Answers to Investor's Questions

Today someone contacted me through ActiveRain with some questions I believe to be excellent and worthy of answering on my blog for all to read. 
The potential investor wrote:

I am looking at purchasing some investment property in your area. We would like a duplex or 4 plex as in completed or raw land which can accompany a duplex or 4 plex. Can you forward me some listings which you may have.
Also, can you give me some information on your area:
1/ Is real estate climbing in your area, if so what is supporting it?
2/ Is the Irving Oil project driving families to Saint John and are they renting?
3/ How much do families pay for rent?
4/ Is the gas project which Corridor is working on, close to Saint John or closer to Sussex?

Of course I will forward some listings that meet the investors criteria. I also suggest to anyone shopping the real estate market anywhere in Canada that advertising of better than 95% of properties for sale is available 24 hours a day on http://www.mls.ca and http://www.icx.ca for commercial property.

I explain that the information is advertising and therefore limited but if they would like the full details any any property then just email me the MLS® nember and I will reply with the all the details. And I try to get them to understand that they should be careful who they contact because the agents/brokers and their salespeople are looking out for the Seller's best interests.

Now for the answers

1 - Yes, real estate is climbing in our area (but not as fast as in places like Saskatoon). In my opinion some of the factors supporting this are; affordability as in wages versus the cost of housing is very good, positive population growth, high employment, and quality of life. Each month I blog a Market Report for New Brunswick.

2 - Yes, some large projects in Saint John are attracting workers to the area. The percentage who own is very similar to the percentage of the general population who own, which in our area is around 67%.

3 - Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporationpublishes a rental market report semi-annuallly. You may download the latest version here. Note that the survey only covers buildings of three units and up. If anything in the report is unclear, I can help. A modern side by side duplex rents for $750 - $850 per month in our area.

4 - Corridor Resources' play is between Sussex and Moncton. Also Sussex is the site of a planned major addition to the Potash Corporation mine.