In this episode of the PowerHaus Podcast, Gabrielle Caine sits down with Debbie Balfour, a real estate investor, professional real estate investor coach, podcast host, digital news publisher, community builder, wife, mother, and lifelong teacher.
Debbie’s story is anything but linear. From helping classmates in grade nine math, to leaving university, working in banking, following her dream onto cruise ships, moving to England, building a 25-year career in IT, running a daycare so she could be home with her children, investing in real estate, losing her home in a fire, being laid off shortly after, and rebuilding her life and business through resilience and faith — Debbie’s journey is a powerful example of what it means to keep moving forward.
Today, Debbie helps real estate investors build credibility, visibility, and trust so they can create a pipeline of qualified investors who are ready to say yes to their next deal.
This conversation explores the real human side of entrepreneurship: pivoting when life changes, trusting yourself, learning through failure, rebuilding after loss, choosing your passion, and understanding why success is rarely “luck.”
Debbie also breaks down why real estate investors should not wait until they have a deal before building relationships with potential capital partners. Instead, she teaches investors how to build trust before they need funding, share their journey authentically, create visibility, and position themselves as credible operators long before the opportunity appears.
We also talk about Debbie’s son, Brandon Balfour, a successful men’s lifestyle content creator, and how Debbie’s philosophy of “try it, learn from it, and keep going” helped shape her children into entrepreneurs as well.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Debbie’s early love of teaching and helping others
- Why being good at something does not always mean it is your calling
- Leaving university and choosing a different path
- Working on cruise ships and following a dream before the internet made it easy
- Why success often looks like “luck” to people who did not see the work
- Building a 25-year career in IT without a computer science degree
- Motherhood, burnout, childcare, and building flexibility as an entrepreneur
- Pivoting from corporate work to real estate investing
- Buying investment properties in BC, Alberta, and Ontario
- Short-term rentals, co-living, and adapting when regulations change
- Losing her home in a fire and rebuilding after trauma
- Being laid off after 16 years and choosing not to go back
- Building a coaching business from lived experience
- Why real estate investors need credibility before they need capital
- How to build visibility and trust with future investors
- Why capital raising starts before the deal
- The power of podcasting, networking, writing, and community
- Why trying and failing is better than living with “what if”
Debbie’s message is clear: if something has been sitting in the back of your mind, start learning, start exploring, and start trying. As long as it will not cost you your home, your safety, or your life — try it.
Connect with Debbie Balfour:
Website:
www.debbiebalfour.ca
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook:
Debbie Balfour
LinkedIn:
Debbie Balfour
Free Training, Resources, Social Links & Booking:
www.debbiebalfour.ca
Brandon Balfour:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@BrandonBalfour
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/brandonbalfourr/
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@brandonbalfourr
Subscribe to the PowerHaus Podcast for real conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, leaders, and high performers who are building powerful lives on their own terms.
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