Lets Get REAL Estate Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Meet Nicholas Brown, Nicholas is a 28-year-old commercial mortgage agent and managing partner at 4Capital, specializing in multi-family investments. He educates investors and fellow agents online and is currently managing a 14-unit property conversion project. 

In this episode, Nicholas talks about:

• The importance of running financial scenarios (best, worst, and most likely) to ensure investment stability and avoid potential losses in real estate.
• Benefits of using commercial financing but caution against over-leveraging and the risks of maintaining high loan-to-value ratios in a property portfolio.
• Diversifying financing and holding companies for different types of real estate projects can protect against financial risks, including litigation, liens, and market downturns.
• The significance of maintaining portfolio health, noting that even commercial financing has limits when a portfolio becomes over-leveraged or underperforms.
• Utilizing separate corporations for renovation projects and stabilized properties can safeguard equity and reduce exposure to legal and financial risks.
• The need for conservative financial planning, especially in uncertain economic conditions, and recommend leveraging the expertise of a professional advisory team.

About Nicholas
Nicholas Brown is a 28-year-old commercial mortgage agent and managing partner at 4Capital, a commercial mortgage team dedicated to helping investors navigate the complexities of developing, repositioning, and acquiring multi-family assets. He entered the mortgage business to provide value in future real estate investments when partnering and now educates investors and fellow agents on his social platforms. Outside of the mortgage world, he is managing a 14-unit conversion project that began as an 8-unit commercial property and has since evolved into 11 residential units and 3 commercial units.

Connect with Nicholas
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/themortgagearchitect/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086680692259

Connect with Danielle Chiasson
Website: https://strategicsuccessconsulting.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiasson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniChiasson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danichiasson
Book in a call: https://calendly.com/strategicsuccess/lets-get-real-estate-20-min-chat 

Listen in and subscribe for more.

You can also leave us a review and of course, don’t forget to share. I’m sure there are real people in your network who can take advantage of what they’re going to learn from the show.

Interested in becoming a guest on the show? Email admin@letsgetrealpodcast.com with the Subject: I want to be a guest! OR simply fill out: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/be-a-guest/.

Meet Benjamin Julius, Ben is the founder and CEO of Lionheart Development, a thriving land development company with $2500M in assets under management, where his practical and passionate approach to real estate is deeply rooted in his dedication to community, creativity, and strong industry relationships.

In this episode, Ben discusses about:

• The importance of working on your business rather than getting too involved in daily operations, focusing on hiring a bookkeeper and admin to handle time-consuming tasks.
• Real estate as a challenging field where unforeseen issues like changes in rules, financing difficulties, and market fluctuations can arise, making it essential to be adaptable and prepared for setbacks.
• The value of practical experience in real estate, comparing it to learning a sport—success requires hands-on involvement and the ability to adapt strategies as you encounter challenges.
• The importance of having multiple backup plans (B, C, and D) and managing expectations, particularly in real estate where cash flow is often overstated and risks are underestimated.
• Specialization as recommended over juggling multiple strategies at once; focusing on one real estate strategy and mastering it before moving on to another can lead to better long-term success.

About Ben
Ben is the founder and CEO of Lionheart Development. His enthusiasm and dedication to real estate have grown the company from a small-scale rental and construction business to a successful land development company. In 2017 feeling lost in the professional world, Ben and his wife leveraged everything they had to dive into real estate. Fast forward to the current day and he now holds $2500M assets under management and is continuing to grow. He is the boots-on-the-ground guy and primary contact between planners, construction companies, and the municipalities during the site plan approval process and for all ground-up projects. Ben brings his creativity and philosophy of ensuring the best use of subject sites when he analyzes land and building purchase opportunities, during a due diligence phase, and when collaborating with appropriate stakeholders. Ben's approach to development is both practical and passionate, in which he deeply values his relationships with investors and fellow industry professionals.
 
Connect with Ben
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachbenjulius
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ben.julius.9

Connect with Danielle Chiasson
Website: https://strategicsuccessconsulting.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiasson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniChiasson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danichiasson
Book in a call: https://calendly.com/strategicsuccess/lets-get-real-estate-20-min-chat 

Listen in and subscribe for more.

You can also leave us a review and of course, don’t forget to share. I’m sure there are real people in your network who can take advantage of what they’re going to learn from the show.

Interested in becoming a guest on the show? Email admin@letsgetrealpodcast.com with the Subject: I want to be a guest! OR simply fill out: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/be-a-guest/.

Meet Darren Voros, a renowned renovation expert featured on CBC's "The Goods" and CityTV's "CityLine," has leveraged his diverse skillset to become a leading figure in real estate investing, managing a $10,000,000 portfolio and traveling across North America as an educator and motivator, with a commitment to giving back through his YouTube channel, all while finding balance through yoga, family time, and walks with his rescue pup, Ella.

In this episode, Darren discusses about:

• The challenges and lessons learned in real estate investing, emphasizing the importance of proper planning and due diligence in projects.
• His early projects, highlighting the significance of accurate budgeting and avoiding assumptions to prevent cost overruns and delays.
• The intricacies of budgeting for construction projects, from initial estimates to finalizing costs through tender processes, emphasizing the need for meticulous planning.
• A cautionary tale about a project where a contractor mismanaged funds, underlining the importance of contractual agreements and proper payment structures.
• The concept of the "missing middle" in real estate development, focusing on building multi-unit properties to address housing density issues in urban areas.
• The need for supporting content creators in the real estate industry, encouraging listeners to engage with and promote valuable content.

About Darren
Darren’s diverse skillset has taken him to many stages around the world. He has been featured as an on-air renovation expert on “The Goods” (CBC) and “CityLine” (CityTV). Darren was also the behind-the-scenes contractor on “Save My Reno” (HGTV) and “Game of Homes (W Network).

Darren is an accomplished real estate investor, trainer, and coach. He controls a portfolio of properties worth just over $10,000,000 and has traveled across North America educating, inspiring, and motivating audiences on the subject of real estate investing, financial independence, and financial literacy.

Darren’s willingness to give back prompted him to launch his YouTube channel in 2020 to have a wider reach in educating investors. When Darren is not on TV, speaking, or acquiring new real estate, he can be found spending time with friends & family, at the yoga studio or walking his Mexican rescue pup – Ella.

Connect with Darren
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/darren.voros
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/vorosd

Connect with Danielle Chiasson
Website: https://strategicsuccessconsulting.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiasson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniChiasson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danichiasson
Book in a call: https://calendly.com/strategicsuccess/lets-get-real-estate-20-min-chat 

Listen in and subscribe for more.

You can also leave us a review and of course, don’t forget to share. I’m sure there are real people in your network who can take advantage of what they’re going to learn from the show.

Interested in becoming a guest on the show? Email admin@letsgetrealpodcast.com with the Subject: I want to be a guest! OR simply fill out: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/be-a-guest/.

For ten years, my friend Steve Arneson has been a real estate investor. His portfolio is concentrated on Victoria and Edmonton. He was a co-founder of The REINVESTORS and hailed from a family of real estate investors. Steve undoubtedly has a lot to contribute, so prepare your notes and pay close attention to what he has to say!

In this episode, we cover:

• How he raised almost 15 million dollars in capital in order to make his  deals happen.
• Sometimes you gotta start alone, and while its tough, it's what will push you forward to success. That's what happened to Steve. After dealing with everything by himself, he slowly found a team that could aid him and therefore, put him in the lane he was meant to be in all along!
• Is a sales background important when it comes to raising capital? Although it helps and makes everything all the more easy, according to Steve, it is absolutely not essential.
• People will do business with the people they like. At the end of the day, real estate is a relationship-heavy business that requires you to truly engage with other people.
• We all know how important it is to understand security regulations. So much so that Steve has had to refuse jobs and offers to stay in accordance with them!

About Steve:
Steve Arneson is the Co-Founder of The REINVESTORS. He came from a real estate family. Growing up with his mom mainly, most weekends were spent with her going to open houses.
Naturally, he was excited to start his first live-in flip investment in 2012 at the young age of 24. He’s on a mission to inspire people to live a more fulfilled life by shifting how they think about real estate, then they can inspire those around them to do the same. He now helps others implement the same strategies he uses in creating passive income, long-term wealth, and financial independence.

Connect with Steve:
Website: https://thereinvestors.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thereinvestors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_reinvestors
Email: steve@thereinvestors.ca 

 Connect with Danielle Chiasson:
Website: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiasson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniChiasson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danichiasson
Book in a call: https://calendly.com/strategicsuccess/lets-get-real-estate-20-min-chat 

Listen in and subscribe for more.

You can also leave us a review and of course, don't forget to share. I'm sure there are real people in your network who can take advantage of what they're going to learn from the show.

Have you ever had one of those crazy thoughts about merging real estate with another passion of yours? Well, Nick Skalkos definitely has! We welcome him once again to get real about how his music career helped him get into real estate. Interesting, right? Then stick around to hear all about it!

In this episode, we cover:

• About Nick Skalkos and the story of how he got to where he is today. Nick shares his family background and his obsession with music. He talked about the things he did just to get noticed.
• Nick on overcoming the challenges from his past. His strong passion helped him deal with these challenges and guided him to reach his goals. He set high standards for himself and never let anyone else set his standards.
• How Nick made a break in the real estate investing industry. He felt like his drive came from his passion to get out of his present position. He simply believed that he could do it. He also said that it is important to be in the present moment and understand who you really are.
• What Nick did to start learning about real estate investing. It took him 7-8 months to learn before he was sure he knew what he was doing and moved forward.
• The best advice in order to network, according to Nick: Confidence.

About Nick Skalkos:
Nick Skalkos is the founder of NSE Real Estate. His company focuses mainly on multifamily investing techniques. He lives in Cambridge, ON with his wife of 20 years. He was a waiter and a musician before he got interested in real estate investing. In 2016, he joined Keyspire where he learned the basics of real estate investing and started to create powerful partnerships and ventures. Nick has now amassed around 60 doors in Ontario and New Brunswick.

Connect with Nick Skalkos
Website: https://www.nickskalkos.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickskalkos

 Connect with Danielle Chiasson:
Website: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiasson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniChiasson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danichiasson
Book in a call: https://calendly.com/strategicsuccess/lets-get-real-estate-20-min-chat 

Listen in and subscribe for more.

You can also leave us a review and of course, don't forget to share. I'm sure there are real people in your network who can take advantage of what they're going to learn from the show.

Interested in becoming a guest on the show? Email podcastletsgetreal@gmail.com with the Subject: I want to be a guest! OR simply fill out this form: https://perfectpropertyinc.activehosted.com/f/34 

This week, we welcome Geoff and Mandy back on the pod! Absolutely wonderful to have them, honestly. They are killing it in a rural small town in Ontario through human relationships and networking. Wanna know how? Get your headphones and let's get real estate!
 
In this episode, we cover:

• Interested in how Mandy & Geoff got to where they are today? Well, good news! You can check out our previous talk on the podcast through the Let's Get Real Estate website.
• How building human relationships is KEY. It is everything. Mandy even pointed out that one of their projects would not have closed without it. A human approach to business is something that we need more of. Think about the person on the other side!
• Maddy and Geoff - they need a win-win. They do not want a situation where only they benefit. They want to help, as it is their compass and philosophy. 
• How the initial reaction to rehabs are important, and how it benefits them.
• Challenges that they have encountered through human approach
• How people are scared to seal the deal because they do not feel like the person on the other side is human. Be friendly!

About Mandy & Geoff:
Mandy & Geoff are the co-founders of Twisted Cedar Properties whose focus is bringing underperforming old builds back to life, and maximizing the highest and best use of depressed multi-tenant properties through unit conversions.  Mandy and Geoff wanted to save old buildings and to bring the depressed rural communities they loved back to life! 

Connect with Mandy & Geoff:
Book a Call: https://calendly.com/mandygeoff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twistedcedarmandy/
Email: twistedcedargroup@gmail.com 

Connect with Danielle Chiasson:
Website: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiasson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniChiasson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danichiasson
Book in a call: https://calendly.com/strategicsuccess/lets-get-real-estate-20-min-chat

 Please check out our other episodes here: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/ 

We have the amazing opportunity to welcome my old friend Huong Luu once again, who is a former Mortgage agent and engineer. This time around, we will be focusing on how to become mortgage free. Huong has reached financial freedom from her 9-5, and is very passionate about showing others how to reach the same goal.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Huong got started with RSP investing. Coaching clients would bring their bank statements to her and asked if they are making a good return. She quickly realized... they don't know how to read their bank statements!
• Huong's client's worries about not having enough money to retire, and the questions that gave it some sense: are they really maximizing on their return? How much money do they need in order to fulfill this critical goal?
• Consistent returns are key. When you are investing through lending your RSP... you can become the bank!
• PRO TIP: the thing our guest does to protect herself during these sorts of transactions, is to choose who to be the bank for. Ask yourself: is this someone you can trust?
• A little bit on Huong's online course on how to grow a real estate portfolio. 
• Transitioning from active investing to passive investing through private lending. The first step is to get educated.

About Huong Luu:
Huong Luu is a former mortgage agent and engineer, with a very impressive portfolio on her hands. She has managed remarkable projects in the oil/gas and biochemical industry, as well as written her own book about her experience with mortgages.

In the recent 18 months, Huong has been transitioning from actively managing to passively managing her portfolio, currently focusing more into financial management. Her journey to becoming financially free does not go unnoticed, as she is passionate about helping others reach the same goal.

Connect with Huong Luu:
Website: http://www.cashproperty.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cashproperty.inc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huong-luu-cashproperty/
Email: info@cashproperty.ca

Connect with Danielle Chiasson:
Website: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiasson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniChiasson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danichiasson
Book in a call: https://calendly.com/strategicsuccess/lets-get-real-estate-20-min-chat

 Please check out our other episodes here: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/ 

Our amazing guest Shawn Rea is back here again to tell us all about Real Estate. From his journey through the industry to the it-takes-forever mindset that a lot of people suffer from, stopping them from getting into investing. Shawn also gets into his humble beginnings... and how real people can do real estate!

In this episode:

• We cover how he got started before he was financially knowledgeable. As plenty of us, he had trouble with his finances due to the fact that he was not educated... until he changed it.
• People who want to get started struggle to focus on multiple properties at once, and in turn prefer to focus on one home to have as a primary residence. Shawn himself tells us how he was $25,000 in debt, and how his job at the time did not help... so he began educating himself. 
• We cover what good debt is: owning mortgage.
• Surrounding yourself with the right network will definitely help you and give you support along the way.
• Investors are working with what they got and are incredible problem solvers. Their PRO TIP? Not overthinking things!
• How do you know you've vetted a property enough?

About Shawn:
Shawn Rea used to be a full-time employee but still living paycheck to paycheck. He changed his life by educating himself in real estate investing. He started investing at age 25 and now owns over 40 units and 18 parcels of land among other properties. He is currently working as a realtor in the Niagara region. He works primarily with investors that are looking to invest in multi-family properties, flips, and conversions.

Connect with Shawn:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnrea/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawn.rea
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnrea/?originalSubdomain=ca

Connect with Danielle Chiasson:
Website: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiasson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniChiasson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danichiasson
Book in a call: https://calendly.com/strategicsuccess/lets-get-real-estate-20-min-chat 

We always talk about all the great things from Real Estate and how to get started with the proper steps... but do you know what to do when crap hits the fan? Well, today we welcome Zac Willms once again, as he tells us what he did to protect himself from a very crappy situation, and what he learned from this experience in order not to repeat it.

In this episode:

• Zac tells us all about property management! In his case, he manages all his properties, and encourages everybody to do the same. There is a lot to learn about investing through managing, and it surely makes you a much better investor.
• We cover that one time when he found a property, and through his experience, he was able to tell which type of people would be interested in it. What he has to say about the man who decided to apply and the different crazy stories from this deal... will definitely SHOCK you!
• We touch on how we live in our own realities. Most experiences from tenants and landlords are widely different from one another. It is definitely an eye-opener to go through the process of becoming and being a landlord.
• We discover how Zac protected himself in order not to fully become affected by the tenant!
• PRO TIP: Make sure you recognize what you are offering and have proper agreements. Network is KING... and have a good lawyer!

About Zac:
Zac specializes in high-rise residential apartment buildings. Zac began his career as a certified paramedic and soon realized that it was not his passion. His interest in real estate grew and he bought his first investment property at the age of 21. With this, his passion for Real Estate continued to grow and he obtained his Real Estate licence while also starting to manage investor’s properties across the GTA. 

Connect with Zac:
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/zac-willms
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/zacwillms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacwillms/
Email:  zacwillms@gmail.com

Connect with Danielle Chiasson:
Website: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiasson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniChiasson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danichiasson
Book in a call: https://calendly.com/strategicsuccess/lets-get-real-estate-20-min-chat 

Hey there! Today, we have our amazing guest back here again to tell us all about what to do when we "fail" (I still hate that word! Haha). She knows all about falling down and picking herself up bravely, so don't wait any longer, and listen to her journey!

In this episode, we cover:

• Doubters of their work, who know and complain about the headaches that being in the game cost you. While risks are truly giving us all headaches, it's important to mitigate them and be prepared for the unexpected good things that will help you stay in the game!
• How... honestly, the only way to fail is quitting - if you quit when you are down you will not learn from your mistakes, or the unexpected misfortunes that life throws at us! You can lose with real estate, but you can still be successful.
• Kelly gives us all the details how she picked up her 4-plex after many difficulties - how all of it accumulated, andhow she got out of it!
• PRO TIP: fix problems as quickly as you can. Of course, unexpected challenges will arise and sometimes you gotta take the hit, but you're only going to become stronger and grow even more from learning all of this through experience, and become an even better investor.
• When you fall down, you just have to stand up and move on. Losing is just an opportunity to learn. Know to have a plan!

About Kelly:
Kelly Wagner is based out in Waterloo, ON, Canada. She is the owner of Whitecap Properties. She has a business degree and worked in finance for 9 years. Not only that, but she also worked at Keyspire for 4 years, where she learned about real estate investing. From BRRRR strategy to pairing up with passive investors, she is now moving into development. 

Connect with Kelly:
Email: info@whitecapproperties.ca
Website: https://www.whitecapproperties.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyisalways/

Connect with Danielle Chiasson:
Website: https://letsgetrealestatepodcast.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiasson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniChiasson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danichiasson
Book in a call: https://calendly.com/strategicsuccess/lets-get-real-estate-20-min-chat