One-Year Real Estate Wealth

Hello Dear Real Estate Investors,

My name is Maria Rekrut, and I am thrilled to welcome you to my One-Year Real Estate Wealth book.

I began my professional journey as a classically trained soprano with a background in music and performance, alongside my early experience as an entrepreneur. Those foundations taught me discipline, resilience, attention to detail, and the importance of goal setting and having a dream. In 1982, I took a bold step and founded my consulting and business development firm, Maria Rekrut & Associates in New York City.

Since 1982, I have been a serial entrepreneur, business development consultant, and coach, Blogger, Social Media Influencer, Best Selling Author for a number of books, YouTube, and Podcast host. I have been building and scaling multiple successful businesses while helping real estate investors, landlords, entrepreneurs and companies around the world find practical, no-nonsense solutions to their biggest challenges.

Along the way, I discovered my true passion in real estate investing. I dove deep into vacation rentals, heritage home development, and long-term rental properties-particularly in beautiful areas like Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. Using proven strategies such as the BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat), I built a thriving portfolio and achieved the financial freedom I once only dreamed about.

Over the years, I’ve made my share of mistakes, learned hard lessons, and celebrated significant wins. I’ve also founded the Real Estate Media, News, Radio, and TV Network, launched a number of Association sites on Facebook. I host a number of radio shows on various radio stations in the USA and worldwide.

Maria Rekrut and All Things Real Estate on Real Wealth Radio is the radio show I host on: https://4680q.com/

I decided after 40 years in business that I needed to own the radio station Real Wealth Radio.ca https://realwealthradio.ca/ to share knowledge, interview industry leaders, and support investors and landlords navigating today’s markets. Our tagline is: "Come for the Music Stay for the Business Advice". You can read my blogs and business advice on my website: https://realwealthrealestate.com/

I wrote this book because I believe wealth-building through real estate should not take a lifetime of struggle or rely on luck. It can happen far faster-with the right strategies, mindset, and actionable steps. After more than four decades in business and many years successfully investing in real estate, I wanted to distill everything I’ve learned into a clear, practical roadmap. My mission is to help you-whether you’re just starting out or looking to accelerate your results-create meaningful wealth in real estate within one year.

This book is my heartfelt guide, drawn from real-life experience, the lessons I’ve taught and learned, and the successes of the many investors I’ve mentored. Real estate has transformed my life, and I am confident it can do the same for you. This is my first book in a series of books that will help you build your wealth " One House at a Time, One Day at a Time" just as I have done! I will share the lessons and secrets that I have learned since 1982. In this book I will be giving examples of actual transactions and explain what the reasoning is behind these decisions.

Welcome to YOUR new journey. Let’s build your one-year real estate wealth together. You can read the stories of some of my coaching clients in the book.

Much Love,

Maria Rekrut

Here are success stories and examples with explanations to use for your own real estate journey!!

The first time Nina looked at a rental listing in Ontario, the numbers looked clean: rent, a mortgage payment, and a “profit” line that seemed too easy. Then she asked the seller one simple question - “What do you actually pay each month for the property?” - and the whole spreadsheet changed. Property tax, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and repairs didn’t care that the rent looked high. They showed up like clockwork, and they showed up even when the tenant paid on time.

That moment is the real reason this topic matters. Rental wealth in Canada does not come from rent alone. It comes from rent minus the real ownership costs you must pay as the owner, plus the cash you must hold back for repairs and vacancies. If you understand how rental income, expenses, and ownership costs work before you buy, you can screen deals faster and avoid the “looks good on paper” trap.

After you read this chapter, you’ll be able to do three practical things: break monthly cashflow into the right buckets, estimate ongoing costs with real Canadian line items, and run a simple one-year cashflow view so you know what “safe” and “risky” look like for your first rental.

Rental Income, Expenses, and Ownership Costs in Canada (So You Don’t Buy a Cashflow Surprise)Rental income is the money you collect from your tenants....