Blog

Talking Real Estate & Side Hustles on the Smartcar Coffee Confidential

 

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Here is a different twist on being guest interviewed. I was recently driven around in James Burchill’s smartcar and asked about my #sidehustle real estate investing and all the other things I am involved in outside of my 8 to 5.30 full time job.

To watch other episodes of the Smartcar Coffee Confidential subscribe over at his You Tube channel by clicking here or visit James’ Side Hustle website here.

Pros & Cons of Buying Properties Remotely with Ryan Kirk

 

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Episode 12 – Ryan Kirk

Show Notes

Are you a real estate investor looking to sharpen your skills? Or a newbie looking for your first investment? You’ve come to the right place! Join host Sarah Larbi for a journey into the world of Canadian real estate investment. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Ryan Kirk who is a Canadian real estate investor buying properties in Canada while living in Morocco.

Today’s Guest:

Ryan Kirk invests from a distance all the way from Morocco! Ryan buys properties and converts them into duplex’s in Hamilton Ontario. He has been able to successfully set up a team of local experts to renovate and manage his properties all while living overseas.

Episode Highlights:

  • Learn how to purchase real estate deals without being in Canada
  • Hear about how Ryan purchases real estate site unseen
  • Learn the pros and cons of buying and managing properties remotely
  • Gain an understanding of how to do basement conversions and legal duplexes
  • Learn about the steps and permits needed to duplex a house
  • Receive tips and tricks to help you find great tenants
  • Learn about Ryan’s tenant screening process
  • Handling the landlord tenant board remotely to evict a tenant

Want to contact Ryan? Find him through the following avenues: 

Email: gemakiwealth@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemakiRealEstateWealth

Biggerpockets: Ryan Kirk

Linkedin: Ryan Kirk, Casablanca, Franklin Covey

Blogs:  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/8768-gemaki-real-estate-wealth

They Bought Their Prebuilt Homes – Now They Face Financial Ruin


Thanks, T.J for forwarding me this article They bought their prebuilt homes at the market’s peak. Now they face financial ruin (click for full article) and asking me to comment on it. I figured I would share my response with you all on this blog. Feel free to connect with me and share your thoughts as well:
First, to put it out there, in a good market or in a downturn, the negative news gets many more viewers than the positive. If its booming we are in a bubble about to burst each year the prices increase, then if there is some slowdown its the end of it all and we are all doomed.
It’s an ongoing rollercoaster so stay out of the day to day news and focus on the overall market drivers and data.
I think when it comes to real estate, investing or otherwise, it is important to understand that there are market cycles; The Boom, the Slump and the Recovery. You need to prepare for it all by looking at the market fundamentals and weigh all the risks ahead of time and ahead of any purchase of this magnitude. There is a big difference between speculators and investors, I recommend you be the latter.
Do not buy on market appreciation and hoping things will keep going up. That should be a bonus but not an expectation. At some point, markets take a turn so even though Premier Wynne may have sped up this process one should plan this as a possibility regardless.
It is also important to look at history and by how much the market dropped and how long it took to recover. This is not the end of the world and you should not pause everything because of some news in the media. If you do you will be in the exact same spot 10 years from now. Just ensure you make calculated decisions.
As for homeowners, I think many people live way beyond their means to begin with (no matter what they say). Personally, we use one income to pay for our principal residence mortgage, not two and our house is small and although maybe it would be nice to upgrade…it’s definitely not needed. Be satisfied with what you have and stop stretching yourselves to the limit. If something happens such as these new rules and changes that pull the prices down, you will have a buffer. The fact that they couldn’t get financing to me means they were already stretching their limit.
I do not need a $1.6M house, there are plenty of nice houses and less expensive ones 30 minutes outside of Oakville or even some less expensive ones in Oakville. Even though the bank says you can buy a $1.6M house doesn’t mean you should go buy that much house.
As for the pre-construction market, I don’t think it’s either better or worse than buying an already completed property. Just keep in mind things change, have always changed and will continue to change so always have backup plans if things change for the worse. Stop stretching yourself and live below your means so that you can better withstand these changing conditions. 
What are your thoughts on the article, I would love to hear in the comments below?

The Importance of Pre-Planning Your Real Estate Financing with Dalia Barsoum

 

 

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Show Notes

In this episode, Sarah sits down with award winning mortgage broker Dalia Barsoum to discuss financing options for investors.

Dalia Barsoum is an experienced mortgage broker and real estate investor who specializes in helping real estate investors scale their business without hitting the financing wall. Dalia is a well-known mortgage broker in the real estate investor community who focuses on solving complex problems and helping clients achieve their real estate goals. Dalia is also Sarah’s mortgage broker and she has saved Sarah thousands of dollars and has helped scale up her portfolio still with A lenders. Dalia is also a best-selling author who wrote Canadian Real Estate Investor Financing: 7 Secrets to Getting All the Money You Want. In this episode of “Where Should I Invest?” Dalia shares her tips and tricks for choosing the best financing options.

Episode Highlights:

· Discover the importance of planning your financing

· Learn the difference between banks, trust companies, credit unions and private lenders

· Learn how to strategically use certain lenders at appropriate times and circumstances

· Discover the difference between commercial financing and residential financing

· Learn about down payment requirements, refinancing properties and mortgage rates

· Understand Canada’s new mortgage rules and how they impact real estate investors

· Gain an understanding of the January 1, 2018 stress test

· Learn how to finance flips and properties that need significant renovations

· Learn about mortgage plus improvement options for financing

· Receive tips for purchasing recreational properties and raw land

· Discover financing solutions for the self-employed individuals

· Learn how you can grow your investment business without hitting the financing wall

Contact Information:

For more information, visit www.streetwisemortgages.com or send an e-mail to Dalia’s attention at info@streetwisemortgages.com

Getting Inside the Entrepreneurial Mind on the Daily Grind Podcast

The Daily Grind Podcast is an interview/conversational podcast where host Colin Morgan dive into the entrepreneur’s mind of how they got their start, some of the early behaviors they implemented to learn their craft, obstacles they had to overcome to get where they are, and how mentorship and self-education accelerated the process.

Listen to Sarah Larbi be interviewed on Episode 95 – click here

Finding Financial Freedom Through Real Estate Investing with Daniel St. Jean

 

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Show Notes: In this episode, Sarah sits down with Daniel St-Jean to discuss joint venture agreements and lease-to- own properties.

Today’s Guest:
Daniel St-Jean and his wife Laurel discovered real estate investing while looking for alternative sources of income. After completing their first deal in 2010, Daniel and Laurel rapidly grew their investment business.

Today, they own 50+ properties and have found financial freedom through real estate. 43 of those being rent to own properties where they were able to use other people’s
money (OPM)!

In this episode of “Where Should I Invest?” Daniel shares his formula for success.
Episode Highlights:

  • Discover the benefits of joint venture agreements
  • Learn how you can find money to start pursuing your investment goals and how you can use other people’s money to create financial freedom
  • Learn how you can go from 1 to over 50 investment properties in less than 10 years without running out of money
  • Gain an understanding of the lease-to- own strategy
  • Receive tips and tricks to help you find great tenant-buyers
  • Understand the importance of building a strong network
  • Discover the benefits of creativity and thinking outside the box
  • Receive tips for handling unexpected challenges

Contact Information:
For more information on Daniel St-Jean, check out https://sasreig.com.

The Millennial Retirement Plan on The Truth About Real Estate Investing Podcast

Truth

I was recently interviewed on the podcast “The Truth About Real Estate Investing” with Erwin Szeto, sharing my story and offering some insights on real estate investing.

The Truth About Real Estate Investing… for Canadians is by Canadians for Canadians eh? The show is exactly that, we speak truths, no get rich quick schemes, investing is a marathon, if you’re looking to get rich quick this is not the place for you. Instead, we invest based on economic fundamentals using tried and true best practices that generate wealth for the long term. The Show is hosted by Erwin Szeto aka Mr. Hamilton. Erwin is a professional real estate investor, Realtor at Rock Star Brokerage Inc., 2015 winner of Realtor of the year by the Real Estate Investment Network AND the Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine. He is an expert in his field and knows his business like no other. In this show, he deconstructs world-class investors, digging deep to find the tools, tactics, and lessons that all investors can use.

You can listen one of these ways;

Google Play: https://goo.gl/CAM5Mn
Or go to Erwin’s website and access it there – click here
I would love to hear what you think, please comment below and if you think others would find it useful please share using one of the buttons. Thank you.

The Benefits & Challenges of Student Rentals with Erwin Szeto

 

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Show Notes: In this episode, Sarah sits down with Erwin Szeto (a.k.a. Mr.Hamilton) to discuss student rentals and investment opportunities in Hamilton, Ontario.

Today’s Guest:
Erwin Szeto left a career in business to focus on real estate investment. Today, Erwin is a
successful realtor and investor with properties throughout Southern Ontario. In this episode of “Where Should I Invest?” Erwin shares his thoughts on investment and overcoming “analysis paralysis”.

Episode Highlights:

  • Learn how to calculate cash flow on a potential investment property
  • Gain insight into the Hamilton, Ontario market
  • Understand the benefits and challenges of purchasing a student rental
  • Discover the importance of effective networking
  • Learn how to overcome “analysis paralysis” and take action
  • Receive tips and tricks for creating balance in your life
  • Discover how you can create financial security for your children through real estate investment

Contact Information:
For more information, visit www.haltonrei.ca and https://realestatetaxtips.ca. Don’t forget to check out Erwin’s podcast, “The Truth About Real Estate Investing… for Canadians”.
ACRE discount code: erwinsguest

Click here to download my latest free real estate investing report 

The Benefits of Flipping Fire Damaged Houses with Michael Domenichetti

 

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Show notes;

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Michael Domenichetti to discuss house flipping and fire-damaged homes.

Today’s Guest:

Michael Domenichetti was first exposed to real estate while helping his father renovate and manage rental properties. At 26 years old, he purchased his first property with his sister. Today, Michael is a skilled investor and realtor. In this episode of “Where Should I Invest?” Michael shares tips for investing in Hamilton, Ontario and the surrounding area.

Episode Highlights:

  • Discover the challenges and benefits of flipping a fire-damaged home
  • Learn how to evaluate a potential flip project efficiently
  • Receive tips for creating a realistic budget for your project
  • Gain insight into Hamilton and the surrounding area
  • Learn where you can find affordable materials for your renovation
  • Discover the importance of networking and referrals

Contact Information:

For more information, contact Michael Domenichetti by telephone at (888) 444-7237 or visit mdrealestategroup.com.

Click here to download my latest free real estate investing report 

Flipping 15 Properties in the GTA in Under 2 years with Luc Boiron (Part 2 of 2)

 

Listen to the episode;

 

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Show notes;

In the second part of this two-part series, Sarah and Luc continue their conversation on house flipping in the Greater Toronto Area.

Today’s Guest:

Luc Boiron developed an interest in real estate at an early age and purchased his first property while completing undergraduate studies. After becoming a licensed lawyer, Luc made the bold decision to change his career path and pursue real estate investment full-time. In just a year and a half, Luc has flipped 15 properties and developed a thriving business. In this episode of “Where Should I Invest?” Luc shares his strategies for success.

Episode Highlights:

  • Gain insight into different investment models and strategies
  • Discover real estate trends in the Greater Toronto Area
  • Receive tips to help you find great opportunities
  • Learn how to assess the numbers and evaluate a potential flip project
  • Receive tips and tricks for handling changes in the market
  • Understand the importance of effective time management

Contact Information:

For more information, contact Luc by e-mail at lucb@blissrealtyinvestors.com or visit https://www.blissrealtyinvestors.com.

Don’t forget to check out: www.ibuyhousestoronto.ca and www.cashhousebuyer.ca.

Click here to download my latest free real estate investing report 

 

From Full Time Lawyer to Full Time Real Estate Investor with Luc Boiron (Part 1 of 2)

 

Listen to the episode;

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Show Notes;

In the first part of this two-part series, Sarah sits down with Luc Boiron to discuss house flipping in the Greater Toronto Area.

Today’s Guest:

Luc Boiron developed an interest in real estate at an early age and purchased his first property while completing undergraduate studies. After becoming a licensed lawyer, Luc made the bold decision to change his career path and pursue real estate investment full-time. In just a year and a half, Luc has flipped 15 properties and developed a thriving business. In this episode of “Where Should I Invest?” Luc shares his strategies for success.

Episode Highlights:

  • Learn the fundamentals of a house flip project
  • Receive tips and tricks for finding a great deal
  • Compare financing options and learn how you can fund your own flip
  • Discover the importance of building a team of professionals
  • Receive tips for selecting the right general contractor for your project
  • Understand the distinction between house flipping in the Greater Toronto Area and house flipping in the United States

Contact Information:

For more information, contact Luc by e-mail at lucb@blissrealtyinvestors.com or visit https://www.blissrealtyinvestors.com.

Don’t forget to check out: www.ibuyhousestoronto.ca and www.cashhousebuyer.ca.

Click here to download my latest free real estate investing report