In this episode of the Hidden Upside Podcast, Chris Shebib interviews Ara Poladian, a professional engineer and real estate investor, who shares his journey from structural engineering to real estate investing. Ara discusses his experience with duplex conversions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and his transition to larger multifamily projects, including a challenging renovation of a distressed 12-unit building.

The discussion covers the complexities of repositioning multifamily properties, the importance of local investing, tenant management, cash-for-keys strategies, and leveraging CMHC’s MLI Select program. Ara also emphasizes the value of being hands-on and the long-term mindset crucial for successful real estate investing.

Ara provides valuable insights on:

• The importance of understanding your risk appetite

• Why proximity to your investments matters

• How to approach tenant negotiations during renovations

• The potential in adding units to existing properties

• Why staying local can be advantageous in real estate investing

Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge on value-add opportunities and purpose-built multifamily investing. Ara's candid discussion about the challenges and rewards of his investment strategy will give you a realistic perspective on what it takes to succeed in this niche.

"I wouldn't recommend it to like 90, 95% of the investors out there… I like to take risks. I will take risks in life."

Ara's honesty about the suitability of his strategy for different investors is refreshing and highlights the importance of finding the right fit for your investment style.

Ready to explore the hidden upsides of real estate investing? Tune in to gain insights that could shape your investment journey and potentially uncover opportunities you hadn't considered before.

Connect with Ara Poladian:

https://www.instagram.com/poladianconstruction/

http://www.poladianconstruction.ca/

Connect with Chris

https://shebib.com/

https://www.facebook.com/shebib

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisshebib/

https://twitter.com/chrisshebib

https://www.youtube.com/c/chrisshebib