Subscribe via:
Show Summary
In this episode, Jessica Narula, a mortgage broker and real estate investor based in Toronto, Canada, shares her unique journey through the real estate landscape. With eight years of experience, she discusses her transition from a real estate paralegal to a mortgage broker, emphasizing the importance of understanding the market from multiple perspectives. Jessica highlights the current challenges in the Ontario real estate market, including changing regulations and the impact of economic conditions on investment opportunities. She believes that despite the prevailing doom and gloom in the news, there are still opportunities for savvy investors to thrive in this environment.
Resources and Links from this show:
-
Listen to the Audio Version of this Episode
Investor Fuel Show Transcript:
Jessica Narula (00:00)
One of the things we, I’m really surprised we, I didn’t bring up even, I’m an AI nerd. Like, like, absolutely. Like, you know, I think here’s the thing, there’s two sides to it, right? Everything, either it’s going to take away jobs and the whole thing, but I find it helped me create so much time to do certain things.Like speaking of relationships, I find a lot of the tasks that I found it so nitty gritty and push and shove and took me a lot longer, are a lot faster, which means I can actually create events.
Quentin Edmonds (02:06)
Hello everyone. Welcome to the Real Estate Pros podcast. I am your host Q Edmonds and I am excited to be here today. I’m excited about my guest. She’s a mortgage broker, but that’s not all. She’s an investor. Listen, I love what she do. I love how she help our clients out. I love the way she helps them figure out things. And so I’m excited for us to dive into her perspective, to see things through her lens. And so I want to introduce you all to Ms. JessicaNarula Miss Jessica, how you doing? Did I do good with the last name?
Jessica Narula (02:40)
You absolutely did. I’m good. How are you?Quentin Edmonds (02:43)
I’mdoing great. I’m doing great. Thank you so much. Thank you for being here. Thank you for your presence. Miss Jessica, I’ll be honest with you. I kind of want to dive in. I want you to tell the people what your main focus is these days. Miss Jessica, if you want to give us a little bit of an origin story of how you got into what you do, we would love to know that. And please tell them where you are in the world geographically and what markets you’re operating in. So Miss Jessica, you have the floor, ma’am.
Jessica Narula (03:09)
Absolutely. Well, thank you for having me first of all, and I’m actually in Toronto, Canada. So thanks for having me. I know you get guests from everywhere, especially the US. So I appreciate that. And um a little bit about my background. originally, right after university, I actually started working as a paralegal and I kept ended up being ended up being in real estate for some reason. So I was like, okay, fine. So I was a real estate paralegal. Then I knew there was like more life outside theI really wanted to create something for my family. I came to Canada when I was 14, so was born in India.
So it was a journey and I started looking into real estate investing and Rich Dad Poor Dad I’m sure most real estate investors have heard of it and started there. and you know, but I did realize a lot of the information out there was very U S space and not much Canada based. So it was a little bit of a digging journey and learning from local investors and things like that.
And I started as a real estate investor. So I was buying flips. I was buying rental properties with JV partners. So, you know, I was active partner. I found passive partners who wanted to partner, who wanted to put in money. did the deal finding the managing construction, managing tenants and all of that part. Then I got my mortgage license about six years ago. I just felt like I was trying to figure out I was 26 years old trying to figure out how I would borrow
money from the bank and I got into the mortgage side just to figure out how that would actually work and what that would look like. And also it gave me a good value add when I went to networking events to talk to other investors like you know I’m a mortgage broker I could also it’s a nice I realize how important conversations are and it’s a nice conversation starter where you feel like you are able to have this conversation because you are bringing in this value.
and that’s one of the main things. And now my focus at the moment, I still manage a lot of my properties, but my focus is my mortgage business, which has been, for the last five years, I truly do enjoy strategic financing, like helping investors figure out how they can reposition and figure out how to, especially in markets like these where, you know, liquidity is really important and.
taking, making use of the right opportunities as well is also very important. So I love working with investors and even first time home buyers who want to build long-term wealth. So that is my focus at the moment.
Quentin Edmonds (06:34)
Also, I appreciate it. Thank you so much for taking us through the journey, taking us into how you got into it, what you do now. And so I have a saying that I say is that destiny has no wasted moments. Meaning like no matter where we go at in life, destiny has a way of giving us tools that we develop. Destiny has a way of building character and all these things we just keep piling on as we go through life.And so when I hear you came to Canada at 14, was a paralegal in real estate paralegal. And he was like, the nine to five, this ain’t it. You know you got the mortgage because you wanted to figure out like the money aspect and getting money of it all. So what is it about you that destiny has given you that kind of makes you be wired the way you are? Like, why is it that you like
you know, the financial strategic financing, like, is this can you point, can you see anything in your youth that kind of made you why you’re the way you are now and that helps you be who you are today?
Jessica Narula (07:43)
Oh, I love this question. And I think everything is related to your childhood. As an entrepreneur, you’ll learn this. We’ll all learn this. If you’re not improving yourself, you’re not figuring out certain things, you’re going to be stuck. This is one of my biggest lessons. And that led me to the…a lot of challenges that came through my journey led me to just learning more about myself, know, the mindset aspect, the self-awareness aspect, limiting beliefs, like how your subconscious works and things like that, right? So I started getting into like, neuro-linguistic programming, hypnosis, like different aspects of the mindset. And yeah, like as a kid, I’ve always like been a little
the black sheep of the family, I would say. I think that seems to be a common thread among a lot of entrepreneurs, it seems like. I also love, so it’s so interesting, as a kid, until about even high school, I wasn’t the greatest at studies, like at all. Even in India, it’s very competitive, right? Like you’re either a doctor, engineer, or one of those ⁓ bigger professions.
I was just, it’s just not for me. So when I came to Canada, school was a lot easier, I’m not going to lie. So yeah, so it was a lot easier and I did well, but after grade 10, I was like, math is not for me. I don’t know what XYZ means. I’m good. I’m okay. And
So it’s so interesting that I landed here. So it wasn’t…
It wasn’t because I love numbers or real estate or anything, but I realized it was a tool. Money, real estate, everything at the end of the day is a tool that leads you to freedom, be a better giver, understand your core values. You’re able to take care of the people around you and yourself, right? So I think all of these things, mortgage, real estate,
All of it are essentially tools that help you in a bigger picture that you have. And ⁓ I actually grew up dancing a lot and I still, you know, do that. And that’s where the creative aspect comes in. So when you asked if I can point where I like the creative and strategic thinking.
It’s because I realized creativity doesn’t have to do with dance or singing or, or piece of paper that can be applied to any part of your life. It’s just how your mind is wired. I started focusing on, just realized when I did like creative thinking about how I can figure out certain things, complicated things for clients, I just enjoyed that part. And was it stressful?
Absolutely. But was it also fun? I think so. And that’s how and then my mom was actually an entrepreneur in India. Being a female entrepreneur in a place like India in the like 90s. Yeah, like she she taught me a lot of things while just even growing up watching her. And then when we came here, unfortunately, well, my parents had to take in jobs and factories and things like that.
But when I reflect back, that had a big impact on how I think and I do my business now.
Quentin Edmonds (11:54)
Thank you so much. Thank you for that answer. Thank you for that well thought out answer. Thank you for that in depth answer. And I mean, as you was talking, I was just, I wrote down the word tools when you said like, this is real estate, this money, all this stuff is a tool, is a tool to get your time back. It’s a tool to get your freedom back. Now I have another saying where I say, when you know who you are, you know what to do. Like how you took time to develop your mindset.When you know who you are, you know how to use everything around you to your advantage. Because everything is just a tool for me to actually power the real person that I am. And so I love how you talked about creativity and dance. That’s how you feel about dance and creativity. That’s how I feel about stories. I feel like everything is a story, right? And so when I’m talking to people, I want to know the story. When I look at certain things, I know it has a story.
The lights that we use, it has a story. Everything has a story. so because I love stories, it helps me tap into my superpower to say, me bring up your story. And so that’s why I love talking to you. I love your answers. Thank you so much, for just giving such a thoughtful, in-depth answer. It’s really bringing value to this episode. I really appreciate you.
Jessica Narula (13:12)
Thank you, thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.Quentin Edmonds (13:14)
Absolutely.So let me ask you this, Miss Jessica. What is your next goal? What are you looking to solve next?
Jessica Narula (13:22)
⁓ One of the biggest things right now iscreating consistency in all aspects of my life. I think as entrepreneurs, we can get distracted with ideas a lot, like our mind works, like, you know, in so many different ways. And I think focus is underrated as a tool, as a concept. And I think that’s why one of the main things I’m practicing is a building trust within and also focus because the more we say things we’re going to do
things and we actually do it. You are not just building integrity and trust with the outside world, but also with yourself. ⁓ And I think that’s like we one thing that I am is focusing on now is if I’m going to say I’m going to do something, I will do it. And not that I always did in practice, but like even tiny things like going to the gym, taking that walk, having ⁓ that better breakfast.
things like that ⁓ actually have improved so much of them in my client communication and transaction. I feel like a clarity is there because there’s a direction.
Quentin Edmonds (15:16)
Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ I wish I could remember his last name, but there’s a fitness coach named coach Lynch. wish I could remember his last name, but I can’t. But he has a statement where he says, if you lie to yourself, then you truly have nobody else left. can trust. And so I love how you talked about, you got to build trust with yourself. The more you keep your word to yourself, the more your confidence starts to build because you’re not lying to yourself anymore. So you know, you’re going to hit the gym.You know, you’re going to eat right. Then you know, you’re going to knock this goal out the park. You know, you’re going to be successful. You know, you’re going to make the call. You know, you’re going to do the networking. Like the more you keep your word to yourself, the more you are literally training your brain. This is what we do. We keep our word to ourself. And that’s like when people start to write down goals and have vision boards, that’s why that stuff start to happen because they have kept their word to their self. So they are literally training their brain every day. They’re working towards that goal.
even if they don’t realize it, but every day they are training their brain to do it. And so again, thank you for what you’re saying. It is really impacting, making total sense to me. And you started talking about your connection with other people. So I want to start talking about relationships for a little bit. And I want to know your perspective on relationship, relationship building within business. Is it important? Has it benefited you? What is your, you know, your style with networking and relationship?
Talk to me about how relationships are affecting you.
Jessica Narula (16:48)
⁓ that’s honestly, I personally realized over the last few years, connecting with people and having conversations is truly my strength. Like I love that part of it. And most of like…Online, yeah, sure. But the in-person, ⁓ that’s like, that feeds my soul. And I think I love, like, anything I’ve done in the industry so far is all based on relationships. Like, I would not have been doing any of it if it wasn’t for the right people around me, right people trusting me, right people pushing through the hard times and, you know, right people trying to figure out things with me, being my hearing board and, you know, vice versa. And
I think everyone comes in life, your life for a reason. And I do truly believe that because either they will teach you how to be better or actually in any case, they will teach you how to be better because in a lesson or in a different way, they’ll help you out if you choose that way.
And I think relationships are so important because I realize you can’t, if you would like to even get to a certain level of income, for instance in business.
even as a mortgage broker, I need realtors, I need lawyers, I need different professionals, insurance companies, financial advisors. That’s technically part of my team, my brokerage, other agents in my brokerage. And I’ve realized like having that community and companionship is so important because I’m a millennial. I, and like we have this whole social media thing of self
care and, you know, prioritizing yourself. And I think that’s important. But I think we have also created this loneliness pandemic of people isolating in this in, in, you know, instead of creating communities, like, in the name of self protection, I think that’s what’s happening.
And I think we’re almost like overdoing the whole self care thing. it sounds like like it’s it is I felt it and I’ve been there and I’m speaking from experience because I did do the whole self care thing. And you know where I was like, oh, this person’s this this person is that like too much to that. No one is for perfect. Like no one. So like, what are you going to push everyone away? Like
I think that’s what was one of the biggest lessons in the last few years. You can’t do it alone. Use your discernment. Yeah, not everyone is meant to be part of your life, but use your discernment into like, where is this push away coming from? Is it overprotection? Is it truly self-care? And I think shutting down the noise of what…
social media says and and you know always listening to other people I think the quiet time and the meditation really helped me to be like okay what do I sound like outside of the noise so and speaking so simple terms yeah relationships are the key if you want to succeed and the right people are going to help you
Quentin Edmonds (20:03)
Hmm. Whoa, you are dropping gems, Miss Jessica. Every time you say something, my mind starts to turn, like, because I love how you talked about, you know, so there’s a difference between solitude and isolation, right? Isolation is when you shut everybody off and disconnect yourself from the world. Solitude is sometimes when you take time away to recalibrate yourself, get your thoughts together.Rest some things you can only do by yourself, but it’s not isolation, right? And so when you start talking about community I wrote down two things community and communication So community is common unity. It’s when people dwell together in common unity That’s community and I always say healing happens in community Like that’s like when you have a body of people that is of common unity when they link up together they make sure you
Everybody is okay. So if that’s the case We make sure everything is okay. We make sure people are okay financially You make sure people are okay mentally, especially when you’re linking up with the right people like you said you can’t do it with everybody, right? But when you link up with the right people healing starts to take place financially mentally physically Emotionally all these things start to happen because everybody of us of the common unity, right? And so again, you saw itself on social media. I think and you talk
You know, you talked about meeting online is cool, but it can’t replace meeting in person because this is how communication works. There’s the 55 38 7 rule of communication. 55 % of it is body language. 38 % of it is tone. 7 % of it is actually the words that you say. So that’s why communicating in person is so big because you see me. You can see me.
my upper body, but you can’t see my feet. You can’t see my feet is you can’t see if I cross my arms. All of those things are communicating body things to you. And so I’m just, I’m just putting a nail, a nail on a heel or, you know, hammering down with you. So eloquently said, all of these things are important that we don’t isolate ourselves. Solitude is cool. Don’t isolate yourself. Communicating in person is so big because you can read all the body language because that’s how the brain works. And just about community being of the same.
yoked mentality with people around you. That’s how you grow business. That’s how you grow relationships. So I love everything you said. Love everything you said. Let me ask you this. Is there anything that we haven’t said that you want to say, any topic that we haven’t touched on that you want to touch on? Or is there any words of inspiration, education, or motivation you want to give the people?
Jessica Narula (22:51)
One of the things we, I’m really surprised we, I didn’t bring up even, I’m an AI nerd. Like, like, absolutely. Like, you know, I think here’s the thing, there’s two sides to it, right? Everything, either it’s going to take away jobs and the whole thing, but I find it helped me create so much time to do certain things.Like speaking of relationships, I find a lot of the tasks that I found it so nitty gritty and push and shove and took me a lot longer, are a lot faster, which means I can actually create events.
And I used to host a lot of events last year as like networking events and just like do that more and do put time and energy in that. just like getting my business more organized is a lot easier. So I think like,
exactly 100 years ago, we had the industrial revolution and now we’re in the AI revolution. And I think things are going to change. don’t know. We’re seeing changes, but it’s going to change more. And I think one thing I will say to everyone, and I’ve been in places where I’m like, I don’t know how I’m going to pay the next bill. And I’ve also been the other way and anywhere in between, because I’m still like in this six, seven, eight year journey where you’re still establishing yourself. And one thing I will
say is be adaptable. Be, you know, learn what’s going on because it’s not going to help if you don’t because someone else will adapt and move forward if you don’t. So be adaptable, work with integrity, create that community, build connection with the right people and honestly use your discernment to see what works and what doesn’t and where it’s coming from.
Quentin Edmonds (24:13)
you⁓ Listen, so well said. Listen, if someone wanted to reach out to you, connect with you, collaborate, learn more about what you’re doing, how can they reach out to you, Ms. Jessica?
Jessica Narula (24:51)
You can find me on Instagram at jn. So it’s my initial so Jessica and Nerula jnmortgagegroup is on Instagram Jessica Nerula on Facebook I am not on tik tok. I should get on it, but i’m not there. ⁓ can always email me. So it’s jessica @ jn mortgage group.caQuentin Edmonds (25:16)
Awesome. Well, listen, I want to sincerely say first, thank you for your time, because obviously we know time is valuable. We’re doing things to get our time back, right? So thank you for your time. Definitely thank you for your story. As I told you, I put a premium on story. So thank you for the gift of your transparency. Thank you for telling your story. I greatly appreciate it. And definitely thank you for your perspective. Thank you for your mindset and bringing that mindset to this platform. I greatly appreciate you, ma’am.Jessica Narula (25:45)
Thank you so much.Quentin Edmonds (25:46)
Absolutely. So listen, y’all heard Miss Jessica, you got the value, you can’t tell me you didn’t. So definitely check her out, but definitely make sure you are subscribed because I say it all the time and we’re going to continue to do it. We’re going to continue to bring up amazing guests, just like Miss Jessica. And so thank you again, ma’am. And to everyone else, y’all have a good day.
