Opened my mail today to find Peter Kinch's Mortgage Minute newsletter in my inbox. It's always a great read and especially informative if you have mortgages to renew or are considering the best tactics for reducing your expenses and increasing cash flow on investment properties through intelligent financing.

Here are three links from his blog enjoy!

2012 Real Estate Market

Pros and Cons to purchasing American Real Estate and Part Two

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., 2011
Volume 11, Issue 7

Dear Friends and Partners,

Another year is upon us. I hope that you have enjoyed 12 months filled with growth, change and enough 'wins' to be shaking your head at how fast it was spent. It seems that as we prepare to enter 2012 we enter it with much global uncertainty, as has been the norm for the past few years.
Optimism will prevail and with a bit of hope, and levelheadedness, political and economic stability will come to the nations that need balance the most.

In Alberta we remain very well situated and are better insulated (but not immune) to the global ups and downs; this last recession reminded us just how fast an economy can slow down. The good news remains the same as it was; Edmonton's long-term investing forecast is solid, steady and on track. Investors who focus on cash-flow and employ a long-term outlook, ride the real estate cycles which can be 5 to 7 years or longer, will do well.

Alberta is entering into another period of growth beginning in 2013, so lining up well priced and well positioned assets now is key; you still have incredible rates to take advantage of and relatively decent banking terms for revenue property investors - smart investors are picking up value priced property now.

Danielle and I always take time out over New Year to map out our goals for the year ahead. We focus on family, health, wealth and person goals - if you don't do this already, try it. It's a powerful way to get clear and synchronize as a family what you intend accomplish in the months ahead. As always, we sincerely thank you for your help, support and partnership. May 2012 be your best year yet.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a New Year filled with success!

P.S. Be sure to take advantage of REIN's great Xmas savings on ALL real estate products below. They make a great gifts too!

Please note: Glenn Simon Inc. will be closed for holidays from December 21st until January 9th. Newsletters will resume from January 15th 2012.

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North East Edmonton: Cash flowing Four-Plex In Killarny

Turbo charge your portfolio. Upgraded 1959 side-by-side duplex converted to 4-Plex with separate entrance to all units. The main floor is massive with nearly 1025 sq ft of beautifully designed space, including 3 bedrooms, dining, kitchen and living room. There are two large nicely finished 2 bedroom suites downstairs. You'll find shared laundry on the lower floor and the main floors have their own laundry.

All suites are well maintained with the main floor having some nicer touches and the basements remaining simple, clean and functional. The yard is low maintenance, landscaped and fenced. There is a 1 car garage and parking for 4 cars. 25 minutes to U.O.A. and 15 minutes to Grant MacEwan, NAIT and Downtown. This property has good holding value and cash-flow.

Comes complete with great tenants making this a totally turn-key property for you. Convenient North East area with easy access to transit and downtown. Excellent established neighbourhood featuring affordable homes; solid value and stable rents. HUGE upside potential due to the great purchase price, strong economic fundamentals and the proximity of this home in relation to Edmonton's developing North East.


Produces $732 positive cash flow per month using an investor's mortgage plan - taking advantage of current low rates.


Purchase price: $450K Total Investment: $112K. Your Estimated 5 Year Profit $64K. Your pre-tax Total ROI is 58% or 11.5% per year + $732 Cash Flow in Your Pocket Every Month

Poised for massive growth. These 4 suites rent for top dollar and have everything arranged, including financing structure and incredible tenants. Your investment includes: renovation costs, 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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Economy Oversold

By Nick Henselmeier, The Star Phoenix December 6th 2011
Re: Sask. unemployment sees small hike (SP, Dec. 3). An interesting fact is hidden in the November unemployment numbers: Saskatchewan no longer has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, with that distinction going to Alberta.

While Labour Minister Rob Norris brags about Saskatchewan adding 4,500 jobs year over year, this is in comparison to 98,400 added in Alberta. In fact, Saskatoon's total labour market declined by 1.6 per cent in the third quarter, year over year. GRAB THIS STORY

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BMO Economics: Energy Sector Will Keep Alberta Near Top of Growth Leaderboard in 2012
High oil prices strengthening energy sector and driving labour market - Real GDP growth of 3.3 per cent in 2011; 2.8 per cent in 2012 (Canada's at 2.3 per cent in 2011; 2.0 per cent in 2012)

MARKETWIRE, CALGARY, ALBERTA, Dec 07, 2011

Alberta's economy is significantly outperforming the national average in 2011, and should remain near the top of the growth leaderboard next year, according to the Provincial Monitor report released today by BMO Economics.Despite the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, cooling growth in China and expected sluggish growth in the U.S., West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices remain firm near $100 per barrel.

"Despite some temporary disruptions earlier this year due to wildfires, oil production was up a solid 7.8 per cent year-over-year through August, with even more robust 10.8 per cent year-over-year growth in crude bitumen production," noted Mr. Kavcic. "Longer term, Alberta is expecting raw bitumen production to rise 14 per cent per year in the next two years, as conventional crude output remains about flat, while natural gas production declines." GRAB THIS STORY

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Ewart: Is It To Soon To Cheer Good News?
By Stephan Ewart, Calgary Herald. December 9th, 2011

The news the federal government has approved a 100,000-barrel-a-day oil sands mine in the midst of a key UN climate change conference essentially confirms that Ottawa is not about to bow to international pressure that would potentially harm the economy.

Canada has been singled out repeatedly during the United Nations conference in South Africa for a perceived lack of commitment to reducing the country's fast-rising greenhouse gas emissions.

In the face of the global criticism, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver announced Thursday the approval of the $9.5-billion oil sands project. FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE

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Your success continues EVERYDAY, let me help you build for tomorrow.

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbours, and let each new year find you a better man." -Benjamin Franklin

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.

It's been 5 months from start to finish but yesterday our Cornerstone Grant funding came in the mail. We started building the secondary suite in July and final approval came around November 15, 2011, seven days later we got our cheque. Here, here and here are the steps we took through the whole grant process.

The biggest delays were permits the longest one took about 6 weeks, our contractor (the guy seriously lost the plot) and finally fireproofing the furnace room ceiling with drywall. 95% of the people we spoke to said it couldn't be done but it was. It took 3 inspections by the city but finally we got it right. The first shot is with gypsum board which is not to code the second two we have drywall and some fireproof duct tape throughout the ceiling.



After our whoops of joy we thought lets do it again. The first attempt was a bit rough going but once you've done the program and been approved it's easier to get your reno team in place and anticipate delays.

We've been really busy over the last few months from contributions to Real Estate How To books to magazines in Canada, Japan and the UK.

I've finally put up some of the articles, links and pdfs on our media page. Take a look some are interesting and hopefully you can find at least one golden nugget of information among them.

I scanned this article today and initially I thought it was obvious. However, if you don't know how to manage your money then having and maintaining a high net worth will be hard. That's why you see lots of celebrities broke after years of making millions and millions of dollars.
"Calgary will and trust lawyer Coady Cormier has spent the past 13 years advising people who are worth more than $1 million on how to best protect that money. Along the way, he has noticed some trends in how that money is managed and the attitudes of the wealthy. Some of the observations are what one might expect."

Here they are:
- frugality
- good at controlling debt
- fewer divorces
- tolerance within couples ie to workaholics
- tendency to not be conspicuous consumers
- review portfolios, wills and insurance every 3 years
- deeper responsibility with financial planning


It's a great article read more HERE

We had the first snow of the winter season over the weekend. It was beautiful to awaken to the fresh dusting that happened quietly while we slept.

The first snow is a great reminder that we'll be seeing this for the next 6 months and the real estate market is going to s-l-o-w down. Less tenants moving, although I did a move on New Year's Eve last year, less buyers looking. Sellers are out there but the prices are reflected in the season.

I've got one beautiful townhouse left to rent for December 1st and plan to have a baby this weekend. Then hope to batten my hatches for the weather, focus on our fine tuning our goals for 2012 and work on streamlining our portfolio.

I found this video/ad for an investment property in one of the areas we like to buy in. It's simple and effective.

Take a look HERE

As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion-dollar class, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US, its principal trading partner.

Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with the US, which absorbs about three-fourths of Canadian exports each year. Canada is the US's largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoyed solid economic growth from 1993 through 2007.

Buffeted by the global economic crisis, the economy dropped into a sharp recession in the final months of 2008, and Ottawa posted its first fiscal deficit in 2009 after 12 years of surplus. Canada's major banks, however, emerged from the financial crisis of 2008-09 among the strongest in the world, owing to the financial sector's tradition of conservative lending practices and strong capitalization. During 2010, Canada's economy grew only 3%, due to decreased global demand and a highly valued Canadian dollar. Read More Here