The Canadian Real Estate Investor

In this news episode, BMO warns that Canada's housing market has been falling for three years, similar to the 2007 US crash. Recovery will take a long time. CMHC says today's Toronto condo slowdown is different from the 1990s crash because lending rules are tougher and buyers are more financially tested, meaning things won't get as bad. On the positive side, the federal government plans to cut dev...

Nick and Dan break down the essential metrics every Canadian real estate investor needs to master: cap rate, DSCR, cash-on-cash return, and IRR. Using a detailed Hamilton duplex example, they demonstrate how to calculate each metric, explain what they reveal (and what they don't), and show how to use them strategically—from quick property screening to deep financial modeling. Cap rate is you...

Canada has a critical financial advice gap, where 51% of households are "unadvised" — a disparity that hits lower-income families hardest. The discussion explores how excessive regulatory burden and economic factors prevent middle-income Canadians from accessing professional financial guidance, leading many to rely on social media influencers instead. Through analysis of the CD Howe Institut...

We are joined by the CEO and founder of WOWA for an in depth discussion of whats wrong with Canadian Real Estate and why are young people way less happy then they used to be.  LIVE PODCAST TICKETS Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Buy & sell real estate with Ai at Valery.ca  Get a mortgage pre-approval with Owl Mortgage LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Re...

We profile Canada's wealthiest real estate moguls and developers, exploring their immense wealth, business strategies, and influence on the Canadian housing market. Nick and Dan examine both billionaires with major real estate holdings and dedicated property developers who've shaped Canada's urban landscapes. The wealth disparity in Canada is stark - the combined net worth of the 10 richest Canadi...

OSFI has finalized revisions to the CAR guideline, effective Q1 2026, which significantly impacts how banks treat mortgages tied to rental income. The key change prevents borrowers from reusing the same income to qualify for multiple properties, which will make it harder for small investors to grow their portfolios. The 50% borrower-income test is reaffirmed, but now income used for one mortgage c...

Small commercial real estate offers potentially lucrative investment opportunities that are often overlooked. The discussion covers different types of commercial properties, financing considerations, and strategies for maximizing returns. Commercial real estate offers different advantages compared to residential, including higher rents and longer lease terms (3-10+ years), providing more stable in...

We interview Sarah Larbi, where she discusses her real estate investment journey: Sarah began with a "boring" buy and hold strategy, purchasing a small $129,000 house in Brantford with 20% down while working two jobs to save money. She progressed from basic buy-and-hold to BRRRR (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat), then expanded into short-term rentals with cottages in 2018, and eventually de...

We discuss the return-to-office (RTO) trend in Canada and its impact on real estate markets. Employers are increasingly mandating office attendance and the resulting effects on urban centers, housing markets, and workplace dynamics are fascinating. Canadian employers (government, banks, telecoms) are mandating 4-5 days in-office by 2026, with downtown foot traffic still 43% below pre-pandemic leve...

The Canadian housing market shows signs of recovery with five consecutive months of sales gains, but it's not a full-on boom. The Bank of Canada cut interest rates on September 17th from 2.75% to 2.5%, which will provide some relief to variable-rate mortgage holders, with another cut expected on October 29th. Rising Supply vs. Modest Sales Growth: While August sales were up 1.1% from July (stronge...

We’re lucky to be joined by Bruce Croxon for a conversation on business, real estate, investing, and entrepreneurship. Bruce co‑founded and grew Lavalife, later selling it for more than US$150 million. He’s a former Dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den, a partner at Round13 Capital, and co‑host of BNN's The Disruptors. A serial entrepreneur and investor, he focuses on scaling Canadian tech sta...

Canada's economy is facing significant challenges with unemployment rising to 7.1% in August 2025, the highest since 2016 (outside pandemic periods). The economy lost 66,000 jobs in August following 41,000 jobs lost in July. Trade tensions with the US are affecting tariff-exposed sectors, while the housing market shows a fragile recovery amid calls for interest rate cuts. Unemployment reached 7.1%...

What it means to be a millionaire in Canada in 2025, focusing on how inflation, real estate values, and wealth distribution have changed the significance of the million-dollar threshold. Due to inflation, $1 million today has significantly less purchasing power than in previous decades, with current dollars worth less than 4% of their 1915 value. Many Canadians are "paper millionaires" through hom...

The importance of networking, persistence, and face-to-face meetings in real estate success. Nick shares a story about persistently following up with a potential client for 8 months, resulting in a productive two-day meeting in Windsor. The hosts also discuss their "Unpacking Multiplexes" event and the critical housing needs and opportunities in Ontario. Persistence in relationship building is cru...

iPro Realty, a major Ontario brokerage with 2,400 agents, was discovered to have a $10.5 million shortfall in their trust accounts in May 2025. Co-founders  admitted to taking the money, but RECO (the regulator) negotiated a quiet settlement rather than pressing charges, leading to industry outrage and the resignation of RECO's Registrar.  A Co-founder  had previously sat on RECO's...

Dan interviews Max Steinman (CEO of RentSync/Rentals.ca) and "Millennial Moron" (Jeb) about current trends in the Canadian rental market. They discuss the impact of increased purpose-built rental supply, declining demand in major cities, rising vacancies, and strategies for both large and small landlords to compete in this shifting landscape. The importance of location, the unintended consequences...

The Foreign Buyer Ban was implemented in January 2023 to make housing more affordable for Canadians by prohibiting non-Canadians from purchasing residential properties with up to 3 dwelling units in urban areas. The ban was recently extended until January 1, 2027. While politically popular, its effectiveness has been questioned due to numerous loopholes and its coinciding with rising interest rate...

We discuss how modular construction and prefabricated housing can address Canada's housing crisis through improved labor productivity. The hosts examine Canada's productivity challenges compared to the US, particularly in construction, and explore innovative building methods that could accelerate housing production despite an aging workforce. Canada needs to double its housing construction to appr...

We explore whether Canada is moving toward a "renters economy" where more people rent homes rather than own them. It examines historical housing trends, current market conditions, and international comparisons to assess if Canada is following countries like Germany where renting is normalized.  "You'll own nothing and be happy" represents a subscription-based future economy Canadian homeowner...

We open the show with an institutional perspective on the housing market and close it with our hosts who provide boots on the ground updates  RBC/BMO Forecast: Home resales are down, but a rebound is expected in 2026, tempered by affordability, labor market, and immigration challenges. Regional Differences: Prairies and Atlantic Canada are more stable; Ontario and B.C. face imbalanc...

We are joined by Brian Dorr, President & CEO of DORR Capital , who have funded over 3 billion.  Insights on how the public vs. private sectors have influenced Brians Capital's 13-year journey in real estate. The 4+1 new build initiative and its impact on housing. How standard lot sizes, capital stacks, development charges, and garden suite variances affect project timelines and feasibilit...

We are joined by Brandon Sage on the shot to get his expert insights into the opportunity in multifamily as well property management.  Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Buy & sell real estate with Ai at Valery.ca  Get a mortgage pre-approval with Owl Mortgage Unpacking Multiplexes Tickets     USE CODE 'PODCAST' free 1 week trial for Realist Premium...

In this news episode, we break down whats going on in the market, Record numbers of Canadians are emigrating, with many heading to the U.S. Canadians are increasingly investing in U.S. stocks ($14.2 billion in May) while pulling back from domestic real estate Construction costs are rising well above inflation targets due to tariffs and skilled labor shortages Eliminating interprovincial trade barr...

Toronto's Housing Policy Changes: Toronto now allows sixplexes in select areas and is waiving development charges for up to 6 units per lot, saving developers approximately $50-80k per unit. Nationwide Trend: This is part of a broader movement across Canada, with Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, and Halifax also implementing multiplex-friendly zoning. Economic Impact: Multiplexes offer a more...

We look at cap rate reports from Colliers and CBRE and discuss whats happening in the commercial real estate world.  National Market Overview: Canadian CRE remains stable (all-property cap rate: 6.67%) despite economic uncertainty; Bank of Canada cuts to 2.75% created favorable lending conditions. Asset Class Performance: Industrial leads with compressing cap rates (6.16%); retail rebounds as...