Investing basics for the new investor.
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 or…
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 now…
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, ideal…
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. There…
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 tremendous…
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 short-term…
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 make…
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. There…
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. That’s…
If you’re preparing to buy an investment property, you’ve probably already performed due diligence—examined the property in detail, checked out records and negotiated the cost of any repairs into your final purchase price. Unfortunately, many…
Many people confuse the terms “landlord” and “real estate investor.” These titles denote two very different approaches to asset management. Owning property doesn’t make you one or the other—how you manage your property is what…
Just when you think you’ve found the perfect asset, the fear sets in. Are you prepared to spend so much money on an acquisition? What if the market isn’t as favourable as you thought? Is…
If you’re new to the real estate investing game, you may think your sole objective is to find properties with the biggest possible rates of return. Unfortunately, making investment decisions driven exclusively by financial factors…
Furnishing and decorating your rental apartment can add significant value to your unit, enabling more lucrative lease structures. Case-in-point: Executive Rentals. Furnished executive rentals are often rented out on one or three-month leases, and are…
Across Canada, rental rates are beginning to slow down and flatten out following years of substantial growth. As a real estate investor, you may be wondering what steps you can take to continue increasing your…
Recovering rental payments is a perennial struggle for landlords. No matter how stringent your screening process is, you’re still likely to end up with at least one tenant who struggles to pay their rent on…
No matter how much experience you have as a landlord, you will always have to confront the challenges that come with property management. These challenges can be even more significant if you own a property…
Real estate investing isn’t as simple as purchasing a property and renting it out. There are a lot of regulations, considerations and special designations you have to consider when you’re looking for homes to purchase.
The only constant we can expect from the market is changing. Real estate markets go through ups, downs and fluctuations over time based on supply and demand nobody can control. One of the most important…
Maybe you think you’ve encountered the perfect piece of real estate. It’s in a great location, it meets your size requirements and it's within your budget. Once you’re ready to close on the deal, however,…
Any real estate investor knows a good home inspector is truly worth their weight in gold. They understand homes the way a craftsman does, and can easily translate that knowledge into real dollars and cents,…
Curb appeal is a powerful factor in the market value of a home. In the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), homes tucked away in an alleyway, often sell for as much as $100,000 less than a…
Real estate investment is a great side hustle. Owning vacation property is the ideal way to ease into real estate investing. You can immediately start bringing in additional cash flow while keeping your day job.
There’s no need to get caught up in analysis paralysis when trying to buy an investment property. Finding and buying good properties is a fairly objective business. There are accepted ways of deciding what’s a…
How much profit should you be making from an investment property? It’s a question every real estate investor has asked themselves at some point in time. The answer depends on your investment situation. There are…
For many investors, real estate investment opportunities seem out of reach due to a lack of financing, experience or market expertise. The good news is that you can still invest in real estate with the…
Anyone who has tried real estate investing and loved it knows how tempting it can be to say goodbye to their day job and transition into full-time investing. While there are plenty of investors who…
Even the savviest real estate investors can fall victim to various real estate scams. Con artists try to scam investors because the real estate market is so fast-paced. Many investors are more concerned with operating…
A joint venture (JV) partner can open the door to real estate opportunities that you would never be able to take advantage of on your own. Working with a partner gives you the benefit of…
It’s happened to nearly every real estate investor: You’ve found a property that seems almost too good to be true. The exterior is attractive, the price is right, it’s in a desirable neighbourhood and the…