something is screwy with this website today. I am deleting these posts trying to fix it. Please stand by. 10/17/2009

Lethbridge Open House  Lethbridge real estate, mortgage, and open house info.  Stop by this property and talk about Lethbridge real estate, mortgage financing options, or about real estate investment options.  I am glad to talk about what is going on in Lethbridge with anyone who finds it as interesting as myself.  Come check this home out and lets meet face to face.     Open House Saturday October 17th,  2-4pm    2509 18 ST North LETHBRIDGE     2509 18 ST North LETHBRIDGE   Come check out this open house, this is a great family home in an excellent location.  The home features a large fenced and treed backyard for the kids, 2 car parking off the rear lane for dad, a freshly renovated kitchen, living room, and dining room with sliding doors out to the deck for mom.  Upstairs, the master... 10/16/2009

Lethbridge real estate, mortgage, and open house info.  Stop by this property and talk about Lethbridge real estate, mortgage financing options, or about real estate investment options.  I am glad to talk about what is going on in Lethbridge with anyone who finds it as interesting as myself.  Come check this home out and lets meet face to face.     Open House Saturday October 17th,  2-4pm    2509 18 ST North LETHBRIDGE     2509 18 ST North LETHBRIDGE   Come check out this open house, this is a great family home in an excellent location.  The home features a large fenced and treed backyard for the kids, 2 car parking off the rear lane for dad, a freshly renovated kitchen, living room, and dining room with sliding doors out to the deck for mom.  Upstairs, the master bedroom has a full 3 p... 10/12/2009

Lethbridge Real Estate  Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog providing direct access to local Lethbridge Realtor and mortgage broker.  If you are shopping for a forclosure, bank owned, repossession, fixer upper, distress sale, or Lethbridge court ordered sale, you need to be in my direct call list.  If you are interested in selling, you need to make your Lethbridge home available to my cash money investors who are actively seeking houses and land in Lethbridge.           . 10/09/2009

I am asked by both clients and real estate professionals on a weekly basis for information and advice regarding basement suites.  This is a very serious issue here in the Lethbridge Alberta real estate market as our basement suite marketplace is prime for investors who are looking for maximum return on their real estate investment, and also for home buyers who wish to supplement their income and help make their mortgage payment with a little revenue out of a secondary suite in their property.   So, as a matter of interest and public benefit, here is a link and the original text of the Alberta Fire Code which governs these suites.  It is pretty important to read it and understand it before buying or selling a property with a suite in it.  It is also very important the all real estate pro... 10/09/2009

Makes you wonder why any customer would get a mortgage from one of the banks instead of using a mortgage broker?  My rates beat RBC by almost 2 percent!!!!  This is an insane amount and could be hundreds of dollars per month and tens of thousands of dollars you would pay extra to take a RBC mortgage.  Insane!!!! Look at these rates, mine are waaaaaaayyyyyy lower than these.  Call me.     RBC Royal Bank changes residential mortgage rates TORONTO, Oct. 9 /CNW/ - RBC Royal Bank announced today that it is increasing its residential mortgage rates effective October 10, 2009.         The changes are as follows:       Fixed Rate Mortgages     Six-month open              6.45 per cent     (increase by 0.10 per cent)     Six-month convertible       4.65 per cent     (increase by 0.10 per cent)  ... 10/09/2009

While this news does not affect us directly in North America, it does send a global signal and should serve as a wake up call for some.  Read this breaking news.... The recent history of interest rate hikes RICHARD BLACKWELL 00:00 EDT Wednesday, October 07, 2009 Australia's interest rate hike yesterday was said to be the first by a G20 country since the financial crisis began. When was the last rate jump, and by which country? The last rate hike among the Group of 20 was in Indonesia, where the key rate was boosted by 0.25 percentage points to 9.5 per cent in early October, 2008. The Indonesian central bank was trying to take a bite out of rising inflation, even though almost everyone else in the world was cutting rates to try to stem the burgeoning fi... 10/07/2009

If anyone has an Inman subscription I would love to have the full text of the article emailed to me pls.   Here is the link to Inman News, but you do need a membership to view the entire thing: Inman News   Here is a snippet of the article Gaming the real estate market Online Monopoly goes hyperlocal, uses Google Maps By Erik Pisor, Tuesday, September 22, 2009. Inman News Negotiating purchase prices, selling assets, and collecting rent isn't just a part of real-world real estate -- these are key features of Hasbro's Monopoly CityStreets, a new online version of the classic Monopoly board game that incorporates Google Maps as its game board. "It's definitely a way to learn about real estate cash flow and investment," said Nick Roman, a Realtor with Melbourne, Fla.-based Tropical Realty o... 10/06/2009

Just read this great article regarding Canadian credit cards and the rule changes that are coming into effect soon.  While I agree that they do not go far enough, it is at least a step in the right direction.  This great article was posted on the blog section of yourmoney.ca and was authored by Kerry Taylor.  I am going to go back to the site and check out more of their stuff, but for now here is the original article and a link to it as well. http://blog.yourmoney.ca/2009/10/new-credit-card-rules.html   Do the new credit card rules go far enough? Paying off your credit card bill just got a little bit easier. Maybe. On January 1, 2010 a series of new rules will take effect that force banks to clarify payment details on your credit card statement and provide a standard grace period to pay... 10/06/2009

There's more to a mortgage than a low rate by Talbot Boggs Monday, September 28, 2009provided by (Special) - Homeowners and buyers are in a rather enviable position these days. Interest rates are at historic lows and the cost of borrowing for a home is about as low as it can get. That's great news. But it's not the only thing homeowners and purchasers need to think about their mortgage. There are a number of other features to consider before signing up for a mortgage and what is probably the largest debt that most Canadians will ever take on in their lives. "When it comes to choosing a mortgage, getting a good rate is just the tip of the iceberg," says Mary Gronkowski, regional sales director with Mortgage Intelligence Inc., a national mortgage brokerage company. "You have to be aware o... 10/05/2009

Thinking about selling your house? Think you will save money by trying it on your own and without professional representation?   The desire to sell your own home comes from wanting to save money.  Many people estimate how much their home is worth and then figure somewhere between 4 to 7% of that would be paid out in commissions to call up their neighborhood real estate pro.  The thought of paying 5, 10, 15 thousand dollars to have someone sell the property for you sometimes seems excessive.   I agree, it is a substantial amount of money.  However, there are some reasons that paying this commission can be the right decision.   1. Listed homes sell faster -while there are no great sources for facts on for sale by owner properties, the reality is that the majority of them eventually give u... 09/27/2009

This has been a crazy month for me so far.  I have been interviewed by 3 major media outlets who were gathering info for various articles they were writing.    Canadian Real Estate Investor Magazine was the first to make contact with me a couple of weeks ago.  They often write pieces about various regions in the country and what the rental and revenue market is like.  I really enjoyed talking to this reporter, as it made me even more aware of the things that investors from outside our area are interested it. As a long time resident of Lethbridge, it is easy to not have noticed how rapidly our population grew, how much more development has come in recently, to not see our marketplace changing dramatically.  Speaking with the reporter about rental properties in Lethbridge made me realize ... 09/27/2009

For the past 15 years, I have had many real estate clients who arrive to live and work or retire to Lethbridge from various locations across Canada and the world.  In the past, I used to provide these clients with a package in advance of their arrival to the area.  This bundle was referred to as a 'relocation package'.   Stuffed into this package of info was always a map, lists of schools and recreational activities, economic projections, housing stats, and lots of other dry stuff that really was just in there to make the pack look much more extensive and helpful.  The reality was though that the majority of those packages probably went unopened or only looked at for less than a brief moment.   As much as some of this information seemed useful, most of it was statsitics and stuff that t... 09/21/2009

We went out last Friday (Sept 18/09) to Henotic.   Henotic is a restaurant that is located in downtown Lethbridge in a building that was formerly a firehall decades ago.    If you are looking for a night out in Lethbridge, you might want to check it out.  Since we are very social people and dine out at least a few times each week, I consider myself a pretty fair judge of what makes a good restaurant and will give you my honest opinion of the place.   We had been meaning to go try the Henotic restaurant for some time and just never seemed to have time or always ended up going someplace else that was prearranged by one of our friends, etc.  However, after joining the Henotic Restaurant facebook group and receiving several emails about live entertainment they were hosting, we decided we wo... 09/21/2009

If you are lucky enough to be moving to Lethbridge, here is some links to some great information to help make your move smoother.  Of course, if you do not find the info you need here, feel free to contact me.  Often is helps to have someone who is local providing you with some insight and guidance so that you make smart choices and your move goes well.  While my business is Lethbridge real estate and Lethbridge mortgage financing, I do have substantial experience with many other aspects which may be of benefit to you.   I have lived in and around Lethbridge my entire life.  I attended school in Lethbridge, graduated from the University of Lethbridge, served on the Board of Governors of the University, hosted several cultural exchanges to Lethbridge, been a member of the Lethbridge Real... 09/18/2009

Lethbridge Airport to receive some marketing and promotional help!   The Lethbridge Airport used to be a busy little place.  Back in the 80's there were several airlines who used to offer service in and out of the city, but in recent decades the airport has seemingly been in declining use.  The number of carriers has dropped and the on site services have disappeared.   Now however, there is finally some progress in regaining the economic and social stimulus of having a functional and profitable commercial airport.  This seems like something which is obvious, but apparently not.  The city of Lethbirdge and the County of Lethbridge are going to be working jointly to promote and improve the airport, which can only serve to benefit local Lethbridge residents and businesses.   The following ... 09/18/2009

3rd Annual Friends of Interfaith Charity Dinner and Auction Festivals & Special Events Come join us for an evening event which will raise funds for the Interfaith Food Bank. Participate in the silent auction and enjoy live musical entertainment. Last year’s event was a success – let’s make this year even better! http://www.interfaithfoodbank.ca City: Lethbridge Venue: Italian Canadian Cultural Centre Capacity: Address: 1511St EdwardBlvdN LethbridgeAB Friday, September 25, 2009 - Friday, September 25, 2009 6 pm - 11 pm 09/12/2009

Lethbridge Realtors Or call Robert May of Rainbow Realty directly  at 403-330-3039 Lethbridge Residential Listings Residential real estate listings for the City of Lethbridge. Lethbridge Commercial Listings Commercial real estate listings for the City of Lethbridge. City of Lethbridge Real Estate and Land Development City-owned land sales and availability. City Property Assessment and Taxation Property taxation for the City of Lethbridge Setting up Your Utilities How to set up your utilities in Lethbridge. Customer Choice/Utilities A great resource to answer any energy-related question you may have. Lethbridge Housing Authority Established to provide adequate, affordable, and suitable housing for persons who require assistance to obtain or maintain accommodations in the City of Lethbri... 09/10/2009

Real Estate Real estate prices in Lethbridge are affordable.  In fact, it is the most affordable city in the entire province.  With small starter homes prices under $200k and traditional single family homes under $300k, there are lots of options.  Plenty of new construction is available on all sides of the City, and there are many new home builders to choose from.  Contact Robert May of Rainbow Realty at 403-330-3039 for specific information on homes and investments properties in Lethbridge.       LifestyleResidents of Lethbridge enjoy a high quality of life.  An affordable cost of living, due in part to comparatively low rental and housing prices, makes this city very attractive.  Add to that an abundance of natural, economical, educational and cultural advantages and you’ll find that... 09/10/2009

Lethbridge Rental Property The Lethbridge rental market is always toughest the end of August and the beginning of September.  This is primarily due to the large number of students who arrive in Lethbridge to attend Lethbridge College or the University of Lethbridge. Between these 2 post secondary institutions there are over 20,000 students!   For a little city with a population of just over 80,000 this is a huge influx of people needing rental accomodations in Lethbridge.   The vacancy rate this time of year is 0.  In fact, it is usually below zero, with some students commuting from neighboring towns or staying in motels as temporary accomodations.     This also presents a great opportunity for real estate investors.  Rental propery in Lethbridge not only delivers positive cash flow, b... 09/06/2009