Two Vancouver real estate advisors are taking the world by storm with their curated Cross Border Program. Amy Leong and Ally Ballam are top agents, ranking amongst the top 10 teams in Canada, the USA, and Mexico for sales volume. Licensed with one of the largest global real estate brokerages, Engel & Volkers, with over 10,000 agents in the Americas alone, this was no easy feat.
Innovative and Creative Business Expansion with a Focus on Financial Freedom
The ladies have become a force for innovation and creative business expansion with a laser beam focus on financial freedom and passive style investing. They often get asked how they can sell over 100+ homes year, and still travel. Leong and Ballam say they don’t have an off switch and are lucky to have a multi-lingual dream team behind them. The two regularly speak, coach, and mentor women in investing, life, and business. With a $7+ million dollar real estate portfolio between the two of them, Women on Topp wanted to know what this inspirational duo have planned for the year ahead.
Expanding the Cross Border Program for 2023
“For 2023, our team is focused on expanding our cross-border program so we can give people a dose of sunshine and plentiful cash flow” Leong says. Both women have been passionate about incorporating travel breaks into their rigorous work schedules, which came to a halt during the pandemic. Instead of slowing down in 2020, the two used this downtime to really evaluate where their business was going, how their personal portfolios were performing, where they forecasted real estate growth, and how they were going to travel moving forward. Fast forward two short years, Leong and Ballam now own multiple properties abroad in both the USA and Mexico. Their cross-border program allows Canadians to access amazing partnerships with renowned tax lawyers, top accountants, key mortgage brokers for financing options with the lowest fees, and short-term furnished rental management.
How it All Started
“It started because we personally wanted the snow bird life and a piece of early retirement. We wanted more cash flow, we wanted places we could hop on a plane and visit in less than 5 hours, and have those properties pay for themselves when we aren’t there” Ballam says. “We kept going out further and further to find investment properties that could do the numbers we needed to get our clients ahead, and what started as a 30 min drive, became an hour and a half ferry ride, and then a 4 hour drive to find cashflow. Amy and I had been going to Scottsdale, Arizona every year for mini getaways with friends and family, and we saw how affordable properties were compared to Vancouver prices. A detached home on the West Side of Vancouver is well over $2.5 million dollars compared to $750,000 USD in Arizona with a pool that cashflows even at current higher interest rates.” And in an expensive city like Vancouver where a newer 1 bedroom condo can start at one million dollars, it can prove very difficult to make even the slightest of cashflow – meaning the rent will not cover expenses such as your mortgage payment, strata fees, insurance, property management or taxes.
2021 and 2022 Success
Ballam excitedly shares, “In 2021, Amy and I bought a 3 bedroom house with a pool for $755,000 in Scottsdale and we are netting over $2500 USD per month over and above our expenses and mortgage. It’s amazing and we want to share that with people who might be struggling to find cashflow in pricey neighbourhoods like Vancouver or Toronto.”
What is impressive for their 2023 goals, Team Amy & Ally are fully embracing snow birding year-round, and opening inside strategic storefronts in both Scottsdale, Arizona and Los Cabos, Mexico with Engel & Volkers. With Ballam spearheading Arizona, they are officially launching February 24th 2023 with their close friends, family, and clients. Leong alongside powerhouse team member, Nuvola Capitanio, will launch their program in Los Cabos in Fall 2023. The team couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come and have already closed over $10+ million down South in 2022. It has taken the two over nine years of constant work to get to a travel-infused business life, and you can feel their passion for their next global venture. “Our clients look to us for sound investments that will help them retire earlier and retire wealthier no matter what job, background, or age. Opening in key areas that are economically strong in so many ways will help us achieve those goals, but also gives our clients an amazing and inspirational new lifestyle, and more happiness” Leong emphasizes.
So, how are your personal US investments performing currently?
“Amy and I wanted to test the market for a full year and be the guinea pigs so we could tell our clients the real results and numbers.” They couldn’t be happier with their first property grossing over $85,000 USD in 2021. Ballam stresses how amazing that is, as most people are not making this type of yearly income with their 9-5 pm jobs. Not only does one reap the monetary benefits by accommodating short-term, vacation-style rentals but being able to visit the property with friends and family is so rewarding in itself. Essentially, you are buying yourself another income by putting down the initial down payment of roughly 20-30% of the purchase price. Furthermore, you are carrying one of the strongest currencies in the world, so depending on conversion and deeper conversations with your accountant, you can also capitalize on this exchange when moving funds back and forth.
Can you explain what the term ‘snowbird’ means?
‘Snow birding’ is nothing new. It has been a popular choice for people to avoid nasty winter months and spend time in sunnier places. Typically, the snowbird term would describe a retired, older, and richer demographic but the ladies have found a way to bring this enhanced lifestyle to all ages with an expert level of knowledge and creative financing. The most important thing they want you to know is: It is possible, just like investing in your own back yard, but do not make costly mistakes with your hard earned money. After purchasing a few properties in Scottsdale, Arizona Leong and Ballam realized how little other agents knew about helping Canadians specifically. From tax implications to how to properly structure the purchase, to financing options, and contract clauses, thousands of dollars are on the line. The ladies know this all too well, kissing almost $40,000 goodbye due to agents not understanding that a Canadian needs special treatment. However, they are relieved they were the guinea pigs instead of their valued clientele.
Cross Border Program
The result? Their carefully curated cross-border program to help Canadians invest in revenue properties in the US and Mexico from start to finish, in A-rated areas for ROI and cash flow. “We have clients that want to visit their properties a lot, and some who don’t want to come at all. The way we have set up our program is hands-off and fully managed if that is what our client prefers. Our designer helps to fully furnish the property and we always have boots on the ground so you can buy from afar without worrying.” After a year of wild weather, politics, and record-high inflation, our team wants to be there to set you up for success.
One’s work-life balance is so important for personal discovery, deeper family and couple connections, and when you can use real estate as the vehicle to fund these special experiences and get closer to financial freedom, that is a beautiful way to live. Besides, who doesn’t want to make money and sip on a margarita poolside?
For more information about Team Amy & Ally, follow @amyamzz & @allyballam or visit https://www.amyandally.com/ investors/cross-border-investing
Cheers to women investing cross border, and taking control of their financial futures!
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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