Your Property Can Fund Your Retirement – Here’s How I Did It

Marinella Nicolosi
Aug 11
2 min read

Canadian homeowner using property equity for retirement income through private lending

By Marinella Nicolosi, Private Lending Queen

When most Canadians think about funding retirement through real estate, they picture rental properties or flipping houses. But there's a smarter way - one that lets you keep living in your home while generating passive income. I didn't start with investment properties or huge savings. I started with a simple line of credit against my home.

How Private Lending Creates Retirement Income

As an homeowner, you can use your property's equity to:

Secure a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit)
Lend to qualified borrowers through mortgages
Earn 8-12% annual returns - Far exceeding GIC or savings account rates

This strategy helped me:

Cover my mortgage interest payments
Generate consistent monthly income
Maintain complete control of my funds

The Homeowner's Advantage

Unlike risky stock investments or labor-intensive rentals, this approach offers:

Security - Your loans are secured by real estate

Liquidity - Typical 6-12 month loan terms mean access to your capital

Tax Benefits - Interest paid on your HELOC, when used for passive investments, is tax deductible

Important: Always work with a real estate lawyer when preparing private mortgage documents.

Who This Works Best For

Canadian homeowners with:

$100,000+ in home equity
A low-risk investment mindset
No desire to be landlords

You Don’t Need to “Go Big” to Start Smart

If you own a home—or could in the future—this strategy is worth exploring.

Want to Learn More?

I teach Canadians how to safely leverage real estate for retirement income.

Getting Started Safely

Through my courses, I teach how to:

Properly vet borrowers using thorough due diligence
Structure legally sound mortgage agreements
Mitigate risks through proper loan-to-value ratios

Free Resource: Download my Private Lending 101 Due Diligence Checklist

Published: August 11, 2025 - 2 min read

By Private Lending Queen

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