In this episode of Canadian Investing in the US, Glen speaks with Fernando Angelucci, CEO of SSSE, a private equity firm focused on self-storage acquisitions and development across the United States. Fernando explains why he moved away from single-family and small multifamily investing after years of dealing with high management demands, contractor issues, tenant problems, and relatively lower profits. He shares how self-storage allowed him to operate fewer, larger transactions while increasing profitability and working with more sophisticated lenders, operators, and professionals.

The conversation dives into Fernando’s self-storage strategy, including sourcing more than 90% of acquisitions off-market, building long-term relationships with owners, targeting larger facilities, expanding properties, increasing NOI, and eventually selling to institutional buyers. He also discusses financing options such as SBA loans and seller financing, the legal advantages of self-storage compared with residential rentals, auction procedures for delinquent units, stabilized occupancy levels, and dynamic pricing strategies similar to airlines. For investors looking for a scalable commercial real estate niche with fewer traditional landlord headaches, Fernando makes a strong case for self-storage as a business as much as a real estate investment.

In this episode of Canadian Investing in the US, Glen reconnects with experienced real estate investor Tim Tsai to discuss one of the most overlooked decisions in real estate: when it makes sense to sell a rental property instead of continuing to hold it. Tim explains that he evaluates properties based on cash flow, NOI, cash-on-cash return, maintenance costs, and opportunity cost rather than simply focusing on how many doors he owns. After more than two decades of investing across Canada, the U.S., and the UK, Tim is now exiting the UK market because the numbers no longer justify keeping the properties. He emphasizes that aging properties often require increasing amounts of capital and attention, and investors should regularly ask whether their equity could be producing stronger returns somewhere else.

Glen and Tim also challenge the popular real estate mindset of accumulating as many rental units as possible, arguing that portfolio performance matters more than door count. They discuss lease options as a strategy that can generate upfront option money, monthly cash flow, and a future sale while potentially reducing traditional landlord-management headaches. The conversation also explores the hidden emotional cost of owning troublesome properties, the importance of redeploying trapped equity, and why inherited or underperforming rental portfolios can eventually become liabilities rather than assets. Tim closes by emphasizing that investors make much of their money—and protect themselves from future problems—by buying correctly from the very beginning.

In this episode of Canadian Investing in the U.S., Glen reconnects with repeat guest Matthew Scott, a Canadian real estate investor who has flipped approximately 40 properties in Southwestern Ontario and raised more than $10 million in capital. After travelling to Mexico and deciding to spend more time there, Matthew shifted his attention toward Mexican real estate, land development and the process of preparing land for future development. He discusses his work with local developers, plans to create a real estate agency and his involvement in a large land-entitlement project that could eventually be sold to a developer.

Matthew explains how he evaluates potential areas by studying tourism, government development plans, infrastructure expansion and the activity of other developers. The conversation also examines the risks of purchasing land in Mexico, including unclear ownership records, restrictions on certain types of land, unreliable representatives and the importance of working with experienced lawyers and notaries. Matthew discusses cash purchases, financing and residency considerations before sharing how living in Mexico has changed his lifestyle and perspective. He describes his personal experiences with the culture and safety while emphasizing the importance of knowing the area, avoiding flashy displays of wealth and building relationships with trustworthy local professionals.

In this episode of Canadian Investing in the U.S., Glen speaks with Steve Harmer, president of FrontLobby, about how rent reporting and tenant screening can help landlords reduce risk while helping responsible tenants build their credit history. Steve explains how rental payments can be reported to major credit bureaus in both Canada and the United States, including Equifax, TransUnion and Experian depending on the country. Because rent is often a tenant’s largest monthly financial obligation, reporting on-time payments can help establish or strengthen a tenant’s credit profile. Steve also discusses a study conducted with Equifax Canada that found some participants experienced credit-score increases in the range of 40–80 points during their first six months, although the impact varies significantly depending on each tenant's existing credit history.

The conversation also explores how landlords can use rent reporting as part of their tenant-screening and rent-collection strategy. Steve explains how landlords can screen applicants using credit reports, background checks and identity verification, while rental-payment history can provide additional insight into how applicants have handled previous leases. They also discuss reporting late or unpaid rent, obtaining tenant consent for positive reporting, reporting former tenant debt, and how small landlords can implement the system with only a few rental properties. Ultimately, the episode shows how rent reporting can create accountability for tenants while rewarding those who consistently pay on time, potentially creating a more balanced relationship between landlords and renters.

In this episode of Canadian Investing in the U.S., Glen speaks with Jeff, an experienced real estate investor, hard money lender and coach who operates Best REI Funding, Alpha Lending and Best Capital Management. Jeff explains how his career evolved from actively flipping houses and managing rentals to focusing primarily on real estate lending and education. He emphasizes that successful investors should avoid becoming locked into a single strategy and instead develop the skills to evaluate whether each property is best suited for wholesaling, flipping, refinancing, holding as a rental or selling on the retail market.

Jeff also discusses how higher interest rates have caused a major shift from fix-and-flip projects toward the BRRRR strategy. His lending companies previously financed approximately 80% flips and 20% BRRRR projects, but that ratio has now reversed. The conversation also explores the increasing challenges surrounding DSCR loans, including changing underwriting requirements, reduced loan-to-value ratios, higher reserve requirements and unexpected closing delays. Jeff explains that investors can reduce their risk by underwriting properties with multiple exit strategies and matching the property, financing and investment plan rather than forcing every deal into a predetermined strategy.

Interest rates, lending guidelines, and real estate investing strategies are changing faster than ever. In this episode, Glen sits down with experienced lender and investor Jeff Cichocki to discuss why today's investors need to stop forcing every property into a single strategy and instead focus on finding the highest and best use for every deal. They dive into the shift from flipping toward BRRRR investing, why wholesalers often have the greatest flexibility, and how having multiple exit strategies can dramatically improve your odds of success.

Jeff also shares what he's seeing from the lending side of the business, including why DSCR loans have become more difficult to close, how underwriting requirements are changing almost daily, and why investors need to understand financing just as well as they understand real estate. Whether you're flipping houses, building a rental portfolio, wholesaling, or simply trying to navigate today's financing landscape, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you make better investment decisions.

In this episode of Canadian Investing in the US, Glen Sutherland sits down with Paul Hopkins, VP of Investments at CPI Capital, to break down why Dallas–Fort Worth has become one of the most attractive apartment investment markets in the United States. Paul shares his journey from construction and engineering into large-scale multifamily investing before explaining the key economic drivers behind Dallas' continued growth, including population migration, Fortune 500 employers, job creation, infrastructure investment, and why major investors continue to target Texas.

The conversation also tackles one of the biggest questions investors are asking today: Is now actually the right time to invest in Dallas? Glen and Paul discuss the recent apartment oversupply, the challenges many syndicators faced with bridge financing and rising interest rates, and why those same market conditions have created opportunities to purchase quality apartment communities at significant discounts. They also explain why Class B multifamily properties remain attractive, how supply and demand are shifting back in investors' favor, and what makes the Louisville, Texas submarket stand out for long-term growth. Whether you're an active investor or simply want to understand where the U.S. multifamily market is heading, this episode provides valuable insights into today's investment landscape.

Finding great real estate deals starts with finding motivated sellers—and that's exactly what we dive into in this episode. I sit down with digital marketing expert and real estate investor Brian Driscoll to discuss how investors can generate high-quality direct-to-seller leads using Google Ads and other inbound marketing strategies. We compare inbound marketing with traditional methods like cold calling, driving for dollars, and purchased lists, and explain when each approach makes the most sense as your investing business grows.

Brian also shares the systems successful investors use to convert more leads into deals, including why speed to lead is one of the biggest factors in closing profitable opportunities. We discuss CRMs, automation, lead management, negotiation, and why approaching sellers with a problem-solving mindset consistently outperforms high-pressure sales tactics. Whether you're wholesaling, flipping, buying rentals, or using creative financing strategies like lease options and seller financing, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you find more off-market opportunities and scale your real estate business.

Canadians investing in U.S. real estate often assume the financing process works just like it does at home—but that assumption can lead to costly mistakes. In this episode, Glen Sutherland sits down with cross-border mortgage expert Chris Micucci to break down the biggest lending misconceptions Canadian investors make and explain how U.S. investment financing really works.

From DSCR loans and reserve requirements to closing costs, corporate structures, wire transfers, and choosing the right lender, you'll learn the practical lessons that can save you thousands of dollars and prevent deals from falling apart. Whether you're buying your first U.S. rental or expanding your portfolio, this episode will help you avoid the mistakes that catch many Canadian investors off guard.

glensutherland.com/lenders

The 13 Lending Mistakes Canadians Make:

1. Thinking you qualify based on your personal income

Many Canadians assume U.S. lenders care about salary, T4s, tax returns, or employment. For DSCR loans, the property qualifies—not you.

2. Assuming you need perfect personal finances to buy

Canadians often believe they need extensive financial documentation. In reality, many U.S. investment loans primarily focus on the property's cash flow and your down payment funds.

3. Believing Canadian mortgage rules apply in the U.S.

Many investors expect pre-approvals, qualification rules, and lending policies to work the same way they do in Canada. They don't.

4. Getting pre-approved before finding the property

In Canada, you're approved for a dollar amount. In the U.S., you're generally approved for a specific property that cash flows. Many Canadians misunderstand this difference.

5. Buying properties that are too inexpensive

Ironically, smaller loan amounts are often harder to finance because many lenders prefer larger loans and higher-value properties.

6. Being surprised by U.S. closing costs

Many Canadians experience sticker shock because title fees, lender fees, appraisals, escrow deposits, and other costs are itemized instead of hidden in the mortgage.

7. Waiting until the last minute to transfer money

International wire transfers can be delayed by compliance reviews or audits. Waiting until the week of closing can jeopardize the deal—and potentially your earnest money deposit.

8. Waiting too long to set up your U.S. entity and EIN

Many investors don't realize that obtaining an EIN can take weeks, especially during busy IRS periods. Waiting can delay financing and closing.

9. Setting up the wrong ownership structure

Some Canadian tax structures work well legally but are difficult—or impossible—for many U.S. lenders to finance. Structuring without considering lending requirements can create expensive delays.

10. Not having enough reserve funds

Many first-time investors budget only for their down payment. Most lenders also expect to see several months of mortgage reserves in a U.S. bank account.

11. Shopping only by interest rate

A lower rate isn't always the better loan. Points, lender fees, closing costs, and how long you plan to hold the property all matter.

12. Comparing different loan products as if they're identical

Many investors compare refinance quotes, construction loans, fix-and-flip loans, and purchase loans without realizing they're completely different products.

13. Using lenders who don't understand Canadian investors

One of the biggest mistakes is working with lenders who primarily serve Americans. They may quote attractive terms initially, only for underwriting to discover you're Canadian and change the loan shortly before closing

In this episode of Canadian Investing in the USA, Glen Sutherland sits down with mobile home park investor and fund manager Ali Nazar to explore why manufactured housing communities have become one of the most resilient and attractive real estate asset classes. Ali shares his family's multi-generational real estate journey, beginning with single-family rentals and transitioning into mobile home parks after the high-interest-rate environment of the early 1980s. Drawing on more than 45 years of experience, he explains how affordable housing demand, tenant-owned homes, and diversified income streams have helped manufactured housing communities weather multiple recessions and market downturns while continuing to provide stable cash flow and long-term wealth creation.

The conversation dives deep into how successful mobile home park operators create value through infill strategies, seller financing, and converting park-owned homes into resident-owned homes. Ali discusses the importance of scale, why he targets communities with 50+ sites, and how investors can avoid common underwriting mistakes when evaluating park-owned homes versus lot-rent income. Glen and Ali also explore financing options, tenant retention, rent growth, operational efficiencies, and the advantages of owning affordable housing in today's economic environment. Whether you're an experienced investor looking to diversify or someone curious about manufactured housing for the first time, this episode provides a practical look at how mobile home parks can deliver strong returns while serving a critical housing need.