Edmonton Real Estate Investors Association - Monthly Meeting

EREIA August Meetup: International Real Estate Double Header

Unlocking Global Wealth: Practical Strategies and Real Case Studies from Belize to Texas

Thinking of investing in real estate outside of Canada? This month’s EREIA Meetup brings you a powerful double feature on international property investing with two experienced investors sharing real-world insights and lessons learned.

Part 1: A Practical Guide to International Real Estate Investing, with Linda Hayes
Linda Hayes, CPA, MBA, and Buyer’s Agent with Keller Williams Belize, will walk you through the key things to know when investing beyond Canadian borders. Whether you're looking at a vacation rental, retirement property, or cash-flow play, Linda will cover how to evaluate international markets, avoid legal and tax traps, and navigate unique challenges like squatters' rights, unclear title, and lack of MLS. You’ll hear real examples from Belize, Mexico, and the U.S., including fraud cases and lessons learned the hard way.

She’ll also touch on:

• What to look for in a country and local team
• Cross-border tax rules Canadians should know
• Rental strategies that actually work

Part 2: The Burke Apartments Case Study, with Zorya Belanger
Zorya Belanger, former engineer, Canadian investor and owner/operator of 177 doors in Canada and the U.S., will share a behind-the-scenes look at The Burke Apartments in Pasadena, Texas — a 144-unit value-add multifamily project purchased in 2023.

Zorya will walk through what made this deal attractive, what went sideways (including navigating poor property management, low occupancy, insurance surprises, and more!), and how she and her team repositioned the asset and increased the value 36% of the purchase price + renovation cost. You’ll get a transparent look at what it takes to purchase a large asset, manage a U.S. multifamily project from Canada, and why choosing the right partners is everything.

Whether you're exploring lifestyle properties in Latin America or looking to scale your portfolio through U.S. multifamily, this session will give you a clearer picture of what’s possible, and what to watch out for.

Agenda:

1. Networking 6:30
2. Program Starts 7:00

• Action Takers Spotlight
• News & economics update
• Real estate market update
• Mortgage update

3. Guest Speaker 8:00
4. Deals & Steals 9:00 - Your opportunity to share any real estate deals or services you have with the group
5. Networking for as long as you want! (Often conversations continue at Chop Steakhouse on-site after the event)

Cost: $25 Pay at the door - Cash, Credit Card, or Debit
Lots of free parking!

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*** It's our 40-Year Anniversary!***
EDMONTON'S LONGEST-RUNNING REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1985.

If you wish to do a presentation for our group please contact me to discuss your proposal. Rob Jakobs @ info@ereia.ca

Disclaimer: The Edmonton Real Estate Investors Association, president, directors, and members advise all members and attendees to do their own due diligence. We will not be held liable for your investment decisions or for any information received from meeting presentations, e-mails, or word of mouth. We are a non-profit organization trying to help other like-minded real estate investors.