MY INVESTING JOURNEY

Lessons from a Decade in Property Investment

My real estate investing career began in 2011 with my first investment property purchase near Toronto, Canada — years before the region’s explosive growth that really took off around 2015. Over the next decade, I was fortunate to ride that wave, building a multi-family and commercial portfolio in downtown Hamilton, ON, which I independently owned and managed. This hands-on approach gave me deep experience in negotiation, acquisition, renovation, leasing, and asset management.

But while the real estate market thrived, the environment in Canada became increasingly difficult. High taxes and fees took a significant bite out of profits, and tenant and landlord laws grew more restrictive, tipping the balance away from mom-and-pop landlords. And the municipal regulatory landscape became so complex that scaling further within Canada was no longer worth the time, cost, and risk. Those realities pushed me to consider a different approach.

FINDING FREEDOM

Why I Left Canada for the Caribbean

By 2020, after travelling to more than 50 countries, living in four, and dedicating thousands of hours to in-depth research and strategic planning internationally, I made the life-changing decision to leave Canada. My goal was clear: find a place where I could enjoy greater personal freedom, invest in a market with strong upside potential, and operate in a business environment that rewarded rather than penalized success.

I explored options in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, carefully weighing each for lifestyle, investment potential, and long-term growth. After years of analysis and first-hand exploration, the Eastern Caribbean emerged as the clear choice. In 2021, I became a full-time resident of Antigua and Barbuda and secured citizenship through its Citizenship by Investment Program — an experience that not only transformed my own life but also gave me first-hand insight into guiding clients through their own offshore strategies. Today, I am actively involved in projects and developments across the Eastern Caribbean, while consulting clients on real estate acquisitions, investment migration programs, and offshore structuring. This work further deepens my market knowledge and access, allowing me to provide unique, on-the-ground insight.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER

Your Partner in the Caribbean

When you work with me, you gain the expertise of a strategic partner who understands the complexities of the Caribbean real estate markets, investment migration, and offshore strategy. Through the Sotheby’s International Realty global network and my work with InvestCARICOM, I offer unparalleled access to luxury and commercial properties, CBI-approved developments, and a trusted network of top professionals.

Here’s how I help clients achieve their goals:

  • Identify high-value real estate investment opportunities across the Caribbean

  • Structure your offshore investments for maximum returns and efficiency

  • Secure second citizenship and/or tax residency through real estate investment

  • Protect and grow your wealth with offshore tax planning and asset protection strategies

I’ve advised dozens of families and investors from around the world, helping them acquire properties, obtain citizenship or residency, and create structures that preserve wealth while expanding global mobility. Together, we’ll create a strategy that combines property ownership, global mobility, and smart long-term planning to achieve your vision.

  • “Results-driven action and clear, unambiguous communication.”

    Stu Harrison, President at Merriam Music Inc.

  • “You would never go wrong working with Dan Merriam!”

    Dr. James Norrie — Founder & CEO, CyberconIQ

  • “Dan earned not only my professional trust but also my personal respect.”

    Matt Christie, Real Estate Investor and Entrepreneur

  • "Dan is brilliant, highly analytical and always hungry and curious about new creative solutions"

    Sarah Lin, Director at RBC

  • Ryan Kish, Private Lender and Mortgage Broker at MFCO

    "One of the most savvy and sophisticated investors and entrepreneurs I know"

    Ryan Kish, Private Lender and Mortgage Broker at MFCO

  • "He is a team player, and knows how to get things done"

    Sandy Mackay, Principal, KW Legacies