51 Success Stories from Canadian Real Estate Investors E-Book

Don R. Campbell

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 424

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

51 Success Stories from Canadian Real Estate Investors chronicles the incredible successes -- and near-misses -- of Canadian investors who employ strategies designed by Canada's best-selling real estate author, Don R. Campbell. In his first two best-sellers, Real Estate Investing in Canada and 97 Tips for Canadian Real Estate Investors, Campbell shows what it takes to succeed in real estate investing. In his third book, Campbell casts a spotlight on the success stories of investors as well as exploring examples of occasions when investing initiatives do not go so well. In his assessments, Campbell illustrates how to avoid these circumstances and what to learn from them. The end result is further proof that Campbell's time-proven techniques and in-depth knowledge are essential reading for every real estate investor in Canada.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Praise

Title Page

Copyright Page

PREFACE

Acknowledgements

Introduction

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY UPDATE

SECTION 1 - OVERCOMING PERSONAL ADVERSITY

SUCCESS STORY #1 - REAL ESTATE BRINGS THE FAMILY TOGETHER

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #2 - VETERAN PASTOR USES REAL ESTATE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #3 - PERSEVERANCE OVER LIFE’S MAJOR HURDLES, NO MATTER HOW HIGH ...

Don Campbell’s Observations

SUCCESS STORY #4 - DON’T WAIT UNTIL A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE TO GET STARTED

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #5 - FROM THE BRINK OF DISASTER TO THE BRINK OF SUCCESS

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #6 - IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED . . . FIND A BETTER MENTOR!

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #7 - SINGLE MOM OF THREE FINDS A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #8 - FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE—BUT DON’T IGNORE THE RISKS

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #9 - LEARNING DISABILITY IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #10 - A FOUR-YEAR JOURNEY TO A FINANCIALLY SECURE FUTURE

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #11 - ADVERSITY: THE MOTHER OF CREATIVITY

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #12 - DON’T WAITE TO TAKE ACTION, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR AGE

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #13 - THE GRASS ISN’T ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SECTION 2 - FOCUS ON FAMILY AND FRIENDS

SUCCESS STORY #14 - FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION FOR YOUR KIDS

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #15 - PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET, THEN WATCH THAT BASKET CLOSELY

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #16 - HOW MAKING GOALS MEANS GIVING BACK

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #17 - AVOID SWINGING FOR THE HOMERUN—LOOK FOR GOOD, SOLID SINGLES ...

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #18 - NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE BROTHERLY COMPETITION

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #19 - ENCOURAGING THEIR RENTERS TO BECOME OWNERS LEADS TO ...

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #20 - PARTNERSHIP WITH MOTHER-IN-LAW SPARKS GROWTH

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #21 - TRUE RESULTS TAKE TIME

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #22 - DON’T LET YOUR UNIVERSITY DEGREE GET IN YOUR WAY

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

Your Ultimate Advantage

SUCCESS STORY #23 - DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK—THEY MIGHT SURPRISE YOU AND SAY YES

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #24 - “YOU’RE NOT THE BABYSITTER, YOU’RE THE PARENT!”

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #25 - LEAVE SOMETHING ON THE TABLE FOR THE NEXT PERSON

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #26 - GET IT DONE . . . BUT DO IT RIGHT

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #27 - YOU CAN ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SECTION 3 - JUMPING OFF THE PROVERBIAL CLIFF

SUCCESS STORY #28 - WHEN YOU’RE IN A HOLE, QUIT DIGGING!

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #29 - PERFECTIONISM IS DEFINITELY NOT PERFECT

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #30 - SAW THE DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #31 - SAW THE FUTURE 20 YEARS AHEAD—AND IT WASN’T PRETTY

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #32 - THE TREADMILL LEADING TO NOWHERE

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #33 - FLEXIBILITY IS CRITICAL IN SPORTS AND REAL ESTATE INVESTING

Don Campbell’s Observations

SUCCESS STORY #34 - TOYS ARE FUN, BUT THEY KEEP YOU ON THE TREADMILL

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #35 - SURROUND YOURSELF WITH ACTION-TAKERS

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #36 - WORK HARD TODAY, LET YOUR MONEY WORK HARD TOMORROW

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #37 - LOSING MY JOB WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SECTION 4 - FOLLOWING PROVEN SYSTEMS

SUCCESS STORY #38 - HE NOT ONLY FOUND A NICHE—HE CREATED ONE FROM SCRATCH

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #39 - FOCUS ON CHANGING OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES, AND YOURS WILL ...

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #40 - RESPECT IS A TWO-WAY STREET

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #41 - WORK HARD AND TREAT INVESTING LIKE A BUSINESS

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #42 - BEING BUSY IS A GREAT EXCUSE FOR CREATING SYSTEMS

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #43 - REMOVE EMOTIONS BY INVESTING HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #44 - FOCUS ON THE NUMBERS—THEY’LL TAKE YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO GO

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #45 - REAL ESTATE GRABBED HIM AT ONLY 16 YEARS OLD

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #46 - THE ULTIMATE SYSTEMIZER

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #47 - ONE WORD: FREEDOM

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #48 - THE BALANCED PORTFOLIO STRATEGY—A SHORTCUT TO SUCCESS

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

SUCCESS STORY #49 - THE FIRST DEAL IS THE SCARIEST

Don Campbell’s Observations

SUCCESS STORY #50 - AN OASIS IN HIS PERSONAL BELIZE

Don Campbell’s Observations

SUCCESS STORY #51 - HOW TO TURN ONE COTTAGE INTO FIVE INVESTMENT PROPERTIES BY ...

Don Campbell’s Observations

ACTION STEPS

Praise for Don R. Campbell and the REIN System

[I am] extremely impressed with the quality of information and integrity that is stressed by the entire team. Real Estate Investing in Canada really opened my mind and completely changed my vision. The Real Estate Investment Network [REIN] has given me the ability to meet like-minded people and access to an enormous wealth of information. Best decision of my life.

—Jeff Worth

Over the past two years, I have been using these strategies, which have led me to a hundred times better lifestyle and a portfolio worth over $8 million. Thank you, Don and REIN!

—Dan Barton

This program and Don’s book have completely changed the focus in my life. The program is fantastic. Getting the information, and then some, right from the “horse’s mouth,” is worth the thirty hours of attendance. Thank you to REIN for helping reshape and redirect my focus and energy!

—Kelley Star

Fantastic array of tools to help me succeed in real estate. One word: confidence. I now feel that I have the tools and the system to move my real estate investments into the stratosphere. Thank you. I look forward to seeing the results of my actions over the next months and years.

—Brian Creed

This program helped reaffirm that positive outlook and confidence are the cornerstones of success. The information provides the peace of mind to invest in real estate and be profitable. The level of integrity while handling business certainly matched my personal outlook. I look forward to interacting with REIN in the future.

—Brian Code

Wonderful—exceeded my expectations. The bonus was having Don Campbell turned out to be sort of like a humorous life coach! I was considering acquiring an additional property or two, but my horizon has just been expanded. (I’m thinking 10 or 15 now!) I liked the continual reference to goal setting and believing that I can, and should, realize those goals/dreams.

—Laura Duggan

What an excellent program! This information makes it so simple to become a successful professional real estate investor. I particularly love the fact that there is no grey area. Honesty and integrity are paramount to being a member of REIN.

—Christine Nelson

[An] amazing, eye-opening experience. Being a Realtor, it’s helped me streamline my business approach with investors. Helped me filter out the things that take too much of my time in searching for quality investment properties. Finally, a proven system. Thank you, REIN!

—Chris Belanger

Extremely comprehensive, current, well-researched, and tested information. I appreciate the ultra ethical approach that is both taught and modeled. Thanks for all you do to invest in us.

—Karen Marshall

Full of great tools and knowledge to help me reach my goals. Definitely the best use of any money I’ve ever spent on a course. I have come out of the Quickstart with a firm goal, the motivation to attain my goal, and the knowledge and tools to start attaining these goals. It will change my life.

—Will Noble

This is a meat-and-potatoes organization that avoids the fluff. REIN sets the standard for all other investment networks out there.

—Shane Brewer

The Quickstart program truly gave me insights on what and how to look at investment properties. I never would have learned all I needed to know except through mistakes. Undoubtedly it has saved me thousands of dollars already. I feel empowered and knowledgeable to go out and start looking for my next property and realize my dream.

—Carol Coote

Excellent, practical, and removes all the guesswork, fear, and emotions from the transaction. A fool-proof system.

—Maureen DeFreitas

Terrific systematic process flow of analyzing investments. There are no longer any subjective opinions regarding properties. This system has minimized all the fears I had in terms of real estate.

—Carmen Luk

Copyright © 2008 by Don R. Campbell

All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic or mechanical without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any request for photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems of any part of this book shall be directed in writing to The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright license, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free 1-800-893-5777.

Care has been taken to trace ownership of copyright material contained in this book. The publisher will gladly receive any information that will enable them to rectify any reference or credit line in subsequent editions.

The material in this publication is provided for information purposes only. Laws, regulations and procedures are constantly changing, and the examples given are intended to be general guidelines only. This book is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in rendering professional advice. It is strongly recommended that legal, accounting, tax, financial, insurance, and other advice or assistance be obtained before acting on any information contained in this book. If such advice or personal assistance is required, the personal services of a competent professional should be sought.

The author, publisher and all others directly or indirectly involved with this publication do not assume any responsibility or liability, direct or indirect, to any party for any loss or damage by errors or omissions, regardless of cause, as a consequence of using this publication, nor accept any contractual, tortuous, or other form of liability for its contents, or any consequences arising from its use.

Realtor is a registered trademark.

National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data

Campbell, Don R.

51 success stories from Canadian real estate investors / by Don R.

Campbell ; with Joy Gregory.

eISBN : 978-0-470-73916-7

1. Real estate investment—Canada. 2. Residential real estate—Canada. I. Title. II. Title: Fifty-one success stories from Canadian real estate investors.

HD316.C317 2007332.63’240971C2007-907018-3

Production CreditsInterior design and typesetting: Natalia Burobina Cover design: Jason Vandenberg Printer: Printcrafters Inc.

John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd. 6045 Freemont Blvd. Mississauga, Ontario L5R 4J3

PC

This book is printed with biodegradable vegetable-based inks. Text pages are printed on 60 lb. Rolland Enviro 100. 100% post-consumer waste.

PREFACE

“SO WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?”

This is unlike any “success story” book you have ever read. Sure, there are stories of people who have done well in their life—some of whom started with nothing and now are living the “freedom lifestyle”; however, let’s be realistic. Those types of stories are enjoyable to read as you live success vicariously. But they prompt the inevitable question you, the reader, are asking yourself: “So what’s in it for me?”

That’s right; when it comes right down to it, we are all tuned into the same radio station in our head: WIFM, and I applaud you for that outlook. In today’s fast-paced society, if you’re not looking after yourself, no one else will.

On the flipside, once you get clear on your direction and start looking after yourself and your finances, others will jump at the chance to help you out. In other words, once you become committed to your future and lead your life according to plan, others will do whatever it takes to help your vision turn into reality. Other committed people truly enjoy helping others with like minds.

How do I know? Quite simply, it happened to me and I’ve seen it happen to thousands of your fellow Canadians. It all begins with you and your commitment to what you truly want to create in your life.

My personal success story is filled with people showing up in my life at exactly the right time when I needed their guidance, knowledge, experience or assistance. These coincidences only started to occur after I became extremely clear on what my wife, Connie, and I wanted to create in our lives. Once we defined our “Personal Belize” (as described in Chapter 3 of Real Estate Investing in Canada) and started to tell people about it, positive occurrences and coincidences just started to happen. That’s not to say that everything has been easy. Believe me, there have been times of mental, physical and financial struggle along the way, but the focus on our long-term vision helped us over these road bumps and helped us to enjoy the smooth parts of the journey. There were many excuses we could have used to stop us travelling on our dream path. Friends who said we were crazy, family members who said we worked “too hard,” so-called professionals saying that our dreams were too lofty—those dream-stealers are out there. The key is to not get into a discussion justifying why you are on your life path. The best solution is to ignore them (even when that is very difficult to do) and stay focused on what you want to create for you and your family. It’s your life, not theirs.

A great way in which to do this on a consistent basis is to surround yourself with like-minded people who are already well down the pathway you have chosen to take. The more of these positive and supportive people you have in your life, the faster you’ll be able to proceed towards your dreams. I call these people dream-supporters.

Dream-stealers do their best to steal your energy and your confidence by distracting you with reasons why not to do something, while dream-supporters conspire to help you make it happen. The choice, to me, quickly became obvious as I started on my path to success, and I hope you, too, will come to see the same wisdom.

If you want to play bass in a blues band, or want to travel around the world, or write the next great Canadian novel, or work with charities to help those less fortunate, or learn to paint, all I can say is, no matter what your age or your financial position, do it! Find a way to arrange your life and your finances to make it happen sooner rather than later. Stop dreaming and, like those in these stories, start doing.

John Lennon said it best: “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” Make your plan, execute it to the best of your ability and then deal with the road bumps along the way. Life throws us all curve balls whether we are moving forward or we’re stuck in neutral, so you might as well be moving forward towards your life goal.

That all being said, let’s get back to your favourite radio station, WIFM. So what’s so different about this success story book versus others? There are four key differences:

1. The book is completely focused on stories about everyday Canadians creating above-average success in Canadian real estate. They come from investors I’ve met and worked with across the country over the last 15 years. Every single one of them has used the strategies described in my first book, Real Estate Investing in Canada.

2. Each of the stories reveals mistakes or something personal about the storyteller so that you can see that the reality of life as an investor is not all sweetness and light, and so you can learn by avoiding the mistakes they made.

3. Importantly, the book you have in your hands directly addresses and answers the question “WIFM?” With each of the success stories, I will show you landmines you need to avoid. I’ll highlight lessons you can learn from the investor’s mistakes and I will provide you (and the storyteller) with action steps that you can adopt in your life.

4. You will develop your own game plan for the future, as you’ll find pieces in each story that you can model in the future so that you are propelled forward on your chosen path.

By the end of this book, you’ll know the key action steps and turning points that these successful investors used to start living their dream. This book may well be the start of surrounding yourself with like-minded successful people who will work with you to help you achieve what you want to achieve. To facilitate this, as you read the book, make notes in the margins, bend pages that you find especially helpful to you and feel free to highlight mistakes you truly want to avoid as an investor.

The stories are divided into four categories titled: Overcoming Personal Adversity; Family and Friends; Jumping Off the Cliff; and Following Proven Systems. Having them grouped like this allows you to easily refer back to a particular section if you ever need to reference certain action-steps or lessons.

You are about to discover that real estate investing is not a get-rich-quick scheme; true success comes to those with a long-term view and a focus on the three keys: systems, relationships and follow-through. With these in alignment, life works together with you and positive coincidences begin to happen. If you allow them to get out of alignment, life will feel like a long, hard struggle.

After reading and enjoying these success stories, I trust that you will begin, or continue, to allow others to assist you along life’s path and you’ll start watching for positive coincidences as they occur in all aspects of your life. Once you get clear in your mind where you want to go, the pathway becomes very clear.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Success in any aspect of life is all about taking charge of the future, not just waiting for it to happen. Success is not measured by the number of dollars in your bank account or the number of toys in your driveway; you’ve truly achieved success when you get to the point of not knowing whether what you’re doing is work or play. Success is not a destination; it is a way of thinking and a way of living life, regardless of your income or net worth. There are many unhappy multimillionaires and many very happy people living on minimal income, so obviously, mindset is the key.

This book is dedicated to everyone who has, or wants to, take charge of their own success and start living their life today as a happy and successful person.

This book is also dedicated to the 75 people who contributed to the 51 success stories in this book. Their willingness to tell their stories while being fully open, honest and vulnerable is a sign of their character. Only by sharing the good and the bad of their journeys are we able to learn the many lessons they’ve learned along the way. They’ve now marked the path for others to follow. Every reader of this book owes them their thanks.

A very special thank you must go to Calgary writer Joy Gregory, whose dedication and insights made this book possible. Through her, the stories came alive and set the stage for an entertaining and informative read that can change lives.

Share your stories, good or bad, long or short, on Canada’s Real Estate Discussion Forums at www.myreinspace.com.

INTRODUCTION

“A success story book—how is that going to help me?” asked Richard, the rookie investor you met in the first book in this series, . He and I were sitting in our usual Starbucks for our monthly get-together.