Breakthrough Real Estate Investing Podcast

Episode #340 - U.S. Financing for Canadians with Gillian Irving

Here's what you'll learn in our interview with Gillian… Why Canadians are investing abroad How U.S. investor financing actually works Ways to finance different deal types How to pick the right market without overthinking it and much much more... Gillian Irving describes herself as an “accidental investor,” a label that traces back to a 2009 purchase of a downtown Toronto duplex made with little planning. After realizing that her early success was driven more by luck than strategy, she committed to a more disciplined, data driven approach, motivated by the need to build long term security for her family. With a background in market research, Gillian built a sizeable real estate portfolio across five Ontario markets and New Brunswick. Today, as a mortgage agent with LendCity, she combines investor and lending experience to help Canadian clients structure investor focused financing, including supporting those exploring cross border opportunities in the United States and Mexico. Email: Gillian@lendcity.ca Phone: 647-404-7271 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-irving/

Episode #239 - No Hype, Just Proven Fundamentals with Kory MacKinnon

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: How to choose the right real estate asset class, from multifamily to storage, based on your goals Why systems, processes, and cash reserves matter more than the deal itself How to navigate today’s market and make smarter buy, hold, or sell decisions Practical financing and management strategies that create clarity and long-term success And Much Much More... Kory MacKinnon is a seasoned real estate investor with over 20 years of experience across multiple investment strategies, including multifamily, development, furnished rentals, and self-storage. ​ As a partner of Strategic Success Consulting, Kory is passionate about helping people reach their next level through custom resources such as coaching, events or communities of like minded investors or business owners.  With a multiple 8-figure portfolio and financial freedom achieved, Kory now focuses on empowering others to achieve the same success to live an intentional life on their own terms!  Kory is also a father of 4 who enjoys travel, most every sport and being a health nut in his spare time.  Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/korymackinnon/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoryMacKinnon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kory-mackinnon-19095b4

Episode #238: Smart Property Valuations With Greg Hall

Here’s What You’ll Learn in This Episode with Greg: • How Greg’s career began in the 1980s, from the video business to finance and real estate, and the key lessons learned from decades of market cycles. • The story behind a major real estate venture in Toronto’s Annex, and what long-term investors can learn from high-value urban properties. • Why Greg stepped back into finance due to health challenges, and how perseverance helped him return to real estate investing in 2024 with renewed focus. • The importance of planning, patience, and adaptability when navigating ups and downs in real estate and business. • An introduction to Prop Vest IQ, Greg’s new property valuation and management tool designed to help investors analyze deals and make smarter decisions. • How Greg is offering Prop Vest IQ free to viewers in exchange for feedback, and why real-world user input is shaping the platform’s future. • Personal stories, industry insights, and a look ahead at upcoming real estate projects and investment opportunities. www.greg-hall.ca www.propvestiq.com Greg’s career in finance and real estate has unfolded over several decades, shaped by experience rather than a straight line. He began in finance in the early 1980s, moved into entrepreneurship in 1985, and purchased his first rental property in the late 1980s—only to sell it at a loss during the 1989 crash. In the early 2000s, he converted a single-family home in Toronto’s Annex into a multi-unit and sold it at a profit. In 2009, a severe hip injury led to multiple surgeries and years of recovery. During that period, he requalified in finance and joined RBC Dominion Securities in 2013, where he remains today. Greg was finally able to re-enter real estate in 2024 and 2025, purchasing a duplex in Oshawa and converting two Brantford single-family homes into a duplex and a triplex. Now in his mid-60s, he is back on track—grounded by hard-earned experience and perspective.

Episode #237 - Condo Flips, Deal Analysis, and Scaling Up

Here’s What You’ll Learn in our interview with Jordan Wazczak: • How Jordan got started in real estate at just 19 years old, buying her first home and building momentum early as a young investor from Vancouver Island. • What it’s really like flipping condos in Calgary, including the advantages, challenges, and realities of working with condo boards and navigating special assessments. • Why reviewing condo documents carefully is critical, and how missing key details can turn a good-looking deal into a costly mistake. • The importance of detailed construction cost estimators and deal analyzers when flipping condos, and how they protect investors from thin or risky profit margins. • Common pitfalls of taking on projects with margins that are too small, and why discipline in deal analysis matters more than speed. ....and much much more.... Jordan Walczak is a Vancouver Island–born investor who bought her first home at just 19 years old and has been breaking barriers ever since. After moving to Calgary at 20, she founded Stirling Investments and built experience across flipping, BRRRRs, wholesaling, STRs, leasing, property management, and also holds her real estate license. Still under 30, Jordan has flipped 22 properties, including a notable 5-unit condo portfolio where she raised just shy of $2M. Her mission is to inspire young and female investors to pursue big goals. Instagram @jordwal website www.stirlinginvestments.ca

Episode #236 - The Power of Taking Action with Bilgehan Erdem

Here's What You'll Learn in Our Interview with Bilgehan... How to efficiently manage real estate conversions—including tackling unexpected renovation challenges with practical, experience-based strategies.   Why detailed planning and strong project management are essential for keeping investments on track and minimizing costly surprises.   Creative financing and refinancing tactics that can help investors scale their portfolio and optimize long-term returns.   The importance of community, mentorship, and a collaborative team dynamic in accelerating growth and building confidence as an investor.   How maintaining your personal ‘why’ and prioritizing continuous learning can keep you focused, motivated, and successful in real estate investing.   And Much Much More!   Dr. M. Bilgehan Erdem is a machine learning expert, technical leader, and educator based in Toronto. He holds a PhD, MSc, and BSc in Industrial & Systems Engineering and has spent the last decade building and scaling AI-driven products, most notably as the CTO of Smart Nora, where he led the end-to-end development of a non-intrusive snore-prevention device used globally. Bilgehan specializes in applied machine learning, optimization, and product-focused engineering, with hands-on experience across hardware, firmware, mobile, and data science teams. He is also an adjunct professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, teaching data analytics, Python, database systems, and advanced statistical modeling. Beyond tech, he is an active real-estate investor involved in multi-family developments and student rentals across Ontario. Bilgehan is passionate about building practical AI solutions, mentoring students, and exploring new opportunities at the intersection of ML, smart devices, and real-world problem solving.   LinkedIn profile: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/bilgehanerdem