“I love Real Estate. And I believe in it as one of the best wealth-building tools for reaching whatever financial goals you have. With a long-term investment in mind, and always a solid Plan B in place, the risks are mitigated significantly. 

The first thing I look at in a property is the location. If that passes, I move on to ‘running numbers.’ Because of my many years as a mortgage broker specializing in residential revenue property (up to 4 units), I’ve created many shortcuts for analyzing a property’s potential. If the numbers don’t look like they’ll work, I pass on the property without even viewing the pictures. 

If the numbers look like they could work, I then look at the floor plan. I want to see if the layout is workable, if I can easily add an ensuite off the primary bedroom, or if a wall needs to be taken down to make an open kitchen/living area. And very importantly, the basement height. If it’s under 7’, it’s a no-go. Even 7’ is too low in many cases. Would I want to live there? If the answer is ‘no’, it’s a PASS. 

If the floor plan looks good, I’ll finally look at the pictures. I’m always hoping to see what I call ‘The Perfect Amount of Ugly.’ If someone’s already spent a lot of money on upgrades and finishing, I’ll likely pass, as they’ll be expecting top dollar for improvements that I may want to rip out. 

If the property passes the first three tests, I start to work on more accurate renovation costs: adding a suite, new flooring, updating the kitchen and bathroom(s), new appliances, landscaping. And painting inside and out! All the things that make a happy tenant, because creating a home where everyone wants to live is a win/win. 

I’ve been a landlord for over 20 years, and I appreciate, value and respect my tenants. And because of this, they tend to reciprocate these sentiments. They’re at the forefront of every decision I make, because they’re integral to the success of the project. 

And I take these same values into my JV partnerships. Everyone’s needs and wants are different and once those are clearly defined, we work together to come up with a plan that works for everyone. There’s not one way to do this. Flexibility, creativity, integrity – these are essential building blocks for a solid partnership.”

“I think I was 4 years old the first time I picked up a drill. Ever since then, I have been more than happy to use whatever tool is necessary – whether I’ve used it before or not – to find the most optimum building solution possible. 

I grew up in a construction site, which is another name for living in the house you’re renovating. We were constantly buying a new project, moving into it, renovating it, and then starting another one. I started out as the helper/gofer and then evolved to overseeing my first crew when I was 16. Now we work as a cohesive team on all our projects. 

Having a background in Engineering, I have strong spatial visualization which enables me to imagine how complex pieces come together as a whole and understand the steps it takes to get there. In the initial planning stages, I can see the finished product ‘in my head’ before any work has even begun, which helps troubleshoot any potential issues. 

Math is an integral part of most aspects of a renovation project. Ordering the correct quantity of materials, measuring room dimensions, cutting precise angles – all of these, when done correctly, will ensure quality finished product while saving time and money at every step along the way. 

I enjoy the process of coming up with solutions for renovation obstacles and implementing them, and I’ve experienced firsthand the financial benefits of real estate investing. This is why I’m excited about our next JV project.”