6 Ways a House is More Than Just a Home
Too often are people naive to the many advantages of owning a home. While being your own landlord is by far the most appealing, I also think the advantages of opening up alternatives revenue streams are rarely considered for their full potential. A house is a piece of property like any other and can be used to to achieve whatever means you see most useful.
With the price of housing on an interminable incline, I think its time we take full advantage of options capable of subsidizing an otherwise daunting mortgage. So, whether you’re already struggling to stay afloat in the deep end of debt or just doubting yourself on the diving board, let me lay out a few alternative revenue streams which might serve to get you back on dry, debt-free, land faster than you think. Continue reading
From the Urban Trenches to the Suburban Graveyard
With the average price of a detached home in Toronto now exceeding a million dollars, many young families are seeking refuge in suburban neighbourhoods. But, are the sacrifices made to live behind the urban trenches still really worth the added benefit of four exterior walls and a garden shed? If there is a compulsory commute required to fulfill your white picket dreams, I would implore that such lofty visions of quaint picnics and Land Rovers exists only as such. When translated into the harsh reality of superhighways, cultural isolation and maudlin civility, your distant home nestled amongst rows of pruned trees, pristine turf, and row houses will become more of a mausoleum than a place to live life. in the below, allow me to dispel the many enchantments of the suburban lifestyle, and bolster the energy and vibrancy of the metropolis Continue reading
Top three places to invest in income property in North America
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Investing in income properties in Canada is a risky business. In urban centers such as Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, you are not only getting a weak return which barely covers mortgage payments, but you are investing in a market where the smallest decline in prices could set you back a whole years worth or rental income.
The added expense of investing in a foreign or distant location can be more than compensated for by the increase in return you will gain. home insurance and a yearly maintenance check up are really all you need. While many will contend the Canadian dollar is far too weak for such a proposition, that doesn’t really matter if you’re both buying and getting paid in the same currency – in this instance we are examining properties for their income potential; not necessarily their value appreciation potential .
The below is a list of the top three places in North America I believe would be both the most profitable and lucrative for Canadians and Americans a like to invest in.
2015 Canadian market outlook
The Canadian Real estate market managed to burn red through the 2008 recession and is expected to keep burning even though the oil is running low.
The historically low interest rates of the past years have helped to sustain demand through the recession and mitigate the impact of tightened lending criteria. Now, with the Bank of Canada (BOC) lowering rates once again in the wake of dangerously low oil prices, it seems we will be keeping with tradition for 2015. While the BOC has hinted towards a rate hike in 2015, it is unlikely given the exceptionally low price of oil and the negative impact a hike could have on Canada’s grander export driven economy. This is of course good news if you’re a homeowner, and bad news if you’re looking to buy. Yes indeed, it looks as though Canada will remain a sellers market for the foreseeable future.
The following are what I have been able to surmise from various North American housing reports and forecasts – many of which I will list for your reference at the end. Continue reading
Property Prophet 