For the series premiere of Season 2, Carmen and Jordan bring on television personality Rav Toor to guest host the episode! This episode digs into Carmen and Jordan’s background, why they invest in real estate, and why they created 30 Minutes to Wealth. They also discuss their current joint investment, the story of Pro Funds, private lending, District REIT, how listeners can get involved with them, and what’s next for them both. Today’s episode gives you a unique glimpse into the lives of these two successful investors and the level of experience and expertise that they bring to their business and their clients.

Episode Highlights:

• How Carmen got started in real estate investing
• Jordan’s start in the business
• Their ‘why’ of real estate investing
• 30 Minutes to Wealth
• Carmen and Jordan’s current joint investment
• The story of Pro Funds
• Private lending
• District REIT
• How listeners can get involved with Pro Funds
• What’s next for Carmen and Jordan

Quotes:

“For you to be able to have, you know, your first dollar through real estate investing at 18, it’s no wonder now that, you know, you’re doing so well.”

“It’s fun seeing something transform into what you want to make it.”

“There’s been ups and downs in my life…any time that there is a tough time in life, you can always resort back to your real estate…it saved me many times in my career.”

“I love helping people.”

“If you have a vision for something…that’s where you make your money in the real estate.”

“It’s so great when you can do it with family.”

“It’s basically a one stop shop for everything real estate financing.”

“It is passive, but they benefit from our expertise in the industry.”

Links:

30 Minutes to Wealth homepage: https://www.30minutestowealth.com/

Pro Funds Mortgages homepage: https://www.profunds.ca/

Carmen and Jordan speak with Dan Warren about how he could quit his job through his investment in income property on today’s episode. Dan shares details about how he started saving his money at such a young age and how those savings allowed him to purchase his first property. He goes on to describe how he acquired his many other properties, especially his student rental properties, and review his strategies for purchasing them and how these were financed. Carmen explains how Pro Funds can help with financing such purchases, Jordan shares some valuable advice for those looking to follow Dan’s example, and together, they all explore a case study of one of his student rentals. Dan also shares just what his life is like, having retired at age 36. If you find the prospect of retiring early appealing as well, you will definitely want to listen in to this inspiring and informative episode today.

Episode Highlights:

• What prompted Dan to start saving at such a young age
• How he acquired his properties
• His student rentals
• The strategies he used to purchase his property purchases
• Financing his purchases
• The ways in which Pro Funds can help with financing
• A case study of one of Dan’s student rentals
• What Dan’s life is like in retirement
• Jordan’s advice for those interested in following Dan’s example

Quotes:

“I didn’t actually care for working, to tell you the truth.”

“I always wanted to save my money. I didn’t know what I was saving it for, though.”

“I didn’t know anything about real estate - knew nothing.”

“This is a way to make money.”

“It’s interesting how unfortunate circumstances are sometimes an opportunity to acquire real estate.”

“You saw that opportunity there, right, that I think a lot of people were maybe too afraid to see.”

“Tenant selection is very important…I keep a good eye on my properties.”

“It would have been good if I’d have come here a month ago!”

“It’s amazing cash flow.”

“If the deals are there, I’m going to acquire more.”

Links:

30 Minutes to Wealth homepage: https://www.30minutestowealth.com/

Pro Funds Mortgages homepage: https://www.profunds.ca/

Independent Legal Advice

Show Notes:

Carmen and Jordan speak with Hussein Hamdani and Paul Demarco from Simpson Wigle Law, about the legal aspects of real estate transactions. Hussein and Paul specialize in corporate, commercial, and real estate law, and in today’s episode they share a little of their background, define private and syndicated mortgages, and describe the independent legal advice they provide and why it can result in delays. They also discuss the benefits of investing in a mortgage, the process that is followed, and the options available should a borrower fail to pay. As Carmen says, these two professionals ‘do a great job’, and you will undoubtedly agree as you listen to them today.

Episode Highlights:

• Hussein and Paul’s backgrounds
• What private and syndicated mortgages are
• The independent legal advice that they provide and why it can result in a delay
• The benefits of investing in a mortgage
• The process that is followed
• The options available if a borrower fails to pay

Quotes:

“Our job is to make sure we do our due diligence on that borrower…any dirt under the fingernails, we’ve got to be able to discover it.”

“We want to make sure that the mortgage that they’re investing in, that that property’s title is clean.”

“Before we will let our investors advance any money, we need to be satisfied that their mortgage is going on to a good property.”

“Real estate, thankfully, in Canada for the most part, has been going up in value.”

“It’s really nice from a cash flow standpoint.”

“It is a beautiful vehicle.”

“It’s not like a stock – if it plummets and it’s history. This way we have recourse.”

Links:

30 Minutes to Wealth homepage: https://www.30minutestowealth.com/

Pro Funds Mortgages homepage: https://www.profunds.ca/

On today’s episode, Carmen and Jordan speak with Scott McGillivray, Canadian investor and TV personality, about how he achieved success in real estate. Scott truly is ‘Canada’s go to for all things real estate’ and today he discusses his career in real estate right from its beginning, his concerns about financial education in Canada and the impact of government regulation on real estate. He also shares information about his show ‘Buyers Bootcamp’ including how they select the locations for it, and offers his perspective on joint venture structures and the top things to evaluate when getting into a new market. He is a man with a great deal of knowledge and experience to share, and he does just that on this extremely informative episode today.

Episode Highlights:

• Scott’s start in real estate and how it has progressed
• Financial education concerns
• The impact of government regulation
• His show ‘Buyers Bootcamp’
• Choosing locations for his show
• Scott’s perspective on joint venture structures
• Top things to evaluate when getting into a new market

Quotes:

“Any time somebody tells you how you can’t do something, find somebody who tells you how you can do something.”

“I could own a house and get paid to live there, or I could pay rent and I’ll have nothing to show for it.”

“We have not been prepared for the largest financial decision we will make in our lives.”

“It’s kind of like ‘Shark Tank’ meets ‘HGTV’ in a bit of a way.”

“Celebrate the fact that 90% of the time you’re crushing it.”

“Buffalo is underestimated.”

“If you want to invest in real estate, one of the biggest secrets to growing quickly is by partnering with somebody.”

”The thing that matters the most is how to purchase properties.”

“The best opportunities are right under your nose.”

Links:

30 Minutes to Wealth homepage: https://www.30minutestowealth.com/

Pro Funds Mortgages homepage: https://www.profunds.ca/

This week, Carmen and Jordan speak with designer Regina Sturrock from Regina Sturrock Design about how to increase the value of your property with interior design. They begin by discussing the factors that sparked Regina’s interest in the design world, some information about her company, and the value of building on a classic grounding and space planning. Regina reviews the two most important rooms in a house, and reveals some trade secrets for minimizing costs, and her recommendations regarding de-cluttering and curb appeal. To finish up, Regina shares her vision for the condominium project which she completed in conjunction with Pro Funds and also some details about her exciting new projects. You will be struck both by Carmen’s sincere and extensive praise for Regina’s work and the range of knowledge and expertise which Regina demonstrates as you listen in to this fascinating episode today.

Episode Highlights:

• What sparked Regina’s interest in the design world
• Regina’s company
• Building on a classic grounding
• Space planning
• The two most important rooms in a house
• Ways to minimize costs
• De-cluttering and curb appeal recommendations
• Regina’s vision for the Pro Funds condominium site
• Her new projects

Quotes:

“You really are amazing!”

“The approach is a holistic one.”

“Sometimes it’s a lot of tweaking…based on our discussions with our clients.”

“No room goes underutilized.”

“Bringing in good classic architectural bones.”

“Make sure your lighting has good scale.”

“It’s really created a momentum to these units.”

“We created that character, that person that would fall in love with the space.”

“There’s a ‘wow’ factor.”

Links:

30 Minutes to Wealth homepage: https://www.30minutestowealth.com/

Pro Funds Mortgages homepage: https://www.profunds.ca/

This week, Carmen and Jordan speak with investor Jordan about the advantages of starting to invest at a young age, how his investments are doing, and his future real estate goals. They also explain what a private mortgage investment is as well as loan-to-value and syndicated mortgages. Both our hosts and our guest have some sage advice to offer about the value of starting to invest in real estate early on in life, and you will undoubtedly benefit from their extensive amount of knowledge and expertise by listening in today.

Episode Highlights:

• What triggered Jordan’s motivation to begin investing in real estate
• His active investment in his condo
• His passive investments and the process involved
• What a private mortgage investment is
• A case study of a mortgage investment
• Loan-to-Value
• Why it’s important to get involved in real estate when you’re younger
• Jordan’s future real estate goals
• Syndicated mortgages

Quotes:

“Land is an inherently scarce resource. It’s the one thing they can’t make any more of.”

“Even if there are little drops here and there, real estate is something that, no matter what, over the years, has always proven to go back up.”

“I liked the appeal of the private mortgage funding because it’s secured on the collateral.”

“You’re making money while you’re sleeping.”

“If you can get started now, it just brings you closer to retirement.”

“You don’t have to start off with a ton of money to make it worthwhile.”

“As long as you’re doing your due diligence and you’re reading everything you’re given and you’re asking the right questions, then, you know, that goes a long way to ensuring that you’re in a comfortable place.”

Links:

30 Minutes to Wealth homepage: https://www.30minutestowealth.com/

Pro Funds Mortgages homepage: https://www.profunds.ca/

This week, Carmen and Jordan welcome Sheldon D. Rosen from the SDR Group to the podcast. Sheldon is an architect who has been involved in both international and domestic development for the past 40 years, and today he discusses both his history in real estate development as well as an exciting new project in which he has joined forces with Valour and Pro Funds to convert a century old factory to waterfront condos.

Episode Highlights:

• How Sheldon got started in the development business
• The difference between development in the 1960’s and today
• Some of the developments with which Sheldon has been involved
• Port Dalhousie, the Lincoln Fabrics building, and The Harbour Club
• How Valour and Pro Funds became involved in The Harbour Club development
• The heritage aspect of this development
• The community’s response to the project

Quotes:

“It’s a process today that requires a great deal of navigation skills in addition to the constructive skills that you bring to the table.”

“To me, it’s like the Saint-Tropez of Ontario.”

“We feel that we have to be the custodians of doing it correctly going forward.”

“It’s just one of these raw buildings that cries out to be converted to a loft.”

“It’s the location…itself that is just unreal, it is perfect.”

“Once in a while a ‘champagne project’ comes along and this one pops all its corks!”

“Truly iconic…it’s a living piece of history.”

“We love putting back.”

“This is starting to put the jewels back on the necklace.”

Links:

30 Minutes to Wealth homepage: https://www.30minutestowealth.com/

Pro Funds Mortgages homepage: https://www.profunds.ca/

Notes go here

Carmen and Jordan speak with bed and breakfast owner, Jason Clements, about his experiences of owning vacation properties, and the many advantages to investing in vacation rentals. During the discussion, Jason shares his motivation for getting involved in real estate and the vacation properties he and his wife run. He also describes the role of Airbnb and Vrbo in the process, the benefits of investing in vacation rentals, and then Carmen and Jordan share details of their experiences with short term rentals. They finish up by looking at the remarkable returns that Jason sees with his rentals, as well as the things to look out for when getting involved in this type of investment. As you will discover, vacation rentals can make you a lot of money, and Jason and our hosts are here today to show you how.

Episode Highlights:

Jason’s motivation for getting involved in real estate The bed and breakfast that Jason and his wife run Their cottage rental and how they market it and screen the guests The role that Airbnb and Vrbo play in the rental process The benefits of investing in a vacation rental Carmen and Jordan’s experience with short term rentals The returns from Jason’s rental Things to look out for when getting into vacation rental investing

Quotes:

“What I’ve found is 50% of my bookings come from Airbnb, and the other 50% come from Vrbo.”

“You can also leave reviews on guests.”

“There’s a lot of money to be made on vacation rentals.”

“I see it as a lot less headaches than the long term rentals that I’ve had in the past.”

“Canada-wide there are a lot of opportunities for us to get into this investment.”

Links:

30 Minutes to Wealth homepage: https://www.30minutestowealth.com/

Pro Funds Mortgages homepage: https://www.profunds.ca/

Renowned Toronto developer, Harry Stinson, joins Carmen and Jordan today to discuss how he has made a career out of turning unwanted properties into huge successes. During the discussion, Harry also relates his journey in real estate from the 1970’s to today, including stories of his major projects in Toronto, Hamilton, and Buffalo, and his secrets to finding such great projects. He also offers his thoughts on the real estate markets in both Toronto and Hamilton, explains how investing in his projects works, and shares his plans for the future. A true visionary with an adventurous spirit, Harry Stinson will inform, inspire, and entertain you during today’s dynamic interview.

Episode Highlights:

Harry’s journey to where he is today A couple of his major projects in Toronto, Hamilton, and Buffalo Harry’s thoughts regarding the real estate markets in Toronto and Buffalo His secret to finding great projects How investing in his projects works Harry’s plans for the future

Quotes:

“I decided to specialize in condominiums.”

“You were decades ahead of yourself.”

“The demand was there, the supply was not.”

“Find a need and fill it.”

“Stepping out of that comfort zone, stepping out of the box, is so important for investors today.”

“The real estate market has become a commodity market. You buy a condo, it goes up.”

“You’re always on the leading edge.”

“What I really look for is a building that nobody wants.”

“I’m just getting started!”

Links:

30 Minutes to Wealth homepage: https://www.30minutestowealth.com/

Pro Funds Mortgages homepage: https://www.profunds.ca/

Carmen and Jordan welcome Wendy Forrest, a Broker with Real Estate Homeward and a long time client of Pro Funds, about how she used private money for both investing and borrowing. Wendy begins by sharing her professional history, and then Jordan explains just what exactly mortgage investing is. How this strategy works, its many benefits, how it has changed Wendy’s life and her experiences working through Pro Funds are also discussed. Listen in today to hear how this passive and lucrative opportunity could change your life as well.

Episode Highlights:

Wendy’s professional history What mortgage investing is How this strategy works and its many benefits How it has changed Wendy’s life Wendy’s experience with lending and borrowing private money through Pro Funds

Quotes:

“I came upon Pro Funds at an investment seminar, and…it made a change in my life – I can’t even tell you.”

“I was getting to the point where I was starting to get burned out in real estate.”

“The returns are significant.”

“Knowing that you can work if you want, but you don’t have to.”

“It’s very passive.”

“People that borrow private money aren’t delinquent.”

“It’s a nice amicable arrangement for everybody.”

Links:

30 Minutes to Wealth homepage: https://www.30minutestowealth.com/

Pro Funds Mortgages homepage: https://www.profunds.ca/