Is Real Estate Making Canadians Unhappy?

We interview David Chilton, aka The Wealthy Barber  aka a former Dragon. We had an amazing discussion about personal finance, entrepreneurship and money. We asked David;  The original motivation for writing the book and what financial issues he observed Why he revisited the book and what needed updating Challenges faced as an entrepreneur in the financial industry Why "pay yourself first" remains relevant Evolution of money culture from the '90s to today (including TikTok finance) Views on real estate as a wealth-building tool for Canadians Advice for young Canadians considering entrepreneurship Advice for older Canadians approaching retirement Buy the, Physical book, the Audiobook, or the Ebook Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Sign Up For Futures Faster Program LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Realist PremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We cover three major shifts in Canadian real estate: BC Land Ownership: The Cowichan Tribes won a land title ruling in BC Supreme Court, challenging ownership certainty since 95% of BC is unceded land. This creates risk for developers and lenders due to legal ambiguity. Ontario Rent Control: The government quickly abandoned plans to consult on "security of tenure" rules, showing the political power of tenants — over 50% of Toronto households rent. This reflects a shift toward renter-driven housing policy. Interest Rate Uncertainty: The Bank of Canada is signaling fewer rate cuts than expected, with markets pricing in a "pseudo-pause". This creates challenges for both homeowners and renters. The common theme: power is shifting in Canadian real estate — Indigenous nations reclaiming land, tenants reclaiming policy, and the Bank trying to reclaim inflation control. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Sign Up For Futures Faster Program LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Realist PremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are on site at the OHBA's annual conference in Collingwood, Ontario where we had some amazing conversations with experts in the industry and spoke about things like policy, illegal building, and whats wrong and right with the industry right now!  Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Sign Up For Futures Faster Program LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Realist PremiumReal Estate Investment Specialist Designation Course Buy & sell real estate with Ai at Valery.cSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick and Dan analyze the CMHC Housing Design Catalogue, which offers over 50 free standardized housing designs across Canada. They explore opportunities for real estate investors including reduced design costs and faster approvals, while critically examining challenges like high construction costs, lengthy permit processes, and questions about Housing Minister Gregor Robertson's track record. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Sign Up For Futures Faster Multiplex Program FREE LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Realist PremiumReal Estate Investment Specialist Designation Course Buy & sell real estate with Ai at Valery.cSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this news episode, BMO warns that Canada's housing market has been falling for three years, similar to the 2007 US crash. Recovery will take a long time. CMHC says today's Toronto condo slowdown is different from the 1990s crash because lending rules are tougher and buyers are more financially tested, meaning things won't get as bad. On the positive side, the federal government plans to cut development charges in half in the November 4 budget. Canada's hottest housing markets have moved to the Prairies and Atlantic Canada, with Newfoundland leading with 12.3% price increases. LIVE PODCAST TICKETS Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Sign Up For Futures Faster Multiplex Program FREE LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Realist PremiumReal Estate Investment Specialist Designation Course Buy & sell real estate with Ai at Valery.c  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick and Dan break down the essential metrics every Canadian real estate investor needs to master: cap rate, DSCR, cash-on-cash return, and IRR. Using a detailed Hamilton duplex example, they demonstrate how to calculate each metric, explain what they reveal (and what they don't), and show how to use them strategically—from quick property screening to deep financial modeling. Cap rate is your screening tool: Perfect for quickly comparing properties across markets, but it doesn't account for financing or long-term performance. DSCR and cash-on-cash reveal actual profitability: These metrics show whether your property will make or lose money with financing—the Hamilton example had a terrible 0.61 DSCR and -10.5% cash-on-cash return. IRR captures the complete picture: It's the only metric that accounts for the entire investment lifecycle including appreciation, principal paydown, and your exit, showing you can still profit even with negative annual cash flow. LIVE PODCAST TICKETS Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Sign Up For Futures Faster Multiplex Program FREE LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Realist PremiumReal Estate Investment Specialist Designation Course Buy & sell real estate with Ai at Valery.cSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada has a critical financial advice gap, where 51% of households are "unadvised" — a disparity that hits lower-income families hardest. The discussion explores how excessive regulatory burden and economic factors prevent middle-income Canadians from accessing professional financial guidance, leading many to rely on social media influencers instead. Through analysis of the CD Howe Institute's "Regulatory Reset" report, the hosts unpack how this advice gap affects mortgage decisions, homeownership wealth, retirement savings, and national productivity. Advised investors accumulate roughly 2.3 times more assets over 15 years than non-advised peers, yet only 38% of lower-income households receive financial advice compared to 60% of high-income households.  35% of Canadian retail investors now make investment decisions based on social media influencers rather than professional advisors, while banks leave a 16-percentage-point gap in the financial planning advice customers actually need. Financial services regulations have increased 51% since 2006, making it uneconomical for advisors to serve mass-market clients and contributing to underutilization of tax-advantaged savings programs — only 22.4% of eligible Canadians contributed to RRSPs in 2022. LIVE PODCAST TICKETS Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Buy & sell real estate with Ai at Valery.ca  Get a mortgage pre-approval with Owl Mortgage LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Realist PremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are joined by the CEO and founder of WOWA for an in depth discussion of whats wrong with Canadian Real Estate and why are young people way less happy then they used to be.  LIVE PODCAST TICKETS Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Buy & sell real estate with Ai at Valery.ca  Get a mortgage pre-approval with Owl Mortgage LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Realist PremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We profile Canada's wealthiest real estate moguls and developers, exploring their immense wealth, business strategies, and influence on the Canadian housing market. Nick and Dan examine both billionaires with major real estate holdings and dedicated property developers who've shaped Canada's urban landscapes. The wealth disparity in Canada is stark - the combined net worth of the 10 richest Canadians is now $261 billion (compared to just $60 billion in 2004), with many billionaires earning a typical Canadian's annual salary by January 2nd. Many of Canada's real estate fortunes began with immigrant families who arrived with nothing and built multi-billion dollar empires through strategic property development and investment. The episode questions what responsibility these ultra-wealthy individuals have to address Canada's housing affordability crisis, given their significant influence on the real estate market. LIVE PODCAST TICKETS Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Buy & sell real estate with Ai at Valery.ca  Get a mortgage pre-approval with Owl Mortgage LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Realist PremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OSFI has finalized revisions to the CAR guideline, effective Q1 2026, which significantly impacts how banks treat mortgages tied to rental income. The key change prevents borrowers from reusing the same income to qualify for multiple properties, which will make it harder for small investors to grow their portfolios. The 50% borrower-income test is reaffirmed, but now income used for one mortgage cannot be used again for another property. This could reduce mortgage qualifying amounts from around $700,000 to $300,000 for typical investors.  B-side lenders (credit unions, private mortgage companies) not bound by OSFI regulations can fill the gap by continuing to consider global income, though typically at 1-3% higher interest rates.  Combined loan products will be treated as a single risk, new IRB banks must start with high capital floors, and a new Credit Risk Management guideline is coming in January 2026. LIVE PODCAST TICKETS Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management Buy & sell real estate with Ai at Valery.ca  Get a mortgage pre-approval with Owl Mortgage LISTEN AD FREE free 1 week trial for Realist PremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.