There’s something unsettlingly ephemeral about owning stocks and bonds in this era of default and constant volatility, which explains why many investors are thinking of turning to physical assets such as real estate.

But the problem with owning tangible real estate is all the work involved in maintaining it. When you’re a landlord, every leaky faucet, broken window and dirty swimming pool is your problem.

While all four projects boast paper profits for early investors, the simultaneous sale of dozens - perhaps hundreds - of exquisite suites may prove too much of a good thing.

"I think on the luxury side, the market has already peaked," said Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network, an author who invests his own money and advises others about buying into Canada's housing market.

Chan, his wife Wendy Cheung and brother-in-law Peter Cheung, know all too well about difficulties faced by new immigrants. Originally from Vietnam, siblings Peter and Wendy spent a year in a refugee camp in Hong Kong before being sponsored by a church mission and arriving in Canada in 1980. They met Chan here in high school, who is originally from Hong Kong. “We didn’t choose Canada. Canada chose us,” Chan says. “We are glad our parents made the choice to come to Canada, and are so grateful for their decisions and sacrifices.” In 1982, they all moved to Vancouver, and over the next two decades worked hard in the business, investment and technology industries. “We learned from our parents that work ethics are important,” says Wendy. “Our expectation of ourselves is high.”

In 2004, they attended a real estate seminar. “That’s when a light bulb came to me,” says Peter, “and I started taking notice of real estate.” Buoyed by strong demand and low interest rates, the housing market was booming. Sensing the opportunity, they founded Peak Performance Investments. Over the next four years, they bought and sold residential property, eventually building more than $25 million in real estate assets. Peter, an active Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) member, won player of the year in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 for having the highest real estate acquisitions. Wendy and Chan are now award-winning realtors. Wendy is also a member of the top five per cent Medallion Club and the recipient of several REIN awards.

Canada Revenue Agency statistics show Hamilton had about 350 more businesses in 2010 with revenues over $30,000 compared to 2009. They’re not all imports, of course. But Everson said their success breeds local startups and expansions, too. “It’s all part of a positive momentum for the city,” he said.

The city doesn’t specifically track transplanted businesses or out-of-towner expansions into Hamilton, but Everson can rattle off a list of the biggest without a second thought.

 

Real estate investor, researcher, bestselling author and educator Don Campbell of Abbotsford is this year’s recipient of Toastmasters International’s District 21 Communication and Leadership Award. The CEO of the Real Estate Investment Network™ (REIN) and Cutting Edge Research Inc. donates one hundred per cent of his author royalties directly to Habitat for Humanity. So far, he and members of the REIN™ network have raised over $855,000 to build homes for those in need of a hand-up.

With most new Vancouver and Toronto condos now priced too high to cover investors' carrying costs, buyers are increasingly looking to suburban markets in Ontario and B.C. in addition to other Canadian cities like Montreal and Halifax, interviews with brokers, developers and property managers suggest.

"You're bumping up against a ceiling in Toronto and Vancouver, and that's why the money is starting to shift," said Don Campbell, president of the B.C.-based Real Estate Investment Network of Canada.

 

B.C.’s Interior is not a wise choice to invest in real estate because the forestry sector is set to suffer huge job losses, which will then reduce house prices, Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) president Don Campbell told Business in Vancouver Thursday.

Looking to sell your condo? Good luck. A potential glut in multi-unit dwellings may mean a soft resale market in the very near future.

Construction of condominiums and apartments continues at a furious clip -- most notably in Ontario and the Prairies -- according to the latest report on national housing starts from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

 

Mark Turcotte does fit the profile of an aspiring real estate mogul. Four years ago he was working as a retail Manger. Today, he owns six homes in Barrie Ontario and is on the hunt for more.
 

Focusing solely on a realtor’s potential commission is a big mistake, according to Canadian real estate expert Don R. Campbell.

“This often leads to the home seller making a decision that will cost them money rather than save money,” Campbell says. “Often times, if you have the right realtor on your side they can attract the buyer who is willing to pay more for the property than you could get if you sold or listed it yourself.”

 

For those adventurous enough to get into real estate investing, Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network, says it is possible to get a yield that either equals or exceeds many dividend-paying stocks, not counting the price appreciation on the property. He explains the key to being a successful real estate investor is to approach it the same way as you would a stock.

Local real estate investor Richard Killeen-Payne isn’t holding his cards too close to his chest.

Instead, the co-owner of Invicta Property Investments will be flying the flag for Halifax and promoting the municipality as a hot real estate market that investors coast-to-coast should consider when he addresses the national membership of the Real Estate Investment Network in Toronto next week.

Now selling, moving and buying a home involves incredible amounts of time, energy and money. It's not a decision to be taken lightly, especially considering the drastic financial repercussions an ill-advised or poorly-timed move can have.

To make sure that we've covered our bases, I spoke with real estate investor Don R. Campbell to find out the questions everyone should ask before they decide to sell their house.

Hamilton’s 3.1 per cent population growth may look modest beside Burlington’s 6.9 per cent, but it’s still good, says Hamilton’s economic director, Neil Everson.

Everson also points out that the Real Estate Investment Network last May identified Hamilton as the third best city in Canada and best in Ontario to invest in, and in 2009, Foreign Direct Investment magazine named Hamilton the third best largest city in North America in quality of life.

 

One big advantage of buying a residence over other investments is that owners can put down a fraction of the purchase price and borrow the rest, magnifying the amount of any increases they see.

Campbell, who expects strong returns on Edmonton property starting next year, suggests prospective buyers look at homes within 800 metres of new LRT stations as one factor that will lead to higher returns in the long run.

Property investors from outside Nova Scotia have already moved to ferret out opportunities in Halifax following announcement of that $25 billion shipbuilding contract, says one local expert, suggesting those buyers may claim a significant share of acquisitions in the next 12 to 18 months.

That interest is expected to steadily grow in the next year, with REIN head Don Campbell suggesting price growth will follow the same kind of trajectory and not the boom-bust of some Western markets coming to terms with their newfound economic wealth.

The Halifax area is on the cusp of a real estate renaissance that will see average rents and home prices begin a slow and long-lasting rise, real estate guru Don R. Campbell said Monday.

“It’s going to be a slow and healthy sort of increase in real estate values, and not the boom-and-bust sort of cycle that we’ve seen in some western communities in the past,” said Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network of Vancouver.
 

The real-estate think-tank Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) also had its eye on Orillia in 2011, ranking the city as one of Ontario's top 10 towns in which to invest for 2011.

"Being in the top 60 places to live and the top 10 investment opportunities in Canada are selling points," Landry said.

The real-estate think-tank Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) also had its eye on Orillia in 2011, ranking the city as one of Ontario's top 10 towns in which to invest for 2011.

"Being in the top 60 places to live and the top 10 investment opportunities in Canada are selling points," Landry said.

Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network, said the past year’s market has been a year of recovery as the market adjusted to the job and population slowdown of 2010.

“Any job and population changes aren’t reflected in the real estate market until 18 months after they occur. Confusing signals from the market numbers were expected and that is what we experienced,” he said

“Real estate investing is not for everyone,” says Vancouver-based Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network.

“You cannot do it sitting in your basement in your pyjamas, like you can when you trade stocks. When you buy a property, immediately upon getting the key, you are running a business.”

There is good news for those looking to buy real estate in Prince George. The Real Estate Investment Network has listed this city in its top ten communities in B.C. in which to invest in real estate.

Prince George comes in at number 10, one place ahead of Vancouver.

Throughout the world, 2011 was marked by the continued global economic crisis, which began in September 2008.

But it's not all doom and gloom.

Vancouver analyst, Don Campbell, of Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), Canada's leading real estate education, research and education organization, said Central Alberta is a great spot to be when the global economic downturn ends.

With City Hall labour strife on the horizon and the condo craze still firing on all cylinders, downtown Toronto city councillors will consider a stack of development applications in the new year that propose to add another 7,000 residential units to the market.

Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network, said that is "a massive amount of keys" to be handed out and will lead to an oversupply in 2012, followed by a cap in home value increases in 2013 and 2014.

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.

As wealthy foreign buyers snap up more and more luxury homes in Canada, high-net-worth Canadians are similarly showing strong interest in purchasing multimillion-dollar residences abroad. But while their sights were once set on a French château, perhaps, or a Tuscan villa, the trend now is towards buying in the United States.

As wealthy foreign buyers snap up more and more luxury homes in Canada, high-net-worth Canadians are similarly showing strong interest in purchasing multimillion-dollar residences abroad. But while their sights were once set on a French château, perhaps, or a Tuscan villa, the trend now is towards buying in the United States.

Abbotsford ranks number four on a list of top cities and towns in B.C. for real estate investment.

The result was released earlier this month in a report created by the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN).

Whether you're a prospective real estate investor, or someone who's simply in the market to buy a primary residence, we can all benefit from the nuggets that were shared via Twitter during the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) BC Workshop last Friday (@REINCanada).

And investors can look forward to a projected real estate boom, according to a report released by the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) that predicts the local real estate market to outperform other regions of the province over the next three to five years.

The report, which analyzes current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities in B.C., ranks Fort St. John fifth out of hundreds of towns and cities.

A Canadian real estate expert says the best way to predict housing sales and price gains is to track population and job growth numbers.

Don Campbell with the Canadian Real Estate Investment Network tells 660News, Calgary leads the country in those two categories which usually produces a bit of a housing boom 18 months later.

It’s behind Surrey, but being in the No. 2 spot isn’t so bad.

The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows area is considered the second-best real estate market in B.C. and is expected to outperform the rest of the province over the next three to five years.

Out of all the cities and towns throughout the province, Penticton has been ranked ninth for real estate investment.

The Real Estate Investment Network released its latest report this week identifying the top regions that are likely to perform amongst the best over the coming years.

A report by the Real Estate Investment Network has Fort St. John as one of the top regions that will outperform others in B.C. over the next three to five years. Top British Columbia Investment Towns 2011 ranks Fort St. John's real estate market in fifth place, behind only Surrey, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, Kamloops and Abbotsford.

For the third year in a row, Surrey has been named the best place in British Columbia to invest in real estate, according to a new report released today by the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN). The report predicts Surrey’s market will outperform all other regions in the province over the next three to five years.

“The City of Surrey has been working very hard to ensure businesses, investors and residents have confidence in our city. We have one of the lowest tax rates in the country, and we offer high quality, efficient services. We’re creating thousands of new jobs and businesses, and building world-class facilities in each of our town centres,” says Mayor Dianne Watts.

 That’s the same place the city finished when the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) carried out a ranking two years ago, but is still impressive considering 51 communities in total were accounted for, said the company’s president Don Campbell.

A real estate consultant is rating Prince George the 10th best place in B.C. to invest.

Prince George, B.C – The City of Prince George has made it to the top ten list of cities and towns in B.C. in which to invest.

Real estate brokers, like teachers, doctors and other professions, have long been panned and praised by anonymous users on countless generic “rate my” websites. But for the first time in Canada, a new program launched by organized real estate will allow Quebecers to rate the men and women they hire to help buy and sell their homes.

“The data and the relevance would only be accurate if all participated,” said Don Campbell, the B.C.-based president of the Real Estate Investment Network. “Those who do not provide professional service and conduct would obviously opt out – even if they opt out in the second or third year due to a bunch of negative reviews.”

Surrey has been ranked number 1 in the Real Estate Investment Network’s (REIN) latest report on the top cities and towns in B.C. for real estate investment

Top British Columbia Investment Towns 2011 analyzed the current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities in the province, and identified the top regions that will outperform in the coming decade.

Top BC Investment Towns Released For 2012 – 2016 Vancouver, Nov. 8/11 – The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN™), Canada’s leading real estate research organization has just released its latest rep...

Surrey has been rated the hottest market for housing investment in the province by the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN).

REIN, a leadingn real estate research organization in Canada, has released it's latest report on the top cities and towns in B.C. for real estate investment.

Surrey took top spot.

Surrey's real estate market is on a tear.

The city is set to outperform other B.C. cities over the next three to five years in terms of real estate investment.

That's the word from the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), the country's leading real estate research organization. Its latest report, Top British Columbia Investment Towns 2011, ranks Surrey No. 1 out of hundreds of cities and towns in B.C.

Surrey is the hottest market for housing investment in British Columbia, according to a rating by Real Estate Investment Network.

Daykin also pointed out Maple Ridge’s success in real estate.

For 2010-2015, the Real Estate Investment Network named the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows area the second best (after Surrey) for real estate investment.

Kamloops is poised to be one of B.C.’s best real estate markets in the next five years, according to a report released Tuesday by a Greater Vancouver-based firm.

Real Estate Investment Network placed Kamloops No. 3 in its list of top 10 markets. That’s up one place from a similar survey two years ago.

Northeastern BC continues to be among the top 10 in British Columbia for real estate investment, according to a recent study.

The report, by the Real Estate Investment Network, puts Fort St. John at #5 in BC in a list of top places to invest in real estate. Dawson Creek sits close behind in 6th.

A recent report by the Real Estate Investment Network says Surrey will have the hottest real estate market in the province over the next three to five years, and perhaps surprising to some, it predicts Surrey will surpass Vancouver in population within the next decade.

This is a key issue for all Surrey candidates to focus on.

“Pay attention. Something’s happening here,” says Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network in Canada.

Campbell is paying attention to the all the reports coming out these days showing some positive economic news for Alberta and Calgary. Good economic growth. In-migration levels rising. And employment growth leading the way in Canada.

The City of Surrey is the best place in Western Canada to invest in real estate, according to a report published by Western Investor Magazine.

Surrey has received similar accolades from the Real Estate Investment Network, which has repeatedly named Surrey the best place in B.C. to invest and ranked the city fourth on the list of top Canadian investment cities in 2010.

We recently sat down with Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), to discuss his new book Secrets of the Canadian Real Estate Cycle and get his expert take on the market today. The Canadian real estate market appears to be outperforming markets elsewhere in the world, with some major cities even experiencing double digit growth while others move at a slower pace. Is this a boom that’s about to bust, or is this growth supported by the right fundamentals? Don was more than happy to answer this and our other real estate questions.

Despite erratic markets and a lingering world recession, Calgary's office and commercial real estate market rivals Toronto as the most robust in the country, driven predominantly by the continued growth plans of energy companies.

Don R. Campbell, president of the Calgary-based Real Estate Investment Network, says that on a per capita basis, Calgary has already redefined itself as a leader in commercial and office space.

EDMONTON — If shovels hit the ground on a new downtown Edmonton arena, real-estate investors should dig around area neighbourhoods for house-buying opportunities, says real-estate author Don Campbell.

Arguments in favour of expanding rail transit typically focus on environmental and social benefits; looking out for the little guy while cutting greenhouse gas emissions makes for sound political strategy. But the biggest beneficiary of the new LRT lines in Edmonton and Calgary might be business owners in both cities.

Other advantages exist, too. Reports issued by the Real Estate Investment Network predict that transportation improvements will make real estate values increase up to 20 per cent for property near the development in either city. And increased pedestrian traffic near the new stations should boost the revenue of nearby retail businesses.

Hamilton is second only to Toronto among Canadian cities in attracting new corporate investment over the past year.

It’s the second year in a row Hamilton has ranked among the top cities in Site Selection magazine’s Canada Best to Invest.

Hamilton was also named the top real estate investment choice in Ontario and the third best in Canada over the next five years by the Real Estate Investment Network.

The lines once drawn between for-sale-by-owner sites and traditional real estate brokers are blurring, with property owners now trying one or more different methods to sell their homes.

Indeed, with Canadian for-sale-by-owner sites actually joining forces with brokers so their clients can list on the popular Realtor.ca – the listing website used in the vast majority of real estate transactions – it’s becoming increasingly difficult to determine who made the sale.

“It’s really not black and white,” said Don Campbell, president of the Vancouver-based Real Estate Investment Network.

The scrapping of the controversial harmonized sales tax, or HST, in British Columbia could prove to be a bonanza for the province's realtors.

Don Campbell of the Real Estate Investment Network predicts a spike in home building over the next 6 to 12 months.

B.C.'s harmonized sales tax has been a "disaster" for the recreational property market, critics say, and scrapping it will open the doors for buyers, many from Alberta, who have been sitting on the sidelines.

 

Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network, said the scrapping of the HST will increase the demand in the condo market.

 

"When the HST came on it actually put a bit of a cap on demand," said Campbell. "You'll start to see new homebuilding increase over the next six to 12 months.

Stock investment has out performed property investment according to Investor Warren Buffet, who stated, "All things considered, the third-best investment I ever made was the purchase of my home, though I would have made far more money had I instead rented and used the purchase money to buy stocks,"

Barrie and Orillia have again been identified as among the most promising places in Ontario to invest in real estate. The list appears in Top Ontario Investment Towns, a 102-page report prepared by Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), a Western-Canadian based research organization. The report analyzes the current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities in Ontario.

As private lakefront properties go, John Hooper's 17,000-square-foot mansion nestled in the trees of Hudson, Que., should have been an easy sell.

But a market alternative like auctions is unlikely to replace traditional sales by brokers, says Don Campbell, president of the Vancouver-based Real Estate Investment Network.

"It's not going to catch fire here. It's too much of a risk to the vendor. In our country, it doesn't make sense for a vendor to go to auction."

Though a $150,000 four-bedroom house seems like a steal, home buyers need to be sure they don’t end up in a house that will be unsellable a few years down the road, says Don R. Campbell, a real-estate analyst and author of the Real Estate Investing in Canada series. Many of the lower-priced cities on the list have been hard hit by the loss of manufacturing jobs in the country, and buyers looking for a bargain home need to take certain factors into account, Mr. Campbell said.

When Dave Snively began house-hunting about a year ago, he was looking for an updated home, a nice neighbourhood and plenty of outdoor activities nearby. But most importantly, he was looking for something inexpensive.

The option of rent control and reform of it has been debated across Canada, especially in cities like Winnipeg and Ottawa, where vacancies are low and rents are rising.

But Real Estate Investment Network President Don Campbell told CRE Online such rent control regulations have unintended consequences that will hurt investors, developers, the government, and even renters. Politically, controlling the rising cost of rents might look good to voters, but it will be a long-term detriment all around, he said.

Canadian real estate expert Don Campbell says it might appear that developers are not interested in whether the city gets LRT or not, but that's not the case. They are waiting for station locations to be finalized and for a commitment to be made.

Once that happens, you will see lots of purchases around stations. That happens everywhere in North America exactly the same.

Last week, Propertyguys.com Inc., which helps people sell their own homes, joined forces with flat-fee brokerage Realtysellers Real Estate Inc. The merger will help owners outside of Quebec pay a flat fee and list their properties on realtor.ca, which generates the listings for the vast majority of home sales in Canada, the companies say.

But market alternatives like auctions and sell-it-yourself websites are unlikely to replace traditional sales by brokers, said Don Campbell, president of the Vancouver-based Real Estate Investment Network.

RBC raised residential mortgage rates Monday by as much as 15 basis points.

Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network, tells BNN the increase will “barely, barely” affect mortgage payments and most of the banks won’t follow RBC's lead.

If you're looking to make money in real estate, Durham Region has income property opportunities, heard hundreds of real estate investors.

As Durham's population projections head upward over the next 10 years, so will the demand for rentals, with two-unit properties with basement suites becoming the main source of affordable housing, according to Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network.

Orillia has once again scored among the province's top cities in terms of real estate investment potential, according to the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN)

Orillia has been ranked third in REIN's latest report, which lists cities in Ontario based on their current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities.

By 2031, the Lower Mainland is expected to be home by 3.5 million residents. And with the population increase comes an increasing number of automobiles. The number of vehicles on the road is actually rising faster than the population – 20,000 cars per year – putting tremendous pressure on existing transportation infrastructure. These increases have not been met by improvements to transportation infrastructure at the same rate; in fact, there have been few significant improvements since Expo ’86.

The Government of British Columbia developed the Gateway Program in 2003 in response to the growing congestion on the Lower Mainland’s major road network, and to improve the movement of people and goods through better transportation connections. The announcement of the Gateway Program lead the REIN team to undertake a research report on neighourhoods that will see an increase in value due to these transportation improvements.

The Gateway Program projects will deliver a 10%–20% enhancement of real estate values in the regions most affected. In the future, these Gateway areas will outperform the rest. If the market goes up everywhere, these areas will increase by about 10%–20% more. If the values drop, these will drop by 10%–20% less.

Barrie and Orillia are once again near the top of the list of the best places in Ontario for real-estate investment.

Simcoe Shores follows Hamilton and the Kitchener/Cambridge areas as the third-best place for residential real estate investment, in an analysis of top Ontario investment towns.

BARRIE - The 'for sale' signs always pop up in the spring. Pop up and then sport sold signs in the blink of an eye. It's a good sign that people are on the move, changing house sizes, changing neighbourhoods.

That cycle just expanded to commercial and industrial space as well with the news this week that Barrie and Orillia's real estate market will outperform most other regions in the province over the next few years.

Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) purports to be the country's leading real estate investment company and it reports that in all of Ontario Barrie and Orillia rank third for growth.

In June 2007, “MoveOntario 2020” – a 12 year plan to fund 52 transit projects around southern Ontario, was announced. The improvements to transit in the Hamilton area will deliver a 10%–20% enhancement of real estate values in the regions most affected. In the future, these areas will outperform the rest. If the market goes up everywhere, these areas will increase by about 10%–20% more and if the market’s values drop, these areas will drop by 10%–20% less. This report studies the neighbourhoods that will receive an increase in real estate values.

WATERLOO — Waterloo has lost its top spot as a place to invest in real estate due partly to concerns over the regulation of rental housing.

A new ranking of Ontario’s leading investment towns downgrades Waterloo to fourth spot, two spots behind Kitchener and Cambridge

A planned LRT system for Hamilton will bring a hefty windfall to property owners around its stations.

Don Campbell, head of the country’s largest real estate research company, told an audience of commercial realtors Tuesday anyone lucky enough to own commercial space within 50 metres of an LRT stop can expect to command a 16 per cent rent premium for the property. Apartments within 800 metres of a stop will get the same premium.

Toronto's real estate market set to outperform other regions of the province over the next 3 - 5 years

Toronto, May 10/11 -- The Real Estate Investment Network™ (REIN™), Canada's leading real estate research organization has just released its latest report on the top Ontario cities and towns for real estate investment. Out of the hundreds of cities and towns in Ontario, Toronto ranked #8 in the province.

Hamilton has scored the top spot on a new list of the best places to invest in Ontario.

The annual ranking by Toronto-based Real Estate Investment Network also names Hamilton the third-best place in Canada for investment, after Edmonton and Calgary. The honour is the second time in two months the city has been given a gold star as a target for investment

“Real estate goes in cycles, and if the music stops at that exact point you want to sell – as it did in 2008 – you are stuck,” says Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network.

Many people set out to flip and achieve a quick windfall after viewing a real estate-themed reality television show on flipping, says Mr. Campbell.

One of the biggest mistakes real estate professionals and consumers often make is gauging their actions against national reports about the state of the real estate market, says Vancouver’s Don Campbell. He says there is no Canadian real estate market and the sooner realtors understand that, the better.

First-time homebuyers should behave like investors because that’s how they’ll save money and ultimately live a happier life, says Don Campbell, a Vancouver real estate expert.

“If you prefer not to save money, then think like a homebuyer,” says Campbell, an investor who analyzes and writes about the Canadian real estate industry.

Everyone wishes they had a crystal ball, with a clear picture of the future. But homeowners and investors looking at the housing market numbers for clarity are looking in the wrong place.

That’s because the numbers (average price, housing starts, sales-to-listing ratios, etc.) are only a reflection of what has occurred in the past.

He’s calling it the Wake Up Alberta tour — and while real estate expert Don Campbell refuses to say another boom is on the way, he says to be prepared.

“Alberta is 18 months away from a real estate frenzy,” says the author of the bestselling book, 97 Tips for Canadian Real Estate Investors. “There’s no question the frenzy is coming here.”

Want to invest in real estate without the hassle of becoming a landlord?

Pretty much every advantage of buying property directly and renting it out can be achieved passively through REITS or funds invested in them.

Vancouver-based Don Campbell, author of the best-selling Real Estate Investing in Canada, has helped thousands of Canadian investors climb the hefty learning curve to real estate riches.

As more people flock to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) for the job opportunities, the demand on the Area’s infrastructure and housing market will continue to escalate. As a result, people will make the decision to move further outside Toronto, turning instead to surrounding communities to find accommodations to either rent or buy that fit their budget. Hamilton’s lower housing prices and the short driving distance to Toronto appeal to people who work in the city, but want to live outside its borders. By 2031, the population of Hamilton is expected to increase another 32%, which translates into 105,000 new jobs, and subsequently, if left unchecked, 180,000 additional auto driver trips per day that will need to be accommodated by the road network.

The City of Hamilton hopes to turn to light rail technology to curb traffic congestion. The announcement of five proposed rapid transit lines in Hamilton lead the REIN team to undertake a research report on the impacted neighourhoods.

 

Average house prices in Calgary could flirt with record levels within the next two years due to a commodity boom in the province, says a real estate industry analyst.

Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network, said house prices could increase five to seven per cent this year and another five to seven per cent in 2012.

Edmonton is on the verge of another real estate boom, says expert Don Campbell.

Robust growth in the region's gross domestic product and labour market will set off a chain of events over the next few months that will heat up housing again, said Campbell, president of Real Estate Investment Network and author of the bestselling 97 Tips for Canadian Real Estate Investors.

The potential merger of the TMX Group, operator of the Toronto Stock Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange Group has sparked hot debate throughout the Canadian business community.

“I've been studying this market for 20 years and I've never seen so much international money coming into Canada to park,” says Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network and author of Real Estate Investing in Canada. “Canada has become a safe haven for capital, for Asia and Europe and the Middle East, and right now, in order to get into the market, they have to buy one of our assets or a portion of one of our assets.

In early 1992, Don R. Campbell wasn’t much involved in real estate. He’d saved up enough at a retail job to buy his first residential property in 1985 in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. But other than that, his professional focus was on aviation; he was working at Edmonton’s Sky Harbour Aviation as the general manager. Don’s career was going very well and he was earning good money, in spite of the fact that he didn’t have any formal post-secondary education. He had no need to change course.

Nine years ago, regional politicians abandoned their caution and embraced rail transit as a tool to shape land use.

They were encouraged in part by two supportive factors. In 2000, regional council assumed control of transit. Soon after, senior governments put cash on the table for transformative projects.

Canadian real estate sales are down, yet prices are up. An outright collapse doesn't seem imminent, but investors should still be wary

The resiliency of the Canadian housing market has to impress even the most cynical observer. And while the consensus even among industry insiders is the days of double-digit percentage price increases are over, nobody is expecting an American-style housing collapse in Canada. "The fear proved to be unfounded," says Pascal Gauthier, a senior economist at Toronto-Dominion Bank. He points out average prices in Canada only dropped 13% from peak to trough. Other than a brief blip in 2008, the average home price has been on a tear since 1996, reaching almost $340,000 in 2010. A decade ago, it was $163,992.

SIMCOE COUNTY - Battle-weary from the recent stretch of economic woes that had local businesses scrambling to change or die, a look back says it wasn’t all bad, according to entrepreneur Gini Stringer, whose year-long term as president of Orillia and District Chamber of Commerce ended Dec. 31. But it isn’t all over either.

She’s not alone in that opinion. According to the national Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) that lumps together Orillia and Barrie under the regional moniker Simcoe Shores, the two cities ranked eighth among surveys investors on the 2010 top 10 Canadian cities in which to invest report. REIN president Don Campbell called them, “a hot bed for growth,” referring to the expansions of Georgian College and Lakehead University, the addition of GO trains, a respectable 4.7 per cent vacancy rate and the youngest residents on average.

Looking for a good real estate investment in these shaky economic times?

Buy where people will want to live when you're ready to sell, says Don Campbell, one of the gurus of real estate investing.

The real estate mantra that it's all about location is only part of the equation of why people love the condo lifestyle in the suburbs, says one of Canada's real estate investment leaders.

"It's about the lifestyle it provides," says Don Campbell, author and president of REIN (Real Estate Investment Network).

Seven busloads of real estate investors swooped through St. Albert Friday to check out the city that recently ranked seventh in the country as a place to invest.

When investing in real estate, sometimes it’s necessary to look beyond your own backyard.

The Real Estate Investment Network, a national organization of investors, has compiled what it says are the top 10 Canadian cities in which to invest, with Calgary leading the way. But only a handful are major cities, and some are surprising.

When investing in real estate, sometimes it’s necessary to look beyond your own backyard. The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), a national organization of investors, has compiled what it says are the top 10 Canadian cities in which to invest. Few are major cities and some are surprising. Don Campbell, president of REIN, as well as one of the researchers on the study, says the results are based on factors such as planned transportation improvements, or if the area’s average income, population growth and job growth are increasing faster than the provincial average.

A real estate expert has written a book aimed at helping Canadians recognize opportunity in the midst of housing bubbles and changing regulations.

The mayor of Maple Ridge, Ernie Daykin, isn’t shy about talking up his community, which lies at the northeastern edge of the Lower Mainland past Port Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows. Not surprisingly, the real estate is less expensive there

June 15th - The Real Estate Investment Network’s (REIN™) release of Top British Columbia Investment Towns analyzes the current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities in BC. The 120 page report states that recent market correction provides buying opportunities for home owners and investors; however, only in select regions of the province. It identifies which areas will outperform in the coming decade and finds that City of Surrey is the top area in British Columbia in which to invest in real estate.

National Independent Real Estate Research Company Releases for the First Time the Best Canadian Cities for Real Estate Investment. The research analyzes current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities and names the best 11 cities; cities that will outperform the rest in the coming decade. 

Surrey and Maple Ridge make the list of top places to invest in Canada City of Maple Ridge June 10, 2010 National Independent Real Estate Research Company Releases for the First Time the Best Canadian Cities f...

A warehouse owned by Calgary's mayor is among the more than 100 properties that council will be asked to rezone today to create a pedestrian-friendly, high-density district around the future West LRT Sunalta station.

Calgary has the demographics and the dynamics to attract people to live downtown -- even with the recent slump in highrise activity in areas such as the Beltline, says an expert in inner-city condos.

Calgary is the best place in Canada to invest in the residential real estate market, according to a report released Friday. The Real Estate Investment Network's report said Calgary experienced one of its best economic and real estate periods in Canadian history a couple of years ago but then entered a strong, and needed correction.

Calgary is the best place in Canada to invest in the residential real estate market, according to a new report released today. The Real Estate Investment Network’s report said that Calgary experienced one of its best economic and real estate periods in Canadian history a couple of years ago but then entered a strong, and needed correction.

Building a real estate portfolio can mean working toward financial freedom – or it can mean taking risks that will give you more sleepless nights than days on the golf course.

The difference, according to Don Campbell, is cash flow.

Calgary and Edmonton are the places to invest, says a leading real estate expert.

Despite the strong real estate markets in Toronto and Vancouver, those cities can't beat the hot spots in Alberta, says author Don Campbell.

The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN™) a Division of Cutting Edge Research Inc. is pleased to release The Hamilton Transportation Effect, which details the impact of the upcoming transportation improvements on housing in the Hamilton area. The report’s research concludes that prices in select Hamilton neighbourhoods will receive a 10% to 20% premium, over and above what the rest of the city’s market does in the coming years.

The Winnipeg real estate market -- both resale volumes and values as well as new home construction -- is back on a healthy trend line.

April home sales in Winnipeg topped $300 million, only the fourth month that has ever happened. And April is not the busy month.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, the reports of a housing bubble in Canada are greatly exaggerated.

The reports have been circulating since early this year -- reports I found unconvincing, which is shared by Don R. Campbell, author and president of the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN).

The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN™) a Division of Cutting Edge Research Inc. is pleased to release its 2010 update to The Calgary Transportation Effect, which details the impact of the upcoming transportation improvements, part of the government stimulus packages, on housing in Calgary.

Calgary transportation improvements will deliver a 10%–20% enhancement of real estate valuesin the regions most affected. In the future, these areas will outperform the rest. If the market goes up everywhere, these areas will increase by about 10%–20% more. If the Alberta values drop, these will drop by 10%–20% less.

The biggest mistake a real-estate investor can make is to buy on a tip, property expert Don Campbell says.

Investors must back up their decisions with hard facts, treating exuberant gab from a friend with healthy skepticism, says Campbell, president of the Abbotsford-based Real Estate Investment Network.

Edmonton's resale housing prices, listings and sales all posted double-digit increases in March compared with a year earlier, according to figures released Tuesday by the Realtors Association of Edmonton.

Don Campbell does not sell real estate. But the bestselling author does know a thing or two about making money off it.

Edmonton transportation improvements will deliver a 10%–20% enhancement of real estate valuesin the regions most affected. In the future, these areas will outperform the rest. If the market goes up everywhere, these areas will increase by about 10%–20% more. If the Alberta values drop, these will drop by 10%–20% less.

The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN™) a Division of Cutting Edge Research Inc. is pleased to release its 2010 update to The Edmonton Transportation Effect, which details the impact of the upcoming transportation improvements, part of the government stimulus packages, on housing in Edmonton. 

Vancouver investor Don Campbell thinks Scarborough is due for a real-estate renaissance. He figures the oft-maligned area offers the greatest potential price gains in Toronto in the next five years.

Oct. 2nd - The Real Estate Investment Network’s (REIN™) release of Top Ontario Investment Towns analyzes the current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities in Ontario. The 108 page report states that recent market correction provides buying opportunities for home owners and investors; however, only in select regions of the province.