Building Financial Freedom Through Real Estate: Lessons from Chantele Joordens

Podcast with Rahul Bedi – Mortgage Broker

Welcome back to the show. Today’s episode is one you’ll want to save, share, and replay—because this isn’t just a conversation about real estate. It’s a deep dive into financial freedom, mindset, and long-term wealth, using real estate as a vehicle, not the dream itself.

In this episode, I sat down with Chantele Joordens, a Halifax-based Realtor with Exit Realty Metro, investor, and entrepreneur who truly lives what she teaches. Chantal isn’t just helping people buy homes—she has built a real estate portfolio of 36+ rental units across multiple cities in Canada and continues to help Canadians do the same.

From Academia to Real Estate: The Power of Pivoting

Chantal’s journey didn’t start in real estate.She was a Master’s and PhD student who once believed her future was in academia, with plans to become a professor. Real estate investing started as a side hobby, something she did alongside her studies.

Over time, she realized something important:

Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean it’s what you’re meant to do.

The academic world wasn’t aligned with the life she wanted. After years of hesitation, she took the leap—got her real estate license initially just to help herself—and quickly realized she had found her lane.

Key lesson: Pivoting is not failure. Sometimes, it’s the smartest move you’ll ever make.

Mistakes People Make in Their 20s (and How to Avoid Them)

One of the biggest mistakes people make early in life is being too rigid about their path. Many choose a career and feel trapped by the time, money, or education they’ve already invested.

Chantal’s advice is simple but powerful:

• Be open to pivoting

• Try different paths

• Job shadow

• Experiment before committing long-term

  
  

She emphasized that if she could go back, she would have entered real estate 10 years earlier—not because of regret, but because of clarity she gained later in life.

Entrepreneurship, Discipline & Self-Motivation

Both real estate and mortgage brokering share one thing in common: No one is watching you.

You can choose to work—or not.

Chantal credits much of her success to treating her business like a real 9–5 job:

• Showing up daily

• Creating structure

• Being disciplined even when no one is enforcing it

  
  

“You have to be diligent about forcing yourself to work. If you enjoy it, it doesn’t feel like work—but discipline still matters.”

This is a lesson every entrepreneur needs to hear.

Is Homeownership Still Possible in Canada?

Many Canadians feel the dream of homeownership is slipping away—especially with rising prices.

In Halifax, the average detached home price has risen dramatically since COVID. But Chantal made something very clear:

There are still options.

• Condos

• Homes in the $400k range

• Overlooked properties

• Homes sitting on the market

• Less “Instagram-ready” listings

• The key is strategy, not fear.

  
  

Buying Smart: The Overlooked Property Strategy

One of Chantal’s most effective strategies is targeting homes that:

• Have been on the market for 10+ days

• Have poor or no photos

• Need cosmetic work

• Are overlooked by most buyers

She shared an example where a client purchased a property $100,000 below nearby comparables simply because others ignored it.

Real estate rewards those who think differently.

Location, Mindset & Long-Term Vision

Your first home does not need to be your forever home.

Chantal encourages buyers to:

• Be open to emerging neighborhoods

• Focus on future potential, not current perception

• Use equity to upgrade later

Many of today’s desirable areas were once avoided. Long-term thinkers win.

The Biggest Myths About Mortgages

One of the biggest myths Canadians believe:

“If my bank says no, that’s the final answer.”

It’s not.

As a mortgage broker, I see this daily. Banks only offer their products. Brokers explore multiple lenders, programs, and strategies—often using the same bank that declined the client initially.

Another myth:

• You need 20% down➡️ Reality: You can buy with as little as 5% (owner-occupied)

• You need a high income➡️ Reality: It’s about how much you keep, not just how much you earn

  
  

Starting with Nothing: How Do You Begin?

For someone who:

• Doesn’t own a home

• Has limited savings

• Feels stuck renting

Chantele Joorden’s advice:

• Save aggressively

• Reduce expenses (roommates, house hacking)

• Consider partnerships (friends or family)

• Buy overlooked properties

• Use the BRRR strategy (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat)

• She personally lived this approach—and it’s how she built her 36-unit portfolio.

  
  

Time in the Market Beats Timing the Market

Waiting for the “perfect time” often costs more than acting today.

Rent paid is money gone forever. Equity builds quietly.

Chantal firmly believes:

“Holding real estate is what truly matters.”

Even buyers who purchased at the peak of the market have benefited from long-term appreciation.

Real Estate Is Emotional—and Transformational

Buying a home isn’t just financial—it’s emotional.

Chantal often plays the role of therapist for her clients:

• Anxiety

• Doubt

• Excitement

• Pride

But one thing she’s never experienced? Buyer’s remorse.

Homeownership changes how people see themselves—and their future.

A Message to First-Time Buyers, Immigrants & Single Parents

If you think homeownership is “not for people like you,” this episode is for you.

Chantele Joordens has helped:

• Single parents

• Immigrant families

• Young professionals

• First-time buyers with limited funds

The common factor? Creativity + dedication.

Buying with a partner, using assistance programs, or thinking outside the box makes all the difference.

Final Advice to Her 18-Year-Old Self

If Chantele Joordens could go back in time, she would say:

Start investing sooner

• Don’t fear pivoting

• Work hard

• Save aggressively

• Buy real estate as early as possible

• Don’t confuse pivoting with failure

Final Thoughts

This episode wasn’t just about real estate—it was about:

• Mindset

• Discipline

• Long-term thinking

• Financial freedom

Real estate isn’t the dream. Freedom is.

And real estate, when done right, is one of the most powerful vehicles to get there.