Shows
Guide 2 the GrindG2G - The Secret to Investing Like a Fund Manager w/ Kyle MoweryThe hardest thing about being an investor is learning. For the average Joe venturing into the world of investing to say that it’s overwhelming is a huge understatement. I know for myself I’ve been in the financial world for over a decade, and I still learn about new strategies and tactics all the time. It’s one of the reasons I’m so grateful we have Guide 2 the Grind. We get to meet so many brilliant professionals.As we wrap up 2023, and the 3rd season of doing...2023-12-3149 minGuide 2 the GrindG2G How Can Homebuyers Get a Leg Up in This Market?One of the biggest problems we’re seeing right now is that buyers just don’t qualify for enough money to buy the homes they want. Banks have really tightened their lending restrictions, and the stress test isn’t giving them enough buying power.But is the market really as bad as everyone thinks?Truly, I don’t know. Here’s what I do know… Everyone hates change, and nobody is happy with the way it is. 2023-10-1226 minGuide 2 the GrindG2G - The Do's & Don'ts of Private FinancingWith all the changes in the market lately there’s been a surge of folks seeking private financing. The trouble with that is, the private lending space is way more vast and diverse than most people realize.There’s everything from highly regulated mortgage investment entities, lawyers, and somebody’s Uncle Joe who all seem to be in the arena. But they are all VERY different. On this episode of “Guide 2 the Grind”, Jonathan and I have an in depth conver...2023-03-061h 01Guide 2 the GrindG2G - Trailer Parks and Tenants w/ Jonathan WeaverMy favourite thing about the real estate world is the mavericks. The outliers that do what others either don’t know about, or are unwilling to do. Today’s guest is the hallmark of such investors. I met Jonathan a little over ten years ago. Even though we didn’t do business together right away, he continued to weave in and out of my life over the next decade. (which is appropriate given that his last name is Weaver) Fast forward a few years and I ended up working with Jonathan at a mortgage brokerage. The conc...2022-10-1258 minGuide 2 the GrindAre We Totally Screwed?Times are getting a wee bit crazy. Inflation is stupid, gas prices are outta hand, and interest rates are on the rise. If you listen to the news… the sky is falling. Are we in a time of flux? Yes. Is it the end of the world? Of course not. No matter what the financial climate, there’s always going to be opportunity when there’s change. Yes there’s a whole lot of people that are going to be behind the financial 8-ball in the next little bit, bu...2022-06-2436 minGuide 2 the GrindGratitude is Everything!I believe gratitude is one of the most powerful mental states that humans can achieve. It’s only when we take time to truly appreciate where we are in this moment, and the journey we’ve taken to get here, that we understand how much we’re capable of. So from both Jonathan and myself, I want to say THANK YOU. When we started producing content (Real Investment Property Income podcast), we really did it with the intention of having fun, and providing as much val...2022-05-1542 minGuide 2 the GrindHow Do You Raise Investor Money? w/ Marcin DrozdzHave you ever thought about raising investor capital? This typically follows one of those “good problem” moments. You know the kind where a unique opportunity pops up, you don’t have enough capital to do it on your own, and it’s time to level up your investing career? We've had some really great guests on the show over the past year and a half. We’ve spoken with hedge fund managers, developers, Realtors, all different kinds of investors, and many of them have had watershed moments in their careers where they were forced to level up and...2022-05-081h 01Guide 2 the GrindGetting StartedIt’s all well and good to learn everything you can about investing, but what are the two most important things a person needs to learn?Number one is easy… don’t lose money.Number two is harder… get started. Today on the “Real Investment Property Income” podcast, Geoff and I are talking about some of our experiences when we first started investing, and the key takeaways he garnered. It’s funny, we don’...2022-03-3146 minGuide 2 the GrindRV Parks to Crypto? w/ Zach MorrowWell… this conversation took a huge turn from where we started out. Zach Morrow is the VP of Investor Relations for Boron Capital, and a veteran of the Marine Presidential Security Force. (Side note… I love that I get to meet people like this all the time!) Boron is a real estate hedge fund down in Lubbock, Texas. That’s where the conversation began, totally normal, talking about their investing strategies, and how they assess their properties, and understanding how they acquire both the business and the property. That’s when the conversat...2022-03-2451 minGuide 2 the GrindStarting Over Pt. 2Here’s the second part to last week’s episode on Starting Over. www.guidetothegrind.com2022-03-0649 minGuide 2 the GrindStarting Over Pt. 1Have you ever had to start over?I know I have. Life is nothing if not unpredictable, and the financial, but more importantly, the emotional impact of a reset can be crippling. So how do you deal with it?Today on the “Real Investment Property Income” podcast, Geoff and I share some of our personal experiences with starting over, and the strategies we've used to get through it. Whether it’s the closure of a bus...2022-02-2427 minGuide 2 the GrindCouples and CreditWith Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the romantic in me can’t help but have one thing on my mind… …credit That’s right, not flowers, or chocolates, not dinners, or a night by the fire, but good ol’ fashioned credit. I can already hear the comments popping up, “that’s not very romantic”, or “boy I’m glad that’s not my man”, but hear me out. While romantic evenings, and intimate moments with your significant other are super important to keep the home fires burning, they’re only temporary. And what’s worse...2022-02-1038 minGuide 2 the GrindKnowing the True Cost - The SequelWell… we made it. We’re celebrating our one year anniversary……a little late. But better late than never. Anyhow, we decided to revisit our most popular episode, and also the very first one we ever did, “Knowing the True Cost”. I’m sure there’s some things we missed, and of course there’s a million different variables that affect the bottom line, but we did our best to cover all the costs associated with all types of lenders...2022-02-0448 minGuide 2 the GrindHow do you "make your money on the buy"? w/ David HirschToday on the “Investment Property Income” podcast, we have one of our closest friends and business associates, David Hirsch, joining us. David made the shift from Realtor to Real Estate Investor, and now owns four multi-family rental buildings in Long Beach, California. His “Value Add” strategy is earning him some very comfortable returns, and he’s now in a position to re-finance and take equity out of the existing properties to purchase more properties. Not only is he a savvy investor, but he’s also a great guy to hang out with. ...2022-01-2846 minGuide 2 the GrindEver Been Stuck in "Analysis Paralysis"? w/ Bailey KramerIt’s one of my favourite things in the world to see real estate investors finally take the leap from student to practitioner. When they finally take that step and buy their first investment property, it’s truly something special to watch all of their fears go away. It’s not that they don’t have things that concern them, but it changes. The primary fear that causes people to hesitate is “What if I lose all my money?”.But the first thing that happens to new investors is their mindset shifts from “What if I lose all my money?”...2022-01-1852 minGuide 2 the GrindHow Do We Get Through This?As we work our way into the start of the year, something that’s on a lot of people’s minds is, “What the hell is going on with the economy?”Canada’s inflation rate has hit an 18 year high at 4.7%, and it's almost double that for our neighbours to the south. Housing prices are skyrocketing, food has jumped massively in price, supply chains are stressed, if not breaking down entirely… what does it all mean to me?Well, this is a bit of a touchy subjec...2022-01-1332 minGuide 2 the GrindMindset: Goal Setting Sucks!I hope you had a great holiday season!This time of year, as we all know, everyone is talking about setting goals, and making resolutions. I’ve already accomplished one of my goals for the year. My goal was to go to the gym as much as possible… since all of the gyms are closed down again in my province… I got to go once, goal achieved!I say that as a joke, and it’s also how a lot of people ap...2022-01-0547 minGuide 2 the GrindMindset: How to LoseThere’s all sorts of so-called “gurus” out there that talk about how to keep a positive mindset, but very few talk about what happens when you lose. If you play the achievement game long enough, you’re bound to lose at some point, so how do you deal with it? That’s exactly what we’re talking about on this episode of the “Investment Property Income” podcast. Geoff and I are sharing some of the strategies we’ve used to overcome losses, not only financially, but psychologically as well. There’s a lot of useful conte...2021-12-2144 minGuide 2 the GrindNew Strategies for First Time Home BuyersBy now it’s no secret the darn near every media outlet that talks about first time buyers has nothing but the most dire of news to report. Every time you tune into something related to first time homebuyers, all you hear about is how hard it is, or how you’ll have to save for decades to be able to get into the market. What none of them are talking about however is how is it possible now?You see the media has a vested interest in ge...2021-12-1422 minGuide 2 the GrindEnough With the Doom and Gloom Already.I don’t know if you’ve been watching what’s happening in real estate news lately, but if you haven’t…. don’t.If you have, ask yourself this… which headline is gonna get more clicks, “Everything is Just Fine.” or “The Bubble is Gonna Burst!?”.It seems that every time I search for real estate news, because I like to stay informed on my industry, inevitably there is always a headline somewhere in the search, or on the page I pull up, saying something about the bubble is gonna bu...2021-12-0838 minGuide 2 the GrindHow Big is Your Dream? w/ Jacob VandersliceHow far can you go as a real estate investor?Is there a ceiling on what you can achieve?In short, the only limitations on our personal, and financial growth, are the ones we have in our own minds. That’s why it’s so important to always be seeking out new ideas, and learning from as many sources as possible. People and ideas open your mind to new possibilities. Being...2021-11-3050 minGuide 2 the GrindAre You Ready to Make the Leap? w/ Chris LarsenOne of the biggest challenges I see investors face is the funding ceiling here in Canada. This usually happens when you have 4 - 6 single family homes as rental properties, and the bank no longer looks at the financing the same. The shortest, and simplest way around this is making the leap to multi-family residential properties. This can seem like a giant leap though. Thankfully, I can say with absolute certainty that it’s not nearly as big of a stretch as you might think. In fact, it’s easier to get a multi-family propert...2021-11-2423 minGuide 2 the GrindThe Disappointment of Achievement w/Chris LarsenHave you ever set a massive goal, achieved it, and then realized it wasn't what you thought it would be?Astronauts, Olympic Athletes, and business owners alike know the disappointment that can come with the realization of a dream. So what do you do about it?It’s not as simple as just setting bigger goals. You need to have a vision. Not just any vision, but one that’s going to last for the rest of your life. Pr...2021-11-1629 minGuide 2 the GrindWhere to Turn When Challenges Arise w/ Mark StublerOne of the hardest parts of becoming a real estate investor is being on your own, and not knowing what to do when challenges arise. OPE, or Other People’s Experience, is the shortest route through these challenges. At times when things seem the most bleak however, it’s difficult to know where to turn for that experience. More importantly… who to trust. We welcome back to the “Investment Property Income” podcast, Mark Stubler from Joe Home Buyer. Mark shares what i...2021-11-0830 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat is Real Estate Franchising? w. Mark StublerOne of the biggest challenges I’ve seen real estate investors face over the years is being by themselves, and not knowing where to turn when challenges arise in their business. From marketing, buying, selling, negotiation, each part of the business has its own nuances, and requires experience to truly “sharpen the axe”, so to speak. Today on the “Investment Property Income” podcast, our guest, Mark Stubler, talks about his Joe Homebuyer Franchise system. A system that he and his team have created to give real estate...2021-11-0431 minGuide 2 the GrindTO Made the "Bubble List"... AgainWell, it’s that time of year again… the “Bubble List” came out, and Toronto made the number two spot. Is it time to ring the alarm bells?Not likely. Toronto has made this list a whole bunch of times. For well over a decade now the “bubble” has been set to burst. And yet, somehow, it never does. But why? Today on the “Investment Property Income” podcast, we’re talking about ALL of the factors that have kept the Toronto market propped up, and more importantly, what’s g...2021-10-2415 minGuide 2 the GrindBuilding Residual Income, One Bill at a Time - w/ Brent BowersI remember the first time I heard the term “residual Income”. Not only did I have no idea what it meant, I also didn’t think it was possible unless, by some miracle, I recorded a hit song, or wrote the next great novel. Boy was I wrong. Imagine knowing that all of your bills are taken care of every month, whether you go to work or not. Never having to stress if you have enough money. How much of your time do you spend thinking about that stuff right now? Better yet, what woul...2021-10-1828 minGuide 2 the GrindHow Big is Your Fear? w/ Brent BowersWhenever we have a guest on the show, I love to ask them about how they got started. Inevitably the subject of fear comes up.Today’s guest has a whole different take on fear. Brent Bowers served in the Armed Forces as a first Lieutenant and fought on the front lines overseas. First of all, I have the utmost respect for the folks that serve in the military. Second, when Geoff asked Brent which was s...2021-10-1531 minGuide 2 the GrindChoice isn't Always a Good Thing.Investors and homeowners got a new choice in the market this week. Well… sorta.TD announced this week that they’ll be offering their “HELOC” product through the broker channel. I know, I know, exciting right? (insert eye roll here)But this is actually a big step for consumer choice. Not only is it another product available through mortgage brokers, but it signals a shift in the way the banks are looking at mortgage brokers. 2021-10-0722 minGuide 2 the GrindPeople Are the Biggest Variable w/ Adam GIlbertIf you’ve ever renoed, or built a home from the ground up, you know that one of the biggest variables is getting permits and approvals. Though the government bureaucracy can take the personal feel out of the process, at the end of the day, you’re still dealing with people. And in most cases, it’s people who want what’s best for the community they’re working in. Adam Gilbert understands this better than most. By making sure that his projects are not only an aestheticall...2021-10-0333 minGuide 2 the GrindHow do You See Things? w/ Adam GilbertYou know, I’ve met a lot of very successful people over the years, and the number one thing that they all attribute their success to is mindset. Specifically… seeing things the right way.This isn’t so simple as “the glass half full” kind of thinking. It’s far more powerful than that. It’s the ability to see the glass and the water as separate resources. Being creative enough to find different uses for both resources. And most importantly, not letting your emotions c...2021-09-3028 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat's going on??Wow, we’ve certainly had a lot happen in the last week or so!Of course, the federal election was the major news topic, but there was so much more that didn’t make the headlines. So called “disruptor banks” are starting to make their mark on the Canadian lending scene. New tax proposals, lower interest rates, the Bank of Canada clawing back its bond buying, the price of lumber dropping, and the lack of housing supply has a lot of folk's heads spinning. But what does it all me...2021-09-2324 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat a Leap of Faith Can Do w/ Edna KeepHave you ever had a moment in your life that you had to take a leap of faith? You know, one of those moments that if you don’t take it, you’ll always wonder what could have been? I do my best to live my life by the credo, “It’s better to regret something you’ve done, than something you haven’t”. Today’s guest is the very embodiment of that. On this episode of the “Investment Property Income” podcast, we welcome back Edna Keep. We had such a great time learning abo...2021-09-2029 minGuide 2 the GrindRose Coloured Glasses w/ Edna KeepI’m sure you’ve heard the old adage of the glass being half full vs. half empty. What’s the real meaning of that cliche though?In a word… Mindset.In business, and life, the major determining factor in success is mindset. That’s why two people can look at the same situation, and one sees it as a loss, while the other sees it as opportunity. I know there have been a million moments in my career that lookin...2021-09-1627 minGuide 2 the GrindHow to Cashflow Vacant Land w/ Mark PodolskyUp until recently, I thought that the only way to invest in raw land for profit had to do with zoning changes, or land banking. (sitting on it for years until it’s worth a bunch more than you paid for it originally)I’m happy to say… I was wrong.One of the best parts of what we do is talking to interesting people and learning new strategies. I’ve had my eyes open to new ideas a few times, and this is one of the b...2021-09-1335 minGuide 2 the GrindThe Winds of Change are BlowingWith the elections quickly approaching, and campaign promises abounding, what results can we really expect from the changes each party is proposing?Today on the “Investment Property Income” podcast, we take a look at the strategies each of the parties have proposed, and more importantly, the long term effects those changes might bring to Canada’s housing market. www.guidetothegrind.com2021-09-1030 minGuide 2 the GrindNew PromisesIt’s that time again, when Canadians are called to exercise their democratic rights, and vote for the candidate they feel is best suited for the job of leading our country. And of course, with every new election year, comes new election promises. Today on the “Investment Property Income” podcast, we break down the changes to real estate and lending regulations, proposed by all of the parties. More importantly, we look at the long term impacts of each proposal, and what it really means to you. Thi...2021-09-0334 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat's Up With Inflation?We’ve been hearing a lot about it in the news lately, and there’s certainly been a lot of blame going on. But what’s really caused the inflation we’ve been experiencing lately, and how does it affect the price of real estate?We’re talking about this, and more, on today’s episode of the “Investment Property Income” podcast. www.guidetothegrind.com2021-08-3026 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat Difference Would it Make?Recently the NDP leadership announced that they would push for a 30 year amortization period for high ratio mortgages, if elected. Is this a good thing?I’m not sure if you recall, but there used to be 40 year mortgages back before 2008. Post the financial crisis, banks really tightened their lending criteria in an effort to keep Canadians from feeling the full weight of the mortgage industry collapse.. and for the most part, it worked. Just how much will this affect Canadian’s abil...2021-08-2725 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat's Gonna Happen?We’ve heard tons of speculation about the market “correcting”, or even crashing, but what’s the really mean for Canadians?Today on the “Investment Property Income” podcast, we’re talking about the real impact this could have on our housing market. Here’s a sneak peak… it’s not that bad. www.guidetothegrind.com2021-08-2219 minGuide 2 the GrindMaking the LeapI remember falling in love with the game Monopoly when I was a kid. There was just something about collecting the properties and buying houses, that always appealed to me. So much so, that later in life I became a real estate investor, and started buying properties for real. One thing always perplexed me about the game though… how would you make the leap from owning four houses, to putting a hotel on the property?That seemed like a giant step to me. Well… I’m happy to say… it's not. In fact, it...2021-08-2019 minGuide 2 the GrindStraight From The Horse's MouthIf you’ve ever applied for a mortgage, you know that it can be quite an involved process. From income verification, to down payment, to document collection, it can be pretty time consuming. But why?You see, every lender is different, and every borrower is different. Document and qualification requirements can even vary with the same lender, and two different clients. When you add up all the lenders out there, and all of the options they have for borrowers of all shapes and sizes, it can be completely overwhelming. I know I was tota...2021-08-1227 minGuide 2 the GrindThe Enemy WithinToday on the “Investment Property Income” podcast, Geoff and I get into a deep discussion about the mindset required to be a long term investor. Dealing with losses, naysayers, and success, all have their own pitfalls. Learn some of the psychological tricks we’ve used throughout our careers, to overcome the obstacles we’ve encountered. This was a far more in-depth conversation than I originally thought it was going to be. www.guidetothegrind.com2021-08-0830 minGuide 2 the GrindSecret #5 - Borrow Low, Lend HighSo, here we are, the 5th and final secret of wealthy homeowners… Borrow to invest. You see, in the past, most folk’s strategy was to pay off their mortgage and live in their house debt free. That was a great strategy at the time. But times have changed. Today’s ridiculously low mortgage rates have created an opportunity that didn’t exist even a few years ago. We now have the ability to borrow at 1.5 - 2 percent, and lend at 6 or 8, or even higher, depending on your strateg...2021-08-0441 minGuide 2 the GrindSecret #4Continuing with the “Secrets of Wealthy Homeowners” series, today we’re talking about Secret #4, the purchase, plus improvement mortgage. With this little gem of a financing option, it’s totally possible for you to increase the value of your home right from the get go. Of course there’s some stipulations and strategies needed to make it work, and that’s exactly what we’re talking about on today’s episode of the “Investment Property Income” podcast. Jonathanwww.guidetothegrind.com2021-08-0117 minGuide 2 the GrindAm I Actually Getting Ahead?One of the most misunderstood structures for mortgage payments, is the bi-weekly, accelerated, mortgage. Sure it’s super common for people to set up bi-weekly payments. However, a lot of people think they’re paying more down on their mortgage this way, when in fact, all they’ve done is set up a bi-weekly payment. Here’s the difference...A simple bi-weekly payment takes the amount you would owe for the twelve months of the year, and instead of making monthly payments, it’s divided into a bi-weekly amount. This doesn’t pay down any more...2021-07-3016 minGuide 2 the GrindHow To Super Charge Your RSPIf you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you’ll know I’m not a big fan of the RRSP. However, when used correctly, it can actually be a powerful tool to increase your bottom line. Of course there’s a lot of drawbacks to RRSPs, not the least of which being that your money is locked into an account until you’re 65, but today on the “Investment Property Income” podcast, we’re talking about strategies to increase your return, put your money to work for you, and generating a tax return when it really ma...2021-07-2515 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat's Waiting Cost?One of the most common misconceptions among first time home buyers is the belief that it’s better to have a down payment larger than 5%. Most consider paying the mortgage insurance premium too expensive, and they want to save where they can. Perfectly rational thinking… until you do the math. There’s a few different ways you can think about it, but at the end of the day, the numbers truly tell the story. If you add up the appreciation a home can make over a couple of years, you’re losing money by not being...2021-07-2215 minGuide 2 the GrindIs "Blind Bidding" Coming to an End?We’re lucky enough to have expert realtor, and CGA, Trif Chaitas joining us one more time to discuss the proposed changes in the current bidding system for home purchases. Recently there’s been a call for reform in the transparency of the “blind bidding” system in Canada. Though some see this as an answer to help cool the market, Trif offers a different opinion. It’s his belief that the current system offers the only fair solution in home purchase transactions, and he makes some great points. He certainly gave me some things to thi...2021-07-1813 minGuide 2 the GrindHow Much Does My RSP Cost Me?We’re super excited to have Trifon Chaitas joining us once again on the “Investment Property Income” podcast. Today we’re talking about savings accounts that have tax strategies attached to them… that’s right, RSPs and TFSAs. I get it, it doesn’t seem like the most enthralling topic, at least not at first. But as you start to dive into the different ways you can use these accounts to your advantage, it becomes more real, and enticing. The improper...2021-07-1518 minGuide 2 the GrindThe Business of InvestingToday of the “Investment Property Income” podcast, we are super excited to be celebrating our 50th episode. To celebrate, we’ve brought back our first ever guest, Realtor, and Certified General Accountant, Trifon Chaitas. Trif is talking about the business of investing.It’s not easy to know the future of your investing ventures, but some thought, and time, right from the beginning, can save you massive amounts of money on taxes down the road. Learn from the expert...2021-07-1117 minGuide 2 the GrindDo You Know How Much You're Really Paying?You know, one of the things that I come across all the time that still bothers me, even after all these years in the mortgage business, is people not knowing, or understanding what their mortgage actually costs them. Sure, everybody knows what they pay monthly, and most know what their rate is, but how many folks actually know what their total cost for borrowing money really is?The answer... not many. See, here’s the thing, there’s all kinds of costs...2021-07-0831 minGuide 2 the GrindIs the First Time Home Buyer Incentive a Flop?Have you heard of anyone you know using the First Time Home Buyer Incentive program?As a mortgage broker, I can say that it’s pretty rare. Today on the “Investment Property Income” podcast, we talk about the recent report on the First Time Home Buyer Incentive, and what could be done to make it better. www.guidetothegrind.com2021-07-0414 minGuide 2 the GrindAre You Pre-Approved Yet?The number one thing that keeps deals from closing is “borrower documents”. No matter how hard everyone is working on the deal, if the necessary documents aren’t gathered, and passed on to the mortgage broker, nothing can happen. Lenders want what they want, when they want it, and they need to be submitted before the lender will make a decision to fund... or not fund the project. So how do we make sure this process is as painless as possible?Fir...2021-06-3019 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat's Driving Prices Up?Have you ever stopped to think about what’s actually driving the demand in our housing market?There are obviously a number of factors that go into it, but why do people keep paying higher and higher prices for homes, and when…..if ever, is the bubble going to burst?Depending on your mind set, here’s the good, or bad news… It’s not a bubble. Home prices in the GTA have been steadily rising for 20 years or more. ...2021-06-2619 minGuide 2 the GrindWhy Banks Offer You This?Have you ever wondered what the bank’s number one investment is? It’s you. More specifically, they invest in your ability to repay a mortgage to them. They study the borrower, assess their risk, decide whether or not they’re going to lend you money to buy your house, and set up a nice 25 year income for themselves. So if the banks think mortgages are such a great investment, why don’t they offer them to you as an investment option? In fact, if you walked into the bank and asked them i...2021-06-2423 minGuide 2 the GrindWanna Get Those Renos Done?With the price of lumber through the roof, a lot of folks have been putting off renos because they’ve just become too expensive. But will the prices come back down? Who knows? What I do know for sure however, is there’s a ton of ways to access money to get renos done. Whether it’s a new home, a flip, or an upgrade to the home you live in, there’s a whole bunch of options to get the funds you need to complete your reno project. Today on the “Investment Pr...2021-06-2024 minGuide 2 the GrindWho Doesn't Like Free Money?Today we get to chat again with Jen Robertson, from Royal LePage NRC, and I actually got really excited during our discussion... for three reasons. First, Jen is awesome! She really knows her stuff, and she’s just plain fun to talk with. We had a great time having her on the show. Second, I got to learn something new. As long as I’ve been in the business, there’s always more to learn, and that always gets me excited. Lastly, what I learned about... the Niagara Homeownership Program. 2021-06-1720 minGuide 2 the GrindWTH is Happening in Niagara??Ok, I know it’s no secret that the pandemic has made the world go mad, but what the heck is going on out in the Niagara Region??Ontario’s wine country is catching up to Toronto, but it’s done in one year what Toronto has done in the last fifteen or twenty.Prices have risen 36% on average in the region this year alone!With the higher home prices come higher rents. This leads to the age old debate of "when’s the best time to get into the market?" The prices are high...2021-06-1342 minGuide 2 the GrindStress Test Stressing You Out?I’m sure by now you’ve heard all about the new changes to the “Stress Test”. It’s been all over the news, and I’ve already heard it explained a thousand different ways…..and really….it’s not that big of a deal. At least, if you learn to think like a lender. See, banks are investors just like you and I. They have way more money, and a ton of people that work for them, but at the end of the day, they follow one simple rule. The same rule that every investor has followe...2021-06-1028 minGuide 2 the GrindWorking With People You LikeOver the years, one of the most important rules I’ve learned in business is, trust your gut!I remember having dinner once with a very prominent businessman, and he told me, “If you get a gut feeling about someone, trust it. It’s actually your subconscious brain referencing old information. You might not know exactly what it’s referencing, or why, but you’ve seen something like this before, and it didn’t end well.”One of the most important things to me in my business is...2021-06-0636 minGuide 2 the GrindListen to This Before Buying Your First Home!I was asked this week “What’s the difference between the First Time Home Buyer’s Plan, and the First Time Home Buyer’s Incentive?”. This really made me think, because I haven’t heard of it in a while. In fact, I’d pretty much forgotten about it. When Geoff asked me the difference, it brought up some old strategies that I haven’t used in a while, and led to today’s episode of the “Investment Property Income” podcast. We go deep on this one, and I even changed Geoff’s mind on why the Fi...2021-06-0318 minGuide 2 the GrindBack to BasicsHave you ever heard the quote, “If your why is strong enough, the how doesn’t matter.”? I remember hearing it many years ago when I first started to learn about sales. It didn’t really resonate with me back then, but it’s something I’ve never forgotten. Then, on today’s episode of the “Investment Property Income” podcast, Geoff started asking me questions about how I got started in the real estate and mortgage business. Once we started talking about the beginning, something almost magical happened. I started to feel the old feelings I had w...2021-05-3020 minGuide 2 the GrindStarting vs. Dreaming BigHave you ever had a massive project ahead of you? I mean one that’s so big, you just look at it and say, “I don’t even know where to start.”? We all have at one point, right? That’s when all of the little voices in your head start to kick in. The ones that make you procrastinate, think you can’t do it, start to bargain with yourself, and eventually either get started, or tell yourself you can't do it, and forget it ever existed. (Although it's always there in the back of your mind...2021-05-2618 minGuide 2 the GrindNo Money Down MythsHave ever heard a real estate “guru” preaching that you can become a real estate investor with “no money down”?If you haven’t already, stay in the industry long enough and you most definitely will. Typically that claim is followed by a sales pitch offering to teach you the secret formula for some ridiculous price, and only for a limited time…..act now! These types of tactics are what end up washing a lot of people out of the real estate investment industry, and ultimately rob them of their dreams of pass...2021-05-2422 minGuide 2 the GrindDo You Remember When Pensions Were a Thing?Do you remember the golden era of pension plans in Canada? A time when folks went to work, raised their families, and generally enjoyed life without worrying about their retirement, because they had a company pension? Careful, your answer to those questions will show your age. Of course I’m being a little cheeky, but it’s true. Most people under 35 or so, don’t remember a time when all the best jobs had pensions. Now contract work, internships, and employee turnover are the norm. A lot of older folks want to say that...2021-05-1934 minGuide 2 the GrindYou Gotta Earn Your ChopsInspiration can be a double edged sword. On one hand, it gets people motivated, and dreaming of things they never thought possible for themselves. On the other, some tend to dream too big in the beginning and can get very discouraged by the reality of things. That’s not to say that big dreams aren’t possible, they totally are! It’s easier though, to start out small, earn your chops, and build your dreams as you grow as an investor. I field a lot of calls from...2021-05-1629 minGuide 2 the GrindWhich One is Better?Today’s episode of the “Investment Property Income” podcast is an unusual one. It’s not often that you’ll find a mortgage broker, and a mortgage specialist from one of the major banks, on the same show… and getting along. Mobile Mortgage Specialist, Nancy Dass, joins us again today to discuss the differences, pros, and cons of working wit an independent broker, versus a bank employed mortgage specialist. This is a great conversation.www.guidetothegrind.com2021-05-1219 minGuide 2 the GrindThis Conversation Changed my Mind.So.... this was a bit of an eye opener for me. Jim Rohn famously asked, “Why does a goose fly south for the winter? Because it’s a goose!”Humans however, are not geese, we have the ability to change our direction at any time. Where am I going with this? Rent to Owns. In the past I’ve met Rent to Own companies that have left a bad taste in my mouth. For many years I had a less than favourable opinion of the entire Rent to Own indust...2021-05-0931 minGuide 2 the GrindWould You Buy Out of Province?Something I’m certainly starting to see a lot more of these days is folks trying to buy properties out of province... especially the east coast. Call me conservative in my investing mentality, but I’m not a huge fan. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand the appeal... especially living in Toronto. The prices are a lot lower, the properties are bigger, and then of course the romanticism of beautiful locales. It’s hard not to fall in love with the idea. The truth is, it’s worked for a lot of people...2021-05-0419 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat's the Deal with Pre-Construction?When I was first introduced to the strategy of buying “pre-construction”, I had no idea how vast the subject actually was. Here’s the craziest thing I learned about it…..You can make a ton of money investing in pre-construction, without ever closing on the property. I know that sounds too good to be true, but it is. Of course there’s a number of nuances that you have to understand before you can do this, but it’s totally...2021-05-0221 minGuide 2 the GrindThis Story is PersonalYou know, sometimes it’s really hard to make a topic relatable. Some topics are just not interesting to most people. Today’s discussion is one of 'em… insurance. A long time ago, when I was first learning the business, I was taught that “facts tell, stories sell!”.Meaning, if you want to explain a topic to folks, and have it be relatable, you have to tell it in a story. People are far more drawn in by stories, than they are by pie charts and graphs. So...on today’s episode of t...2021-04-2722 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat happens if I lose money?Geoff and I take a bit of a divergence from the standard financing topics today, and get a lot more personal with some of our investing and business experiences. A few days ago Geoff was having a conversation with one of our colleagues, and she mentioned that she prefers to work with people who have “weathered the storm”, so to speak. This began a whole conversation about the “fear of loss”.Probably the most common thing that stops most people from beginning...2021-04-2537 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat Stops Most People?Sometimes the hardest step is anything is the first one. The fear and trepidation can cause folks to procrastinate indefinitely, or worse, not get started at all. This is why an entire industry has sprung up around teaching people how to invest in real estate. Folks spend their hard earned money on seminars, books, and courses learning how to become rich by investing. Of course there is always value in education, as long as you aren’t substituting education for action. 2021-04-2024 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat does the new stress test mean?It’s no secret that we’ve been experiencing one of the largest real estate growth spurts, at least in the “905” regions, that Canada has ever seen. With the rising home prices comes a lot of skepticism and even fear. The Canadian regulatory bodies released the guidelines for their new stress test, just a few days ago. We’re going to be talking about how the new test works, and more importantly, what it tells about the state of the market, on today’s episode of the...2021-04-1921 min
Guide 2 the GrindClose to HomeDo you have any elderly relatives?Today we hit pretty close to home with the “Investment Property Income” Podcast. Geoff is helping one of his elderly relatives get set up for a long term game plan, and he’s running the mortgage arrangements by me to make sure that everything is the best it possibly can be. We do a quick breakdown of the situation, and run over the concerns, and considerations. I offer a few different options...2021-04-1122 minGuide 2 the GrindAlternative FinancingOur topic today is a big one. There are all kinds of books out there about real estate strategy, and creative ways to get financing, but do they really work?In short...it depends.A lot of the books are written for US investors, and unfortunately a lot of what they talk about simply doesn’t apply to Canadians. For better or worse, things are just a little different up here. So let’s break down what I cal...2021-04-0630 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat Makes a Bubble? (Live)This week we broke new ground on the “Investment Property Income” podcast. We did our first ever live Zoom recording. I’m happy to say, it went pretty well. We had a couple of guests drop in, and covered some pretty interesting stuff. Not the least of which…...what makes a “bubble”?Now I’m not saying 100% that we’re in a bubble, however there are a lot of signs that would traditionally indicate that a correction is coming. Things like...2021-04-0424 minGuide 2 the GrindHow Do Rising Interest Rates Effect Me?It’s no secret that rising interest rates, coupled with a real estate buying frenzy, are really starting to look like a bubble that’s gonna burst. So how do you avoid it?Here’s the thing, the most important thing you can do is educate yourself. If you’re reading this email, congratulations, you’re already ahead of the crowd. Lots of people overextend themselves. They buy houses they can barely afford right now, and don’t really have...2021-03-2926 minGuide 2 the GrindWhere Do I Even Start?Today’s episode of the “Investment Property Income” podcast was a really interesting experience for me personally. If you’ve listened to a few of our podcasts, you know that Geoff and I have a good time and poke fun at each other along the way. It’s all good natured, and we try to keep the atmosphere light.This time around though, Geoff really challenged me. Not in a bad way, but in a way that made me go back to the very basic, first time getting a mortgage, way of thinkin...2021-03-2236 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat's the difference?Have you ever heard of the “the curse of knowledge”?Simply put, it’s what happens when you become masterful at anything in your life. You’ve acquired so much knowledge that you don’t remember what it’s like for someone that’s just starting to learn. This is really common with entrepreneurs and business owners. They know so much about their business and tend to throw so much information at someone just starting out, that the person gets overwhelmed and can miss some pretty key things that...2021-03-2125 minGuide 2 the GrindThree different ways of thinkingIt’s the day before St. Patty’s day, and to me that’s always the unofficial start of spring. As mentioned in my last email, that brings the spring market, and with the spring market comes another round real estate celebrities selling the next best course for investors. Now I’m not about to start bashing them. It’s just that my philosophy has always been, if you’re going to spend several thousand dollars on taking one of these courses, why not just invest that in your first property and learn by...2021-03-1635 minGuide 2 the GrindHow to spot the "right" teamI don’t know about you, but I meet the spring time change with mixed emotions. Yes it’s the end of winter, and the start of nice weather, but I also lose an hour. I am acutely aware of just how precious time is, even a single hour. Jim Rohn said it best with his quote, “You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.”As the spring market rolls in with the nice weather, timing is everything for inves...2021-03-1426 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat's Stopping You?A number of years ago I was sitting with a group of friends, and one of our other friend’s name came up. By this point in life he’d done very well for himself by investing in real estate early. As we were sitting there talking about how he’d become rich, and had a lifestyle that many will only dream of, I was surprised by the comments that followed next. We all agreed that we’d love to be rich and have that lifes...2021-03-0930 minGuide 2 the GrindHow Emotions Impact InvestingIt’s quite incredible how the hint of spring in the air really lifts people’s spirits. Just the anticipation of nice weather, and being able to spend time outside again, has people feeling better. But it’s not here yet. Now we know it’s going to happen eventually, but we don’t know exactly when. In anticipation of its arrival, we’re already doing things like booking campgrounds, buying summer stuff, and working on our beach bodies...(well some of us are working on the...2021-03-0740 minGuide 2 the GrindCondos or Houses?It’s no secret that the entire landscape of the real estate market has changed in the last year. Over 50,000 people left Toronto alone in 2020. So what does that mean for you?Well, depending on your mindset, it either means a time doom and gloom, or a time of prosperity you may never experience again in your lifetime. One of my mentors taught me that real estate is a long play. There will always be fluctuations in the value of properties. There’s alway...2021-03-0231 minGuide 2 the GrindInterest Rate Feeding FrenzyAnyone with a long enough memory can remember the last days of the 1980’s, when mortgage interest rates were insanely high. Folks have told me that they were paying 18 or 19 percent interest on their homes.Here we are some 30 years later, and obviously the entire landscape has changed. Not just in Canada, but the entire world. Now, more than ever, we feel the effects of what happens on the other side of the planet. Communication and industry have become global in a way that most couldn’t have even imagined back in the 80’s. It’s n...2021-02-2819 minGuide 2 the GrindCommercial PropertiesLet’s talk turkey about commercial financing. There’s a lot to this topic, because there’s a lot of different types of commercial financing. There’s of course the straight up commercial building which we’re all familiar with, but what about mixed use properties, or multi-family residential, or if you own more than five properties as an investor. Of course you can drill down even further into all of those categories and find a ton more variables. It’s such a diverse subjec...2021-02-2323 minGuide 2 the GrindShould I use my RSP?The March 1st deadline for RSP contributions is coming up soon, and I thought this would be a good time to dispel some of the myths and legends around using your RSP to buy a home. I’m not going to talk about whether RSPs are good or bad, but there are a couple of things that we should definitely know. Let’s start with the first time home buyer program. That’s what most people think of when it comes to using your RSP. Yes you most certainly can use it to buy your first ho...2021-02-2115 minGuide 2 the GrindEarly Mortgage RepaymentI don’t get upset often, and confrontation really isn’t in my nature, but sometimes I just have to speak up when I see something misleading. I’ve seen numerous different companies advertising systems to help you pay your mortgage sooner, save tens of thousands of dollars in interest, make you sleep better, get better looking, lose weight, run faster, all for the low low price of………..This really roasts my turkey!First of all…..their math is either misleading or straight up wrong. And you know what...2021-02-1632 minGuide 2 the GrindReverse MortgagesFor years I remember seeing those commercials marketing the reverse mortgage to seniors. As my partner Geoff would say, they always seemed to play during re-runs of Matlock and Murder She Wrote. For a lot of people, this seemed to leave a bad taste in their mouth. Maybe it was the way it was marketed, maybe the face that it seemed to be targeting seniors, or maybe……….we just didn’t understand it at the time. Here’s the deal…….Like any other mortgage product, if it’s good for your situation, then it’...2021-02-1417 minGuide 2 the GrindWhy Private LendingIn this episode we talk about the ups and downs of private lending. Things to look out for, and how to use it properly as a part of your investing strategy. www.guidetothegrind.com2021-02-0939 minGuide 2 the GrindWhat is the IPI System?We designed the material around the “Investment Property Income” system to help folks thrive in regular times, and speed up their process exponentially in times of opportunity.First we start with what you truly want, then naturally we see how easily the system works over time. www.guidetothegrind.com2021-02-0730 minGuide 2 the GrindDo's and don'ts of creditIs it better to have bad credit, or no credit? How long do bankruptcies and consumer proposals stay on your history? How do you repair your credit fast?We'll talk about all these challenges and more on this episode of the Investment Property Income Podcast. www.InvestmentPropertyIncomeBook.comwww.guidetothegrind.com2021-02-0230 minGuide 2 the GrindRefi vs. RenewalIn this episode of the Investment Property Income podcast, we talk about when to refinancing vs. simply renewing your mortgage. The advantages, uses, and disadvantages of both. As well, we discuss the different ways of structuring a refinance to make it as suited to your current needs as possible. If you have any questions, or would like to be a guest on the show, feel free to send us an email at IPincome@amortgageplan.com www.guidetothegrind.com2021-01-3120 minGuide 2 the GrindInvesting with "free money"Today tax expert, and realtor, Trifon Chaitas joins us to talk about the tax implications of real estate investing. We'll dispel some of the myths and mindsets around taxation, and most importantly...explain how and why to get "free money" for real estate investors. www.guidetothegrind.com2021-01-2838 minGuide 2 the GrindRoom for ImprovementIn todays' episode we'll cover the Purchase Plus Improvements home loan, and exactly what you need to name it happen. www.guidetothegrind.com2021-01-2316 minGuide 2 the GrindHow to Get a Second Property With Only 5% Down.In this episode we talk about mortgage insurers, and how to skirt the rules to get your second property with only 5% down as opposed to the normal 20%.www.guidetothegrind.com2021-01-1915 minGuide 2 the GrindSelf Employed IncomeWe dive into helping business owners understand how they can get qualified for financing, even though they may not be declaring much personal income. www.guidetothegrind.com2021-01-1728 minGuide 2 the GrindKnowing the true costMortgage Penalties can cost homeowners tens of thousands of dollars. Knowing what they are, how they're calculated, and how to minimize them means everything when signing your mortgage contract. Know the difference, and know the true cost, before you sign anything!www.guidetothegrind.com2021-01-1421 min