Category Archives: Podcast Guest

Building Trust Through Genuine Long Term Relationships in Real Estate Investing



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



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



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 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 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 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/
YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwbo2biWi3YUQbhCyD5PLw
Udemy:https://www.udemy.com/user/alex-kouramanis/