Real Talk With Gary - Real Estate Investing

#160: Lauren Cohen - Investing In the U.S. for Freedom & Sunshine   On this episode Gary chats with Florida-based expert cross-border investor, realtor and lawyer Lauren Cohen. Originally from Thornhill, Lauren moved to the US after her husband was barred from Canada, forcing her to make a life and career-altering decision to emigrate to the US. She now helps setup deals all over the United States, and currently is investing heavily in the Orlando area. She truly has a border-free business, so tune in and learn how YOU can have a borderless investment business. It’s a brisk 30 minute podcast PACKED with practical advice you need if you are curious about cross-border investing!   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:   How the border issue was a blessing in disguise for her career Why a LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) might NOT be the way to avoid Canadian taxes Where people are investing in the U.S. and why The best places as of now to invest Why Florida is booming a popular investment destination How much does it cost

#159: Rob Chopra - A Real Story About Real Estate Investing On this episode Gary chats with Rob Chopra, an investor he met through social media, whose content was so engaging, Gary reached out to interview him. Rob has done big things and made a few mistakes, and it's time to have him on the show to share all those mistakes, to help other investors avoid them! WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: What was the moment he decided to get into real estate Why Rich Dad Poor Dad training was pivotal to get him started, but why he struggled after with no mentor Will he ever quit his full time job His first property was a disaster, how he recovered and what he learned What mistakes did he make when flipping Why he feels it's his mission to share his mistake to help others The importance of branding The role of coaching and finding the right coach for YOU Private lending - supercharge your portfolio, IF you do it the RIGHT WAY What are promissory notes and how do they work The business he's building in Belize, buying land and buildings

#158: Christopher Hummell & Quinton Cordick - Straight From The Streets Market Update On this episode Gary chats with friends and fellow Smart Home Choice real estate investment realtors, Christopher Hummell and Quinton Cordick, with a look back at last year's market and what the current conditions are now. Chris & Quinton are frequently on the street, the laptop is open and it's real-time data of what they are seeing with clients. They also discuss immigration, rents, inventory and so much more in this critical market update. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Year over year updates on the real estate market performance, last year and predictions Immigration levels pre-covid and now What's going on with inventory, and will it change Interest rates - static or rate hikes - how much and when Inflation - a newbies guide to what it is and how it affects monetary policy Renovation costs - what are people paying to get work done these days Rents - what type of rents are investors seeing in Peterborough for various unit t

#156: Dr. Sandra Miranda - Feeling Like You Again On this episode Gary chats with friend and Ajax-based personal naturopathic doctor, Sandra Miranda. Dr. Miranda has been helping people for over 20 years, including Gary, with many natural remedies as a natural alternative.  Gary is not against modern medicine, but when someone like Dr. Miranda can help you with natural methods, why not? This is a deep dive into the body and how to align it for optimum performance! Another informative and enlightening do-not-miss-it podcast! WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:   The services Dr. Miranda offers How to be nutritionally and hormonally balanced How she helped Gary *without* medication What does it mean to "detox" The role of the immune system Testing for food sensitivity What live blood cells and how Dr. Miranda uses them What is "leaky gut" Yeast overgrowth and how you know if it's happening in your body The difference between and alkaline and acidic body The benefits of probiotics What happens to your body when cells die Multivi

#155: Dr. Carlos Yu - Master Your Mind, Master Your Life   On this episode Gary chats with good friend and personal physician, Dr. Carlos Yu. Gary and Dr. Yu both got very vulnerable, opening up to each other, and while this conversation covered many topics, it transcended the traditional doctor/patient interaction. Gary had a few 'aha' moments and some epiphanies and hopes to help others with this new information. Dr. Yu just got back from a lengthy hiatus, and we learn why and what he learned during it, including the Wim Hof cold water therapy. He specializes in Auricular acupuncture and is looking for participants to help in a study, please contact Gary to be part of it. Take notes and listen twice to this one! WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why Dr. Yu took an extended hiatus, and what he learned from it The good and the bad of taking an extended hiatus, and how he overcame the bad Just why he plunged repeatedly into Lake Ontario (cold water Wim Hof Method therapy), to help focus on the moment What does being PRESENT

#154: Frank Taylor & Jared Shier - War, Inflation & Interest Rates   On this episode Gary chats with good friend, fellow investor and podcaster Frank Taylor, CEO of Frank Taylor Consulting, and Jared Shier, who has a degree in global economics and has been an investor since the age of 13! In this unfiltered podcast Gary, Frank and Jared discuss inflation, how war impacts it, what is the CPI, and just what's happening with interest rates. If you are an investor during these uncertain times, you must listen to this podcast to help you understand how the market might play out, and if it doesn't, how you can have the knowledge to make crucial financial decisions to protect your assets.  WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: What are the REAL numbers of inflation? It's not what you see on the news What is the CPI (consumer price index) What is quantitative easing and how it's destroying the dollar Where interest rates are going What's happening overseas with Russia and Ukraine and how it impacts us here What the sanctions m

#153: Allison McMurter-Hughes - The Hardest Conversation To Have  On this episode Gary chats with friend and lawyer Allison McMurter-Hughes about a topic a LOT of people want to avoid - estate planning. Gary & co-host Christopher Hummel have a deep and important discussion about wills, trusts, probates and estate planning in general. If you have ANY assets, especially real estate assets you SHOULD/MUST create a will to ensure a fairly painless and less difficult transfer of assets once you pass. Whether you want your assets sold and the profits dispersed when you pass, or you are willing/transferring them to someone else, it’s crucial to determine and document this wish BEFORE you pass. This is a must listen episode. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why you NEED a will and what happens if you don’t have one The difference between executor and power of attorney How personal assets are treated vs. a corporation What happens to a Joint Venture should one partner pass away Should you put your properties in a joint tenancy

#152: Rachel & Neil - Redefining Rent To Own Investing On this episode Gary chats with long-time friends and Rent To Own investors, Rachel & Neil Oliver from Clover Properties. They began their real estate investing journey in 2009, and so far have done over 600, yes SIX HUNDRED deals, with no signs of slowing down! They chat about their journey, what Rent To Own is and why it works for them (the positives) and they also discuss the downside of RTO (the negatives). Never considered adding RTO to your portfolio, or dismissed it? This podcast *just* might change your mind! WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: What is Rent To Own and how it works (deep dive into RTO) Why it's a very successful strategy How Rachel and Neil started with Real Estate Investing How they have done over 600 deals so far How do they handle down payments from their tenant/buyers What are they using for appreciation numbers  What the success rate for Rent To Owns is The difficult conversations they are having with the tenant/buyers What areas are

#151: Darren Cabral - How To Move To The USA w/ cohost Sarah Larbi On this episode Gary shares the hosting seat with Sarah Larbi, as they interview investor and entrepreneur Darren Cabral. Darren has spent some times since the pandemic researching the business climate in the US, and deciding if he wants to move there for business and personal reasons. Darren, Sarah and Gary discuss various Visa and non visa ways of living and working in the US, and how to find the right professionals to help you decide if a move Stateside is right for you and your family. Subscribe and listen to find out HOW! WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: The tax implications of moving and doing business in the US, with its unique tax structure. How to finance real estate deals in the States FROM Canada Do you lose your OHIP coverage? How long can you stay there with an E1 or E2 Visa? Does your credit history follow you from Canada? If you bring your family, does your Visa cover them, or do they need to find work? If you have relatives there, is the pr

#150: Kory MacKinnon - Why Everyone Needs A Coach On this episode Gary chats with friend, fellow coach and investor Kory MacKinnon. Kory is a successful investor with many multi unit properties in his portfolio, and has created a successful coaching business. Kory has brought on additional coaches in his circle to assist with coaching new and existing clients. Gary and Kory focus their discussion on the benefits of coaching, but also on how to find the right market, how to scale your real estate investment business, the value of good debt, and what the 3 S’s are! Tune in for this knowledge-packed episode. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why coaching will help you scale your business faster?  How to set up systems to make your business flow better and SCALE? The benefits of coaching vs. a DIY approach  The importance of CLARITY  How much debt is TOO MUCH?  Why branding is so important  How and when to hire others (virtual assistants) to allow you to focus on finding deals  The mindset shift from your home being bad debt

#149: Arun Thakur - Wholesaling & Multi-Family Investing On this episode Gary chats with Arun Thakur, owner of Shanaya Properties, and BUSY investor. They conversed about wholesaling, multi-family investing, flips, and more. Arun's first property was a 5 Plex in Welland (Impressive! Who does that for their first investment property?), and he's getting crazy cash flow. They also discussed investing in other provinces, and the power of wholesaling. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How his moved from India in 2008, inspired him to start his real estate investment journey in Canada How to find the right coach Why coaching alone doesn't bring success Why he chose a 5 plex for his 1st investment property  What kind of returns Arun is getting on the 5 plex The power of wholesaling, and how he structured his commissions How others are still making great returns on assignments/wholesaling  His experience flipping 2 properties How he purchased an 8 plex in Saskatchewan Why he's comfortable investing in other provinces, and h

#148: Wilson & Jessica: How To Invest In Multiple Provinces On this episode Gary chats with Wilson and Jessica Pabon, owners of White North (property) Management, who have only been real estate investors for ONE YEAR, but what they've achieved in a year is truly remarkable! They looked outside the GTA, and bought their first property in London. Their second was more difficult so they expanded their search area to - EDMONTON! They fell in love with the market and are doing very well there. This podcast will give you a different perspective to start YOUR real estate investment journey, and help you look outside your local market for deals. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why debt is a ‘bad thing’ at first glance, but can do so much good Their journey from Colombia to Canada Why running the numbers is crucial to making the right deal Why they managed to create the perfect BRRRR Why the fundamentals of investing are so important Why you HAVE to look outside of where you live to find deals When, How, Where and Why to inve

#147: Michael Hopkins: On A Path To Breaking Up With His 9-5 Job On this episode Gary chats with Michael Hopkins, the owner of ELMM Properties. He’s working on his second property at the moment, and has been dealing with floods and asbestos removal, not what any investor wants deal with, but he’s powering through it chasing the perfect BRRRR. Gary and co-host Quinton Cordick chat with Michael about how he got into Real Estate investing and why he chose it; his fears before he started; why he loves his day job but is transitioning into being a full time investor, even with the challenges of his second property, and why anyone can do this too! WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: HIs journey to real estate investing while holding a full time job Why he LOVES what he does, but doesn’t like going into an office for 9-5 How his mindset has shifted and overcame his fears Who coaching accelerated his learning and effectiveness The perfect BRRRR How and why you should educated yourself on real estate Why he didn’t know anything abou

#146: Jean Paul: The Similarities Between Comedy & Real Estate Investing On this episode Gary chats with Canadian comedian Jean Paul! He’s played the biggest stages, TV and Just For Laughs, and drops by Gary’s studio for a no-holds-barred convo! Jean Paul shares his upbringing, how stage fright almost derailed his career, bombing and recovering, failures in life, how he moved into RE, what his goals are, the power of community, crypto currency, lack of financial literacy, don’t fear failure, face your fears, the importance of being yourself. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: How his childhood influenced his future How stage fright almost derailed his career How bombing onstage made him stronger and how he recovered Some of his life failures What sparked his accidental interest in Real Estate Investing The value of home equity and how he and his wife put it to use The power of community, and lifting others up His interest in crypto currency Why he feels there is a lack of financial literacy Why you should FACE your fea

#145: Harry James - Live Real Be Real On this episode Gary chats with Harry James, a serial entrepreneur for over 37 years! Restaurants, real estate investing both commercial and residential, financial advisor, real estate development, have led to great successes and great failures, learning along the way. These experiences lead to bouts of anxiety and Harry shares how he was able to overcome this and how it led to living an authentic life designed by intention. This ACTION-PACKED podcast is not to be missed! WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: The success from total mindset makeover Just lock up the deal - take action Take risks, lean in Get coaching You need to determine what your dreams are, what your goals are Live an authentic life Why the banking system is rigged Don’t chase the money, enjoy family and friends Life is not a dress rehearsal Everybody dies, but not everybody lives You don’t need to see the whole path, just the next few steps Real estate is not easy - some people try to say it is It must be a business Is

#144: Joey Ragona (From The Archives) - How To Break The Freedom Barrier On this never-heard-before show from the archives, Gary chats with one of his First mentors, Joey Ragona. On our show this month I had the opportunity to discuss an important topic with a great friend of mine, Joey Ragona. Joey has done wonders for my business and family life. How? He coached Darlene and I for over 2 years and helped us implement strategies, processes and a taught us a proven methodical way of tackling issues and how to efficiently run a fulltime real estate investment company. Tune in to hear Gary back in the day! WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: Should you make sacrifices to get to the lifestyle you want? What’s the best way to change your bad habits? Should you hire a coach or mentor to hold you accountable? How long should you stay with your mentor/coach? Is Real Estate investing your true passion? How much money do you need to make to be truly happy? What are the 2 stages of learning? Why is failure such an important part of lea

#143: Adrian Ede - How To Live An Abundant Life On this week’s show Gary chats with good friend, real estate investor and fellow Our Neighbourhood Realty real estate agent, Adrian Ede. They talked about how Adrian left his steady job, how he always had an interest in investing, his feelings and fear about debt, but that GOOD debt is GREAT, mindset and goal setting and MUCH more in this not-to-be-missed podcast! WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: How mindset and learning good habits from successful people can make YOU a success How Adrian is building out his business now that he wants to scale The HUGE difference between GOOD debt and BAD debt Wy taking bold steps can lead to MASSIVE success How he left his 9-5 and why he was scared sh*tless back in 2007 How to stay focused on your goals How he succeeds with the BRRRR strategy Why rent to own was part of his strategy What his fears were early on How life is like now that he’s self employed And MORE!   Adrian’s Bio Adrian Ede is a Realtor with Our Neighbourhood Realty who fo

#142: Dave Dubeau - The Art of Building a Business Around Real Estate Investing On this week’s show Gary chats with good friend and seasoned investor and early mentor, Dave Dubeau. They had a wide ranging discussion on raising capital, leaving your 9-5, building a great team, paying experts to do something for you rather than learn it, and MUCH more great advice. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: How you transition from bootstrapping everything to using others How he raises capital for projects How the book Who, Not How is changing his life as an entrepreneur Why investors and solo-preneurs need a great team behind them Why it’s better to pay an expert to do something, rather than do it yourself If you have time and no money, do it Why you still can work IN your business and ON your business How you leave your full time gig The 8 different profit centres of real estate How to find a guru/mentor in today’s market Why Dave doesn’t consider himself a ‘coach’ And MORE! Dave’s Bio Dave Dubeau is a Real Estate Entrepreneur, Bes

#141: Ishan & Side Khobare - From New Immigrants to Successful Real Estate Entrepreneurs On this week’s show Gary chats with multi-discipline real estate investors, Sidd & Ishan Khobare. The brothers started with house hacking, have invested in student housing, air b&b, single family, multi-family and also dabbled in wholesaling. They are now firmly multi-family for the reasons you’ll discover in this podcast. Their wealthy father encouraged them to do anything in life, and they took his advice and in the last 1.5 years are rapidly expanding their portfolio while also holding down full time jobs as software professionals, after asking the question, “Is that all there is?” WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: How they had a privileged upbringing in India, then lost it all They were sent to Canada to receive higher education Why they feel Canada is the land of opportunity, although their dad suggested the USA After graduating and getting great jobs, they asked ‘Is that all there is?’ How they’ve financed many deals

#140: Allan Bell - How To Print Money By Using A Barn On this week’s show Gary chats with investor, mortgage agent and private lender, Allan Bell. They took a deep dive in Allan’s real estate investing journey, starting with his first investment which turned bad, but was rescued by some creative thinking. Allan is currently converting a barn into a multi family residence, and he also shares some of his successes as a “B” lender. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: What is Allan’s Why What happened with his first investment, and  why it didn’t discourage him How his next major project is a barn conversion - converting it to a multi family home How B Lenders can help you get a property that A lenders won’t help with Why low interest rates aren’t always the best offer How B lenders’ rates compare with credit cards BILL 108 and how it impacts investors, especially multifamily investors Why no regrets are good How to get through a really bad day and push forward through tough times. And MORE! Allan’s Bio Almost 15 years in Finan