U.S. Mortgage Meltdown Is A Minor Inconvenience

The U.S. sub-prime mortgage fiasco is just a blip compared to the economic disaster that is coming for Americans. The U.S. government is going trillions and trillions of dollars into debt. There is the war. There is the recently announced rebates for all 300 million Americans. There are hundreds of billions in bail outs of privately owned banks and corporations. The list of unnecessary expenses is lengthy. More than half of all generated government income (mostly taxes) is being used just to pay interest on this debt. Current trends continuing, it will eventually be all of the governments revenue. Then what? Banks only lend money based on collateral or security. In the case of government borrowing, the taxpayer is the collateral. The contracts that are struck between banks and governments include a provision to raise any and all taxes necessary to satisfy the debt. In other words, when the lenders decide they want their money back, the government will comply with the burden being on its citizens. When that time comes, Americans will wish for the easy days of the sub-prime meltdown.

Go West Young Man

Scotiabank released an economic report this week. It mentions that the western provinces are driving the national real estate trends. This is not surprising. As we all know, easterner's have been flocking here for years, and there is no end in sight. Work BC is holding four job fairs in southern Ontario over the next week. The organization, made up of BC's top 100 employers estimates there will be 1 million new jobs to fill over the next 10 years in British Columbia. Alberta isn't far behind in these expectations, and Saskatchewan's demand is rising as well. The report also finds that the last decade of real estate cycles is the strongest and most sustained in history. These trends should be just as strong for another 10 years. The report states that we are not in over our heads and have little to be concerned with in regards to the U.S. mortgage meltdown. Only in Western Canada eh?

Using a REALTOR is an easy choice

"If knowledge is power, then a realtor is the most powerful professional ally you can have when it comes to selling or buying your home" according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.
When you’re searching for a property you wish to buy, the first obvious advantage of utilizing a REALTOR is that usually they can efficiently find suitable properties or "listings" for you to consider. REALTOR’S apply knowledge of the market together with computer technology. A realtor can also provide you with selling prices of the types of homes you are interested in. There is plenty of information available about the asking prices of properties. However, for actual selling prices of comparable homes, which are key, a realtor is the best source. If you aren't fixed on one location, a realtor can give you advice as to which locations are best from the point of view of future appreciation potential. Different locations and properties vary greatly in this respect.
One would think that buying or selling a property should be fairly straightforward most of the time. However, most every transaction seems to have a new twist or problem to be dealt with and resolved. That's one reason having a professional REALTOR on your side can be an enormous asset. One of the most nerve-wracking areas is the negotiation of price and terms. Experience has found that having the buyer and seller negotiate face-to-face is often disastrous. A lot of money is at stake, and the naturally high emotions can overwhelm the facts and create obstacles to finding a win-win agreement. The process works much better with a good realtor providing advice and passing information back and forth during the negotiations.
In Alberta, a purchaser gets their REALTORS help for free, so it's probably wise to take advantage of this fact and use their services. Besides helping you with searching for properties, with evaluating the pros and cons of specific properties, with negotiating favorable price and terms, and generally providing advice to help you make informed decisions, a REALTOR can also orchestrate the many details of a real estate transaction as your advocate. There are numerous advantages of working with a highly trained professional…a REALTOR, an easy choice.

Home Smart Home

More homeowners are embracing technology to save energy, thus saving money. Lets look at smart homes. A smart home not only reduces energy costs; it greatly increases your family’s comfort and safety. Just imagine leaving your home in the evening. You place your system in "away" mode and your interior lights gradually turn off, your exterior lights automatically turn on to show you the way out and your thermostat is placed in conservation mode awaiting your return. Or imagine reviewing via the web who has been in your home, and when they arrived/departed (Having two teenaged daughters, I love this feature) You can monitor carbon monoxide, freezing, water leaks. Minimize your consumption of electricity and heating fuels, lights are automatically turned off when not needed. Be notified via page/email/phone when children arrive home. The possibilities are endless! I won’t get into the luxury & convenience the entertainment capabilities have to offer. The bottom line is, a smart home saves you money and enhances your lifestyle. Having to live through Alberta’s long cold winters I say… bring my home to life!

Strong dollar has affect on Real Estate Market

Four years ago an American could purchase a newer 1700 sq.ft. 2 storey house in Edmonton for $130,000 USD, $200,000 CDN. Today, the same home is $475,000 with either currency. This obviously has an impact on real estate demand. For this to happen over such a short period of time has made it unattainable for the average American. Much the same way that booming prices pushed a whole whack of local buyers right out of the market. The strong dollar combined with a struggling U.S. economy and a volatile stock market has made a lot of people nervous to do anything. These are all natural fluctuations in any marketplace. I have the wait and see attitude.