Edmonton Real Estate Investor: 2015

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

December 16th., 2015
Volume 19, Issue 10

Dear Friends and Partners,

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Holiday Season! We’ll be off to share the festive season with our loved ones out west. Take the time to enjoy, celebrate, listen, talk, laugh and reflect. Come back healthy and refreshed for the New Year.

Thank you for all your help and support, Todd & Danielle Millar.

Happy Holidays - we will be closed from 12/18/15 - 1/11/16. Newsletters will resume 1/15/16.

South Central Edmonton: Hazeldean 2-Unit Cashflow

Great, 1200 sqft bungalow with suite; a winner to add to any portfolio. 1957 built, located a few blocks from 99th St., on an inner road insulated from traffic. Terrific access to local amenities in trendy Hazeldean. Walking distance to schools, transport and close to downtown. This property has separate entrances to each suite; 1 X 3 bd up and and 1 X 2 bd, there is also a double garage and small driveway.

This property has a tried and true layout and was built to last. Included in purchase price is an estimated $30K in renos to legalize suite and make the property shine! This is a turn-key deal. Good access to downtown and in a highly rentable and desirable neighbourhood.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Hazeldean is a mature neighbourhood that is desirable for tenants working in the South and downtown. 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: $380,000
Total Investment: $90,120
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $51,057
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 56%

These 2 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!

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

Calgary faces uncertainty, opportunity in 2016 after oil prices collapse

By Ian Bickis, The Globe and Mail, December 7th, 2015

A year into the global oil price plummet, and Calgary’s boom-and-bust economy is decidedly leaning towards bust.
Home prices are down, unemployment is up, food bank usage is climbing, and no one knows when things might turn around with oil below $40 (U.S.) a barrel on Monday from highs of well over $100 less than two years ago. GRAB THIS STORY

===============
Jim Grey, Oil patch legend, says crude may fall to $30 a barrel
A veteran of Alberta’s oil patch weighs in on the future of the oil business

By Peter Armstrong, CBC News, December 10th, 2015

The price of oil dipped below $37 a barrel on Thursday. CBC News asked oilpatch veteran Jim Gray what is driving the price down.

Gray got his start in the industry in 1956 when oil was $1.35 a barrel. Over time, he established Canadian Hunter Exploration as one of the country's most successful natural gas producers. He's been a fixture of the industry for decades and is considered a kind of sage elder for an industry that is once again reeling from hard times.

A volatile combination of factors is dragging prices down, including persistent oversupply and OPEC's decision to hold the course on production levels. But Gray says a more fundamental shift is at hand. READ MORE HERE

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

Gary Lamphier: Alberta’s carbon tax no game-changer, oilsands critic says

By Gary Lamphier, Edmonton Journal, December 8th., 2015

Mark Jaccard, professor of sustainable energy at Simon Fraser University, is one of Canada’s most influential experts on energy economics and climate change policy.

Jaccard, a vocal critic of the fossil fuel industry, has long opposed expansion of Alberta’s oilsands, and new pipelines to the West Coast.

The Journal interviewed Jaccard after he addressed the Economics Society of northern Alberta’s annual economic outlook conference in Edmonton last week. Here is a condensed version of the interview: FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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

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.

“Never let a good crisis go to waste.” -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 daily blog at Edmonton Real Estate Investor for all your cutting edge market news and information.

It's not hard to find stories of the wealthy behaving badly. It's documented well documenta and you can find instances everywhere. There is even scientific proof! Like this, this, this and this. They are generalities about a large group of people.

There have been, and have always been, many more who give immense amounts to charity and do magnitudes of good with their wealth.

Some recent examples:
5 billionaires giving their fortunes away - HERE
This Mark Zuckerberg pledge has been all over twitter this last week.
Billionaire Saudi prince makes a $32 Billion pledge.
Time - 9 Billionaires who have pledged their fortune.

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

December 1st., 2015
Volume 19, Issue 9

Dear Friends and Partners,

It’s getting tougher to pick ‘positive' articles for our newsletter and remain balanced. The fact is that there are good news stories, but there are many more ‘bad’ or truly; uncertain ones. Make no mistake, Alberta is in a tough place right now and it’s going to take a while to dig ourselves out and get the economy back on track - that looks far into the future.

Now, with that said it doesn’t mean that everything is bad. There is much opportunity for businesses in the greening, environmental improvements and infrastructure sectors, for example. There is also opportunity for development in the EAD for the skillful and experienced investor; noobs will run a very high risk of losing their shirts wading into this market.

And what for the strategic long-term investor? Buy and holds must be patient, build up cash reserves and weather the downturn. Yes, there is opportunity to add to your portfolio when you buy right, buy for cash-flow and know your exit.

The first article I have used shows how Terry Paranych, long-term Edmonton investor, continues to buy. Terry has been buying for 30+ years. His strategy is to build up massive cash-flow, not sell units. For investors needing to exit in a short time frame, this might not work unless you are a skilled wholesaler that can buy, add value and sell at discount - with profit. The other articles are cautionary; we do have real issues in Alberta that need our attention and care to navigate.

South Central Edmonton: Hazeldean 2-Unit Cashflow

Great, 1200 sqft bungalow with suite; a winner to add to any portfolio. 1957 built, located a few blocks from 99th St., on an inner road insulated from traffic. Terrific access to local amenities in trendy Hazeldean. Walking distance to schools, transport and close to downtown. This property has separate entrances to each suite; 1 X 3 bd up and and 1 X 2 bd, there is also a double garage and small driveway.
This property has a tried and true layout and was built to last. Included in purchase price is an estimated $30K in renos to legalize suite and make the property shine! This is a turn-key deal. Good access to downtown and in a highly rentable and desirable neighbourhood.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Hazeldean is a mature neighbourhood that is desirable for tenants working in the South and downtown. 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: $380,000
Total Investment: $90,120
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $51,057
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 56%

These 2 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!

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

Edmonton’s Ice District spurring new real estate projects

By Omar Mouallem, Globe and Mail, November 20th, 2015

From the driver’s seat of his Escalade, real estate investor Terry Paranych is recreating the moment he found his newest buy on the northern fringe of downtown Edmonton. He was picking up Chinese food in a rough part of town that had been neglected for decades, until Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz turned his attention to it for the team’s new home.

“I was looking at all the cranes,” Mr. Paranych, who’s better known as a residential agent, says. “All of a sudden I see a commercial real estate sign on the corner.” He points to a red, humble, six-unit apartment he secured for a $505,000 bargain. GRAB THIS STORY

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

Debt delinquencies rise in Alberta, bucking national trend
TransUnion says ripple effect of oil price slump seeing more consumers struggling to make payments

By CBC News, November 18th, 2015

"Credit and loan delinquencies are starting to pile up in Alberta as consumers cope with the ripple effects of the collapse in the price of oil, a new report says.

The credit agency TransUnion released figures Wednesday showing that Alberta surpassed the Canadian average in delinquencies in the third quarter of this year." READ MORE HERE

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

Oilwell drilling contractors expect one of the worst years in history
Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) releases grim forecast for 2016

By Kyle Bakx, CBC News, November 18th., 2015

The Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors has released a bleak forecast for the upcoming year that projects the downturn will only get worse for the sector.

CAODC projects 4,728 wells to be drilled, a decrease of 58 per cent from the 11,226 wells drilled in 2014.

"The 2016 forecast is grim or as we call it in our office, butt ugly," said Brian Krausert with Beaver Drilling, who delivered the CAODC forecast to the organization's members at an event in downtown Calgary. "It's not a pretty sight, but I know the industry is resilient enough and hopefully we'll be here next year." FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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

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.

“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before.” Elizabeth Edwards

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

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

I love this post. It's MSN's "What 14 super successful people wish they knew at 22" It's enlightening and I think a must read for any age.

At 22 I was rudderless, living in a green shag apartment over a Chinese restaurant in Victoria, B.C. I was working towards an associate degree in applied sciences (which I used for 1 year and never liked) and working at Money Mart. I had no clue what I was doing and never dreamed I would be doing what I do now.

I would tell my 22 year old self, "You don't have to decide RIGHT now, take some time and experience the world. Think about where you are getting your advice from."

"If you are willing to dream and then work hard and execute well, you can achieve more than you ever imagined." Maynard Webb Apple Chairman's advice to his 22 year old self.

I found this article on Facebook through a friends account. It's basic good sense for anybody in an industry that is cyclical. I don't know how many times I've seen this bumper sticker:

"When I was five years old, my Dad took my Mother and I to Jamaica. It was my first trip anywhere, and it was paradise. My Dad wore a gold nugget Rolex, and carried literally thousands of dollars in cash in his front pocket. He bought my Mother a diamond that made every woman jealous, and we were rich. And then oil went to $10 and the nearly 5,000 rigs that were drilling in the US went to 1100. We were broke, and although my Dad didn’t sell his gold nugget Rolex, he had me put it in the floor safe of the home we lived in on Cornett. Since then, I’ve lived through my own oil boom and bust, and likely will see a few more. My skin grows thicker by the minute." Read more here

Here are a few quick facts about the new climate change policy announced Sunday by the Alberta government:
Main thrust: Broad-based carbon tax of $30 a tonne by 2018; phase-out of coal-fired power by 2030; hard cap of 100 megatonnes on all oilsands emissions.
___
Effect on families: Gas, fuel, power bills to rise about $500 a year by 2018; policy promises at least partial rebates for about 60 per cent of Alberta families.
___
Effect on industry: Emissions cap will be almost entirely taken up when projects now in the pipeline are built, meaning future expansion will have to be done by reducing energy use per barrel of oil; renewable energy to be 30 per cent of Alberta mix by 2030
___
Effect on climate: No specific emissions reductions set; policies projected to reduce emissions from business as usual by about seven per cent by 2020 and about 16 per cent by 2030; Alberta's total emissions to start falling in 2020.
___
Effect on politics: Alberta emissions about one-third Canadian total, so province's plan is key to Canadian position at upcoming Paris conference; plan also expected to reduce market resistance to export of Alberta oilsands products.

You can read the original 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

November 16th., 2015
Volume 19, Issue 8

Dear Friends and Partners,

I belong to Steve Chandler’s Wealth Warrior Group. This is the last year as they’re wrapping it up to focus more on coaching as that is his real passion. Here is a timely thought from Steve Chandler:

"Well, you know, fears are something that we multiply in our mind, and we multiply them so that every fear that everyone has, in their mind they've multiplied by a factor of about 100. So the fear is so much worse than doing the actual thing would be, and then by not doing it it grows and grows and grows. And then finally, if for some reason we just have to do it, we're really exhilarated and we almost feel giddy because, my gosh, there's only one way around that. And that is to find a way to walk toward that fear and deal with it in a way that isn't frightening. Now, if people will take time, they will be able to come up with a way, a routine, a structure, to deal with any fear they have in grown up life that does not scare them. But they don't take the time because they're too afraid to even look at the issue. And that occurs over and over and over. "

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” - Marcus Aurelius

North West Edmonton: Canora 4-Unit Cashflow

Turbo charge your portfolio. This bright and open four-unit is listed as a side by side Duplex with condo titles (I interpret that to mean that the lower suites are non-conforming and not legal). 1997 built, located a few blocks from 107th it has good access to local amenities.

Walking distance to schools, transport and close to downtown. This property has separate entrances to each suite; 2 X 3 bd and 2 X 2 bd, single garages, plus pad. This property was well designed for light and spaciousness, it’s in good condition.

This is a turn-key deal. Good access to downtown and in a rent-able, working-class neighbourhood.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Canora is a mature neighbourhood that is desirable for tenants working in the Westend and downtown. 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: $664,000
Total Investment: $153,540
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $89,900
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 58% or 11.7% 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!
=========================

Gary Lamphier: Canadian Western Bank sees growth beyond Alberta

By Gary Lamphier, Edmonton Journal, November 6th, 2015

In a year that has been chock full of lousy economic news, this was an especially depressing week for Alberta.
Long-slumping oil prices slid anew Friday, closing at just $44.29 US a barrel, down nearly five per cent from the previous Friday.

On the employment front, Alberta shed another 11,000 jobs in October, according to Statistics Canada’s latest monthly data, even as Canada gained more than 44,000 jobs.

That pushed Alberta’s unemployment rate to 6.6 per cent, up from just 4.4 per cent a year ago, leaving tens of thousands of people out of work.

Just for good measure, U.S. President Barack Obama piled on Friday, putting the final nail in the coffin of TransCanada’s long-proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline project.

While Obama’s decision surprised no one, it inflicted another psychological wound on Alberta’s struggling oilpatch, which is bracing for tougher emissions penalties and a possible hike in royalty rates by year’s end, courtesy of Alberta’s new NDP government. GRAB THIS STORY

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

Alberta loses nearly 11,000 jobs as unemployment rate rises to 6.6%

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

Alberta’s unemployment rate crept higher as the province lost nearly 11,000 jobs in October, including 3,600 in Calgary, Statistics Canada reported Friday.

The unemployment rate rose to 6.6 per cent, from 6.5 in September.

StatsCan said the job losses provincially were full-time — 11,600 fewer positions month-over-month — while part-time employment rose by 800 jobs.

On an annual basis, employment was up by 13,400 positions, but the gains were in part-time work, which saw a gain of 35,500 positions. The number of full-time jobs in Alberta fell 22,100 from October 2014.

The unemployment rate is 2.2 points higher than it was in October 2014, due largely to a 70,000-person increase in the size of Alberta’s labour force — people who are working or looking for work. READ MORE HERE

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

Shell says it halted oilsands pipeline over uncertainty

By Jeff Lewis, The Globe and Mail, November 6th., 2015

Royal Dutch Shell’s chief executive says uncertainty over pipelines such as Keystone XL, killed by the U.S. government on Friday, played a role in the company’s decision to scrap a major oil sands project last month – a sign that export constraints are squeezing some of the industry’s largest players.

Last month, Shell took a $2-billion (U.S.) hit after halting construction of its 80,000 barrel-per-day Carmon Creek development in northwest Alberta. It cited high costs and insufficient pipeline capacity to move the supplies to market as reasons.

On Friday, Ben van Beurden said the project’s economics were subject to a “very, very wide range of outcomes,” including the fate of major pipelines, undermining its viability as the energy giant reins in spending to cope with lower oil prices.

“It was basically a clear, straight-forward economical decision,” he said during a meeting with reporters at the company’s Scotford refining complex northwest of Edmonton. FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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

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.

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." - Dale Carnegie

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's part in a 6 year old campaign to eradicate homelessness is well on it's way to being a success. Since joining the national campaign to house the chronically homeless, approximately 20,000, by 2018, the city has reduced our numbers by 25%.

"If you are unmoved by any of the moral arguments or ethical arguments for why we should do this, there is a very, very strong business case," "We will all save money as taxpayers supporting very expensive justice costs and very expensive health-care costs. And if you're concerned about where your tax dollars are going, the biggest cost centre at the city of Edmonton is policing." Mayor Don Iveson

There are many ways you can help stop homelessness. I'm going to a Lunch N Learn on Monday November 16 from 11:30am to 1pm. Tickets are $21.80.

When we started our newsletter almost 10 years ago it was called "More Good News" because there WAS always more good news to write about. I looked at the links that were selected for the blog today and wanted to call this blog "More Bad News"

The job losses in Alberta, falling house prices and reduced drilling forecast for 2016 in the oilsands to name a few. It's easy to get caught up in the sky is falling mentality. It's not our first bust, not the first time real estate prices have dropped and not the first time oil prices have fallen. The best thing to do is keep your head down focus on your business ( no one elses) and ensure you're playing your "A" game.

My "A" game means impeccably renovated rentals, an aggressive approach to tenanting and watching my loonines and toonies. That's all. Oh and not getting caught up in the media.

So, instead of all that news up there, why don't you read about the love between a man and a penguin, how we live in the freest country in the world (not sure why Trudeau is the image) and how this library waived nearly $1,000,000 in overdue fees.

Enjoy.

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

November 2nd., 2015
Volume 19, Issue 7

Dear Friends and Partners,

There has certainly been a lot of change with the Federal election and the Alberta budget tabled earlier this week. Oil doesn’t seem to be improving and we’ve definitely sailed into stormy, or at least unpredictable weather. The best advice which we gave earlier still stands; batten down the hatches.

Investors should place close attention to keeping their units in good condition, quality tenants in place (renew leases) and actively market units while keeping expenses low. It looks as though residential real estate will continue on a downward trend, industrial/commercial will trend lower as some leases will be broken due to downturn in the industry. This will make it more challenging for banks to value and approve certain commercial real estate loans as they see more risk.

Downtown Edmonton continues to grow with new projects beginning, underway and a few coming to completion. Most of the money has been allocated so this growth will continue, privately funded projects may be mothballed until more stability in the market.

Opportunities are always around if you look hard enough. Residential and multifamily properties in the downtown core and around can offer good value. Commercial and office will be tricky to navigate for junior investors but offers some upside. Cycles tend to last 5-7 years, some longer.

Hang in there… for the long, longterm.

North West Edmonton: Canora 4-Unit Cashflow

Turbo charge your portfolio. This bright and open four-unit is listed as a side by side Duplex with condo titles (I interpret that to mean that the lower suites are non-conforming and not legal). 1997 built, located a few blocks from 107th it has good access to local amenities.

Walking distance to schools, transport and close to downtown. This property has separate entrances to each suite; 2 X 3 bd and 2 X 2 bd, single garages, plus pad. This property was well designed for light and spaciousness, it’s in good condition.

This is a turn-key deal. Good access to downtown and in a rent-able, working-class neighbourhood.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Canora is a mature neighbourhood that is desirable for tenants working in the Westend and downtown. 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: $664,000
Total Investment: $153,540
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $89,900
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 58% or 11.7% 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!

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

Gary Lamphier: Carlo Montemagno’s Plan to save the Alberta economy

By Gary Lamphier, Edmonton Journal, October 30th, 2015

The NDP government’s plan to revive Alberta’s struggling economy basically boils down to this: Let’s hope oil prices recover while we spend bags of money we don’t have on public infrastructure, with billions more aimed at juicing the growth of early-stage companies.
I hope the NDP approach works. Seriously. Short term, the options seem rather limited.

But here’s the thing. Real, sustainable economic growth only comes when the private sector is able to make products or provide services the world wants and needs, at prices that generate a healthy profit. Alberta used to do that. Now, not so much. GRAB THIS STORY

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

NDP to table the largest deficit in Alberta history as provincial revenues plummet with oil prices

By Darcy Henton and Chris Varcoe, Postmedia News, October 25th, 2015

Lost in the hullabaloo over Rachel Notley’s NDP snuffing out the 44-year Tory dynasty has been the magnitude of the fiscal squeeze now facing the province.
The collapse of crude oil prices that had former Progressive Conservative premier Jim Prentice warning Albertans to brace for a $7-billion hole in provincial revenues will result in his NDP successors tabling a budget Tuesday that forecasts the largest-ever deficit in the province’s history.

Finance Minister Joe Ceci hinted this week the deficit will be just shy of $6.5 billion — nearly $1.5 billion more than Prentice forecast last March in a budget that was never passed. MORE HERE

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

Edmonton home prices flat as sales decline

By Bill Mah, Edmonton Journal, October 2nd., 2015

Home prices in Edmonton held relatively steady in September despite nearly a double-digit sales decline, MLS figures released Friday by the Realtors Association of Edmonton show.
The average residential price for the Edmonton census metropolitan area last month was $368,874, down 0.75 per cent year-over-year. FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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

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.

“Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will.” -W. Clement Stone

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.

Will new PM stick to housing promises?
by Steve Randall

Canada’s new federal government will now be expected to deliver on a raft of election promises, including those on affordable housing.

Justin Trudeau made this promise a month ago: “Safe, adequate, and affordable housing is essential to building strong families, strong communities, and a strong economy.

"We have a plan to make housing more affordable for those who need it most – seniors, persons with disabilities, lower-income families, and Canadians working hard to join the middle class.”

Liberal.ca details the pledges made by the party that is now empowered to enact them; “significant new investments in affordable housing;" “tax incentives to increase and substantially renovate the supply of rental housing across Canada;” a review of government-owned land to see if it can be used for affordable homes; a modernized Home Buyers’ Plan; and a review of “escalating home prices in high-priced markets – like Vancouver and Toronto – to keep homeownership within reach for Canadians living in these areas.”

Over to you Mr Trudeau…

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

October 14th., 2015
Volume 19, Issue 6

Dear Friends and Partners,

As the warm weather stretches into October, so does the anticipation of the election. It feels like we’re holding our collective breath; for oil prices to stabilize, the Alberta budget to be announced (end of October) and the Federal leaders to be chosen.

A feeling of uncertainty leads us into Q4 and that is reflective in the housing markets (slower sales) and rental market (more vacancies). Hope for the best and plan for the worst is an ideal axiom to see you thru.

North East Edmonton: Highlands Legal 4-Unit Cashflow

Turbo charge your portfolio. This terrific legal four-plex features separately titled suites. 1971 built, located half a block to Ada Boulevard and the river valley.

Walking distance to schools and transport. Close to downtown and Wayne Gretzky Drive. This property has separate entrances to each suite; 3 X 3 bd and 1 X 2 bd, double garage, plus pad. This property was purpose built and is in fair condition.

Investment capital includes $50K budget slated for further renovations to modernize, improve value, aesthetics and rent-ability. This is a turn-key deal. Good access to downtown and in a great, mature neighbourhood.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Highlands is a mature neighbourhood that is desirable for tenants working in the East and downtown. 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: $725,000
Total Investment: $166,575
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $97,062.50
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 58% or 11.6% 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!

These 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!

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

Homes near new arenas and stadiums can expect bumps in real estate value

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald, October 13th, 2015

The construction of new arenas and stadiums has a positive impact on real estate values for nearby homes, says a new report by the Real Estate Investment Network.
“A key highlight of the research findings is: Homes in neighbourhoods close to new stadium builds — or proposed stadium builds — on average, have premiums ranging between three per cent and 15 per cent, depending on the different types of housing, parking options available, and the distance from the stadium itself,” said Don Campbell, senior analyst with REIN. GRAB THIS STORY

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

Calgary, Edmonton forecast shows dramatic reversal in oil patch fortunes

By Gordon Isfeld, September 22nd., 2015

OTTAWA — The dramatic reversal of economic fortune in Alberta is most evident in its major cities, where a province-wide recession has already followed the global collapse of oil prices.
Both Calgary and Edmonton are expected to end 2015 with negative growth, as will the province as a whole, the Conference Board of Canada said in its forecasts for metropolitan economies, released Wednesday.

“After cruising at high speed over the last five years, Alberta’s economy has shifted into reverse gear this year,” the Ottawa-based think-tank said. READ MORE HERE

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

Alberta economy to contract more than expected this year

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald, September 22nd., 2015

Continued volatility in oil prices has “aggravated already challenging economic conditions” in Alberta, leading to a further forecast decline in the province’s economy, says RBC.
The bank’s latest provincial outlook says the Alberta economy is now expected to contract by 1.3 per cent in 2015 compared to its June forecast of a one per cent drop. A return to positive territory is expected in 2016 with 0.6 per cent growth in real gross domestic product, it said.

“A renewed downturn in crude oil prices is intensifying the pressures facing the hard-hit energy sector in 2015,” Craig Wright, senior vice-president and chief economist with RBC, said in a statement. “Prospects for a relatively short bout of contraction were further dampened with drought conditions, wildfires and disruptions to crude oil production exacerbating the economic downturn.” FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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

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.

“It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours." - Harry S Truman

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 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

October 1st., 2015
Volume 19, Issue 5

Dear Friends and Partners,

It didn’t feel like a boom did it? The last five years were Alberta’s recovery and peak, before we navigate into a potentially downward trend. You can argue all day long that we don’t have boom and bust cycles here and you’d be right… But what we do clearly have are up and downward trends.

Over the last 5 years we’ve seen a fairly good economy and I think the shift into a slower economy is becoming more gradual than decades before. The gradual shift from high gear to low gear is becoming ever-so-slightly, softer. That’s a good thing.

It shows as a province, an economy - that we are better navigating through the cycles.

Here is an excerpt of an article we wrote 6 years back. The information is timeless and will help you understand and manage your rentals.

How to Keep Investment Properties Tenanted with Long Term Renters

"The purpose of your investment real estate is to produce positive monthly cash flow and sell for an increased value at some point in the future. The only way rental real estate will be successful is to have excellent hands-on partners in the venture, otherwise know as tenants. Great tenants are crucial to the financial success of your rental property. In fact it’s been said that the property isn’t an asset without great tenants in it. So where can you find the elusive great tenant? They’re only elusive if you don’t know how to attract them. By being open minded and pro-active, pumping up your ads and sweetening the deal you can attract great tenants like bees to honey."

BONUS Good ad writing advice:
Simple Ways To Make Your Rental Ads Stand-Out

North East Edmonton: Highlands Legal 4-Unit Cashflow

Turbo charge your portfolio. This terrific legal four-plex features separately titled suites. 1971 built, located half a block to Ada Boulevard and the river valley.

Walking distance to schools and transport. Close to downtown and Wayne Gretzky Drive. This property has separate entrances to each suite; 3 X 3 bd and 1 X 2 bd, double garage, plus pad. This property was purpose built and is in fair condition.

Investment capital includes $50K budget slated for further renovations to modernize, improve value, aesthetics and rentability. This is a turn-key deal. Good access to downtown and in a great, mature neighbourhood.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Highlands is a mature neighbourhood that is desirable for tenants working in the East and downtown. 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: $725,000
Total Investment: $166,575
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $97,062.50
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 58% or 11.6% 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!

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

Why Canada’s last great hope for the oil sands is no slam dunk

By Claudia Cattaneo, Financial Post, September 28th, 2015

As major bitumen pipeline options keep falling off the table, Kinder Morgan’s TransMountain pipeline expansion is becoming the last big hope to open a new market for Western Canadian oil this decade.
With Enbridge Inc.’s proposed Northern Gateway stuck trying to increase aboriginal support in British Columbia, TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone XL expected to be rejected by the White House in the coming weeks, the start date for TransCanada’s Energy East proposal pushed back to 2020 at the earliest and a marine terminal at Cacouna, Que., cancelled only the $5.4-billion TransMountain expansion (TMX) remains on track for completion in 2018. You know the reasons: Aboriginal pushback, climate change and anti-oil activism, mistrust of corporations and governments, etc.

So, it’s TMX or bust – literally. GRAB THIS STORY

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

Alberta’s economy could recover in 2016, ATB’s Todd Hirsch says
Glimmer of hope depends on oil rising to $60, dollar staying weak and other sectors performing well

By CBC News, September 21st., 2015

The worst of the economic downturn could soon be over for Alberta's energy sector, according to the chief economist at ATB Financial.

There are signs the province will rebound enough to see modest growth by the second half of 2016, Todd Hirsch said on the Calgary Eyeopener Monday ahead of his address to the 2016 Economic Outlook presented by Calgary Economic Development and ATB Financial at the BMO Centre.

"So that's the good news, the bad news is that's still probably eight to 12 months away, so we do have a bit of a slog here to get through," he said. READ MORE HERE

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

More layoffs anticipated as recession takes hold in Calgary and Alberta

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald, September 21st., 2015

More job layoffs are anticipated from now until Christmas as Calgary and Alberta fight through a recession this year, but the Bank of Canada Governor says the economy is able to handle the challenges presented by a volatile resource sector.

Stephen Poloz said resources make up more than a quarter of the Alberta economy and “we’ve had to learn how to deal with large swings in their prices.”

“Any economy that relies on natural resources is naturally going to be challenged by large movements in their prices,” Poloz told a record crowd Monday at the annual 2016 Economic Outlook put on by Calgary Economic Development at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park.

“These shocks are more than just swings in Canada’s national income. They also force businesses to make decisions about the way resources such as their capital and labour are allocated. These decisions often lead to difficult adjustments, but they are necessary for maximizing our economy’s potential.” FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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

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.

“Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty.“ - Jacob Bronowski

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

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

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

September 15th., 2015
Volume 19, Issue 4

Dear Friends and Partners,

I hope that your summer has been awesome. I’ve been busy with my boys, gardening, camping and enjoying as much of the Albertan summer as I can. Real Estate in Edmonton tends to take a break as well. You’ll see longer than average DOM for average properties just due to the lack of traffic. Sought after locations and incredibly well priced deals, still go fast. The multi-family market has been slower than usual with less than stellar listings on the MLS/CLS. That’s not to say that sales don’t happen - several, excellent pocket listings have been bought and sold this past month.

With the federal election looming just 5 weeks away I’m finding some buyers hesitant to commit to a purchase and some (albeit not many here) sellers anxious to unload if over 60 DOM. What that means if you’re a buyer is that you may be able to wiggle a better purchase price between now and the election results. For seasoned investors the election timing doesn’t play such a big role in making a purchase, other than leveraging a sale. Seasoned investors have a plan in place to operate their property in a down or an up market. There are pros and cons to both and money making opportunities for each.

One maddening trend that I am starting to see is inexperienced ‘investors’ getting nervous about filling their vacancies. I’m starting to see ads for reduced rents, security deposits and even ‘1 month free’. This is a poor strategy and one that pulls all investors down. There are many strategies to employ (we list a lot here and in our media section of the website, look for “How To” articles.) that will help you get a better tenant and offer them value without dropping your rents below market value.

If you’re having trouble renting a property now, give me a call and I’ll fine tune your ad and give you some tips to help. Smart investors have a good buying season ahead - give me a shout to see what investment properties we have that fit for you.

P.S. Want a cool mini-guide to investing in a downturn? We published a terrific booklet back in 2011 titled “3 The Critical Landmines You Need To Avoid When Investing in Real Estate”. I’d like to send it to you. Simply reply back with “3 Critical Landmines” in the subject line and your email and we’ll hit you back with a free copy.

South East Edmonton: Holyrood 4-Unit Cashflow

Turbo charge your portfolio. This terrific Side by Side duplex features separate (not legal - but potential to legalize) suites down. 1957 built, located on a quiet cul-de-sac, across from school and park. Walking distance to schools and transport. Close to downtown and Wayne Gretzky Drive.

This property has separate entrances to each suite; 2 X 2 bd and 2 X 1 bd, double garage, plus pad. This property was purpose built and is in fair condition. Investment capital includes $30K budget slated for further renovations to modernize, improve value, aesthetics and rentability. This is a turn-key deal. Good access to downtown and in a great, mature neighbourhood.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Holyrood is a mature neighbourhood that is desirable for tenants working in the south end and downtown. 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: $625,000
Total Investment: $146,090
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit: $90,498
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 62% 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!

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

Edmonton has low risk of housing correction, new report says

By Alicja Siekierska, Edmonton Journal, August 4th, 2015

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says Edmonton faces a low risk of having to deal with a housing market correction despite a slumping economy.
The organization released results from its House Price Analysis and Assessment, which is designed to detect problematic conditions in housing markets across the country.

Edmonton and Vancouver were the only two cities on the list of 15 that were cited as low risk in all four categories considered — overvaluation of home prices, overbuilding, price acceleration and overheating. GRAB THIS STORY

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

Alberta housing market forecast to rebound 2016

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald, August 20th., 2015

After a tough year in 2015, Alberta’s resale housing market is expected to rebound in 2016, according to a report by RBC Economics.
The bank’s senior economist, Robert Hogue, is forecasting sales in the province to dip by 17.8 per cent this year from 2014 to 59,000 transactions — the largest drop in the country.

But Alberta is then expected to see the biggest year-over-year hike in sales in 2016 of 7.1 per cent to 63,200 units.

Despite the drop in sales this year due to a slumping economy and continued depressed oil prices, the average sale price in Alberta is forecast to climb by 0.7 per cent to $378,500 and grow by another 2.1 per cent next year to $386,600. READ MORE HERE

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

Update on housing - no boom - no bust.

By John Clinkard, Journal of Commerce, September 8th, 2015

While the term "recession" may have applied to some sectors of the Canadian economy in the first half of the year, it certainly does not apply to Canada's housing market. This view is strongly supported by the fact that, after exhibiting back-to-back declines in December of 2014 and January of this year, due in part to the negative impact of low oil prices on Alberta and colder than normal weather on the rest of the country, home sales have trended steadily higher since February.

Moreover, despite the very weak start, the volume of sales in the first seven months of this year are 5.4% higher than during the comparable period in 2014. In addition, year to date, home sales are up in seven of the ten provinces led by British Columbia (+21.4%), PEI (+11.6%), and Ontario (10.1%). FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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

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 begin 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 daily blog at Edmonton Real Estate Investor for all your cutting edge market news and information.

If you have some free time this weekend you could read the 160 pages of the 2015 Growth monitoring report and Edmonton Growth study released this week.

In short Edmonton is an economic leader and is growing city with a young demographic. Over the next 50 years the city is expected to double in population.

"Alberta continues to lead the country in economic growth. Its economy has grown on average by over 4% per year over the last three years and is forecast to grow by 3% per year over the next three years. The Edmonton-Calgary corridor demonstrates this economic activity having generated 60% of Canada’s overall job growth for the year ending July 2014. The Edmonton Region plays an important role in the Alberta economy, given its proximity to the world’s third-largest oil reserve. Edmonton has been leading or among the leading Canadian cities in terms of GDP growth over the past three years with that trend expected to continue for another five years.

Strong economic fundamentals in Edmonton have created the need to accommodate
growth. Edmonton’s population grew by roughly 60,000 from 2012 to 2014, an increase of 7.4%. Much of that increase is mainly due to young adults migrating into the city. Housing starts have been pacing the population averaging 10,000 new housing over the last two years. The growth pressures to accommodate the added population have been strongest within south Edmonton. For example, 45% of the added population over the last two years occurred within the two southern most Wards. Demand for industrial land has been just as strong. The average annual absorption rate for the past three years –206 net hectares –is in the order of 85% higher than the previous eight year average. These growth demands are applying pressure on Edmonton’s supply of land for future residential and industrial development." City of Edmonton Growth Study

• The City of Edmonton continues to grow “up,” “in“ and “out.” The current findings confirm the complexity of maintaining growth balance between core, mature and established neighbourhoods and developing or “new” neighbourhoods.

• A demographic shift is occurring in mature and established areas of the city. The population is ageing and households are decreasing in size. There will be a significant increase in lone person and two person households.

• The 2014 Edmonton Municipal census counted 877, 926 people, 60,428 more residents from 2012.

• The Edmonton CMA is comparatively much younger than major Canadian city regions with a median age of 36 years 2015 Growth Monitoring Report

There are a lot of beautiful neighbourhoods listed. I have rentals in 4 of them and never have a problem renting them because they are hip and desireable areas.

It depends what you are looking for, if you work in Fort Saskatchewan none of these would be great except maybe the highlands (which is also surrounded by some very interesting neighbourhoods) Some are well located in you bike or use transit but access to major routes would take longer.

Ritchie is one of my favorite we lived there for a while. Such great neighbours, airport in 20 minutes and downtown in 10 minutes. It's transitioning quickly and what we bought our place for four years agos would get you a 2 bedroom tear down now.

Every time I go out I try and think of a reason to go to Westmount to get a brownie from Dutchess Bake Shop.

Look at the full list here

I got the email newsletter from CREW today.

First thing that caught my eye was "How to spot a bad property manager"the article spoke of what property managers were doing wrong but not really how to spot a bad one.

Well, I can tell you from experience how to select a good one.

1. Be a tenant - call one of their listings and see how they act and answer. See how the response time works how they book showings and even go to one.

Down the street from one of my rentals a property management company had a For Rent sign up for 3 months. It was a pretty hot rental market and no need for the sign to be up that long and the property vacant that long. It made me want to pull title and give the owner a heads up.

2. Ask other investors - straight from the horses mouth.

Todd and I posted a question on REIN forum about 6 years ago related to Edmonton's best worst property managers. It still gets comments and people still add information to it. It's a goldmine.

3. Ask for their maintenance team contact numbers - seriously the one thing I have learned in real estate is to talk to the maintenance people.

They will tell you all kinds of stuff. How fast they go out. If they are getting paid on time. Anything about the management ask them they MIGHT tell you. I also want to talk to the guys see if they are learning plumbing on my properties.

So communciation and reporting can only be tested once they are hired, make sure you get a good PM before handing them your hundreds of thousands of dollars of assets.

What's happening in real estate markets outside of Toronto and Vancouver?

Edmonton
"Unlike its sister city, Calgary, Edmonton’s housing market hasn’t felt quite the same pinch from falling oil prices. Sales rose 2.4 per cent in June and prices were up 2 per cent from a year earlier.
Yet while home prices have so far avoided a crash, Edmonton has witnessed a different type of housing-market phenomenon this year: a boom in rental-apartment construction. " Jump here

Beautiful Historic 1912 Tudor Edmonton Mansion sells Jump

Oil slump hits Fort McMurray
"Fort McMurray renter Richard Mayers and his family are now paying $2,700 a month for a four-bedroom home, down from $3,200. It’s a much-needed price break because Mr. Mayers recently was laid off as operations manager at CEDA International Corp., which provides industrial maintenance services for the oil-sands industry. Read more

This is how much it costs to live in Calgary vs Edmonton
Alberta may be facing a less-than-ideal economy, but people are still coming to the province in search of employment.
Despite a loss of 5,000 jobs in June, over the past year Alberta has still gained 22,800 jobs, up 1 per cent, according to the latest employment figures from StatsCan.
Bank of Montreal economist Robert Kavcic told the Huffington Post most of Alberta's job losses have been in the oil patch, so far, with the cities "somewhat insulated."

So we decided to compare what it costs to live in Calgary versus Edmonton, as a newcomer to the province. Jump 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

July 30., 2015
Volume 19, Issue 3

Dear Friends and Partners,

** Summer is here and your newsletter is heading to the beach! Issues resume again September 15th. Our Blog keeps going though - so check in regularly. **

With the sun shining and summer in full swing, it's hard to imagine winter being 3 months away… I want to remember these seasonal changes (the cycle) and do my property maintenance now, so that I’m prepared for winter. I want to prepare now, for the next real estate cycle (downturn) that is coming. It’s not good or bad, it just is. You can take advantage of ridiculously low mortgage rates, conservative buys and position yourself well with rental properties during the next buying period.

I’ve attached a few links below to articles on property investment and tips to help prepare and manage downturns, including this article we wrote in ’09:

How To Keep Investment Real Estate Profitable In Any Economy

Wherever your real estate investment is located—provided you bought it at the right price and terms—there are many ways to keep your property profitable. If you analyze your real estate, update and improve your investment team, review your long- and short-term investment plans and stay focused on the end result; your real estate portfolio will be a rock solid fortress that can weather any storm.

Analyze

The first and most important thing is to carefully analyze your portfolio.

What properties are doing well?
Are there properties that are slowly leaking dollars like a dripping tap?
If so how can you fix them?
If you don’t know the hard numbers on your properties, then you are risking everything that you have worked for. Keep your budgets in line and carefully evaluate every purchase and renovation. Once you have a better idea of where you stand, you can start to recession-proof your properties. First, your customers are your tenants, so learn how to keep them happy and decrease vacancies. For example:

Provide Internet or free cable
Give lease incentives or rewards for rents paid on time, or even the best garden.
Increase your revenue by adding rental units to your properties or other moneymaking add-ons like renting garages separately, extra parking spaces or coin-op laundry facilities. You can also refinance your mortgages with longer amortizations, increase rents where reasonable or rent your properties furnished.

Evolve and involve your team
Is your property management up to par?
Are you getting discount rates for a big portfolio?
If you have few properties are they being managed in a way that will help you grow your portfolio?
Are their rates competitive and are they keeping your property in excellent resale condition?
Streamline your team. I don’t mean fire everybody and do it all yourself, but rather make your team out of the best players available in your area. Once you have the all-star team, get their input and advice, use their knowledge and experience to protect and improve your assets and your position in the market. Accountants can help you lower your taxes, lawyers can protect your assets, bookkeepers keep you aware of money liquidity and property management can up the cash output of your investment property.

Be aware

Be aware of longer-term trends and statistics. Don’t get caught up in the moment—especially when making decisions. There are both positive and the negative things that are happening in headlines. Take both sides into account and be realistic as you evaluate what’s really going on. Review your business plan both short-term and the long-term and adjust it as necessary. Don’t knee-jerk react, but also don’t drift back and forth without any solid goal in site. Have multiple investment strategies all with a clear exit in place.

This is not the first economic downturn the world has seen nor will it be the last. What is important is to mind your business and your properties to make them profitable no matter what comes your way.

Recession proof rentals HERE and HERE

North West Edmonton: Sherwood 4-Unit Cash flow

(Not one of my target areas, but still a solid property.)

This massive Side by Side duplex features separate (not legal) suites down. 1963 built, located across from park. Walking distance to Parkview School and less than 10 minute drive to West Edmonton Mall. Close to downtown and Whitemud. Good access to downtown and transit.

This property has separate entrances to each suite; 2 X 3 bed and 2 X 2 bed, double garage, plus pad.

This property was purpose built and is in fair condition. Investment capital excludes $15K (PPI) budget slated for further renovations to modernize, improve value, aesthetics and rent-ability. The funds are returned at end of renovations once bank appraisal is complete.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Sherwood is a mature neighbourhood that is desirable for tenants working in the west end of the city. 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: $579,000
Total Investment: $139,856
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $78,179
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 56% or 11.2% 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!

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

Tax expert pushing for new tax in Alberta

By Kevin Maimann, Edmonton Sun, July 20th, 2015

One of Canada's most influential tax experts is pushing for a new tax in Alberta.

Dr. Jack Mintz, who is currently on the Economic Advisory Council for federal finance minister Joe Oliver, spoke Monday during a business luncheon to the Rotary Club of Edmonton.
Mintz was invited to give his views on the economic and social priorities of Alberta's new government.

He said a 7% Harmonized Sales Tax -- which would mean adding 2% to the federal GST, with the added tax to be collected by the Canadian Revenue Agency and remitted to the province -- would bring in over $1 billion. GRAB THIS STORY

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

Alberta Economy: Province needs to nurture its economic gazelles

By Stephen Murgatroyd, Troy Media, July 21st., 2015

EDMONTON, AB – A colleague suggested to me recently that Alberta should stop talking about diversifying its economy. Instead, he said, we should talk about broadening the economic base.
He is right.

Of course, the province’s economy is diversified now – somewhat.

For example, Alberta opened its forests to forest companies back in the 1970s, which led to the province becoming home to North America’s largest pulp mill (Athabasca’s ALPAC), as well as several other mills. Our mills and lumber firms are efficient, productive and significant players in the Alberta rural economy, with some 18,000 jobs and significant exports ($2.7 billion in 2014). It is a $5.4 billion industry. READ MORE HERE

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

National Post View: Stop delighting in Alberta’s misery

By National Post, July 24th, 2015

Alberta, a province with a population of about four million, has been dominating the country politically and economically for the past decade. But with tanking oil prices, industry layoffs, pipeline leaks, agricultural disasters and NDP political successes, many in the rest of the country are feeling a sense of schadenfreude: the delight in Alberta’s economic — and political — misfortunes.

To at least some extent, their feelings are understandable. It was not long ago that Alberta was at the top of its game: from the rise of Stephen Harper, to the increasing importance of the energy industry as central Canadian manufacturing faltered; Ontario’s debt rose and Quebec’s fiscal situation spiralled as Alberta remained blissfully debt free. FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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

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 optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.“ -Henry Rollins

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

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

July 15th., 2015
Volume 19, Issue 2

Dear Friends and Partners,

When I lived in Japan I was acutely aware of the changing seasons. Spring would start like clockwork on the ‘official calendar day’ and not merge, but explode into summer a little shy of three months later. The Japanese have holidays (like we do) mixed in and out of the year; some reflective of the seasons, others of religion, royalty, birth and death. I find that Edmonton shares a burst of seasonal changes as well albeit some seasons do tend to drag on (yes, winter that is you).

Albertans seize the summer! When the weather is good, it's time to head to the lake, river or mountain. It’s also time to take a break. I firmly believe that claiming a minimum of one ‘rest day’ every six is crucial for mental, physical and creative health. Having young children, my rest days have tended to stretch longer but the trade-off forces me to work more efficiently (sometimes longer) on my work days; compacting them if you will.

I have added a few links below showing the benefits of unwinding and the increase in performance that can be attained. The second link starts strong and has some great points throughout.

"It's Sunday evening but instead of relaxing with your family, you're sitting in front of your home computer. There are just a few emails you have to send out before the week starts, a couple of projects you want to complete in the quiet before the phone calls and urgent emails begin arriving the next morning. You're tired, and vaguely cranky to find yourself working on what's supposed to be a day of rest. But it needs to get done, so you push through….” JUMP

"Ask any physician and they will tell you that rest is essential for physical health. When the body is deprived of sleep, it is unable to rebuild and recharge itself adequately. Your body requires rest….” JUMP

North Central Edmonton: Westwood 4-Unit Cashflow

Turbo charge your portfolio. This 4 unit, 1973 built, RF-3 zoned property is located 2 blocks from NAIT. Walking distance to Kingsway Malland St. Basil School.

It’s a short drive downtown and to Royal Alex Hospital. This property has separate entrances to each suite; 2 X 3 bd and 2 X 2 bd, massive double garage, plus parking pad for six cars.

This property was purpose built and is in good condition. There are good upgrades; HWT, cabinets and flooring. Investment capital includes $10K budget slated for further renovations to modernize, improve value, aesthetics and rent ability. This is a turn-key deal. Excellent access to downtown, transit and college.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Westwood is a mature neighbourhood that is desirable for tenants working in the city or attending NAIT. 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: $585,000
Total Investment: $139,040
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $80,817
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 58% or 11.6% 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!

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

Edmonton growth expected to slow down, but not stop.
New neighbourhoods and central core saw majority of growth, mature neighbourhoods didn’t fare as well

By CBC News, July 3rd, 2015

Despite tough economic times in Alberta, Edmonton's city planners say the city will continue growing in 2015 — both up and out.

Yesterday saw the release of the city's second growth analysis, Our Growing City. The report shows that, even with the economic slowdown, Edmonton continued to expand last year.

"It was really a banner year for growth," said Kalen Anderson, director of urban policy for the city.

Anderson noted that in 2014, the city saw more than 12,000 new permits for housing units. Despite the city's recent push for more infill in mature neighbourhoods, the report suggests that the suburban fringe and the downtown core continue to draw the greatest numbers. GRAB THIS STORY

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

Alberta housing market weathering the storm

By Myke Thomas, Calgary Sun, July 11th, 2015

The Alberta housing market, as a whole, has weathered the headwinds of a slowing economy in 2015 better than many expected, says Todd Hirsch, chief economist at ATB Financial, in the Alberta Economic Outlook for the third quarter of the year.

“Despite a weaker energy sector and shaky consumer demand, housing starts (in Alberta) have continued to hold up quite well over the first half of the year. In May, builders began construction on just over 34,000 homes (on a) seasonally adjusted annualized rates (basis),” says Hirsch. “Even though this is a bit below the 12-month average, Alberta’s housing market is reacting reasonably well to the current economic landscape.” FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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

Canada must avoid Greek entitlement

By Anthony Furey, Calgary Sun, July 3rd, 2015

It's a sad day in Canadian politics when a possible future cabinet minister applauds the latest news in the current Greek tragedy.
Niki Ashton, the MP for Manitoba, and a prominent voice in the NDP caucus tweeted "NO to austerity! YES to democracy!" in celebration of Greek voters' rejecting the latest bailout terms offered by the European troika on Sunday.

Ashton also re tweeted more severe and more popular comments made by author and far-left celeb Naomi Klein: "Nobody should be forced to sign their own death warrant. So many Greeks voting no to blackmail and terror. Powerful day.” 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.

“Unless a man has trained himself for chance, chance will only make him look ridiculous." -William Mathews

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.

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 2011 Top Ten Investment Towns of Alberta and Ontario.