The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: Recent Episodes
burnyourmortgage
The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast is a Canadian real estate and personal finance podcast for new homebuyers and experienced homeowners. You’ll learn how to buy your dream home, enjoy mortgage-free financial freedom sooner through side hustle and frugal living, and live well while doing it no matter your financial situation. Inspiring, insightful and fun, the Burn Your Mortgage Podcast will transform the way you think about money and debt on your path to independent homeownership.
Jelani Smith is a personal finance guru with a passion for real estate & personal finance. He is a real estate agent at RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Inc., and a Team Lead for Vertex Real Estate. He bought his first home in Toronto as a recent U of T grad and looks forward to sharing his knowledge with students & recent grads.
Jelani has received multiple agent awards, including, but not limited to, receiving the Chairman's Club Award 3 years in a row. With the intent of helping clients climb the real estate ladder, he closed 39 deals within the first 12 months of his real estate career. All in all, Jelani has the vision of providing guidance to investors, buyers, & sellers – with the underlying goal of wealth creation.
In my interview with Jelani, we discuss:
- Current opportunities for real estate investors
- Garden suites and fourplex opportunities for investors
- The increase in the price cap for insured mortgages from $1M to $1.5M
- Advice for first-time homebuyers, as well as those looking to buy and sell in the current real estate market
- The current state of the rental market
Anthony Molinaro is a normal guy from Brampton who happens to buy investment properties with his buddies. He works as a marketer for Rock Star Real Estate and is also a property manager & tenant placement expert.
In my interview with Anthony, we discuss:
- The current state of the rental market
- Pro tips for tenant screening
- Not so obvious tips from an experienced landlord
- The pros & cons of student rentals
Lesley-Anne Scorgie is an author, speaker, personal finance consultant, and the founder of MeVest.ca. She's been a guest on Oprah and is a past winner of Avenue's Top 40 Under 40 and was also featured in Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in the Future Leaders category by Women's Executive Network. She has shared her secrets to achieve financial success with CBC, Breakfast Television, the Globe and Mail and more. She's the lead money columnist at the Toronto Star. Her latest book is The Modern Couple's Money Guide: 7 Smart Steps to Building Wealth Together. She’s also the author of Well-Heeled: The Smart Girl’s Guide to Getting Rich and Rich by Thirty: Your Guide to Financial Success.
In my interview with Lesley-Anne, we discuss:
- What LA is writing about right now
- Considerations when upsizing houses
- What are people doing with their careers to afford houses?
- What are the money hacks to own a home sooner?
Launched nationwide in April, Fastkey Technology allows lenders and mortgage brokers to easily access essential documents for mortgage or loan applications within minutes, including Notices of Assessment, income statements, proof of income, tax slips, and Canada child benefit details. It also has tools to help support borrowers, property managers and landlords.
Sam's Bio
Sam Khajeei is the President and Co-Founder of Fastkey Technology Ltd. ("Fastkey"). Sam owns and operates a law firm in Canada called "SK Legal", is qualified as a lawyer in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, the State of Texas and the Emirate of Dubai and applies his 10+ years of experience as a corporate and M&A lawyer towards the continued success and development of Fastkey. As Fastkey's President, Sam has broad roles and responsibilities which includes business development and sales, oversight on legal matters including joint ventures and partner collaborations and client support in all of Fastkey's verticals.
Dave's Bio
The mortgage industry has been great to advice-based mortgage advisors like David Ford. While most banking institutions move away from strong communication, access, and advice, he has improved. This helps his clients keep up to the best mortgage products for their needs. David has 15 years experience in this industry, over 4000 files built, and nearly $1Billion in mortgages funded. David has been able to provide the best advice for his clients as they evolve through their lives, moves and mortgage terms. David has a special interest in efficiency, best practices and providing exceptional client support, and, as a result, is an invaluable addition to the Fastkey team in his capacity of Lender Relations.
In my interview with Sam and Dave, we discuss:
- What is Fastkey and what are its many benefits
- How Fastkey is helpful for borrowers (salaried employees, self-employed, etc.)
Barry Choi is an award-winning, Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert.
As a completely self-taught, do-it-yourself investor with no formal training, Barry makes money easy to understand for all Canadians. He combines his knowledge of finance with his passion for travel and encourages people to see the world.
Barry’s specialties include personal finance, trip planning, millennial money, gen Z money, credit cards and trending destinations.
In my interview with Barry, we discuss:
- Moving up in the real estate market from a 2 bedroom condo to a 3 bedroom townhouse
- Becoming a landlord
- Making the most of your credit cards on home renovations
- Getting a mortgage as self-employed
Lionel Romain is based in Toronto where he has worked with Kijiji Real Estate for over a decade, helping connect landlords and tenants across Canada.
In my interview with Lionel, we discuss:
- What is the Canadian Rental Report and why does it exist?
- Insights in the report that could help landlords.
- What are potential renters looking for right now in rental suites?
Barbara Captijn had a 20-year career in communications and sales in the publishing and consumer goods industries. For the past 15 years, Barbara has been an independent consumer advocate for new home buyers, has advocated at all levels of the Ontario government for better consumer protection, and has written over 20 guest columns published in The Toronto Sun on this subject. Her first-hand experience as a new home buyer prompted her advocacy to fix what many have found to be a faulty system. Her advocacy work includes participating in ministry consultations, giving consumer feedback to Ontario legislative committees on new bills, helping consumers as a friend to navigate complex processes and writing a blog.
In my interview with Barbara, we discuss:
- How she got involved with pre-construction condo and freehold homes
- What are “weasel clauses”
- How can consumers better protect themselves when buying pre-construction
Alex Kjorven is a CPA, CA and Chief Product Officer at Ourboro. Ourboro is a private, Toronto-based company dedicated to providing access to homeownership through co-ownership. Ourboro co-invests up to $250K towards a buyer’s down payment, purchasing a share in the future value of the home. Once they are in their home, additional programs, such as maintenance check-ups and renovation credits, are available to co-owners to help preserve and increase the home's value.
In my interview with Alex, we discuss:
- Barriers to homeownership
- Shared Equity to break into the market
- Co-owning the home with an investor
An 18-year veteran of the Canadian insurance industry, Stefan Tirschler has extensive experience advising Canadians as they journey through the process of buying, understanding, and using home insurance. At Square One, Stefan works with a team of creative professionals whose mission is to make home insurance effortless, whether getting a quote or making a claim. Holding one of the most sought-after designations in the industry, Stefan is a Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional and Canadian Risk Manager who strives to inform consumers and professionals alike about insurance.
In my interview with Stefan, we discuss:
- Tenant/renter insurance vs. home insurance
- House vs. condo insurance
- The importance of budgeting for home insurance when buying a home
- How to shop around for home insurance
Shannon Lee Simmons is an award winning Certified Financial Planner, speaker, bestselling author, Chartered Investment Manager and founder of the New School of Finance. She is a personal finance writer for the Globe and Mail as well as CBC Radio’s Metro Morning money columnist and was a financial expert on The Marilyn Denis Show.
Shannon’s latest book “No-Regret Decisions” is a decision crisis playbook that will help you to make sound choices when the emotional and financial stakes are high. From the initial shock of Panic Mode to the insecurity of the Messy Middle, and finally, the acceptance of Your New Normal, Shannon Lee Simmons will teach you how to approach your decision crisis methodically, step by step.
In my interview with Shannon, we discuss:
- Creating a budget that works
- The Beyoncé Factor
- Saving money with the rising cost of living
- Making no regret financial decisions, including buying a home
Giacomo Ladas is the Communications Manager for Rentals.ca, a free-to-use, leading marketplace connecting private landlords and renters across the country. He fosters relationships with journalists, bloggers, and industry thought leaders. He is integral in the Rentals.ca National Rent Report publication as he handles all media inquiries throughout the year.
In my interview with Giacomo, we discuss:
- The rental market that was in 2023
- What’s going on right now in the rental market
- Predictions for the rental market in 2024
- Good places to invest across Canada right now as a landlord
Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and the CEO of Credit Canada, the longest-standing non-profit credit counselling agency in the country. He appears regularly on Cityline and Breakfast Television, has a national money column for CBC Radio, hosts a radio show on SiriusXM, and speaks at events from coast to coast. He is also the author of the Globe & Mail bestseller, “Moolala: Why smart people do dumb things with money (and what you can do about it).”
Credit Canada recently launched a free, multi-lingual online learning program about credit, developed specifically for newcomers to Canada. While there are many resources to support newcomers when they arrive, Credit Canada identified a gap in helping newcomers build their new life - education about credit that reflects a newcomer’s experience, presented in their preferred language.
In my interview with Bruce, we discuss:
- The unique barriers newcomers face when arriving in Canada
- Essentials of credit in Canada
- How to build your credit history in Canada
- How to improve your credit score
- What to do if you run into problems with credit
Not all journalists get to live their beat, but Rob Carrick does. His personal finance column in The Globe and Mail is one regular guy’s attempt to make sense of the world of money. He’s married with two 20-something kids and constantly figuring out ways to spend and invest intelligently. He asks the same questions you would and applies his experience and contacts to get answers.
He got his start in financial writing back in the early 1990s when he covered the Bay Street business scene for The Canadian Press wire service. A few years later, he was transferred to CP’s parliamentary bureau in Ottawa to cover consumer affairs and, later, the federal Department of Finance.
He left CP and joined The Globe and Mail as investment reporter in 1996. He mentioned to his boss at the time that we didn’t do much personal finance coverage at The Globe. The paper’s Personal Finance column was launched shortly afterwards, with him at the wheel.
What a trip it’s been for Rob covering personal finance over the years. Rob’s seen three bull markets for stocks, a couple of recessions and stock market crashes, one global financial crisis, the incredible rise of the housing market, soaring personal debt loads and an ever-present worry that Canadians aren’t saving enough for retirement.
Rob knows there’s infinite personal finance content available these days online, in print and on TV and radio. Come to Rob for his experience, his willingness to challenge stale consensus thinking and, most of all, his ability to make you say after finishing one of my columns: “Now I understand.”
In my interview with Rob, we discuss:
- His book "How Not to Move Back in With Your Parents”
- The Bank of Mom and Dad
- Top mortgage tips for first-time homebuyers
- Expenses that may surprise first-time homebuyers
- Why you shouldn’t judge a bank by its hyped-up rate
- The First Home Savings Account (FHSA)
Jonathan Chevreau is a veteran financial columnist, blogger and author based in Toronto.
He was the Financial Post’s personal finance columnist between 1993 and 2012 and editor-in-chief for MoneySense Magazine from 2012 to 2014. He still writes the Retired Money column for MoneySense.
In 2014, he launched the Financial Independence Hub, which usually publishes four blogs every week.
Jon has authored several books with traditional book publishers like McGraw Hill and Key Porter books, including The Wealthy Boomer, and a series of mutual fund guides called Smart Funds. In 2016, he co-authored Victory Lap Retirement, a Globe & Mail bestseller.
In my interview with Jon, we discuss:
- Housing affordability
- His 32-year-old daughter Helen saving in a FHSA
- General thoughts on Findependence
- What he’s now doing in semi-retirement now he’s turned 70
Tomas Ronis is the founder and CEO of Rhenti. Being both a landlord and a renter, Tomas has a unique perspective of the residential rental industry that enables the Rhenti team to build digital leasing tools for landlords in a way that shifts renters to the forefront of the experience.
Rhenti is the busy landlord's trusted leasing platform, connecting them with more renters, faster. Rhenti helps busy landlords to protect their time and free themselves from menial and tedious tasks by reducing their overall time to lease.
In my interview with Tomas, we discuss:
- What is Rhenti and how does it work
- What kind of property owners would get the most out of Rhenti
- Something we wish property owners and landlords understood more about the leasing process
- What we are seeing in the market right now
As a listener of the Burn Your Mortgage Podcast, Rhenti is happy to offer listeners $60 Off on your first listing (for new clients only). To get this exclusive offer, email me at sean@burnyourmortgage.ca.
Larry Bates is an independent investor advocate, author of Beat the Bank: The Canadian Guide to Simply Successful Investing, consultant and speaker. Larry enjoyed a 35-year banking career with several major financial institutions in both Canada and the U.K. including as Global Head of Debt Capital Markets for RBC. Over the course of his career, Larry both collaborated with and advised many of the world’s most sophisticated investors and financial institutions.
Larry is currently on the board of FAIR Canada and is an Ambassador of the Transparency Task Force. He is a graduate of Dalhousie University.
In my interview with Larry, we discuss:
- The high cost of investment fees
- How to better investment your down payment and keep more of your hard earned money
- The RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan
- The First Home Savings Account (FHSA)
Pattie Lovett-Reid is a highly respected Canadian financial expert known for her expertise in personal finance. Starting as a bank teller right out of high school, she climbed the ranks in the investment world, eventually serving as Senior Vice-President at TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.
In 2012, Lovett-Reid became the Chief Financial Commentator at CTV News, providing valuable financial insights on various platforms. Her ability to simplify complex financial concepts into practical advice quickly made her a respected figure in the industry. She continues to be a sought-after commentator and currently serves as the Chief Financial Commentator at HomeEquity Bank.
Lovett-Reid is a Certified Financial Planner and co-author of national bestselling books. Her contributions to financial planning in Canada have earned her prestigious awards, including the Donald J. Johnston Award and the Financial Planning Canada Fellow of Distinction. Pattie Lovett-Reid splits her time between Toronto and Muskoka, Canada, where she resides with her husband, children, and grandchildren.
In my interview with Pattie, we discuss:
- The challenges of being house rich and cash poor
- Reverse mortgages
- The importance of applying for a mortgage before retirement
- Downsizing not happening with as many baby boomers
Erica Alini is a personal finance reporter at the Globe and Mail and the author of the bestselling book "Money Like You Mean It, Personal Finance Tactics for the Real World." Erica started out her career in journalism as an economics reporter, chronicling the ripple effects of the financial crisis of 2007-2008 for the Wall Street Journal in New York. That background is why she's always exploring how larger trends -- from the housing affordability crisis to the impact of climate change on insurance -- affect Canadians' money struggles.
Her book argues that economic, social and technological changes have complicated personal finance for everybody, but especially for Millennials and Gen Z. She then provides practical tips on how young Canadians can achieve middle-class financial goals despite the challenges they face.
In my interview with Erica, we discuss:
- Creative ways the dream of homeownership can still be achieved.
- The money-bucket system and how it can help manage the cost of homeownership.
- Four powerful strategies to reduce the financial pain of mortgage renewal.
Alex Rascanu held senior marketing and senior policy advisory roles before entering the real estate industry, where he provides buy and sell-side real estate advisory services: suitable acquisitions analysis with portfolio and development strategy, and direct sales and digital marketing strategy development and execution to help you achieve the highest sale price in the current market. Alex completed a bachelor of business administration from the University of Toronto and a masters of public administration (management) from Dalhousie University, and is a registered real estate sales representative with Right at Home Realty.
In my interview with Alex, we discuss why Alex became a real estate agent, what is the process of owning a home and what are some creative ways to get your foot into the door of the real estate market.
On today’s show I’ll be talking to Owen Winkelmolen.
Owen Winkelmolen is an Advice-Only Financial Planner and CFP. He founded PlanEasy, an advice-only financial planning practice that makes financial planning easy, accessible, and inexpensive. As an advice-only planner, Owen does not sell products or manage investments. He works collaboratively with clients to build a detailed financial plan and make the most of their money. Through their innovative online platform Owen and his team at PlanEasy help average Canadian households maximize their cash flow by focusing on the right opportunities and help them feel great about their financial future.
In my interview with Owen, we discuss how to best prepare for your mortgage renewal, making lump sum payments vs investing (with higher interest rates this is a hot topic) and how to handle carrying a mortgage into retirement.
Welcome to the Burn Your Mortgage Podcast. I’m Sean Cooper and it’s great to be back for another episode. On today’s show I’ll be talking to Alfonso Salemi.
Alfonso Salemi is the co-owner, co-founder of JAAG Properties. JAAG specializes in Rent to Home solutions and have helped over 250 families on the road to homeownership. Alfonso loves sharing his passion for Rent to Home and the benefits it brings to people’s lives. He thrives on these interactions and enjoys helping others with their largest purchase or investment of their lives.
He is the conduit to Joint-Venture Partners, Investors, Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Tenant Buyer Clients, as well as other Real Estate Professionals. As a true ‘people person,’ Alfonso enjoys presenting the benefits of JAAG's Rent to Home program and how it enables those who have experienced roadblocks to become homeowners. Bringing these entities together is one of the things that Alfonso values most about his role.
Alfonso also serves as the President of C.A.R.O.P. (Canadian Association of Rent To Own Professionals)
In my interview with Alfonso, we discuss what is Rent to Own (Rent to Home), why Rent to Own is more relevant now than ever before, and how to earn a great ROI by investing in Rent to Own.
If you’re interested in learning more about Rent to Own and to see if you’re a good fit as a Tenant Buyer or Investor, please email me at sean@burnyourmortgage.ca to learn more.
On today’s show I’ll be talking to MacKenzie Wilson of SingleKey.
SingleKey Helps Landlords Find the Right Tenant & Manage Risks That Come With Renting. Screen Tenants, Run Background-Checks & Protect Your Property with Our Rent Guarantee. Result in only 5 minutes! Trusted by 90K+ Landlords.
MacKenzie Wilson increases the supply of affordable housing through grass root education of Alberta Landlords. He uses tech to instill best practices and reduce the risk for landlords & tenants across Canada.
He is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the largest Facebook group for Alberta landlords, the Alberta Landlord Community.
In my interview with MacKenzie, we discuss what is SingleKey, Singley Key’s unique Tenant Report and Rent Guarantee, and how SingleKey helps make being a landlord risk-free.
Please refer to our show notes, as we have an exclusive offer for all our loyal listeners.
Without further ado, here’s my interview with MacKenzie Wilson.
Steve Bridge, CFP®, is a dedicated financial planner with a decade of experience in personal finance. He prioritizes serving his clients' best interests as an advice-only professional, free from the distractions of selling financial products. Steve's profound understanding of personal finances has transformed lives, motivating him to share his expertise with both small and large groups. His goal is to empower individuals to make informed decisions and establish a strong financial foundation. Beyond his financial pursuits, Steve finds joy and balance in activities like running, mountain biking, and playing hockey with his over-the-hill men's league team.
In my interview with Steve, we discuss making sure you’re financially ready to buy a home, not becoming house rich and cash poor, and savings strategies for coming up with your down payment.
Without further ado, here’s my interview with Steve Bridge.
On today’s show I’ll be talking to Anthony Molinaro, Adrian Omasta and Conor Duffy.
Anthony Molinaro is a normal guy from Brampton who happens to buy investment properties with his two buddies, Adrian and Conor. He works as a marketer for Rock Star Real Estate and is also a property manager & tenant placement expert.
Adrian Omasta joint ventured with his two buddies from Brampton to buy 3 investment properties in 3 years while in their mid 20’s.
Conor Duffy is a 27 year old Chartered Insurance Professional. He bought his first property (joint-venture with Anthony & Adrian) in July 2021, and bought his second (joint-venture) in Sudbury in February 2022.
In my interview with Anthony, Adrian and Conor, we discuss selecting the perfect partner for a joint venture in real estate, tenant screening done right and buying a rental property as your first property.
Welcome to the Burn Your Mortgage Podcast. I’m Sean Cooper and it’s great to be back for another episode. On today’s show, I’ll be talking to Uytae Lee.
Uytae Lee is the creative mind behind ‘About Here’, a YouTube channel dedicated to covering the complex issues surrounding our cities. In addition to the channel, Uytae produces the CBC series ‘Stories About Here.’ Check out more of his work at YouTube.com/abouthere
In my interview with Uytae, we discuss addressing the missing middle, the heritage dilemma, and a “special” solution to the housing supply.
Welcome to the Burn Your Mortgage Podcast. I’m Sean Cooper and it’s great to be back for another episode. On today’s show, I’ll be talking to Luc Lising.
Luc Lising is a realtor in the GTA and the president of My Future Condo, a pre-construction real estate firm that helps people invest in pre-construction homes and condos. At only 22 years old, Luc reached the Top 1% bracket of all Realtors in Canada. Luc and his team have done over $180m in real estate sales, closing over 300+ deals over the last 2 years.
In my interview with Luc, we discuss his journey to become a successful as a realtor at such a young age, what to look for when buying an investment property, and mental fortitude, the ups and downs of business.
Jelani Smith is a personal finance guru with a passion for real estate & personal finance. He is a real estate agent at RE/MAX HALLMARK REALTY and managing editor & founder of Bay Street Blog, a Millennial Finance Hub. He envisions the blog to improve the financial literacy rates among millennials. Jelani bought his first home in Toronto as a recent U of T grad and looks forward to sharing his knowledge with students & recent grads.
Jelani has received multiple agent awards – & closed 39 deals in the first 12 months of his real estate career & continues to help clients climb the real estate ladder. All in all, Jelani has the vision of providing guidance to investors, buyers, & sellers – with the underlying goal of wealth creation.
In my interview with Jelani, we discuss what is house hacking and why do it, how to scale your real estate portfolio using the BRRRR Strategy, and how to successfully work with contractors.
Robinson Smith, financial strategist and author, reveals how Canadians can mitigate the challenges that homeowners face in raising their families, raising their net worth and raising their level of financial security in the face of rising costs of life.
Robinson, a consultant with over 15 years in the investment industry, creator of a number of financial educational courses and the author of, “Master Your Mortgage and Retire Ready – The Smith Manoeuvre”, is dedicated to increasing Canadians’ awareness of personal finances.
In my interview with Robinson, we discuss why the Smith Manoeuvre is more relevant than ever before, why should you work with a Smith Manoeuvre Certified Professional (SMCP) mortgage broker instead of doing it yourself, and why home financing has very little to do with the rate.
I recorded this interview with Robinson Smith a while ago. Most of the information is still relevant, but some things have changed. Mortgage rates are no longer as low as they once were. The question I get most often is, does the Smith Manoeuvre still make sense? The answer is a resounding yes. When rates are low, we have more money to invest, but we receive a lower tax refund. When rates are higher like they are right now, we have less to invest, but we receive a higher tax refund, so things even out. Not to mention, with markets down, it’s a great buying opportunity. You’re able to buy solid long-term investments while they’re on sale. These are just a few of the many reasons why the Smith Manoeuvre still makes sense today.
Laura Stewart is the Director of Sales and Marketing for one of Canada’s Top Real Estate firms. Having spent the last 15 years navigating her career, Laura has had the opportunity to gain education and experience in a multitude of industries. From nutrition to concierge services, to special needs caregiver, to fashion, to real estate and a degree in Science and a Master of Business Administration, Laura loves to discuss an array of topics with the hope of inspiring others to never settle.
In my interview with Laura, we discuss why and how to purchase pre-construction condos, what do people need to know when signing the purchase agreement and the benefits of working with a realtor when buying pre-construction.
Mark Weisleder is a Senior Partner at RealEstateLawyers.ca. Mark is recognized as a real estate industry expert on real estate issues, having spoken for real estate associations, boards and brokerages across Canada. Mark is a regular guest expert on BNN, Global News, Citytv and CTV and has written columns for the Toronto Star and Real Estate Magazine on real estate issues. Mark has written best selling industry books for real estate agents, buyer, sellers and landlords.
In my interview with Mark, we discuss how has the legal process changed when buying a home during COVID times, some important things to know about real estate deposits and how people can complete their refinancing to take advantage of the low interest rates.
Reza Khoshdel is on a mission to help you break free of the limitations that are holding you back from being the best version of yourself. Reza is a stock trader, a co-owner of a luxury floral boutique, and a real estate investor who strives to help people get on the path of financial freedom. For Reza, financial freedom is something deeper than money; it’s the ability to live a purposeful life on your own terms. He strives to help people break free of the internal chains that hold them back from attaining this freedom through lessons from his own personal journey. In his free time, Reza runs a TikTok channel that he uses to teach people the technical skills needed to successfully trade the markets with a YouTube channel in the works.
Reza’s TikTok: @mistamarket
Mona’s business website: https://www.earthandglam.ca/
Natasha Feghali is one of the recipients of the 40 Under 40 United Way/ Leadership Windsor-Essex Award 2018 as well as numerous awards and recognitions; most notably the Sovereign Canadian Medal in 2015 for her dedication to education and the future of entrepreneurship and youth. More recently she has received the Odyssey Award from the University of Windsor and has been published in a book on Women and Leadership in Ontario by the Elementary Teachers Federation.
As the owner of Feghali Group Inc (FGI), an independently owned and operated rental homes, rental storage units and holding group, Natasha has helped build a strong portfolio of homes in the Windsor-Essex County Region and works with local and international investors as well. FGI pride themselves on giving the best quality care and expertise when it comes to rental homes as well as the community at large and delivering great service for clients and tenants.
In my interview with Natasha, we discuss the most important part of being an investor, why women could benefit from investing and creating your own life via real estate.
Christopher Bisson started his mortgage career in 1999. After 15 years in the mortgage industry, Chris went back to school and was able to realize his desire to obtain an MBA. He led a small group of classmates through a research project on the Appraisal Management Industry in North America, which was based on his experience in the mortgage industry.
The research was the genesis for Value Connect, a new Appraisal Management Solution, where he’s devoting 100% of his time to change the industry for the betterment of loan originators, appraisers and the users of reports.
In my interview with Christopher, we discuss when do lenders require an appraisal, how the appraisal process has changed since COVID-19 started and tips for homeowners to ensure the appraisal process goes smoothly.
Austin Yeh is a 25 year old real estate investor. Austin’s journey began 29 months ago when he first picked up the book Rich Dad Poor Dad. Since then, Austin has accumulated over 35 rental units in addition to completing 10+ wholesale deals. Moreover, Austin has founded and operates the RISE Network community. Currently, with over 3,200 members, this network continues to inspire and help the everyday investor break in to the world of real estate investing. He is also a co-founder of the RISE Real Estate Networking Podcast which highlights different investors’ journeys’ and strategies’ as they navigate through the real estate world to achieve financial independence.
Austin has most recently retired from his full time job at a large financial institution at the age of 25 to pursue real estate investing and wholesaling full time. Moreover, he has recently reaped the fruits of his labour by selling his first property and redeploying the profits to purchase his first ever primary residence without any financial assistance from his parents.
In my interview with Austin, we discuss scaling your rental property portfolio, lessons learned as a real estate investor during COVID-19 and how the everyday person can enjoy similar real estate investing success.
Rizwan Malik is a realtor to reckon with. Becoming the youngest VP of Sales at Sotheby's International Realty Canada in the company's history, along with his credit as a host on HGTV Canada's Hot Market, Rizwan is fuelled with passion, knowledge and an innate desire to help people.
In my interview with Rizwan, we discuss why buying a home makes sense even with five percent down, how he became a TV host on HGTV and COVID-19’s continued effect on the real estate market.
Neal Winokur, a CPA, is the author of the new book, The Grumpy Accountant. An active blogger, several of his articles have been published in the National Post. Neal feels a moral obligation to speak out against the inherent flaws, unfairness and needless complexities that define Canadian tax. His dream is for the Canadian tax system to be massively simplified to the point where his job as a tax accountant would no longer exist. His wife won’t be too happy about this, but it’s for the good of the nation.
In my interview with Neal, we discuss the tax breaks first-time homebuyers receive, how the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan works and the tax implications of renting out your home.
Sarah Larbi specializes in helping take the mystery out of homeownership for Canadians who thought real estate investing was going to be out of reach. She has earned their trust and respect by having the drive and focus to embark, build and grow a 7-figure, 10 property, 14 door, investment portfolio by her mid 30’s all whilst employed full time. She is now able to exit the job world as of fall 2020, only 7 years after buying her first investment property.
Sarah is an invited back speaker and panelist with the Investor Forum and her expertise and insights are a sought after subject at professional networking groups and as co-founder, she also hosts regular investor learning sessions for experienced and newer investors through the successful REITE Club.
In my interview with Sarah, we discuss how she was able to retire from her 9-5 job 30 years early, the importance of “key power team members” and how advanceable mortgages can help you grow your real estate portfolio.
Stephanie Jourdier came to Canada in 2017 after spending most of her life and career in Paris, France. She worked for almost 14 years in the asset management, real asset management and insurance industry, first as an HR specialist and then as a financial controller.
In 2020 she and her husband took the plunge and bought a house in Canada in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. They called on my services to help them get a mortgage and were able to savour the joys and surprises of homeownership. It turned out that several unpleasant surprises invited themselves to the party. Stephanie will share her experience with you and offer you some helpful advice along the way.
Robin Taub is a financial writer, speaker and consultant. A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) by training, Robin is also the best-selling author of Raising Money-Smart Kids: How to Teach Your Kids about Money While Learning a Few Things Yourself, a book that gives parents the information and skills they need to teach their kids about money.
In my interview with Robin, we discuss some of the issues to consider when deciding to renovate or move, what COVID-19 may mean for the future of housing and personal finance as it relates to affordability.
Nathalie Boutet, based in Toronto, is an experienced family law lawyer, accredited mediator and certified Family Enterprise Advisor, skilled at providing unique strategies and out-of-court results to the complex legal, financial and human matters related to separation or divorce for high-net-worth families and business owners.
In my interview with Nathalie, we discuss why you might consider having your partner sign a cohabitation agreement when moving in together, what’s a matrimonial home and the property rights of common-law partners versus married spouses.
Lesli Gaynor is a real estate agent specializing in co-housing. In 2016, she founded GoCo Solutions, part of the Fridman Team at Forest Hill Real Estate, to help people navigate the process of co-operative real estate and find a home in the Toronto and GTA real estate market. As well as supporting her clients, Lesli hosts events and conferences to educate about co-housing. These have included ‘Co-housing speed dating’ evenings, to match prospective home buyers together.
In my interview with Lesli, we discuss why someone might consider the co-ownership of real estate, how weOwn.ca came to be and the life-changing benefits of co-ownership.
Katie Steinfeld is a seasoned real estate broker who is passionate about making the real estate industry better for both consumers and registrants. She is a board member with the Real Estate Council of Ontario and enjoys staying involved in all levels of governance. Together, with her partner, Daniel, On The Block Realty and On The Block Auctions was created to bring more innovation and modernization to the Canadian real estate industry. Too many people have been frustrated and turned off by the limited information in the real estate process and they have set out to change that.
Although rather new to Canada, the auction option has enjoyed consistent growing success in major markets like Australia and Great Britain. On The Block Auctions provides a secure bidding platform, allowing prospective home buyers the ability to purchase their dream home without guessing at what price to pay. In addition, sellers can be sure that they are maximizing the sale price of their home by giving all buyers an equal chance to offer their top price. Their primary goal through this unique platform is to provide greater choice for consumers and greater transparency of the process.
In my interview with Katie, we discuss the pros and cons of buying and selling a home the traditional way, the benefits of buying and selling through the auction process and how the real estate industry is going to be modernized in the coming years.
Anthony Molinaro and Adrian Omasta are two high school pals who are going all in on their dreams!
Anthony Molinaro first found his way onto the front page of the Toronto Star at the age of 20 years old for his work ethic and drive to get ahead in life. Since that article Anthony has graduated university and now works full-time for a real estate investing educational company, Rock Star Real Estate.
Now recently at the ripe old age of 24 years old, Anthony and Adrian have jumped into the real estate investing game and purchased their first investment property in St. Catharines, Ontario!
With one property under their belt, they're soon going to purchase their second property and many more properties afterwards as well!
They are also launching Rat Race Real Estate, an avenue for sharing content of their own journey of escaping the rat race using the power of real estate investing so that they can inspire and help other Canadians to escape the rat race as well.
In my interview with Anthony and Adrian, we discuss factors to consider when buying an investment property, why you might choose to do rent-to-own for your investment property and tenant screening.
Toronto native, Jas Takhar, has been in the sales and service industry for over 25 years. Soon after deciding to try his hand in real estate, he co-founded the REC, and in the course of 15 years, has successfully propelled his team to the 1st place position in Canada under Royal LePage.
In my interview with Jas, we discuss how Coronavirus is affecting the real estate market, steps realtors are taking to protect home buyers and sellers and how homebuyers can still views properties if they aren’t comfortable seeing them in person.
Enoch Omololu is a personal finance enthusiast and a veterinarian. He has a master's degree in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Aberdeen Business School and has a passion for helping others win with their finances.
As a first-time homebuyer in Canada, Enoch learned a lot about the intricacies of buying a home in Canada and has written about his experiences and other personal finance topics on his blog at savvynewcanadians.com. His writing has been featured or quoted in some of the top personal finance publications in Canada including the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, MSN Money and the Financial Post.
In my interview with Enoch, we discuss buying a home as a new Canadian, getting a mortgage as a new Canadians and top tips to make the mortgage process go smoother as a new Canadian.
Julie Kuzmic is Director of Consumer Advocacy at Equifax Canada and a recognized authority on consumer credit. She often speaks to industry groups, government, clients and consumers to shed light on the credit lifecycle. She is passionate about financial literacy and is always testing out new metaphors to describe the nuances of credit scores.
In my interview with Julie, we discuss how credit scores are calculated, why there are multiple credit scores and how credit scores are affected by shopping around for a mortgage.
Robert Gignac is the best-selling author of Rich is a State of Mind and a highly sought-after speaker at financial industry seminars and client events, currently based in Oakville, Ontario. With an entertaining yet direct speaking style, Robert offers a light-hearted look at financial planning with the serious message of personal responsibility. Audiences love his dynamic and engaging presentations which challenge them to see things from a different perspective. Robert has been a student of the financial planning process for almost two decades. His goal is to passionately encourage people to take control of their finances in order to have a “Richly Imagined Future.”
In my interview with Robert, we discuss pitfalls to avoid when investing in real estate, the downsizing trend and achieving mortgage-free financial freedom.
Michael Walsh is the President and Broker of Record at Exclusively Buyers Inc (EBI), the only real estate brokerage in Ontario that is dedicated exclusively to home buyers. His brokerage does not accept sales assignments, thereby avoiding the conflicts of interest inherent in traditional real estate brokerages. Clients of EBI receive a guarantee of single agency, the gold standard of real estate brokerage services.
In my interview with Michael, we discuss the driving force behind the proposed Trust in Real Estate Services Act 2019, what is multiple representation and why were some industry pundits lobbying for its prohibition.
Rachelle Berube is the founder of Landlord Rescue. She has 25 years’ experience as a property manager. Rachelle rents properties on behalf of homeowners and manages properties. She does all the work for the homeowner. She shows the property, screens the tenants and makes up leases. She works hard to match the tenant to the homeowner.
In my interview with Rachelle, we discuss the benefits of being a landlord, avoiding bad tenants and how to determine whether it’s better to manage a rental property on your own or hire a property manager.
Sean Galbraith is President of Galbraith & Associates, a boutique urban planning firm in Toronto, specializing in small projects. Sean speaks the language of planning. Sean has over 20 years’ experience as an urban planner. Sean's career has primarily been focused in the private sector, where he has worked on a wide variety of residential development applications. He also provides planning advice to community groups and others.
In my interview with Sean, we discuss how a city’s policies around urban planning influences the type of homes that are built, what could cities be doing better from an urban planning standpoint to help make real estate more affordable and what could all levels of government be doing to help put shovels in the ground faster for new homes.
Sandy Yong and Albert Ho are a married couple from Toronto. They are the property power couple that focus on renting out condos to tenants. Together, they have 2 condo units in Toronto that they rent out and another unit in Kitchener completing construction in Spring 2021.
They are both Authors and Keynote Speakers.
Sandy’s newly published book is called The Money Master: Inside Secrets On How To Make Your Money Grow and Stay Safe which focuses on helping millennials create wealth through investing. Sandy combines her passion for public speaking with personal finance to host workshops and speak at conferences.
Albert’s book is called Checkmate: How to Win the Sales Game in Healthcare which focuses on healthcare sales. His book will be published in the New Year of 2020. Albert helps healthcare sales professionals generate $1 million within the first year.
In my interview with Sandy and Albert, we discuss what is a good way for first time real estate investors to find their first property, how do you find a good real estate agent and the pros and cons of property managers.
Ben Myers is President of Bullpen Consulting, a boutique real estate advisory firm that works with land owners, developers, and lenders to better inform them of the current and future macroeconomic and site-specific housing market conditions that can impact their active or proposed development projects.
With over 15 years of real estate research experience, Ben has established himself as an industry expert, and a go to source for the latest information and insight on the domestic residential housing market. Ben has appeared on BNN, CBC, CTV, TVO, Global and CP24 discussing the housing market, and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Globe & Mail and the Financial Post.
In my interview with Ben, we discuss what’s driving the condo market in the GTA and other big cities in Canada, the important role that the housing market plays in our economy and what can the government do to help keep housing more affordable for the Canadian middle class.
Nabeel Naqvi is a real estate lawyer who operates Naqvi Law. He has completed well over 5000 real estate transactions and specializes in the areas of secured financing and all matters related to residential real estate. With offices in Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax and Mobile Signing Officers available 24/7, Naqvi Law is ready to serve you wherever you are in Southern Ontario at your convenience.
In my interview with Nabeel, we discuss what happens if a legal issue comes up when you’re buying a home, the difference between title insurance and a survey, and important questions to ask when you’re looking to hire a good real estate lawyer.
Tyson George is a 17 year old landlord who purchased his first investment property at the age of 15. He currently owns three investment properties, two of which are rentals and one full time Airbnb. He started at the early age of nine with $500 in his pocket. He was inspired by his grandfather to grow his savings, so he bought and sold items on Kijiji and Facebook. He saved his earnings for six years until he had enough for a down payment on an investment property. Tyson has been featured on CBC News, Global News Toronto, CFPL 980 Radio station, 30 Minutes to Wealth (Season Two), and Kijiji Canada Commercial. He hopes to achieve his goal of acquiring 100 units by the age of 25.
In my interview with Tyson, we discuss what inspired him to invest in real estate at such a young age, how to buy a home before age 18 and selecting the perfect tenant.
Jason Heath is a fee-only, advice-only Certified Financial Planner (CFP) at Objective Financial Partners. He does not sell any financial products whatsoever.
Jason has been providing fee-only, advice-only financial planning since 2001 and is one of Canada’s best-known fee-only financial planners. He is currently a personal finance columnist for the Financial Post and MoneySense. He is also a regular contributor to RetireHappy.ca.
In my interview with Jason, we discuss how rental real estate is taxed, whether you should hold rental real estate in a corporation and how a financial planner can help you evaluate real estate decisions.
Michael Schmidt is the Area Director and Chief Inspector for HouseMaster Home Inspections of Toronto. He is a NIBI Certified Inspector (National Institute of Building Inspectors) and a Member of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors. Michael is Level I Certified (Infrared) Thermographer, and he is trained as a Types I and II Asbestos Worker.
HouseMaster is a well-respected name in the home inspection business. Established in 1979, HouseMaster has collectively performed over 3 million home inspections across North America, and they have been active in the Greater Toronto Area for more than 20 years.
In my interview with Michael, we discuss the major benefits of getting a home inspection, the risks of skipping a home inspection and some important questions to ask when you’re looking to hire a good home inspector.
Starr Watson is a highly-skilled professional with over 14 years of experience in marketing and many related fields. She has been working with clients, generating leads, building brands and helping businesses thrive since the age of 19. Starr brings seasoned knowledge, good humor and top-shelf strategies to ensure you get the results you deserve.
In my interview with Starr, we discuss first-time homebuyer mistakes to avoid, choosing your real estate dream team and protecting your home in divorce.
Heather Tremain is the CEO of Options for Homes, a non-profit condo developer that helps people achieve their dream of home ownership by passing along cost-savings and down payment support. Since joining Options for Homes Heather has become a tireless champion and the national voice of affordable home ownership and its value. She has helped achieve beneficial changes to both public policy and funding in support of this segment of the Canadian housing spectrum.
In my interview with Heather, we discuss what is a shared-equity mortgage and how does it differ from a traditional mortgage, pros and cons of the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive and whether it will help homebuyers in Toronto and Vancouver.
Ian Lee is an Associate Professor at Carleton University in the Sprott School of Business. Prior to being a professor, he was employed at the BMO Main Office Branch (4thlargest in all Canada at that time) as a Loan and Mortgage Manager, lending millions of dollars in mortgage loans.
Over the years, Ian has appeared extensively in the media including CTV, Global News and CBC Radio and TV. Since 2008, Ian has appeared by invitation before House of Commons and Senate finance, banking, industry and trade committees 25 times concerning public policy debates. He has been invited by Global TV to attend every federal budget lockup as one of their expert witnesses since 2008.
In my interview with Ian, we discuss the housing plans of the Conservatives, Liberals and NDP in the 2019 federal election. Topics include the 30 year amortization, mortgage stress test, First-Time Home Buyer Incentive and foreign buyers’ tax.
Janine Rogan is a passionate finance professional and CPA. She’s the founder of JanineRogan.com and runs her own YouTube channel. Over the years she has dedicated countless hours to sharing her knowledge through writing and speaking, and she’s passionate about educating individuals and businesses about their money.
Janine’s also the host of the Pink Tax Podcast, a no-nonsense podcast tackling all things finances and feminism.
In my interview with Janine, we discuss preparing ahead of time to buy a home, planning for a move and what it’s like going from being a renter to a homeowner.
Ed Rempel is a fee-for-service financial planner and tax accountant, as well as a popular and passionate blogger. He has written hundreds of articles to educate the public on his unique insights and strategies that actually work, instead of the “conventional wisdom” common in the financial services industry and the media. He is an expert in many financial strategies, including the Smith Manoeuvre.
In my interview with Ed, we discuss managing risks of the Smith Manoeuvre, tax issues you need to be aware of and what happens once your mortgage is paid off.
Gordon Stein is a personal finance keynote speaker and author of the bestselling Cashflow Cookbook - a unique personal finance book that offers an approach to help readers add millions of net worth with minimal effort and sacrifice. The book has become a Toronto Star column and his talks are in high demand.
In my interview with Gordon, we discuss simple ways to save on the ongoing expenses of homeownership, factors to consider (besides just the rate) when shopping for a mortgage and good DIY home repairs to tackle on your own (and when to call in the pros).
Chantel Chapman is a Millennial Money and Credit Score Expert with a background in the mortgage industry. She was a mortgage broker for over a decade and has been teaching financial literacy for 10 years.
Chantel is the founder of W-T-Finances, financial literacy and advice for millennials looking to get their money right. W-T-Finances is backed by science-based research in addiction and behaviour to explore how consumerism and mental health are linked to money problems.
In my interview with Chantel, we discuss the 5 main factors that affect your credit score, some common misconceptions about credit scores and the best tips for improving your credit score.
Alan Whitton aka BigCajunMan has been writing about finance, child disabilities, RESPs and consumerism on his blog Canadian Personal Finance Blog for over a decade. He’s a homeowner in Ottawa who’s married with four kids. He has been featured in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star and MoneySense.
In my interview with Alan, we discuss dealing with double digit mortgage rates, why downsizing doesn’t always make sense and the right way to help adult children buy their first homes.
Anna Baluch is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about real estate and personal finance. She's particularly interested in mortgages, retirement, insurance and investing. Her work can be seen on LendingTree, Credit Karma, Experian, Business Insider and other well-known publications.
In my interview with Anna, we discuss factors to consider when buying a home, how she paid off her mortgage in only 16 months and how to create a third income.
Doug Hoyes is the co-founder of Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc., one of Canada’s largest personal insolvency firms. In his thirty-year career as a chartered accountant and Licensed Insolvency Trustee, he has personally helped over 10,000 individuals solve their debt problems and rebuild their financial future.
He has appeared before the Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee in Ottawa to give testimony on the impact of bankruptcy legislation on the individual, and serves as an OSB (Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy) Oral Board Examiner.
Doug is a passionate advocate for ensuring that people find the right solutions for their debt problems. Frequently interviewed in the media, he has shared his knowledge and expertise on the most common financial myths and mistakes on CBC, Global News, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Business News Network, The Financial Post, and CTV News.
Doug is the author of the personal finance book Straight Talk on Your Money – The Biggest Financial Myths and Mistakes…and How to Avoid Them available online and in major bookstores across Canada. He’s also the host of the Debt Free in 30 Podcast.
In my interview with Doug, we discuss the pros and cons of filing for bankruptcy and a consumer proposal, what happens to mortgage debt when you file for bankruptcy or a consumer proposal and how to use a home equity line of credit (HELOC) in a responsible way.
Anna Belov is a successful investor with a cash positive real estate portfolio in Ontario, Canada. When Anna and her husband both lost their jobs in 2012, they were determined to take control of the situation and build a safety net for the future so that they would never have to worry about living from paycheque to paycheque. In under five years, Anna acquired 20 rental units while working full-time and being a mom of three.
Anna is the author of the book, Just Over Broke? How to Invest in Assets and Eliminate Liabilities – the sincere Canadian blueprint to escaping paycheque-to-paycheque life.
In my interview with Anna, we discuss how she went from being broke to owning 20 rental units, investing mistakes she made and how she got past them and strategies for someone who’s starting to invest in real estate today.
Tim Hudak is the CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), Canada’s largest provincial real estate industry association. Tim joined OREA after a distinguished 21 years of public service in the Ontario Legislature – including five years as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
Since becoming CEO in December 2016, he and his OREA team have focused on transforming OREA into Ontario’s most effective professional association that delivers high-impact advocacy on behalf of realtors and consumers, and provides quality services to members.
OREA has launched the Keep the Dream Alive campaign. The campaign is aimed at helping ensure that affordable homeownership remains a top priority for politicians in the province of Ontario. To learn more about the campaign and to take action by telling your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to keep homeownership affordable for future generations, visit KeepTheDreamAlive.ca.
On a personal note, I first met Tim a couple years ago when I was invited to speak at the 10th Annual Post City Magazine Real Estate Round Table. We ended up sitting beside each other and really hit it off. Since them we have been collaborating and supporting each other, since we both share the common goal of helping keep homeownership affordable for the younger generations.
In my interview with Tim, we discuss measures the government could take to keep homeownership affordable for younger folks, new real estate rules OREA is proposing for homebuyers and home sellers and whether the mortgage stress test should be tweaked.
Rubina Ahmed-Haq is a personal finance expert, journalist and public speaker. Rubina’s passion for all things money started at a young age growing up in Canada with her frugal parents. Their money-saving ways stuck and built the foundation for her work today.
For 20 years Rubina has been reporting news and stories at CBC, Global News, CTV, Yahoo Finance and others. Rubina is also the host of her own podcast Dear Rubi.
In my interview with Rubina, we discuss her journey into real estate investing with her brother, the hurdles women face when investing in real estate and her experiences as a landlord.
Erin Bury is an entrepreneur, speaker, startup advisor, and former technology journalist. She previously spent 6 years as Managing Director at Eighty-Eight, a Toronto-based creative communications agency. She’s a frequent speaker at events across North America and was named one of Marketing Magazine's top 30 Under 30 marketers, journalists & PR pros in August 2012.
Erin is also co-founder and CEO at Willful, an online estate planning platform that makes it easier for Canadians to prepare for and deal with death in a digital age.
Let’s face it. Life can get busy and to do lists can seem never-ending. Willful does the heavy lifting to make estate planning as painless as possible while skipping an expensive visit to a lawyer. Unlock peace of mind knowing there’s a plan in place for you and your loved ones.
Willful guides you each step of the way, helping you create customized legal documents to protect you and your family. Create a will in less than 20 minutes for as little as $99.
Visit BurnYourMortgage.ca/willful to learn more and try Willful out for free. Enter promo code SEANCOOPER for 10% off any plan. I’ve also included a link and the promo code in the show notes.
In my interview with Erin, we discuss what happens when you die without a will, what are some common excuses for not having a will and why it’s important to have a power of attorney for property.
Meghan Chomut is a fee-only CFP professional that works with families and helps investment property owners make smart financial decisions. From debt repayment strategies, to savings (how much and where), to tax planning and everything in between, Meghan loves helping families get their finances organized, streamlined and set up properly so they can actually see financial freedom (or be ready should an opportunity come up).
In terms of real estate investing, Meghan has a rental property, she’s done a flip and she’s learned a lot of lessons along the way.
In my interview with Meghan, we discuss how she got started in real estate investing, running the numbers on an income property and are income properties an important part of everyone’s investment portfolio.
Alfred Yang is the creator of Proliteracy.ca , an online service that Canadians use to plan finances for post-secondary education. Alfred wants to spread personal finance awareness starting with an area that impacts at least one in three Canadians - financial planning for post-secondary education. Families often feel overwhelmed when presented with the ever increasing cost of post-secondary education.
Proliteracy.ca brings all aspects of financial planning to one place. It analyzes data from cities and post-secondary institutions across the country to provide forecasts on costs. It consolidates information related to RESP, grants and scholarships to present personalized funding recommendations. Proliteracy.ca is also a social platform that allows students and families performing similar planning to exchange information.
In my interview with Alfred, we discuss the importance of financial literacy, graduating with less student debt and getting a mortgage when you’re self-employed.
Dan Vizmanos is a personal finance enthusiast and a blogger on Medium. He’s into books, finance, self-improvement and motivation. He’s mortgage free in the GTA at the age of 27, no easy feat.
Dan’s the founder of Money Curriculum, a YouTube channel dedicated to teaching the concepts that should be taught in high schools. Dan posted an excellent review of my book that you’ll want to check out. (Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of Dan’s videos now.)
In my interview with Dan, we discuss the key steps he took to be mortgage-free, the deeper motivating factors that kept him on track with his goal and Dan’s advice for others who would like to follow in his footsteps.
Ellen Roseman is a journalist who sticks up for ordinary Canadians. She’s been advocating for consumer rights for the past 35 years.
When you hear about consumer issues in Canada, you can’t avoid finding references to Ellen Roseman. She’s become a brand name for activism and a champion at helping consumers fight back against injustices. People praise her direct, down to earth and common sense writing style.
Ellen’s personal finance and consumer columns regularly appear in the Toronto Star. She’s also the host of the MoneySaver Podcast, a podcast that teaches you how to make smart choices at every stage of your life, safeguard your interests and protect yourself from poor advice.
In my interview with Ellen, we discuss how to avoid costly mistakes with the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan, collateral mortgages and how to protect yourself when signing a buyer representation agreement with a realtor.
Kanwal Sarai is the founder of Simply Investing and publisher of the Simply Investing Report. Kanwal's straight-forward, no-jargon approach helps everyday people to grow their net worth by investing in dividend value stocks. With a passion for investing and teaching, he demystifies the complex world of investing for those seeking to invest for themselves.
In my interview with Kanwal, we discuss how he was able to pay off the mortgage on his first home in only 5 years, how to use dividends to help pay down your mortgage faster and how quickly someone could burn their mortgage using dividends.
Alfonso Salemi was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. He learned the value of family and community while growing up. He was able to apply these same values when incorporating JAAG Properties as well as use them for the foundation of every Rent-To-Own program.
Alfonso started his first Rent-To-Own in 2014 and incorporated JAAG Properties the same year. Alfonso has been an essential partner in expanding JAAG Properties through many conferences and meet-up groups.
If you’re interested in learning more about rent-to-own, feel free to reach out to Alfonso directly and let him know you heard about his services from the Burn Your Mortgage Podcast. You can get in touch with Alfonso by email or by phone for a free no obligation consultation.
In my interview with Alfonso, we discuss what is rent-to-own and how does it work, the advantages and disadvantages of rent-to-own and the importance of doing your own due diligence with rent-to-own.
Sarah Larbi is a real estate investor, speaker, coach, mentor and podcast host. She specializes in helping take the mystery out of home ownership for Canadian’s who thought real estate investing was going to be out of reach. She has earned their trust and respect by having the drive and focus to embark, build and grow a seven-figure, 10 property investment portfolio by her early 30’s.
Sarah’s goal is to inspire and train other fellow Canadians to realize their own property owning dreams by sharing her 7-step investing process through her online training programs. This has helped her students go from first property, whilst fully employed, to planning retirement in around 10-15 years.
In my interview with Sarah, we discuss screening tenants to make sure you get the very best tenants, what is the BRRR method and why it’s Sarah’s favourite real estate investing strategy and how do you get financing on 10 properties.
Sahil Jaggi is a Toronto-based realtor, homeowner, real estate investor and landlord. Sahil shared his story with Toronto Life magazine and it went viral. At 32 years old he owns 10 homes in Toronto and he did it without any direct help from his parents. When he was younger, Sahil left his home country of India to pursue his dream of being an investment banker, but when he got there he realized it wasn’t for him. That’s when he discovered his true calling in life was real estate.
In my interview with Sahil, we discuss his journey to becoming a homeowner, how to pay off student debt and save up a down payment and how to attract the perfect tenant.
Michelle Hung is the founder of the Sassy Investor and the author of the same-named book available for purchase on Amazon. She empowers women to take control of their finances by providing them the education and support in order to gain the confidence they need to make their own investment decisions.
Michelle is also a real estate investor. She purchased her first investment property, a student rental, during her second year of university, where she learned a great deal of financial responsibility at such a young age.
In my interview with Michelle, we discuss the ins and outs of student rentals, being a landlord and investing in real estate versus the stock market.
Kevin Cochran is a sought after speaker on the necessity of money management for families, teens and young adults. Having been featured on radio and television programs across the country, he has spoken to well over 100,000 people including professionals, students, schools, communities and corporations on the importance of financial literacy and how to create a foundation for personal wealth. Kevin believes that money management is a lesson that we all learn eventually. Some learn it the easy way and some learn it the hard way.
Kevin is also the Co-Founder of Enriched Academy. Enriched Academy provides a foundation to help people avoid the damage caused from learning it the hard way and to set the stage for people to take control of their financial health.
In my interview with Kevin, we discuss getting a deal on Dragon’s Den, 8 ways to get an A+ beacon score and different ways to invest in real estate, including investment properties and private mortgages.
Enriched Academy: Looking After the Financial Wellbeing of Canadians I’m a big fan and supporter of Enriched Academy. I’ve taken Enriched Academy’s online course and I can honestly say it’s the best financial program in Canada. It should be mandatory in schools across the country as far as I’m concerned.
In case you’re wondering, Enriched Academy isn’t affiliated with the banks. You won’t be sold on anything, but what you will get is the financial tools you need to better manage your money and build wealth.
When you sign up for Enriched Academy, you’ll get instant access to two of its most popular programs, its tools and resources, and its interviews with 32 of Canada's top financial experts, including yours truly.
Enriched Academy’s course has a big focus on real estate investing. It has courses dedicated to investment properties and private lending. It’s worth signing up for these courses alone!
Signing up for Enriched Academy is money well spent. It’s a course that literally pays for itself. Join Enriched Academy now and take your finances to the next level.
To learn more about Enriched Academy and to sign up, visit BurnYourMortgage.ca/Academy.
SIGN UP NOW!
Kay Keovongphet is the owner of Wise Penny Saver. Learning how to save money and make more money changed Kay’s life. It allowed her to pay off a $260,000 mortgage in 3 years, start her own business and put her on the path to financial independence.
In my interview with Kay, we discuss investing in real estate as a single woman, the important role of real estate mentors and living a minimalist lifestyle.
Robinson Smith, financial strategist and author, reveals how Canadians can mitigate the challenges that homeowners face in raising their families, raising their net worth and raising their level of financial security in the face of rising costs of life.
Robinson, a consultant with over 15 years in the investment industry, creator of a number of financial educational courses and the author of, “Master Your Mortgage and Retire Ready – The Smith Manoeuvre”, is dedicated to increasing Canadians’ awareness of personal finances.
In my interview with Robinson, he’ll share how average Canadian homeowners can release the shackles of constraint that come with the high cost of home ownership. He will also show you how that very mortgage, which seems like such a financial burden restricting your retirement prospects, can become the very tool which will allow you to retire in comfort. If you own a home and have a mortgage, you can’t afford to miss this interview!
Leanna Haakons is a financial strategist and wellness expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. She founded her firm Black Hawk Financial in 2014 and has over 12 years of experience working alongside numerous funds, private, and public companies listed on multiple worldwide exchanges, in various sectors including financial services, media, alternative assets, real estate, and clean tech.
In my interview with Leanna, we discuss factors that come into play when deciding to sell your home, dealing with the sudden loss of a loved one and the importance of building your real estate dream team.
Rahim Madhavji is the President of KnightsbridgeFX.com. After graduation, he worked four years as an investment banker, when he decided to quit his $200K job to start his own business. But things didn’t turn out as he imagined. A year in his co-founder quit for a competitor. Instead of letting it break him, he used it to fuel him. Rahim worked hard and struggled for years, but his persistence paid off. He built a successful business and landed a $1 million dollar deal on Dragon’s Den.
In my interview with Rahim, we discuss why crazy persistence pays off, scoring a deal on Dragon’s Den and how the Canadian banks are facing a revolution.
Dale Roberts is a still-recovering former advertising writer and creative director who packed up his pen and laptop in early 2013 and made the move to Tangerine to help Canadians discover lower fee index investing. While at Tangerine he discovered his love of helping Canadians save money on investment fees, so he left his full-time job to start his own blog to show Canadians how easy it can be to take control of your investments and live better financial lives.
In my interview with Dale, we discuss strategies for paying off your mortgage sooner, getting into the real estate market as a first-time homebuyer and buying an investment property.
Saxon Funk is a Winnipeg-based real estate investor. After graduating from high school, Saxon tried door-to-door selling and selling insurance. He discovered day trading and foreign exchange trading in his early 20s but despite some success, learned that the activity was just as apt to leave him broke. Ultimately, real estate became his preferred road to financial freedom and helped enable him to pursue his other passions.
In my interview with Saxon, we discuss metrics to determine if a property is a good investment, fostering a good landlord-tenant relationship and managing rental properties when you’re away.
Ben Le Fort is a Canadian personal finance blogger on Medium. Ben has quite an interesting riches to rags to riches story. Ben had a comfortable upbringing – until the financial crisis happened. With no savings, both his parents, who were successful real estate agents at the time, were forced to file for bankruptcy. Despite the setback, Ben managed to pay off $50,000 in student debt and 2 houses in 4 years.
In my interview with Ben, we discuss tips for paying off student debt, the importance of having an emergency fund and DIY home renovations.
Peter Majthenyi and Kola Ifabumuyi are both mortgage planners with a combined 40 years’ experience in the industry. As a mortgage broker myself, I thought it’d be interesting to pick their brains.
Peter started out with a degree in economics and investments and quickly realized he preferred giving money to clients to invest rather than asking for it to invest. Over the last 20+ years he has helped thousands realize their dreams of homeownership … and being a mortgage broker, there were no fees for his assistance!
In my interview with Peter and Kola, we discuss why you should consider using the services of a mortgage broker over the banks, how to make the process smoother when working with a mortgage broker and how the mortgage industry has evolved over the years.
Liz Enriquez is the founder of Ambitious Adulting , a website to help Canadian millennials understand personal finances so they can save more, earn more and reduce stress about money. As the name of her website suggests, Liz is quite ambitious herself. After paying off her university tuition at age 22, she saved over $50,000 and bought a house at age 24. At age 26, her net worth grew to 6 figures and at age 27 she quit her government job after making $10,000 in one month through her various income streams.
In my interview with Liz, we discuss saving a sizable down payment, the Hamilton real estate market and building your side hustle.
Paula Pant is the founder of the award-winning website Afford Anything and a writer and speaker specializing in money, business and real estate investing. At 34 years old, she owns 8 homes. Through her rental properties, she has been able to achieve financial independence and leave her 9-to-5 job.
In my interview with Paula, we discuss Paula’s rags to riches story, metrics to determine if a property is a good investment and tips for working with a property manager.
Warren Mascarenhas is the director and co-founder of feeDuck, a website that helps home buyers and sellers easily find qualified real estate agents and save big bucks. The idea for feeDuck came about when Warren and his three neighbours who had recently moved into the area were having beers in the backyard and brainstormed a better way to find a good agent and negotiate on commission.
In my interview with Warren, we discuss how feeDuck is disrupting the real estate industry, the benefits feeDuck offers over For Sale By Owner (FSBO) and how home buyers can save money with feeDuck, too.
Steven Trieu is the mastermind behind the blog YoungVestors. After bouncing around eight jobs in different industries within two years of graduating, it was at this point Steven became a YoungVestor, a person in the early stages of learning how to achieve financial independence. He’s set himself the ambitious goal of reaching financial independence before age 40 and real estate plays a big part in this.
In my interview with Steven, we discuss reaching your savings goals sooner, coming out ahead as a homebuyer in hot real estate markets and affordable places to buy houses in the GTA.
Danielle Kubes is a millennial personal finance journalist and blogger. She eats an avocado every day because she will never be able to afford a house in Toronto anyway. You can catch her trying to improve the financial literacy of Canadians (without making them hate their lives) on Twitter and Facebook.
In my interview with Danielle, we discuss why Hamilton is a good long-term investment for real estate, getting a mortgage when you’re self-employed and the best ways to make Canadians more financially literate.
Mark Seed is passionate about personal finance and investing and is the blogger behind My Own Advisor. Mark is currently investing in dividend-paying stocks and low cost ETFs on his journey to financial freedom.
In my interview with Mark, we discuss key considerations when deciding to leave one home for another, decluttering your home when downsizing and Mark’s top mortgage-burning tips.
Cory Matthews is the founder of Straight-Up Realty Group, a Real Estate Homeward Brokerage that focuses on helping people buy real estate outside the city, as well as helping people in Toronto sell their properties at fair commission rates.
In my interview with Cory, we discuss affordable places to buy real estate outside the GTA, owning a rental property without the responsibilities of being a landlord and the benefits of working with a property manager.
If you’re interested in getting in touch with Cory, you call or text him at 416-720-9414 or email him at coryfmatthews@gmail.com.
Octavia Ramirez is a personal finance and entrepreneurship writer from Toronto. She's also the Founder and CEO of Paper & Coin, a financial literacy and coaching company for Millennials, and co-hosts a weekly podcast with her husband, called "About That Life."
In my interview with Octavia, we discuss buying a home with consumer debt, saving up an emergency fund and prioritizing your mortgage payments.
Janine Rogan is a passionate finance professional and CPA. She’s the founder of JanineRogan.com and runs her own YouTube channel. Over the years she has dedicated countless hours to sharing her knowledge through writing and speaking, and she’s passionate about educating individuals and businesses about their money.
Janine lives in Calgary, Alberta giving back through a number of local and national organizations focusing on sustainability and women in business. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Janine loves being involved with organizations that empower women to climb the corporate ladder through mentorship and sponsorship.
In my interview with Janine, we discuss saving together for a down payment, separate versus joint bank accounts and the pros and cons of shopping for a property with your partner.
Martin Dasko is a 30 year old dude that loves personal finance, making money, and getting the most out of life. He’s a real estate investor and landlord. He writes Studenomics, a DIY personal finance blog in Canada. The site is unique because Martin “drives” the content - he writes from his own perspective, using personal pronouns and anecdotes from his own life experience.
In my interview with Martin, we discuss dealing with debt, creative ways to save for a down payment and renting out your place on Airbnb.
Kornel Szrejber is a contributing editor for Canadian MoneySaver Magazine, and is the host of the Build Wealth Canada Show, a top personal finance and investing podcast created specifically for Canadians. There he interviews the top personal finance experts to share their best strategies, tips and tactics when it comes to investing and financial planning in Canada.
Kornel’s mortgage burning story is similar to my own. He managed to pay off his mortgage in only 6 years while still in his 20s, and become financially independent at the age of 32.
In my interview with Kornel, we discuss how he managed to pay off his mortgage super quick on a modest salary, creating your own source of passive income, and being a successful landlord.
Stephen Weyman is the founder of HowToSaveMoney.ca and creditcardGenius, sites dedicated to helping Canadians maximize their money.
In my interview with Stephen, we discuss how Stephen burned his mortgage at a young age, buying a forever home and why the Maritimes is a good place to invest in real estate.
Adeola’s episode is the first in a new series of podcast shows on “Women in Real Estate.” In the coming weeks I’ll be interviewing successful female real estate investors like Adeola to help encourage and inspire more women to get into real estate.
After experiencing a life altering layoff when she was a junior lawyer at the age of 27, Adeola Omole was forced to deal with her six figure debt. Less than three years later she paid off over $70,000 of consumer debt, then, twelve years after that, paid off over $320,000 on her mortgage. She is now debt free, has a net worth over $1,000,000 and lays out the steps she took to attain financial freedom in her new book 7 Steps to Get Out of Debt and Build Wealth.
In my interview with Adeola, we discuss her experience buying real estate at a young age, lessons learned from being a landlord for 9 years and tips for selling your home in a buyer’s market.
Beau Humphreys is a Personal Finance Coach and Blogger and host of the Personal Finance Show Podcast. He also runs financialaccounting.ca, a website all about helping small businesses understand the value of bookkeeping and accounting.
Beau has quite unique and inspirational story. He was addicted to gambling for most of his life. In fact, gambling almost ruined his life. He was in over his head with debt and didn’t know how to get out. It took him a long time, but eventually he squashed his gambling addiction and his debt.
In my interview with Beau, we discuss the difference between a consumer proposal and bankruptcy, the steps you can take to rebuild your credit and why there’s still hope to own homes even if you struggle with addiction and money problems.
Judith Cane is Canada’s Money Coach and has worked in the financial services industry for 27 years. She has worked with hundreds of clients to create a clear picture of their financial situation. She helps her clients build a realistic spending and savings plan through her “Get Out of Debt and Stay There” strategy.
In my interview with Judith, we discuss the Ottawa real estate market, using goal setting to achieve financial success and questions to ask yourself before undertaking a major home renovation.
Kyle Prevost is the founder of the Canadian Financial Summit, co-author of More Money for Beer and Textbooks and blogs regularly on Young and Thrifty, a site dedicated to everything finance related for young adults. Kyle is also a school teacher in Manitoba and has a real passion for financial literacy.
In my interview with Kyle, we discuss rural versus urban living, tips for saving up a down payment and the different approaches to financial literacy across Canada.
Kate Morantz is a creative entrepreneur and blogger. After graduating from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in 2008, Kate worked in various marketing-and strategy-based roles at large organizations. In parallel, she developed a lifestyle blog as well as a handmade sticker shop on the Etsy platform. In early 2017, she left her corporate job to pursue her entrepreneurial passions full time. Her blog Beyond the Safe Harbor is devoted to helping women boost their impact, master their money, and better themselves so that they can unlock their most meaningful lives. You'll find advice on starting (and growing!) a side hustle, navigating through life events like buying a house and getting married, and lots more.
In my interview with Kate, we discuss the benefits and challenges of entrepreneurship, how to choose a home when moving in together and paying for your dream wedding without derailing your financial goals.
Lesley-Anne Scorgie is a bestselling author, renowned professional speaker, educator and popular columnist and television personality. She owns and operates MeVest.ca, a money school for Canadians offering one-on-one money coaching and employer programs.
In addition to being a guest of Oprah, Lesley-Anne has made numerous television appearances including CBC, Breakfast Television, The Social, Montel Williams, and MTV Live. Her financial articles have appeared in publications such as Metro News, Toronto Star, Men’s Health magazine, the Globe and Mail and the Calgary Herald. Lesley-Anne has been a spokesperson for Government Savings Bonds and BMO Bank of Montreal.
Lesley-Anne has a BComm from University of Alberta and an MBA from Queen’s University. In 2011 Lesley-Anne won Avenue’s Top 40 Under 40 award and WXN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada.
In my interview with Lesley-Anne, we discuss her life-changing TV appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show, buying a property at a young age, and how to get your side hustle on.
Limor Markman is a Real Estate Investor & Money Expert. She worked for over a decade marketing financial products for some of Canada's largest banks and has always had a deep curiosity for how money works.
Limor began educating herself in real estate and always kept a keen eye on growing money faster and generating passive income. Two and a half years into her real estate venture, Limor was able to leave her six figure corporate job with real estate funding her life.
Since January 2015, Limor has been teaching real estate investing seminars across the country and helping first time home buyers purchase their dream homes.
In my interview with Limor, we discuss why now is still a great time to buy real estate, some of the more unique ways to invest in real estate, and how to become a better real estate negotiator.
Jelani Smith is the founder of Bay Street Blog, a financial hub that aims to help Millennials expand their knowledge on personal finance, real estate, and self-directed investing related topics. Jelani bought his first home at the young age of 21, in his third year at University of Toronto, which he occupied shortly after graduation. He has been featured on the Globe and Mail, and Toronto Life, in regards to his personal financial habits & advice. Currently, he's working full time at a Financial Institution, and manages Bay Street Blog on the side - with the goal of improving the financial literacy rates among millennials.
In my interview with Jelani, we discuss how to save a larger down payment, urban versus suburban living, and how to ensure the mortgage process goes smoothly.
Anthony Molinaro is a young, aspiring entrepreneur and real estate investor with a business degree and diploma in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management from the University of Guelph Humber. He is also the founder and former President of the Guelph Humber Real Estate Investing Club.
You may be familiar with Anthony’s story. He made the front page of the Toronto Star a couple years ago for his strong work ethic. While in university, he managed to also work a full-time job. No easy feat. During that time, he saved a big chunk of his paycheque to invest in real estate. Similar to my story, his story received its fair share of criticism online.
In my interview with Anthony, we discuss working hard while maintaining a healthy work-life balance, real estate investing, and why younger folks shouldn’t give up on the dream of homeownership.
If you’re interested in speaking at the Guelph Humber Real Estate Investing Club, please contact Anthony by email at anthonyfrancismolinaro@gmail.com or by phone at 905-965-3931.
Prakash Amarasooriya is the 20 something year old who led the charge to revamp the grade 10 career studies course in Ontario to incorporate financial literacy. Prakash and his colleagues at the Toronto Youth Council launched an online petition in the fall 2016 that got picked up by the mainstream media. Prakash met with then Minister of Education Mitzie Hunter, and soon after, plans were made to roll out a pilot project at 28 high schools, laying the groundwork for financial literacy to become part of the curriculum.
In my interview with Prakash, we discuss why financial literacy is so important to him, how he managed to succeed where so many others had failed by getting financial literacy included in the education system in Ontario, and how he would like to see financial literacy further integrated into our school system.
If you’re interested in supporting financial literacy, please email Prakash at prakash.amarasooriya@gmail.com.
Zack Korn manages digital advertising for brands and Realtors on BuzzBuzzHome, North America's largest listing of all new construction homes. He's formerly worked in condo sales centres and behind the scenes in Toronto real estate. As an experienced marketer and salesperson, he understands what incentives buyers, Realtors and developers respond to.
He's passionate about the real estate industry because of its impact on human happiness and quality of life. His interest in how the real estate market works started early, being raised by a real estate lawyer and an architect.
In my interview with Zack, we discuss how to come out ahead when buying a pre-construction condo, ways to protect yourself as a buyer and purchasing a condo as an investment.
Chantel Chapman is a Millennial Money and Credit Score Expert with a background in the mortgage industry. She was a mortgage broker for over a decade and has been teaching financial literacy for 10 years.
Chantel is the founder of W-T-Finances, financial literacy and advice for millennials looking to get their money right. W-T-Finances is backed by science-based research in addiction and behaviour to explore how consumerism and mental health are linked to money problems.
I recently had the honour of being featured in the cover story of Toronto Life magazine. The story “the Young Buyers Club” was on millennials who managed to buy a house in Toronto before age 30. When I read the article something seemed off. While there were a couple female homebuyers who owned properties with their male partners, there weren’t any single female homebuyers featured in the article. I’m not the only one who noticed. Chantel noticed, too. So after exchanging a few messages on Instagram, we decided to record a podcast episode to encourage single females to buy homes.
In my interview with Chantel, we discuss buying a home as a single female, closing the gender pay gap and the steps of purchasing a home on your own.