All Forum Posts by: Claude Boiron

Roy - You're onto me - you mention my name in a post, and just like flashing the Bat sign and Batman shows up, here I am!

Hi Gary,

Yes, it was an unusual situation.

Unfortunately the program in Ontario has changed now, and the rates the government will pay for rooftop solar generated energy are less than half of when I signed my contract.

I like that you're thinking of how to increase revenue from your properties in creative ways!

Identified an opportunity due to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) launching their FIT (Feed-in-tariff) Program.
Several years were spent applying for a FIT contract to place a roof-top solar system on 120 Industry Street, Toronto (our 180,000 sq.ft. industrial building), and determining the optimal system size.
With the guidance of an excellent Electrical Engineer, who happened to be an MBA as well, we created a complicated but thorough spreadsheet model which called for an over-sizing of the solar panels versus the inverter size.
Due to the "tiered" system OPA had developed to pay varying dollar amounts per kWh, depending on the size of the nameplate capacity (size of the inverter), we found that doubling the amount of panels in relation to the inverter offered maximum "bang for the buck".
3.5 years later, the 500kW system on a 250kW nameplate capacity inverter went live (early November, 2013).

Since we never had a mortgage on the building, historically, it was easy to finance the solar system by way of a new, small, first mortgage on the property.

The building had a Net Operating Income or approximately $600K originally, but with the addition of this AAA, government "tenant" on the roof, we increase the NOI to around $1M.

This was an opportunity which I believe only comes around a handful of times in one's life, so I'm certainly not expecting to do quite this well on every Real Estate investment.

As an investor, I have close to 200,000 sq.ft. of industrial space in Toronto, a plaza in Barrie, a 6-plex in Bradford, to name a few properties.

As a Real Estate educator and Broker, I advise on everything from how a single family home or condo can be analyzed from an investment perspective, to major income producing properties (retail plaza, medical office buildings, industrial buildings, student housing, multi-family portfolios, etc.).

Hi Samuel,

I'm active in the Greater Toronto Area, in Ontario, Canada, and for certain clients or deals, I will go further (London, Barrie, Kitchern-Waterloo-Cambridge, Windsor, Ottawa, Montreal, etc.).

Hi Ron,

Thank you for your kind and warm welcome.

I'm looking forward to discover BP and seeing how I can be of value!

Hi Brad,

Even as a buyer, most Real Estate jurisdictions will hold you to a moral and ethical code of conduct. In Ontario, Canada, we must adhere to REBBA (the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act), which does not allow some entrepreneurs to be quite as creative in their negotiations, financing, etc.

From what you have described of your situation and your goals, it seems best for you to learn what you can from the course and materials, but to not actually become licensed.

Another option is to take the exam(s), but not apply for your license.

Hello All,

My brother who is a Delaware law expert working in California told me about BiggerPockets.

I'm very aware of the online Real Estate forums and communities in Canada, and as an author and university instructor I contribute to them regularly, but in recent years I have become interested in both learning more about the U.S. markets, and sharing my knowledge of the Canadian market with Americans.

Regards,

Claude Boiron