Edmonton Real Estate Investor: January 2014

Edmonton came in number 1 in top 10 places to live in Canada. Take a look

Edmonton Journal Garneau house for free

This month has been been for Alberta, Premier Redford was in India promoting Alberta's agriculture, oil and agrifood. The Indian market is enormous and growing. Our incredible reserves of oil, India's interest in them, and with our diverse economy any future collaboration can only be beneficial.

"India is an important emerging market and the potential for the country to be a new market for our oil and gas is enormous,...Quite simply, the long-term costs to Alberta of ignoring huge markets like India are incalculable.” Premier Alison Redford

Redford was at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland planned was a potential debate with Al Gore - famous for calling the oil sands and "open sewer". Perhaps Gore will come to the World Economic Forum on energy and climate change to be held in Alberta April 24-25. It would be an interesting reception.

In Alberta we're looking at $20 Billion ( yes with a B) in projects planned for the heartland;

“We are on the verge of an explosion of development. Shale gas could be as big a resource to Alberta as the oilsands,” Neil Shelly executive director of the Alberta Industrial Heartland Association

On a local note these beautiful 1930s homes are free for the taking (and the cost of moving them) near the U of A. Take a look

Oilsands can help other parts of country if developed safer, faster -
"All of Canada should be working to develop Alberta oilsands because the trillions of dollars it can generate can go to help other areas of the country, says an economic leader. Brad Ferguson, president and CEO of the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, says northern Alberta could contribute $2.1 trillion to the Canadian economy over the next twenty years, or $105 billion dollars a year." Read

Not for sale Calgary house offered for free -
"Jason Hastie may have grown very attached to the southwest Calgary home he has owned for the past 10 years, but he’s decided to give it away.
Hastie and wife Gina are building a new home on their Killarney property and, instead of seeing their existing one torn down, are offering it for free to a deserving new owner." Get it

TransCanada will look at rail if Keystone - " The chief executive of TransCanada said Wednesday if the Obama administration doesn't approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline his company will look to the more dangerous alternative of building build rail terminals in Alberta and Oklahoma." Jump

BoC maintains interest rate at 1% -
"The growing U.S. economy will help Canada's export industry, though Canada will continue to have a worryingly low inflation rate for another couple of years, the Bank of Canada governor said Wednesday.
In response, the bank maintained its overnight interest rate at 1%." Jump

11 Acts of courage that will inspire you - The Daily Worth

Alberta wages surge young men choose work over school - “Go talk to Tim Hortons or McDonald’s, and ask them how easy they find it to hire employees. It’s these sort of industries that really struggle, because they can’t compete on salary,” “A lot of young people who might take up those roles find opportunities to go and earn significant amounts of money at a young age out in the construction or oil and gas sectors.” Jim Fearon, vice-president for Western Canada for international recruitment firm Hays Jump

This Peter Kinch interview on Rush TV is great to watch. Real estate terms, generational wealth, investment real estate and forecasting on interest rates are covered.

I can't even listen to the CBC anymore and I'm especially not going to listen to a rocker (aging or otherwise) tell me about the oil sands.

The cult of celebrity will never, ever teach me about the environment, Canada's economy or the life I should be leading.

And I'm not the only one. Albertans told Neil Young what the really think about his CBC interview on the oilsands and it's not pretty. Take a look...

Alberta had some crazy things happen last year. HuffPost has a funny slideshow of the WTF, LOL and OMG moments of 2013. Take a look here

CBC is requesting your submission now. Of course as one commenter said "the one my house is on", we're all going to think that....

on another note Canada's Most Expensive Cities and the winner is Vancouver!

Somehow I signed up for the Dailyworth. I don't remember doing it but thank goodness I did. The articles are excellent.

Today my favorite "10 habits of high net worth women" has very good points, although I don't think you need to be a woman (the site is female centric) to apply them. The list includes:

1. Determination and will power
2. Start investing early
3. Save Save Save - they have different suggestions on how to do
4. Control your credit card
5. Be goal oriented

My favorite is "Live Like You are Poor". I'm enthralled by living well below your means. I've always been a proponent of this and practice it myself. My father bugs me about it but I think its the safest, smartest financial move you can make. I'm not the only one who thinks so check this, this and have you have you heard of these guys? It's a new form of social responsibility. Sadly in my line of work I see people who live beyond their means, look fantastic but cannot pay the rent.

They're the kind of common sense points you know but may not always be applying. If that article is not for you then you can choose from the myriad of topics under the tabs Plan for the future, Earn with passion , Spend with intention, Give for good and Live to the fullest - very cool.

*Actually it's free but I'm worth time I spend enjoying all articles. It really does feel like a guilty pleasure.

January 14th., 2014
Volume 15, Issue 10

Dear Friends and Partners,

Welcome to our first issue of 2014.

As you might know I belong to Steve Chandler's group Wealth Warrior. Here is a great quote that he included in his last email that I think reflects well the start of the year.

"You can start over today. You can see when it was that you decided you didn't make a difference, make note of it, and then begin as if you no longer had a past at all. How do I know this? Because I just did it today!"

Steve goes on to say that we should take what we do (whatever that may be) and add expression to it.

I create a 1-year goal setting strategy and then implement each quarter into my daily agenda. I review the progress at each quarter's end and see what I need to continue forward with, what has been achieved and what needs to be dropped. The last part is key; something need to be dropped. I'll look at my targets and add Steve's wisdom to the ones that I have trouble reaching, sort of seeing it in a new light.

How about you, are you excited for the New Year or is everyday just another day on the calendar? It just may be and if that day is lived 100%, then that's a fabulously satisfying goal to have reached.

I think we're going to have a good year in Single Family Residential properties and multifamily sales here in Edmonton. Supply is tight for well priced, quality multifamily. SFR and suited houses will be good buys this year. Provided the purchase price supports rent when stress tested (rents fall/rates increase).

I think town houses and condos will remain flat making it a good time to buy and a competitive time to sell. If selling, you need to have your property stand out in the crowd by being well renovated as well as well priced. Take advantage of the lower mortgage rates and strategically build your portfolio with the intention to have it weather both the good times and the bad.

North East Edmonton: 4-Unit Cashflow Property in Belvedere

Turbo charge your portfolio. This legal-4plex is located in the mature and transitional area of Belvedere. Partially upgraded in 2000, this 1969 built property has a common front entrances for all suites as well as common back entrance to suites and coin-laundry. There are 3 X 2 BD and 1 X 1BD. Suites are in fair condition, but will require modernizing by our reno team.

This property has been rented to longterm, senior citizen tenants. Rear parking pad for 6 cars. Spacious upper units have newer carpet, some upgraded fixtures and paint. Good access to Belvedere LRT, Fort Road and downtown. Fast access to bus routes and Saskatchewan Drive. (This is part of a 4X 4-Plex property package located in transitional areas of Belvedere and Baldwin )

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Convenient north east area with easy access to transit and downtown. Baldwin is a mature/transitional area. Highly rentable; solid value and increasing rents. HUGE upside potential due to the great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this property in relation to Edmonton's desirable growing core.

Purchase price: $625K
Total Investment: $146K.
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit: $82K.
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!

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Edmonton economy coming up in roses 2014 - expert

By Editor, The St. Albert Leader, January 2nd, 2014

Everything is coming up roses in Edmonton, says the city’s chief economist.

In a year-end interview last week, John Rose said the city had another stellar year on the job front. Employment growth should come in the three per cent range for this past year, significantly higher than the national average, he said.

Over the past year, one of every 10 jobs created in Canada has been created in the metro Edmonton region. FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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How Alberta's supercharged economy defies the laws of price inflation

By Todd Hirsch, The Globe and Mail, January 3rd, 2014

Most of us were taught that price inflation is driven by a fundamental imbalance: too much money chasing too few goods.
In Canada, the data seem to support this theory. Real economic growth wallowed below 2 per cent for most of last year, and average weekly earnings rose a paltry 1.4 per cent in the year to October, 2013. Not surprisingly, consumer price inflation in Canada is benign. Over the past twelve months, the annual inflation rate has averaged a mere 1.3 per cent.
READ MORE HERE

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Lamphier: Arena project good for Edmonton - but better for Katz

By Gary Laphier, Edmonton Journal, January 9th, 2014

EDMONTON - It’s no secret: I’ve never been a big fan of the deal the city cut with Daryl Katz to build a new downtown arena.
In my view, the pact gives the Oilers’ billionaire owner virtually all of the financial upside from the project, in return for shouldering only a fraction of the costs.

My views haven’t changed. If anything, the deal looks even more lopsided with each passing month.

Under terms of Rogers Communications’ blockbuster 12-year, $5.2-billion deal to secure exclusive Canadian TV rights to the National Hockey League announced last month, the Oilers will receive $8.9 million a year, starting with the 2014-2015 season. 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.

"Write it on your heart that everyday is the best day of the year." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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.

P.P.S. Don’t forget to visit our website and take advantage of the Resource Tools and product section including REIN's #1 real estate books and Quick Start homestudy sets at a discount. Get your copy of the Canadian Success Stories book and the 2010-2014 Top Ten Investment Towns of Alberta and Ontario.

Sadly it's about taxes but, whatever, it's interactive and that puts a new spin on almost anything.

This map shows the 2014 increases in tax assessments coming for all housing excluding single family homes. Green seems to be the norm with an increase between 1% - 4% with 5 purple areas looking at a 7% plus increase.

I like everything that taxes pay for....if you'd like to know what these things are download this pdf.