Edmonton Real Estate Investor

"The difference in the resale housing market now, compared to the beginning of the year, is night and day and nowhere is this more evident than in the West," said Dale Ripplinger, association president.

"Homebuyers recognize that interest rates and prices have bottomed out, and are taking advantage of excellent affordability before prices and interest rates move higher."

A five-year fixed-rate mortgage, the most popular among consumers, is still available for less than four per cent at some financial institutions.

Variable-rate mortgages, tied to prime, remain at about three per cent and are not expected to rise until June. The Bank of Canada has pledged not to change its lending rate until then -- but it is not an ironclad guarantee.

The low rates seem to have worked and have the market even hotter than in 2007, a record year. July sales in 2009 were 3.9 per cent above the previous July high set in 2007.

It has been a stunning reversal for a real estate market that had almost ground to a halt over the winter." Read More

After an intensive 17 week course, 15 women are ready to go out there and move some heavy equipment around.

"Wanda Wetterberg, operations manager for Women Building Futures anticipates that the exodus of baby boomers from the workplace, combined with the student’s hands-on experience with loaders, graders and dozers, will help open the doors wider for women in the field.

“There is and will continue to be quite a heavy demand for heavy equipment operators,” she said, adding that the same holds true in other trades.

“Even if the construction industry has slowed down a bit, the demand for operators is still pretty high. And it certainly does pay well. That’s what our students are looking for,” she said"

For now gone are the days when 12 year-olds are working at fast-food chains and restaurants are closing due to restricted staffing.

Any women who are interested in taking the course should contact Olds College or Women Building Futures

Until this recession housing prices where slowly and steadily creeping out of the territory of affordable for many first time buyers.

The truest example of this was a "starter home" in Vancouver for $700,000. Of course location and other market comparables would set aside this property from the rest, it's still not in my idea of the starter home region. Vancouver's housing affordability is still an unbelievable 63%. That means 63% of income must be devoted to mortgage payments.

Now we now why Vancouverites are so svelte - they can't afford food!

Housing prices cooled and low interest rates brought back affordability but how long will it last? According to some experts not so long.

"The two major contributors to the significant improvement during the past year or so — the decline in mortgage rates and the drift down in prices — appear to have reached turning points."

"Supply of properties for sale is dropping as demand bounces back, which is working to heat up prices again in many parts of the country."

RBC senior economist Robert Hogue

We are in a one-of-a-kind situation to pick up great properties with low interest rates at incredible prices. There is such demand in Canada and especially in Edmonton, Alberta for quality housing, price increases are going to return in the next year.

"Jeff Rubin predicts that oil prices may rise to $200 a barrel" was going to be the subject of this blog till I got this unbelievable video in the mail from my husband. Yes, we mail each other although we sit about 3 feet away from each other. Everyone does it.

I'm guessing these Welsh sheepherders had some free time and an incredible amount of creativity to come up with this wonderful display.

Somewhere between 2013 and 2015 oilsands production is set to double. Increased demand in the U.S due to the decrease in oil supply from Venezuela and Mexico make Canada's oil not only desirable but the natural choice.

The first $2Billion dollar pipeline was approved last week and many many more are coming. So what does this have to do with real estate?

At the peak of the mini-boom in 2007 Alberta oil companies couldn't find enough people to work in the tar sands now with plans to double the work force will have to increase as well.

Edmonton as the closest major city to the oil sands (with reasonable housing prices) is going to attract a lot of renters and potential buyers over the next 2 to 5 to 15 years. How does that make anyone money? By either owning the properties for sale or rent.

Don't forget -

During the gold rush entrepreneurs who filled a need serving those who panned for gold made most of the profits. Alberta is in a modern day gold rush and the strongest demand in this province is housing. Areas that are “hubs” are those that are seeing the highest increases in housing values. Edmonton’s strategic location between the multi-billion dollar Alberta Oil Sands projects in Northern Alberta and Calgary, make it the center of all the action.

So would you rather pan for gold or sell the pan, shovel and tent to the worker?

$2 billion investment in Alberta oilsands - A Chinese energy giant is making a nearly $2-billion investment in the Canadian oilsands. Athabasca Oil Sands Corp. says PetroChina is buying a 60 per cent working interest in its Mackay River and Dover oilsands projects in northeastern Alberta.

Although Canada's economy is tied to the U.S our oilsands are bringing interest from around the world. It is a valuable safe source of oil.

New online service makes home buying smarter, swifter for Canadians - Zoocasa.com -- a recently launched online site promises to make searching for a new home an exhilarating and productive experience for Canadians. Zoocasa offers a wealth of "neighbourhood information" for its more than 100,000 home listings.

Sounds interesting!

Location Selected For Alberta Nuclear Plant - According to a report by the CanWest News Service, Energy Alberta Corp. has said that it has formally requested permission from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to construct a pair of twin-unit Candu reactors about 500 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

"Building a nuclear power facility is a long and rigorous process. This is the beginning of a public and regulatory process that will include environmental, health and safety assessments," said Wayne Henuset, Energy Alberta's president and co-chairman, who termed the application a "historic moment" for the province's nuclear power industry.

Hopefully this will help reduce our greenhouse emmissons.

The emerging energy superpower - Canada's oil and gas industry is surviving the economic downturn. The boom times may be over, but stories of a bust are wide of the mark

AS A MEMBER of the G8, Canada is an anomaly: it is the only member of the rich nations' club that depends on a resource-based export industry to support its economy. Oil and gas are both central to this and Canada's energy sector increasingly influences the way it deals with the world. Prime minister Stephen Harper calls his country an "energy superpower". Notwithstanding the temporary slowdown in the US economy, Americans increasingly depend on imports of Canadian energy to support their lifestyle.

And, like much of the rest of the world, Canada depends on the US: its consumers almost monopolise Canadian energy exports and the political decisions made in Washington – like whether to adopt a cap-and-trade system to fight carbon emissions – will shape the Canadian energy industry and politics

"We are proud to be pioneers in bringing the benefits of clean, safe, reliable nuclear power to Alberta."

Canada is the economic leader in the G8 and Alberta is the leader in Canada, where else in the world should you put your investment money?

Alberta economy predicted to grow 3.3 per cent next year — "Alberta’s struggling economy will recover next year and grow 3.3 per cent, the Conference Board of Canada predicted Thursday.

Gross domestic product will contract 2.7 per cent in 2009 after a 0.2 per cent decline in 2008, the board said in its summer provincial outlook.

“Higher energy prices and lower construction costs should spur oil and gas activity, which will support a rebound in the domestic economy,” the report said.

Scotiabank also predicted that rebounding oil prices and falling inflationary pressures will bring a return to growth for Alberta in 2010, with GDP rising 2.8 per cent after a predicted 2.3 per cent contraction in the economy this year. The bank said the Canadian economy’s output will shrink 2.2 per cent in 2009 and grow 2.5 per cent in 2010."

By next year Alberta will be leading the nation out of the recession.

Over my summer holiday I once again came to the realization that constant management, improvement and measurement are critical to ongoing success. Even when we reach a point in our lives and businesses that allows us to delegate certain jobs we must continue to look for ways to improve upon them.

It may sound counter-intuitive to delegate a job and then invest time in managing it, but it's not and here's why. When we have delegated our jobs it gives us a chance to step back from them and see how the system, person and team perform without you in the active (say physical) role of doing it. You can test this by measuring their performance against your earlier benchmark.

You'll be listening for their input on how to do the job better, faster and of a higher quality as well as looking at their productivity from the eyes of an employer. If you monitor these 'jobs' every 90 days with an eye to improvement, this helps give you the edge and brings your business game to a new level.

South East Edmonton: Cash-flowing 5 BR Millwood's Bi-level In High Growth Area

Turbo charge your portfolio. 1979 built functional, upgraded 5 bedroom 2 bathroom suited home has over 1085 sq ft of rental space on the upper and another 1000 sq ft. in the 2 bedroom lower suite. You can see the attention to detail and care that went into upgrading this home.

Comes complete with a great mortgage structure in place, you only need to qualify. This a totally turn-key property for you. Convenient area with nearby access to the new South Ring Road and walking distance to transit. Excellent neighborhood and HUGE upside potential due to the great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the fantastic location of this mature, desirable SE area of Edmonton.

Produces $205 positive cash flow per month using at current interest rate. Total investment less than 24% of purchase price.

Poised for massive growth. This home rents for top dollar and has everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: 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!

Purchase price: $319K Total Investment: $75K. Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $57K.
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 76% or 15% per year. + $205 Cash Flow in Your Pocket Every Month

“Get into action and realize secure, long-term profits”

Already producing a great RETURN. Visit HERE for the full FEATURE sheet and call 1-888-780-5940 to get started.

-Please remember: All investments carry RISK. Be sure to seek your own independent legal advice-

Don R. Campbell warns the Canadian snowbirds to get the sun out of their eyes and rent a place in the states don't buy! It's better to buy in Canada make your money here then go rent in the states.

Could the focus on climate change take away from other pressing environmental issues?

I know one thing this summer in Canada global warming wasn't prevalent at all. With Edmonton having 5C nights in the middle of August, I had to wonder if it wasn't a bit of global cooling at work.

"The BBC's environment correspondent Richard Black investigates if climate change is diverting attention away from other environmental problems such as air pollution, acid oceans and species extinction.

Talk about climate change is everywhere, from the classroom to the UN. It is undoubtedly an important issue, but has our enthusiasm for tackling climate change led us to neglect other pressing and arguably more immediate environmental concerns, such as poor air quality in our major cities?

Why has climate change attracted so much political attention and the loss of plant and animal species so little?

Far from being an 'inconvenient truth', could the climate change debate actually be rather politically convenient?"

Listen here

Alberta still better off than others - "The state of the province’s economy one quarter into the 2009-10 fiscal year shows a sharper period of recession than expected, Evans said, but the province still expects a stronger recovery next year.

“It’s still a better news story in Alberta than anywhere else in the country,” she said.

The finance minister said interpreting the economic picture in “doom and gloom” terms would be “belittling the entrepreneurship of Albertans.”

So far, there is no sign of how the province plans to head off an economy that’s running red; the $6.9 billion deficit means the Sustainability Fund will be tapped, leaving it with a projected $9.3 billion by the end of the year."

The message is that Alberta needs to correct it's course and there really is no need to over-react. In the last 7 years Alberta spent $140 Billion on infrastructure and virtually wiped out provincial debt and there still is the Sustainability Fund to dip into if need be.

Environment Carbon Crapshoot - "This year, the Alberta and federal governments are setting aside billions of dollars for subsidies that will go to some of the nation’s largest energy companies. The money represents a down payment on a grand experiment. The idea is to collect carbon dioxide generated by industry before it goes up the stack into the atmosphere, and cloister it underground for eternity. It’s called carbon capture and storage (CCS). It’s fearfully expensive, and there’s no guarantee it will work. Yet work it must. Because Canada has no Plan B for reducing the impact of its energy industry on the Earth’s climate."

U.S State Department OKs Pipeline From Canada's Oilsands -The U.S. State Department has issued a permit for a multibillion-dollar pipeline to carry crude oil from Canadian oil sands to refineries south of the border, triggering a court challenge from environmental and native groups. The State Department issued a Presidential Permit to Enbridge Energy, Ltd. for the Alberta Clipper - a 1,000-mile/1,607-kilometer crude oil pipeline that will run between Hardisty, Alberta, and Superior, Wisconsin.

With supply of crude oil from Western Canada oil sands developments expected to grow by as much as 1.8 million barrels per day by 2015, the industry has asked for more ...

So how long do you think the deficit will last?

The coolest properties I've seen recently started life as a shipping container. The containers are cheap innovative and very very green. What started as a cheap source of housing in developing countries is now a cost efficient way to build a luxurious house at a fraction of the price.

You can get a 3,000-square-foot container home for about $175,000 or add an extension onto your home.
Maison Idekit.

We went to Canada for two great weeks. It was Ronan's first international flight and he was fantastic. Slept the whole way there (hint to traveling new parents make sure you get the bassinet seat) on the way back it was a bit rougher and jet lag seems to have affected him more but overall we've got a little traveler here. We're excited to take him to Malaysia this winter.

Our family was ecstatic to see him and he was a hit all round. I totally relaxed as everyone wanted to hold him!

Edmonton is a fantastic city, it's certainly grown since the last time we've visited. Vancouver has become so chic. I don't know if it's changed for the coming 2010 Olympics or if it's just a huge gentrification but the city is outstanding ~ house prices and affordability reflect that too.

We also made a quick trip to look at Pender Island. What a paradise. We met some great realtors and stayed at a fantastic B&B.

A snapshot look at Canada's economy major economists taken from The London Free Press

"The downward trend among private sector employees persisted in July, with large losses for this group partially offset by continued gains in self-employment."

Statistics Canada July employment report.

"These are difficult times. It's going to be a difficult year. I've been saying that, to sort of calm the euphoria about, you know, 'We're out of a recession.' We are stabilized, and there are some good signs. But it's still the recession and we still have to work our way out of it."

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told CTV News.

"No one said it was going to be a smooth recovery, and especially not for employment. If there is any positive spin here for the broader economy, it's that the job losses were almost entirely concentrated among summer students (though try telling your teenager that's good news)."

BMO Capital Markets economist Doug Porter

"Even though the Canadian economy is likely to resume positive growth sometime in the third quarter, we are likely to continue to see the unemployment rate climb for up to six months after the recession has come to a close."

TD Bank economist Diana Petramala

"Sadly, today was not a happy day for the Canadian job market. It's critical when we see these disappearing jobs that we have an effective fiscal stimulus to create or to save jobs. And that means getting the money out the door because, no matter how many billions in commitments, you won't save one job if you don't get the money out the door.''

Liberal MP John McCallum, the party's finance critic

"Some people say that the recession is over, but try telling that to the unemployed and their families. Unemployment is going to get worse in the months ahead and the Harper government is leaving people to fend for themselves."

Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress.

This is from Wade Graham's newsletter posted on the REIN forum.

The Top 5 Real Estate Investment Mistakes

How to lose $50K in no particular order

1. You pay too much for the property. This one sounds obvious but 9 times out of 10 this is the one that catches most people. You get excited about the property and forget that this is a numbers game and not a paint colour game. Your agent is focused on making a deal happen so he forgets this is about dollars and not the carpet stain. All of your friends are making big cash (or so you think) and you want in! Who cares about the rent or who is going to pay it! Values go up and that is all you need to know........right?!?

I am not one to negotiate hard for a rock bottom price as there are definitely other considerations in every transaction but unless your rent covers ALL of you costs and makes you money each month you have paid too much. Personally my cut off is $500. If I can't make that much each month on the investment I don't invest.

2. Inspections are for rookies! You have done a few renos and owned a couple of houses. You don't need to pay someone $500 to tell you that this house is in great shape! I have looked at a lot of homes and many of them I thought were in good shape until the inspector came through. My last inspection saved me and my investor roughly $65,000! Was it worth the $500? Unless you have very large pockets (that you are willing to part with) or have extensive knowledge you need an inspection.

3. What is your exit strategy....How do you get out of the investment? Unless you have two very good exit strategies don't put a dime into Real Estate. Getting out isn't as easy or cheap as you think! What are all of my costs on exit? Real Estate fees, legal, renos, lost rent, mortgage pay out penalties and the big one (hopefully) taxes! When can I exit? Do I need to wait five years or can I sell this contract to another investor tomorrow? Is refinancing an option? You need to have clear answers to all of these questions or your investment may not be everything you hoped!

4. Who is going to rent my property? Most investments forecast a future value but the problem is that you need to get to the future to get that value. This is where the true asset comes in.....that is right....your tenant!

"A tenant is...a partner in business who will open up the shop each morning and lock it up at night. They will look after security and inform you of potential problems in the business. They will cut the grass, rake the leaves, shovel the snow, pay all the utilities. They will even pay all your mortgage payments and taxes. Then, in the end, they will relinquish all monetary interest in the business and walk away, leaving you with the profits." ~Tim Johnson

So at the end of the day who is it that is willing to pay the rent you need to get to the future!

5. After I buy the property I don't need to do anything right? Well, as great as that sounds the fun part is now over and reality is about to set in. For those that think that you just collect a cheque at the end of each month, I have some news for you. Not a day goes by that I am not dealing with one of our investments. Most of the things are positive but not all of them. Even if you have just one investment property you had better have some expertise in the following: Property Management, Repairs and Maintenance, Accounting, and Legal. These are things that will come up regularly and they don't care if you have a job or are sleeping or are on vacation.

Alberta firms rank third in Western Canada for positive outlook. The poll indicated that businesses in Alberta are very optimistic about economic turnaround.

Saskatchewan topped the charts while Quebec business owners apparently can't see the light at the end of the tunnel coming in at the bottom

As they say if you believe it you'll see it!

While the oil sands produce a larger chunk of the Canada's greenhouse gases the pros outweigh the cons. Canada as a whole benefits and will benefit from jobs for up to 5.4 million Canadians by 2020. Imagine the housing needs then. Everyone knows that the oil sands' pros far outweigh the cons and would be foolish to say no to their significant contribution to Canada's economy.

The Alberta government has taken A LOT of flak for the environment in Northern Alberta. Yet it seems to be doing so much to right the environment.

Recently the province announced plans to more than triple the amount of protected land in the controversial northeast. Forests rebuilt from reclaimed ground are soon to become a reality as researchers work to bring back the boreal forests.

Check out how Faster Forests come into play here.

Alberta's economy was hit by the recession as was the rest of the country. The province saw record job losses, debt and housing prices declines but when it comes to rejuvenating the countries economy it will be oil that gets things going again.

Oil prices have yet to rebound to the anticipated figures for this period so Alberta's deficit will get that much bigger. The stability that is necessary for the province to rebound is still not happening and may not happen till 2010. Alberta may be diversified but it is still a resource based economy.

We're all waiting for the upturn in international economic activity that starts to drive oil and natural gas prices upward when that happens let the good times roll again. For now the long term view, late 2010, is the best bet before we see the boom years again.

When they go, and they will, oil will save the country:

"The oilsands production would result in $1.7 trillion in incremental GDP growth for Canada, $78.1 billion alone for Ontario and Quebec, the study concludes, adding it translates into 700,000 jobs being created across the country and additional tax revenues for Canada of over $306 billion.

When conventional gas and oil developments, plus LNG (liquid natural gas) development, pipelines and offshore facilities are added in, the industry will boost Canada's GDP by $3.6 trillion ($144 billion in Ontario alone)and will create 980,000 new jobs, contributing additional tax revenue of $429 billion in Canada."

Where do you think you should put your money for best growth?

Thirty floors of luxury all to yourself doesn't sound too shabby at first but a new jersey family can tell you differently. They are all alone in a 200 unit condo building because everyone else failed to close on their unit or moved next door.

Shining-esque surprises like knocks on their door at 11pm, lounge chairs in the pool and a sign in sheet where the last entry was made over 6 months ago just up the creep factor for the poor family of five.

This is one of the stranger unintended consequences of the housing bust that I have read about. Not everyone goes into foreclosure and many people keep their commitments but when a whole building remains vacant it's both economically and psychologically frightening.

Read more

Thirty-five degrees hot and humid. The pool sure looks inviting. I hope that you're as ready as I am for some well earned rest and relaxation this month. Every August we take time off to reconnect with family, friends, focus on the good things, play in the ocean, eat Nanaimo bars and get a little trip in somewhere - I hope that you're doing the same.

Sharpen your saw..

Taking time completely away from your 'game' gives you a super efficient boost when you come back. It's like that extra hit of light green organic wheat grass at the juice bar or a couple shots of fine grade 1 hand picked chocolate roasted Arabica whose aroma seduces and invigorates you...

Just before you take your vacation write down your top three challenges that you're facing at the moment. The really hard ones where the solutions don't seem to come easily.

Then when you come back after your rest grab a pen and go through your 'challenge list'. Sit and write down 5 (or more) potential solutions for each challenge. Don't worry if they seem absurd or like they won't work, just go with it. Chances are there'll be some gold in the pan that you can work on to get your problems fixed.

Alta. premier tells Ottawa not to be 'boy scouts' on climate change - “We just want to be very careful that we’re not boy scouts leading here and finding that our best trading partner may have a different plan or approach to climate change,” Ed Stelmach

The environment is the number 1 priority but not so much that the economy should falter. Look at our record with the Kyoto accord.

Alberta doldrums Province's employment insurance claims skyrocket, according to recent survey - ATB Financial senior economist Todd Hirsch said layoffs are usually a method of last resort for cash-strapped employers and younger, less experienced workers will find themselves out of a job first.

Hirsch said that although Alberta's economy appears to have the worst behind it, the job market is likely to continue softening over the summer.

However, Hirsch noted that Alberta's EI claims rose so dramatically because they had nowhere to go but up.

"It's jumped up tremendously since last year," he said. "But it's because we were starting at such a ridiculously low level."

When your coming from record lows increase will look significant as the economy jumps back these figures will drop again to lower ranges.

Part Three: Calgary-Edmonton proposal stuck at station - "Land has been assembled in Calgary and Edmonton, the provincial government is eyeing transportation corridors and there's growing corporate and public interest in the project, but a high-speed train won't be leaving the station any time soon in Alberta.

In the wake of a newly released government report studying the prospects for high-speed rail in Alberta, there's renewed momentum to build the 300-kilometre, multibillion-dollar link between Calgary and Edmonton — one that could shuttle passengers between the two centres in as little as one hour."
When this project is completed the future of these two cities will be incredible. The article states 20 years till any sign of the high-speed train but I imagine we will see building start a lot sooner than that.
If there is a stop in Red Deer watch property values go through the roof.

A five year old girl set her mind to feeding the hungry and homeless in her city. With a determination and action in over 2 months she was able to feed 18,000 homeless people buy collecting cans ( who knew $3,700.00 could feed 18,000).

She is 5-years-old, it's amazing the possibilities that children see that we can't with our adult goggles.

This story is so inspiring I seriously suggest you read it.

Edmonton's economy has diversified over the last 20 or 25 years ago but there is no ignoring the price of oil and it's effect on the city.

Edmonton is booming because it has more untapped oil in the oil sands than any other country in the world. The city's population growth is due to many things: higher wages, lower taxes and better jobs than many parts of Canada. Like it or not many jobs are in the oil sands.

If they slowed down what would happen?

We would be looking at a future with slower in- migration and potentially stabilizing wages that would still keep Edmonton well above the national average, but still less than now.

There is a lot of diversity though, and industries such as nanotechnology and IT continue to grow faster and become better than many other areas of the country.

But... back to the oil price is it going to drop?

Well apparently it won't in fact it's going to recover and stabilize by the middle of next year. Here is my 2 cents it will go up and then down and then up again and then down and then....

“I feel like I'm from Mars, because I know all the stuff that's put out there has no basis in reality,” “Most perceptions of what's actually happened are totally wrong, because there are such errors with the energy statistics.” Henry Groppe, 83, who has been tracking the complex world of oil and gas production, consumption and pricing for over half a century.

Here his insight into the future of oil prices.

Browsing on the mls yesterday came across some of the worst photos I've ever seen of a property. I mean really... Would it kill you to flush the toilet? (not for the weak of heart)

There is a incredibly funny site called It's lovely! I'll take it! and these photos belong there.

The thing is it's not a bad looking house on the exterior and with a little work it could be a great deal. You just have to look past the photos.

We've all thought about what we would do if we got the windfall that would take us to life changing wealth. For some it might be to quite your job or travel other may start their dream company or build that fantastic house.

BBC Radio Scotland is doing a series on people who have come into life changing wealth, how they did it and how it impacted their their lives.

This time the topic is more local - a Canadian engineer, Sam Malin, who struck oil in Madagascar.

Listen Here

I don't know why Canadians have such fixed opinions of our cities. For example you say "Toronto" and you can unleash a torrent of vitriol from quite a few Canadians. Personally I think Toronto is dire but don't hate it.

Anywhere between Ontario and Alberta will get an eye roll perhaps a shocked expression and a "How can you live there.. in the cold? With no trees?"

British Columbia is viewed as beautiful, laid back, lots of hippies and perhaps recreational drug use.

Alberta, unfortunately, is still viewed by some as the wild west, lacking panache and refinement. It's an outdated opinion that many people change when the come to visit the vibrant cities of Edmonton and Calgary.

For a view of Edmonton from the inside take a look at the Edmonton Stories website. There are many wonderful stories and videos about Edmonton, the lifestyle and how perceptions changed after visiting this great western city.

I have had the purest experience of the power of focus. If you've ever been around a baby who has just learned to crawl you will know what I mean. Before my son saw what he wanted but had no method of obtaining it aside from crying. Chances were probably 50/50 that he would get it.

Now with the power of locomotion there is nothing to stop him. He sees something, he wants it and good luck to anyone who tries to stop him.

If only we could maintain this focus and determination to reach our goals as we get older. The only thing that stops him is being distracted by a new or shiny toy.

Something we can all relate to.

"It will be real estate that starts to stimulate the economy,"

"I don't buy into the concept of bottoming out.........People make the decision to buy based on their personal wants and needs. Is it the right time to buy? If you are comfortable with where you are financially, then now is the time to do it."

"Real estate is a commodity that will not and cannot disappear,"

"We live in it, we work in it, we shop in it and we worship in it. No matter how many downturns there are in the market, real estate eventually always goes up in value."

"First-timers are still the fuel needed to get the move-up buyer back in the game, but the key is to price smart--price to sell........If you're waiting for another price war, it's not going to happen for a long while."

"Buy. Get into the market, because the rates are historically low and prices in the Alberta market are down. But also be patient because the value of the home is going to increase and you're going to be able to move up if you're smart throughout the process."

John Gaha president of Coldwell Banker Canada

Perspective and Assumption. How much do you assume?

A little old couple walked into a fast food restaurant. The little old man walked up to the counter, ordered the food, paid, and took the tray back to the table where the little old lady sat. On the tray was a hamburger, a small bag of fries and a drink.

Carefully the old man cut the hamburger in two, and divided the fries into two neat piles. He sipped the drink and passed it to the little old lady, who took a sip and passed it back. A young man on a nearby table had watched the old couple and felt sorry for them.

He offered to buy them another meal, but the old man politely declined, saying that they were used to sharing everything. The old man began to eat his food, but his wife sat still, not eating.

The young man continued to watch the couple. He still felt he should be offering to help. As the little old man finished eating, the old lady had still not started on her food.

"Ma'am, why aren't you eating?" asked the young man sympathetically. The old lady looked up and said politely, "I'm waiting for the teeth.."

In Stephen R. Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People he describes a situation on a subway that immediately creates a paradigm shift for the reader.

The above story is meant more for a chuckle than anything deeper, but it does lend itself to point out the flaw of assumption. This summer, in addition to relaxing I'm going to talk less and listen more. What positive change will you commit to doing?

A poor misguided youth in Calgary was enticed by a "friend" to hold a mortgage in his name. He signed the mortgage docs in the back of a car with no legal counsel. He qualified for and got over $800,000 worth of mortgages on two properties.

"Even though Jason had a reported income of less than $20,000 the previous year, a large Canadian bank approved him for two mortgages: one worth $550,000, the other worth $300,000, for a total of $850,000.

He never met anyone from the bank, never saw the houses, never planned to live in them and doesn't even know where they are located."

It's sad that Jason is in this mess but it's a pretty silly thing to do. If you're signing legal documents in the back of a car without talking to anybody first you might imagine things may go south.

However, there is absolutely nothing wrong with holding a mortgage for someone else as an investment. Many investment companies do this as banks have tightened restrictions. The mortgage holder gets a cut of the profit at sale of the revenue property and monthly cash-flow. Jason should had gotten independent legal counsel and done much more due diligence on the deal.

A tough lesson for certain.

Read article

A lot of jobs in Alberta are seasonal so jumps in unemployment numbers in spring, more students looking for jobs, or dips in winter, oil sands job fluctuations, aren't really indicative of the province's economic health.

In Edmonton some workers are getting laid off or hours reduced but skilled workers are still in incredible demand. In direct contradiction to higher unemployment numbers.

"We're hearing employers are having difficulty finding people,"

"The Shell Scottford construction is seeking over 1,000 tradespeople and Flint Energy is having difficulty finding 200 journeymen pipefitters."

"the worst-hit areas in Alberta for job losses are the agriculture sector, wholesale and retail trade market and areas such as building maintenance."

"The job gains are ... in accommodation and food services, finance, insurance and real estate and transportation and warehousing." Alberta Employment and Immigration spokesman Terry Jorden.

Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver are the few cities in Canda where unemployment rates are improving.

New immigrants driving housing demand, Scotia Economics reports - "Canadian immigrants are narrowing the homeownership gap with their Canadian-born counterparts, according to the latest real estate trends report released Thursday by Scotia Economics.

The report said of the more than one million immigrants that came to Canada between 2001 and 2006, 69% settled in the metropolitan regions of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. A growing proportion, however, settled in smaller areas, including Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton and Kitchener. Less than 3% chose to live in a rural area."

As immigration increases in all cities demand for rental housing and first homes will increase.

Home ownership getting more affordable: RBC - “Declining costs of home ownership during the last year were driven by significant cuts in mortgage rates along with the federal government taking an active role in supporting the mortgage securities market,” RBC said. “In the first quarter, monthly payments on a typical detached bungalow in Canada had decreased by close to 17% from a year earlier.”

“The average cost of maintaining a detached bungalow in Vancouver was 62.6% of household income during the first quarter, while in Toronto it was 45.9%, RBC said. Ottawa affordability was 39.1%, Montreal 36.5%, Calgary 35.1%, and Edmonton 34%.”

This works for investors both ways, what we lose in rental we gain in sales of rental properties. Even though vacancy rates decrease there are many ways to entice renters to your property i.e. rent-to-own.

Brakes put on rail line No money for Edmonton-Calgary link, gov't says – “A high-speed train whizzing commuters between Edmonton and Calgary in less than an hour could produce an economic benefit of up to $33.4 billion, says a new study -- but provincial Tory politicians aren't getting on board the idea right now.

The report, released yesterday by the Alberta government, envisions a downtown-to-downtown train -- costing between $3 billion and $20 billion -- with stops in Red Deer, north Calgary and south Edmonton.

A spokesman for the premier's office said a private-public partnership model discussed in the study suggests such a rail link could be built with private funds while the province could be called upon to contribute land for the line.”

It may be on hold for now but imagine what property values in Red Deer will be when the train is finally built. A savvy investor with an incredible telescopic view would buy revenue property there.

We are offering a new investment strategy for Canadians who want to invest but lack the capital. It's also a great way for would-be-investors to get started without going into debt.

It's very simple.

This system allows investors to receive an equity position and cash compensation by holding the mortgage of a revenue property.

A typical structure looks like this, within a private investment program:

1. We (Glenn Simon Inc.) carefully select a cash-flowing revenue property in an economically strong area of Alberta.

2. We (Glenn Simon Inc.) provide all the capital needed to purchase and operate the investment, bringing years of experience and a proven track record to the table.

3. The partner takes the role of qualifying for and providing the mortgage in return receiving an equity position in the property and a cash bonus for each transaction completed.

It's important to note, that all mortgages and property purchases strictly adhere to federal and provincial lending laws and are completely transparent.

Fill out this quick questionnaire to get started! If you qualify for a mortgage before August 2009 get a special gift!

The thing about successful people is they do things differently. Probably most importantly they do things when they don't feel like it. I'm pretty sure if most people had a broken collarbone in March the last thing they would feel like doing is riding the Tour de France in July.

He is a testament to the power of will. Not to mention the incredible amount of giving back he does. I saw a comment slamming him on the internet for keeping his cure for cancer secret. I just had to ask myself, "What have you done for cancer victims?" Where do this people come from?

I really hope he wins by a mile.

Mortgages rates are at their lowest now. You can save hundreds of dollars each month on your mortgage payment if you can stand riding the variable.

"More than 28% of Canadians have a variable-rate product tied to prime, according to the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP). If you negotiated a deal before October of last year, chances are you are now borrowing money for as little as 1.35%. That's based on deals that at one point saw the banks giving 90 basis points off prime. Prime is now 2.25%.

The average sale price of a home last month in Canada was $306,366. Based on a 25% downpayment and a 25-year amortization, your monthly payment would be $962.61 at 1.35%. Convert that to a five-year fixed-rate term and you're probably going to have to consider a 4% mortgage rate and a monthly payment of $1,289.04."

Todd and I spent about 5 hours weighing the benefits of one set of mortgage terms over another for one of our properties. I didn't want to spend time doing that but that is what banks count on. It's easiest to lock in and say, "Well I may not have got the best deal but it was safe and easy to do this".

That's all right if you don't mind up paying an extra $300 a month because it was too hard to think about your mortgage terms or maybe because it was sunny outside.

Keep an eye on the penalties on your mortgage they can pack a wallop if you decide to sell early. Sometimes a little negotiation with your lender can get out of them.

There is now one convenient location to get news and videos from Don R. Campbell, REIN and other real estate experts. We've updated our Alberta News section and posted crucial videos to help you get all the facts you need to invest with confidence. It's all laid out in an easy to use format.

Click here to get informed.

* Canada is the second largest country in the world, with 9,971,000 square kilometres of land.
* The baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883.
* With only three people per square kilometer, Canada has the fourth lowest population density in the world.

* Vancouver Canada is tied with Zurich Switzerland for the highest quality of life of any city in the world.
* The world's smallest jail is believed to be in Rodney, Ontario, Canada. It is only 24.3 square meters (about 270 square feet).
* Canada has the ninth biggest economy of the world
* According to the United Nations Human Development Index, Canada has the highest quality of life in the world.
* Contrary to popular opinion, Canada does not own the North Pole. In fact, the North Pole is not owned by any country. It is believed, however, that Santa Claus is from Canada.
* Canada is the world's eighth biggest trader.
* Of all of the world's producers of natural gas, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, and gold, Canada is in the top five.
* Canada is the home of many great inventions, including: basketball, the electric light bulb, the electric range, the electron microscope, standard time, the television, the telephone, and the zipper.
* Canada is the fifth largest energy producer.
* Canada has the world's highest tertiary education enrollment.

Don R. Campbell did an interview with CHED news recently on the long-term effect of transportation on real estate values. Properties near hubs of transportation i.e. sky train stations, LRT stations or subway stations see a larger increase in values (10-20% more) to other comparable properties. Seems like clear directions on where to invest for the best R.O.I.

There is a lot of other good information why real estate is the best long-term investment for wealth building.

I stumbled on the Worthwhile Canadian Initiative blog through wordpress.com. There are some great posts here on the Canadian economy.

This one is very relative for those who are interested in real estate and afraid the Canadian market is going to follow the U.S housing market meltdown.

And as a bonus this entry on The economic impact of canoeing is really interesting.

Alberta's economy will take some hits before rebounding in 2010 according to Premier Ed Stelmach.

"It's just not oil and gas prices, but it's the value of the dollar, the manufacturing sector, and that's why we're promoting Alberta globally, because we have to find new markets for our products."

RBC says that Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia are expected to show economic growth in 2009. The rest of the provinces should be on track by 2010.

So basically Alberta, a province with until recently the most growth, will experience negative growth like most other Canadian provinces until 2010.

What's the good news?

"The good news here is the downturn is giving the province's overheated economy time to breathe and is allowing energy companies time to redevelop their stalled megaprojects to being more environmentally friendly."

"As an example, the Canada West Foundation mentions Imperial Oil's announcement of its $8-billion Kearl oilsands project last month: "Sign of the times: the announcement included a mention of greenhouse-gas emission targets and was realistic about the technology upgrades required to meet them. The next cycle of oilsands development should be quite different from the previous one." Read More Good News About Alberta's Economy

If you're young and time is on your side losing money on investments are a set back but you know you have time to right most financial upsets. However, when the time to earn is long gone losing your savings is a big hit and you'll probably want some payback.

A group of seniors in Germany, kidnapped, held and tortured their financial adviser for losing their life savings.

"Retirees in Germany were so upset with their financial adviser that they ambushed him outside his home and beat him with their walkers, the adviser claims. Then they taped his mouth closed and hauled him into a car.

"It took them quite a while because they ran out of breath," the financial adviser, James Amburn, told the U.K.'s Daily Mail. The kidnappers ranged in age from 60 to 74."

When you're a steward of money the responsibility of managing your client's funds is not to be taken lightly. You have to be willing to take the ups and the downs.

In this case it was a few broken ribs, cigarette burns and captivity.

Read More

If you really want to know what's going on with the economy in Canada and aren't afraid of knowing the REAL facts not the hype then you must go to this event:

Real Estate Investment Network(TM) (REIN(TM)) will host the Canadian Economic Summit on June 26th in Edmonton. Some of Canada's top economists will be providing unbiased opinion and analysis on the fundamentals of the Canadian economy (locally and nationally) and its impact on the bottom line for investors and business owners. Among the speakers will be Mary MacGregor, Chief Economist for the Government of Alberta.

Other speakers include:

Carl Gomez, Bentall Capital's Vice President, Research.

Ron Gilbertson, President and CEO of Edmonton Economic Development Corporation

Todd Hirsch, Economist and Media Commentator

Peter Kinch, Author and Canadian mortgage expert

Don R. Campbell, Bestselling author & market analyst

"The market will no longer cover up mistakes and blind guesses. Actions and investments must be better planned, and better planning comes from knowledge," said Don Campbell, President of REIN. "These experts will provide unbiased analysis of where we are heading as a country and how that will affect you and your business."

Topics on the agenda include:

- Long-term effects of high unemployment rates, cancelled capital projects and economic stimulus packages

- Today's world economies, how long will the turbulence last

- Will lending environment continue to tighten

- Positioning your company and investments for recovery

- Assessing the real estate market - when should you invest

- Inflation? Deflation? Recession? Depression? What the economic fundamentals really tell us and the affect on businesses, labour markets, oil prices and retail sales

Complete information at

REIN ECONOMIC SUMMIT

WHEN & WHERE: June 26th at 7:00 PM

Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton Alberta - Hall D

Contacts:
Real Estate Investment Network
Kelly Marvetz-Todd
604 856-2825
kelly@reincanada.com

Do criminals suffer in the credit crunch? No, they don't. Their businesses adjust and adapt to the ups and down of the economy. From the MLM structure of drug dealing to the multinational business structure used in the Mafia. Criminals are always profiting.

Obviously I'm not promoting crime!

Listen to BBC Radio Scotland digital radio download

The elite of Edmonton bankers made their way to Toronto to lure finance specialist and, hopefully, more capital to Alberta.

"Alberta is going to be generating a lot of investment potential in the next 20, 30 years, so we think it's important to have a homegrown financial services industry," says Ron Gilbertson, president and chief executive of Edmonton Economic Development Corp.

Edmonton, Alberta already has $135 Billion, no not million, being managed out of the city. The city has already attracted a lot of capital but now needs savvy professionals to handle and grow it.

"We have the whole ball of wax," Mr. Mowat says. "All of the opportunity is there."

Read More

Today evidence came that Edmonton house sales are seeing a small increase.

We tried to get an inspection done and were told it would be at least one week before that was possible. They are being "swamped" with inspections and "it seems like everyone is buying".

It's partially seasonal, warm weather means more sales, partially the "W" effect- where the market will go up and down for the next 18 months and probably a lot to do with the record low mortgage rates and low house prices.

People know a good thing when they see it.

Turbo charge your portfolio. Stylish 5 bedroom 2.5 bath suited home has over 1178 sq ft of rental space plus a triple detached garage. Separate 2 bedroom suite with separate entry pulls in extra cash flow.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Convenient area with nearby access to the new Ring Road and access to refinery row. Excellent neighborhood and HUGE upside potential due to the great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the mature area of Edmonton's North East neighborhoods.

Produces $340 positive cash flow per month using an investor's mortgage plan - taking advantage of current low rates.

Poised for massive growth. This home rents for top dollar and has everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: 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!

Purchase price: $355K Total Investment: $97K. Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $65.6K.
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 68% or 13.5% per year. + $340 Cash Flow in Your Pocket Every Month

“Get into action and realize secure, long-term profits”

Already producing a great RETURN. Visit HERE for the full FEATURE sheet and call 1-888-780-5940 to get started.

-Please remember: All investments carry RISK. Be sure to seek your own independent legal advice-

I think this little parable is going viral. I really liked it and it was forwarded to me today. Thought I would share.

This is something to think about when negative people are doing their best to rain on your parade. Remember this story the next time someone who knows nothing and cares less tries to make your life miserable.

A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband.. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded: " Rome ? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty.. You're crazy to go to Rome . So, how are you getting there?"

"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"

"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. " That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome ?"

"We'll be at this exclusive little place on Rome 's Tiber River called Teste."

"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks its gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump."

"We're going to go to see the Vatican and maybe get to see the Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome .

"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked, and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot.

And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job, and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."

"Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I be so kind as to step into his private
room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me.

"Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me."

"Oh, really! What'd he say ?"

He said: "Who messed up your hair?"

We have a few prime -x% mortgages, they are hard to find now, and we are seeing mortgage rates as low as 1.65%. This is historic people in my generation and probably all across the board have never seen mortgage rates this low. Ever.

For first time buyers there couldn't be a better time to buy. Alberta's market is about as soft as it's going to get. Though seasonal rises in prices are sure to be a factor, prices and sales are starting to increase. This is even truer for those who are able to invest in property. People are definitely seeing the silver lining to the economic cloud.

Many economist believe that the recession in Canada will start to reverse near the end of this year. I wouldn't expect prices to rise quickly but why not try to buy at the bottom of the market rather than in a rising one?

PM Stephen Harper's June 2009 economic progress report - -Some signs of stabilization have been appearing in the world economy. And Canada's economic performance, though pulled down by the global recession, remains the best among all major developed countries.

-These measures are creating and protecting jobs, building infrastructure, easing the tax burden on families, supporting Canadians who have lost their jobs, helping threatened industries, and laying the foundations for our future prosperity.

-Combined with the actions taken by provinces and territories, Canada's economic stimulus this year and next is proportionally the largest of any country in the G7!

Canada was never completely pulled under by the recession in fact our banks were a model of safe banking practices effectively side-stepping most of the major crash.

Alberta consumers optimistic about economy: report - "Despite an economic downturn, half of Albertans say now is a good time to buy big-ticket items while a quarter expect their household income to increase in the next year.

Consumers in Alberta are in an unexpectedly optimistic mood, according to a confidence survey of 900 Albertans sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC and conducted by Leger Marketing Inc. released Monday."

With stores offering incentives to buy and many people realizing, "Hey I read about the recession but my life hasn't changed THAT much", stores are going to start seeing improvements in sales.

Confidence in housing market a 'good sign': economist -Despite a stream of negative economic news, most Canadians who've recently bought a home have confidence in their decision, according to a survey by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

A national consumer survey released Tuesday said 90% of recent home purchasers believed that a house is a good long-term investment. Almost 70% of respondents also said they felt that this is a good time to buy a home.

BMO economist Robert Kavcic said he's not surprised that consumers might feel this way. "We've seen house prices come down across the country, and mortgage rates are bouncing around record lows," he said. "The cost of having a home right now looks very low relative to the past five or six years."

If you are in a position to buy a house as an investment then now is the time to do so for all the same reasons.

Today headlines screamed "Edmonton Jobless rate a 12-year high" the jobless rate is almost double what it was last year this time at 6.6%. This is due to summer job seeking students and possibly an influx of new Albertans looking for work in what many think is the best place in Canada to get a job.

"The sharply rising labour market is a reflection that Alberta is still enjoying an inflow of interprovincial migrants. Canadians from other provinces are still regarding Alberta as one of the better places in the country to be looking for work." ATB Financial senior economist Todd Hirsch

However, this seemingly scary number is actually a recognized indicator that the recession may be coming to an end.

"The job market is a lagging indicator, and history tells us that the peak of job losses typically corresponds to the official end of a recession. Judging by that, we are increasingly hopeful that Canada and Alberta have already turned the corner on this nasty recession."

It's interesting to note that although Alberta's jobless rate is at a 12-year high it is still the third lowest in Canada. Proving that it's all how you look at it.

Highway Improvements to Create Jobs in Alberta - "Stimulating our economy and keeping people working during these tough economic times is a top priority for our Government," said Minister Merrifield. "The strong relationship between our two governments enables us to work together to help Alberta communities remain competitive and prosperous, while contributing to the long-term economic growth of our country."

"Our Government is fulfilling the commitments we made in Canada's Economic Action Plan," said Minister Ambrose. "By investing in roads and highways, we will help give our economy the boost it needs, while also creating opportunities to keep Albertans working throughout these difficult times."

Another reason why Alberta is the place to invest for the long term. Systematic building of infrastructure to prepare for the next upswing of the economy.

End is at hand for downturn: Expert- Hype over the economic meltdown has inspired unnecessary panic, as recessions are part of the ebb and flow of a healthy economy, chamber president Martin Salloum said, adding that speculation among members indicates the downturn will reach cessation within 18 months.

“Edmonton’s economy is diverse enough to weather the storm,” he told Metro, adding that proof of the Alberta advantage is omnipresent.

The biggest misconception, Salloum said, is that oil is Edmonton’s economic lifeblood.

“We’re not just a one-trick pony,” he said. “We’re much more diverse than people think.”

Alberta was the first province to experience the economic down-turn and is showing signs of being the first to come out of it. The economy is strong and diverse enough all we have to do is wait for demand to increase and Edmonton will go off.

Home sales reverse course - The number of resale homes sold through MLS in May rose 18.7 per cent over the same month last year, said the Realtors Association of Edmonton on Tuesday.

It's the second straight month of year-over-year increases in Edmonton-region home sales. April's residential sales were up 1.1 per cent over the previous month.

It follows six consecutive months --from October to March--when sales were down between three and 40.5 per cent from the year before.

Association president Charlie Ponde said the two-month turnaround, along with monthly sales increases since January, show the market is recovering, although some of the increase may be seasonal. "Now it has shown that it looks like a trend,"Ponde said.

Down-turn or not people still need a place to live and there are still a lot of jobs to be filled in Edmonton; new employees need a place to live - rent or buy.

Alberta cities score high on economy - Cowtown is Wowtown but Edmonton isn't far behind, says a report released yesterday that gave Calgary a top-of-the-class grade on a global scorecard for overall economic prosperity.

Calgary was the lone metropolis in a survey of international commerce heavyweights to earn an A grade in the Calgary Economic Development-commissioned Conference Board of Canada report.

Edmonton was third. Dallas was sandwiched at second between Alberta's two major centres in the 23-city ranking.

Such results aren't surprising for Calgary, which accounts for 5% of national gross domestic product, despite a local economy cooled by the recession, said Cowtown Mayor Dave Bronconnier.
Edmonton has the same potential as Calgary but with lower house prices and higher affordability. We know where Calgary is economically with Edmonton following you are going to get great returns on housing investments. Buying now with the incredible rates and soft prices is like being at the sale of the decade.

Don R. Campbell, Canadian real estate expert, investor, bestselling author and mentor, answers real estate questions on CBC Saskatchewan. Get almost 50 minutes of Q&A with Canada's leading real estate dude!

Click here *requires RealPlayer