The U.S. Real Estate Playbook for Canadians Pt 3: The 7 U.S. Real Estate Myths

Get my Free Guide: Entity Setup Playbook for Canadians in the U.S. at https://www.investingintheus.com

In today’s episode I tackle the most common myths stopping Canadians from investing in U.S. real estate, using my own journey as context. I first invested in the U.S. from 2012 to 2017, then stepped back thinking it was too complicated. But when I jumped back in out of necessity in 2021, I realized those were just myths. One big one is the idea that you need U.S. credit. You don’t—plenty of non-bank lenders work with Canadians at competitive rates if you show liquidity and use the right brokers. You can build credit over time with an ITIN, but it’s not required.

Another frequent myth is that you need an E-2 visa or must relocate to invest. That isn’t true. My partner and I have flipped over 30 properties in multiple states without moving or even visiting most of them. We rely on strong local pros, modern tools, and solid systems to manage remotely. This connects to the risk myth—investing isn’t automatically riskier abroad. Risk comes from lack of knowledge, so with research, local input, and delegation, U.S. deals can be as safe, if not safer, than Canadian ones.

I also push back on the idea that U.S. investing is “too complicated.” Early on, I was very hands-on with renovations and student rentals, so the thought of managing at a distance seemed overwhelming. But I changed my model: I built systems, delegated, and focused on deals with equity built in from day one. Land deals became a favorite entry point—they’re simple, liquid, and can be bought at steep discounts, sometimes for 40–50 cents on the dollar. That margin lets me hire good contractors and still maintain strong profits.

Finally, I address the myth that U.S. accounting is impossible or guarantees double taxation. That’s not true if you work with cross-border tax professionals. Many Canadian accountants can file both returns, and mine simplified the process for years. To help others avoid costly mistakes, I created an entity setup playbook that investors can share with their advisors so they don’t get pushed into bad structures that lead to unnecessary tax.

E192 US Miniseries Pt 3

0:00 – Intro & Episode Overview

1:24 – Myth #1: Need U.S. Credit

4:49 – Myth #2: Need E-2 Visa

6:26 – Myth #3: Too Risky

10:07 – Myth #4: Too Complicated

14:28 – Myth #5: Must Move to U.S.

16:20 – Myth #6: Only for the Rich

19:40 – Myth #7: Accounting & Taxes

21:00 – Recap & Playbook Mention

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Andrew Hines is a seasoned real estate investor, business-builder, educator, and podcast host, well-recognized for his extensive experience in the field. Andrew graduated with an HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business in 2008 and spent three years teaching introductory business at Western University as a Lecturer. He has been investing in real estate since 2011 and completing value-add projects since 2015, primarily in the luxury student rental space. Andrew started a project management company for building out new-construction townhomes in 2016 and has since built over 50 residential units throughout Southwestern Ontario. Andrew is an advocate for treating real estate investing like a business and uses his experience in his educational endeavors, coaching numerous investors on strategies to achieve financial independence and scale their portfolios effectively.

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