51 Success Stories From
Canadian Real Estate Investors

If you are looking for a simple ‘feel-good’ real estate success story book, this is not it.

~ However ~ if you are looking to gain insights from other people’s good and bad experiences with investing in real estate, along with detailed action steps so you avoid the mistakes they made and repeat their successes, then this is the right book for you.

 Don R. Campbell is the best-selling author of Real Estate Investing in Canada, 97 Tips For Canadian Real Estate Investors and President of the Real Estate Investment Network™, which boasts more than 2,900 members across Canada. Campbell invited investors from across the country to submit their stories about how they came to be investors, the challenges and pitfalls they faced, and the successes that have achieved, 51 (out of the hundreds submitted) of which are included in this book.

For each story, Campbell provides a detailed analysis and outlines clear actions steps that any Canadian investor, can apply to their next investments. Whether it’s insights into financing, where to buy, how to find and keep good tenants, sourcing joint venture partners, how to overcome analysis-paralysis, or the art of the deal, there is a volume of information in, and object lessons to take away from, every story.

 

 These remarkable real-life stories of average Canadians creating above-average results will inform, teach and inspire investors from coast to coast. 

 

 

If you order, and register your copy of 51 Success Stories From Canadian Real Esate Investors, you will be eligible to receive an additional 4 1/2 hours of FREE audio presentations including:

  1. The 11 Attributes of Success Real Estate Investors
    ~ Audio Download (65 minutes)

  2. The Power of Focus for Successful Real Estate Investors ~ Audio Download (130 minutes)

  3. Updated Audio of Canadian Real Estate Success Stories
    ~ Audio Download (62 minutes)

These additional gifts will be yours if you purchase and register your copy of 51 Success Stories from Canadian Real Estate Investors.

~ Click Here To Order Your Copy ~


 

“So, What’s In It For Me?”


This is unlike any ‘Success Story’ book you have ever read before.  Sure there are the stories of people who have done well in their lives – 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 vicariously through those who have done so well, however it leads to 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: W.I.F.M.  (What’s In it For Me), 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 flip side, once you get clear on your direction and you start looking after yourself and your finances, others jump at the chance to help you out.  In other words, once you become committed to your future and you start being the leader of your life, others will do whatever it takes to help your vision come 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 get through these road-bumps and to enjoy the smooth parts of the journey. 

There were many excuses we could have used to stop us traveling 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 see the wisdom in choosing with whom you spend your time.

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 just learn to play the piano, 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 favorite radio station W.I.F.M. So what’s so different about this Success Story book vs others?  There are five obvious differentiators:

  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 across the country that I have worked with 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 story teller so that you can see the reality of life as an investor is not all sugar 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 your question “W.I.F.M.?”   Within each of the success stories I will show you landmines you need to avoid, lessons you can learn from the investor’s mistakes and finally, provide you (and the story teller) 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.

  5. 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 conspiring towards helping 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: Jumping Off The Cliff, Family & Friends, Overcoming Personal Adversity and Following the Systems.  This way you can refer back to them at anytime 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 of systems, relationships and follow-through.  With these three in alignment, life conspires 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.

 

  

If you order, and register your copy of 51 Success Stories From Canadian Real Esate Investors, you will be eligible to receive an additional 4 1/2 hours of FREE audio presentations including:

  1. The 11 Attributes of Success Real Estate Investors
    ~ Audio Download (65 minutes)

  2. The Power of Focus for Successful Real Estate Investors ~ Audio Download (130 minutes)

  3. Updated Audio of Canadian Real Estate Success Stories
    ~ Audio Download (62 minutes)

These additional gifts will be yours if you purchase and register your copy of 51 Success Stories from Canadian Real Estate Investors.

~ Click Here To Order Your Copy ~

 


 

Success Stories Titles



SECTION ONE: Overcoming Personal Adversity

Success Story #1
Real Estate Brings the Family Together

Success Story #2

Veteran Pastor Uses Real Estate to Make a Difference in the Community

Success Story #3
Perseverance over Life’s Major Hurdles, No Matter How High they Are

Success Story #4
Don’t Wait until a Near Death Experience to Get Started

Success Story #5
From the Brink of Disaster to the Brink of Success

Success Story #6
If At First You Don’t Succeed . . . Find A Better Mentor!

Success Story #7
Single Mom of Three Finds a Way to Make It Happen

Success Story #8
Focus on the Positive—but Don’t Ignore the Risks

Success Story #9
Learning Disability Is No Excuse for Not Being Successful

Success Story #10
A Four-Year Journey to a Financially Secure Future

Success Story #11
Adversity: The Mother of Creativity

Success Story #12
Don’t Waite to Take Action, No Matter What Your Age

Success Story #13
The Grass Isn’t Always Greener on the Other Side

 


SECTION TWO:
Focus on Family and Friends


Success Story #14
Free College Education for Your Kids

Success Story #15
Put All Your Eggs in One Basket, Then Watch that Basket Closely

Success Story #16
How Making Goals Means Giving Back

Success Story #17
Avoid Swinging for the Homerun—Look for Good, Solid Singles and Doubles

Success Story #18
Nothing like a Little Brotherly Competition

Success Story #19
Encouraging Their Renters to Become Owners Leads to Long-Term Tenants

Success Story #20
Partnership with Mother-in-Law Sparks Growth

Success Story #21
True Results Take Time

Success Story #22
Don’t Let Your University Degree Get in Your Way

Success Story #23

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask—They Might Surprise You and Say Yes

Success Story #24
“You’re Not the Babysitter, You’re the Parent!”

Success Story #25

Leave Something on the Table for the Next Person

Success Story #26
Get It Done . . . But Do It Right

Success Story #27
You Can Always Get What You Want


SECTION TREE:
Jumping Off the Proverbial Cliff


Success Story #28
When You’re in a Hole, Quit Digging!

Success Story #29
Perfectionism Is Definitely Not Perfect

Success Story #30
Saw the Diamonds in the Rough

Success Story #31
Saw the Future 20 Years Ahead—and It Wasn’t Pretty

Success Story #32
The Treadmill Leading to Nowhere

Success Story #33
Flexibility Is Critical in Sports and Real Estate Investing

Success Story #34
Toys Are Fun, but They Keep You on the Treadmill

Success Story #35
Surround Yourself with Action-Takers

Success Story #36
Work Hard Today, Let Your Money Work Hard Tomorrow

Success Story #37
Losing My Job Was the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me


SECTION FOUR:
Following Proven Systems


Success Story #38
He Not Only Found a Niche—He Created One from Scratch

Success Story #39
Focus on Changing Other People’s Lives, and Yours Will Change Too!

Success Story #40
Respect Is a Two-Way Street

Success Story #41

Work Hard and Treat Investing Like a Business

Success Story #42
Being Busy Is a Great Excuse for Creating Systems

Success Story #43

Remove Emotions by Investing Halfway Around the World

Success Story #44
Focus on the Numbers—They’ll Take You Where You Want to Go

Success Story #45
Real Estate Grabbed Him at Only 16 Years Old

Success Story #46
The Ultimate Systemizer

Success Story #47
One Word: Freedom

Success Story #48
The Balanced Portfolio Strategy—A Shortcut to Success

Success Story #49
The First Deal Is the Scariest

Success Story #50
An Oasis in His Personal Belize

Success Story #51

How to Turn One Cottage into Five Investment Properties by Opening Your Eyes

 

Sincerely,


Don Campbell, President of  Real Estate Investment Network™

 

PS...  As with our previous two books 100% of the author's royalties are donated directly to Habitat for Humanity.  To date the royalties from the books and the generous donations from the members of the Real Estate Investment Network™ the total of these donations are now approaching $500,000.  Click on the logo below for more information on Habitat for Humanity

  

 

 

What Others Are Saying About
  The Real Estate Investment Network™

 

[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. REIN has given me the ability to meet like-minded people, and have access to an enormous wealth of information. Best decision of my life.

~ Jeff Worth ~
 

More complete than other programs I have attended that cost more money. Kept me looking at options and thinking creatively. I learned a lot about analyzing markets.

~ Peter Babb ~
 

Over the past two years I have been using these strategies, which has lead me to a hundred times better lifestyle and a portfolio worth over eight million dollars. 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. Reading the book doesn’t do it justice. 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 ~
 

It helped me think logically about what Real Estate investing is all about and how to pick and choose with confidence what property to buy. It all makes sense!

~ Jon Anthony Lu ~
 

Excellent! Covers so many areas, great for a rookie. Just the right amount of information. [It was] amazing for me. I felt like I have been given the basic information to go out and to start evaluating and purchasing properties for my portfolio

~ P. Ramlall ~
 

Excellent information, and great tips along the way. Joining REIN has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Wow! What an event. Thank you for all the information.

~ Natalie Viklund ~
 

Very educational and comprehensive – takes away the fear of the unknown. My husband and I have been getting our ducks in a row and this program has helped to reinforce our strategy and give us a boost in achieving our goal, thank you.

~ Jocelynne Smith-Jones ~
 

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, and I look forward to seeing the results of my actions over the next months and years.

~ Brian Creed ~
 

I had no idea what Real Estate investment was. I thought you had to be a very successful businessman to get into it. Well, it seems pretty easy to me now, and I feel confident enough to get into it and get wealthy. Thank you…

~ Sylvie Boy ~
 

Full of useful information that will enable me to move forward as a sophisticated investor and ultimately reach my financial goals.

~ Brendan Clavelle ~
 

Excellent information – knowledgeable, precise, and exactly what I need as a new investor. This weekend presentation helped me convince my husband that Real Estate is the way to move toward a secure retirement financially.

~ Susen Fischer ~
 

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 ~
 

Fantastic insights, and you put it together in a straightforward package that is easy to understand and follow… It will be easy to implement. Thank you, thank you thank you!  This program has allowed me to think that this may be possible for me to do successfully!

~ Rosemary Lawrence ~
 

…I really appreciated the content related to “playing by the rules” and showing thanks and appreciation to the business partners (lawyers, accountants, brokers, etc). You have done a great service to the world by teaching your graduates to be class acts in their endeavors, how refreshing!

~ Lisa Shefsky ~
 

Wonderful – exceeded my expectations – the bonus was having Don 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 ten or fifteen now!). I liked the continual reference to goal setting and believing that I can, and should, realize those goals/dreams. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and energy, and I’ll do my part to make sure you’ve made a difference in my life!

~ Laura Duggan ~
 

Wonderful content. I don’t know how anyone would get started without it! It has given me a great platform to start with. I now get the financing game. It also gave me some great insight to helping the business I currently own that will help me in Real Estate investing. The program has eliminated my fear of action!

~ Michelle Martin ~
 

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 ~
 

Amazing program, thank you for sharing your knowledge. The program is giving me the confidence to follow my dreams. I know my net worth will increase and I will be able to help friends and family increase their net worth as well.

~ Kisa Glasier ~
 

An intensive immersion into Real Estate investment opportunities and tips that will be invaluable to my husband and I as we develop our Real Estate portfolio. Amazing and definitely worthwhile…Has definitely affected our perspective in the selection, purchase, and management of our properties. As former educators, we appreciate the value of effective pro-active strategies useful in Real Estate as well as the amazing research that is available to REIN members.

~ Elsie Fehlauer ~
 

…More thorough and in depth, which made me comfortable with investing. The clear cut winner as far as Canadian content is concerned.

~ Brad Keating ~
 

I have never found this amount of no B.S., hard cutting, creative, knowledge, [and] information in one place before…until now. Thank you for saving me time, money, and helping me to fly with concrete tools.

~ Jaqualine Jones ~
 

[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 ~
 

Opened a new Real Estate world to me. The step-by-step analyses gives me the knowledge and confidence to start my first property investment.

~ Travis Wei~
 

[I] have learned a great deal more than I ever imagined. This system has given me the tools I need to go forth and purchase Real Estate. It also has given me confidence knowing we have a network to work with to achieve my Belize.

~ Marina Kelly-Smith ~
 

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

~ Karen Marshall ~
 

Very informative and inspiring. Helped me to better understand the financial lingo surrounding Real Estate. Discovered the diverse population that is interested in Real Estate. Enjoyed learning the “tricks of the trade.”

~ Marlee Winston ~
 

Unbelievable. It really helped me to start thinking about what do I want to do in the future with my life, and it gave a better picture of how to get successful with Real Estate. I am really thankful for [all the information shared] with me.

~ Laura Davis ~
 

Very clear, concise material presented in an entertaining way. Excellent value. It has really helped me to understand the basic fundamental as to what is driving the Real Estate boom.

~ Chris Wright ~
 

I am happy to be here; the book and this program totally shift your paradigm. I just bought the book in March because I feel we’ve just been fumbling with the two investments we currently have. This weekend has enlightened and helped focus my attention and energy. Thanks!

~ Susan Penner ~
 

I was a true neophyte and I wanted to learn the language of Real Estate and a proven system. The program far exceeded my expectations! I can’t wait to get started.

~ Louise Egan ~
 

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 ~
 

All new knowledge, I love it! [I] look forward to applying it. I agree with your position regarding integrity. This system was presented with very open individuals looking to pass on their own experiences and successes which I do not take for granted. Thank you…

~ Michael Aronson ~
 

Without Question, the best system I have ever seen… the only COMPLETE system. I feel completely supported and more educated in how to invest in real estate using a step-by-step system has been proven many times.  

~ Norma Zelina ~
 

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

~ Shane Brewer ~
 

Over the top with useable information. No longer feel in overwhelmed position. I now feel I’m ready to buy my next property.  

~ Frank St. Aubin ~
 

This system was by far the best course I have ever attended. I am extremely impressed with the sheer volume of materials presented. This has definitely been an enlightening weekend. 

~ Seema Patel ~
 

Very unbiased and focused on fundamentals. The best real estate investing system out there for Canadians. 

~ Oliver Manalese ~
 

Very informative! Enthusiastic, positive and upbeat. Provided new ideas, a whole life approach, strategies, possibilities, a system and a plan. 

~ Christine Gaber ~
 

It 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 realizing my dream. Thank You! 

~ Carol Coote ~
 

Very informative with great information to help get started. A system to follow step-by-step and exactly how to do it with no holds-barred. Just the facts, with nothing left out, just great! 

~ Wayne Jackson ~
 

Fabulous. Overwhelming with the amount of detail and depth. The program is a great motivation to get started. 

~ Eileen Kirby ~
 

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 ~
 

Absolutely Amazing. The Program was excellent, getting into the nuts and bolts of real estate investing was great for someone like me. It provides the tools and techniques to be successful in real estate investing. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and making success achievable for everyone. 

~ Ranjika Manamperi ~
 

I did not know anything about real estate investing before. I now feel like I have a solid foundation that will guide me towards buying my 1st property. 

~ Melody Runions ~
 

 

 

 

If you order, and register your copy of 51 Success Stories From Canadian Real Esate Investors, you will be eligible to receive an additional 4 1/2 hours of FREE audio presentations including:

  1. The 11 Attributes of Success Real Estate Investors
    ~ Audio Download (65 minutes)

  2. The Power of Focus for Successful Real Estate Investors ~ Audio Download (130 minutes)

  3. Updated Audio of Canadian Real Estate Success Stories
    ~ Audio Download (62 minutes)

These additional gifts will be yours if you purchase and register your copy of 51 Success Stories from Canadian Real Estate Investors.

~ Click Here To Order Your Copy ~

 



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