Did you know that in Calgary, Albeta, there are over 35 Condo projects which are all scheduled to be completed by 2010. This will put an additional 5,000 condos on the market by the end of 2010.I'm not sure pre-construction speculation is a sound investment strategy!However, buying a good solid 'used' condo (with cash flow) ... around these projects ... would be a great investment strategy.If you are going to play in the pre-construction condo game ... buy existing properties. 12/04/2007

The Edmonton Journal reported that Home renters use the below 3 strategies to find a home: 90% begin with internet searchesMany drive the neighbourhoods they want to rent in ... and look for signs.Less than 10% use the classified section of the newspaper.The Lesson ... if you have rental properties ... use online advertising such as:www.Rentfaster.cawww.homerent.cawww.kijiji.cawww.craigslist.cawww.gottarent.ca  12/04/2007

My blog is mostly good news stories. I try to personalize it. Sometimes it is better than other times. My property manager called today ... asking if I wanted the good news or the bad news first.The good news ... we got rid of the tenants in Penbroke, SE, Calgary ... who owe me about $9,200. The bad news, they left with all the stainless steal appliances.I don't think I've had such bad luck in buying one property per month over the last 4 years.I'll get over it.ps. I paid $380,000 for this up/down single family home with a detached garage in August 2007. It was appraised at $398,000 when I sent the bank to appraise it. It's probably worth only about $345,000 in todays market, sans appliances. However, I'm not selling until at least 2010. I'll be fine. It's still a good life.  :) 12/03/2007

The inventory of major Alberta construction projects is 228 billion dollars. According to Richard Corriveau, regional economist for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp, this is a conservative number. It only includes projects that cost at least $5 Million dollars.There's still lots of optimism and enthusiasm for where Alberta's economy is going.... still I find it hard to believe we are only mid way through this boom.  It's a great buying time.Could someone show me this post in 2013, please? 12/03/2007

Geoffry Scotton of the Calgary Herald recently reported that there has been little substantial slowing of overall economic activity in Calgary. Calgary continues to perform above expectations despite some unsettling influences that include low natural gas prices, royalty review and the increase in the value of the Cdn. dollar. 12/03/2007

I think we can admit that winter has finally touched Calgary and it is likely here to stay for the next few months. Thankfully though our winters here are not without a fair amount of sun and the occasional chinook, unlike our neighboring province of British Columbia to the west.With the cold snowy days that we are in for here, winter brings with it, obstacles and challenges for a number of Calgarians especially for our seniors. The City of Calgary, our local television station CFCN and The Calgary Sun have partnered together in a community initiative called Snow Angels and they are ready to launch this years 2008 edition on December 1st. The Snow Angels program is designed to lend a hand to our neighbors in an effort to keep our city sidewalks and driveways shoveled and free from snow ... 11/28/2007

My sister, who lives nearby, arrived at my door this morning at about 7:15am ... covered in snow. She was out walking and decided to stop by. She recently assisted my brother in buying his first Calgary home, and now she's nervous that there will be a World Economic Slow down in the spring. She's nervous that she assisted my brother in a home purchase, that will get him in trouble.I asked if she was listening to CBC radio too much. I asked where she was getting her information ... because it wasn't the same information I was getting.I told her to wait until the spring ... and our brothers home will be worth $400K. He paid $350K. He has two room mates, and easily covers the mortgage payment. (... so in the spring, instead of have a $25,000 net worth, his networth will be $75,000.)The eco... 11/27/2007

Un-sophisticated investors follow the herd ... or do whatever one else is doing. They buy when everyone else is buying, and they sell the sky seems to be falling ... and everyone is selling.Sophisticated investors study the market fundamentals and use the "Real Estate Cycle" to their advantage. Key indicators for the savy investor include:In-migration. Is the net population growing?New Construction. Are there new projects being built? Are there major projects on the horizon?Vacancy Rates. Are they low?Employment Rates. Are there lots of jobs?Cost of living - is there disposable income?In Calgary, the media is reporting that "the sky is falling'. There are many listings - and many motivated sellers. Realtors are not busy!What are the econmic fundamental indicators?Population is growingva... 11/21/2007

The southwest ring road seems to be getting closer to reality ... but there has been yet another stall. Currently the city needs to buy 2 square km of land from the Tsuu T'ina to run the road through the reservation, on the south end of Sarcee Trail. From news reports, it seems as though valuing the land is holding things up currently. 11/21/2007

City council approved the west leg of the LRT, and construction will begin in Oct 2008, with a completion date of 2013.Project ridership is anticipated to be 37,000 to 44.000 daily serving communities of Bankview, Scarboro, Killarney, Glendale, Signature Pqrke, Christie Park, Aspen Woods, Spring bank and more.It's great news for these SW communities ... and Calgary in general.There is discussion on creating a spur line or a rapid bus transit line to ensure Mount RoyalCollege gets the transportation it deserves. 11/21/2007

I purchase single family homes as investments ... and I help many clients do the same.  Tonight at the Real Estate Investment Network meeting in Calgary, Russell Westcock laid out how he ensures he is charging  Market Rent.I've been doing this for years. Russell claims he spends five minutes per day ... ensuring his rent is at market:•1.                  Goto http://www.rentometer.com/    Here get a good overview of what other similar properties are rented for in my neighborhood.•2.                  Now Drill deeper:•·        Google "Places for Rent Calgary".  Find out the top search engines for rental companies in your town.•·        Then choose one of the top companies. I use http://www.rentfaster.ca/ and search more about similar properties. (It has great search parameters.)•·       ... 11/14/2007

An investor friend of mine wrote the below article. I like to share it with clients.Bryon Author: Arlen DahlinA Veteran Real Estate Investor's Strategies for Working With RealtorsHaving a quality realtor on your side is critical in the game called real estate. With this said it is important to note the word 'Quality'. How do you define a quality realtor? How do you find one? How do you maximize that relationship?The answers are all held in this special report. In this report you will discover, in a very succinct fashion, the answers to the following questions:Why You Need A Quality Realtor On Your Team Why a Realtor Needs You - And How You Can Help Them How To Find A Quality Realtor How To Build A Good Relationship With Your RealtorOnce you understand these 4 critical pieces, you will g... 11/14/2007

Just spent an hour with the sales staff at Calgary's newest executive condo Pre-build ... Waterfront. Anthem Properties is the developer - who have a long history in Vancouver.I reserved a 1 bedroom condo in the Waterfront Executive Lofts for $375,900 ... for ... you.I have to arrive ... with ... you ... by Saturday and put down 5% ... with an additional 10% due within 90 days.The sales people expect the lofts to sell out this evening. Possession is in about three years. 11/14/2007

I love wine ... and I love charity.On Saturday, Nov 17, I will be attending Willow Park Charity Wine Auction for the 3rd time. It's an amazing event ... where Calgarians dig deep into their pockets and give generously. Last year, the evening brought in about $200,000.My sister Peggy Perry, vice-president to Wayne Henuset, is the main person behind the event. Since we were kids ... she was always cooking and hosting dinners. In my late teens, I met Peggy in Bordeaux and she toured me around all the great wineries ... and tried to cultivate my taste ... to appreciate wine as much as her.I think I do appreciate it as much as her ... but I certainly do not have the knowledge. She brought her passion of education and her love of wine ... to Willow Park. It's works. To get the entire story ..... 11/13/2007

As reported in Report on Business on Saturday, energy firms say higher rates won't pinch profits so hard. Most of the increase, will be countered by Alberta's continued effort to reduce taxes. Visit this link for the complete story.http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071110.ROILPATCH10/TPStory/?query 11/12/2007

Around the world in 35 blocksBy Daina LawrencePublished: August 25 2007 01:19 | Last updated: August 25 2007 01:19Calgary's Forest Lawn district used to be a town in its own right before it was annexed by the city, now Canada's fifth largest, in 1961.Perhaps as a result it still has the feeling of being cut-off from the hustle and bustle of other neighbourhoods, with a small-town style of living and also, for many decades, a less-than-salubrious reputation. But desperation in Calgary's residential property market - in the past 18 months, average housing costs have jumped more than 50 per cent - is causing a change in attitude. Forest Lawn is now regarded not as a sketchy area on the outskirts but as one of the last places in the city limits where young families can buy a starter home. S... 11/06/2007

I'm a runner ... a biker ... and a swimmer. I begin most of my days doing one of these activities. I normally leave home about 5:45am. On a particularly dark morning recently, I decided to run towards Glenmore Reservoir via our great path ways. Just east of the Ball fields at North Glenmore Park, I hit a fence (trail closed) - went through the fence - and hit the pavement on the other side. I was cut & scraped. I considered going home ... but reconsidered ... and told myself, "Adversity makes you stronger". I carried on ... past Rocky View Hospital. At Heritage Park, I ran directly into a metal sign, "Trail Closed for Construction". I went through the sign ... and hit the fence on the other side. The sign crashed and banged as it fell of its stand and hit the pavement. I decided to retu... 11/03/2007

Last night I attended Premier Ed Stelmach charity dinner for our Calgary Homeless problem.It was a grand event, and raised over $177,000.During the evening, Premier Stelmach committed his government to developing a 10-year strategy to end homelessness. Part of Stelmachs plan is to create an Alberta Secretariat for Action on Homelessness.It's an ambitious plan ... but not unachievable.By the show of individuals and companies who donated generously ... and the work of volunteers behind the scenes ... Homelessness can be ended. 10/30/2007

This past weekend I was working with a father and adult son.We found a great new home in Cranston for them to move into in November. The builder, Morrison Homes - will remove a bedroom wall to make the home two large bedrooms.It's going to be the perfect place for these two guys ... who both work nearby in New Home Construction.The new Hospital will be ready in 2011 ... and I expect their home value to soar. 10/30/2007

Running with my Altadore buddies Rob and David on Tueday morning, David began telling stories about the bungalow being moved on his street, 49th Ave.Apparently, a contractor was hired to rennovate 50 bungalows here in Altadore ... then move these bungalow to some small town North of Edmonton.The contractor was rennovating all the kitchens and bathrooms ... basically doing the complete job here ... before shipping!To date, the majority of these bungalows have been crushed and sent to the landfill. It certainly is nice to see these beautifully well built post war time bungalows getting saved. 10/25/2007