I Lost 6 Figures So You Don't Have To: A Canadian Investor's Cautionary Tale
A real estate investor shares hard-earned lessons after losing $100K to scams. Learn safe private lending strategies to protect your money.
Canadian Real Estate Investing
By Marinella Nicolosi | WBN News | August 12, 2025
Let's get real, ladies! If you're a mom juggling family and finances, or a woman nearing retirement worried about your savings, my story could save you from devastating losses.
My $100,000 Mistake
I lost six figures to:
- A Ponzi scheme promising "high returns"
- Smooth-talking mortgage brokers with 20+ years experience who became greedy and unprofessional
- Borrowers who seemed perfect on paper but mismanaged my money
Here's the hard truth: It wasn't menopause brain fog (though that didn't help). It wasn't bad luck. It was me:
- Trusting "experts" without verification as they came recommended
- Falling for too-good-to-be-true returns (I should have known better)
- Ignoring the lack of skin in the game
Why I No Longer Trust Mortgage Brokers Unconditionally (no blind trust)
After working with supposedly reputable mortgage professionals who:
- Pushed high-risk deals for bigger profits
- Failed to properly vet borrowers
- Disregarded standard due diligence
I learned: Experience doesn't equal ethics. Now I verify borrowers myself.
My 3 Safety Rules for Private Lending
- Borrowers must have skin in the game - Minimum 20% equity in the property
- Real property as collateral - Only first position mortgages
- Verified track records - I now check every reference and past projects
This system helped me rebuild with steady 8-12% returns through secured private mortgages across Canada - no tenant calls, no property management.
Learn From My Mistakes!
If you are a busy mom, you can build generational wealth without becoming a landlord or sacrificing family time, or if you are a woman, who is planning her retirement, you can create monthly cash flow from secured real estate debt investments to supplement your retirement savings.
This fall, I’m opening two programs designed to help women invest with confidence:
Become the Private Bank - How to safely earn passive income through private mortgages
- Spot red flags (the ones I missed)
- Vet borrowers using my proven due diligence process
- Structure deals with legal safeguards
- Earn 8-12% without landlord headaches
Become a Capital Magnet - How to raise private money for your real estate deals
- Raise private money the right way
- Build credibility with lenders using my transparency framework
- Best business practice set up
- Distinguish yourself from other borrowers
Why This Works for You
- Learn a hands-off strategy that fits your schedule
- Create stable cash flow without stock market stress
- Avoid the costly mistakes I made
I created these because no woman should learn these lessons the hard way like I did.
Free Resource: Download my Private Lending 101 Due Diligence Checklist
Let’s Start the Conversation: Marinella is an educator, speaker, and visionary who empowers aspiring and seasoned real estate investors to unlock prosperity through her expertise in strategic passive investing and wealth-building strategies.
Email Marinella: info@privatelendingqueen.com | Visit http://www.privatelendingqueen.com
Connect on LinkedIn: Marinella Nicolosi - Private Lending Queen http://www.linkedin.com/in/marinella-nicolosi-private-lending-queen-022a292a
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