Is Now The Best Or Worst Time To Invest In Canadian Real Estate? | Wayne Hillier

Some people are saying it is a terrible time to buy real estate in Canada. Others are saying it is the best time in history. So who is right? In this episode, Wayne and Gabby answer a listener question about the current state of the Canadian real estate market and why there is so much conflicting advice being shared online. Wayne explains why both sides can be wrong when they speak in broad generalizations. Canada is not one real estate market. Every city, neighbourhood, property type, financing structure, and rental strategy can produce a completely different outcome. For uninformed investors, it may be one of the worst times to buy. For educated investors who know where to look, how to run the numbers, how to use leverage properly, and how to identify real cash-flowing opportunities, there may still be some of the best opportunities in years. Wayne shares why he personally stopped planning to buy more properties in 2019, until the market shifted and created new opportunities that were too good to ignore. Since then, he and Gabby have continued to buy, build systems, grow their portfolio, and teach their students how to take advantage of very specific opportunities while avoiding dangerous ones. They also discuss why so many investors have struggled or failed over the last six years, especially those who bought in the wrong markets, used risky strategies, relied on appreciation, or ignored cash flow. Wayne explains why he believes the best opportunities in Canada are not everywhere. They exist in small pockets, and only investors who are actively doing the work, studying the numbers, and understanding tenant demand will be able to identify them. The episode also dives into Edmonton garden suites, the recent Edmonton Garden Suites 101 event, and why Wayne believes garden suites are one of the strongest opportunities in Edmonton right now. Wayne and Gabby also break down a new rental property they recently removed conditions on, including why the property works, why the cash flow is strong, why the tenant profile makes sense, and why the property has both rental demand and future resale demand. This episode is about cutting through the noise, thinking critically, and understanding that the market is not simply good or bad. It depends where you are investing, what you are buying, how the numbers work, and whether you actually understand the opportunity. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why some people say it is a terrible time to invest in Canada Why others say it is the best time in history Why Wayne believes both broad statements are wrong Why Canada is not one single real estate market Why most real estate still does not work as an investment Why very specific pockets of opportunity still exist Why education and coaching matter more in today's market Why Wayne stopped planning to buy more properties in 2019 Why the market shifts since 2020 created new opportunities Why some investors have gone broke while others are doing extremely well Why cash flow and the 5% Rule™ still matter Why Wayne believes the best current opportunities are not obvious to most investors Why Edmonton garden suites may be one of the strongest opportunities right now Why Friday's Edmonton Garden Suites 101 event created major aha moments Why Wayne and Gabby are already planning another garden suite session in July Why investor advice should come from people actively doing the work Why headlines and AI-generated content are not enough Why critical thinking matters when listening to real estate advice Why Wayne and Gabby continue buying in very specific markets Why C-class neighbourhoods can produce strong rental demand Why tenant profile matters when choosing a property Why affordability, transit, schools, walkability, and extra bedrooms matter to renters Why the best rental properties must also appeal to future buyers Upcoming Events Edmonton Garden Suites 101 Next session planned for July 24, 2026 Edmonton, Alberta www.reimasters.ca REI Masters Edmonton Real Estate Investing Bus Tour August 22, 2026 www.reimasters.ca/edmontonbustour About Your Hosts Wayne & Gabby Hillier are full-time real estate investors and real estate investing coaches based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Through the REI Masters Mentorship Program, they help Canadians build long-term wealth through rental properties, BRRRRs, joint ventures, seller financing, rent-to-own, garden suites, and other real estate investing strategies. The Canadian Real Estate Investing Morning Show releases new episodes every weekday morning featuring real stories, market analysis, coaching conversations, investor questions, market updates, and practical real estate investing advice. Resources & Contact Learn about the REI Masters Mentorship Program: www.reimasters.ca Bookkeeping and tax help for real estate investors: www.finngo.com/rei Get Wayne's book: The 5% Rule™ – A Real Estate Cash Flow Test for Canadian Investors https://a.co/d/jdZaBXM Submit a question: [email protected] Thanks to Our Sponsors Calvin Realty – Edmonton Investor-Focused Realtor calvinrealty.ca Finngo Bookkeeping & Tax – Investor-Focused Accounting Firm www.finngo.com/rei Kirkwood & Brennan Mortgage Group – Investor-Focused Mortgage Brokers www.kbmortgages.ca [email protected]