The Russell Westcott Podcast

EPISODE OVERVIEW

A quick shift off the Investing in Alberta series that dovetails right back into it. Jason Mattern of TriUrban is back on the show, and between the two of us that is 50 years of boots on the ground in this business. We get into what has actually changed in the Edmonton market, what has not, and why the fundamentals you started with still decide who wins.

Jason walks through buying at the absolute peak in 2006 and 2007, the years those mortgages sat underwater, and the decision to hold instead of hand back the keys. Twenty years later those properties are paid down to near zero and cash flowing. We do the math on what that perseverance is actually worth. We also get into MLI Select financing, leveraging trapped equity into bigger buildings, the population wave coming to Edmonton, and where the real risk hides for new investors chasing the FOMO. Stick around to the end, there is an announcement.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- The box changes, the fundamentals do not. What you buy, where you buy, and who you rent to still decide the outcome. Start from the tenant profile and reverse engineer everything else.

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"Even if it goes up not $1 in value, and your mortgage balance is paid off and you sell for 200,000, you sell five of them off. You just created $1 million tax free." - Russell

"The box may change, but the fundamental and the core stays the same." - Russell

"Failing to plan is planning to fail in this business." - Jason

"The only success metric I know in real estate is to have tenants paying you maximum rent." - Jason

"If you're trying to get on a call and download my brain for free, don't waste your time." - Jason

NEXT STEPS

- Know your why before you pick an asset. Get clear on where you are headed in the next five years, then reverse engineer the plan.

WORK WITH RUSSELL

Most investors don't stall from lack of effort. They stall because they don't know which move matters next.

Coaching fixes that. Not motivation, clarity you can act on this week.

Book a private consultation: https://russellwestcott.com/free-consultation/

In your corner, Russell

FOLLOW ALONG

Website: https://russellwestcott.com/

MUSIC CREDITS

Pax

The Old Tale

From East to West

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Calgary or Edmonton. It is the question every Alberta investor eventually lands on, and this episode finally reruns the analysis four years overdue. This is not about lifestyle or where you would rather live. It is pure investment grade math: population, jobs, wages, affordability, vacancy, supply, and yield, run through a simple 4D framework so you can see which market actually deserves your capital today.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- Calgary gets the love, Edmonton gets the math. Lifestyle and investment returns are two different decisions, do not confuse them.

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"Calgary gets the love. Edmonton gets the math."

"Affordability protects the exit."

"Edmonton's not just cheap. Edmonton is a value play."

"Your investment dollars don't care about the lifestyle. Live where you want to live, but put your investment dollars to work in the markets that are going to work strong for you."

NEXT STEPS

- Subscribe and follow the full Alberta series. Each video builds on the last.

WORK WITH RUSSELL

Most investors don't stall from lack of effort. They stall because they don't know which move matters next.

Coaching fixes that. Not motivation, clarity you can act on this week.

Book a private consultation: https://russellwestcott.com/free-consultation/

In your corner, Russell

FOLLOW ALONG

Website: https://russellwestcott.com/

MUSIC CREDITS

Pax

The Old Tale

From East to West

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Episode 200. Six years almost to the day since episode one launched into the middle of COVID chaos, this is a look back at the whole journey: the numbers, the stories, the slowdown, and the reason this show exists in the first place.

You will hear the real stats behind 200 episodes, why most podcasts never survive past episode three, the honest truth about the 2024 and 2025 slowdown, and the original intention that brought this podcast back: creating a legacy of learning for the next generation of investors.

Whether this is your first episode or your two hundredth, this one is for you. Thank you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- 200 episodes over six years: 80,000+ downloads, 61 countries in the last 24 months alone, and over 140 guest conversations across five seasons

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"80,000 times somebody hit play on this podcast. And honestly, I'm blown away by that number."

"44% of podcasts die before they hit episode three. Only 8% get past episode ten."

"I'm a real estate investor first and foremost. When deals heat up, the content gets put on the back burner."

"I have stood on the shoulders of giants. It is my obligation to pay that forward."

"So what? Work harder. 200 episodes down. Here's to the next 200."

NEXT STEPS

- New here? There are 199 more episodes waiting for you in the back library

WORK WITH RUSSELL

Most investors don't stall from lack of effort. They stall because they don't know which move matters next.

Coaching fixes that. Not motivation, clarity you can act on this week.

Book a private consultation: https://russellwestcott.com/free-consultation/

In your corner, Russell

FOLLOW ALONG

Website: https://russellwestcott.com/

MUSIC CREDITS

Pax

The Old Tale

From East to West

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Real estate returns come down to people and paycheck before properties. In this one, you go past the headline and into the employment data that actually predicts who pays your rent. The unemployment number is the lazy metric. The real signal is employment, job quality, wage growth, and how diverse the job base is. You'll see why the national jobs picture is uneven, why Alberta is the clear outlier right now, and how to turn all of that research into an actual deal.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- Stop reporting unemployment. It's the lazy metric. Track employment, job quality (full time vs part time), wage growth, and the diversity of the job base. That's the full picture.

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"Real estate returns come down to people and paycheck before properties."

"The unemployment number, in my personal opinion, is a lazy metric."

"In Alberta, they are adding more jobs than people are moving in."

"Alberta is energy led. It's not energy only."

"Population creates the demand. Employment creates the capacity. Full time work signals quality. Wages create affordability. And the diversification creates durability."

NEXT STEPS

- Stop tracking the unemployment headline. Start tracking employment, job quality, wage growth, and job diversity.

WORK WITH RUSSELL

Most investors don't stall from lack of effort. They stall because they don't know which move matters next.

Coaching fixes that. Not motivation, clarity you can act on this week.

Book a private consultation: https://russellwestcott.com/free-consultation/

In your corner, Russell

FOLLOW ALONG

Website: https://russellwestcott.com/

MUSIC CREDITS

The Old Tale

From East to West

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Most of Canada is losing people. Ontario, BC, and Quebec are all heading the wrong direction, and for the first time in recent memory the country as a whole posted a population drop. One province broke from the pack. Alberta kept growing, even at the exact moment immigration dried up to zero and people were leaving the country. In this one you get the population read straight from the latest StatsCan quarterly numbers, why Edmonton and Calgary are the two shining stars, and the simple filter that keeps you out of the trap most investors fall into. Follow the people. The people tell you where the demand is going before the prices do.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- Ontario, BC, and Quebec are all declining in population. Alberta is the one outlier still growing.

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"One of these things is not like the other. There truly is one province that is gaining people where everybody else has been losing people."

"People still chose to move to Alberta. Just imagine what happens when that pendulum swings back toward normal."

"I don't want values of properties to go skyrocketing so fast that people can't afford them. Having a market that's affordable for people to buy is very healthy."

"Always invest in a marketplace with a future, not a past."

NEXT STEPS

This was the quick snapshot on population. Next in the series goes deep on the supply side, housing inventory inside Edmonton, starts versus completions, and what happens when you overlay all of it against the 750,000 more people forecasted to move in over the next 15 to 20 years. The starts number everyone is calling unsustainable might be the new normal just to keep up. That one is coming.

WORK WITH RUSSELL

Most investors don't stall from lack of effort. They stall because they don't know which move matters next.

Coaching fixes that. Not motivation, clarity you can act on this week.

Book a private consultation: https://russellwestcott.com/free-consultation/

In your corner, Russell

FOLLOW ALONG

Website: https://russellwestcott.com/

MUSIC CREDITS

The Old Tale

From East to West

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Canada has entered a technical recession, and the headlines are doing what headlines do. Behind the noise, one province is moving the other way. In chapter one of the Investing in Alberta series, you get the one number that drives everything downstream for real estate investors, and the case for why Alberta is the market to watch right now.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- GDP is the gateway number. It drives interest rate decisions, lender appetite, job creation, migration, and rents. Read it wrong and everything downstream gets harder.

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"Canada is actually downsizing its GDP output number. Alberta is actually growing it."

"You always want to invest in a market with a future, not with a past."

"People are voting with their moving trucks."

"It's not just a matter of what the market is doing. It's what is this market good for?"

NEXT STEPS

- This is chapter one of a 12 part Investing in Alberta series. Subscribe and follow along so you catch every chapter.

WORK WITH RUSSELL

Most investors don't stall from lack of effort. They stall because they don't know which move matters next.

Coaching fixes that. Not motivation, clarity you can act on this week.

Book a private consultation: https://russellwestcott.com/free-consultation/

In your corner, Russell

FOLLOW ALONG

Website: https://russellwestcott.com/

MUSIC CREDITS

Pax

The Old Tale

From East to West

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This one is a guest spot. I sat down with Erwin Szeto on Truth About Real Estate Investing for one of the most honest conversations I have had on the show in a long time. We get into what to actually do when the market turns against you, the full spectrum from hunkering down and riding it out to ripping the band aid off, and why the noise in the market right now is the worst I have seen in 26 years. I also open up about a health scare that landed me in emergency, because it ties straight into the bigger lesson: do not carry the weight alone, and do not be afraid to ask for help.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- Real estate is a long game, and the people who treated it that way are surviving this. The ones who lost the plot were the ones banking on appreciation and ignoring cash flow.

MEMORABLE QUOTES

- "Alberta feels like a lifeboat on the Titanic at the moment."

NEXT STEPS

- Do the honest reflection. No sugarcoating, no ego. Get straight about where your portfolio, your work, and your business actually stand.

WORK WITH RUSSELL

Most investors don't stall from lack of effort. They stall because they don't know which move matters next.

Coaching fixes that. Not motivation, clarity you can act on this week.

Book a private consultation: https://russellwestcott.com/free-consultation/

In your corner, Russell

FOLLOW ALONG

Website: https://russellwestcott.com/

MUSIC CREDITS

Pax

The Old Tale

From East to West

What if there was a real estate asset class with lower expenses, fewer operational headaches, and strong demand regardless of the economy?

In this episode, Russell sits down with investor Ruben Ugarte for a true Canadian Self Storage Masterclass. This conversation goes far beyond theory — it’s a behind-the-scenes workshop where Ruben breaks down real deals, real numbers, and real strategies from his own portfolio across Ontario and Alberta.

From buying distressed facilities to expanding storage sites and unlocking hidden value, Ruben shares the frameworks he uses to evaluate opportunities, calculate demand, raise capital, and scale a portfolio of storage assets.

This episode is essentially a paid workshop released from the private vault — and whether you’re an experienced investor or just exploring new asset classes, you’ll walk away with powerful insights into one of the most resilient sectors in real estate.

If you’re watching on YouTube, make sure to check out the visuals and slides used during the presentation. But even on audio, this episode delivers a deep dive into the strategy, numbers, and mindset behind successful self-storage investing.

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• Why self-storage is one of the most overlooked real estate asset classes in Canada

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Wainwright, Alberta

Champlain, Ontario

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“Self-storage operates around 37 to 40 percent expenses compared to 60 to 70 percent in apartment buildings.”

“There are no tenants living in self-storage… no toilets, no gas, no electricity inside the units.”

“Someone paying $120 a month isn’t going to rent a truck and move everything just to avoid paying $125.”

“Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones most investors ignore.”

“Self-storage performs well in good economies and bad economies — just for different reasons.”

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Pax by Soulish - Premium Beats LICENSE 8177579 - YouTube ID UVZNP3L4S9VNKPC7

The Old Tale by Magdalena - Premium Beats LICENSE #8177663 - YouTube ID 1RFUK4VWLYRXDX2R

From East to West by Arthur Basov - Premium Beats LICENSE 8413593 - YouTube ID FPVEHZMG3XNNWD1R

What 25 Years, Market Crashes, and Hard Lessons Teach You About Still Standing When Others

Most investors only experience rising markets — but real wealth is built by those who survive the downturns.

In this powerful conversation, Russell Westcott shares 25 years of hard-earned real estate lessons, market cycles, painful mistakes, and the mindset required to endure when others quit.

From buying at market peaks to navigating investor relationships during difficult seasons, Russell opens up about what really happens when markets turn — and how today’s investors can avoid the same landmines.

He also reveals the “perfect storms” he sees forming and how experienced investors position themselves for the next decade of opportunity.

This interview was recorded approximately one year ago. As always, do your own homework and research before making any investment decisions. Markets change — perspective lasts.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

-   Why most investors don’t survive their first real downturn

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another investor who needs to hear it. The goal isn’t just to survive the next cycle — it’s to come out stronger on the other side.

Music Attributions:

Pax by Soulish - Premium Beats LICENSE 8177579 - YouTube ID UVZNP3L4S9VNKPC7

The Old Tale by Magdalena - Premium Beats LICENSE #8177663 - YouTube ID 1RFUK4VWLYRXDX2R

From East to West by Arthur Basov - Premium Beats LICENSE 8413593 - YouTube ID FPVEHZMG3XNNWD1R

"Impromptu in Quarter Comma Meantone" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Art of Silence V2 is by Uniq

It's Coming by Josh Kirsch/Media Right Productions

Showtime by Reaktor Productions - Premium Beats LICENSE 2849701

Hero's Theme by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, Russell Westcott is interviewed by Derek Issac from Rapid Results Creators for a practical, behind-the-scenes conversation about how real estate investors and builders can work together to create lasting wealth.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience and tens of millions of dollars invested alongside contractors and home builders, Russell explains why the real leverage in real estate isn’t found on the job site — it’s found in ownership, alignment, and long-term partnerships.

Together, they explore how investors can scale without micromanaging construction, why builders prefer working with a small number of strong partners, and how the right relationships can turn individual projects into scalable portfolios.

This episode isn’t about building harder.

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IN THIS EPISODE

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MEMORABLE QUOTES

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COACHING & MENTORSHIP

Most investors don’t struggle because they lack motivation — they struggle because they lack clarity, focus, and a strategy that actually fits their goals and lifestyle.

If you’re looking for help starting, growing, or restructuring your real estate portfolio with an emphasis on ownership, leverage, and long-term sustainability, reach out directly:

[email protected]

We’ll connect and see how we can help you move forward with confidence and intention.

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FOLLOW ME ON THE SOCIALS

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MUSIC CREDITS

Pax

The Old Tale

From East to West

Art of Silence V2

Enigmatic

It's Coming

Faceoff