Fort McMurray: residential development in the works
Northern Alberta’s crude-propelled boom town will be getting a boost of another kind: real estate development. Fort Mac has seen an alarming housing shortage over the past few years as people flood to Alberta’s north for work on the oil sands. With no shortage of tenants, this new housing development will likely send investors scrambling [...]
Mortgage paydown or max out RRSP’s?
It’s that time of year again: tax time. And for many this time of year with it brings questions involving RRSP’s and how much to contribute. For those of us with mortgages, this question can be a tricky one. Should I put that money towards my mortgage or invest it in RRSP’s? This depends on [...]
Home buyers plan: Little details count
We all do it. Overlook a small detail and then realize it wasn’t so small after all. A reader wrote in this question to the Globe and Mail wondering if there was any way to get around the 90-day waiting period set out by the Home Buyers’ Plan. An excerpt of the article is below, [...]
Putting the “in” in Investment
Current housing market trends point towards investors finally getting the reprieve they need to enhance their real estate portfolios. The B.C. Realtor Association (BCREA) has confirmed a near 8 percent dip in the value of properties sold during the first month of the year. Canadian Real Estate Wealth spoke to a number of real estate [...]
5 Quick Wealth Creation Tips for Real Estate Investors
by Julie Broad First, it’s important to be clear that wealth and income is not the same thing. I think many people confuse the two. Income is what you make – the money that is coming in every month. Wealth is what you have built up – it is what you’re worth. So how do [...]
Canadian MLS Innovates
On the back of the National Association of Realtors’ House Price Index (HPI) in the US, the newly launched Canadian Multiple Listing Service (MLS) HPI is now serving Canadian home buyers, sellers and realtors across Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Although Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver have had an HPI in place since [...]
Financial Freedom into Retirement
This week has seen media buzzing about retirement and pensions after PM Harper hinted at possible changes to Old Age Security Benefits. The below excerpt from the Globe and Mail offers a few tips to retirees on how to ensure financial security into your golden years: Educate yourself If your employer offers a pension plan, [...]
Vancouver Backs New Web Tool for Tenants
Vancouver is one step closer to having an online database for renters. A motion went before council a week ago, which called for the creation of a searchable rental database. Mayor Gregor Robertson calls it a necessary tool for Vancouver renters, adding that it will help them avoid negligent landlords. Robertson says the city already [...]
Soft Landing for Canadian Housing Prices
The housing market is cooling, but it may be exactly what the doctor ordered. With fears of a collapse circulating a cooling-off period such as this one indicates that Canadians aren’t keen on getting too deep in debt. Low interest rates are also keeping buyers in the market, ensuring that a slump isn’t in the [...]
Surrey top investment destination in BC
In the words of Don Campbell, when it comes to real estate investing, “you want your money to go where the people are going to go.” And with that in mind, the Real Estate Investing Network (REIN) has published their list of the top investment towns in BC. Some things that they look for is [...]
The Essential Real Estate Investment Team
We have all heard the phrase, “two heads are better than one.” When it comes to real estate investment, having the right team of professionals walk you through the myriad of steps involved is not only better than doing it alone – it is absolutely essential. Three key professionals who will enhance your real estate [...]
Answers to Real Estate Questions You May Have
Over the years, I have gotten many questions in regards to real estate and the real estate market. I compiled some of the more interesting questions I have received and did my best to answer them fully. Is it worthy to invest in real estate? Why? ANSWER: In the last decade, the “average” real [...]
Is Canada Still a Safe Haven for Real Estate Investment?
When it comes to buying real estate, it might seem obvious that location is the most important factor in one’s decision-making process. However, the perfect location for an investment has as much to do with aesthetic value and infrastructural assets as it does with the socio-economic climate. This has certainly been evident amidst the ongoing [...]
Is Real Estate a Hedge Against Inflation?
Generally speaking from the outside, Canadian real estate looks like a good way to hedge inflation. This is because the overall Canadian real estate market has done quite well over the last few years, especially compared to other world markets, which have been tumbling and trying to bounce back to more stable levels. When looking [...]
Leveraging to Purchase Real Estate
Leverage is power in the investment world, and buying real estate by leveraging makes it one of the most effective investment strategies available. In the simplest of terms, levering means using other people’s money (OPM) to purchase an investment. A mortgage would be considered leveraging; using the equity against one property to help finance another [...]
Living Longer and The Rising Cost of Retirement
According to studies, people today are reaching old age in better health and living longer lives. 30 years ago, the average life expectancy of a Canadian male was 75 years – today, this figure has increased to 80 years (The World Bank). Supposing that the average Canadian male retires around the age of 65, the [...]
Considering GDP in Investment Real Estate
The importance of researching economic growth or decline and emerging market trends is not lost on any property investor. Much of the information that investors turn to, however, is based on lagging indicators, such as vacancy rates and average prices. Lagging indicators are useful when predicting long-term trends because they change after the economy as [...]
Borrowing Money Privately – Documents Needed to Close a Real Estate Deal
When you are looking for real estate for investment purposes and are having trouble borrowing money from the bank or other financial institutions, you may have to consider your other options. For some, these options might include not getting their ideal investment property. For others, they may contact a private lender. Should the lender feel interested and [...]
Where to Spend Your Cash
Getting rich off of rental real estate means you will be purchasing outside of BC – at least for now. While the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2011 Fourth Quarter Housing Forecast earlier this month supporting the notion that “now might be a good time to buy”, you should take a look [...]
The Real Asset
Is real estate an investment? I believe it is, but not everyone thinks so. If you talk to an account manager at your bank, she probably won’t suggest investing in real estate, although she would be happy to take your mortgage while steering you into an RRSP. Ditto with an independent investment advisor – he’ll [...]
Issue 4 – Cash Flow is King
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Issue 2 – Making Your Equity Work
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