Alex Breaks down his trip in Mexico and decides if it's worth it to buy investment properties in this country.

Rates have stabilized and affordability has improved compared to the peak, so interest rates aren’t the main barrier for many buyers anymore. The market is still frozen because bigger forces are hitting demand and confidence, including major immigration cuts that could shrink population, rising rental vacancies and falling rents, higher unemployment and job uncertainty, and record-high listings. The takeaway is to stop waiting for rates to “save” the market and instead make a decision based on your numbers, job security, and a 3 to 7 year plan.

Alex explains how Trump openly said he wants home prices to rise, which protects existing homeowners but makes it harder for new buyers, and he argues this approach avoids solving affordability at the source. He compares Canada and the U.S. and says Canada’s affordability problem is worse, with housing costs taking a bigger share of income and fewer cities meeting affordability benchmarks. His takeaway is to stop waiting for politics to fix housing and instead run your numbers, understand your options, and choose fixed versus variable based on how much payment risk you can handle.

Blossom App: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/blossom-portfolio-tracker/id1592237485

Evolv Event (You don't want to miss this): https://2026.evolvmastermind.com/

The podcast breaks down ETFs vs real estate for Canadians in their 30s and why the “best” wealth plan is usually the one you’ll actually stick to. It covers how most people are starting from zero financial literacy, why ETFs are exploding in popularity as housing feels harder to reach, and how social media has made money advice louder but not always trustworthy. Brandon explains why Blossom was built around transparency so beginners can learn from real portfolios, and they close on the reality that “invest the difference” only works if people truly invest it.

This podcast breaks down OSFI’s January 29 decision to keep both the mortgage stress test and the new loan to income limits. It explains why this double layer of rules can quietly reduce how much you can borrow even while arrears are low, why the same application can get approved at one lender and declined at another, and what to do if you are buying, renewing, or refinancing so you do not take the first offer and miss better options.

Alex explains why the Bank of Canada’s 2.25% rate hold is not the full story. Bond markets and bank forecasts are leaning toward higher rates, not cuts. He breaks down what inflation, weak growth, jobs, and 2026 trade uncertainty (CUSMA) could mean for renewals and buyers, and why people in Ontario and BC may face the biggest equity and appraisal risk.

Ally & Eddie contact: Ally.swopes@engelvoelkers.com

The episode breaks down why more Canadians are shifting real estate money out of Canada and into U.S. markets like Scottsdale. They explain how Canadian Airbnb rule changes, higher rates, and a weak dollar changed the “numbers,” pushing investors and developers to chase better returns, while politics (including Trump) mostly created noise but didn’t stop serious buyers.

READY FRAMEWORK to decide if you should buy now: https://flowprocess.lovable.app/ready

Alex breaks down Canada’s 2026 “mystery bottom” and says it’s a regional market, not one story. Forecasts show modest sales growth but unclear price direction. He explains the main risks (renewal payment shock, limited rate drops, softer demand with rising supply) and the upside (pent-up first-time buyers, better affordability, more negotiating power), then outlines who should buy vs who should wait based on their situation.