The BLD Financial Podcast brings you inside the conversations shaping Canada’s housing and development landscape. Hosted by Josh Findlay and Ehren Laycock, two of Canada’s top commercial mortgage brokers, the show features long-form interviews with investors, developers, policymakers, and industry
Capital is available. So why is real estate financing getting harder? In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, Josh & Ehren sit down without a guest to break down what they’re actually seeing across the Canadian real estate financing market in 2026. While there’s no shortage of capital available, getting a deal funded is becoming increasingly dependent on the strength of the borrower, the project and the numbers behind it. Josh & Ehren discuss how CMHC and lenders are respondi...
“We’ve finally figured out the formula that works.” What does it really take to become a successful real estate developer? In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, Josh Findlay and Ehren Laycock sit down with Darren Voros, a real estate investor and developer with more than 20 years of experience, to explore the realities of building missing middle housing in Toronto. Darren shares his evolution from buying his first rental property to developing multi-unit projects across...
This is the part of the real estate financing process most investors never see... Welcome to Finance Friday, a special series within the BLD Financial Podcast. In these shorter episodes, Josh and Ehren break down timely developments in commercial real estate finance, lending, underwriting, and investing, giving Canadian investors practical insights they can apply in today's market. In this episode of Finance Friday, Josh Findlay and Ehren Laycock from BLD Financial break down how inte...
"The best deals in real estate are made. They're not found." What happens after you've bought your first duplex? In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, Josh Findlay and Ehren Laycock sit down with Alex Pal, founder of Pal Capital Group, to explore the evolution from small multifamily investing into capital raising, apartment syndications, property management, and building an integrated real estate investment business. From renovating his first Hamilton bungalow to acquiring apartmen...
Rental housing financing is changing... and CMHC just made another round of updates that multifamily investors and developers need to understand. Welcome to Finance Friday, a special series within the BLD Financial Podcast. In these shorter episodes, Josh and Ehren break down timely developments in commercial real estate finance, lending, underwriting, and investing, giving Canadian investors practical insights they can apply in today's market. In this episode we break down the latest...
"I watched most of my generation get priced out of Toronto and I took it personally." What happens when an urban planner decides the housing system needs to change? In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, Josh Findlay and Ehren Laycock sit down with Blair Scorgie, Managing Principal of Scorgie Planning, instructor at Toronto Metropolitan University, and one of the leading voices behind Toronto's Missing Middle movement. From laneway suites and multiplexes to transition zones, sixplex...
What can a private lender who's funded hundreds of real estate deals tell us about the future of housing in Canada? In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we're joined by Matt Gonsalves, Vice President & Broker at Foremost Financial, one of Ontario's leading private construction lenders. Drawing from more than a decade of experience financing construction, land development, bridge loans, and Missing Middle housing projects, Matt shares what he's seeing in today's market and w...
“The harder it is to build housing, the less housing gets built… and then we have an affordability crisis.” Canada says it wants more housing… So why does the system make it so difficult to actually build it? In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we sit down with developer, housing advocate, and Toronto Standard partner Chris Spoke to break down the real reasons Canada’s housing affordability crisis continues to get worse despite years of policy changes and government intervention....
"Does the BRRRR strategy still work in Canada… or is it over?” In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Jack Bernstein of Bernstone Capital to break down what’s actually happening in today’s Canadian real estate market and why many of the strategies that worked over the last cycle are no longer producing the same results and how investors are being forced to adapt in today’s market. From rising interest rates and shifting cap rates to softening rents and tighter lending...
“We believe the next 5 years will be the best 5 years the mortgage industry has ever seen.” In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Eddy Cocciollo, President of DLCG Mortgage Group, one of Canada’s largest mortgage brokerage groups, supporting over 9,000 agents Canada wide. This episode breaks down where the Canadian mortgage and real estate market is actually headed, from someone who has worked inside banks, CMHC, and now leads one of the most influential mortgage org...
“You think you're walking into a project… and then you find out after you've acquired it, you can’t even do it.” In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Zachary Jancsar, a mid-market real estate developer, brokerage owner, and investor who has scaled from small residential deals to over 70 multifamily units across Southwestern Ontario. This episode breaks down the real, behind-the-scenes truth of real estate development, from first deals to mid-size m...
“A major mistake right now is that a lot of money gets left on the table when developers don’t think about rebates and incentives early enough.” In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined again by Jayden Haywood, founder of PL Energy, an engineering firm specializing in energy modeling, CMHC MLI Select compliance, and helping developers unlock energy rebates and incentives across Canada. This episode covers CMHC MLI Select, energy efficiency incentives, real estate dev...
"We’re building a house behind a house.... we have a neighbor to the left, neighbor to the right, neighbor to the rear... very niche space in that aspect." In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Yasser Majd, owner/operator of 555 Construction Management Inc and the Original ADU Home Service Provider for Home Depot Canada. With over 15 years of experience as both a real estate investor and construction operator, Yasser brings a rare, ground-level perspective on how Onta...
“Once you control the land, everything becomes a business decision — not an emotional one.” In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Dane Buttenaar, a real estate developer who scaled from small multifamily properties into controlling 60 acres of development land in Ontario. Dane walks through what scaling actually looks like — from early triplex and fourplex deals, to missing-middle projects, to large-scale land development. We unpack the realities behind construction ...
“People were drunk off of the appreciation of the assets over two decades... It's almost like a bad hangover” In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Vince Gaetano, a veteran mortgage professional with over 35 years of experience who has lived through every major real estate cycle — from working with bailiffs in the early 1990s to advising homeowners and investors in today’s high-pressure market. Vince brings a rare, data-first perspective shaped by decades in the indu...
“People envy where you are now — they don’t envy how you got there.” In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we sit down with Jason Castellan, CEO and Co-Founder of Skyline Group of Companies, one of Canada’s largest private real estate operators with $10.5B+ investment in assets under management. Jason breaks down how Skyline grew from student rentals in the early 1990s into a multi-fund platform spanning multifamily, retail, industrial, and clean energy — and why today’s market feel...
“It’s not the money, it’s the game — that’s what I actually love about real estate.” In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we sit down with Joe Mysak, the 'fixer' trusted by Canada’s old-school real estate families. With more than 35 years in the business, Joe has built a reputation for quietly solving the deals others cannot. His work lives behind the scenes, helping multi-generation landlords, family offices, and long-time asset owners navigate complex transactions where trust, ju...
“Most people think housing got more expensive. It didn’t — the dollar got weaker.” In this episode, we sit down with Nick Karadza, an investor, educator, and co-founder of Rock Star Inner Circle whose work has helped thousands of Canadians navigate the intersection of money and real estate. Nick breaks down how the 2008 financial crisis changed his worldview, why younger investors today are far more educated than previous generations, and how the erosion of Canada’s currency has...
In this episode of The BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Michal Wach, a real estate investor, tax accountant, and coach who has been investing since 2008. Michal shares how he built a portfolio that includes a Muskoka luxury cottage, navigated multiple market cycles, and transitioned into tax advisory for investors and self-employed Canadians. They unpack common mistakes investors make with taxes, incorporation, and structuring, and explore how smart planning and professional guidance c...
“2025 was the year of volatility — but out of the chaos came stability.” In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, Josh & Ehren break down what defined the Canadian real estate market in 2025—and what investors need to prepare for heading into 2026. They unpack the interest rate shifts, CMHC policy updates, and bond yield movements that shaped the past year, and share actionable insights for navigating the multifamily, construction, and development sectors as the market stabilizes. ...
“We’ve Killed the Condo Market.” Toronto City Councillor Brad Bradford joins Josh & Ehren to break down how policy, red tape, and costs are choking housing supply — and what it’ll take to make Toronto buildable again. Listen to the full conversation on Toronto’s housing crisis, missing middle development, and the future of affordability. In episode 16, urban planner–turned–City Councillor Brad Bradford shares how smarter planning, better policy, and collaboration can unlock housi...
Nick Hill shares a warning every Canadian real estate investor, broker, and entrepreneur needs to hear about the future of AI, Universal Basic Income (UBI), and the direction of Canadian real estate investing. In the fifteenth episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Nick Hill, Canadian real estate investor, mortgage agent, and co-host of the Canadian Real Estate Investor Podcast. From building one of Canada's top real estate podcasts to helping thousands of investors understand...
What does it really take to scale from duplexes to ground-up developments? In the fourteenth episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Bryan Bouchard, a seasoned investor and developer who has built a career helping Canadians navigate CMHC programs, construction financing, and multifamily development. From comparing CMHC construction loans to conventional financing to managing investor expectations and building teams, Bryan reveals the strategies that can make or break your...
What does it really take to navigate rising insurance premiums? In the thirteenth episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Samuel Castillo, an expert in multi-family and builder’s risk insurance who’s built a career helping investors protect their assets and their bottom line. From understanding loss ratios to navigating CMHC requirements, Samuel reveals the strategies and hard truths that can save—or cost—investors thousands. From builder’s risk rates and surety bonds to the i...
What does it really take to go from maxxing out your credit cards for a downpayment on a 2-bedroom house to doing a $1M renovation on a 32-unit apartment building? In the twelfth episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by multifamily real estate investor & developer Carlos Afanador. With a track record of scaling from student rentals to midsize multifamily properties without partners, Carlos has built a multimillion dollar real estate portfolio. From executing a $1M ren...
What’s the real reason most real estate development projects fail? In the eleventh episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Valente, a hands-on real estate developer with over 15 years of construction experience and a growing portfolio of mid-sized multi-family projects across Toronto. From custom home building to CMHC-financed 4-plexes, laneway suites, and now an 18-unit build in High Park—Ryan has lived every phase of the development cycle. In this episode, we dive into...
Is the war on real estate developers finally coming to an end? In the tenth episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined by Josh Kaufman, one of the most experienced minds in Canadian real estate development. With over three decades of leadership across firms like Starlight Investments, Dream, and Rogers, and a portfolio that spans residential, commercial, and industrial sectors across multiple provinces, Josh brings unmatched perspective to the table. In this episode, we explore: - Jos...
Ever wonder what factors real estate appraisers utilize when calculating the value of a multifamily property? In the ninth episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we sit down with Graham Morrison, Principal, Senior Director, Valuation & Advisory Services at Avison Young, to talk about the key factors driving multifamily real estate valuations in the GTA. Graham shares how appraisers calculate cap rates, including the critical role of location, unit count, and historical market data. ...
Why would you ever go to a 'C Type Lender' for borrowing money on your investment property? In the eighth episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we sit down with Kyle Ford to explore the world of private money lending. Kyle explains why private lenders are a great option for real estate investors, especially when purchasing multifamily properties. We dive in to how private money lending can be a valuable tool for real estate success, offering investors the opportunity to access capital when c...
“We never learned to deal with these issues, because they never existed in our life. Our generation grew up without ever thinking about inflation.” In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we sit down with Daniel Foch, Chief Real Estate Officer at Valery.ca and host of the Canadian Real Estate Investor Podcast to discuss the macroeconomic forces shaping the Canadian real estate market, the challenges facing pre-construction condo buyers, and why investors need to understand the bigger e...
About BLD Financial Podcast
The BLD Financial Podcast brings you inside the conversations shaping Canada’s housing and development landscape. Hosted by Josh Findlay and Ehren Laycock, two of Canada’s top commercial mortgage brokers, the show features long-form interviews with investors, developers, policymakers, and industry
BLD Financial Podcast is a English business podcast from Bld Financial. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
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