I’m Chris and I invest in positive cash-flow real estate in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

This blog is about how I do that. I also write about my experiences from working in the property management field and share tips and tools for investors.

No, I don’t look for foreclosures, buy using credit cards, or use any of the other random American systems. I’m an independent member of the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), a group that focuses on Canadian Real Estate.

To see a quick snapshot of why I’m doing this, take a look at My Personal Belize.

Bio

I was born in the early 1980’s to Brent and Leigh, on a balmy July day in Edmonton. Mom was to become an accountant (CMA) and Dad was a carpenter. Grandpa (a P.Eng) worked for the provincial government, and made his first real estate purchases in the 70’s.

When the recession of the early 80’s hit, Grandpa formed a property management company. Not long after Mom became the accountant and Dad became, first a maintenance person, then property manager, and finally Broker and owner.

From birth to age 15 I lived in the west end of Edmonton, taking time to be involved with Scouts, Air Cadets, DeMolay and a lot of music. In 1997 we bought a farm north of Edmonton and for the next 10 years lived there, commuting to Edmonton for work and school. I attended the University of Alberta, receiving my Bachelor of Science in biology.

My parents started working for Grandpa when I was 4. We used to go to the “shop” on weekends, and while Mom and Dad worked we’d play….with the photocopier, the pencil sharpener, the drill press….you name it. When I was 12 I got my first paycheck for doing spring parking lot cleaning at a condominium complex we managed.

When I was 22 I became the resident manager of a 12 suite building near the University. After a year in Scotland, and three other jobs I ended up back helping them out again. Among my other projects of note I created a program to use the new Residential Tenancies Dispute Resolution Service to do our own dispute resolution.

Property management and real estate have been a part of my life every day I can remember. I’ve hated it at times, but now I see how my experiences have helped me become the person I am today, and I hope by reading this blog I help you (intrepid investor/owner/property manager/tenant).

Remember, the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.