Monday, April 16, 2012

Spring Fever

Alberta Oil Sands Investment Real Estate News®
Glenn Simon Inc., Suite 1217, 5328 Calgary Trail NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Tel 1-888-780-5940 Fax 1-888-276-4517
www.glennsimoninc.com email: info@glennsimoninc.com


April 15th., 2012
Volume 12, Issue 4

Dear Friends and Partners,

Spring has sprung and along with it we are seeing property listings sprout up like green shoots everywhere. Many would-be-sellers waited the winter out and list with a vengeance come March and April.

In the North-side we've found a decent selection of affordable and often nicely updated homes - great for the first time home buyer. Many 'suited' properties that come up are non-conforming (not legally suited) and need several upgrades to operate safely. To register your suite and operate legally requires further upgrades (often fireproofing ceilings, hard-wiring smoke detectors, widening windows in bedrooms and separating furnaces with barrier walls) and successful approval by the city. Conforming or legal suites garner a higher dollar, are fewer in the marketplace and aren't always priced to make cash flow. Although with the Cornerstones program rumoured to make a come back making a suite legal can be affordably done.

Edmonton investors have a hungry appetite for smaller multifamily properties and when I come across one that meets all of our buying criteria, it is truly a jewel. Despite the increasing activity, market prices remain low for town houses, condos and single family residences.

Spring is here, there are many job offerings posted about and combined with the Alberta leadership race in full swing the tension is positively high in the city.

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South West Edmonton: Cashflowing Two-Suiter in Queen Alexandra

Turbo charge your portfolio. Upgraded 1960 built legal 2-plex with separate entrance to lower suite. 2 stylishly finished suites; 1200 sqft upper 3 bedroom unit with beautiful oak floors, plus a spacious 3 bedroom 1000 sqft. suite down. The upper suite has new dishwasher, ceramic bathroom and fresh paint. There is a common laundry room in basement too. The lower unit has new laminate, carpet, some newer windows. The home has 2 furnaces and 2 electric meters. There is a shared fenced yard and a 2 car detached garage with automatic door and opener, bringing in additional revenue. 10 minutes to NAIT, Grant MacEwan and Downtown. Fast access to the Yellowhead and 137th Ave., and on the bus routes. These pictures show the detail and care that went into building this quality home.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Convenient North central area with easy access to transit and downtown. Established neighborhood featuring strong rental base; solid value and stable rents. HUGE upside potential due to the great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this home in relation to Edmonton's improving downtown area.

Produces $261.61 positive cash flow per month using an investor's mortgage plan - taking advantage of current low rates.


Purchase price: $335K Total Investment: $79,467K. Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $41,158K. Your pre-tax Total ROI is 52% or 10.4% per year + $261.61 Cash Flow

Poised for massive growth. These 2 suites rent for top dollar and have everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: impeccable tenant selection, financial analysis, professional inspection, insurance, financing set-up, legal fees, basic accounting, reserve fund, CMA, bi-annual statements, strategic market planning to ensure successful entry and exit, plus much more!

=========================

Lamphier: Resource Sector's Bright Ideas Power Canada's Economy

By Gary Lamphier, Edmonton Journal, April 3rd, 2012

EDMONTON - High-tech is hip. Energy, mining, farming, forestry and fishing? Not so much.

High-tech has cool corporate stars like um, Research In Motion, Smart Technologies and Ballard Power.

The resource sector? It has creaky ‘old economy’ dinosaurs like Suncor, Barrick and Potash Corp. that just make bags of money, year in and year out.

High-tech boasts trendy young gazillionaires like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Larry Page. Resource firms are run by a bunch of stuffy old guys in boring grey suits.

Innovation? Clearly, that only happens in the world of high-tech, which is obsessed with discovering The Next Big Thing, and seems to espouse far higher ideals than mere money grubbing.

GRAB THIS STORY



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Alberta Economic Snapshot For March 31st, 2012

By Troy Media, March 31st, 2012

CALGARY, AB, Mar. 31, 2012, Troy Media – The average wage earned by employees in Alberta is quite uneven across sectors, accounting for variations in education and training, as well as the demand within the specific industry for skilled workers.

But the rate at which earnings are increasing also shows some big differences across the sectors – and often the biggest jumps are for those already earning the most.

Workers in the oil and gas sector not only have the highest weekly earnings, but these workers have seen one of the biggest jumps over the past five years. In January 2007, they earned on average $1,459 per week; but in January 2012, they raked in $2,061 per week – an increase of 41.3 per cent.

READ MORE HERE

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Manufacturing Data Spurs Market Gains

By Kim Covert, Post Media News. April 3rd, 2012
Resources and energy led the gains on Canada's benchmark stock index on Monday after better-than-expected manufacturing data from China and the U.S. supported confidence in a strengthening global economy.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained 114.88 points, or 0.93%, at 12,507.06. Nine of the 10 sub-indexes advanced, led by materials, up 1.55%, health, which rose 1.41%, and energy, which gained 1.11%.

"The numbers that came out (Monday) are surprisingly better than most people were thinking," Gerry Brockelsby, a money manager at Marquest Asset Management Inc. in Toronto, told Bloomberg. "This is just confirmation that China is OK, and if concerns fade, people will get more and more positive about the global economy, which we think is in great shape and improving."

FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE
===============

I appreciate all your calls and emails. I'm looking forward to helping you with your next step towards building real wealth.

Your success continues EVERYDAY, let me help you build for tomorrow.

"Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort." -Paul J. Meyer

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar


===SPECIAL NOTICE: NO CASH, BUT GOOD CREDIT? CALL US TODAY TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN OWN INVESTMENT PROPERTY===

P.S. Stay ahead by checking out Danielle's daily blog at Edmonton Real Estate Investor for all your cutting edge market news and information.

P.P.S. Don’t forget to visit our website and take advantage of the Resource Tools and product section including REIN's #1 real estate books and Quick Start homestudy sets at a discount. Get your copy of the Canadian Success Stories book and the 2010-2014 Top Ten Investment Towns of Alberta and Ontario.



Thursday, April 12, 2012

I feel physically ill...

This poor landlord had $16,000 worth of damage done to her rental property. It's not uncommon:

here - a kind neighbor wrote and told him of the damage. Give neighbours your info.
here - the LANDLORD was charged $5k for the grow-op.. what?
here - poor lady, the photographer really got the feeling in the broken window photo
and here - professionals do it too! Don't think a tenant with a good job will protect your house.

Although $16k is at the higher end I myself have seen a $32k repair job - amazing how much water damage one apple in a toilet can do.

The thing about the Residential Tenancy Act in Alberta is we can't take more than 1 months rent as the security deposit. Inevitably damages are more than that. Ever tried to hire a handyman in a boom economy?

Although this landlord admits she is to fault for not doing the proper due diligence (sadly she didn't at all) there should be better ( I mean harder hitting) recourse for landlords. These tenants are great at looking normal, saying the right things and getting you to buy their story. Just make sure your story is stronger than theirs.

Their story "my car died and then I got fired and my cat stole my bank card......"
My story "I need the rent money now or I start the eviction process"

Is Vancouver this great?

This is a hilarious comparison between what $890k will get you in Ireland and Vancouver. I don't know - a burnt out building in East Van or THIS. Vancouver is a nice city but not THAT nice. I think it's a little dreary with the rain and frankly wreaks havoc on a curly girls hair.

Monday, April 02, 2012

What they won't tell you will hurt you

Alberta Oil Sands Investment Real Estate News®
Glenn Simon Inc., Suite 1217, 5328 Calgary Trail NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Tel 1-888-780-5940 Fax 1-888-276-4517
www.glennsimoninc.com email: info@glennsimoninc.com


April 2nd., 2012
Volume 12, Issue 3

Dear Friends and Partners,

What 'they' won't tell you will hurt you. If that 'they' is the knowledgeable people you love, in your center of influence. Otherwise, you don't need to hear it.

Do you notice that whenever you read blogs or articles where people can comment that 99% of the time (if the article gets any form of traffic that is) that the comments quickly turn into a ridiculous (blame based) argument? The story might be about how baby Vicky received a heart transplant and there is some joker with an off-the-wall negative comment to share that incites a flash-mob of angry readers (or perusers, more accurately) to battle.

Some articles are worth challenging and others not worth commenting on. What's more disgusting than the downward diatribe is the fact that I allow myself (albeit rarely) to get sucked in! Usually I skip the comments altogether, but sometimes I get suckered and reluctantly give up 5-10 minutes like a wad of bills to a belligerent panhandler. Now I'm not encouraging you to prove me right and go and read a bunch of crappy, negative comments on the web - but to stop and think about who and what, values to you.

Your Aunt Martha might have a ton of sage advice when it comes to being a single, employed Mom, and rearing kind, generous children; but she might not know a thing about using a HELOC to make improvements in your kitchen and bathroom before you list your home to sell. My point being? Take some (not all) the advice you need from the experts in your life or the experts in the greater circle around you (books, speakers, teachers, etc.) and use it.

Listen to LESS, or better yet NONE, of the noise from 'unqualified' people around you. Making this one shift in your day will reap benefits of time and positive energy that if used well, will earn dividends in the areas you need it most.



South West Edmonton: Cashflowing Two-Suiter in Queen Alexandra

Turbo charge your portfolio. Upgraded 1960 built legal 2-plex with separate entrance to lower suite. 2 stylishly finished suites; 1200 sqft upper 3 bedroom unit with beautiful oak floors, plus a spacious 3 bedroom 1000 sqft. suite down. The upper suite has new dishwasher, ceramic bathroom and fresh paint. There is a common laundry room in basement too. The lower unit has new laminate, carpet, some newer windows. The home has 2 furnaces and 2 electric meters. There is a shared fenced yard and a 2 car detached garage with automatic door and opener, bringing in additional revenue. 10 minutes to NAIT, Grant MacEwan and Downtown. Fast access to the Yellowhead and 137th Ave., and on the bus routes. These pictures show the detail and care that went into building this quality home.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Convenient North central area with easy access to transit and downtown. Established neighborhood featuring strong rental base; solid value and stable rents. HUGE upside potential due to the great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this home in relation to Edmonton's improving downtown area.

Produces $261.61 positive cash flow per month using an investor's mortgage plan - taking advantage of current low rates.


Purchase price: $335K Total Investment: $79,467K. Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $41,158K. Your pre-tax Total ROI is 52% or 10.4% per year + $261.61 Cash Flow

Poised for massive growth. These 2 suites rent for top dollar and have everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: impeccable tenant selection, financial analysis, professional inspection, insurance, financing set-up, legal fees, basic accounting, reserve fund, CMA, bi-annual statements, strategic market planning to ensure successful entry and exit, plus much more!


===============
Alberta Booming Again: RBC

GDP Up 4.7% Last Year, And Momentum Likely To Last

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald March 21, 2012

Alberta's economy underwent a remarkable expansion last year, with real GDP growth estimated at 4.2 per cent, "flashing unmistakable signs" that the provincial economy is booming once again, says RBC Economics.

In its latest provincial outlook report released Tuesday, RBC says the momentum is expected to continue. It forecasts real GDP growth of 3.9 per cent in both 2012 and 2013.

"Alberta's economy is firing on all cylinders, with real GDP growth in 2011 climbing above the four-per-cent mark, the highest it's been since 2006. We anticipate that this pace will be largely sustained over the next few years," Craig Wright, senior vice-president and chief economist for RBC, said in a statement.

READ MORE HERE

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Oil Sands Sector Could Reap Big Benefits In Alberta Election

By Claudia Cattenco, Financial Post, March 23rd, 2012

A heated provincial election is in the air in Alberta, two strong women are fighting for the top job and the oil industry and its sugar daddies are being courted for financial and political support.

It’s a sharp U-turn from the days of former premier Ed Stelmach, who picked an acrimonious fight with the sector to squeeze a greater share of its revenue through higher royalties.

But the oil love fest was in full display this week, as Alison Redford, the new Tory Premier of Alberta, made a strategic stop in Calgary before an audience of 600 senior oil and gas industry leaders where she vowed to “stand up for your interests” and not “let you down.”

Ms. Redford, who replaced Mr. Stelmach in a leadership contest last fall, is expected to call the election as soon as Monday, paving the way for an April 23 vote.

“I know you will surpass our expectations,” Ms. Redford gushed at the glittering event organized by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers to recognize industry initiatives that improve environmental, social, health and safety performance.

“As an industry, we thank you for putting your best foot forward.”

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===============
Edmonton's PCL Aims For Record $7.3B in Billings

By Gary Lamphier, Edmonton Journal. March 21, 2012
EDMONTON — When Paul Douglas took over the top job at PCL Construction in 2009, the global economy was just starting to recover from the deepest slump since the 1930s.

But since the construction sector often continues to languish long after an economic rebound takes hold, Douglas knew that PCL’s troubles were just beginning.

Indeed, after years of spectacular growth, the Edmonton-based construction giant — Canada’s largest builder — was heading straight into a brick wall.

The collision came in 2010, when PCL’s billings (project revenues) shrank by 19 per cent and its profits fell by more than 35 per cent, compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, PCL’s backlog of new work, which had soared in the years leading up to the 2008-2009 recession, was stalled at $5.3 billion, 25 per cent below the 2007 record high of $7.1 billion.

For Douglas, who was carefully groomed for the top job at PCL after more than 20 years in management, year one in the corner office proved to be a bit of a cold shower.

FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

===============

I appreciate all your calls and emails. I'm looking forward to helping you with your next step towards building real wealth.

Your success continues EVERYDAY, let me help you build for tomorrow.

"When prosperity comes, do not use all of it." -Confucius

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar


===SPECIAL NOTICE: NO CASH, BUT GOOD CREDIT? CALL US TODAY TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN OWN INVESTMENT PROPERTY===

P.S. Stay ahead by checking out Danielle's daily blog at Edmonton Real Estate Investor for all your cutting edge market news and information.

P.P.S. Don’t forget to visit our website and take advantage of the Resource Tools and product section including REIN's #1 real estate books and Quick Start homestudy sets at a discount. Get your copy of the Canadian Success Stories book and the 2011 Top Ten Investment Towns of Alberta and Ontario.