Edmonton Real Estate Investor

Your mom is a ......?

We put an ad on Facebook to show how people can use offshore mortgages to invest in Real Estate. In response this email came through my site. Someone clearly doesn't like negatively geared advertising - " Don't Read This.." etc. I blanked out the "bad" words.

The funny part is THEY READ THE AD, CLICKED it and FILLED out the questionnaire - yeah it doesn't work at all!

I'm bombarded by ads all the time. We try to make our ads as constructive as possible. The follow up content is always relevant. If you re-acted like this to every ad that you came across I imagine you would be wrapped up in a straitjacket - as this person clearly is.

I had to laugh at this little person's anger.

Name: Your Mom
Email: Is_a_whore@my.house.com
Phone: (555)EAT-"#$%%
Location: Your grandmother's grave, peeing on it.
How did you hear about us: Facebook
Topic: Don't read this!
Comments: DON'T READ THIS! YOU ARE AN IDIOT. THIS FORM OF ADVERTISING IS FOR DUMB #$%&'. THIS IS NOT MYSPACE. PEOPLE ARE NOT RETARDED. YOU CLEARLY ARE. IF YOU WANT TO GAIN CUSTOMERS IN THIS KIND OF MARKET, DON'T TREAT THEM LIKE "#$%&'$ MORONS. STOP THIS FAGGERY-DAGGERY-DOO IMMEDIATELY. YOU MAKE ME VERY ANGRY. STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT NOW. FOR %$#$ SAKE, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE. YOUR #$%''&& ADS ARE NOT CLEVER OR INTERESTING. THEY ARE UTTER AND COMPLETE #$%& AND YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.

SINCERELY,

GO #$%& YOURSELF.
Do you want to receive our newsletter: No

I know this is last week's news but I just came across it. Fidel Castro is very angry with Edmonton because 2 teenage players from the Cuban baseball team defected during an international junior baseball tournament in the city.

"Edmonton has become a dumping ground," "The Cuban athletes were badly taken care of. That city has the privilege of hosting that championship every year. We should analyze whether it is worth attending that tournament." Fidel Castro

Unfortunately the leader believes the defection has caused Cuba to lose 5 Gold medals in the Beijing Olympics that start today.

To soothe Castro's ruffled feathers, mayor Stephen Mandel has offered him a free flight to Edmonton so he can experience the beauty of the city and see that we

"I'm not sure Castro can really have a handle on Edmonton since he's never been here," Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel

Read Article Here

We went to our last Papa Mama class to prepare for the delivery. I can tell you it was NOTHING like you would get in North America. It's my first child but if child birth classes are like this in Canada I would have heard about it!

We watched a very dark home birth video with a woman faintly groaning in the distance and then a baby popped out from under a red blanket. It had absolutely nothing to do with the actual birth that most people in the class will experience as we have all chosen a city hospital. I guess it was just a "this could be you scenario??".

The highlight was when the midwife, a lovely lady, put on special shorts that had a simulated vagina in the crotch, laid on the floor and showed us from 4 different angles how the baby will look when it comes out. I hope she is getting paid a lot. Todd and I didn't know where to look but our eyes kept straying to the frilly pink material sewn between her legs.

Last but not least and mildly interesting is that when women in Japan decide to eat their placenta they eat it raw with a bit of wasabi and soy sauce. It's buttery texture and rich flavor is compared to "BASASHI" or horse meat sashimi - which is actually quite delicious.

Temptation fleeted across my mind but only that.

I was delighted to see that Don R. Campbell updated his blog recently. The newest post shows how to be a successful investor rather than a statistic on the MLS - care about your tenants.

"That means that the absolute first step in becoming a sophisticated real estate investor is to begin to think of your tenants as clients or customers. Without them you do not have a successful business no matter how hard you work or how many properties you own. Change your thought paradigm from tenant to customer and your marketing and business opportunities will begin to grow exponentially." Don R. Campbell

REIN (Real Estate Investment Network) actually has a series of publications that help you rent your properties and treat your tenants in a way that keep you the most tenanted and talked about property on the block.

If you are thinking of relocating in Canada and need some help deciding where to start a new phase of your life then Money Sense's "Canada's Best Places To Live List" might help you out.

"Money Sense's third annual list of Canada's Best Places to Live is designed to help you measure as many different aspects of a community as possible. You can use our findings in several ways. Perhaps you're planning to relocate. Perhaps you're looking to invest in real estate. Maybe you simply want to know how your community stacks up against its neighbors. Whatever your situation, we've got the facts you need." Money Sense

The list is based on 4 main categories: prosperity, affordable housing, weather and air quality and lifestyle which are further broken down into three or four sub-divisions.

Frankly, as they themselves state in their report, there are many places that seem to have higher rank than they deserve, one clear thing is that this is not a list I would base investments on. Lifestyle maybe.

Excel Chart
Read Article

I get the Women's Hour Podcast from BBC and throughly enjoy listening to it whenever I'm driving in my car. I was surprised to hear that the Alberta government went to the U.K to entice immigration to Canada. It's a short snippet and the link will probably expire in 7 days but if you care to listen here it is.

Listen to BBC Women's Hour

Business and Real Estate
How To Invest In Real Estate In The Alberta, Canada Oil Sands - "As a result of record high oil prices, mining oil from the sands of Canada has become a huge industry, which directly affects real estate in the region. This article will explain how you can invest smartly in the real estate of the oil-rich region of Alberta, Canada."

Great tips to get into this market especially now that there are so many deals.

$1.4B deal spurs construction on next leg of Anthony Henday - "We believe this road will actually handle the growth of the city, the population growth of the city, the traffic growth of the city for the next 30 to 40 years," Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette

We all know that improved transportation improves housing prices buy up to 20% in surrounding areas. We are already increasing our holdings in this area.

Edmonton's jobless rate 3.7 per cent - "Despite some of the softer economic numbers Alberta has seen over the past few months - weaker retail sales, lower housing starts etc. - the employment picture remains very bright."

"More than anything else, a strong labour market will support economic growth and consumer confidence in the second half of 2008." ATB Financial chief economist Todd Hirsch

Things will pick up in the second half of 2008 and we'll see some real gains in 2009.

Festivals and Fun - It's summer so why not?

Edmonton's Heritage Festival a cultural treat - "Edmontonians are in for a cultural treat this August long weekend at the 33rd annual Servus Heritage Festival at Hawrelak Park.

The event, described by executive director Jack Little as "the largest multicultural festival in the world in one physical location", runs from Saturday to Monday and features food, entertainment, and arts and crafts from 62 different countries representing more than 75 cultures."

Edmonton Festivals Add To Your Summer Experience -

Edmonton Folk Music Festival - August 7-10, 2008 - Location: Gallagher Park - For more information go to: www.edmontonfolkfest.org

Edmonton International Fringe Festival - August 14-24, 2008 - Location: Old Strathcona historic district - For more information go to: www.fringetheatreadventures.ca

For more information on our festivals or other Edmonton attractions check out www.festivalcity.ca.

Todd has had another article published with Nu Wire investor. If you can see past all the bad news and media hype there are many, many excellent investments to be bought in Alberta now and even if you go further afield in the USA. This article is a basic outline on how to buy a good property in a falling market - I should clarify that Alberta is a buyer's market not a falling one!

"There is no doubt that it is more difficult to profit from a falling real estate market in the short term. However, some of the most successful real estate investors in the world made their money by buying when everyone else said to sell. While the overall market is declining, there are still countless opportunities for great returns if you look in the right places and time your purchase well. This article will give you enough simple tips to determine whether it's time to start buying or keep looking. Regardless of market or region, you'll learn how to love the opportunity that a slow market creates." Read Article Here

A buyer's market and a flood of listings in the Edmonton, Alberta area leaves stuck homeowners unable to sell. Alberta investment company helps property owner get out of investments they don't want to be in with innovative buying techniques.

Read Article Here

As former investors we were invited to Walton's opening of their Tokyo office last night. Actually this is the second time they've had an office in Tokyo but the first one closed about 3 or 4 years ago.

We watched a presentation on Walton's goals for the future, enjoyed a buffet dinner, Taiko drumming and a performance by a western band. The event was interesting but I feel that Walton missed some prime chances to impress on their clients WIIFM (What's In It For Me). Nowadays people don't care how long your company has been around or what your plans are for the future; they want to know how it affects their returns. They completely focused on WMCIG (Why My Company Is Great) not customer centric enough in my opinion.

It was a fine enough evening and we were lucky to meet some interesting people who had invested in Alberta or were aware of the oil sands.

The Conference Board of Canada has released it's 5 year outlook for Canada. Alberta performs superlatively in all areas.

Economic Growth - Alberta will be surpassed only by Saskatchewan in 2008 but from 2009 to 2012 Alberta will lead the nation, including Saskatchewan, by a solid percentage point

Population Growth - In 2008 Alberta will lead the nation by a full 2% at 2.5%. The closest contender is Saskatchewan at 1.4%

Unemployment Rates - No surprise here Alberta has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada and beats Ontario, Saskatchewan and B.C by a huge margin.

Personal Income per Capita - Albertans enjoy a $10,000 spread over the rest of the nation. Although they may feel that things are tough they are the richest Canadians with the best prospects.

To download your own copy go to the Conference Board of Canada website great reading when you can't sleep!

"The energy sector, and the related services to it, are the prime drivers of office space demand in the downtown core without question,"

"We're also seeing growth in the financial services sector as well. And we're seeing a lot of interest as the capital budgets continue to increase for not only conventional, but also oilsands related development, and the staggering budgets for those projects. The financial services sector is also increasingly looking, from frankly around the world, (to locate) branches here and increasing the size of the offices they have here." Richard Pootmans, business development manager of real estate for Calgary Economic Development.

So the market isn't totally in the dumps (I don't believe it is and this is further proof to the point) if you are buying in the right sector. I am sure as Calgary's office space starts to feel the pinch Edmonton's market will pick up.

Read Article Here

Canada relies on immigration to keep the economy and country functioning. Since Alberta is the economic powerhouse of the country tens of thousands of skilled workers are heading west to find their fortune in the booming oil industry

"Workers holding Canadian skilled worker visas have been highlighted as a driving force behind the recent population growth seen in Alberta, according to new research. The study, by Statistics Canada, shows an inflow of immigrants, refugees and temporary foreign workers has turned the province into the country's fastest growing, reports the Calgary Herald." Canadian Visa Bureau

Of course new immigrants mean a steady stream of renters and as they grow to love the Canadian way of life eventual home buyers.

If the prospect of living in Canada appeals to you then fill one of these online assessments

Canada should play big role in new world oil order -"This is good from an energy security perspective. However, the increasing attention to climate change, and the very fact that the Canadian oilsands in general have higher carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional oil is a significant problem for Canada,"

"And I think more and more work is needed to make use of this very important oilsands in an environmentally friendly way."

"He said oilsands production could reach as high as 10 per cent of total world supplies - significant but not enough to alter the so-called new world order. " IEA chief economist Fatih Birol

10% of the world's supplies IS significant if you think that it is coming from Canada a country whose population is just over 31,000,000. With the oil sands producing most of the oil in Canada that brings the focus to a province with a population of 3,000,000 looks like the economy will be quite good there.

Hot-cold house sales steadying - "By the end of the year, Edmonton could get something it hasn't seen for several years -- a "normalized" housing market, as homes for sale dry up and prices drop..."

"The high inventory levels will dwindle into the second half of the year, and as affordability improves, subsequent market conditions will continue to normalize," House Price Survey and Market Survey Forecast by Royal LePage Real Estate Services.

So by 2009 we should see prices completely leveling out with rises anticipated for the year.

Edmonton cultural venues get $6.5 million - "This investment in Edmonton's thriving arts district will help these facilities continue to showcase Edmonton's and Alberta's arts and cultural community for generations to come."

"The Alberta government gave $2.4 million to the Citadel, and $500,000 to the Winspear. The City of Edmonton is contributing an additional $3.6 million to the Citadel."

Edmonton is turning into a world class city with a fantastic arts infrastructure.

New City Website Calculates Carbon Footprint -"For anyone who has ever wanted to know how much a flight to Europe really costs, or the net worth of a daily 25-minute commute, City Hall is offering new answers online.

An element of the city's website launched this afternoon allows residents to calculate their environmental footprints.

A carbon calculator - found by visiting www.edmonton.ca/ecovision - works out the total cost of everyday activities by tonnes of carbon used."

Every Google alert I got today was about "spiraling" house prices or the Canadian real estate market hitting the brakes. After scanning quite a few they all boiled down to a 5% drop in housing prices in Alberta, leveling in Vancouver and Ottawa saying no to 40 year mortgages.

Vancouver was bubbly for a long time with the never ending condo market and the incredible lack of affordability, Ottawa and Ontario are suffering high dollar blues and Alberta is leveling out after an incredible increase that threatened to erode affordability.

If you own a home and aren't trying to sell then no problem, if you own investment property then keep it rented and make sure it's covering the bills. However, if you are trying to sell now then you have some pretty bad timing! Why not wait a year, try and make your property cash flow then put it on the market??

"It's being invested for the future in a way that will help Alberta take meaningful action on climate change without endangering jobs, the economy or our ability to support public services," Ed Stelmach on $4Billion set aside to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Alberta oil sands have had some pretty bad knocks in the press recently. Alberta is leading the world in recycling and consistently strives to improve it's image as a source of clean oil. This new allotment of serious funds will help to show the world that Alberta is taking climate change seriously.

When you're pregnant your body temperature increases and so a mere 34C day feels like a 40C day. Never mind that you are usually carrying around quite a few extra pounds - 16 in my case.

Since rainy season officially ended last Wednesday I have been housebound trying to avoid the brutal sun and just keep rested. This seems like the hottest summer I have ever lived through in my life! Next pregnancy I will definitely do over winter - plus it will be an new adventure.

When I said I wanted to go to the ocean this year for Obon everyone said it would be impossible, now I see why. New plan is Nikko for a cool mountain stay!

No real estate today!

If I reacted to everything that was reported in the news I would be a nervous wreck. Sensation sells and if we were told, "Oh don't worry about it - markets have blips all the time..." then no one would be a newspaper or read the news.

On that note Canada lost 6,000 jobs in June:

"We wouldn’t make too much of a one-month dip in employment --- that can happen even in the middle of a boom. However, the jobless rate continues to gradually grind higher --- now up 0.4 percentage points since its three-decade low at the start of the year --- while full-time employment growth is clearly fading. The slow slackening in the labour market may start to take some of the steam out of wages, which would be a moderate relief to the Bank of Canada’s inflation concerns. The Bank was anticipating slow growth this year, and these figures are hardly shockingly weak, so it won’t do much to alter their bigger view." Douglas Porter, BMO Capital Markets

I chose this one specifically because he stressed that one month is irrelevant in the big picture. To read more takes on the same subject from all the major bank's analysts in Canada CLICK HERE.

"CBRE's second quarter 2008 report says investment sales volume year-to-date was $1.65 billion, compared to $2.2 billion for all of last year. The numbers show "continued investment confidence" in the Calgary real estate market, said Bruce Irvine, vice-president of business development and retention for Calgary Economic Development. " Click Here

The reason is Alberta and Calgary and, yes, Edmonton have great economic fundamentals. The article states that Alberta has "mojo" and is the shining star of the Canadian economy.

Funnily enough when talking to our Realtor and property manager (the on the ground team) the say the area is rife with pessimism and that many Albertans just can't see the Alberta Advantage. If you are someone that can see the advantage then you have a clairvoyance that can set you up for life.

Where others see crisis successful people see opportunity.

West Edmonton Mall used to have the largest everything, although it has lost a lot of it's superlative status it does once again have a biggest - The largest Apple store in Canada.
The opening saw 600 people lined up some as early as the day before.

I can only assume Apple feels that Edmonton ranks along with Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal as crucial sales points due to it's growing population and strong economy.

Click Here And Listen in to 90 minutes with Don Campbell as he breaks down what is REAL and what's not in real estate markets from B.C. to Ontario. You can even download the MP3, all for FREE!

Alberta and the oil sands get a pretty dirty rap from environmentalists. When you are running the biggest project on earth you are always under scrutiny and of course everyone has an opinion. Yet every month or so I find an article about how Alberta is leading the world environmentally one way or another.

"Edmonton will soon become the first city in the world to start turning its solid waste into liquid fuel.

The city has signed an agreement with two Canadian biofuel companies to build a plant that will take regular garbage out of landfills and turn it into ethanol.

Those behind the initiative are calling it a huge step towards sustainable, environmentally friendly energy. "

Although there is a lot of talk about ethanol and how we should be using it, why is an area that is getting so much flak leading the WORLD in this initiative? More action and less talk perhaps??

Find the full article here

Real estate meltdown? Not likely - "It's true that a few Canadian cities are showing much smaller price declines - Edmonton down by 4.9 per cent in the past year, Calgary down 2.4 per cent and Windsor down 5.5 per cent - but only in Windsor does this reflect economic distress. In Alberta, the price reversals look more like a hiccup after huge run ups.

So is Porter really suggesting that Canada's housing market is about to follow that of the U.S. down the drain? Apparently not, despite the provocative words. "No, we don't think we're headed for a U.S-style bust, said a colleague at BMO Capital Markets, senior economist Sal Guatieri."

Alberta's business owners optimistic - "Despite worrisome economic signs in the United States and Central Canada, optimism among Alberta businesses is rising, suggests a new provincial survey.

The business sentiments index, released Thursday by ATB Financial and the Western Centre for Economic Research, asked 403 companies across Alberta to gauge their opinion for the third quarter of 2008."

Alberta posts highest earnings growth - "Albertans continue to earn more than other Canadians, according to figures released Friday by Statistics Canada.

April figures show average weekly earnings for Albertans were $873.25, including overtime.

That's up six per cent from the same month last year -- the fastest growth in Canada."

First of all if you are trying to sell in Edmonton better make the deal pretty sweet because about 11,000 other properties are on the market looking for a new owner. To be frank I wouldn't sell now unless I had a pretty good reason.

If you are an investor then why not ride out the dip and wait for the low unemployment, high provincial in-migration and stupendous economy to see you right?

For those of you who are just trying to sell your home then this advice is quite useful:

"What about the seller? Should he despair? Not at all! Firstly, if, as is frequently the case, the seller is planning to buy a replacement home immediately upon selling, the difference that he can expect to pay remains relatively constant, regardless of the market condition. That is the precise reason to at least be in the market, and not on the sidelines.

To achieve a best-value sale in today’s market, the seller must face a number of realities that may not have been as critical to a successful sale over the past few years.

Realistic pricing tops the list. With much greater competition for fewer buyers, pricing even one or two per cent over market may dramatically reduce the chances of an offer. Testing the market with a higher price is not a great idea." Peter Dolezal

Living in a country where English is not the first language enforces a learning curve that you don`t get when you can communicate in your native tongue. When I came to Japan 6 years ago my Japanese extended to Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto courtesy of STYX's hit in the 80`s. I had to assimilate to live. Now that I can speak Japanese I look back on those days cringing at what passed for "speaking Japanese".

The same holds true for investing in Real Estate. I started investing 5 years ago, I read all the books, joined Cashflow circles and ventured boldly ready to make "deals". With all the information and opportunity available on the web it seemed mere months until I held my dream portfolio.

Boiling down my experiences to the purest essence. I have come up with 5 tips for Learning Another Language and corresponding tips for Purchasing Investment Real Estate. They surprisingly overlap!

5 Tips For Learning Another Language vs. 5 Tips for Purchasing Investment Real Estate

1. Never ever repeat words until you know the meaning - I once had a catchy tune that a few little boys were singing stuck in my head. They roared with joy when I repeated the song and sang along with them for the remainder of our time together. For the next few days I would alternately hum and sing the easily pronounced words feeling quite pleased that I had picked up the language. It wasn't until days later a concerned co-worker actually explained the meaning of the dirty ditty did I learn this valuable lesson.

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1. Do your own homework - It doesn't matter if the property you are looking at is in a great area and really cheap. You are responsible for your financial future. You must never take anything at face value. My mentor Don Campbell always says "What's behind the Curtain?" Research your property, the area where you are, go there at different times of the day. Research other houses on the block or in the area, How much did they sell for? Ask impartial realtors, lawyers and people in the know for their input then sift the results. In the end only you will be paying for your real estate negligence or reap the benefits of your diligence.

2. Mimic the language of people around you- A direct contradiction to my first tip! However you can be sure that if I had emulated my successful 60 year old business lady friend I would have been singing a different tune. In Japan especially, age and sex are very important in determining the type of speech you use. If you hang around 50 year old business men your Japanese will reflect that. So choose with care whose speech you emulate.

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2. Mimic successful people around you - Research the people in your area who are doing what you want to do. Find the multi-plex buyer and take him to lunch that meal could make you a millionaire or at least help you on your next deal. The best way to succeed at anything is to copy the people who are already successful at it. Most people who are successful want to give back and help people who are starting out.

3. Supplement a formal education- You CAN learn new languages by yourself. In fact I spent my first two years in Japan watching Japanese T.V. with a dictionary and notebook so that I could learn the colloquial Japanese. Speak what the real people speak. It paid off I have excellent listening comprehension and can converse readily on many t.v. celebrities and programs- a useful ice breaker. However, my spoken Japanese didn't really take off until I attended a formal language school. The teachers guided me around pitfalls and I could practice with people that spoke that language rather than talking to my T.V.

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3. Join an investment group and take seminars - Sure it costs money, sure there are scams out there. Some gurus only hold seminars to sell their products or courses. That is a chance you have to take but when you find the right group you will be connected to a wealth of experience, information and like minded people. I am a member of REIN- Real Estate Investing Network in Alberta. That allegiance has propelled my business like nitro in those cars in the Triple X movie series. My sphere of influence now includes best selling authors, people who hold millions of dollars in real estate and some of the best tax specialists, lawyers and Realtors in Canadian Real Estate. I have avoided some mistakes because someone in my group already made them and that resource was readily available to me.

4. Making mistakes makes you a better speaker - This only works if someone corrects you! If you don' t say anything then your speaking ability won't improve at all. In my first baby steps in learning the language I know I said some pretty far out things. Times when I wanted to say "This meal is delicious!" I came out with " I am delicious" or my favorite pointing to a little girl and saying "scary" when I meant to say "cute" actually it could have gone either way with that one. It happens but luckily I had friends who took me aside and pointed out the grammatical, pronunciation or syntax errors of my ways. Now I only say "I am delicious" when I want to.

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4. Making mistakes makes you a better investor - You cannot learn until you make a mistake. Granted you can have a mentor who helps you and guides you around the mines of investing. What you are getting there is the benefit of him or her making mistakes in the past. Babies don't walk without falling, bicycles aren't mastered without scraped knees and investors aren't made without those "Holy #&("! " deals. Be thankful for them. They are what separate the Trumps from the chumps.

5. Speak Speak Speak- Just do it. Talk to the grocer, the mailman, the neighbour and anyone who will humour you. It is learning by action. Immerse yourself in your new language. I listen to the NHK National Japanese Radio whenever my iPod's batteries die while I am driving. I watch Japanese T.V. and study in my free moments. And you know what? Sometimes I can speak Japanese pretty darn well.

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5. Just do it- Don't be a perpetual student. Go out there and invest. If you don't have the finances just look at properties on the MLS. It is free and you can quickly get a feel of the market and what is available. Using a city map you can compare market values for properties in the same neighbourhood, street or complex. If funds are low then partner with friends or other people who want to invest in the same area. You can always Joint Venture with a professional so that your first deal isn't so daunting.

With time you will be surprised at how far you have progressed in becoming a polyglot or an investor.

While Alberta only estimated for $1.6 Billion surplus this year it looks like high gas prices will bump that sum up another $10 Billion. Not exactly loose change you find in the couch.

One third of the funds will be alloted to savings while the other two thirds are to build and maintain capital projects. The main worry is that windfalls like these will be used up and when Alberta's non-renewable resources , oil-sands and natural gas, are depleted the big windfalls of the boom years will be only a distant memory.

To plan for future generations the province set up a provincially appointed Financial Investment and Planning Advisory Commission whose recommendations to the government on how it should invest petroleum riches for the future include long term savings plans.

"Make sure the money that is coming in at this time isn't just viewed as something that's good for the current generation..." Financial Investment and Planning Advisory Commission chairman Jack Mintz

When I hear people say that buying investment real estate is dangerous or risky it makes me wonder what could have happened to make them feel that way. Sometimes its a sour deal or bad tenants but more often than not it's who they bought the property with.

It's easier to buy a house if you split the down payment with a family member or friend but it's also a great way to ruin a perfectly good relationship. So how do you avoid the troubles that may come in purchasing together?

Excellent legal advice, a clear strategy and a clear separation between the private a business relationship is crucial.

"The most important thing is to do your planning," "A house is something that has an emotional tie to it, yet people want to go out and do things very quickly, especially if a real estate market is booming, and if you dawdle along you're not going to get that house you're after."

"What if one of them dies; what if one of them gets married; what if one of them takes a job transfer and moves out of province? You have to set out in advance what those what-ifs could be and try to document them into a co-ownership agreement. It could be a simple thing like who pays for some of the expenses." Investors Group financial planner Murray Pituley of Regina

IF you shudder at the idea of making a legal document with your brother, mother or friend then imagine what will happen when everything unravels and nobody has a clear idea of what should be happening

Alberta's economy is more diversified than it has every been however a large part of the booming economy is based on the oil sands. Depending too closely on harvesting and shipping resources could cause Alberta to miss other opportunities to sustain the province's incredible wealth.

The government of Alberta has launched a $178 million dollar strategy to help the province commercialize it's technological expertise built up through development of its oil and gas resources

"The Alberta government is serious about a future that is diversified, in order to create long-term prosperity in the province,.....It's important to build on our strengths in the resource sector, but technology is the key that can reach into every area of our economy." Premier Ed Stelmach

It's a great way to avoid relying on a non- renewable resource, no matter how many years of proven supply you have left.

Learn more about the strategy and to read the newsletter from the Alberta Council Of Technologies Click Here

Alberta Needs To Increase Presence Globally - "An Alberta government committee is recommending the province sell itself on a grander scale around the globe -- beyond its 10 current international offices -- by opening several new bureaus on four different continents."

Alberta currently has offices in Munich, London, Beijing, Hong Kong, Washington and Tokyo. It's incredible to imagine a province with so much to offer that it has 10 international offices promoting it.

Alberta Bitumen to reach 2 Billion Barrels by 2017 -"A new report by the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) reports that Alberta’s annual production of bitumen (oil sands) is forecast to increase to more than one billion barrels by 2017, more than two and a half times the amount produced in 2007."

All the oil sands require is a steady labour force and a labour force requires quality rental or single family properties. Real estate is a basic necessity that must be provided.

Alberta's Oil Called Dirty - "..Canadian officials said it doesn't really matter who wins the election; Alberta oil will continue to remain an important source of supply south of the border. Canada regularly alternates between Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Mexico as the No. 1 exporter to the world's largest oil consumer."

Canada is one of the few countries who joined the Kyoto Accord, remains one of the lowest producers of greenhouse emissions and Alberta is constantly improving it's environmental impact. However we have become a "hot environmental topic" for one of the biggest polluters in the world.

Alberta's Unemployment Rate Up But Still The Lowest - "Alberta's unemployment numbers nudged up slightly to 3.6 per cent in May, but the province still leads the nation with the lowest rate."

Calgary has the lowest unemployment rate and Edmonton has the fourth lowest in Canada.

As REIN members one of the best parts of belonging to a group of highly focused investors is that you constantly hear success stories that fuel you to reach your goals.

One story that has really inspired me can be found on the ONE LIFE blog spot. After three years of hard work and laser beam focus to their end results, this Canadian family was able to follow their dream of seven months sailing around the Caribbean and Bahamas.

The best part is all the wonderful things they do; from touring a nutmeg factory to scuba diving to burying a treasure chest to be unearthed in 20 years. Their journey seems like the perfect way to bring a family closer and really and truly spending quality time together.

It's a must read and so interesting you'll want to be booking a flight as soon as you leave the blog.

From Canada.com:

"How does a home that has been on the real-estate market for months suddenly sell for $100,000 over the asking price? The answer, according to a new HGTV series, is home staging, the art of neutralizing a home with upscale furniture and art to create a showroom perfect space. The Stagers exposes the high-pressure world of home staging, going behind the scenes at DEKORA, a leading Canadian home staging company.

The Stagers airs Tuesdays at 11 p.m. beginning July 1 on HGTV Canada."

I'll be sure to watch this because no sane seller would say no to $100k over the asking price.

I found this interesting article on Reuters about a savvy developer who is offering "Buy One Get One Free" on row houses in the San Diego area. With the purchase of a $1.6 M luxury home in the upscale city of Escondido in northern San Diego County, you can get a $400k row house for free! Great marketing and a gutsy way to improve your sales figures.

The townhouse aren't too shabby either- with four bedrooms, four baths, six car garages and swimming pools they aren't exactly sheds.

"We are targeting a niche market of investors who are interested in the opportunity to buy a new home for themselves and get a free rental property or second home for family members," developer Michael Crews

Read More Click Here

It's time to pick up a good (audio)book and get a dose of motivation. Sometimes if you have big goals there are moments when you really wonder if you will ever reach them, no matter how positive you are. My silver bullet at these times is my audible.com account.

Although I may not have time in my day to sit back and read a book, anytime I'm in my car I turn the drive into a seminar for motivation, sales tactics, marketing and business ideas.

Some great books I have heard recently (links open into Audible info pages):

How to Become a Rainmaker (Unabridged) Jeffrey J. Fox
Freakonomics (Unabridged) Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
It's Not About the Bike Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins
The Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell
Small Is the New Big Seth Godin
Made to Stick Chip and Dan Heath
Take Command Kelly Perdew

Tax hikes on the way for 2009, Edmonton council warns - As property tax bills land in mailboxes throughout Edmonton, city council is already warning that next year's bills will be at least nine per cent higher.

A city report released Wednesday estimates municipal taxes will need to be raised by at least 9.4 per cent to help cover the costs of running the booming city.

Wal-Mart doubling Alberta supercentres-"Alberta is a wonderful part of the country . . . and it's a wonderful place to do business," "It's always been one of our strongest markets." "your economy has been booming for a long time and with that strong economy it means even more growth and more demand for general merchandise and food." Andrew Pelletier, vice-president of corporate affairs for Wal-Mart Canada "This mean more jobs for Albertans"

Alberta Avenue gets a facelift - Alberta Avenue, the 27-block stretch of 118th Avenue north of downtown, is getting a facelift. Crews are beginning work on "streetscaping" five blocks of the avenue, putting in new road surfaces, new and wider sidewalks, new trees and better lighting. "Prices are sure to rise in this area as the gentrification starts"

Alberta can handle oil-price drop: economist - Companies are investing very prudently right now and can still make good money at $70 a barrel," said Peter Hall, economics vice-president of Export Development Canada. "So they are making great money at $124 a barrel."

Alberta oil sands have proven oil reserves that will and can supply oil for many major markets around the world. This video is very interesting and very well done.

Many Edmonton property owners found a gift of the 2008 tax assessment in their mailbox this week. Although the heavy envelopes probably weren't met with squeals of glee they will certain be more pleasant than what will hit your mailbox next year. Expect property taxes to increase by at least 9% in 2009

"This is … just maintaining existing levels. These are no extra frills. This is where we need to start," Coun. Kim Krushell on proposed tax increases to Edmonton property owners.

The growing city requires a lot of money to meet the demands on infrastructure from population growth.

You'll just have to factor in this little expensive when you buy your next property. If you divide your property taxes over 12 months this will be a small blip in the figures. The city also has a Monthly Payment Plan that is relative easy to set up and makes the tax payment a lot less painless.

As you may well know we are card carrying members of REIN and really believe that the program and the ACRE system have been crucial to our investing success. Don R. Campbell, the president of REIN, is hosting a series of 90 minute conference calls that anyone can listen to.

He has highlighted regions such as Alberta, Ontario and B.C he touches on the three F's (Food, Fuel and Fertilizer) and how best to build a portfolio in an up, down or flat market.

Click Here to listen to the call

Sometimes ultrasound pictures are a little scary!

After checking my Google alerts it looks like the only thing in the news today is that people are leaving Alberta to buy houses in Eastern Canada.

"A serious influx of Western Canadian purchasers has bolstered housing sales in every Atlantic province. Tremendous job opportunities available in Alberta that allow commuting to and from the East Coast have served to further strengthen home-buying activity in the region. Last, but certainly not least, after living in Western Canada for many years, more and more Maritimers are returning home."Michael Polzler, Re/Max’s regional director

It is not an uncommon trend, look at real estate on the west coast where many of the buyers are Albertans looking for second homes or ready to move out of the blustery cold into a milder clime. A friend of mine who moved to the island (Vancouver Island) after many years in Calgary said all her new neighbours are Albertans. The funny thing (I want to write irony but I'm not sure this is a clear case) is that many British Columbians are moving to Alberta for the stellar wages and low taxes and we all know about the large maritime population in the oilsands as well.

One thing to be sure of is Alberta still boasts the highest income -- measured as gross domestic product -- per capita of any province and will continue to do so over the coming half decade. They may live where they like but Alberta is the place to get a great paying job.

"In general, market conditions have favoured buyers since the fall of 2007 and we see little change in store during the first half of 2008. Sales will remain soft for much of the year and will end 2008 down by 10 per cent to 18,500 units. Market weakness should subside as the year progresses, with demand improving once prospective buyers gain some confidence that the adjustment phase has run its course and the price trend has stabilized. This said, a lot will depend on the behavior of investors and speculators who purchased units during the accelerating market conditions."

Buyers should buy while the market is favouring them. It won't be long till we see prices rising again and many people wishing they had picked up that deal in '08.

Get your FREE copy here

Well you are wrong! According to this video apple prices have increased more than oil and we (Americans) paid more for oil 25 years ago than they do today! I haven't watched t.v for a while is this guy the new Andy Rooney? Anyway good to know it just seems like gas prices are up.

The vision of Edmonton as a thriving arts community, a clean environment, with big beautiful parks, a powerful economy and a unique look was compiled by over 2,200 citizens with a common goal in mind- Edmonton by 2040.

“We hope this vision will allow the flexibility, in those interim steps, to get to that point, but we should always want to get to that point,” “My assumption is that most (future) councils will want to make environment sustainable, most will want to have a good, multi-cultural community, they might have different steps in getting there, but they would still want to get there.” Mayor Stephen Mandel

Sounds like a beautiful place and I would love to live there in my, gulp, late-sixties.

Todd wrote this article to help house buyers and investors make sure they aren't getting a huge financial and environmental headache when they pick up that "deal" down the street.

"Sadly, we live in dangerous times. We not only have to be careful of shoddy plumbing jobs, leaky roofs and shifting foundations, but we must also check for dangerous and illegal uses of our potential homes. Don't be fooled into thinking that only houses in rougher, low-income areas harbour drug operations: Many marijuana Grow ops are located in middle to upper class suburbs." Read Full Article

Alberta isn't only about the oil sands. There is a diversified economy that helps support this economic wonderland nanotechnology will be super-funded by the Stelmach government in hopes that Alberta will lead in this burgeoning field.

"The money comes out of a $130-million fund the Stelmach government announced last May to expand Alberta's nanotechnology sector. It also tapped that fund to pledge $15 million over five years in research grants for Alberta nanotech businesses.

Alberta, eager to compete for researchers and sales in a rapidly growing worldwide market for nanotechnologies, boasts about 45 companies with combined annual sales of more than $300 million, the government said."Full Article

Even in a market with strong economic fundamentals there are plateaus. If you are aware when these plateaus come they won't alarm you, in fact you welcome them because they create excellent buying opportunities. In Edmonton we have gone from extreme seller's market to a strong buyer's market.

I found a property that can be assumed with qualifying in Edmonton the other day. I like this for 2 reasons:

1. It's good marketing. It will attract buyers out of curiosity just like you - who will click here to see what it is about.

2. It shows there are a lot of motivated sellers out there. I don't know the motivation for this seller and I hope it is not due to any misfortune. However, deals like this show there are many motivated sellers:

- people got stuck trying to flip a house in last year's market
- investors who got scared because they think the market will crash/ is crashing
- short-term investors who can't weather out the plateau

This specific deal doesn't fit our criteria (assumables are getting tougher and tougher to qualify for) but there are many more out there like this. With a little determination you can pick up some incredible deals now.

It's hard work but the paycheck is right - but with a quick six-month course woman are getting into the oil sands. This simple transition can take them out of low paying service industry jobs into triple to quadruple the wages out in the oilfields.

"Our targets are underemployed women, typically 24 to 34 years old, who are working hard and not making ends meet," "We recruit women who are truly serious about a skilled career and compatible with it." WBF Petro-Canada Training Centre Agency founder JudyLynn Archer

This will certainly help with the labour crunch in the area as the availability of skilled labour is crucial in whether some projects will proceed or not and allow many women to improve their quality of life.

Read Full Article

If you've ever wondered how your friend's pay cheques measure up to yours, you can take a peek at The all-Canadian wealth test on the Canadian Business site. Showing age, gender and provincial averages you can get a good idea of who is earning what where.

Alberta looks to have the highest salaries across the board.

My biggest question is the gender salary divide really that great?

One other good read that my lead you to your millions is 10 laws of building wealth simple advice that makes a lot of "cents".

A slew, actually doubling to be precise, of new Wal-Marts opening across Alberta will offer more jobs and bargain prices for Albertans.

"Alberta is a wonderful part of the country . . . and it's a wonderful place to do business," "It's always been one of our strongest markets." "..your economy has been booming for a long time and with that strong economy it means even more growth and more demand for general merchandise and food." Andrew Pelletier, vice-president of corporate affairs for Wal-Mart Canada

The stores will range for 100,000 sq ft to almost 200,000 sq ft (imagine losing your child in there!) and will be a combination of new stores, expansions of existing stores and relocations.

We've generally stayed away from Alberta Ave because the headaches of managing and tenanting the property far outweighed the low price tags. However, with an $8.5 million , 5 block-per-year revitalization in the works it's starting to look more and more attractive.

"Alberta Avenue, the 27-block stretch of 118th Avenue north of downtown, is getting a facelift. Crews are beginning work on "streetscaping" five blocks of the avenue, putting in new road surfaces, new and wider sidewalks, new trees and better lighting." Susan Ruttan, edmontonjournal.com

Don R. Campbell often says to not be the first in the area to start the gentrification but come in the middle when the risk takers have done most of the work. I would say this is a good indication that properties in this previously forsaken (drugs, prostitution and crime) area are going to make a nice profit.

My good friend has been active by spreading flower seeds on walks with her dog, in hopes of beautifying the area around her investment property. Looks like the city is ready to follow her lead.

What Edmontonians think about the real estate market - "Eventually my house will be worth more than I paid for it. Until then I am enjoying being my own landlord. I am here for the long haul." Terry

Province promotes environmental hotline -"We have the rapid-response team, we have the emergency personnel, we have the expertise and we have the capacity to deal with it, (environmental issues)"Environment Minister Rob Renner

Alberta can handle oil-price drop: economist -"Companies are investing very prudently right now and can still make good money at $70 a barrel,"Peter Hall, economics vice-president of Export Development Canada.

We had a beautiful Golden Week this year. Golden Week is between the first week of May and the last week of April in Japan; it is a time when many companies give their employees a holiday and domestic and international travel is very popular.

"Many Japanese take paid time off on the intervening work days, but some companies also closed down completely and give their employees time off. Golden week is the longest vacation period of the year for many Japanese jobs. Two other holidays may also be observed for most or all of a week: Oshōgatsu in January and Obon in August. Golden Week is an extremely popular time to travel. Flights, trains, and hotels are often fully booked despite significantly higher rates at this time. Popular foreign destinations in Asia, Guam, Saipan, Hawaii, and major cities on the west coast of the U.S., such as Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Francisco, as well as in Europe, are affected during these seasons by huge numbers of Japanese tourists." Wikipedia

We went to a cabin in Kirifuri, Nikko and spent the days relaxing, reading books and doing exercise videos. Sunday morning we were lucky enough to see 13 monkeys climbing all over our cabin and in the forest. A mother and a baby monkey took a nap on our deck. We didn't take any photos as to not disturb them.

Reluctantly we left the cabin, met a mild traffic jam but made it home to enjoy delicious Butter Chicken and hot buttered nan for dinner.

If you're poor or relatively poor, it's possible to have many of the things the middle class has," "It's just that you have to pay for them for a longer period of time." Michael Haan, a sociology professor at the University of Alberta
Focusing on needs not wants puts a lot of people into financial debt, they have to stop digging the hole.

Perhaps this is why we have Gen Xs and Ys in so much debt. When graduates start work they are looking a minimum of $20k student loans and credit card debt. Mix that in with a poor understanding of finances and you will have a generation with all the bling but none of the bang in their bank accounts. Preparing for the future financially is something that should be taught from elementary school.

Thank goodness people like Robert Kiyosaki saw the need and filled it and by helping people he became a financial fortress.

Investing when you are young and saving money to invest is so important because once the first home, child and car come you could be looking at a lifetime of debt.