About Our Founder, Ami Reiss
A successful real estate investor, Ami Reiss (Amichai Reiss) is the founder of Reiss Management, an industry leader known for its portfolio of top-quality apartment rentals in Montreal and the suburb of Laval. As CEO, Ami seeks out extraordinary real estate opportunities and manages multiple rental properties throughout Quebec.
Ami’s career in real estate began in Divco’s real estate holdings division, Vista. There, he worked as a building manager, and soon became the right-hand man for the company’s founder and chairman.
Divco is one of the largest construction companies in Quebec, and the experience allowed Ami to accumulate a depth of knowledge on a range of real estate management topics and specializations. His position of responsibility at Divco also gave him the opportunity to work as a project manager on multiple large-scale projects, such as Palais des Congres in Montreal, along with many others.
Ami Reiss grew up in Montreal, attending grade school there and Marianopolis CEGEP for a year. He later enrolled in Yeshiva University in New York City, where he studied business and psychology.
Because he has lived the Montreal experience, Ami Reiss understands metropolitan real estate trends and transactions from every perspective:
For investors like himself, he provides insights and guidance on emerging opportunities, including properties that may have been overlooked by other investors. He understands what makes a real estate investment profitable, from the initial appraisal of a property to renovations and remodeling.
He is also an expert on best practices for building managers. He knows what makes a rental complex successful and desirable. He understands the fine details of building management, and the importance of a proactive approach to the role.
Ami is also a go-to resource for tenants in the Montreal area, helping individuals and families navigate the high-rent, low-supply reality that exists in many of Montreal’s popular neighborhoods. He is an expert in municipal and provincial regulations, lessee and lessor disputes, and tenants rights.
In addition, Ami Reiss is a trusted guide for landlords. He understands that landlords need accurate advice on how to manage the complex legal and regulatory requirements involved in the landlord-tenant relationship.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ami Reiss so committed to Montreal?
Ami Reiss was born and raised in Montreal, and loves the people, culture, communities and spirit of this world-class city. Beyond that, he knows that the city is only as great as its neighborhoods. The diversity of Montreal’s communities and neighborhoods not only makes the metropolitan area extraordinary, but also makes investing in, developing and managing rental units for the people of Montreal challenging — and fun.
As the founder of Reiss Management, Ami is an authority on Montreal real estate, trusted by tenants, landlords, owners, investors and building managers throughout the region. He has accumulated a portfolio of high-value apartment rentals in a variety of city and suburban neighborhoods. Ami’s expertise and experience span projects large and small, from the simple apartment in Laval to the Palais des Congres, where he served as project manager during the construction of this downtown landmark.
His involvement in Montreal real estate began in 2009, with the purchase of select properties for his inchoate portfolio. Five years later he founded Reiss Management, quickly building it into an engine of innovation, excellence and discovery.
What is the motivating force behind the Ami Reiss Charitable Foundation?
To understand the foundation, you must first understand the background, perspective and life philosophy of Ami Reiss. As an Orthodox Jew with values predicated on the Torah, Ami studies the foundational texts of his faith every day, and strives to put these core beliefs into practice in his daily life.
This tradition and set of principles is the compass he uses to find my purpose and inspiration. Charitable giving, or Tzedaka as it is called in Hebrew, is a fundamental pillar of the teachings in the Torah, and is a core element of who Ami Reiss is, and who he strives to be.
Giving is a reflection of not just what we believe, but also who we are. It’s also so incredibly rewarding. As author H. Jackson Brown Jr. once wrote, “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”
What are some of the charities Ami Reiss has chosen to support?
The foundation is also a long-time supporter of the Combined Jewish Appeal, as well as the Montreal Torah Center, Kollel Keser Torar, Biet Chabbad, Cabad TMR and the Chai Center, whose missions are all to strengthen Jewish life, and the general well-being of the communities they serve. The Friendship Circle and Camp HASC are two organizations focusing on special needs children that Ami is proud to support.
Does Ami typically focus on needs that are close to home?
He has learned that education and faith provide strong support to individuals and families, giving people the skills and inspiration to rise from their circumstances. Ami believes that food and medicine are basic rights for all people, or should be. No one in Canada should ever go hungry, or lack the medicine and care they need.
He is very aware that some children need a higher level of assistance and attention, which is why special needs charities are so important to Ami, and to his family foundation.