Why 99% Of Real Estate Does Not Make A Good Investment

Everybody says real estate is one of the best ways to build wealth. And that is true. But it is also true that most real estate does not make a good rental property investment. In this episode, Wayne and Gabby continue the conversation from yesterday's episode and answer a listener question about why Wayne says 99% of real estate in Canada does not actually work as a good investment. Wayne explains that real estate can absolutely create wealth, but not every house, condo, duplex, townhouse, or multifamily property makes sense as a rental business. A property can go up in value and still be a poor investment if it does not cash flow, requires constant support from your personal income, or puts you at risk of being forced to sell during the wrong market conditions. Wayne breaks down the difference between buying real estate as an asset and buying real estate as a business. If you buy a property all cash, you are mostly relying on appreciation. But real estate investing becomes powerful because of leverage. Investors can use financing, put 20% down, borrow the rest, rent the property out, and use tenant income to help cover the expenses, pay down the mortgage, and create cash flow. That is what separates real estate from many other investments. But it only works when the numbers work. Wayne walks through a simple example of a $500,000 property with a $400,000 mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and monthly expenses. He explains why many properties across Canada do not produce enough rent to cover those costs, and why investors who buy those properties may be forced to support them every single month out of pocket. That does not mean those investors can never make money. It means they are taking on more risk than they realize. If rents drop, interest rates rise, a tenant stops paying, a property sits vacant, a furnace fails, or life changes, the investor may be forced to sell at the worst possible time. That is how people lose money in real estate. Wayne and Gabby also explain why the right properties are the ones that produce cash flow from day one, pass the 5% Rule™, have strong long-term demand, and allow the investor to build reserves. They also discuss why garden suites in Edmonton may be creating a major new opportunity by turning properties that previously did not work into properties with significantly more income, equity, and value-add potential. This episode is a practical breakdown of how to think about real estate investing properly, why most properties should be ignored, and how to start finding the small percentage of properties that can actually help you build long-term wealth. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why Wayne says 99% of Canadian real estate does not make a good investment Why real estate can make people rich and still be risky when done wrong Why most properties do not work as rental businesses Why appreciation alone is not enough Why buying all-cash is different from leveraged real estate investing Why leverage is one of the biggest advantages in real estate Why rent needs to cover the mortgage, taxes, insurance, and expenses Why negative cash flow creates risk Why investors should not rely on personal income to support bad properties Why a property can go up in value and still be a poor investment Why investors lose money when they are forced to sell Why strong cash flow helps investors survive market changes Why interest rates, taxes, insurance, vacancies, repairs, and tenant issues must be planned for Why the 5% Rule™ helps identify stronger rental properties Why reserves are critical to long-term success Why most neighbourhoods and property types will not pass the numbers test Why Edmonton still has pockets of opportunity Why garden suites may turn certain properties into major value-add opportunities Why the best investors learn how to find the 1% of properties worth buying Upcoming Events Edmonton Garden Suites 101 June 12, 2026 Edmonton, Alberta www.reimasters.ca/edmontongardensuites101 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]