#7 Aug 26, 21

Real Estate Investing 2025: Benefits, Pitfalls & Profit Strategies

In this episode of The Wisdom, Lifestyle, Money Show, host Scott Dillingham shares his passion for real estate investing, addressing common fears and outlining proven ways to profit in Canada's 2025 market. He tackles concerns like bad tenants, vacancies, and hidden property issues with practical solutions: professional property managers for tenant screening (e.g., surprise visits, employment verification, shared bad-tenant databases) and handling repairs/floods hassle-free; strategic closing dates (60-90 days) with first/last month's rent to avoid empty months; and contractor walk-throughs alongside inspections to spot costly fixes. Scott emphasizes a financial buffer for vacancies and pooling rents for stability.

For profits, he covers appreciation (driven by population growth, Windsor's resilient market despite 3-5% price dips to $550K-$616K averages, per CMHC forecasts for 2026 recovery); cash flow (post-expenses profit, possible in Windsor-Essex but tougher in Toronto amid 2025's modest national adjustments); and mortgage paydown (tenants reduce debt, boosting equity—e.g., $50K paydown on $500K mortgage). In 2025's easing BoC rates (2.25% as of mid-year), focus on cash-flowing properties in growing areas like Southwestern Ontario, or refinance for longer terms to maximize returns. Scott teases next episode's "done-for-you" platform with Tyler Soulliere and promotes his free-trial club at invest.lendcity.ca for A-Z courses. Ideal for aspiring investors navigating 2025's suburban rental trends, sustainability focus, and recovery outlook.

Host Bio
Scott Dillingham is the founder and CEO of LendCity Mortgages, a premier online mortgage brokerage specializing in financing for real estate investors across Canada and the USA. As host of The Wisdom, Lifestyle, Money Show, Scott draws from his own journey—from sales excellence at Future Shop to building a multi-property investment portfolio—to educate listeners on mortgages, investing, and personal growth. Based in Windsor, Ontario, he has achieved top national rankings in mortgage sales and now leads a team helping Canadians secure creative financing solutions. Connect with Scott on Facebook at facebook.com/scott.dillingham or visit lendcity.ca for mortgage advice and resources.

Key Takeaways

Use property managers for tenant screening (e.g., inspections, databases) to minimize bad tenants, late-night calls, and damages—worth the fee for hassle-free investing.
Align closing dates (60-90 days) with tenant move-ins and first/last month's rent to eliminate vacancy costs; managers fill units quickly during transitions.
Conduct contractor walk-throughs with inspections to avoid bad properties—spot hidden issues and get repair estimates upfront.
Profit via appreciation: Buy in population-growing areas like Windsor (resilient despite 2025's 3-5% dips, CMHC eyes 2026 recovery) for long-term value increases.
Generate cash flow: Post-expenses profit possible in Windsor-Essex; prioritize in 2025's easing rates, or accept neutral flow for high-appreciation markets like Toronto.
Leverage mortgage paydown: Tenants reduce debt (e.g., $50K on $500K mortgage), building equity automatically—refinance for longer terms to boost flow and portfolio growth.
For hands-off investing: Explore "done-for-you" options (next episode) or join invest.lendcity.ca club for courses on A-Z strategies.
2025 outlook: Suburban rentals, sustainability trends; focus on fundamentals for appreciation amid modest national adjustments.

(00:13) - Introduction to Real Estate Investing
(03:55) - The Importance of Property Management
(06:50) - Risks of Bad Properties
(09:05) - Making Money in Real Estate
(14:58) - Understanding Mortgage Pay Down
(17:24) - The Addictive Nature of Investing
(18:17) - Next Steps for Aspiring Investors

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