wealth Investor Forum and as a guest on many North American finance-focused podcasts.

Sarah hosts her own podcast “Where Should I Invest?”, which reached the Top 50 of All Time for Canadian Investing on Apple podcasts and is also co-founder of The REITE Club and co-hosts their own successful podcast.

Website/contact info for guest:

https://sarahlarbi.com/podcast-home/ 

Instagram - investorsarahlarbi 

Website - www.sarahlarbi.com 

Please a leave a review, as it helps Gary understand if he’s bringing on the right guests that you want to hear from!

Interested in learning more about Real Estate Investing? Visit https://www.smarthomechoice.ca