Monthly Archives: January 2023

From Motherhood to Empowerment



Our podcast guest this week is Monica Jazyk, a mother of four who chose to stay home with her children instead of pursuing a career in education. After the 2008 financial crisis, Monica realized that she and her husband needed to do something different in order to achieve their savings goals. 

In this episode, Monica discusses her journey to financial success and how she has helped her family achieve their goals.

She talks about how they changed their approach to finances after realizing that the traditional methods weren’t working for them. They decided to invest in real estate, which they felt was more achievable than they had initially thought. They also felt that this would give them a better chance to improve their financial literacy and knowledge.

They started investing in real estate by purchasing a ski condo in Blue Mountain. They had no previous experience or education in real estate investing, but they were familiar with the area and felt it was a safe investment. They did eventually add value to the property through renovations, but they didn’t know about important factors like condo fees and shoulder season vacancy rates. As a result, the condo ended up being a financial burden rather than a source of income.

Later they made the decision to purchase a property in Timmins, Ontario, based on the high rents and low prices. However, they eventually sold the property after the mines in the area closed down, leading to a loss of jobs and decreased demand for housing.

As a real estate investor, Monica is currently focused on investing in high-growth areas with strong economic fundamentals. She prefers to work with joint venture partners in order to take advantage of development opportunities and generate returns for her partners.

Monica feels that in the next few years, there will be some exciting opportunities for investors, as interest rates are expected to go down again. Those who are strategic about their investments and understand the market cycles will be in a good position to take advantage of these opportunities.

As the founder of the RPI Education group, Monica’s hope is to spread the word about wealth secrets and improve financial literacy among its members. One of the ways they are doing this is through the Wealth Immersion program, which offers resources like videos, worksheets, and group coaching.

Connect with Monica Jazyk
Email: mjazyk@yahoo.ca 
Instagram: @monikavaughan
Website: https://rpinvestments.ca/

The episode has in part been brought to you by:
BM Select/Butler Mortgage – https://bmselect.ca/
Private $ 4 Mortgages – https://privatemoney4mortgages.com


From Poverty to Multi-Million Dollar Flipping



Tracey Fines is a real estate investor who has been flipping houses for 27 years. She is passionate about helping others achieve their real estate investing goals. In her recent presentation at a real estate investing event in Ottawa, she impressed Daniel St Jean and Victoria Cluney so much that they invited her to be a guest on the podcast. During the podcast, Tracy shares her story and some tips on how to be successful in real estate investing.

Tracey Fines spoke about her journey from being a nine-to-five employee to an entrepreneur, and how emotional the transition can be. She also talked about how she made the leap and what propelled her to continue doing what she loves.

She started off “accidentally” in the property business 15 years ago. She was able to buy her first property and then took advantage of the opportunity to buy a luxury flip property. She talks about how she found these properties and how the financial situation in North America allows people to own their own property.

Beginning her career as a corporate interior designer in 1990, six years later, she transitioned out of the nine-to-five job and into flipping homes. She did this for a number of years until she was finally able to leave her day job and pursue design full-time.

When taking a break from her career to have a baby, she then decided to continue flipping properties full-time. 

She is always looking to challenge herself and grow, which has led to the success she has had with more complex flips. She has done up to three multimillion-dollar flips at a time in the past but prefers to focus on one big project at a time now. Her biggest project to date is a 10 million-dollar house in Yorkville.

Tracey Fines talks about how people can get stronger and grow from challenges, and how viewing challenges as opportunities for growth can lead to more success. She also talks about her own journey with personal development and therapy, and how she has used her challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.

She attributes her success to her ability to think creatively and see potential where others might not, as well as her willingness to take risks.

Get in touch with Tracey
tracey@traceyfines-homes.com
tracey@flippiggreatlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracey_fines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traceyfineshomes/

This episode has been brought to you in part by
Black Jack Contracting Inc – https://blackjackcontractinginc.ca/
BM Select/Butler Mortgage – https://bmselect.ca/
Sarah Larbi at Inspire Beach Resort https://inspirebeachresort.com/


Why You Should Work with a Real Estate Investor Lawyer



Daniel St Jean and Sarah Larbi interview Ryan Carson from Carson Law. They discuss common mistakes people make in real estate investing, and how to prevent them. 

Ryan discusses the importance of estate planning for real estate investors. They say that it is often neglected or put on the back burner, but it is actually very important. Right now is a great time to do this kind of planning, because there are fewer deals being done.

They also talk about opportunities in the market today.

There has been a decrease in business volume due to the sharp increase in interest rates. However, prices have also come down correspondingly, so people can still have a good cash flow.

They discuss how the current market conditions present an opportunity for investors. They note that prices are lower and there is less competition from other buyers, making it a good time to invest.

1. Even though interest rates have gone up, there are still many benefits to buying a property now, including lower prices and,

2. Ryan recommends that buyers include conditions in their contracts, such as inspections and finance approvals, in order to protect themselves.

This episode discusses the importance of having a proper inspection done on a property before finalizing the purchase, as well as how the inspection can be used to negotiate a lower price.

The question is whether it is better to buy a property with existing tenants in order to have the immediate cash flow or to buy a property intending to renovate it and then re-rent it at a higher rate. If the latter, the buyer needs to make sure that the seller agrees to terminate all existing leases prior to closing.

It is better to have a vacant property when selling, as it is more marketable. If there are tenants in the property, they may try to stay even after being given notice, which can be a problem for the new buyer.

The best way to deal with tenants in order to sell a property Ryan suggests giving the tenants a cash-for-keys agreement or terminating the tenancy so that the property can be listed empty. There is a risk that the tenants could come back if they are not given proper notice, but the speaker suggests that this is a risk worth taking in order to get the best possible price for the property.

Ryan discusses the importance of ensuring that all paperwork is in order when terminating a tenant’s lease in Ontario. They mention that the process can be tricky, and it is important to make sure that all notices are served correctly. Finally, Ryan Carson advises that anyone expecting to get vacant possession should leave themselves a buffer in case the tenants have not yet started packing.

They also cover Joint Venture agreements. The number one tip for setting up a successful joint venture is to document the potential problems that could arise and how to exit the venture if those problems occur. Other important factors to consider include each partner’s expected rate of return and what will happen if the project is unsuccessful.

It is important to have well-documented and signed agreements in place from the beginning of a joint venture in order to avoid arguments and legal issues down the road. Additionally, all parties should have independent legal advice to ensure that the agreement is binding and enforceable. It is also important to have a plan in place for how to deal with additional capital needs that may arise during the course of the venture.

The biggest mistake investors make when hiring a lawyer is waiting until the last minute to do so. This can often lead to missing out on potential opportunities to save money and protect themselves from legal issues down the road.

It is important to involve a lawyer early on in the process of negotiating and closing a deal, as they can provide valuable input and help prevent any last-minute issues. It is recommended to pick a lawyer who specializes in real estate, rather than using a family lawyer or someone who has handled a previous divorce, for example.

Always work with an experienced real estate lawyer who is familiar with investing. This will ensure that they are knowledgeable of the law and can relate to the investor’s situation.

Carson Law would like to invite listeners to follow them on social media or their website to learn more about their services in law. They specialize in working with investors and offer advice for those just getting started or in growth mode. Contact https://www.carsonlaw.ca/

This episode was brought to you in part by
Legal Second Suites – https://legalsecondsuites.com
BM Select/Butler Mortgage – https://bmselect.ca/
Paul Copcutt – https://paulcopcutt.com/personallybrandtastic/


The successful poster child of real estate investing without knowing it all



In this podcast episode, Daniel St Jean and Victoria Cluney talk with Jacqueline Marshall, a real estate investor. Jacqueline covers her background and shares how she got started in real estate investing, despite not knowing anything about it at the time. She talks about how she is the poster child for someone who can be successful in real estate investing without having everything figured out beforehand.

Jacqueline got into investing in real estate accidentally, but after a few years, she decided to make it intentional. She realized that the passive income from her rentals was replacing her income from dental hygiene, so she decided to focus on real estate investing full-time. 

She shares her experience flipping houses, and how she got into the business with no prior knowledge or experience and used YouTube to teach herself DIY skills. She emphasizes the importance of finding an investor-friendly real estate agent and shares her strategy for flipping houses in the current market landscape.

Jacqueline has been investing in real estate for over 7 years and teaching others how to do the same for 2 years. She believes that anyone can be successful in real estate investing, regardless of experience or resources, as long as they have grit and determination. This was instilled in Jacqueline Marshall from a young age by her mother. Even after facing challenges, she has persevered and achieved a great deal of success in her career as a real estate investor.

She recommends that new investors focus on one asset class and gain knowledge about that area before moving on to other investment opportunities. Successful people have to be prepared to face challenges and setbacks. They also have to be willing to work hard and be tenacious. 

The conversation also covers the importance of confidence for women in male-dominated industries. It cites Jacqueline as an example of a woman who has been successful in real estate despite not fitting the stereotype of what a “successful” investor looks like. She emphasizes the importance of taking control and doing research in order to be knowledgeable about what you are hiring for.

Follow Jacqueline Marshall
Instagram: @diyinvestherjacqueline

This episode has been brought to you in part by
Black Jack Contracting Inc – https://blackjackcontractinginc.ca/
BM Select/Butler Mortgage – https://bmselect.ca/
Sarah Larbi with Mid-Term Rentals- https://midtermrentalproperties.com/