Be A Private Mortgage Lender (Profit Like The Banks)
Becoming a private mortgage lender is a dream for many investors, but surprisingly, it’s so much more attainable than people...
How To Turn A $3 Million Portfolio Into $9 Million By NOT Selling
I recently met with Sylvia (not her real name); she’d reached out to me about helping her sell her well-located...
How Much Is An Apartment Building Really Worth?
I am currently working with a young man who is wanting to buy a multi-unit apartment building… And he is...
Create Predictable Income with Rent To Own Investing
I started real estate investing 12 years ago, but it wasn’t until 8 years ago that my real estate investing...
2 Things That Stop You From Investing In Real Estate
What is holding you back from investing in real estate? As a Real Estate Broker, an active investor and educator...
How To Make An Offer On Property And Avoid Competing Bids
I’m currently working with a buying client who is looking to increase his portfolio of 3 condos to include some...
16 Ways To Create Cash Flow In Real Estate
Everyone needs cash to live on a monthly basis and many people look to real estate investing to provide that cash flow...
4 Quick Ways To Screen Tenants
When you need to rent a unit, how well do you screen tenants? Do you screen them at all? Are you...
3 Ways To Boost Cap Rates And Increase Property Value
“Animating” is a big word in my vocabulary these days – making properties and neighbourhoods… ‘Livelier’ More exciting, and Adding differentiated...
How To Profit From Government Development Projects
I have a theory. Governments should do nothing other than: Provide for and protect public order Set up policy frameworks...
3 Reasons Why Investment Properties Are So Expensive
“Why are investment properties so expensive?” This was a question sent to me recently and I feel my answer...
36 Low-Cost Real Estate Investing Clubs In Canada
6Active Provinces18Active Cities36Clubs and counting Please contact us with new club listings and to fix inaccurate information Disclaimer: Spirepoint does not...
8 Ways To Keep More Income From Rental Properties
Have you ever noticed that when you get a paycheque, the money disappears quickly? Most people don’t really know where...
Top 6 Reasons To Use A Mortgage Broker To Finance Property
When I bought my first investment property back in 2002, I went directly to a bank mortgage specialist. However, over...
Buy Property Creatively With A Vendor Take Back Mortgage
A Vendor Take Back (VTB) mortgage is one of the best ways to buy and sell real estate creatively, including...
How A Behemoth Real Estate Developer Can Clobber You
I’d like to share an excerpt from my upcoming new book where I deal with a situation I faced upon...
Can You Earn 18% With Private Mortgage Lending?
Everyone has a brother, cousin or uncle who says he makes 12%, 16%, or even 18% interest on his money...
How To Own A $1.82 Million Dollar Property Free And Clear
I would like to share a story with you about a student of mine who I mentored and helped structure...
88-Year Old Woman Victim of Illegal Mortgage and Power of Sale
Canada, being a kinder gentler version of America, has its own remedy for mortgage default (a type of foreclosure) called...
Top 5 Reasons To Use An Accountant For Real Estate
I once had an in-depth discussion with my accountant about how many investors want to do their own tax returns...
How To Use Garden Suites To Add Value To Your Home And Community
As people who have followed my career will already know, I like real estate projects that not only create private...
3 Lessons Learned From A Bank Foreclosure
I was recently speaking with a friend and they mentioned a real estate deal they are currently working on and...
4 Critical Flaws To Avoid When Buying Property
Many new investors get caught up in the excitement of buying investment property. They focus on all the money they’re...
How To Find Vacant Property Owners, Mortgage Information And More
Have you ever seen a vacant property that wasn’t for sale, and wished you could contact the owner? Perhaps the...
3 Reasons NOW Is The Best Time For Apartment Buildings
Have you ever heard the following saying? “There is no time like the present” When it comes to investing...
A Mistake That Cost An Investor $242.5 Million Dollars
When Spirepoint’s co-founder, Paul Blacquiere, asked me to write an inaugural article, it gave me an opportunity to talk to...
How To Get Free Property and Infinite ROI
How would you like to own an investment property that is 75% financed and the balance of the money (25%...
8 Ways To Take The ‘Boring’ Out Of Bookkeeping
When it comes to real estate investing, bookkeeping is a topic that people tend to avoid. It’s more exciting to...
Top 6 Reasons Why Small Property Management Companies Fail
Recently I attended the annual BBQ for the Ottawa Real Estate Investors Organization (OREIO). While I was there, I saw...
Can You Use RRSPs For A Down Payment?
Question “I have been contemplating taking your Creative Financing Using RRSP Mortgages course… I have a quick question for you that I’m wondering...
How To Present A Deal To Investors
Awhile ago, a new investor approached me with a deal. This person wanted to find investors and was asking if...
3 Bookkeeping Problems Investors Must Avoid
A few years ago, I spoke to an investor who owned 30 rental units with some joint venture partners. This...
How To Make $10,000+ With One Simple Question
A lot of people don’t realize it, but when you negotiate to purchase real estate, like it or not, you’re...
Touring A 254-unit Housing Development
Recently I had the very special opportunity to get a personal tour through a 254-unit non-profit housing development in downtown Ottawa. This incredible...
Registering A Mortgage Without Someone’s Knowledge
Question “I have a client who thinks her husband may have placed another mortgage on their home without her knowledge....
Learn How To Read Legal Agreements
Have you ever signed a contract without reading it? Almost everyone has done it. Perhaps you have… Obtained a credit...
Joint Venture Profits Running A Hotel
Recently I traveled with my wife to visit her friend and family. The parents of this friend own a hotel,...
The #1 Risk For Investors And The Economy
Recently there’s been a lot of talk by government officials regarding the level of debt Canadians have amassed. If you’re...
Motivational: 14-Year Old Buys A House
My wife recently sent me a video that I thought was pretty incredible. Ellen Degeneres (TV talk show host) interviewed...
Stay Away From BMO’s New Low-Interest Mortgages
Check out this RANT I just received from my mortgage broker. It’s so good, I just had to put it...
Interview: Using RRSP Mortgages To Invest In Real Estate
Arm’s Length Mortgages (also called RRSP Mortgages) are Canada’s best kept real estate investing secret. In part 2 of this...
Interview: Why Invest In Canadian Real Estate?
Recently, I met a financial planner and he had some questions about real estate investing. He decided to interview me...
Ask For An Extension To Avoid Losing A Deal
Have you ever been scrambling to meet a conditions deadline on your offer? In this video, I talk about how...
Consider Paying Your Tenants To Keep Them Happy (or Leave)
Have you ever PAID your tenants? If not, you might want to reconsider. Normally it’s them that pays you, but...
Verify The Numbers Before You Buy
Ever seen the movie Liar Liar with Jim Carrey? That’s what you should think of when you receive financial information...
Always Buy Title Insurance For Your Properties
I discovered a long time ago that title insurance protects against more than title issues. Check out how I saved...
How To Avoid Huge Mortgage Penalties
You bought an investment property with the plan to hold it for 5 years. The cheapest rate you found was...
My Weekend With The Dragons at the Fast Track Super Conference in Edmonton
A few weeks ago, I received an email from my good friend Dave Dubeau regarding the annual Fast Track Super...
Why Investor Financing Can Be A Challenge
Have you ever had trouble getting financing for an investment property? If so, you’re not alone. Investor Mortgages Are...
How To Lookup Property Assessment Values Online
One piece of information that I find useful when researching a deal is the property assessment value. In Ontario, that...
Can I Invest In RRSP Mortgages Using My Own RRSPs, RRIFs, LIRAs, RESPs, or TFSAs?
Question I’m of the understanding, you and a like-minded friend could fund each others’ property investments using RRSP money –...
Real Estate Debt Is Safer Than Equity
This article is something I’ve been wanting to write about for a long time. I’ve never taught it to my...
Real Estate a ‘secret’ tax shelter
I stumbled across this article and just had to send it out to everyone. It starts off low-key, but then...
7 More Lessons From The CRE Investor Forum
Last week I posted an article describing my experiences and lessons learned on Day 1 of the the Canadian Real...
6 Lessons From The CRE Investor Forum
(This post contains affiliate links. Read my affiliate link disclosure here) I got back recently from the Canadian Real Estate...
QR Codes – Next Big Thing In Real Estate?
Most of us have seen barcodes for years on products in groceries stores. They allow stores to quickly scan products...
The Ultimate Secret For Real Estate Tax Writeoffs
A few years ago when I started doing live events teaching people how to invest, one of the things I...
Are Real Estate Prices Heading Up or Down?
Canadian real estate prices are headed up… no wait, they’re headed down… no that’s not right, they’re headed up! (or are...
Is Real Estate Too Expensive In Your City?
When I Got Started I live in Ottawa, and I got started in real estate back around 2001-2002. Back then,...
6 Easy Steps To Save $20,000+ On Your Next Rental Property
If you’re looking to save $20,000, $50,000 or more on your next rental property purchase… keep reading. New investors will...
4 Reasons You Must ‘Manage’ Your Property Manager
Chances are I can save you money. IF you own rental property and you’ve hired a property manager for “hands-free”...
4 Tips For Saving Money When Evicting Tenants
Evicting tenants is a huge hassle and it’s expensive. Costs can include damage caused by tenants, tribunal costs for the...
Do Realtors Take All The Good Deals?
Question “I can’t find any good deals. I’ve heard that I shouldn’t bother with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) because...
How To Keep More Money From Your Mortgage
For the majority of investors, financing real estate using mortgages is a fact of life. Most people don’t have the...
5 Technology Tips To Save Time and Keep Tenants Happy
It’s amazing that with the technology available today, many investors are still managing certain aspects of their real estate with...
Overcome Your Fear Of Losing Money
Over the years, I’ve talked to a lot of new and experienced real estate investors across Canada. When I ask...
How To Invest With No Money, Credit, Or Experience
Many people shy away from investing in real estate because they believe it requires large amounts of money, credit and...
Using RRSP Mortgages To Invest – Part 2
In Part 1 of this article, I discussed how you can borrow other people’s RRSP money in the form of...
Asking The Seller To Pay Buyer’s Closing Costs
Question “In Canada is it acceptable to ask the seller to pay buyer’s closing costs? Do banks allow this? I...
Difference Between Home Buyer’s Plan and RRSP Mortgages
Question I already know how to use my RRSP money with the Home Buyer’s Plan to buy my own property....
Using RRSP Mortgages To Invest – Part 1
Have you ever been turned down for a mortgage? Have you ever run out of down payment funds to buy...