The Canadian Private Real Estate Podcast: Insights for LPs – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we're joined by Jordan MacDonald. Jordan is the Founding Partner & CEO of Fabric Living from Vancouver, BC, who's career in the real estate industry spans over 20 years.

Jordan began as a Junior Analyst at CBRE, followed by 5 years at Cushman and Wakefield as a Sales and Leasing Broker. He then co-founded Frontline Real Estate Services, a multi-disciplinary commercial real estate brokerage based in the Fraser Valley, spending 5 years building Frontline into a market leading commercial real estate brokerage in the Fraser Valley Region before exiting to follow his passion to be a real estate investor and developer. 

Jordan founded Fabric Living in 2015, and along with leading the team and overseeing all aspects of the business, his key responsibilities at fabric include sourcing new acquisition opportunities, project envisioning, capital raising, nurturing strategic partnerships and planning Fabric’s future.

Jordan is here to discuss:

→ His journey in real estate so far, co-founding Fabric Living, and the meaning behind their slogan, "not boring".

→ Trends in the Vancouver multi-family development market including condos, CMHC, and the effects of government and immigration policies.

→ If developers are leaving the lower mainland, the questions surrounding Vancouver's rental rates, and the future of the area's housing supply.

→ 3 strategies he's using to respond to market trends involving condos, townhomes, and low-risk, high-reward deals.

→ What he's most optimistic about in the current market and the implications of AI on real estate development.

→ The grit required to survive the tough markets and the best early career advice he received - the harder you work, the luckier you'll get.

Fabric Living Website: www.fabricliving.ca

Jordan MacDonald's LinkedIn: @JordyMacDonald

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

1:34 Fabric Living & Jordan's Journey

4:38 Fabric's "Not Boring" Slogan

6:14 Developer Market Trends

9:10 3 Strategies for the Current Market

14:08 Developers Looking Elsewhere

18:13 Gritting Out the Tough Markets

20:59 Most Optimistic in the Market/Vancouver Rental Rates

25:51 AI's Impact on Real Estate Development

30:08 Best Early Career Advice

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🎙️ The Canadian Private Real Estate Podcast: www.canadianprivaterealestatepodcast.ca

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🔗 Hawkeye Wealth Website: www.hawkeyewealth.com

📋 Hawkeye Wealth LinkedIn: @HawkeyeWealth

📬 Hawkeye Wealth Newsletter: @Newsletter

💰 Hawkeye Wealth Mortgage Fund Guide: @MortgageFundGuide

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Welcome to the Canadian Private Real Estate Podcast, hosted by Justin Smith and brought to you by Hawkeye Wealth.

Join us in exploring topics and ideas to help Canadian investors thrive in the private real estate markets, including:

• Emerging commercial real estate market trends and strategies.
• Data and what it means for your portfolio.
• Pros and cons of various investment types and structures.
• Assessing risk in its many forms, particularly risks unique to private real estate.

Our goal is to help investors develop a mort informed perspective of private real estate, and most importantly, make better decisions.

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🎙️ The Canadian Private Real Estate Podcast: www.canadianprivaterealestatepodcast.ca

***

CONNECT WITH HAWKEYE WEALTH

🔗 Hawkeye Wealth Website: www.hawkeyewealth.com

📋 Hawkeye Wealth LinkedIn: @HawkeyeWealth

📬 Hawkeye Wealth Newsletter: @Newsletter

💰 Hawkeye Wealth Mortgage Fund Guide: @MortgageFundGuide

***

In this episode, we're joined by Steve Saretsky. Steve is the Owner of the Saretsky Group from Vancouver, BC, who is also a Vancouver Realtor, real estate investor, YouTuber, and co-host of The Loonie Hour podcast.

Steve is widely considered a thought leader in the industry with regular appearances on Bloomberg, CBC, The Vancouver Sun, and various other media outlets. Steve’s dedication to analyzing the stats, financial landscape, and policies affecting Vancouver Real Estate have allowed him to build a successful business among the top 1% of Greater Vancouver Realtors while working with and providing advisory services to investment advisors, financial institutions, policy makers and real estate developers.

The Saretsky Group is a team of trusted real estate advisors working with buyers and sellers of residential property in the city of Vancouver.

Steve is here to discuss:

→ His journey in real estate so far and becoming a successful, no BS market commentator.

→ Current trends in the Vancouver real estate market, where in 2025 annual home sales in the city dropped to their lowest level in 25 years, and why condo sales have plummeted.

→ How the market could be stimulated today, the overblown mortgage renewal panic, and market reality vs Realtor bias on social media.

→ The biggest investment risk today, Vancouver's current rental overbuilding, and the subsequent rental market collapse.

→ Where Vancouver will be in 5-10 years - 0 new condo development completions, stagnant home values, and the recovery outlook into the 2030s.

→ Why now could be the best time to buy real estate since 2012, and his predictions for interest rates.

→ The biggest myth in real estate, it will always go up, and the most impactful investment advice he received.

Saretsky Group Website: www.saretskygroup.com

Steve Saretsky's LinkedIn: @SteveSaretsky

Steve Saretsky's Instagram: @stevesaretsky

Steve Saretsky's X: @SteveSaretsky

Steve Saretsky's YouTube: @saretsky

Steve Saretky's LinkTree: @stevesaretsky

The Loonie Hour Podcast Website: www.thelooniehour.ca

The Loonie Hour Podcast LinkTree: @looniehour

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

0:26 Today's Guest: Steve Saretsky

3:22 Current Market Trends in Vancouver

5:53 How Long Until the Market Sentiment Turns Positive?

7:57 The Best Time to Buy Real Estate Since 2012

11:02 Are Realtors Being Truthful About the Market on Their Social Media?

12:55 The Biggest Investment Risk - Vancouver's Overbuilding Crisis and Rental Market Collapse

15:02 Vancouver in 5-10 Years - 0 Condo Completions & Stagnant Home Values

19:17 How the Market Could be Stimulated Today

23:42 Overblown Mortgage Renewal Panic

25:16 Interest Rate Predictions

28:56 The Biggest Myth in Real Estate - It Always Goes Up

32:50 Most Impactful Investment Advice - Focus on Today's Asset, Not Future Speculation

33:30 Wrap-Up

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CONNECT WITH THE SHOW

🎙️ The Canadian Private Real Estate Podcast: www.canadianprivaterealestatepodcast.ca

***

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🔗 Hawkeye Wealth Website: ⁠www.hawkeyewealth.com⁠

📋 Hawkeye Wealth LinkedIn: ⁠@HawkeyeWealth⁠

📬 Hawkeye Wealth Newsletter: ⁠@Newsletter⁠

💰 Hawkeye Wealth Mortgage Fund Guide: ⁠@MortgageFundGuide⁠

***

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this episode, we're joined by Carl Gomez.

Carl is the Chief Economist & Executive Vice President of Research at Centurion Asset Management from the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, who has over 25 years of experience as a Canadian economist and investment professional, specializing in real estate and capital markets.

Carl began his career at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) before working as a Senior Economist at both RBC Financial Group and TD Bank Financial Group. His career includes senior positions at Bentall Capital, Bentall Kennedy, QuadReal Property Group, and the CoStar Group before joining Centurion in January of 2026.

Centurion Asset Management Inc. is a Canadian asset management company specializing in real estate and other alternative investments. A recognized leader in the space since 2003, Centurion is Canada's largest private REIT, managing over $8 billion in assets.

Carl is here to discuss:

→ His career so far, who Centurion is and how he joined them, and what he does in his day-to-day including working with teams, deal vetting, & road shows.

→ If Canada is in a recession, future expectations for the Canadian economy, including GDP and job growth, and the differences between structural and cyclical issues and their impacts.

→ If we will have a deal with the US soon and AI's potential impact on real estate.

→ What the data is saying about multifamily and the areas in which he's pessimistic, like how we've been building the wrong housing type, and the areas in which he's optimistic, like rent growth being strong in markets where there isn't over-supply.

→ The data set real estate investors should actually be watching, long-term bond yields, because they are the true indicator of capital costs as policy rate decisions by central banks world wide have lagged behind for years, and how they impact interest rates.

→ Why the Bank of Canada will be raising interest rates in the near future and how they have been mismanaged since the start of the Covid pandemic.

→ What is happening with current cap rates for class A multifamily, why long-term institutional and private investors are currently benefitting the most, and what factors could lead to positive rent growth post-2027.

→ Debunking the myth of Canada having a housing supply problem, when it is really an affordability problem.

→ Canada's immigration rebalancing strategy, which is currently in a system correction, with the negative population growth due to exiting non-permanent residents in 2026, that will turn into 1.5% population growth with a rebalanced system post-2027.

→ The most impactful advice he received early on - trust is the essence of investment.

🌎 Centurion Asset Management Website: www.centurion.ca

🔗 Centurion Asset Management LinkedIn: @CenturionAssetMGMT

🔗 Carl Gomez's LinkedIn: @CarlGomez

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

00:26 Today's Guest: Carl Gomez

1:27 Who Are Centurion & How Carl Got There

3:10 Carl's Day-to-Day

4:30 Expectations for Canadian Economy (GDP & Jobs)

6:53 Will We Have a US Deal Soon?

8:08 AI's Potential Impact on Real Estate

11:19 What the Data Says About Multifamily

15:26 When Will the Headlines Change?

17:53 Data Real Estate Investors Should Be Watching

19:35 BoC Will Raise Interest Rates

23:49 Caps Rates for Class A Multifamily

30:25 Canada Has an Affordability, Not a Supply, Problem

32:18 Canada's Immigration Rebalancing Strategy Explained

37:39 One Piece of Advice - Trust is the Essence of Investment

39:05 Wrap-Up

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🎙️ The Canadian Private Real Estate Podcast: www.canadianprivaterealestatepodcast.ca

***

CONNECT WITH HAWKEYE WEALTH

🌎 Hawkeye Wealth Website: www.hawkeyewealth.com

🔗 Hawkeye Wealth LinkedIn: @HawkeyeWealth

📬 Hawkeye Wealth Newsletter: @Newsletter

💰 Hawkeye Wealth Mortgage Fund Guide: @MortgageFundGuide

***

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this episode, we're joined by Tom McLaughlin. Tom is the VP of Finance of Thomasfield Homes from Guelph, Ontario, a family-owned home builder and land developer based in Southern Ontario since 1978.

With over 15 years of experience in homebuilding, land development, and project management, Tom has led the financing and execution of complex real estate projects from planning to completion. He is the second vice-chair of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (as of 2025) and a past-president of the Guelph & District Home Builders’ Association.

In 2025, Tom authored a brilliant article in the Real Estate News Exchange titled, "Construction's Productivity Illusion, and the Robot-Filled Future That Just Might Fix It", which is the springboard for this conversation today.

Tom is here to discuss:

→ His journey in real estate from urban planning to Thomasfield Homes

→ How AI has improved day-to-day operations at Thomasfield like expediting workflows, and areas where it hasn't worked like plan rendering.

→ What the real estate industry is getting wrong about AI - building up way too much short-term hype, while also being blind to the long-term vision.

→ AI's role in construction's productivity problem - How AI robots, like the Tesla Optimus, could change the construction industry, when these changes could be coming, and the common objections to AI robots in construction.

→ If real estate, in this new future, will still be an inflation hedge.

→ The historical impact transportation has always had on real estate, and how autonomous vehicles could reshape the future of urban planning.

→ The factors to prioritize when investing in real estate in the new world - jurisdictions with strong property rights, housing supply deficits, climate resilience, and reliable energy infrastructure.

→ The most impactful advice he received early on - cycles are temporary, but good assets endure.

Thomasfield Homes Website: www.thomasfield.com

Tom McLaughlin's LinkedIn: @TomMcLaughlin

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

00:26 Today's Guest: Tom McLaughlin

05:01 How AI Has Changed Day-to-Day Operations at Thomasfield

07:01 Areas at Thomasfield Where AI Hasn't Worked

09:53 What the Industry is Getting Wrong About AI

10:35 How AI Robots Will Change the Construction Industry & When It's Coming

15:51 Common Objections to AI Robots in Construction

17:50 Will Real Estate Still Be an Inflation Hedge?

22:29 The Impact of Autonomous Cars & Transportation on Real Estate

28:04 Where & What Real Estate to Own in the New World

34:41 Most Impactful Advice

35:40 Wrap-Up

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CONNECT WITH THE SHOW

🎙️ The Canadian Private Real Estate Podcast: www.canadianprivaterealestatepodcast.ca

***

CONNECT WITH HAWKEYE WEALTH

🔗 Hawkeye Wealth Website: www.hawkeyewealth.com

📋 Hawkeye Wealth LinkedIn: @HawkeyeWealth

📬 Hawkeye Wealth Newsletter: @Newsletter

💰 Hawkeye Wealth Mortgage Fund Guide: @MortgageFundGuide

***

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this episode, we're joined by Wendy Waters. Wendy is a real estate research specialist from Vancouver, BC, who has over 20 years of experience in real estate research. Wendy regularly publishes research on LinkedIn, and takes part on podcasts and panels across Canada.

From 2006 to 2025, Wendy led the Research Services & Strategy Team at GWL Realty Advisors, where they provided strategic analysis on office, industrial, retail, and multi-residential portfolio strategy across Canada, focusing on the economic, demographic, and social drivers of real estate performance as well as capital flow and market trends that shape returns.

Wendy currently volunteers on the steering committee of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) of BC. Until September, 2025, she was also the Co-Chair of the RealPac Research Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Urban Development Institute of BC (UDI).

Wendy is here to discuss:

→ Her experience in the real estate industry and how AI will change real estate in the future.

→ How real estate historically is used as an inflation hedge and the disconnect between how there is a demand for housing, but the current price-points it sits at is not attainable for buyers.

→ The old mantra of "growth pays for growth" - how high development charges in BC is leading to younger buyers subsidizing the older, wealthier population of current home-owners when it comes to infrastructure, leading young people hundreds of thousands of dollars behind.

→ If Ontario cutting development fees & HST for home buyers have led to greater affordability.

→ The impact of less immigration and population decline on housing including the how less non-permanent residents are affecting the rental market, Vancouver's vacancy rates, and renters finally having options.

→ The 2 key demographic shifts investors should be aware of, 25-35 year old new permanent residents and the aging Boomers, and where opportunities could be to cater to those populations.

→ The 2 risks investors are either over or underestimating, including that there's "too much housing", and the new realities of an interest rate environment where it's stable or increasing as opposed to falling.

Wendy Waters's LinkedIn: @WendyWaters

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

0:26 Today's Guest: Wendy Waters

4:25 Real Estate as an Inflation Hedge

8:32 There is Housing Demand, but the Price is Wrong

10:37 Vancouver Vacancy Rate - Renters Finally Have Options

15:18 Impacts of Ontario Cutting Development Fees & HST

16:38 "Growth Pays for Growth" Mindset Hurting Young Buyers

18:40 Impact of Population Decline on Rentals

20:04 Impact of AI on Real Estate in the Near Future

26:21 Demographic Shifts Investors Should Be Aware Of

33:42 Risks Investors are Over/Under Estimating

37:11 Wrap-Up

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CONNECT WITH THE SHOW

🎙️ The Canadian Private Real Estate Podcast: www.canadianprivaterealestatepodcast.ca

***

CONNECT WITH HAWKEYE WEALTH

🔗 Hawkeye Wealth Website: www.hawkeyewealth.com

📋 Hawkeye Wealth LinkedIn: @HawkeyeWealth

📬 Hawkeye Wealth Newsletter: @Newsletter

💰 Hawkeye Wealth Mortgage Fund Guide: @MortgageFundGuide

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