Posted on
March 12, 2012
by
Barry Klatt
Posted in
alberta, barry klatt, canadian spending, finance, financial times, market trends, money talks, mortgage tips, news, properties, real estate, real estate invest, realtor, vacation home, vacation rental, your finance
A little more than $40,000 could be up for grabs when you purchase your recreational home in BC!
Good news for sure for real estate investors in the recreational market. Naturally there is a lot of new "unsold" recreational inventory around at the moment and this move by the BC government, while a little hard to understand is a welcome break for a sluggish real estate sector.
No rules in regards to the grant are available which actually refers to grants for second home purchases. The rules and regulations are expected to be published this month.
We do know it will be eligible for purchases of second homes up to $850,000 and is to be administered by the Province rather than CRA in relation to HST/GST rebates.
While it is a welcome break, it is curious in my mind why this would be administered as a grant/bonus. Years ago as the federal Conservatives toppled the long reigning Liberal government, there was talk of tax breaks/deferrals on capital gains for real estate investors. To me, this would appear to be a better long term strategy to assist with what is a very significant industry in our province.
For now however, we are dealing with a temporary grant program that will run from March this year to April next year with details coming as to what defines a second property and who is eligible for the rebate from the Province. We await with baited breath!
Ask me about how to start your search for investment properties in BC!
Posted on
September 27, 2011
by
Barry Klatt
Posted in
alberta, calgary, calgary mls listings, calgary real estate, cir, CIR Realty, Home tips, how to save, mls, news, properties, real estate, realtor
With all the Grow Ops being busted these days, I thought I should bring to your attention the ones that were not busted but instead moved. In this case, how can you tell if a house was a former marijuana grow op if the police did not catch it first? Here are some signs that you can look for.
IDENTIFYING A FORMER GROW OP
Never assume the location is too bizarre or inconvenient to be a grow op. Police have found grow operations in new housing developments, in large and small homes, in basements and attics, in high-rise apartments and warehouses, and in outbuildings. Marijuana grow operations have even been discovered in vehicles like tractor-trailers, campers, motor homes and railroad cars.
In one Montreal raid, a grower used his own basement but tapped the electricity from the adjacent garage of his neighbor. In another, police discovered that every second new house on a street in a new subdivision had been converted into grow ops — six houses in all. Police have noted an increasing sophistication in illegal operations.
Grow ops often require extensive cleanup and repair. It is possible that these repairs were never made and the real damage is hidden. Noticeable signs that you may be dealing with a former grow op include:
• Mould in corners where the walls and ceilings meet. • Signs of roof vents. • Painted concrete floors in the basement, with circular marks of where pots once were. • Evidence of tampering with the electric meter (damaged or broken seals) or the ground around it. • Unusual or modified wiring on the exterior of the house. • Brownish stains around the soffit that bleeds down along the siding. • Concrete masonry patches, or alterations on the inside of the garage. • Patterns of screw holes on the walls. • Alteration of fire places. • Denting on front doors (from police ramming the door).
It is our responsibility as both Listing and Buying Agents to do our due dilligence for our Clients to fully disclose any grow op activity in properties. However, in some cases, we are not aware of this if the house has no record. It is always BEST and advised that you request a full home inspection by a reputable and certified inspector. By doing a thorough examination of the vents and electrical, the inspector may be able to spot a former grow op.
Posted on
June 2, 2011
by
Barry Klatt
Posted in
alberta, barry klatt, calgary, calgary mls listings, calgary real estate, cir, CIR Realty, market trends, mls, money talks, news, properties, real estate, realtor
MEDIA RELEASE
Calgary’s own CIR REALTY has just been reported the number one leader in residential home sales in all of Calgary as well as the number one independent brokerage for sales for all of Canada in the new REAL Trends Report released this week.
With 4,317 transactions closed in 2010, locally owned and independent CIR REALTY beat out all other city brokerages.
Other competing Calgary brokerages that made the list of REAL Trends top 200 that followed close behind include Re/Max Central, Royal LePage Foothills, Re/Max House and Re/Max House Mountainview.
Ray Stader, Co-Owner and Manager of IT and Finance at CIR REALTY attribute the brokerage’s commitment to technological innovation, 24 hour REALTOR® support and an unsurpassed professional development program to this accomplishment.
"CIR REALTY has positioned itself as a high-tech, high-touch company that prides itself on developing highly educated REALTORS® and giving them the support they need to do their business from wherever it is they are located. Client’s appreciate the efficiency in which our REALTORS® are able to move through the different stages in the estate transaction process, giving them ease of mind and a great experience."
Stader was fortunate to attend the REAL Trends Conference in Denver last month and is thrilled that as an industry leader, REAL Trends continues to provide the most trusted and accurate residential brokerage research in the business.
"The information that REAL Trends is able to provide regarding the residential real estate industry across North America is crucial to the continual growth and improvement of CIR REALTY and other brokerages," Stader says.
CIR REALTY has over 700 REALTORS®, staff and management spread over four Calgary offices and 11 satellite offices outside of the City. The brokerage has been family owned and operated since 1983.
Posted on
May 18, 2011
by
Barry Klatt
Posted in
barry klatt, calgary, calgary mls listings, cir, financial times, market trends, money talks, news, real estate, realtor, your finance
Christine Dobby, Financial Post, May 18, 2011
It may be trickier to ask for extra pickles, but you may soon be able to avoid the judgmental look of a cashier as you supersize your order of fries.
McDonald’s Europe has announced plans to replace some of its cashiers with touch-screen terminals and cash-free payment, a move that will likely play well with consumers looking for options that offer convenience and a sense of control.
Research shows people who use self-service options — already available in many retail outlets in Canada including grocery stores, Canadian Tire and Home Depot — believe it takes less time than waiting for a cashier.
“And at the end of the day, perception is reality,” said Brent Barr, an instructor at the Ted Rogers School of Retail Management at Ryerson University in Toronto.
What’s more, Mr. Barr said, most young people no longer consider paying in cash and the move to payment by swipe card is a reality.
“More and more our society has moved away from the physical cash and moved into the plastic world,” he said. “This is one next step in making it easy for that person to do what they’d like to do.”
Steve Easterbrook, president of McDonald’s Europe, told the Financial Times this week the global fast food giant plans to introduce the self-service ordering at its 7,000 European restaurants. Around the world, retailers will be watching McDonald’s to see how this latest experiment works out, Mr. Barr said.
“They were one of the first in the fast food world and as a result they’ve always been perceived to be an innovator in the market place,” he said, adding that other outlets will be considering whether to try it as well.
The model may work well at McDonald’s given the consistency of its menu and the fact customers generally know what to expect and what they would like to order, he said.
Kaan Yigit, president of Toronto-based technology consultancy Solutions Research Group, agreed the self-serve model, which he said is fundamentally driven by economics and cost-savings, may work well at McDonald’s.
“They [self-serve systems] are best-suited to environments where transactions are simple and predictable. They are more difficult to implement in settings where there are many customizable options or when the product or service is not uniform,” he said.
Parry Sadorsky, associate professor of economics at the Schulich School of Business at York University, said he believes we will soon order food from touch screens in Canada, but cautioned the move could have negative implications for employment.
“All you need is one big chain to do this,” he said, noting that it would likely be tested in major U.S. markets before arriving north of the border.
“It’s good for corporate profits, but not very good for the overall labour force, because you’re going to take out many of the entry-level and low-skill jobs,” Mr. Sadorsky said, adding that it is often those types of jobs that make up the majority of new jobs created each month.
Plus, many young people rely on employment at places such as McDonald’s to get their first work experience, he said.
However, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Ltd. is not about to follow its European counterpart’s lead — yet.
“We have no plans currently to implement a similar ordering system,” said the company’s national media relations manager Louis Payette.
“We’re constantly looking at ways to enhance the customer experience when it comes to speed and service and convenience,” Mr. Payette said, adding, “Our customers seem pretty pleased with the fast and friendly service they’re getting.”
What’s more, he said, the company is in “growth mode” with regard to its work force, pointing to the almost 5,000 employees McDonald’s Canada hired on April 19 as part of a National Hiring Day event.
Posted on
May 10, 2011
by
Barry Klatt
Posted in
barry klatt, calgary mls listings, calgary real estate, CIR Realty, financial times, how to save, market trends, mls, money talks, real estate, realtor, your finance
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