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46 december 2017 BRENT BUSINESS SERVICES A fter more than 30 years in real estate development, brokerage and property management, Brenlee Werner knows a thing or two about investing in property, and she wants others to learn from her experience. "I have a new goal, to educate potential real estate purchasers, especially women, about the advantages of investing in real estate instead of the stock market," she says. As a pioneer among women in real estate investment, she knows first-hand the barriers many women have faced. Not so long ago, they didn't have the same access to financing as their male counterparts, and even women who own businesses tend to shy away from real estate. For many, investing in stocks seems easier and more feasible since it can be handled by a stock broker, with smaller sums of money. However, Werner says real estate investments have a greater level of security. And if a property comes with a secure income — in the case of an office building with solid, long-term tenants such as government offices — it can provide steady returns. One of her goals is to bring together groups of investors, women in particular, who can pool their money to enter the market and make smart property investments. In her role as president of Brent Business Services, she's in the business of making money for investors, and she teaches clients what to look for and what to avoid. In a career that has included redeveloping three heritage apartment complexes in the Fort Rouge- Crescentwood area, developing a townhouse development, Bonaventure Village, near St. Vital Shopping Centre and managing a major downtown office building, Werner has seen it all. Her background, including a BFA in interior design from New York's prestigious Pratt Institute, gave her some special insights into real estate. In redeveloping the heritage buildings Crescent Court, Banbury Court and Highgate, her attention to design, including her work developing model suites, was the key to success. As property manager for a downtown office building, her design background allowed her to assess and visualize tenants' space requirements. But there's much more she can do to help clients. She sees advising clients as her role — even when that means discouraging them from a particular investment. Werner cites the example of a client who was considering buying a beautifully designed older duplex near Osborne Village for use as a hair salon. In such cases, it's important to determine if the price is reasonable for the location. And if it will be necessary to have a property rezoned, as it was for this building, it's important not to assume that rezoning is certain or will be quick. In this case, buying that particularly property would have been a mistake, she says. "There are a hundred stories like that," she says. Werner shares her experience and investment philosophy on her website's blog, The Guru. To learn more, visit brentbusinessservices.com. ■ "I have a new goal, to educate potential real estate purchasers, especially women, about the advantages of investing in real estate instead of the stock market." Brenlee Werner, president of Brent Business Services. Photo by Darcy Finley the smart money Real estate "guru" shares investment wisdom

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