This week on the Canada Now podcast, we sit down with Ross McCredie — entrepreneur, investor, and CEO of Sutton Group — to talk about where the business of Canadian real estate goes next: from transaction mills to long-term homeowner stewardship. It’s a conversation about verified data, how people, professionals, and business practices will navigate the most change we’ve seen in our lifetimes, and — most urgently — how to prevent financial elder abuse, one of North America’s fastest-growing crimes.
PS. Find a special BONUS in-person invitation at the end of this article! 👀
🎧 Listen / Watch
YouTube: Watch the full episode ↗
Apple Podcasts: Listen on Apple ↗
Spotify: Listen on Spotify ↗
Other Audio Players… ⬇
📌 TL;DR (why this episode matters)
Human first. Financial elder abuse is rising — and often invisible. Verified identity, accredited pros, and transparent asset data can prevent harm, not just catch it later.
Realtor → Wealth steward. The role shifts from “do a deal” to portfolio management for the home — the largest (and least-verified) asset most Canadians will ever own.
AI with receipts. AI is useful only when trained on accurate, verified data; otherwise it misleads buyers, sellers, and even regulators.
Affordability demands collaboration. Realtor + lawyer + accountant + lender, advising together before a crisis.
Build in Canada — the talent is here. Pair it with ambitious infrastructure and policies that promote quality of life, opportunity, and sustainable housing growth
💡 7 Key Takeaways
Verification is step zero. People, pros, and property must be verified (identity, licensing, title, permissions) before any digital “intelligence” is helpful.
True cost of ownership beats listing price. Model the full stack: taxes, fees, insurance, financing, maintenance, and local rules — especially for STRs.
Short-term rentals need truth, not vibes. Platforms should confirm permission (bylaw + strata + owner) before listings go live.
The profession will consolidate. Prediction: part-time, low-volume models may struggle under compliance, liability, and consumer expectations.
Consumers need a plan, not a panic. Big life events drive many sales; planning beats emotional, transaction-driven decisions.
Data quality > AI hype. Garbage-in still equals garbage-out; MLS gaps or errors and unverifiable claims can cascade into bad advice.
Communities need advocates. Local Realtors and business owners can be civic problem-solvers on affordability, infrastructure, and safety.
For most Canadians, the home is the biggest asset — and the least verified.
🎥 Episode Chapters
(Jump straight to the parts you care about.)
00:00 Elder abuse & fraud: why it matters
00:20 Show open
00:44 Host intro & setup
01:20 Who is Ross McCredie
02:13 Travel → real estate: disruption analogy
04:17 From transactions to homeowner-centric “wealth” model
06:09 Affordability & fiduciary collaboration
08:03 Sutton + Cornerstone platform
10:26 Digitizing & verifying people/pros/property
12:15 Partners & rollout (Interac, BC/ON)
13:15 Verified data across an owner’s lifecycle
15:17 Standardizing top-agent practices
17:16 The next 5 years: attrition & professionalism
20:16 AI in real estate: data quality > hype
24:41 Consumers: true cost of ownership
27:09 Elder abuse: prevention by design
34:21 Canada vs. US: transparency & incentives
38:06 Adoption, teams & community advocacy
41:19 Why build in Canada
46:07 Proptech community, collaboration & close
▶ Watch: YouTube
🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Other Audio
🧭 What You Can Do Now
Protect your family: If you care for aging parents, make a verified list of accounts, contacts, and property info now. Share access with trusted beneficiaries.
Buying/selling in 2025?: Ask every pro you hire: What data do you verify and how? Get it in writing.
If you’re a pro: Audit your workflows. Where do you rely on unverified inputs? Fix those first — then layer in AI.
🎁 Bonus Invitation!
In this episode, Ross and I chat about how we met — at a Proptech Collective social event in Vancouver. I’ve since become a committee member of its Vancouver chapter, and we’re hosting an event this week… this is your personal invitation!
When I went to my first event, I was blown away by the caliber of people — the talent and the ideas. It genuinely encouraged me.
Proptech Collective brings Canadian founders, operators, investors, and industry leaders together to swap ideas and build what’s next — exactly the kind of collaboration Ross called out.
JOIN US THIS WEEK!
🎟 Tickets: https://luma.com/mvv9mtoe
🗓 Tuesday, Oct. 21st
⏰ 5pm - 7pm
📍 Riley’s Fish & Steak (map)
Presented in collaboration with REACH Canada and sponsored by Sutton Group.
🍁 Final Thought
Verified data isn’t paperwork — it’s protection. When people, professionals, and policies align, we move from transactions to stewardship.
→ Subscribe to Canada Now for new episodes each week — and help shape Canada’s next chapter.
👤 About The Guest
Ross McCredie is a Canadian entrepreneur and investor known for transforming real estate businesses. He founded Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, co-founded Dundee 360, built and sold RealWealth, and now leads Sutton, aiming to shift brokerage from one-off transactions to long-term homeowner wealth management with a heavy focus on verification, transparency, and data integrity.
About Sutton Group | About McCredie Investments | Find Ross on LinkedIn
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We’re writing the next chapter in Canada — and it starts now. 🍁
If you’re a fan of Canadian innovation and curated Canadian content, check out some of my other favourite newsletters on Beehiiv! 🐝👇
— Ashley Smith (@ashleysmithnow)