Mark and I have been active in Real Estate since 2000. Our most exciting real estate experience was a 15 year old log house on 13 acres just outside of Calgary. We bought the home for $385k, renovated and eventually sold it for $1.275 million, just under 2 years later. This home was a personal residence but it also gave us a "wealth" of experience when dealing with renovations.

After selling the log home we moved back to Calgary, buying 2 long term investment properties - each worth over $600k each, using a home equity line of credit as down payment and renovation funds.

One of the properties was sold late in 2009 and we presently hold a furnished side by side duplex (both sides) with a basement suite in one of the sides and a four car garage. The property is located in Richmond Park SW, close to downtown Calgary and an area with very good transportation corridors. This older but well renovated R2 property is located on a street with homes valued over 1 million dollars and has an extra large double lot.

The area is also turning over as people are tearing down single homes and building 2 on the lots. The homes then sell in the low $800k to over a million for each – and they ARE selling in this busy city.

Although furnished homes command larger rents they usually have shorter term tenants. We usually hold out for longer term tenants and this has been a successful move. These homes rent for a combined $60,600 per year and the exceptional cashflow rivals many 4 to 6 plexes or larger.

My personal background is as a Graphic Designer and I have been creating websites, marketing and advertising materials for developers and new home builders, as well as our own ventures for several years. Our site FreeDonut.ca has been a very successful ice-breaker for our real estate business.

Mark and I have always had a passion for renewable energy and one day wish to build and live in an off-grid home. In 2010 we were able to take a 2 month sabbatical, enabling us to travel and interview homeowners as part of the research for a book on Eco and Green homes in Canada and the US.

I am presently writing a book as well as blogging about Green and Eco homes, tips and products at yourECOfriend.com.