Monday, February 05, 2018

Mortgage Blues

It looks like the new mortgage rules have increased rejection rates from large banks by almost 20%.
I've also noticed that the Credit Unions seem to have gone on a frenzied advertising boom. Maybe hoping to catch some good quality prospects as they trickle down the lending ladder.  I'm not sure how pushing people to 2nd tier lenders with higher rates is protecting them.

"Private lender Fisgard Asset Management Corporation in Victoria is seeing an influx of borrowers and "better quality business" said Hali Noble, its senior vice president of residential mortgage investments and broker relations.

"A lot of these people should be bankable," said Noble. "But they're not."

The guidelines, known as B20, are aimed at curbing risky lending amid rising household indebtedness and high home prices in some markets.

In order to get a loan from a federally regulated lender, home buyers have to prove that they can service their uninsured mortgage at a qualifying rate of the greater of the contractual mortgage rate plus two percentage point or the five-year benchmark rate published by the Bank of Canada. An existing stress test already requires those with insured mortgages to qualify at the Bank of Canada benchmark five-year mortgage rule." Read more

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

2050 - Bonnie Doon and LRT

Although it may be an inconvenience that last 2 years the LRT is bringing new hope to what I would call a mall struggling on life support. Once Sears left it's been more and more depressing going into that mall.

The owners have hopes for new development integrating  medium and high density residential, enhanced transit and retail opportunities.

“It would be great to see some significant residential added on the retail. That really is the perfect transit-oriented development location in the area. There’s lots of land … away from single-family housing. It wouldn’t have a negative effect.” Coun. Ben Henderson

Read more HERE

Friday, January 12, 2018

Peter Kinch 2018 New Mortgage rules

Happy New Year! We're in a deep freeze in Alberta and nothing better to do than get up on all the mortgage rules.  You can also try the MPEMBA effect with the kids when you're done.

Peter Kinch on CTV explaining the new stress test on mortgages in 2018. HERE


Friday, December 15, 2017

Happy Holidays!

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 15th,  2017

Volume 23, Issue 06

Dear Friends and Partners,

The importance of being in the now and goals. I’ve found that I get the best results out of my life by planning. I write goals, actions steps and ‘get after it!’  I measure the goals quarterly and adjust as needed. This works for me. Another thing I’ve been trying to do more is ‘be in the moment’. Here’s the trick – you can make the moment last as long as you like. Doing this allows me to enjoy what I have accomplished while still being in the mode of doing more. I’m grateful and I’m active. Try it, if you’re not already doing it.

2018 is just around the corner. I hope that you'll aim high, reach your target and have fun along the way.

As mentioned earlier, we won’t be doing a twice monthly formatted newsletter as before. Instead we shall blog more often and occasionally send out updates via mailing list. So – you need to check in often if you want to follow us & what is happening in the Edmonton real estate investment market.

Wishing you the best of the holidays and the New Year ahead!

Thank you for all your support! Todd & Danielle Millar




Central SE Edmonton: Forest Heights, 4 Unit - Cashflow 


Turbo charge your portfolio. Low risk investment in a great area that is surrounded by terrific, sought after neighbourhoods. This legal 4-Plex has independent addresses for each unit. It attracts renters who want a self contained suite in an easily accessible location. Zoned RF 4 and near the proposed LRT route, this is a great rental and longterm money maker. 12 minute drive to downtown 16 mins to U.o.A & Hospital.

This property has undergone some upgrades but will need more to make it shine which will be combined into mortgage. Well sized with 4 X 3 bd units. 1960 built, double garage, massive lot, zoned RF4 with smaller front yard. Terrific access to local amenities in sought after Forest Heights. All major renos done - purchase price to include renovation budget to upgrade exterior/interior to make it standout - all rolled into mortgage. This is a turn-key deal. Excellent access downtown and in this highly rentable mature neighbourhood.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Forest Height is a mature neighbourhood that is convenient for tenants working downtown or attending U.o.A HUGE upside potential due to the great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this property in relation to Edmonton’s growing centre.


Purchase price: $682,000
Total Investment: $161,000
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $100,313
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!

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Alberta’s oil sector is trying to recover and “make $50 oil work” but analyst Todd Hirsch says the slow growth may allow agriculture to expand with less competition for labourers.

By Barb Glen, Western Producer, December 7th., 2017

Southern Alberta’s focus on agriculture has cushioned it against the recession that devastated parts of the province where the energy sector was the economic engine.
Todd Hirsch, chief economist with ATB Financial, told those at the Alberta Irrigation Projects Association water conference Nov. 21 that agriculture has created a more consistent economic base in the south because of the sector’s ability to control costs and improve efficiency.

Though by some measures the recession is over in Alberta, Hirsch didn’t support that supposition in his keynote address.

READ MORE HERE 

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Opinion: Alberta needs industry incentives to diversify the economy
 
By Lori Kent, Edmonton Journal, December 2nd., 2017

Alberta continues to endure the boom-and-bust struggle of a resource-based economy.
The benefits of diversifying Alberta’s economy are well-documented and most experts agree that economic diversification is imperative to the success of our province and our nation. Yet it is slow to be realized. Alberta has largely failed to attract new investment in energy-diversification projects, which has led to continued volatility in the economy, less opportunity for our children and less spending on social programs.

GRAB THIS ARTICLE

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Albertans could be about to lose billions, while banks reap a windfall

By Fenner Stewart, Financial Post, December 6th., 2017

Last month, the Supreme Court of Canada announced it would review a judgment of the Alberta Court of Appeal that threatens to eviscerate Alberta’s oil-well abandonment and reclamation program.

The Alberta court’s decision had blocked the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) from ensuring that proceeds from the sale of a bankrupt exploration and production company’s wells are used to satisfy its outstanding environmental obligations. In short, the decision grants lenders the right to separate the wheat from the chaff when a borrower goes bankrupt.

The problem is that the chaff is the abandonment and reclamation of non-producing wells.

How dire is it that financing for the abandonment and reclamation of wells is lost?

BONUS: 2018 KEY CHARTS  

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.

“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===

Wednesday, December 06, 2017

Get ready to get on FIRE

There's so many financial acronyms around you could be a Y.A.W.N or maybe a D.I.N.K. or heaven forbid a S.I.N.B.A.D (single income no boyfriend and desperate!)

F.I.R.E - Financial Independence Retire Early is one I really like.

"FIRE is having a moment, and it’s not hard to understand the appeal. Financial independence? Sounds great! Retiring Early? Sign me up! It’s a movement that’s quickly gaining momentum, too. We spoke with four FIRE enthusiasts and asked them to share what the movement is all about, and what it takes to achieve this elusive goal of Financial Independence/Retire Early." Read more

One FIRE advocates take HERE

It is very simple in theory, reduce your expenses to the point where your income covers them and you have suffienct funds left over to save. That means downsizing, no venti lattes and a lot more sacrifices. However the joy you get from lying on a beach without a worry at 45, 55 or 60 will be well worth it.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

November This and That

Edmonton makes World’s Best Cities Top 100 list for 1st time - "For the first time, Edmonton has found itself on a list ranking the best cities in the world.

Edmonton came in at No. 60 on the World’s Best Cities 2018 list, which is compiled by global consulting firm Resonance Consultancy.

The Top 100 cities are chosen based on six key categories: place, product, programming, people, prosperity and promotion.

Edmonton scored higher in the people, place and prosperity categories, while falling short on the remaining three criteria." Read more

Red ink rising: Economic experts spar over solutions to Alberta's growing debt - "Call it the battle of the bottom line, a red ink rumble sure to take centre stage leading up to Alberta’s next provincial election. 

Alberta’s finance minister insists the province has the best balance sheet in the country and is sticking with a plan to balance the budget by 2024. But critics paint a far bleaker picture, arguing the NDP is crippling Alberta’s economy through a muddled strategy that won’t effectively address its ballooning debt.

Government estimates — projecting debt to reach $71.1 billion in three years — could be the best-case scenario, says a recent report by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy. 

Penned by former Saskatchewan finance minister Janice MacKinnon and economist Jack Mintz, the report suggests Alberta’s March budget was based on “optimistic assumptions” about the price of oil.

The province pegged oil at US$68 per barrel by 2020, considerably higher than the Moody’s Investors Service forecast of US$40 to US$60 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate closed last week at US$55.64." Read More

Made-in-Alberta action plan unveiled to protect 7,000 oil and gas jobs - "Canada’s leading oil and gas industry lobby group says a “made-in-Alberta solution” to reduce methane emissions rather than proposed federal regulations could mitigate the number of job losses in the province over the coming decade.

Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers president and CEO Tim McMillan said even though its five-point plan released Monday would still cost the oil and gas industry $700 million over eight years, it would protect 7,000 jobs, inject $710 million in capital and boost the province’s gross domestic product by $2.5 billion.

The plan, which MacMillan dubbed as the “most cost-effective, but also the most jobs effective” way of meeting reduction goals, centres on the province and industry working collaboratively to create an equivalency agreement with the federal government." Read More

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

The hero we need

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 15th,  2017

Volume 23, Issue 05

Dear Friends and Partners,

As we wind down the year you’ll notice a few changes happening in our newsletter. In the New Year we’ll be going from the current bi-monthly update to a weekly blog platform. That’ll mean that we won’t send out the newsletter on the 1st and 15th. Rather, we’ll send out the occasional update and leave it up to you to visit our website to stay updated. If you prefer to be notified for more frequent economic and property updates, just send us an email directly.

You’ll see links to oil sands news this month and a very interesting article on the petition for Amazon HQ. The last couple years have been a tough slog in AB and the province hasn’t had a good defender since the last change of government. There are signs of an improving economy and of diversification, but (like it or not) an uptick in oil is what would spur growth and confidence in the province as a diversification deepens.

Onwards and upwards!

Central SE Edmonton: Forest Heights, 4 Unit - Cashflow

Great addition to any portfolio. Low risk investment in a great area that is surrounded by terrific, sought after neighbourhoods. Despite being behind (the backyard) of a busy road, this 4-Plex attracts renters for its location. Zoned RF 4 and near the proposed LRT route, this is a great rental and longterm money maker.

A short 8 minute drive to downtown 14 mins to U.o.A & Hospital. This property has undergone some upgrades but will need more to make it shine which will be combined into mortgage. Well sized with 4 X 2 bedroom units. Has coin laundry area as well. 1961 built, double garage, massive lot, zoned RF4 and wide front yard.

Terrific access to local amenities in sought after Forest Heights. Purchase price to include renovation budget to upgrade exterior/interior to make it standout - all rolled into mortgage. This is a turn-key deal. Excellent access downtown and in this highly rentable mature neighbourhood.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Forest Height is a mature neighbourhood that is convenient for tenants working downtown or attending U.o.A HUGE upside potential due to the great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this property in relation to Edmonton’s growing centre.


Purchase price: $645,000
Total Investment: $150,580 ($35,000 PPI)
Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $88,123
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!

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

Battershill: We need to show the same passion for pipelines as we do for Amazon

By Cody Battershill, Calgary Herald, November 2nd., 2017

"What if we competed as hard for Canada’s energy as we did for America’s Amazon?

What if Canadians were as excited about pipelines as they seem to be about attracting the online retail giant’s second headquarters (the so-called HQ2 campaign)?

What if, at the same time Calgary tells Amazon the city would “fight a bear for you,” Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi were to step up efforts to get our energy resources to tidewater?

And what if our country were to coalesce behind a campaign to promote Canadian oil and gas, the largest single contributor to Canada’s economy, produced to the best environmental standards on Earth?"  READ MORE HERE 

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Canada oil, gas drilling to pick up in 2018: industry body

By Nia Williams, Reuters, October 30th., 2017

CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - "Canadian oil and gas drilling activity will climb 5 percent in 2018 as a gradual uptick in crude prices gives rise to cautious optimism among producers, an industry body forecast on Tuesday.
The Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC) expects energy firms to drill 7,900 wells next year, up from 7,550 in 2017. The biggest increase in activity will be in Canada’s main crude oil and gas-producing province of Alberta.

Based on PSAC’s forecast, next year will be the busiest for drilling since 2014, when oil prices crashed because of global oversupply."  GRAB THIS ARTICLE

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‘It takes forever’: Another delay hits proposed Fort McMurray oilseeds mine
‘Given the environment we’re in, it takes forever to get anything built here.’ energy critic says


By David Thurton, CBC News, November 9th., 2017

"A decision to build a massive new oilsands mine north of Fort McMurray has been delayed. And that has Alberta's Opposition party worried the proponent might back out altogether.

The proposed $20.6-billion Frontier oilsands mine, if approved, would stretch over 292 square kilometres of boreal forest. That's an area roughly the size of Mississauga, Ont.

The proponent, Teck Resources Ltd., said the mine would employ 7,000 people during peak construction and 2,500 people during its operation."  FOLLOW THIS STORY
 ===============

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.

“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.” - Og Mandino

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.