Investment
How to Evaluate a GTA Investment Property
By Kaitlynn Martins · March 30, 2026 · 6 min read
A practical framework for cash flow, carrying costs and stress-testing before you buy.
Investment decisions should survive a spreadsheet, not a sales pitch. Start with realistic rent — what comparable units actually leased for recently, not what a listing asks.
Model the full carrying cost
Mortgage, property tax, insurance, condo fees, maintenance reserve, vacancy allowance and management. Leaving out maintenance and vacancy is how negative cash flow gets discovered in year two.
Stress-test the numbers
Run the same model at a higher interest rate and one month of vacancy. If the position only works in the best case, it is not a strategy.
Know your objective
Cash flow, appreciation and portfolio velocity pull in different directions. Choosing one makes the property selection far simpler.
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