Tom Karadza & Nick Karadza

Long Weekend Lessons

So another long weekend is upon us, well kinda, I guess.

The work day on Monday throws a curveball at us this year but I think many of us will find a way around it :-)

So how can long weekends and real estate investing possibly mix?

It gives us a chance to notice things that are going on only a short distance away from us.  Sometimes there is great opportunity right under our noses but we are so ingrained in our daily routines we never get out there and explore.

Last year I was driving along to 401 on the Canada Day weekend to Kingston.  And although I was getting close I knew I wasn't there yet, but I still saw a development of big box stores being built.

I quickly began scanning for a sign of the city I was in and it was.......are you ready for this......Napanee, Ontario.

The only reason I even knew the name is because I had heard the Canadian pop singer, Avril Lavigne, grew up there.

But here I was in Napanee watching some of the biggest corporations in the world expand into the area.  Now for any real estate investor this is big news.  This is a very positive sign of future development and growth.

This is something I would not normally have seen but I made a mental note to follow its progress.  So not only was I able to escape for some relaxation time, I was also able to continue realizing opportunity.

One of the other things you might notice this long weekend is some newer developments of condominium townhome bungalows.

Now that's a mouthful.

This has definitely not been a popular type of development in the past.  But keep your eyes peeled as there are more and more of them on the way.

Remember, the Baby Boomers are starting to retire and downsize.  This type of housing, away from the city, has low maintenance and not many stairs.

Once you notice one of these developments you won't stop, because they are popping up everywhere.

There are things going on all around us but often because we have the same trip to and from work we don't get the opportunity to see what is going on.

If you are taking a trip this weekend keep your eyes open.  There is a lot to learn and realize about the areas you are passing, and there is a mountain of opportunity out there if you realize it.

And, most importantly, be safe!

- Nick Karadza

Got Problems? Go to 2,500 ft.

We often talk about getting over hurdles and 'pushing thru' challenges.  And these are both important points if you are going to be successful in anything you do especially Real Estate Investing.

But one other extremely important trait is to be able to view things from a distance even when you are caught right in the middle of them.

The picture is of me getting ready for my first ever hot air balloon, and boy was it a treat!

It really was a fantastic time, but more than that it really shed some light on things for me.

It made me realize that when you are caught up in the middle of a tough situation, one in which you think there is 'no way out'. (as a side note, there is always something that can be done) Often the best thing you can do is get away from it. 

No, I don't mean run for the hills and never turn back! 

I mean take a step back to get a clear picture.  Sometimes the solution is right in front of you but you are so entrenched in things you can't see it.

The perfect example hit me in the hot air balloon.  We were in the midst of a peaceful flight, it really is the most surreal, relaxing way to fly. Then down below I noticed a maze made out of hedges.

Looking at this maze from 1000ft. in the air, as we were rising all the way up to 2,5000 ft., the solution was clear.

Because I was not in the middle of the problem, being blinded by obstacles, I could easily figure out the best course of action.  I could take my little finger and trace my out with ease.......yes, I really did that :-)

But it reminded me of the times that I needed this sort of clarity, this bird's eye view.

That is why so often when you are able to get away from a problem it seems crystal clear when you return.

But there is one thing we have to be careful of!

We can't go too far away, because if that is the case you aren't viewing the issue or thinking about it enough to move forward. 

Let's go back to heights for a second.

At low altitudes the maze is crystal clear.  But if I were to go too far away from it I wouldn't be able to figure it out at all, it would look like one big glob of green.

You can take a look at this video of me skydiving to see what I mean, or check out Tom's.  When the airplane door opens we are about 10,000 ft. in the air.  You can see that there is not much detail to anything, most things blur together.

If I was trying to solve the maze from there I would have a much harder time.....and that's not including the fact that I was terrified!

So there is a balance to where we have to be.  It can be extremely important to view things from a distance but stay focused and stay on it.

If you can stay in the middle ground there will be no problem you can't overcome.  Each time you do it it will become part of your subconcious and only make it easier the next time.

So the next time you have a difficult tenant, or a little hiccup with something at one our your investment properties, and you can't figure out a way to make things flow easily again.  Remember the solution is there you might just need to get up to 2,500 ft. to figure it out!

- Nick Karadza

p.s.  Remember, if you're looking for Real Estate Investing information, tips and guides straight from two Canadian brothers who work with Canadian Real Estate Investors investing in their own backyard sign up for the Renegade News Letter by clicking here!