The New Breed of Toronto Developer: Why Most Projects Fail ft. Ryan Valente Ep.11

BLD Financial Podcast

What’s the real reason most real estate development projects fail?
In the eleventh episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Valente, a hands-on real estate developer with over 15 years of construction experience and a growing portfolio of mid-sized multi-family projects across Toronto. From custom home building to CMHC-financed 4-plexes, laneway suites, and now an 18-unit build in High Park—Ryan has lived every phase of the development cycle.
In this episode, we dive into:
✅ Ryan’s journey from high-end custom home builder to full-scale multi-family developer
✅ The reality of construction risk, cost overruns, and why execution is everything
✅ How Ryan navigated CMHC’s MLI Select program (and the setbacks they never tell you about)
✅ Raising capital, working with high-net-worth partners, and structuring long-term portfolios
✅ The painful disconnect between bureaucrats and builders—and what needs to change
✅ Tips for new developers: why your builder might be your biggest risk
✅ Parking-light design, transit-oriented sites, and lessons from building in Toronto’s west end
✅ How to scale responsibly, partner wisely, and survive policy shifts, interest rate swings, and financing delays
If you're a builder, investor, or aspiring developer navigating the missing middle, this episode is a must-listen. Ryan doesn’t just talk about development—he’s in the trenches, building smarter, leaner, and for the long haul.
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TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@reside_properties
Website - https://www.resideproperties.ca/

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