Curtis Leibel 780-438-2500

With every listing I do, I try and stress the selling points as to why a house is better than the rest.  In my newest listing: 1715, 64st this is very easy to do as it is very unique.  In a community where many of the duplexs are built to the same specs, this owner decided to spend the extra money on upgrades.  At the time it probably seemed like unnecessary expenses, but when it comes to resale it is these features that are going to sell the house.  There are 3 or 4 comparable properties, but none of them have upgraded cabinets, thicker carpet underlay, triple pane windows, etc….So guess which was is the most appealing? 

In newer communities where owners are picking there layouts from predetermined builder specificationss, there is very little room for individuality and thus the finishing choices are that much more important to obtaining more money and a quicker sale upon resale.

Well spring is here and with it comes my first recreational property listing of the year.  Lake properties have taken the biggest hit over the last 3 years, but with our economy turning a corner now is the time to buy.  I suspect lake properties should see an increase in equity slightly higher than that of the city.

I just listed a beautiful 2000 square foot 2 story home located a block from the water in mulhurst bay at pigeon lake.  Not only does it come with 1.56 acres, its right next to the golf course and boat launch.  It has all the amenities of a municipilality (power, sewer lines and more) but couldnt feel more country.   Located just 45 minutes south of the city.

Hi all,

I have just returned from a trip from the other side of the world.  Everytime i go somewhere I take some time to stop and check in to see how the real estate market in that area is.  I myself plan to purchase some foreign real estate in the near future, but want to do adequate research before I do.  Here is what my thoughts are on my most recent visits:

Hong Kong:  Beautiful space, beautiful people and real estate is at a premium.  This country continues to grow at incredible rates, but the size of it won’t.  If you can afford it, I dont see how you can go wrong investing here.  There is no such thing as houses here, as everything is skyrises.  An average 2 bedroom condo at 800 sq feet would set you back about 800,000-1 million Canadian so it would take a big investment to get in.

Macau:  This city takes in more gambling revenue than all of North America combined.  It is a huge vacation hotspot for Asians and thrives on tourism.  The city has doubled in population in less than 10 years.  However, the vacancy rate is very high, and for that reason, I feel it could be hit or miss.  They expect the population to double again over the next few years, but have already built an enormous amount of skyscrapers in preperation.  I would say this is a classic boom/bust scenario.  You could double your money in 5 years, or you could lose half.  It could go either way but I would stray away for something more stable.  2 bedroom 800 sq foot condo runs about 400-500,000 Canadian there.

Borocay, Philipines:  The biggest tourist location in the Philipines, this island has it all.  Miles and miles of beachfront property, friendly people, and cheap!  There are a few (not too many) luxury condos currently under construction, which will run between 200-400,000 Canadian.  In my mind this would be a great place to invest before it becomes too popular.  There are also many larger islands nearby where you can still enjoy the same amenemities, but at a lower purchase price because its a little further away.

There you have it.  If you would like any more in depth analysis on any of these locations, give me a call!