Edmonton Real Estate Investor

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

April 14th., 2015
Volume 18, Issue 7

Dear Friends and Partners,

From time to time I post a thought from Steve Chandler’s Wealth Warrior group that I belong to.

Here is another about collaboration with your partners and yourself;

"If you're doing business with partners, you'll want to meet often on the central issue of wealth creation. Most people never meet on that subject. They meet about problems. Soon they become a group of problem-analyzers, instead of a group of wealth-creators.

Have this be the subject of a meeting:

How does this adventure of ours expand, succeed, and get more creative?

And if you are in business alone, as so many people are today, don't forget your meetings! Meet with yourself for the very same objectives that a team would meet for. Let your conscious mind and your subconscious mind get to know each other. Let the left side of the brain shake hands with the right. Harmonious convergence leads to wealth." Sign up for his newsletter here

West Edmonton: Jasper Park Legal 4-Unit Cash-flow

Turbo charge your portfolio. This legal 4-unit, 1962 built, RA-7 zoned property is located directly across from school and park in Jasper Park. Near Telus World of Science, Edmonton Zoo, NAIT, Hospital and fast access to downtown and on either the Yellowhead or Whitemud. This property has front entrances to the 4 X1 BD and a parking pad for six cars.

This property was purpose built and is in good condition. It is rare to find a legal 4-pled for this price. Investment capital includes $15K budget slated for further renovations to modernize and improve value and rent-ability. All suites have own laundry. This is a turn-key deal. Excellent access to downtown, transit and parks.

This property comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Jasper Place is a mature area that is a desirable for tenants working in the city or attending NAITS west-side campus. HUGE upside potential due to the RA-7 zoning of the building, great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this property in relation to Edmonton's desirable growing core.

Purchase price: $449,000
Total Investment: $108,500
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $60,697
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 56% or 11% per year

These 4 suites rent for top dollar and have everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: impeccable tenant selection, financial analysis, professional inspection, insurance, financing set-up, legal fees, basic accounting, reserve fund, CMA, bi-annual statements, strategic market planning to ensure successful entry and exit, plus much more!

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

There might be light at the bottom of the barrel

By Myke Thomas, Calgary Sun, April 4th, 2015

Here’s what you do know: The low price of oil has taken Alberta’s roller-coaster economy on a downward spiral.
What you may not know is how did we get here and what happens going forward.

For some answers, here’s Todd Hirsch, chief economist at ATB Financial.

“The story of how we got here has been told repeatedly,” says Hirsch.

“The problem in 2014 and 2015 has been far too much global supply. OPEC has just finally said, ‘We’re not going to be the guardians of high prices anymore, we are no longer going to curtail our production in an attempt to keep oil prices high. We’re just going to turn on the spigots and produce as much as we can,’ and that of course has resulted in a global glut of oil accompanied with some weak demand globally.” FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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The biggest threat to our economy is fear

By Myke Thomas, The Calgary Sun, March 28th, 2015

Do not feed the fears — that was the bottom line message on Alberta’s economy, delivered by ATB economist Todd Hirsch to a gathering of residential construction executives last week.
“I think that when we’re dealing with an economy that’s moving into a rough patch, sometimes we are in danger of falling into this ‘already-living-in-a-recession mentality’ when a recession isn’t even a foregone conclusion,” said Hirsch.

“Some of us are already living in the worst of times, the worst-case scenarios that can possibly happen and very quickly that builds into our mentality and does nothing positive in terms of moving the economy forward.” READ MORE HERE

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Westjet Airlines says passenger demeaned growing despite Alberta’s sluggish economy

By Ross Marowits, Financial Post, April 6th, 2015

WestJet Airlines said Monday passenger demand keeps growing even as concerns mount about the impact on the Calgary-based carrier due to a sluggish Alberta economy following the recent collapse in oil prices.
The airline said passenger traffic increased 1.5% in March from a year ago, as a record 1.7 million people flew on the Calgary-based airline and its regional subsidiary WestJet Encore.

However, WestJet’s capacity grew 4.8%, causing its load factor — or the amount of seats that are used — to fall by 2.7 points to 81.3%, from 84% in March 2014. READ MORE HERE

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

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

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of majority, it is time to pause and reflect." - Mark Twain

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

Here is an interactive map of the price of housing across Canada. You can click on the cities and see how much the average house is and what you would need to earn to purchase it.

Highest West Van - $1.7 million purchase price and $320,000 income
Lowest Trois Rivieres - $160, 064 and $39,379 income

With a spread like this you can see why it's hard to generalize about the "Canadian Housing Market".

Take a look HERE

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

April 1st., 2015
Volume 18, Issue 6

Dear Friends and Partners,

I always find spring inspirational. Yeah, sure, maybe it is the seeds sprouting, warmer weather or the determined bits of green fighting through the slush. Whatever it is, it prompts me to redefine, renew and improve. I like to go through my systems and protocols to see what is working, what’s not and what can be improved upon. Constant learning is essential as is setting ‘fresh eyes’ upon your daily actions.

Whether you like Louis C.K.’s brand of humour or not, you can hear is honesty and frustration coming through in the jokes. But, forget him as a comedian for a second and read this article about what he did and the uncomfortable choices he made without certainty - that got him where he is today; that is a great story. It’s a spring story too.

"Louis CK turned down $500,000 a year from Conan in the early 90s so he could go broke instead. Conan wanted to hire him as head writer of his show. Every step of the way in the 20 years since he put a challenge in front of himself that seemed impossible and it was until he passed it. Now he’s the best comedian ever. One can argue with that but one can argue about anything. He was offered the job of head writer at one of the hottest comedy shows in the world. He would’ve grown from that and be set for life." Read more here

West Edmonton: Jasper Park Legal 4-Unit Cash-flow

Turbo charge your portfolio. This legal 4-unit, 1962 built, RA-7 zoned property is located directly across from school and park in Jasper Park. Near Telus World of Science, Edmonton Zoo, NAIT, Hospital and fast access to downtown and on either the Yellowhead or Whitemud. This property has front entrances to the 4 X1 BD and a parking pad for six cars.

This property was purpose built and is in good condition. It is rare to find a legal 4-pled for this price. Investment capital includes $15K budget slated for further renovations to modernize and improve value and rent-ability. All suites have own laundry. This is a turn-key deal. Excellent access to downtown, transit and parks.

This property comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Jasper Place is a mature area that is a desirable for tenants working in the city or attending NAITS west-side campus. HUGE upside potential due to the RA-7 zoning of the building, great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this property in relation to Edmonton's desirable growing core.

Purchase price: $449K
Total Investment: $108,500K
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $60,697K.
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 56% or 11% per year

These 4 suites rent for top dollar and have everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: impeccable tenant selection, financial analysis, professional inspection, insurance, financing set-up, legal fees, basic accounting, reserve fund, CMA, bi-annual statements, strategic market planning to ensure successful entry and exit, plus much more!

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

What to do when Alberta’s housing boom turns to bust

By Gary Marr, Financial Post, March 23rd, 2015

The economic downturn in Alberta is nothing new to Ryan Griffiths. The technician who works for the Ford Motor Co. in Airdrie, just north of Calgary, gets paid piecemeal based on every job he does. When the economy started to slow in 2008, he had to figure out how to make ends meet. “That’s the running joke around here: How did you get through it last time?” said Mr. Griffiths, 45.
The simple answer is: save enough money so you have a cushion when times are bad. Most planners suggest savings should cover your living costs for three to six months. The worst answer is: to do what some people appear to be considering right now, panicking. FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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Under clouds of economic gloom, Alberta entrepreneurs defend turf

By Anwar Ali, The Globe and Mail, March 19th, 2015

In the face of negativity swirling around the economy, Albertan entrepreneurs are steadfastly defending their turf, albeit with a little dose of reality.
Economic predictions are getting worse as GDP growth steadily declines. The provincial government’s current 2015 growth forecast, 0.6 per cent, is well below the previous estimate. The Conference Board of Canada has even warned that Alberta may stagger into a recession this year, its ability to recover contingent on the oil industry. READ MORE HERE

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Nearly half of Alberta consumers say economy remains strong

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald, March 6th, 2015

The latest ATB Consumer Economic Pulse survey found that 47 per cent of Albertans in late February saw the province’s economy as strong despite the uncertain climate with lower oil prices.
That’s up by two percentage points from the previous survey in early February.

But their thoughts about the future economic outlook are not as positive. READ MORE HERE

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

I appreciate all your calls and emails. I'm looking forward to helping you with your next step towards building real wealth.
Your success continues EVERYDAY, let me help you build for tomorrow.

“Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have, and that is awesome." - Zig Ziglar

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

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

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

"If most people keep their jobs, they’ll be able to pay their mortgages. If you have a job and you want to sell, you’ll likely still choose to not sell over accepting an offer that represents a big hit to your equity.
If that happens, we’ll find a lot of listings remaining unsold, with corresponding big drops in sales stats, but relatively stable prices."

I think prices are going to go down for the next 18 months -24 months. We may enter a down turn of 2 years, then up again in 2017 or 2018.

If you step back, it just seems to be that 5 to 7 year cycle. We may enter a down turn of 2 years, then up again in 2017 or 2018.

If you have a lot of equity and don't mind getting out then do so. I see a lot of listings where prices are strong. Of course asking price and selling price can be two totally different things.

Read the entire excellent level headed article here

Here are companies in Detroit truly making the best out of a bad situation. By reclaiming wood and glass from abandoned homes, they are keeping old forest wood out of landfills and producing beautiful products.

"Gary Zimnicki and Mark Wallace make guitars. Zimnicki also makes ukuleles and mandolins from old lumber that he says produces a richer sound. While most of his acoustic instruments use conventional wood, some buyers want an instrument made from a 100-year-old house, said Zimnicki, 57, whose home workshop is in Allen Park, a suburb.

“It’s a cool thing to be involved with preserving some of the past, part of our heritage,” said Zimnicki, showing a US$4,500 guitar made of wood from a house built in 1910. The top is made of Douglas fir from ceiling joists, rather than spruce. The back and sides are made from maple floorboards. "

Read Full Article HERE

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

March 14th., 2015
Volume 18, Issue 5

Dear Friends and Partners,

With the sudden burst of warm weather in Edmonton, it feels like spring is almost here. I took my youngest son to Home Depot last weekend to buy wood, seeds and soil for our new vegetable garden.

We also took some sprouting strawberry seeds and transferred them to little pots where we’ll grow them until we can ‘harden’ them and transplant outside after the threat of frost is gone.

This preparation to plant and the act of planting reminds me of quotes about planting a dollar, nurturing it to a business or an investment.

With that said are you ready for a little financial quiz? It’ll take you about 5 minutes and the results are insightful and fun to read: Pro Profs Money Quiz

Central Edmonton: Allendale 5-Unit Cash-flow

This 5-unit, 1940 built mixed-use commercial multi-family property is located in the heart of Allendale . Near U.O.A., Strathcona School, Hospital and fast access to downtown and the Whitemud this is a terrific location boating many parks in a desirable, mature neighbourhood.

This property has front entrances to the main suites as follows; 1X 3BD, 2X 1BD, 2X Bachelor. This property was built as a dwelling and commercial units (2).

It has recently had Safe Housing upgrades as well as interior upgrades. This will become a turn-key deal. The property has a double car garage and driveway. Excellent access to downtown, transit and parks.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Inglewood is a great mature area that is a desirable for tenants working in the city or attending Grant MacEwan. HUGE upside potential due to the quality of the building, great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this property in relation to Edmonton's desirable growing core.

Purchase price: $635K
Total Investment: $139,925K.
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $76,000K.
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 55% or 11% per year

These 5 suites rent for top dollar and have everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: impeccable tenant selection, financial analysis, professional inspection, insurance, financing set-up, legal fees, basic accounting, reserve fund, CMA, bi-annual statements, strategic market planning to ensure successful entry and exit, plus much more!

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

Oil Prices: Freaking investors out for 150 years and counting

By Tyler Crowe , Motley Fool, February 17th, 2015

The entire oil and gas industry has pretty much maneuvered from crisis to crisis since its inception.

Whenever I read or watch financial media coverage of oil prices lately, the image that comes to mind is a bunch of kids who just ate half their weight in candy, washed it down with a gallon of Red Bull, and then run around the playground at warp speed. They both move so fast and sporadically that is almost impossible to keep up with them. Here is just a small example of headlines that have been found at major financial media outlets in just the past week:
Citi: Oil Could Plunge to $20, and This Might Be ‘the End of OPEC’
OPEC sees oil prices exploding to $200 a barrel
Oil at $55 per barrel is here to stay
Gas prices may double by year’s end: Analyst

FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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Eklund’s Millions: Real Estate/Reality star visits Edmonton

By Laura Severs, Edmonton Journal, March 6th, 2015

EDMONTON - "It was a million-dollar moment for Edmonton’s burgeoning million-dollar home market.
Fredrik Eklund, New York City’s top agent for 2014 according to industry publication The Real Deal, was on hand to share his secrets for success with Edmonton’s real estate movers and shakers.

A sold-out crowd of 300 turned out at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald on Saturday, Feb. 28 to hear advice from the star of the hit reality real estate TV series Million Dollar Listing New York. They also showed up to find out how they could take Edmonton’s housing sector to the next level.

But the secret, said Eklund, is that there’s no silver bullet."

“The unglamorous answer is to work harder than anyone else,” “The only thing you have is yourself; the more I’m me, the more successful I am.” Fredrik Eklund

READ MORE HERE

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Edmonton Economy to see slight growth

By Dave Lazzarino, Edmonton Sun, March 3rd, 2015

Edmonton council heard Tuesday that the local economy may be more resilient than the province is making it sound.
The city's chief economist, John Rose, admitted that the provincial arithmetic that points to a $7 billion budget hole is sound, but it isn't the only number to consider.

"I wouldn't say (premier Prentice) is exaggerating their fiscal circumstances; they've got a major problem and they need to address it," said Rose. "Perhaps what might be pointed out in a little bit more positive way is that they've got a $6 billion contingency fund they're sitting on. What's happening with that?”

GRAB THIS STORY

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I appreciate all your calls and emails. I'm looking forward to helping you with your next step towards building real wealth.
Your success continues EVERYDAY, let me help you build for tomorrow.

“My philosophy is that if I have any money I invest it in new ventures and not have it sitting around." - Richard Branson

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

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

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

Edmonton real estate market where is your downtown?

The oil prices have everyone jumpy but as yet the market here is not showing significant moves either way. In our key areas houses are still being listed at values indicative of a strong market.

Listed but not sold.

We'll need to wait and see if what they are asking is actually what they get.

“Our inventory is increasing, but we were very low and we expected it to do that in the spring,”
“Our sales are down a little, but we still do have sales. They’re not down as drastically as Calgary’s.” Realtor's Association of Edmonton President Geneva Tetreault Read More

Something from across the pond

It's a great reminder of the Albertan/Canadian cost of living when you see what you can get overseas for the same amount of money as a house in Canada. Of course it works both ways if you look at Vancouver.
Investors from around the world have come to Vancouver to purchase properties to ensure their kids can get a high quality education. This is happening now in Scotland.

"The average price of properties for Chinese buyers in the UK, skewed by London, is £770,000. But Mr Taylor says that spans "ultra-high-net-worth buyers who can spend tens and tens of millions, down to the buyer who starts looking at properties in the £100,000s" Read More

“Rates are so low now that investors should never be making an investment decision based on whether the BoC raises or lowers its rate,”"They need to pay attention to the reasons why it happens.

“Let the consumers obsess about the rate – strategic investors obsess about the why. It is always in the ‘why’ where strategic investment decisions are made.”

“Right now, the Bank of Canada is saying their economic metrics are showing stability and that they are happy with the impact of their last rate cut, happy with the lower Canadian dollar, happy with how that buffers the lower oil price while providing incentives to exporters,”
Don Campbell, a real estate investor, researcher, author and educator read full CREW article HERE

"Whenever I read or watch financial media coverage of oil prices lately, the image that comes to mind is a bunch of kids who just ate half their weight in candy, washed it down with a gallon of Red Bull, and then run around the playground at warp speed. They both move so fast and sporadically that is almost impossible to keep up with them.
Here is just a small example of headlines that have been found at major financial media outlets in just the past week:
    •    Citi: Oil Could Plunge to $20, and This Might Be ‘the End of OPEC’
    •    OPEC sees oil prices exploding to $200 a barrel
    •    Oil at $55 per barrel is here to stay
    •    Gas prices may double by year’s end: Analyst
Popular Among Time Subscribers

What is absolutely mind-boggling about these statements is that these sorts of predictions are accompanied with the dumbest thing that anyone can say about commodities: This time it’s different.
No it’s not, and we have 150 years worth of oil price panics to prove it." Read More

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

March 3, 2015
Volume 18, Issue 4

Dear Friends and Partners,

If you want to buy a revenue producing investment property, expand your portfolio, build the foundation for wealth - this is a great time to do it! Edmonton's experiencing a dip in its ever-cyclical real estate market that invites you, begs you, to hunt out the good deals.

If you are buying correctly (refer to our earlier blogs on how to choose an investment property) then you will see opportunity, as well as fear, in the market. What you need to do is have your parameters set tight for a property that meets your investment goal, and pull the trigger.

Are you waiting for rates to go lower? Don't.
Do listen to what Peter Kinch has to say about that. Watch here

Here is an excerpt from Fast Company about the importance of zagging while others zig:

Disruptive strategies begin with the courage to zag where others zig.

If your competitors are all starting to turn left, you look right. It is actually not that hard to do. It takes no brilliant foresight. It does not require seeing what others don’t. It simply requires reading the herd. When your competitors all start running in one direction, you just need to ask, "What if I ran in a different direction?” Read it here

Central Edmonton: Allendale 5-Unit Cashflow

This 5-unit, 1940 built mixed-use commercial multi family property is located in the heart of Allendale . Near U.O.A., Strathcona School, Hospital and fast access to downtown and the Whitemud this is a terrific location boating many parks in a desirable, mature neighbourhood.
This property has front entrances to the main suites as follows; 1X 3BD, 2X 1BD, 2X Bachelor. This property was built as a dwelling and commercial units (2). It has recently had Safe Housing upgrades as well as interior upgrades. This will become a turn-key deal. The property has a double car garage and driveway. Excellent access to downtown, transit and parks.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Inglewood is a great mature area that is a desirable for tenants working in the city or attending Grant MacEwan. HUGE upside potential due to the quality of the building, great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this property in relation to Edmonton's desirable growing core.

Purchase price: $635K
Total Investment: $139,925K.
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $76,000K.
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 55% or 11% per year

These 5 suites rent for top dollar and have everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: impeccable tenant selection, financial analysis, professional inspection, insurance, financing set-up, legal fees, basic accounting, reserve fund, CMA, bi-annual statements, strategic market planning to ensure successful entry and exit, plus much more!

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

Lamphier: Alberta’s woes bring joy elsewhere
But TriWest says investors are moving in

By Gary Lamphier , Edmonton Journal, February 19th, 2015

EDMONTON - Sometimes, Canada resembles a giant high school. Petty jealousies, parochial squabbling and ugly sniping often trumps any shared national interest.
For years, Alberta has led the nation in economic growth and job creation, generating wealth for the entire country. But too often, Alberta’s success has only stoked envy and resentment elsewhere.

Now that oil prices are down and Alberta’s economy is sputtering, there is barely disguised glee in other parts of Canada.

“Pardon my schadenfreude,” one West Coast newspaper columnist recently sniffed. “No one likes to see the job loss that the plummet in oil prices has caused in Alberta ... But the corrective effect it’s having on our neighbour’s hubris? I admit to my mean spiritedness.”
FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE
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Workers, still finding jobs in Alberta, labour force numbers show

By David Howell, Edmonton Journal, February 6th, 2015

Workers are finding jobs in Alberta but the oil and gas industry is taking a hit, January employment numbers show.
Alberta added 13,700 jobs in January, most of them full-time, bringing gains over the past 12 months to 67,000 or 3.0 per cent.

That’s the fastest growth rate among all Canadian provinces, Statistics Canada reported Friday in its monthly labour force survey.

Alberta’s unemployment rate was 4.5 per cent in January, down by 0.2 percentage points from December. Nationally, unemployment decreased slightly to 6.6 per cent.

Edmonton’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.8 per cent but the city enjoyed a net gain of about 1,500 jobs, said John Rose, chief economist for the City of Edmonton. GET IT HERE

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Edmonton’s fast population growth to slow in 2015, city economist says.
Oil slump doesn’t mean people will stop moving here says, Rose

By David Howell and Andrea Sands , Edmonton Journal, February 11th, 2015

Edmonton has emerged from the latest Statistics Canada population snapshot as the second-fastest-growing city in Canada, behind only Calgary.
But the downturn in the economy means the rapid growth won’t continue into 2015, the city’s chief economist warns.

Between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014, the population of the Edmonton census metropolitan area grew 3.3 per cent to 1,328,290, Statistics Canada said Wednesday.

The Edmonton census metropolitan area includes Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Beaumont, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Morinville, Devon, Gibbons, Redwater, Calmar, Thorsby and several other communities. READ MORE HERE

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

I appreciate all your calls and emails. I'm looking forward to helping you with your next step towards building real wealth.
Your success continues EVERYDAY, let me help you build for tomorrow.

“Set your goals high and don’t stop until you get there." - Bo Jackson

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

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

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

Alberta is a place of booms and busts. Wealth can be made and lost very quickly. For all the "overnight" success stories you hear there are dozens more tales of funds lost, misappropriated and outright stolen.

From straw buying to title fraud there are many ways you can be taken. Take a look at Globe and Mail's Top 6 Real Estate Scams.

We've all heard of the Madoff ponzi scheme that took in billions of dollars. Did you know we have a possible Canadian one in courts now? Read about League Group and the $330 million of investors funds that they lost.

Lastly, Field of Dreams, the Albertan farmland project that lost billions.

We recently moved to accomodate our desire for city living with a bit of a country life feel. We got a beautiful ravine front bungalow. My kids say it's country in the front, city in the back.
One of our neighbours owns three houses on the street. They are rented and used for storage as well. These are pretty expensive prime lots. I imagine he bought these three houses kept them tenanted and paid down the mortgages over the last 25 years until he got mortgage free.
He now has a steady cash flow ( aside from taxes, insurance and repairs) and easily one million plus just for the lots....
If that isn't an excellent long term strategy I don't know what is!
You don't need 20+ houses you would do well with only one.
“We have always believed that real estate is a safe long-term play. The numbers don’t lie – since prices have begun to be tracked, they have increased,” “Of course we have seen short-term fluctuation with dips and corrections, but in the long term the arrow has always pointed up.” Don Campbell

Real estate is not day-trading - read more HERE

In my neighbourhood all the old tiny war houses are being turn down and turned into gigantic single family homes, duplexes and triplexes. I ofter marvel at the heating costs of such mega houses.

If you are on Facebook and aren't good at avoiding clickbait you have seen the exact opposite end of the spectrum. Tiny houses. 900 sqft and down. Often built by the owner and using whatever he could find in a 100 meter radius (I jest). However tiny houses are amazing. They look cozy and often epitomize a Japanese aesthetic of style and functionality.

What takes me out of the tiny house market is a husband, two boys, a cat and a billiards table.

Today you can see a 165 sqft one on beautiful Pender Island HERE

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

February 14th., 2015
Volume 18, Issue 3

Dear Friends and Partners,

Not all the news stories are bad. I met my friend early Monday morning and he looked really tired. He said that he’d been volunteering (1 of 3 shifts) for The World's Longest Hockey Game. He’d spent from 2:AM-6:AM score-keeping.

That meant standing on the cold balcony watching the game at the house of Dr. Brent Saik's of Saiker's Acres hockey rink who has been hosting the event. He said it's amazing to take part.

You can see more here and donate here. Keep the good news coming.

Central Edmonton: Inglewood 4-Unit Cashflow

Turbo charge your portfolio. This 1977 built Side X Side Duplex with fully finished basement suites is located a few blocks from the old municipal airport, which is to be redeveloped into an urban living/green space. Inglewood offers easy access to Downtown, Grant MacEwan and Yellowhead Highway as well as many parks and schools to enjoy in this desirable, mature neighbourhood.

This property has front entrances to each side of the 2 X 3BD halves. This property was built as a duplex and features 2 x 1BD (non-conforming) basement suites. Slated to renovate and modernize to improve value and rent-ability. This will become a turn-key deal. The property has a double car garage and driveway. Excellent access to downtown, transit and parks.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Inglewood is a great mature area that is a desirable for tenants working in the city or attending Grant MacEwan. HUGE upside potential due to the quality of the building, great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this property in relation to Edmonton's desirable growing core.

Purchase price: $679,000
Total Investment: $158,900
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $96,725
Your Estimated pre-tax Total ROI is 60% or 12% per year

These 4 suites rent for top dollar and have everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: impeccable tenant selection, financial analysis, professional inspection, insurance, financing set-up, legal fees, basic accounting, reserve fund, CMA, bi-annual statements, strategic market planning to ensure successful entry and exit, plus much more!

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

Short-term slowdown predicted

By Myke Thomas , Calgary Sun, January 17th, 2015

The sudden and precipitous drop in the price of oil has put a huge question mark over the Calgary housing market in 2015 and Calgarians are looking for answers.
The economists have answered with their thoughts below.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

CMHC predicted a housing market slowdown in the fall, before oil prices plunged, with expectations for total housing starts to decline 16% and net migration to slow by 17%, with an increase of 2% in MLS sales this year over last. FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE
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Analysis: Job figures show oil price drop hasn’t sunk employment
Employers watch numbers for impact of declining spending on oil exploration

By Don Pitis, CBC News, February 6th, 2015

Oil companies across Canada have been slashing their budgets. In previous months, those cuts have not showed up in Canadian unemployment numbers, but today's job numbers offer a new window on the state of the U.S. and Canadian economies.
The numbers were a surprise to the upside, with Canada's economy adding 35,000 jobs during the month — much better than the 5,000 jobs that economists had been expecting.

Jobless figures give unemployed people an update on their prospects for finding work, but labour force statistics do a lot more than that. GRAB THIS STORY

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Keep building during downturn Consulting Engineers of Alberta urge

By David Howell , Edmonton Journal, February 5th, 2015

Alberta’s economic woes have prompted the Consulting Engineers of Alberta to ask members to hold their 2015 rates for consulting services at 2014 levels, as part of a wider effort to encourage continued spending on infrastructure.

In December, the association recommended a 3.3-per-cent increase to 2015 contracts. But after a vigorous debate this week, board members voted unanimously to ask all firms to hold the line, CEA president Matt Brassard said Thursday. READ MORE HERE

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I appreciate all your calls and emails. I'm looking forward to helping you with your next step towards building real wealth.
Your success continues EVERYDAY, let me help you build for tomorrow.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going!" - Winston Churchill

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

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

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

http://www.glennsimoninc.com/aboutus.php

I got stuck in an 80s music warp on youtube the other day. One hit led to another till I was watching a Platinum Blonde video.

Where are they now??? Pressing question, I googled them.

Kenny Maclean the bassist and Keyboardist passed away in 2008.

Mark Holmes the lead singer is an actor and composer.

Sergio Galli is a luxury home builder in Ontario. I'm sure I've seen his beautiful homes in Mississauga. Take a look here

Chris Steffler lives in Toronto. I found a great article about his foray into rental real estate. Imagine the guy from Platinum Blonde as your landlord.

Anyway he had some troubles:

“One day I got a call from a tenant saying he was going to sue me for $100 because a mouse ate out the crotch of his girlfriend’s bathing suit and another $500 because mice were in his sofa. How did it become such a huge problem? This couple had been there for two years. All they had to do was tell me they’d seen a mouse and I would have come right over to deal with it.”
“I was totally stressed out. When a tenant doesn’t pay the rent or a cheque bounces, you can have the best excuses in the world but the mortgage company doesn’t care about your problems. Some major repair would suddenly need to be done and I’d be like, ‘omigod, I need two grand by Thursday!’ Those houses cost me a lot of money and a relationship.”

The best piece of wisdom:

It’s about being self-sufficient,” he says. “If your landlord doesn’t have to come all the way to your place at dinnertime on a long weekend just to fix a leaky tap, you cement a great relationship. Just let him cash your cheques and worry about the big stuff, like replacing a furnace or the roof. The more love you can get happening with your landlord, the better off you’ll be.”

Rentals are never easy. It's interesting everyone has the same troubles. No one is doing it better and becoming a millionaire over night. Maybe a property manager could have eased his troubles.

“While this is not unusual for the winter, it can make it difficult for buyers to find the right home. The influx of properties we have seen on the market in January will be a relief for buyers, allowing them more choice in their price range and possibly more time to make their selection."

We are likely seeing the effects of oil prices and a feeling of economic cautiousness among some buyers,” Geneva Tetreault, president of the Realtors Association of Edmonton Read More

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

January 31st., 2015
Volume 18, Issue 2

Dear Friends and Partners,

Wringing your hands over low oil prices? Fair enough. The tone of the media is certainly off to a gloomy start for 2015. It’s looking like we will have a good buyer’s window for Q2/Q3 as oil prices stay down. This is great news for long-term investors as well as those looking to strategically build up their portfolio; not such good news for sellers. You can hear Don Campbell’s take on oil prices here.

In a recent economic update Don Campbell joked about the tongue-in-cheek abbreviation emerging on social media:

F.W.F.A.Y.S. = Follow Wrong Feed And You're Screwed.

That speaks to the concern of getting bombarded with negative news and following the spiral of depressing messages downward. It’s crucial to remain informed and have a balanced opinion of what is going on.

Personally, I read and listen to people that deliver the facts in as much of an unbiased way as possible. I also tune into stations that ‘report’ more than they ‘spin’ media messages. Still, some days it's tough and you need to unplug and/or get a dose of something positive (Danielle likes Hayhouse) to counter balance.

Central Edmonton: Inglewood 4-Unit Cashflow

Turbo charge your portfolio. This 1977 built Side X Side Duplex with fully finished basement suites is located a few blocks from the old municipal airport, which is to be redeveloped into an urban living/green space. Inglewood offers easy access to Downtown, Grant MacEwan and Yellowhead Highway as well as many parks and schools to enjoy in this desirable, mature neighbourhood.

This property has front entrances to each side of the 2 X 3BD halves. This property was built as a duplex and features 2 x 1BD (non-conforming) basement suites. Slated to renovate and modernize to improve value and rent-ability. This will become a turn-key deal. The property has a double car garage and driveway. Excellent access to downtown, transit and parks.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Inglewood is a great mature area that is a desirable for tenants working in the city or attending Grant MacEwan. HUGE upside potential due to the quality of the building, great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this property in relation to Edmonton's desirable growing core.

Purchase price: $679,000
Total Investment: $158,900
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $96,725
Your Estimated pre-tax Total ROI is 60% or 12% per year

These 4 suites rent for top dollar and have everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: impeccable tenant selection, financial analysis, professional inspection, insurance, financing set-up, legal fees, basic accounting, reserve fund, CMA, bi-annual statements, strategic market planning to ensure successful entry and exit, plus much more!

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Simons: In spite of lower oil prices, Edmonton economy still chugging along

By Paula Simons, Edmonton Journal, January 10th., 2015

“The cyclical collapse of oil prices is as predictable as death. We all know we are going to die. The only surprise is when.”

— Former Alberta finance minister Ted Morton in the Globe and Mail.

EDMONTON - Through Edmonton, a cold wind is blowing.
Not the kind Environment Canada predicts. This is the kind of wind chill forecast that gives people the financial shivers.

Oil prices have plummeted to $48 a barrel. The provincial government has changed its budget projections from a $1.5-billion surplus to a $500-million deficit. Oil producers are starting to talk about layoffs.

It’s the most serious fiscal circumstance we’ve seen in a generation in this province,” Jim Prentice said Thursday. FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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Alberta cannot just sit and wait for the next oil boom

By Andrew Leach, Globe and Mail, January 23rd, 2015

That Alberta is dependent on its resource sector is hardly news – the province has long relied on both the economic activity and the direct revenue from royalties and land sales to underpin government budgets.

However, to listen to many opining on Alberta’s finances and offering solutions to our fiscal “crisis,” you’d think that Alberta was more dependent on resources than it has ever been – and that’s not at all the case.

Alberta’s government revenue story is best summed up by three words: growing; cyclical and diversification. For that story to continue, however, Alberta is going to have to do a lot more than pray for another oil boom to come along. GRAB THIS STORY

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Will oil’s big drop pop Canada’s housing bubble?

By Megan McArdle, Bloomberg News, January 27th, 2015

If you watch any amount of HGTV — which is to say, if you are a middle-aged married person — then you’ve probably noticed something funny: A lot of the people on shows such as “Property Brothers” seem to have Canadian accents. And you’ve probably noticed something else a bit funny:

Those people are paying a heck of a lot for claustrophobic row houses on so-so streets. READ MORE HERE
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I appreciate all your calls and emails. I'm looking forward to helping you with your next step towards building real wealth. Your success continues EVERYDAY, let me help you build for tomorrow.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing." - Walt Disney

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

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

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

Edmonton mature neighbourhoods are revitalizing at a great pace. You can see a lot of the old bungalows and military housing replaced by big beautiful houses all around the city.

"From straw-bale insulated homes to extremely narrow, yet spacious 1,200 square foot homes, the tour looked at several examples of infill homes in mature Edmonton neighbourhoods including Bonnie Doon, Westmount, Riverdale, and Queen Alexandra." Read More

IDEA (Infill Development in Edmonton) held a tour on Saturday to showcase some of the most impressive infills. You can view the slideshow and even sign up for the follow up (Jan 27) workshop here

In Alberta we are used to oil's ups and downs, however, it still causes a lot of emotional turmoil. There are upsides to the lower costs of oil including easing the strain on short staffed industries, time to build infrastructure and giving workers a chance to re-educate.

CBC highlights the silver lining to lower oil

and the Mayor of Fort McMurray has some insight:

"When you go through a slowdown as a municipality, we’re grateful for them….We actually get to catch up on these things that we fell behind on." Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake

"She says for those who make Fort McMurray their home the latest bust cycle will help rein in the high cost of housing and allow small businesses more opportunity to build, grow and find much needed staff."Read more here