Category Archives: TRC

Understanding How to Get Into Commercial Real Estate Investing



Adney Fernandes of A2 Real Estate Investments is a self made multi-millionaire running his own real estate investment firm, who went from investing in condos in Toronto at age of 24 to a portfolio now of 74 properties, buying multi-unit apartment buildings, mixed-use retail plazas, office buildings and more recently buying medical plazas in key cities across Ontario. 

Guest: Adney Fernandes, Real Estate Investor

Adney Fernandes of A2 Real Estate Investments is a self made multi-millionaire running his own real estate investment firm, who went from investing in condos in Toronto at age of 24 to a portfolio now of 74 properties, buying multi-unit apartment buildings, mixed-use retail plazas, office buildings and more recently buying medical plazas in key cities across Ontario. 

Adney has concentrated on learning and implementing his high-income skill sets that have allowed him to raise over $20 million in Joint Venture funds over the last 5 years with most of those funds invested into commercial properties with active investors and partners. He has also coached and consulted several investors, who have successfully learned and implemented his high-income skills sets, and are now multi-millionaires themselves, running their own real estate firms.

As the President of the OnCom Club, an Oakville, Ontario based networking club, Adney is focused on educating, training, networking and growing the portfolios of current and future real estate investors, so that these investors can acquire and manage a vast array of commercial properties such as multi-unit apartment buildings, strip malls, retails plazas, office buildings, medical plazas, storage unit properties, retirement homes, engage in property development and much more. 

In this episode learn about:

– What to look for in a commercial property
– Key Indicators when looking at a commercial property
– The top 3 mistakes that commercial property investors make
– Commercial property financing insights and negotiating
– Advertising rental tips for your commercial properties

To get in touch with Adney: 
Website: 
http://a2realinvestments.com
Email: 
adney@a2realinvestments.com
Phone Number: 
(416) 875 9575


Having Short Term Pessimism for Long Term Optimism



Following a major life shift Cory Froc, who has been in a corporate life throughout his career wanted to have more control over his future. He looked at a number of opportunities including franchising but liked the freedom and flexibility that real estate investing offered him. 

Guest: Cory Froc, Real Estate Investor

Following a major life shift Cory Froc, who has been in a corporate life throughout his career wanted to have more control over his future. He looked at a number of opportunities including franchising but liked the freedom and flexibility that real estate investing offered him. 

In his late 30’s Cory started buying distressed properties in London, fixing them up and refinancing, which he later discovered was called BRRR. Believing transportation as one of the key fundamentals in real estate investing he has spread his portfolio to pre-built condos in Vaughan near a new transport hub. Now, with a couple of joint venture partners, he is looking at properties near to the new GO station in St Catharines. 

He is able to have this multi-location strategy because of a big learning curve, not having the best team in place when he was hit in the recession, having 27 doors going from a vacancy rate of zero to 50% in a short space of time. This resulted in his spending weekends in a sleeping bag in his vacant properties and burning through money with negative cash flow. Fortunately, he was able to get beyond that nightmare. 

With a constant approach of always expecting the end of a real estate cycle, Cory now has built a robust, multi-million dollar Real Estate Investment Portfolio with 9 properties and has been helping his clients for over 13 years. His passion, vision and expertise in Real Estate Investments have helped him work closely with his clients to get closer to their financial and retirement goals. 

When he isn’t finding the next great property for his clients, you’ll find Cory spending time with his family or playing a little hockey. 

In this episode learn about:- Setting up teams in different areas 
– Key factors you need to reconsider
– Insights on certain markets and fundamentals
– Cashflow strategies
– Understanding Joint Venture partnerships 

To get in touch with Cory: 
Website
: coryfroc.com
Email: cory@coryfroc.com
Instagram: @coryfrocinvestments


Having Real Estate Investing Fund Your Passions and Lifestyle



Dana Snow is the founder and head of Punk Rock Realty Inc. named after her passion for punk rock music. As a child, she was fortunate to observe and assist her parents in the design, construction and sale of a number of their homes. Inspired by the unlimited potential of real estate, she purchased her first property in her early twenties and has owned countless properties since, employing a wide variety of real estate investment strategies to support her school, art, music, and travel interests.

Guest: Dana Snow, Real Estate Investor, Realtor and Artist

Dana Snow is the founder and head of Punk Rock Realty, Inc. named after her passion for punk rock music. As a child, she was fortunate to observe and assist her parents in the design, construction and sale of a number of their homes. Inspired by the unlimited potential of real estate, she purchased her first property in her early twenties and has owned countless properties since, employing a wide variety of real estate investment strategies to support her school, art, music, and travel interests. 

If you want to know what it’s like to travel North America in an orange 1972 Volkswagen van with friends on a student budget, just ask her. She was a road trip master before there was GPS. Being a creative and expert problem solver helped her then and it still one of her best assets now that the van is gone and she’s moved to the lake.

Fast-forward to today, she has lived, renovated, and transacted in the majority of real estate markets throughout the G.T.A., the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Southern and Central Ontario – from Buffalo, Brantford, Hamilton, and Toronto, to Oshawa / Durham Region, and Peterborough / Kawartha Lakes. She is an active realtor in all of these markets, and able to provide you with the guidance you need to make informed decisions about your future home or investment property.

Her love of learning and trying new things is demonstrated in her extensive education. She holds: a Master’s Degree in the History of Art from the University of Toronto; an Associate’s Degree in Fine Arts / Photography from the Ontario College of Art & Design; Honour’s Bachelor’s Degrees in Philosophy and Contemporary Studies, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Wilfrid Laurier University; and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Web Design, Development & Maintenance from Humber College. Aside from her scholastic career, she also has over 20 years experience working in the marketing and communications field in various roles including writer, researcher, web developer, graphic designer, and Director of Marketing and Communications.

Some of her favourite bands and musicians include Ripcordz, BFGs, Rancid, Her downtime is spent attending concerts, boating, motorcycling, and hanging out with her wife Joanne and their many pets.

In this episode learn about:
– Dana’s experience and insights into certain markets
– Tips for new investors and first-time buyers in what to look for

To get in touch with Dana: 
Website: 
www.punkrockrealty.ca
Email: dana@punkrockrealty.ca
Phone:  1-888-999-9731 EXT: 101


Success as a Newbie Real Estate Investor and Lessons Learned



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/
Facebookwww.facebook.com/ontariopropertyfreedom/
Instagram:www.instagram.com/ontariopropertyfreedom/


Successfully Leaving Secure Employment by Investing in Yourself



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



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 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