Advertise on podcast: The Equity Builders Club Podcast

How do you go from a corporate job and a duplex to a 750-unit portfolio and a private lending business with $25 million in capital? In this episode of the Equity Builders Club Podcast, I sit down with François Bélanger of Belabri—investor, private lender and businessman—to talk about that journey and what it takes to build beyond your first property. We explore the current real estate market, the value of mentorship and why some people take action while others keep waiting. What helps an investor move from thinking about the next step to actually taking it? And how can learning from people who have already done it change the way you approach your own growth? If you’re looking to move beyond a few doors and build a bigger business, this conversation offers perspective from someone who has made that transition. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free discovery call through Equity Builders Club. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon. https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

You bought real estate to build wealth and create freedom. So why are you spending your evenings answering tenant messages, chasing rent, and coordinating repairs? In this episode, we talk about how investors become the bottleneck in their own portfolios—and why buying more doors can multiply the workload if every decision still depends on you. We explore why hiring help doesn’t always take work off your plate, what responsibilities you need to hand over, and how clear systems and financial planning make growth manageable. If you want to move from mom-and-pop landlord to professional investor, you need a portfolio that can function without your constant involvement. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free discovery call through Equity Builders Club. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon. https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

“Prices are too high. There are no deals.” I hear this all the time. But are there really no opportunities—or are you looking for deals using assumptions that no longer fit the market? In this episode, we look at Quebec’s changing multifamily market: rising vacancies, softer asking rents, and uncertainty around interest rates. What does this mean for the numbers you run before buying—and for buildings you already own? We discuss why “potential rent” needs a reality check, how longer leasing times can eat into your returns, and why a deal shouldn’t depend on cheaper financing to work. Finding opportunities starts with understanding today’s conditions—and adjusting your underwriting accordingly. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free discovery call through Equity Builders Club. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon. https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"I've taken the course. I know the numbers. So why haven't I bought anything yet?" Knowledge is the easy part. What gets investors over the finish line is the people around them. My students regularly find great deals and then freeze before signing, until a mentor or peer tells them they're on the right track. This week, I'm joined by Charles Rose Jr. of Master Passive Income, who flew up to Montreal to speak at our Equity Builders Club networking event. We talk about his three "gets" for success: get educated, get a mentor and get around the right people. Charles shares how a conversation at a local investor meetup saved him from buying his first deals at a loss, and I share how 10 years of investing alone slowed my growth. We also discuss why trust and shared values matter more than big names, and why an abundance mindset makes everyone around you better. If you don't have a community yet, figure out who your tribe is. It may explain a lot about where you are today. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free strategy session through Equity Builders Club: https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon: https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors: https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Trying to avoid taxes can feel like smart business, but it often leads real estate investors into terrible decisions. They hold properties that should be sold because they’re afraid of capital gains. They pay contractors cash to “save the sales tax,” while losing the expense and the paper trail. They keep revenue off the books, making it impossible to build proper accounting systems, track KPIs or scale beyond a mom-and-pop operation. In this episode, I break down three tax lessons every Canadian real estate investor needs to understand before worrying about complicated corporations and holding structures: Why paying tax is a consequence of making money—and why avoiding tax should never become your primary investment strategy The basic concepts behind legal tax optimization, including income categories, deductible expenses, depreciation, recapture and the difference between capitalizing and expensing Why competent real estate tax advice is an investment—not an expense Wealthy investors don’t build their businesses around hiding money. They build profitable, visible and scalable operations—then work with qualified professionals to optimize the tax consequences legally. Want help growing from mom-and-pop landlord to professional investor? Learn more about the Equity Builders Club and book a discovery call at equitybuildersclub.com. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax, accounting or legal advice. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free 30-minute strategy session through Equity Builders Club. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon. https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Property management looks like a natural way to scale in real estate—but managing more doors doesn’t automatically mean making more money. In this episode, I sit down with Cory Friedman, founder of Kompass property management software and owner of Lameer Property Management, for an honest conversation about what it takes to manage properties successfully—especially in Quebec. We talk about: Why third-party property management is such a challenging businessThe importance of having equity in the assets—not just earning management feesQuebec’s unique landlord-tenant relationshipWhy systems and technology matter as your portfolio growsHow to delegate without losing control of your operationsWhat Cory has learned about scaling teams, processes and property-management companies Whether you manage your own buildings, oversee properties for other owners or want to grow from a mom-and-pop landlord into a professional investor, this episode offers a practical look at what scaling really requires. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free discovery call through Equity Builders Club: https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon: https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors: https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

“The market is too expensive. There are no good deals anymore.” I hear some version of this almost every week. But if real estate is no longer profitable, how are active investors—including my students and me—still buying, selling and operating profitable properties? The opportunity hasn’t disappeared. The market has changed. Trying to invest using outdated assumptions is like trying to make money in the news business by selling newspapers—or launching a pager company in 2026. In this episode, I explain why you need today’s network, today’s numbers and advisors who are actually doing deals today. In 2026, my students, EBC members and I expect to close on more than 100 doors. The deals exist—but you need to understand how the current market really works. Want to learn alongside investors who are actively buying today? Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free strategy session through Equity Builders Club: https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon: https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors: https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Having trouble finding partners or raising capital? The problem may not be a lack of money. It may be that something is missing from the opportunity you’re presenting. Money tends to follow four things: good ideas, good deals, competent operators and strong networks. In this episode, Terrie explains how investors can move out of scarcity by strengthening these four levers. She shares examples ranging from creative rooming-house projects in HOMA to building deal flow through relationships—and explains why experience, preparation and the ability to solve problems make people increasingly willing to trust you with their capital. If the money isn’t finding you yet, this episode will help you identify what you need to build next. Want to know how to implement this in real time? Book a free strategy call through Equity Builders Club: https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon: https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors: https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Is it just me or does $25,000 for a bathroom sound normal? Since COVID, construction and renovation costs in Quebec have exploded, while finding a reliable contractor somehow feels harder than ever. Calls go unanswered, appointments take weeks, unexpected extras pile up, and sometimes you get billed even when the work doesn’t get done. In this episode, I look at what’s driving the problem, including the retirement of skilled tradespeople, labour shortages, inflation, rising wages and the enormous amount of capital chasing a limited number of qualified contractors. I also share practical ways landlords can protect themselves: supervising jobs closely, questioning invoices, understanding exactly what they’re buying and catching expensive exclusions before signing a contract. Construction is one of the toughest parts of operating buildings today, but investors who learn to manage it will have a serious advantage. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free discovery call through Equity Builders Club: https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon: https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors: https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What if you could buy a rental property for around $100,000 U.S. and generate positive cash flow from the beginning? Charles Rose started investing in the United States as a foreign national. Today, he lives off his rental income and coaches other investors through Master Passive Income. In this episode, Charles shares how he built his portfolio, what it takes to invest remotely, and why affordable, cash-flowing U.S. markets deserve a closer look, especially for Canadians struggling to make the numbers work at home. Charles will also be speaking at our Equity Builders Club event in September, where we’ll share the system we’ve developed to help Canadians invest in the United States. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free discovery call through Equity Builders Club. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon. https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What separates the working class, the middle class and the wealthy? It isn’t simply how much money they earn. It’s what they own, and whether their income depends entirely on their labour. Working-class households are especially exposed to inflation because most of their income goes toward consumer expenses: groceries, gasoline, vehicles, appliances and housing. Homeownership often becomes the middle class’s first and largest wealth-building asset. A home may consume after-tax income, but it can appreciate, adjust with inflation and provide collateral for future investments. The wealthy operate differently. They own income-producing assets: real estate, shares and businesses that can eventually function without their daily labour. In this episode, Terrie compares these three financial structures, explains why owning a job is not the same as owning a business, and shares what she learned from watching her father sell the manufacturing company he spent 40 years building for roughly the same amount as the industrial building that housed it. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free 30-minute strategy session through Equity Builders Club. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon. https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Most people say they want financial freedom. But if you asked them what they'd actually be willing to do to become a millionaire, the answer is often... not much. In this episode, I challenge one of the biggest assumptions holding people back from building wealth. I share the choices I made on my own journey, living in rough neighborhoods, house hacking for years, having roommates well into adulthood, buying used instead of new, and making unconventional decisions that most people avoided. The point isn't to glorify sacrifice. It's to ask a better question: What assumptions are you following simply because everyone else does? If you're serious about building wealth through real estate—or any business—this episode will help you identify the invisible rules you may need to break. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free 30-minute strategy session through Equity Builders Club. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon. https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Most investors believe they're stuck because they don't have enough money. In reality, most aren't limited by capital, they're limited by time. When you're answering tenant calls, coordinating contractors, collecting rent, chasing paperwork, bookkeeping, and solving every problem yourself, you've built yourself a job instead of an investment business. In this episode, I explain why time - NOT money - is usually the real bottleneck, how successful investors think differently, and which tasks you should stop doing first if you want to scale. If you want to build a larger portfolio without working 80-hour weeks, this episode is for you. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free 30-minute strategy session through Equity Builders Club. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon. https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Many landlords think they're being nice by avoiding difficult conversations. They don't raise rents, they let late payments slide, they ignore lease violations, and they hope problems will resolve themselves. Unfortunately, that's usually the fastest way to create bigger problems, for themselves and for their tenants. In this episode, I explain the difference between being nice and being kind, why conflict avoidance is one of the most expensive habits in real estate, and how professional landlords communicate clearly while still treating people with respect. If difficult conversations make you uncomfortable, this episode could save you thousands of dollars, and a lot of stress. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free 30-minute strategy session through Equity Builders Club. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon. https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"I'll deal with it later." The problem is that "later" is often where the biggest financial losses happen. In this episode, Terrie Schauer explains why procrastination, not bad markets, interest rates, or difficult tenants, is often the most expensive mistake investors make. Through real-world examples from property management and multifamily investing, she shows how small delays quietly turn into major expenses. Whether it's deferred maintenance, missed rent increases, refinancing opportunities, insurance renewals, tax planning, or difficult tenant situations, the cost of waiting is almost always higher than the discomfort of acting today. If you want to build wealth while reducing stress, this episode will change the way you think about decision-making. Want to talk strategy for your portfolio, business, or next move? Book a free 30-minute strategy session through Equity Builders Club. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call You can also pick up a copy of Mindful Landlord on Amazon. https://terrieschauer.com/mindful-landlord/ Attend our next Equity Builders Club networking event to get around like-minded investors. https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.