Edmonton Green and Growing

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


May 1st., 2016
Volume 20, Issue 8

Dear Friends and Partners,

Edmonton is green again. I don’t mean all the talk of diversifying into green energy, I mean spring!

 It has sprung around our city and we’re seeing lots of activity with construction. Several of our target mature neighbourhoods, are seeing prep-work for new sidewalks, roads repaved and even streetlights put in. There are lots of new builds up in Ritchie, Bonnie Doon and Westmount.

We’ve got roads being widened for LRT expansion and all to the backdrop of the arena and towers going up. Yes, there’s a fog of (legitimate) gloom that you have to peer through to see all that, but it’s happening. The grass still grows and the sun still shines. The strategy is to play a 'longterm game' at this point.


Forest Heights: Side by Side, 4-Unit. 2 Blocks from future LRT + Cashflow

Great area, non-conforming 4-plex (side by side duplex style) is 7 minutes to downtown; in the heart of Forest Heights.This property can apply for legal suite zoning and upgrades to make legal.

This is property is in good shape and can have upgrades done using a PPI strategy to add legal suites and upgrades. 1957 built, new roof, windows, kitchen and laundry.

Terrific access to local amenities in sought after Forest Heights. Includes a double garage, pad and large lot. Purchase price includes reserve fund and small renovations included into mortgage, to make the property shine! This is a turn-key deal. Excellent access downtown and in the highly rent-able and desirable neighbourhood of Forest Heights.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you.  Forest Heights is a mature neighbourhood that is convenient for tenants working downtown and attending UOA. 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 includes $10K in renovations.
Purchase price: $705,000
Total Investment: $156,930
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $101,310
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 65% or 13% 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 mayor seeks to make city a leader in health innovation

By Justin Giovannetti, Globe and Mail, April 25th., 2016

Mayor Don Iveson said Edmonton’s economy is due for a rebranding as he unveiled plans Monday to market the struggling city as Canada’s hub for health innovation.

With 250 health-science companies already based in Edmonton, many of them startups, the new marketing strategy doesn’t come with public investment attached. Instead, Mr. Iveson says all the pieces are already there, including a world-class university, a large provincial investment fund and a group of young entrepreneurs. READ MORE HERE 

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Why Trudeau must approve one of these pipelines

By Campbell Clark, The Globe and Mail, April 28th, 2016

This was supposed to be the political bargain: a pipeline to tidewater in exchange for a climate-change plan. Both Justin Trudeau and Rachel Notley sold that deal to voters.

There were always two problems with it. One was that not everyone who supported the politicians bought both sides of the bargain: Many environmentalists, for example, never accepted the pipeline. The other was that opposition to each pipeline is as much about local objections as greenhouse gas emissions, so Mr. Trudeau must spend political capital to deliver one. And the question is where it will cost the most – in B.C. or Quebec?  GRAB THIS ARTICLE


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Edmonton's Real Estate Market Will Love The Oilers’ Move To Roger’s Place

 By Wayne Karl, Huffington Post, April 7th, 2016

The NHL's Edmonton Oilers played their last game at Rexall Place on Wednesday night, and will head over to the $480-million Rogers Place in the fall. Real estate values -- as well as Oilers fans -- will love the move.

The common belief that new arenas and sports stadiums are slam-dunk wins for their billionaire owners and millionaire players, but big fat goose eggs for the local economy... Well, that could be dead wrong. A report not only suggests the opposite, but says such projects actually boost surrounding real estate values. FOLLOW 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.

“As sure as the spring will follow the winter, prosperity and economic growth will follow recession.”  -Bo Bennett

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

This and That - April Alberta Economy

ATB business survey: Alberta's economy hasn't hit bottom yet - "The provincial economy has yet to reach bottom, say nearly three-quarters of small- and medium-sized business owners who responded to a recent ATB Financial survey.

In its quarterly Business Beat survey, ATB found just 12% of business owners believe the economy will be better six months from now, versus 74% who believe it will be worse. The financial institution says continued low oil prices, uncertainty in government, high unemployment and a low loonie were among the reasons cited by respondents."

You can even take part of the survey here

Alberta man walks to legislature to demand action on economy - "It's one step at a time for Jason Dubrule.
The oilfield construction worker is walking more than 430 kilometres from his hometown of Falher, Alta., to the legislature in Edmonton.
The walk, titled Go Hard or lose your home, job and country, is Dubrule's one-man mission to raise awareness about Alberta families facing financial hardship in the downturn." Read about his journey here

Alberta Budget 2016: NDP  spends $7B on roads, hoping to boost economy, jobs - "The Alberta NDP unveiled more details of its budget Tuesday, specifically where it will spend more than $7 billion on Alberta roads and bridges.

The money will be spent over five years under the Alberta Jobs Plan, which is what the government named its latest budget document." Read more here

Holding Steady

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


April 15th., 2016
Volume 20, Issue 7

Dear Friends and Partners,

Q: What are Mcdonald's employees now asking customers? 
A: Can you afford fries with that?

Ok, I know, bad joke. We’re seeing a small percentage of tenants not renewing their leases because they are looking for something cheaper. Guess what we’re seeing with new applicants?  A percentage of them moving to a unit with lower rents. This makes economic sense for some.

When we started this decline we talked about preparing for a slower market and how to manage vacancies, now that we’re in the middle of it I think prudence is paying of for those that applied it. Matching market rents,   ensure units are looking good and using a plethora of ways to advertise is essential.

Keeping communication open with tenants is important too so that you can retain the good ones. During a downturn, renovating your units can be more affordable and is a must for staying competitive in the market.

Bonnie Doon: Side by Side, 4-plex Conversion - Cash-flowing diamond in the rough

Turbo charge your portfolio. Great, soon-to-be 4-plex (side by side duplex style) is 7 minutes to downtown; in the heart of Bonnie Doon. I won’t lie, it’s a bit ugly right now and that’s where the opportunity is. This is a renovation deal where we use PPI to add a suite and improve this building. 1971 built, with good bones. Terrific access to local amenities in sought after Bonnie Doon.

We will add new furnace, windows, full upgrades, fire prevention system and complete suite. This property has potential for 4 X 2 bd suites. Includes a double garage, pad and large lot. Purchase price includes reserve fund and large renovations put into mortgage, to make the property shine! This is a turn-key deal. Excellent access downtown and in the highly rentable and desirable neighbourhood of Bonnie Doon.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you.  Bonnie Doon is a mature neighbourhood that is convenient for tenants working downtown and attending UOA. 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 includes $100K in renovations.

Purchase price: $625,000
Total Investment: $149,170
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $88,841
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 60% or 12% per year

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

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

Edmonton house prices hold steady despite economic downturn

By Gordon Kent, Edmonton Sun, April 4th., 2016

Edmonton-area home prices rose slightly in March compared to the same month last year despite Alberta's economic downturn, new Realtors Association of Edmonton figures show.

The average home in the region sold for $379,524 last month, up nearly two per cent from $372,289 in March 2015, according to statistics released Monday. READ MORE HERE 

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Varcoe; Miserable Alberta recession no match for 80’s upheaval

By Chris Varcoe, Calgary Herald, April 5th, 2016

If you’re a fan of losing sports squads — hello Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Cubs or Cleveland Browns — you might be compelled in some dark moments to compare just how bad things are today with the past.

It might be masochistic, but looking back on a losing streak is often the only way to see if the situation is truly as painful as it seems, or if there’s a way out.  GRAB THIS ARTICLE


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Oil and gas sector says investment will drop by $50B
Canada’s energy industry says it’s facing its biggest drop ever in capital spending

 By Tracey Johnson, CBC News, April 7th, 2016

Capital spending in Canada's oil and gas industry will drop by more than half — $50 billion — by the end of 2016 as compared to 2014, according to a forecast released by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
In 2014, capital spending in the oil and natural gas sector amounted to $81 billion.

In 2016, that number is set to drop to $31 billion, a 62 per cent decline, as companies continue to cut back because of persistently low energy prices. FOLLOW 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.

“You’ve got to stay strong to be strong in tough times.”  -Tilman J. Fertitta

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar

May you live in interesting economic times

Here is an interesting article interviewing Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad. Especially the part about resource based countries Read more

Possible Rent Controls - no April Fools

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


April 1st., 2016
Volume 20, Issue 6

Dear Friends and Partners,

I wish I was kidding about that, but I’m not. Bill 202 has been tabled to form a committee to monitor rents… You can read more about this and the actual Bill below. Bills like this are insidious and frankly not very democratic. In the coming weeks I’ll let you know what we are doing to stop the Bill and how (if you choose) you can help too.

In the meantime we’ve got a mixed bag of news for Edmonton and Alberta. Overall, Edmonton is like a beleaguered fighter in the 5th round, beaten but not defeated. We’ve still got a lot more ahead of us, but we’re holding our own; Calgary is taking some hard hits. We’ve got to hang in there, communicate with our tenant base, keep providing and delivering value.

All storms pass and there are great opportunities along the way for business, properties, new systems and creativity - we also have great mortgage rates.

Bonnie Doon: Side by Side, 4-plex Conversion - Cash-flowing diamond in the rough

Turbo charge your portfolio. Great, soon-to-be 4-plex (side by side duplex style) is 7 minutes to downtown; in the heart of Bonnie Doon. I won’t lie, it’s a bit ugly right now and that’s where the opportunity is. This is a renovation deal where we use PPI to add a suite and improve this building. 1971 built, with good bones. Terrific access to local amenities in sought after Bonnie Doon.

We will add new furnace, windows, full upgrades, fire prevention system and complete suite. This property has potential for 4 X 2 bd suites. Includes a double garage, pad and large lot. Purchase price includes reserve fund and large renovations put into mortgage, to make the property shine! This is a turn-key deal. Excellent access downtown and in the highly rentable and desirable neighbourhood of Bonnie Doon.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you.  Bonnie Doon is a mature neighbourhood that is convenient for tenants working downtown and attending UOA. 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 includes $100K in renovations.

Purchase price: $625,000
Total Investment: $149,170
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $88,841
Your pre-tax Total ROI is 60% or 12% per year

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

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


Notley’s Bill 202 targets Alberta landlords: trample on private property rights

By Sheila Gunn Reid, Rebel Media, March 29th., 2016

Sheila Gunn Reid discusses Rachel Notley's Bill 202, officially "Alberta Affordable Housing Review Committee Act", a dangerous bill that makes drastic changes to how landlords manage rental properties and is no more about affordable housing than Bill 6 was about safety. It's about bringing people under government control.



Want to know what BILL 202 Says?  Polarizing video but Bill 202 Facts remain the same.

The Act, called the Alberta Affordable Housing Review Committee Act, or Bill 202, enables the creation of a committee consisting of no fewer than 3 members that will, “prepare and submit to the Minister a report on the accessibility and affordability of housing in Alberta, which must include any recommendations of the Committee for improving the access of all Albertans to safe, appropriate and affordable housing.

Further, the report must include, but is not limited to, a review of the following subject areas and any related recommendations of the committee:

(a) rent regulation

(b) rent subsidies

(c) security deposits

(d) affordability of rental rates including rates for the rental of mobile home sites

(e) affordability of home ownership and mechanisms to support affordability

Download the Bill Here
Read more here

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Alberta’s Economy needs more than stimulus

By Chris Varcoe, Calgary Herald, March 23rd, 2016

When stuck in a rainstorm, people are always looking for the nearest umbrella.

Sometimes, a newspaper over the head is the best you can do.

Alberta’s economy is sputtering today. Unemployment is up, private investment is down and the oilpatch is sideways, waiting for higher commodity prices.

Under such an economic deluge, the new federal budget offers a smattering of help, from bolstering employment insurance (EI) benefits to ramping up infrastructure spending.

GRAB THIS ARTICLE



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Alberta’s economy will shrink for second straight year: Conference Board

 By Bill Mah, Edmonton Sun, March 2nd, 2016

Alberta's faltering economy will contract for the second straight year in 2016, a recessionary streak not seen since the bleak years of 1982-83, says to the Conference Board of Canada's deputy chief economist.

The economic malaise will also spread from the oilpatch into the rest of the provincial economy, Pedro Antunes said Wednesday at the not-for-profit economic research group's western business outlook in Edmonton.  "The problem for Alberta is that $37-a-barrel oil price doesn't kick up the economy at all," he said

"In fact, we're going to see another hit to Alberta's economy.” FOLLOW 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.

“Three things cannot be hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth.”  -Buddha

Warm Regards,

Todd and Danielle Millar