It's Hot: Abbotsford Real Estate Ranking
December 21, 2011 City of Abbotsford
Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), and best-selling author of books like Real EstateInvesting in Canada and 97 Tipsfor Canadian Real Estate Investors is recognized for his unbiased, nohype look at Canadian real estate.
And where does he live? In Abbotsford, a city just listed by REIN (www.reincanada.com) as one of the top four cities and towns in B.C. for real estate development.
Jay Teichroeb, the City of Abbotsford’s general manager of economic development and planning, said he has presented before REIN and finds it to be an independent voice on what’s hot, and what’s not in Canadian real estate, and finds their ranking of Abbotsford as a testament to the confidence of the real estate investment community in the opportunities in Abbotsford, especially in the Fraser Valley generally.
Teichroeb likes the fact REIN hosts a series of seminars to provide real estate education programs and economic research materials. He said it doesn’t hurt either than Campbell lives in Abbotsford.
Campbell’s profile shows he made his first investment into residential real estate in the Fraser Valley in 1985 and “hasn’t looked back since.”
Now, after adding to his personal real estate portfolio with holdings across the country, he is showing thousands of Canadians the exact steps he took. He is also president of Cutting Edge Research Inc. featuring an experienced team of real estate and economic research information providers.
Abbotsford was listed in the REIN top four, behind Surrey, Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows and Kamloops, because of its rapid population growth owing to reasonable housing prices and attractive rural lifestyle. Campbell said the proliferation of local job opportunities means fewer people living in the community have to commute outside of Abbotsford to work.
The latest report by REIN, titled Top British Columbia Investment Towns 2011 (www.topbctowns.com) analyzes current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities in BC, and identifies top regions that will outperform in the coming 10 years.
Findings are based on in-depth research, analysis of the latest statistics, economic and social trends, and on-the-ground reports from REIN research staff and, members, along with reports and statistics from organizations such as Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Statistics Canada, Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Canadian Home Builders Association, city and regional real estate boards, and local economic development offices.
The report looks at such factors as:
■ Is the area’s population growing faster than the provincial average?
■ Are new infrastructures being built to handle that growth?
■ Is the area creating new jobs and taking steps to maintain current employment levels?
■ Will the city benefit from an economic or real estate ripple effect?
■ Has political leadership created an economic growth atmosphere?
■ Are there major transportation improvements in the works?
Abbotsford is followed in descending order in the REIN ranking by Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Kelowna, Comox Valley, Penticton, Prince George and Vancouver.
Campbell, whose generosity typically reflects those living in Abbotsford, donates 100 per cent of the royalties from all his three books directly to Habitat for Humanity.
So far he and the members of REIN have raised more than $500,000 to build homes for those in need of a hand-up.
His presentations, said to be entertaining and informative, have been attended by thousands of real estate investors across North America, Australia and Ireland.
Campbell can speak in detail on any market in the country and is “not afraid to tell the truth about where the market is headed. His research and systems have been developed and refined yearly for the last 18 years and are based solely on proven Canadian strategies that work in today’s market environment.”
He is known as a go-to person for national and local media whenever the discussion of real estate arises.