Research shows that on average, people pay more attention to negative news than to positive news (named “negativity bias”). This is a huge reason why the astonishingly higher proportion of news articles and media in today’s day and age leans toward negative, clickbait titles, rather than neutral, or heaven forbid, positive headers. So to start your week, here’s a compilation of five positive, no, GREAT stories that have come out of Edmonton and broader Alberta this past quarter.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever been interested in commercial real estate, and particularly investing in real estate, there are some simple calculations that you should be aware of and understand in order to determine the winners and losers for your portfolio. As you practice these calculations more often, you will be able to quickly pre-qualify potential opportunities to determine if they are viable for your pursuit, or for your existing assets, if they remain performers and worth holding.
Read MoreOver the past few years, investors have taken an increased notice in the temperature controlled real estate sector, expanding both their build-to-suit developments, as well as those speculative in nature. The ever-growing demand for fresh food on a global scale, in addition to the storage requirements for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, has created a uniquely desirable asset class, showcasing currently its added benefit of being relatively recession proof.
Read MoreIn the coming months, we will be entering into a global recession, unemployment will rise, liquidity will decrease and insolvency will be the ultimate looming presence. In the short-term it will be brutal, but in the medium term, it will be okay. In this blog, I’ve outlined the potential causal effects that this pandemic will have on the various, unique commercial asset types, and where the opportunities lie.
Read MoreIt’s easy to get bogged down in the negative news surrounding delayed pipelines, figurative and literal roadblocks, and absentee governance, but behind the veil, there are some outstanding developments, projects and innovations that are taking place all across Alberta.
Read MoreData is growing at an almost incomprehensible rate. There are 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created each day at our current pace, but with the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, 5G and AI, that pace is accelerating. By understanding the requirements and initiatives surrounding tech based real estate, Alberta could be in an advantageous position to diversify industry and encourage the absorption of current vacancy in the form of data centres.
Read MoreTechnology is impacting the construction industry like never before. An impressive lineup of developments are aiming to improve the efficiencies of a sector that shapes how every human being is able to live their lives.
Read MoreThe catchphrase of the moment is proving to hold its weight as we analyze commercial real estate trends leading into the new year. Canada’s Multifamily market is the strongest it’s ever been with rental rates nearing 10-year highs, apartments near 100% occupancy, and volatility remaining low. On the industrial front, demand for fulfillment space continues to reign supreme to satisfy the multiplying growth metrics in e-commerce.
Read MoreFounded by a collaborative group of local businesses and non-profit organizations, they came together with the common goal of fostering competitive tax and policy programs within the City of Edmonton to ensure all businesses and citizens can successfully grow and flourish.
Read MoreAnd suddenly, you know…it’s time to start something new!
Read MoreWhile activity has stayed fairly constant with regard to tenant/purchaser requirements and listings, the deal flow has been slow as most companies continue to have a low risk tolerance in Alberta. Add to this the much anticipated Federal election expected in October of this year, and there has been a mentality of hurry up and wait…until there is a change up federally that is.
Read MoreHow do we design livable, workable, and healthy spaces, by limiting unsustainable urban sprawl while concurrently avoiding densification to the detriment of quality of life? These are the most important questions for any City Plan, because while it’s obvious that the outward growth of single family neighbourhoods casts a huge financial toll on all citizens, it’s also obvious that individuals and families are choosing that lifestyle and living situation for a reason.
Read MoreUnless you’ve had the opportunity to be involved with real estate investments in the United States, you may not know what a 1031 exchange is. Also called a like-kind exchange, this is a unique and progressive policy under the IRS that allows allows an investor to sell a property, reinvest the proceeds into a new property, then defer all capital gain taxes until a future date. It improves asset liquidity, increases market transaction volume, and promotes larger capital investment into the market.
Read MoreIn what appears to be a long, slow road ahead for the Alberta marketplace, it is essential that the City of Edmonton and the City of Calgary find ways to spend smarter, not harder, in order to improve the entrepreneurial mindset in these cities, increase business confidence, and slow the outward migration.
Read MoreCore, Core Plus, Value Add and Opportunistic are terms used to define the risk and return characteristics of a real estate investment. They range from conservative to aggressive and are defined by both the physical attributes of the property and the amount of debt used to capitalize a project. Have a look at the following videos and sections, where I’ve briefly explained the differences between the four strategies.
Read MoreCommercial real estate can be like another language at times. As a commercial real estate professional, I sometimes catch myself elaborating on contracts, opportunities and specifications, soon realizing that I’ve gone into uncharted territory with clientele. Obviously, it can be difficult to stop the train and ask what a word means, but as someone who’s learning new words and processes everyday, it’s a fantastic opportunity to add to your lexicon. This week’s post is intended purely as an educational point of reference!
Read MoreAs it stands, Alberta’s prospects of delivering oil to tide water are grim, if not non-existent. Following the calamitous finale of the Energy East pipeline, and the mismanagement of the western Trans Mountain Pipeline, it seems that our one-customer energy policy could remain in effect indefinitely. But what if there was one more option to consider that could present significantly less inter-provincial conflict, potentially reduced cost outlays, plus economic opportunity for a struggling provincial economy. Would it not be worth investigating?
Read MoreWith 243,000 kilometres of coastline, Canada boasts the longest coastline in the world. Due to the nature of the sea ice in our northern territories, the majority of the northern coastline is untouched by human intervention and ship traffic. Due to the nature of our politics, the majority of our functional coastline in Eastern and more so, Western Canada, is blocked from viable tanker traffic. The rest of the world is aggressively trading with each other, and we’re being left in the dust.
Read MoreThe recent partnership announcement of Chinese state-owned EHL International Logistics with Edmonton International Airport clearly exhibits the positive outcomes that are starting to be realized after years of forging relationships with Chinese aviation companies. With no direct flights from Edmonton to Asia at the current time, and witnessing these Chinese state-owned companies pledge their Canadian cargo hubs to Edmonton, I’m inclined to believe that the Chinese State sees Edmonton as a positive business environment, with potential for passenger routes to follow.
Read MoreThis week I wanted to jump back into my ‘Hotelie’ roots and highlight trends of the Canadian Hospitality Industry. Though not discussed as frequently, the lodging industry in Canada makes up a large part of the commercial real estate transaction volume in our country. In fact, 2016 and 2017 saw roughly $4.1 Billion and $3.5 Billion, respectively, in total transaction volume, the highest numbers in over ten years!
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