Summary

The ultimate resource for Canadian residential landlords.Anyone can become a landlord, but not everyone will be a profitable landlord. Distilling over 35 years of his first-hand experience, Doug Gray, one of Canada's most respected real estate authors and experts, guides readers on how to become a successful landlord.Following the effective and proven formula of his previous bestsellers, The Canadian Landlord Guide fills the void of information on Canadian landlording. Some of the covered topics include: Principles and formulas for profitable landlording Understanding how the real estate market works The pitfalls of real estate investing and how to avoid them Types of rental formats Where to get information on prospective properties How to finance real estate investments The legal aspects of buying and renting property Tenant selection Property maintenanceFilled with easy-to-understand and credible advice, The Canadian Landlord Guide is a must-have resource for all Canadian landlords. Seasoned professionals and aspiring beginners alike will find Doug Gray's landlording guide to be one of their key tools in their quest for real estate success.Doug Gray, B.A., LL.B. (Vancouver, BC) has been buying, renovating, and renting real estate for 35 years. In addition to being a successful real estate entrepreneur, Doug has written over 28 bestselling real estate, business, and personal finance titles, including Making Money in Real Estate (978-0-470-83620-0) and The Canadian Snowbird Guide (978-0-470-15375-8).

Author Biography

Douglas Gray, B.A., LL.B. (Vancouver, Canada), formerly a practicing real estate and business lawyer, has extensive personal and professional experience on all aspects of real estate, and has been a landlord for over 30 years. He is the author of 26 best-selling real estate, business and personal finance books, including Making Money in Real Estate (978-0-470-83620-0) and The Canadian Showbird Guide (978-0-470-15375-8). As well, Douglas is a consultant, columnist and speaker. His website www.homebuyer.ca offers comprehensive information on real estate, finance and related topics.

Peter Mitham (Vancouver, Canada) is a prolific freelance journalist whose work has appeared in more that 70 publications worldwide, including Canadian Business, Canadian Real Estate Magazine, Country Life, The Globe and Mail and The Next American City. Since 2002 Peter has contributed a weekly column of real estate news to Business in Vancouver, and he is a regular writer for Western Investor, a monthly paper serving real estate investors across western Canada. He is also co-author with Douglas Gray of Real Estate Investing For Canadians For Dummies (978-0-470-83418-3).

Preface.

Chapter 1: Investing in Rental Real Estate.

Investing in Property.

Buying Properties to Rent.

Learning the Basics.

Getting a Grasp on Management.

Capitalizing on Gains.

Part I: Getting Started.

Chapter 2: Understanding the Rental Property Market.

Understanding Market Cycles.

Understanding the Real Estate Market Cycle.

Understanding the Mortgage Market Cycle.

Understanding the Rental Market Cycle.

Chapter 3: Establishing an Investment Strategy.

Assessing Yourself.

Determining Your Goals.

Determining Your Likes and Dislikes.

Buying with Others or “Buy” Yourself?

Determining Your Financial Status.

Determining Your Future Needs.

Knowing the Limits of Financing.

Developing and Investment Strategy.

Chapter 4: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Property Investing.

Avoiding Partnership Troubles.

Planning for Survival.

Getting It in Writing.

Avoiding Fraud.

Selecting Advisors.

Chapter 5: Choosing a Property Type.

Scouting Rental Properties.

Knowing the Formats.

Chapter 6: Choosing a Residential Property.

Principal Residence with Rental Suite.

Second Home for Seasonal, Periodic, or Full-time Rental.

Residential Property Ready for Rental.

Renovating and Renting.

Building a Rental Unit.

Commercial Tenants.

Chapter 7: Sourcing Information on Rental Properties.

Sources of General Information.

Drilling Down to Specifics.

Part II: Buying a Property.

Chapter 8: Do the Numbers Work?

Drafting a Business Plan.

Building a Buffer for the Unexpected.

Doing a “SWOT” Analysis.

Crunching Numbers.

Getting Advice.

Chapter 9: Financing Real Estate Investments.

Determining You Budget Requirements.

Knowing What Lenders Want.

Identifying Financing Options.

Sizing Up Mortgages.

Second Mortgages and Others.

Negotiating Financing.

Renegotiating a Mortgage.

Chapter 10. Understanding the Purchase Process.

Selecting the Right Realtor.

Determining a Property’s Value.

Preparing the Offer.

Presenting the Offer.

Giving a Deposit.

Making a Deal.

General Insurance.

Title Insurance.

Closing the Deal.

Chapter 11: Understanding the Legal Aspects of Buying Property.

Understanding the Purchase and Sale Agreement.

Preparing the Office.

Services Provided by the Purchaser’s Lawyer.

Services Provided by the Vendor’s Lawyer.

Buying Rental Property in the United States.

Buying Rental Property in Counties Outside Canada and the U.S.

Chapter 12: Understanding the Legal Aspects of Renting Property.

Local Government Regulations.

Provincial Government Legislation.

Tenancy Application.

Lease Agreement.

Checklist of Property Condition.

Chapter 13: Understanding the Tax Aspects of Rental Properties.

Taxing the Transaction.

Operating with Taxes.

Taxing Property Income.

Keeping Records.

Managing and Reducing Taxes.

Special Cases.

Getting Advice.

Part III: Operating Properties.

Chapter 14: Marketing Rental Properties.

Drafting a Marketing Plan.

Getting the Word Out.

Getting Creative.

Chapter 15: Working with Tenants.

Defining the Tenant You Want.

Attracting Tenants.

Screening Tenants.

Keeping Tenants.

Dealing with Difficult Tenants.

Getting Rid of Tenants.

Chapter 16: Managing Rental Properties.

Self-management.

Resident Management.

Professional Management.

Chapter 17: Maintaining Rental Properties.

Drafting a Maintenance Plan.

Recognizing Room for Improvement.

Securing Tenant Support.

Maintenance Between Tenancies.

Besting Pests.

Supporting Rent Increases.

Chapter 18: Improving the Bottom Line.

Increasing Rents.

Decreasing Expenses.

Maximizing Write-offs.

Maximizing Tax-efficiencies.

Seeking Professional Advice.

Chapter 19: Commercial Properties: A Primer.

Understanding Commercial Properties.

Investing in Commercial Properties.

Renting Commercial Properties.

Avoiding Pitfalls.

Chapter 20: Managing Risks.

Assessing Risks.

Reducing Risks.

Seeking Insurance.

Chapter 21: Preparing to Sell.

Knowing When to Sell.

Understanding the Sale Process.

Preparing to Sell.

Closing the Sale.

Moving On.

Appendix.

Checklists.

Charts.

Samples.

Worksheets.

Helpful Websites.

About the Authors.

Further Education and Information.

Glossary.

Index.

Supplemental Materials

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