From Minnesota Winters to Florida Wealth: Ryan Poole's Real Estate Story

In this episode of the Wisdom Lifestyle Money Show, host Scott Dillingham chats with Ryan Poole, owner of RealTrade and a seasoned realtor specializing in South Florida properties. Ryan shares his journey from growing up in northern Minnesota, where harsh winters and personal loss prompted his move south over 25 years ago, to building a thriving real estate career. Influenced by a mentor's advice, he got his license early and focused on new construction and investments, eventually settling in West Palm Beach. He highlights the area's appeal for investors, including its elevation reducing flood risks compared to other Florida regions, and easy access to insurance. Ryan also debunks flooding myths, noting West Palm's ridge topography and coral bedrock aid drainage, with no major hurricanes since the 1920s.

Ryan dives into real estate opportunities, showcasing examples like a Lake Worth Beach four-unit multifamily property purchased for $830,000 yielding 11% cash-on-cash returns, and short-term rental condos in downtown West Palm achieving 8-13% returns. He emphasizes Florida's advantages for Canadians: no state income tax, flexible rent adjustments, strong appreciation (8-9% last year per recent data), and a booming rental market with nearly 1,000 daily migrants. As of November 2025, West Palm Beach's median home price hovers around $450,000, up slightly amid infrastructure growth like the Brightline train connecting to Orlando. Ryan introduces RealTrade, his free platform integrating property searches with social networking for agents, lenders like LendCity, and service providers.

The discussion covers investor strategies, from multifamily holds for long-term wealth to hybrid short-term rentals allowing personal use. Ryan stresses the "return on life" (ROL) alongside ROI, encouraging Canadians to escape rent controls and high rates back home. With eviction processes taking just 2 months max and no annual rent caps, Florida offers stability. This episode provides actionable insights for cross-border investing, blending personal anecdotes with 2025 market updates for aspiring buyers seeking sunny, profitable opportunities.