Edmonton Real Estate Investor: How to invest in real estate in Canada

Here’s a question – “Should real estate investors be sitting on the sideline in 2012, or are the Alberta market conditions right for taking action?”

Each year, REIN™ answers this question, (and hundreds more) by revealing to thousands of Canadians like you, the precise research and action steps you need to make today’s real estate market conditions work in your favour.

Introducing... The Authentic Canadian Real Estate (ACRE™) Program -- Your Quick Start Guide to Investing in Income-Producing Real Estate Click here To Find Out More

Presented Live by Canada’s #1 Best Selling Real Estate Author, Investor & Researcher, Don R. Campbell, this is the Canadian real estate investment bootcamp that you can’t afford to miss!

Gary Lamphier of the Edmonton sun recounts 10 Lessons to Learn from the Great Recession. It's focused reading and informative and he does a great job of summing them up.

I have 5 things I learned from the global recession of 2008:

1. Keep a cash reserve - you need a reserve that can be accessed whenever you need it. Hopefully it will be large. A line of credit is the obvious choice it should be set up long before you need it because we all know banks don't give out money to the needy. You have to prove you can pay it back.

2. Keep your costs as low as possible - Don't spend on anything superfluous. Unless it's improving property value or reducing tenant turnover - you don't need it. I think this way for my own home too! It's comfortable but I'm not getting into consumer debt without seriously thinking about it.

3. Expect to pay more than you are - We ride the variable and can handle the thrill. Mortgage rates went to historical lows but if I buy my properties expecting to pay 5, 6 or 7% they are able to survive any rate fluctuations and consistently produce cashflow. These low rates are not here to stay bank on them being higher and give your portfolio an excellent buffer. Do this with every expense you have related to your investment - build a buffer (see number 1)

4. Never over leverage - Leverage is what makes real estate an incredible investment but if you get too leveraged you're on thin ice. You can easily find investments that will produce well with 80% loan to value. Sure it's great to save some cash and get a 90% or 95% LTV but if rates go up and your mortgage payments are higher than your rental income you'll have some serious trouble with negative cashflow.

5. This too shall pass - You might get wiped out - it does happen but what are you going to do? Give up? Robert Kiyosaki said 9 out of 10 businesses fail. Be prepared to fail and try again. The knowledge you learn in a economic crisis is what makes you an expert. You'll know how to protect yourself in the future. Failure is the best education you can get.

“Interest Rates About To Jump...  Housing Bubble Fears... Post Olympic Hangover... And Now They Change The Mortgage Financing Rules. How Can An Investor Ever Win?

The Truth Is:
 A Select Group Of Informed Investors Are  Smiling and Excited About All Of This Turmoil... 
While The Majority Huddle In Fear Confused By All The Mixed Signals

Discover How YOU Can Be Smiling (and Profiting From) All Of This Turmoil From Canada’s Most Trusted Source of Unbiased Real Estate And Economic Research

Brian was one of my first international partners. He'd been based in Japan for four years working for a large software company from the U.S. We met on the 42nd floor of the Tokyo Park Hyatt , where the view was so stunning you'd think the city never ended, during a small international investment seminar where I was one of the guest speakers. The event was real estate specific and the primary content was targeted at international property purchases. I hadn't yet presented and was taking in the other speakers, many of whom were selling sunsets, seascapes and glitzy downtown London high rises.

Between delicate bites of bluefin tuna—which arrived fresh from Tsukiji market that morning—and sips of Shizuoka iced matcha, Brian asked me what I thought about the event. He commented that the Thailand land offer looked good and asked me my opinion on whether it was a "good deal" or not. I wasn't surprised by Brian's direct question. But what does shock me is how arbitrarily some folks can make their investment decisions.

I replied in a lighthearted way that spending my money on sunsets and sandy beaches is what I do when I'm on holiday, not when I plan and weigh out an investment option. Sunsets sizzle, and when we imagine the lifestyle associated with them, emotion takes hold and reason leaves the room.

Now, that's not to say there aren't great places to invest that are also visually appealing paradises; there are. However, they require the same kind of homework that I do on my property investments, target towns and provinces.

Read more - why sunsets don't equal big cheques

This weekend is the REIN ACRE weekend. Don't miss this incredible workshop that will change your life and how you look at the real estate investment market in your area and in Canada.

Best selling author Don R. Campbell, mortgage wizard Peter Kinch and many other industry leaders will be there to help you see the opportunity that lies in the ups and downs of the current real estate market.

Peter Kinch says:
"Where will the market go from here? Is it too late to make money in real estate? What will happen with interest rates? How will the new rule changes affect me? Asking the question is the easy part - getting unbiased answers is the hard part. If you want to know how to get the straight goods without a hidden agenda, then the REIN ACRE weekend with Don R. Campbell is a must attend event. This is NOT a 'get rich quick - 'How to buy with Nothing Down 'free' seminar' - that will end up costing you thousands down the road. Don and his team will teach real estate fundamentals that will educate you on how to buy real estate in any market."

Sign up now for the ACRE Live March 13th and 14th

This Canadian specific program took us from 2 rental properties to almost 50 doors in 6 years. I fully stand by the information provided, the people you meet and the inspiration you get. Take the first steps to your financial freedom! It's absolutely the greatest Canadian real estate investment program ever.

“Interest Rates About To Jump...  Housing Bubble Fears... Oil Prices are Up & Down... And Now They Change The Mortgage Financing Rules.

The Truth Is:  A Select Group Of Informed Investors Are  Smiling and Excited About All Of This Turmoil... 

While The Majority Huddle In Fear Confused By All The Mixed Signals
Discover How YOU Can Be Smiling (and Profiting From) All Of This Turmoil From Canada’s Most Trusted Source of Unbiased Real Estate And Economic Research

This Special Event Will Be The Lighthouse Showing
The Way In The Current Economic Fog…

Providing Direction to You & Your Family

No Hype, All Facts –
A Weekend Full of Real Life Results

Sign up now for the incredible event No Hype, All Facts –

A Weekend Full Event: REIN™ ACRE™
Program  Location: Edmonton All Day Sat & Sun.
March 13th & 14th Times: Sat 8:30am - 7:00pm, & Sun 8:30 am - 7:00pm 
Tuition: Regular $787 You attend for only $587+gst
 Your Guest Attends With You For Only $387+gst
It’s Easy To Register  (and Instantly Receive Your Early-Bird Bonuses)

This is the final part in our 4 part series Fear and the Investor. If you haven't yet go back and read Types of fear, Get educated and Get into action.

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy" Dale Carnegie

Make your plan and work back from it. First a 5 year plan, then break it down to 1 Year, then 1 month and then one day - today. These are your baby steps towards running.

I didn't say all this was going to be a walk in the park. In an upbeat market, there is less to fear. In an unstable market your biggest obstacle is also your greatest advantage - your mindset. Once you have adjusted your mind for success this new psychology will take over and guide you. Every supposed failure holds a success within it, as long as you learn from it. The better educated you are, the easier it is to identify potential risks and take advantage of opportunities and by doing that you'll lead a happier and more relaxed life.

Many folks get stuck before they start in the analysis-paralysis stage. Don't let that person be you.

No one ever bought a property they didn't make an offer on!

Most importantly set a time to get into action, i.e. within the next 60 days, after reading 2 books and contacting 2 investment professionals etc.

5 Great easy "get-started" actions:

1. Get a book on investing from the library.
2. Call a investor friendly Realtor and ask to buy some of their time and knowledge for lunch. Not everyone will do this but it's a great insight into the market.
3. Follow properties on the MLS learn prices for areas and property types
4. Work the numbers on a property. You can pick a property online and see how different scenarios affect cashflow, mortgage payments and sale.
5. Listen to free online or tele-seminars - they are everywhere!

Set a time and DO IT!

There are a million coulda, woulda, shouldas out there that spend their time pontificating about the market or why things won't work out. Shut out these negatrons or risk being pulled out by the tide of mediocrity.

A lot of money is floating around with no where to grow. People are disillusioned by the stock market by paper assets and many conventional ways of investing. Thinking about real estate but not sure what city to invest in or where to get the most bang for your investment buck?

Check out REIN's Top Ten Canadian Towns to invest in. Based on thousands of hours of research learn where, why and when to invest in real estate.

We've used this information for the past 8 years to improve our investing strategies and bring our joint venture investors returns of 100% on their initial investment!

It's worth it! Click here to get your copy.