Most investors know residential real estate, but commercial is a completely different game. No rent control, massive down payments, tenants with serious leverage, and properties that can take years to sell. For beginners, it’s intimidating. For veterans, it’s full of hidden landmines. And yet, it’s also where some of the biggest opportunities lie.
In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to invest in commercial property in Ontario. From REITs and syndications to owning a strip plaza or flipping pre-construction retail, we explore the paths in, the brutal truths no one talks about, and the strategies that can make or break your first deal.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why commercial real estate follows a completely different rulebook than residential
• The five main entry paths into commercial and which one doesn’t require millions
• Ontario-specific opportunities, from overlooked markets to gas station sales
• The dark side: tenant power, property tax shocks, and deals that collapse overnight
• Creative ways to break in with little money and how to add value to dying properties
• The exit strategies every investor needs to plan for before buying
Whether you’re curious about buying your first mixed-use building or skeptical that commercial real estate is only for the wealthy, this conversation will challenge what you think you know.
Subscribe for more real estate deep dives and investor insights. And let us know in the comments: Would you rather own a Tim Hortons franchise or the land it sits on?