Scott Dillingham ⁽⁴¹⁶⁾

Time to pop the champagne! You paid off your mortgage and met all the terms your lender asked like the responsible homeowner you are. The house is all yours now… right? Not so fast.

Whispers of another recession are causing consumers across North America to brace for a repeat of 2008. Flashbacks to layoffs and foreclosures are making everyone nervous about financial prospects, including the real estate industry.

When it comes to finding your next investment property, one of the factors you’ll likely consider is whether you’d like to buy an old home or a new home. There are pros and cons…

Nothing says summer in Canada like spending time out on the water. While many people like the idea of having their slice of vacation right in the backyard, having a pool is a big…

The most discouraging assumption you could make about real estate investment is that it's only for rich people. Plenty of investors have stories about paying cash for their properties. Many of these same investors…

No one likes getting calls from tenants. In an ideal world, the rent check shows up on time and the tenant takes good care of the property. Of course, we don’t live in an…

Plenty of Canadians enjoy a beautiful day on the boat. But when the fun is over, where are they supposed to store it? Boat slips are a useful alternative to storing the boat in…

On the surface, real estate investing seems simple and straightforward. Property generally appreciates. Once you own an asset, you can rent it out to tenants and residents for a profit. It should be fool-proof,…

Managing rental housing for students is a reliable investment opportunity. Being in a university town means there are thousands of potential new tenants ready to move into your property. However, working with this demographic…

When you own a rental property, your goal is to always have tenants so that you can maximize your investment profits. However, sometimes your property could use a renovation that will make it more…

It’s easy to trick yourself into thinking you’ve found the perfect investment property. It has a spacious, recently-updated bathroom or a great master suite. The kitchen is filled with high-end materials and new appliances.

Converting raw land or a blighted building into a brand-new real estate structure is rarely worth the cost, effort and headache necessary to pull it off. Constructing a new building requires time, effort and…

Chances are, you’re using a bank-backed mortgage to buy your investment property. When it comes time to close your real estate transaction, you’ll face several choices. You’ll likely have to decide what lending products…

If you’re familiar with the wild world of retail real estate, you’ve probably heard mixed things about investing in strip malls. They’re more affordable to purchase than large-scale enclosed malls, urban office spaces or…

Radon is a naturally occurring, odourless, invisible gas posing significant health risks. Radon forms when uranium—a ubiquitous natural element found in soil, rocks and sediment—begins to decay. As the uranium decays, some of its…

Investing in real estate involves a lot of deals. You’re responsible for finding and buying a property. Then, securing financing to purchase the property. From there, it’s about negotiating contracts to make necessary repairs…

People these days are busy! Eating a formal dinner at a large family table is less common than it once was. As a result, traditional dining rooms are falling out of style. Many people…

An economic boom is taking the Prairie Provinces by storm, thanks to the federal government’s recent nationwide legalization of cannabis. For the first time, industrial hemp promises to be one of Canada’s most lucrative…

A capitalization rate—commonly referred to as a cap rate—is one of the most fundamental tools in real estate investment. The cap rate represents the ratio between an asset’s net operating income (NOI) and its…

There are few things more romantic than retiring to a cottage for a warm summer weekend or a special holiday week in the middle of winter. On the surface, cottages may look like lucrative,…

The 2016 census revealed a surprising statistic: the number of Canadians over age 55 rose an astonishing 87 percent between 1996 and 2006. Demographics in Canada are continuing to change as the population ages.

The idea of purchasing a run-down home or building isn’t all that appealing. But, getting it at a fraction of its true value and spending a few months refinishing it—to sell it at a…

These days, short-term rentals are all the rage. Spurred in large part by the popularity of sites like Airbnb and VRBO, an increasing number of real estate investors are converting their residential units into…

Getting ready to rent out a new property? Chances are, you’re going to immediately turn down any prospective tenant unable to demonstrate evidence of stable, reliable income. After all, your primary objective is to…

There’s a laundry list of decisions to make before closing on your first investment. For instance, you’ll have to decide where you want to invest, which type of property you want to acquire, whether…

As an investor, protecting your asset should be one of your top priorities. But far too many investors overlook the easiest aspect of safeguarding their investment against damages: Performing regular inspections of the property.

Do you think you have a palate refined enough to craft a bottle of fine wine? Are you looking for a unique alternative investment opportunity to diversify your real estate portfolio? Want to try…

Real estate investing is a business like any other. If you’re not fully committed to the success of your business and the satisfaction of your customers, your investment endeavour likely won’t do very well.

There are few things more frustrating than inspecting a rental unit following a tenant move-out, only to find the home completely trashed. Some units may have holes punched through doors and walls, while others…

When you invest in real estate, one of the largest expenses you’ll incur—aside from the price of the property itself—is the amount paid in fees and interest to the bank holding your mortgage. As…