How to Flip Houses in Canada: Lessons from 30+ Deals

Flipping houses sounds exciting, right? Buy a property, fix it up, sell it for profit. But here’s the thing—most people who talk about flipping at real estate meetups never actually do it. They over-analyze, wait for the perfect market conditions, and end up sitting on the sidelines for years.

Manny Cabral has flipped and wholesaled over 30 properties. He didn’t come from money. His parents immigrated from Portugal with nothing in their pockets. What he’s built, he built himself—and he’s learned some hard lessons along the way.

You Need the Right Team Before You Buy Your First Flip

Here’s where most new flippers go wrong: they buy a property and guess at the renovation costs. That $100,000 budget turns into $200,000, and suddenly there’s no profit left.

Your Essential Team Members

Before you even think about buying a flip, you need these people on speed dial:

A reliable contractor: They walk through properties with you, spot structural issues, and give you accurate quotes. If you’re not a contractor yourself, this person will save you from disaster.
A great lawyer: You need someone who responds fast, can check liens immediately, and understands creative deal structures. Time-sensitive deals die when your lawyer takes three days to answer.
An excellent mortgage broker: Funding strategies make or break your deal. You need someone who knows how to structure things properly.
A great real estate agent: They provide accurate comparables and help you determine realistic selling prices. Two heads are better than one when it comes to exit strategies.

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Know Your Numbers or Don’t Buy

This is where it gets real. You absolutely must know your numbers before you buy a flip. But here’s the tricky part—you only know what the market is doing today. You have no idea what it’ll do in six or eight months when your renovation is done.

That projected $50,000 profit? It could become a $150,000 loss if you’re not careful. Flipping is highly speculative. Be conservative with your projections. Don’t get over-excited about potential profits.

Get a home inspection. Have your contractor provide detailed quotes based on your exact vision. Understand the structure thoroughly. If you don’t have construction knowledge yourself, be extra cautious.

Stop Over-Analyzing and Start Taking Action

Manny sees the same thing at investor meetups: people who haven’t bought anything in five or six years because they’re waiting for the market to crash. They were waiting five years ago, and they’re still waiting.

Here’s the problem—over-analysis leads to paralysis. You’ll never have perfect information. You’ll never eliminate all risk. What you can do is take calculated risks and minimize problems as much as possible.

Manny focused on Simcoe County and executed. That’s how he got to 30+ properties—not by waiting for perfect conditions.

The Path from Construction to Car Dealerships to Flipping

Manny didn’t start out flipping houses. He worked in construction, developed severe back problems, and had to leave the industry. He bought auto detailing facilities servicing dealerships in Mississauga, running shifts 24 hours a day. Then he moved into dealership management at major Honda stores.

The dealership treated him well. The pay was good. The people were great. But he was still punching a clock, still working for someone else, still wearing what he calls “golden handcuffs.”

Meanwhile, his son was running their construction business, specializing in second suite conversions. They became one of the biggest companies in Hamilton for this work. But his son was overwhelmed, and Manny wanted to focus on acquiring properties. So he quit the dealership and went all-in on real estate.

Marketing: How to Find Off-Market Deals

People always ask Manny how he finds properties. Then they say they don’t have money for marketing. His response? You have to invest in marketing to get deals. The MLS isn’t where the deals are.

His Multi-Channel Approach

Manny runs radio ads on Rock 95 four to five times every day. Sixty-second spots. He gets calls every single day from potential sellers who heard him on the radio. It was his younger son’s idea, and it’s working better than anything else.

But he doesn’t just do radio. He also runs YouTube ads, Facebook ads, and sends direct mail flyers. The channels work together. Someone might keep a flyer but not act on it. Then they hear the radio ad and make the connection.

From the start, Manny committed to running marketing for an entire year minimum. He knew results wouldn’t come in months one, two, or three. Consistency builds brand recognition. He’s been at it for over a year now and plans to continue indefinitely.

Why Saving Money Is Actually Losing Money

Manny has strong opinions about traditional savings. With current inflation rates, money in the bank is a depreciating asset. That $50,000 you’re proud of saving? It’s worth less every day.

And here’s who really benefits from your bank deposits: the banks. They can lend out multiples of what you deposit. You put in $100,000, they might loan out $1 million. That’s how they generate profits from your money.

Make Your Money Work While You Sleep

Manny knows people who aren’t millionaires but who are making their money work. They have Equity in their properties. They take out lines of credit. They lend this money to investors and earn returns on money that was previously just sitting there.

99% of Manny’s projects are funded by private lenders who’ve worked with him over the last couple of years. They earn returns without doing the work themselves.

To get ahead today, especially with inflation, you must know what to do with your disposable income. Otherwise, you’ll be in the rat race forever. Working for someone is fine, but you need an investment strategy.

You Don’t Have to Quit Your Job to Invest

Here’s something important: Manny quit his job because he wanted to run his own business full-time. But not everyone needs to do that.

Many investment strategies work perfectly fine while you’re still employed. It’s about what you do with your disposable income. You can love your job and still invest in real estate. His decision was specific to his goals—your path might look different.

Why He Wholesales Some Properties

Manny wholesales properties when he has more deals than he can properly execute on. It’s about return on investment. If he can only handle five projects properly, he won’t take on ten. He’ll work on five and wholesale the other five.

This creates opportunities for other investors. You can sign up for his buyers list at simcohousebuyers.ca and get notifications about wholesale opportunities. These are off-market deals with margin still built in for the buyer.

The Freedom This Business Provides

Today, Manny can work from his boat. He can take vacations with his wife without asking permission. He can take time off when he wants. He doesn’t punch a clock.

He runs the financial side of the business—dealing with investors, marketing, seller appointments. His elder son acts as general contractor. His younger son provides marketing strategy through his marketing company. It’s a family operation with clearly defined roles.

Manny loves what he does so much he can’t think of retirement. He’s never bored between his work, his Corvettes, flying model aircraft, boats, and playing music. He’s busy, but it’s the kind of busy he chose.

That’s the real prize—not just the money, but the freedom to design your life the way you want it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need construction experience to start flipping houses?

No, but you absolutely need a reliable contractor on your team. If you're not a contractor yourself, you need someone who can walk through properties with you, spot structural issues, and give accurate renovation quotes. Many flippers have lost money by guessing at costs instead of getting professional assessments.

How much money do I need for marketing to find flip properties?

You need to invest in marketing to find off-market deals. The exact amount varies, but consistency matters more than spending huge amounts. Commit to running your marketing for at least a year. You won't see results in months one, two, or three—brand recognition takes time. Don't expect to find good deals on the MLS.

Should I quit my job to flip houses full-time?

Not necessarily. Many investment strategies work perfectly fine while you're still employed. It's about what you do with your disposable income. You can love your job and still invest in real estate. Quitting your job is a personal decision based on your goals and circumstances.

What's the biggest mistake new house flippers make?

The biggest mistake is not knowing your numbers before you buy. New flippers often guess at renovation costs, and a $100,000 budget becomes $200,000. You need accurate contractor quotes, realistic comparables from your agent, and conservative profit projections. Remember, you only know today's market—not what it'll be in six months when you're ready to sell.

How do I find off-market properties to flip?

Use multiple marketing channels consistently. Radio advertising, direct mail flyers, Facebook ads, and YouTube ads all work together to build brand recognition. The key is consistency over time—commit to at least a year of marketing. Different channels reinforce each other, and people need multiple touchpoints before they reach out.

Is saving money in the bank a good strategy for investors?

With current inflation rates, money in the bank is actually a depreciating asset. You're losing purchasing power every day. Instead of letting money sit in a bank account, consider putting it to work through investments. Some people use home equity lines of credit to fund investments and earn returns on money that would otherwise just sit there.

What team members do I need before buying my first flip?

You need four essential team members: a reliable contractor who can assess properties and provide accurate quotes, a responsive lawyer who understands creative deals, an excellent mortgage broker for funding strategies, and a great real estate agent who provides accurate comparables. Don't buy a flip without this team in place.

Why do experienced flippers wholesale some properties instead of flipping them all?

It's about proper execution and return on investment. If an investor can only properly manage five projects at once, taking on ten would be a mistake. Wholesaling the extra properties allows them to focus on executing well on the ones they keep, while creating opportunities for other investors to get good deals.

Disclaimer: LendCity Mortgages is a licensed mortgage brokerage, and our team includes experienced real estate investors. While we are qualified to provide mortgage-related guidance, the broader financial, tax, and legal information in this article is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial planning, tax, or legal advice. For matters outside mortgage financing, we recommend consulting a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), licensed financial planner, or qualified legal advisor.

Written by

LendCity

Published

December 22, 2025