Wrong. Re-read the book. I argued against mantaining a large amount of static, non-proucing real estate equity, suggesting you borrow against it with a tax-deductible investment loan, putting the money into diversified basket of financial assets, including well-run mutual funds. Not stocks. Had you done that, with today’s stock market at a record high, you’d have achieved both goals – gaining financial wealth and also remaining exposed to real estate. I gather you have a reading comprehension problem. — Garth

What are your thoughts on the Montreal Real Estate Market? I just purchased a 1002 square foot 2 bedroom with indoor parking condo in Old Montreal for 337,000 with a 20% downpayment. This will be my principal residence. My bank evaluated the property at 346,000 so I believe that I paid a fair price for it. Economic Reports that I read say that housing in Quebec should increase by 5% in 2007 and 3% in 2008. I earn approx 115k a year and have approx 100k in RSP. After reading your blogs I am wondering if I should have rented! What are your thoughts on the Montreal Real Estate Market

Most were created to help spur developments in transitional areas, but they offer contracts on any size house from what I could gather. Seems like a cheap piece of mind to me:
http://www.syracusesni.org/equitysite/about/whatis.html
http://protectyourhomeequity.com/

Obviously you can dabble in futures markets too, but this seems a little out of reach for common folk like me.

Energy is the underpinning of the economy and whether it fluctuates or not isn’t an excuse to ignore it.

Ridiculous!

When you hear the term “Core CPI” you would think that it includes the basic necessities but it doesn’t.

CPI includes those (fruit, vegetables, gasoline, fuel oil, natural gas, mortgage interest, inter-city transportation and tobacco products) but when you here the media spew Core CPI data from Stats Canada you never hear them say “Core” its always just “CPI”.

Talk about Jedi mind games.

Point is the more confused the media and government can make you the more you’ll sit in the corner sucking on your thumb and not ask any questions.

A lot of people have gotten greedy and party time is over, as much as Jim Flaherty is to blame for being a dumb ass and not lower income tax instead of the useless GST cut, banking industry, real estate industry, media and the common Joe all have to accept the big spoon of medicine on its way.

In Calgary our monthly grocery basket is now up 50% over 2003.

Dine out “anywhere” and it’s up 50%…….

Gas….needs no explanation.

Clothing is more expensive.

Rent here has gone up 50% since 2003.

I can afford these increases, I just don’t want to pay them.

Thought that article with the “Garth isn’t Nostradamus was hilarious. I read through the article and had a chuckle at the thought of a VP from an Atlantic Canada RE company would say something like that.

What else would you expect from someone who’s whole livelyhood depends on the bubble continuing. Who are going to be among the hardest hit when this goes south? RE companies and agents of course. Can’t count the number of articles in the US which talk about agents, brokers, Flippers etc…that are losing their shirts and shorts.

I like Garth Nostradamus better than some RE shill, he actually sounded kind of desperate…that whole stick your head in the sand…”we don’t have leveraged loans….etc…too funny.

Enjoy the beautiful Sunday, i was at an Open House yesterday and got the typical RE agent pressure “Tie up the house, you don’t want to lose this opp….won’t last, and when I kept asking how many visits he had had for the open house and how many people had called, he finally admitted I was the only visitor…

That’s all well and good, except when food and fuel prices start going off the charts, and suddenly your inflation numbers start being detached from reality.

But who cares about food and heat and gas as long as beer and your Toyota is cheaper, eh?