Category Archives: Investing

Success as a Newbie Real Estate Investor and Lessons Learned

'always learning, always growing', buy and holds, Certified Engineering Technologist, Education, flip, Fort Erie, future freedom, homebuyer investor, Investing, Investing insights, Lessons Learned, mantra, mobile university, Newbie Real Estate Investor, Niagara region, Podcast, Podcast Guest, podcasts, Port Colborne Market, Portfolio, Professional Quantity Surveyor, Project Management Professional, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, real estate investing education, Real Estate Investor, Roger Sherwood, student debt, team sport, The REITE Club, TRC, Understanding the fundamentals, Weekly Podcast

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Roger Sherwood is a young, newer Real Estate Investor having started a little over a year ago and already has two buy and holds and recently bought his first flip. Although he has many of the challenges that younger people face, like student debt he still was open to looking at real estate investing and was immediately attracted to the future freedom it offers.

Guest: Roger Sherwood, Real Estate Investor 

Roger Sherwood is a young, newer Real Estate Investor having started a little over a year ago and already has two buy and holds and recently bought his first flip. Although he has many of the challenges that younger people face, like student debt he still was open to looking at real estate investing and was immediately attracted to the future freedom it offers.

His goal is to have 31 doors in 5 years and he focuses on up and coming areas in the Niagara region having already found properties that have future development potential as he builds equity in his portfolio. Roger attributes his early success to taking action and following his mantra of ‘always learning, always growing’ being sure to surround himself with the right people. As he says real estate investing is a team sport.

Roger continues to be employed full-time, is a Certified Engineering Technologist, Professional Quantity Surveyor and Project Management Professional and uses his daily commute as his very own mobile university listening to podcasts and continuing his real estate investing education.

In this episode learn about:
– Investing insights and process for the first-time homebuyer investor
– Opportunities in the Fort Erie and Port Colborne Market
– Understanding the fundamentals before investing in an area
– Breaking down some of the figures in his investments 

To get in touch with Roger: 
Website: https://ontariopropertyfreedom.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ontariopropertyfreedom/
Instagram:www.instagram.com/ontariopropertyfreedom/

Successfully Leaving Secure Employment by Investing in Yourself

buying properties, Carlo Cocozza, CEO, Education, Elite, Elite Property Investments Inc., Entrepreneur, hands-off passive opportunity, Investing, Investing in Yourself, local government, Maria Esposito, multi-family focus, multifamily arena, off-market opportunities, personal development, Podcast, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Investing Business, Real Estate Investor, Secure Employment, St. Catharines, supplier relationships, TRC, unfulfilled life, Weekly Podcast

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Life was good by most people’s standards but something was missing for Maria. She loved her family and had a great government job but was restless and feeling unfulfilled. Spending 15 years in this unfulfilled life she made the decision to leave her husband and start a new life with her two girls.

Guest: Maria Esposito, Real Estate Investor and Entrepreneur 

Life was good by most people’s standards but something was missing for Maria. She loved her family and had a great government job but was restless and feeling unfulfilled. Spending 15 years in this unfulfilled life she made the decision to leave her husband and start a new life with her two girls. 

In 2015 she left the security of that government job and pension, liquidated all of her assets and re­invested her life’s savings in the personal development of herself. Having been born and raised in St. Catharines and having such a passion for the region, it made total sense for her to focus her real estate investing business in the area. 

Maria is now the CEO of Elite Property Investments Inc. a real estate investment company that she founded together with her partner Carlo Cocozza. Managed by Maria, who has spent time building local government and supplier relationships, the company has quickly built a reputation as St. Catharines market specialists with a laser focus on the downtown core in the multi­family arena.  Elite has two main avenues available for real estate investors, one an active focus in off­-market opportunities and then secondly a more hands-off passive opportunity.

In this episode learn about:
– tips on having a multi-family focus and the benefits of that strategy
– how to find good deals and the fundamentals to look for when buying properties
– benefits of relationship building with local government and suppliers
– the importance of investing in your personal development

To get in touch with Maria: 
Websites:  elitepropertyinv.com 
Email: info@elitepropertyinv.com
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/elitepropertyinv/

Building Trust Through Genuine Long Term Relationships in Real Estate Investing

Basketball fan, Bilingual, Day job, Education, George El Masri, Handwritten notes, Investing, Long Term Relationships, Marathon Runner, Podcast, Podcast Guest, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Investor, Real Estate Investor Forum, Realtor, Referrals, TRC, University of Toronto, Weekly Podcast, Well Off Podcast

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George El Masri has been a Realtor since 2013 and is also a Real Estate Investor with 2 properties currently working on his third but has always had a dream of having a big portfolio.  He likes to focus on working with young people looking to break into real estate investing and uses his realtor business to focus in that space. 

Guest: George El Masri, Real Estate Investor and Realtor

George El Masri has been a Realtor since 2013 and is also a Real Estate Investor with 2 properties currently working on his third but has always had a dream of having a big portfolio.  He likes to focus on working with young people looking to break into real estate investing and uses his realtor business to focus in that space. 

Born in Toronto, George studied in the French school system and is bilingual. After graduating from the University of Toronto he entered the tech space but the pull of real estate was too strong.  He is a strong believer in referrals and works hard at building trust through genuine long term relationships that he underlines with small acts of kindness and handwritten notes. 

George is also the host of the monthly Well Off Podcast, interviewing other real estate investors and is also a marathon runner, basketball fan and loves the challenge of stretching his brain by playing chess. 

In this episode learn about:
– Insights on a day to day job as a realtor
– Advantage and disadvantages of being a realtor when looking for their own properties
– Tips on how to keep working for people’s best interests. 
– How to build relationships with clients and prospects

To get in touch with George: 
Websites: welloff.ca 
Podcast: welloffpodcast.ca
Instagram: @welloffx
george@welloff.ca
647 719 2040

Noises, Voices and Facing Big Challenges

Big Challenges, Consultant, Consulting, daniel st jean, Education, Founder, Investing, Investor, Laurel Simmons, Noises, Podcast, Podcast Guest, Positive Reinforcements, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, REITE Club, rent to own, Safe and Sound Real Estate Investment Group, Speaker, Trainer, TRC, Voices

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Laurel Simmons bought her first investment rental property in the early 80s when she really didn’t know what she was doing. Fast-forward to today, along with her husband, Daniel St-Jean, Laurel is a partner in Safe and Sound Real Estate Investment Group which specializes in rent-to-own with over 50 properties.

Guest: Laurel Simmons, The REITE Club Co-Founder and Real Estate Investor

In this episode learn about:
– Facing big challenges on your projects
– What the biggest voice says and its effects
– Tips on how to get positive reinforcements

Laurel Simmons bought her first investment rental property in the early 80s when she really didn’t know what she was doing. Fast-forward to today, along with her husband, Daniel St-Jean, Laurel is a partner in Safe and Sound Real Estate Investment Group which specializes in rent-to-own with over 50 properties. 

She’s a Co-Founder of The REITE Club and is affectionately known as the Grounding member because she holds the other Co-Founder’s toes to the fire to help make sure the club’s events are the best they can possibly be.

Laurel spent over three decades working in the consulting world both with hi-tech and government organizations. She traveled the world as a consultant, speaker and trainer and now she’s travelling to where she wants to go WHEN she wants to go and for as LONG she wants to go without in any way having to worry about her clients.

To get in touch with Laurel: 
Email Laurel at laurel@thereiteclub.com

Laurels Upcoming Book Laurel’s upcoming book The Why Factor – Why I Eat and Drink My Way Around the World and Why You Can Too will be released soon. Go to www.TheWhyFactorBook to be notified when and you’ll get free access to a short audio called What’s Your Story?

Strategies and Insights to Finding and Financing Flips

Buy and Hold, Buy-Fix-Sell, Canadian Real Estate Wealth magazine, Creative Financing, Financing Flips, first-time investor, Flipper, flipping, Flipping Tips, Innerkip, Investing, investing markets, Investor, Investor of the Year, ONREIA, Ontario, Podcast, Podcast Guest, Profit, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, real estate teams, Residential Real Estate Investing, Shawn Allen, South-Western Ontario, The REITE Club, TRC

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After getting started in real estate investing Shawn Allen realized he had to commit to taking it to the next level, so  5 years ago he left a corporate career in human resources in the automotive industry to go full-time and build one of the busiest real estate teams, flipping 30 properties a year.

Guest:  Shawn Allen, Real Estate Flipper and Investor

In this episode learn about:

– The pros and cons of flipping
– Different strategies to find 30 flip properties a year
– Flipping tips and strategies
– Insights into financing flips
– Crunching the numbers and finding the profit

After getting started in real estate investing Shawn Allen realized he had to commit to taking it to the next level, so  5 years ago he left a corporate career in human resources in the automotive industry to go full-time and build one of the busiest real estate teams, flipping 30 properties a year.

Although specializing in the buy-fix-sell model he has created a large portfolio and gained practical knowledge on everything from flips to buy and hold, joint venture deals to wholesaling, full-scale renovations to creative financing. 

Through his experience developing an in-depth understanding of residential real estate investing Shawn has received numerous nominations for investor awards including Investor of the Year by Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine.  

After recognizing the need for an organized, value-driven networking group in South-Western Ontario, he founded ONREIA, The Ontario Real Estate Investors Association and holds monthly education & networking events in London.  He lives in Innerkip, Ontario with his wife Jenn and two boys. 

Get in touch with Shawn:

Email: verandaproperty@hotmail.com

Facebook Personal:  www.facebook.com/shawn.allen.98837
ONREIA:  www.facebook.com/theonreia/
Projects:  www.facebook.com/rescuerealestateteam

Instagram
Personal:   www.instagram.com/shawn___allen/
ONREIA:  www.instagram.com/theonreia
Projects:  www.instagram.com/rescuerealestateteam/

Website:http://onreia.com

Understanding How a Mortgage Broker Can Help You Scale Your Real Estate Investing Business

Amiel Jelinek, Bachelor of Applied Science, commercial buildings, expanding portfolio, GTA, Investing, large multi-family, licensed Mortgage Broker, Mortgage Alliance Company, Mortgage Broker, multi-unit investing, Podcast, Podcast Guest, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), Purview Report, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Investing Business, rent-to-own programs, single-family rentals, The REITE Club, University of Waterloo

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Amiel Jelinek is a full-time licensed Mortgage Broker with Mortgage Alliance Company of Canada located in the GTA and is also an active real estate investor and has been for over 10 years.  He holds single-family rentals as well as large multi-family and commercial buildings.   

Guest: Mortgage Broker, Amiel Jelinek

What you will learn;

  • A Mortgage Agent’s secret sauce – the Purview Report and how it helps investors, especially with multi-unit investing.
  • Some differences between US and Canadian real estate financing
  • Financing everything from single-family units to commercial
  • Tips on expanding your portfolio

Amiel Jelinek is a full-time licensed Mortgage Broker with Mortgage Alliance Company of Canada located in the GTA and is also an active real estate investor and has been for over 10 years.  He holds single-family rentals as well as large multi-family and commercial buildings.   

As a top producing broker Amiel has a wide range of experience from traditional purchases through to the tough deals such as large portfolio investing, handling self-employed income, corporate mortgages and equity lending. His favourite strategy is helping clients get into home ownership through rent-to-own programs.  

Amiel has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and holds a non-practicing Professional Engineers license with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and is a busy father and husband with a young family.  

Get in touch with Amiel:
Website: https://www.jelinekmortgages.ca
Phone Number: 416-402-7448

Understanding What Land Development Involves as a Real Estate Investing Strategy

Calvin Poon, infill developments, Investing, Land Development, mentorship coaching, Podcast, Podcast Guest, pros and cons, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Investor, The REITE Club, timelines and processes, TRC

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Calvin Poon and his fiancée, Lichee, had some initial hard lessons after buying at the height of the market but ended up successfully renting out their first property and then completing a flip. 

Guest: Real Estate Investor, Calvin Poon

In this episode learn about:

  • Insights on developing land and infill developments 
  • Risks and the pros and cons of land development, including financing and costs
  • Various stages of land development, timelines and processes
  • The value of mentorship coaching

Calvin and his fiancée, Lichee, had some initial hard lessons after buying at the height of the market but ended up successfully renting out their first property and then completing a flip. 

Now they are doing an infill land development project in St. Catharines, Ontario and documenting their journey on their website to help other real estate investors see what it takes to do what they term “Flat (land) to Doormat”. 

Not coming from a construction background, Calvin emphasizes that land development and construction is more about your mindset, he has discovered it is 80% mental and only 20% actual construction. 

Get in touch with Calvin:
Website: www.calvinpoon.net

The Philosophical Versus Passion Approach to Real Estate Investing

Alex Kouramanis, Cashflow strategy, Cognitive Science & Philosophy, Florence Littauer, Gary Chapman, Investing, multifamily properties, online courses, Ontario Flipping, Passion Approach, Philosophical, Podcast, Podcast Guest, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Investor, Skillshare platforms, solid broker, The 5 Love Languages, The REITE Club, Toronto Properties, TRC, Wholesale and Flipping strategies

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Alex Kouramanis is a real estate investor from Toronto, specializing in Wholesale and Flipping strategies throughout Ontario and is easily recognized at investor meetings for wearing his name badge upside down! Double B. A. majors in Cognitive Science & Philosophy and graduating on the Dean’s Honour roll could have meant a very different career path than real estate. 

Guest: Real Estate Investor, Alex Kouramanis

In this episode learn about:

  • Leveraging the internet for sharing knowledge through online courses
  • Having a different mindset and not caring about real estate
  • Cashflow strategy tips and tips on planning and financing your deals
  • Why is it important to have a solid broker
  • The reason he wears his name badge upside down

Alex Kouramanis is a real estate investor from Toronto, specializing in Wholesale and Flipping strategies throughout Ontario and is easily recognized at investor meetings for wearing his name badge upside down! Double B.A. majors in Cognitive Science & Philosophy and graduating on the Dean’s Honour roll could have meant a very different career path than real estate. 

However, after leaving school he invested almost all his savings on a real estate investment program in 2013. With no prior construction experience, Alex borrowed everything to buy his first bungalow in the overheated Toronto market and then worked 7 days a week as a bartender to help cover renovation costs and support himself. 

Alex has still been able to use his degrees and knowledge for practical application by putting together three online courses on the Udemy and Skillshare platforms, with over 11,000 students, covering investment, finance, relationships, personal development, psychology and philosophy.

After a handful of successes in real estate, in 2017, Alex quit his job as a bartender so he could take real estate investment on as a full-time career. As of 2019, he has done over a dozen deals in Ontario, using flips and assignments to create investment capital that he can funnel into rental properties to hold for long term wealth. Alex’s greatest achievement to date is his assignment of a prime Toronto property he bought with a $1 deposit and using under 24 hours of his time, for a whopping $130,000 fee.

When he stops thinking about real estate Alex loves spending his time with his wife and dog, as well as skateboarding, playing videogames, board games, reading, thinking, writing, travel, watching documentaries, enjoying great beer & food, and just about all other things fun. His ultimate goals are to be a professional bum living off of passive income from multifamily properties, to help other investors succeed and to raise a family and grow old with his wife.

Book Mentioned:
Personality Plus by Florence Littauer
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Get in touch with Alex:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alex.kouramanis
Facebook Blog: https://www.facebook.com/AlexWillMakeKnown/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwbo2biWi3YUQbhCyD5PLw
Udemy:https://www.udemy.com/user/alex-kouramanis/

Millennial Approach to Real Estate Investing Success With Limited Funds or Experience

Canadian Real Estate Wealth magazine, coach, Entrepreneurial Mindset, full-time investor, international professional athlete, Investing, mentor, Millennial, Millennial Approach, multi-family properties, Podcast, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Investor, REITE Club, Sarah Eder, Sarah Eder Investments, standard deal, Take Back Mortgage

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Sarah Eder went from a former international professional athlete to raising over 7-figures in real estate investments in a little over 3 years. As the owner of Sarah Eder Investments, she approaches the real estate investing world differently than most, with an innovative approach and the mind of a savvy, socially connected millennial.  

Guest: Real Estate Investor, Sarah Eder

In this episode learn about: 
– Understanding a Vendor Take Back Mortgage
– What to do when you can’t find a deal.
– Leveraging social media to gain more than visibility.
– Structuring for a standard deal.
– Tips for short and long-term goals.

Sarah Eder went from a former international professional athlete to raising over 7-figures in real estate investments in a little over 3 years. As the owner of Sarah Eder Investments, she approaches the real estate investing world differently than most, with an innovative approach and the mind of a savvy, socially connected millennial.  

Her firm focuses on flips, multi-family properties, and more lately, larger-scale developments and commercial conversions. She specializes in
multi-family properties and has funded an entire portfolio using none of her own money. 

Now a full-time investor, coach, and mentor, Sarah is constantly developing innovative ways to raise capital, as well as mentoring others on how to successfully use joint ventures. She has been on multiple stages speaking about these topics and her success has been recently featured in Canadian Real Estate Wealth magazine. 

Get in touch with Sarah:
Website: www.saraheder.com

Email: sarah@saraheder.com

Social media tags: @sarahederinvest

Benefits of Expanding Your Portfolio Into Short Term Vacation Rentals

Advertising platforms, AM 570 news, Canadian Real Estate Wealth magazine, cottage vacation rental, customer service, Dean Curtis, Investing, Podcast, Portfolio, potential investments, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Investor, repeat rentals, Serenity Vacation Rentals, short term vacation rentals, The REITE Club, Vacation Rental Success, Vacation Rentals, Your Money Matters

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With over 20 years of investing experience in Ontario, Dean Curtis has chosen over the last 6 years to specialize in the growing investment area of short term vacation rentals. 

Guest: Real Estate Investor, Dean Curtis

In this episode learn about: 
– Looking at the numbers and financials and what else to consider when considering potential investments.
– Key amenities to look for that command higher rentals.
– Challenges you can encounter and how to avoid them.
– Advertising platforms and alternative ways to advertise. 
– The differences in using a property manager for vacation rentals.
– How technology is going to change the market in the future.

With over 20 years of investing experience in Ontario, Dean Curtis has chosen over the last 6 years to specialize in the growing investment area of short term vacation rentals.

Through his management company Serenity Vacation Rentals he has grown his own personal investment portfolio and also manages an inventory of cottage vacation rental properties.

A sought after media source, Dean has been featured in Canadian Real Estate Wealth magazine, and on AM 570 news “Your Money Matters” and the “Vacation Rental Success” podcast.

Dean also coaches investors from start to finish with purchasing the perfect cottage vacation rental, maximizing income potential, furnishing the property appropriately and providing customer service that ensures repeat rentals.

Get it touch with Dean:
Dean can be reached through his website at www.serenityvacationrentals.ca