Where Should I Invest? Real Estate Investing in Canada

Is the Ontario rental market stacked against you? In this episode, Sarah sits down with Jacqui Cummins, founder of Anchor Point Property Management. Jacqui leverages a 25 year career as a law clerk and 20 years of personal investing experience to protect her clients from professional tenants and LTB nightmares. From the rise of the “cash for keys” phenomenon to the high-tech fraud used...

In this episode, Sarah Larbi sits down with Albert Belo, the founder of Tribelo Properties, to discuss his incredible 30 year journey in the construction industry. Albert reveals the personal catalyst that led him to leave a secure 20 year career in insurance restoration at age 50 to pursue his own business. They dive deep into the technical side of property investing, from the importance of detai...

In this episode of  Where Should I Invest , Sarah Larbi sits down with long-time real estate experts and tech innovators Maher Murshed and Voytek Mardula. While many of you know Voytek for their turnkey US property success, they are now leading the charge in the AI space with their new venture, Speak Nova. They discuss how AI is no longer just “ChatGPT” for writing emails—it’s now a so...

In this episode of  Where Should I Invest , Sarah Larbi is joined by guest co-host Kelly Gong to interview Michal Wach, a real estate tax specialist who transitioned from a career in policing to helping investors navigate the complex world of Canadian taxes. Michal breaks down why “doing it yourself” is the fastest way to fall behind and why the CRA’s new tools mean transparency is no...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah Larbi welcomes back Kasey Wong to discuss what it really takes to build long-term financial freedom through Canadian real estate. Kasey shares how being let go early in his career pushed him to pursue secure, income-producing real estate, starting with a Toronto triplex in 2003. Years later, real estate gave him the leverage to walk away from his fin...

In this episode of  Where Should I Invest , Sarah Larbi sits down with registered psychotherapist Samir Boulazreg to explore the mental and emotional side of entrepreneurship, investing, and high performance. They unpack how anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and burnout quietly impact ambitious professionals and why waiting for the “perfect time” often keeps people stuck. Samir shares practical...

In this episode of  Where Should I Invest , Sarah Larbi sits down with Kayla Andrade, a landlord advocate and long-time Ontario real estate investor, to unpack what’s really happening in Ontario’s rental market. Kayla shares her journey from landlord to advocate, the regulatory pressures pushing landlords out of the market, and why many investors are reconsidering long-term rental strategies altog...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah Larbi sits down with Natalie Cloutier, a real estate developer, author, and builder who has carved out a unique niche in the Canadian investing landscape: Build to Rent. Starting with $0 at just 19 years old, Natalie and her husband built their first home using an auto-construction loan and that single decision launched a long-term strategy now respo...

In this episode of  Where Should I Invest , Sarah Larbi sits down with Kenold Knight, a financial advisor, entrepreneur, and mentee of self-made billionaire Michael Lee-Chin, to explore strategies for building long-term wealth beyond real estate. Kenold shares how he helps clients develop a written financial framework, avoid common pitfalls, and focus on sustainable investments. He dives into his...

In this episode of  Where Should I Invest , I chat with Chad Carter a former sports chiropractor turned real estate investor who’s building a turnkey single-family portfolio in Rochester, New York, specifically designed for Canadian investors. Chad shares how he went from buying his first properties with family to partnering through joint ventures and now launching investment funds to scale his bu...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, host Sarah Larbi sits down with Ryan De Laurentis, an Ontario-based real-estate investor who’s completed more than 70 flips and hundreds of wholesale deals. Ryan shares his no-fluff approach to flipping — from managing renovations and sourcing materials to knowing when to pivot, drop your price, and protect your capital. He dives deep into the lessons that...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah Larbi sits down with Daniel Foch, co-host of The Canadian Real Estate Investor Podcast, to talk about navigating today’s real estate landscape with clarity, data, and strategy. Known for his sharp analysis and data-driven approach, Daniel breaks down current trends in the Canadian market, highlighting where he sees both risk and opportunity. From the...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah and Kelly sat down with Carrie Soave, an AI strategist and real estate entrepreneur who’s helping investors adapt to the fast-changing tech landscape. Carrie shared how she transitioned from being a licensed agent to running a million-dollar company powered by AI, with a lean team and smart systems. She shared why AI isn’t just the future, it’s the p...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah and Kelly sat down with returning guest Marcin Drozdz to talk about what it really takes to scale in real estate through capital raising. Since his last appearance, Marcin has focused on expanding his portfolio, navigating market shifts, and doubling down on the high-income skill of raising capital. He shares what’s working right now when it comes to...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah and Kelly sat down with Nick Hill, a real estate investor, mortgage broker, and co-host of The Canadian Real Estate Investor podcast. They had a no-fluff conversation about what it takes to build wealth in today’s market. From launching multiple businesses to managing burnout, Nick shares how he’s navigating an uncertain economy while staying focused...

Thinking about expanding your portfolio across the border? In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah Larbi and Kelly Casimiro reconnect with Jamil Rahemtula, an investor-focused realtor and cross-border expert, who breaks down exactly how Canadians can enter the U.S. real estate market. From setting up the right entities to navigating financing and Section 8 housing, Jamil offers a clear, pr...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah and Kelly sat down with Fritz Vilegas, a registered nurse, twin mom, and real estate investor whose story is rooted in resilience, purpose, and community. Originally from the Philippines, Fritz immigrated to Canada, worked multiple jobs to save her first down payment, and began a real estate journey that has grown across Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Al...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah and Kelly sat down with Debbie Balfour, a real estate investor and coach whose story goes far beyond spreadsheets. From launching her investment journey in 2019 to navigating a devastating house fire and a sudden layoff within two months of each other, Debbie’s resilience has helped her rebuild, not just her portfolio, but her entire life. She opens...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah and Kelly sat down with Babar Moghal, a returning guest whose real estate journey has gone from small multifamily BRRRRs to major development projects, including senior housing and large-scale multifamily across Alberta. Babar walks us through how he leapt from investor to developer, covering deal structuring, capital raising, partnerships, and how h...

In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah Larbi reconnects with mortgage expert Dalia Barsoum from Streetwise Mortgages to unpack what’s going on in real estate financing mid-2025. With over a decade of collaboration, Sarah and Dalia dive into what’s changed, what’s working, and how investors can adapt to the new economic realities. From interest rate hikes to value drops, Dalia explains why...

What happens when you buy your first property at 19, move across the world, and build a portfolio that’s aligned with your lifestyle, not someone else’s idea of success? In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Sarah and Kelly sit down with Amy Brooke, a CPA-turned-full-time investor who left corporate life to pursue real estate full-time with her husband Nigel. Amy shares the real story behind t...

Ever thought about walking away from the security of a 9–5 to build your own real estate business? In this episode of Where Should I Invest Sarah and Kelly sit down with Kyle Guthro, an investor, licensed agent, and entrepreneur who left a high-paying corporate job to pursue a life and business on his own terms. And he’s not holding anything back. Kyle walks us through his 18-year journey in real...

What if your next investment wasn’t in your backyard but across the border? In this episode of Where Should I Invest, I sit down with James Lloyd and Voytek Mardula from USProperties.ca to talk about why Detroit is becoming one of the most attractive markets for Canadian investors. I recently bought a property through them, and share my own experience from why I chose Detroit to how the numbers ma...

Are you building a real estate portfolio that supports your lifestyle or one that traps you in hustle mode? In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Kelly and Sarah chat with Fernando Nunes, a business development coach, investor, and speaker who’s rethinking what financial freedom really means. Fernando shares how his investing journey led him to self-storage, boutique hotels in Portugal, and a...

Curious about hotel investing but not sure where to start? In this episode of Where Should I Invest, Kelly and I are joined by hotel investor and entrepreneur Sujay Mehta, founder of Bloom Ventures. Sujay shares how he went from exploring a development opportunity in his community to building a growing portfolio of branded hotel properties across the U.S., including partnerships with industry lead...