Category Archives for "Real Estate"

I recently wrote to a senior planner at the city of Ottawa on this topic. Here’s what I said: Marina (not her real name), hope you and your family are well. I think in light of recent events, Ottawa’s OP should be completely overhauled… We were heading in this direction anyway, but now I am […]

Here is a 10-minute video I put together on: How to protect yourself, your biz and your real estate holdings as well as clients, employees, suppliers, guests, residents, tenants… in a time of covid-19. This is what I cover off: IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION CONTRACTED BY MORE THAN 40% in Canada, US and […]

The barndominium We live in what is fast becoming more and more of a gig economy. If you are a hobbyist, an assembler, an artist, a winemaker, a cabinetmaker, a woodworker, a plumber, an electrician, a contractor, manufacturer, a renovator, or you run an HVAC company or a yoga studio or a physiotherapy or RMT […]

Mr Francey interviews Bruce M Firestone on Patrick’s everyday millionaire podcast: https://theeverydaymillionaire.ca/episode82-bruce-firestone-making-impossible-possible/ -how to find your why -if you want to change your life, you have to act -how to restart your life at any age -how to really provide yourself and your family for 3-generations -the story of Roy and Tammy, owners of 48-doors […]

A million-dollar TFSA, https://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/taxes/the-road-to-the-million-dollar-tfsa-is-getting-shorter-for-millennials, sounds great except I’m not 100% convinced about these assumptions: a) earning 4.7% yearly, compounding annually, b) continuing to put in max $$$ every year for 47-consecutive years without fail. There are simply too many ups & downs over a lifetime. But, say you buy a half double like one of […]

I spoke with my friend Victor Menasce about the Ottawa Senators, the NHL, real estate investment and more on his podcast… I explained how we purchased (in the early 1990s) 600-acres in the far west-end of Ottawa (Kanata) for $12,000 an acre ($7.2 million, if you are counting), plunked an NHL expansion franchise (aka, the […]

I usually don’t really like rent-to-own (R2O) models either from an investor’s POV (point of view) or from a client’s POV. From a client’s POV, it’s an expensive way to buy property; they have to pay all of the costs of the property including mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance (tenant and landlord insurance), all repairs/maintenance, […]

[The problem with low appraisals] I am frustrated that Canadian real estate entrepreneurs have so few options when it comes to financing their projects. My friend, Matt Slobodian from Canada ICI wrote this: The regulatory framework in Canada focuses on safety and soundness (it is federally regulated via OSFI, which implies higher standards) whereas the […]

I coach some fantastic entrepreneurs in the US, Canada and elsewhere. However, there is an experience common to entrepreneurs the world over except for the US. Their business ecosystem is different. I wrote to a Canadian woman I coach who runs a real estate portfolio focused on Airbnb and student rentals who is expanding her […]

The story of Tamworth, a small town in Ontario “Animation” is a term I use to describe ways of adding new revenue streams to an existing property. For example, clients of mine are adding storage sheds, backyard workshops, basement apartments, backyard coach houses, play areas (things like outdoor ping pong tables), private patio areas, outdoor […]

[Another GaVinci Report by Corey Oliver] Pivot – in the business world it means to shift. To move to Plan B when Plan A isn’t working. It’s the art of recognizing change in a market or industry before the impact of those changes can damage a business or organization. The challenge is recognizing WHEN to […]

Substantial completion (aka, substantial performance) in real estate is usually defined this way: When approximately 97% of work outlined in a construction contract is done. This milepost is crucial in this industry for a number of reasons: a) so, a contractor can get paid out without having absolutely everything done, b) so, an owner can […]