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Real estate investing in Winnipeg

October 12th, 2009

If you are interested in investing in real estate in Winnipeg, Manitoba, you should learn some basics of real estate investing first. There are as many investment strategies for real estate investing as there are investors, but they can be summed up into three major strategies:

  • Flipping properties
  • Income property
  • Real estate development

Each category can be subdivided even further, of course, and we’ll cover some of those specialties here.

Flipping properties

Property flipping is a time-honored method of making money in real estate, but you have to be extremely careful. It is not for the novice investor, and the cable shows that follow property flipping entrepreneurs generally make it look far easier than it really is to turn a profitable deal.

If you are wanting to flip Winnipeg houses, you need to form a relationship very early with an experienced Winnipeg real estate agent who knows the market inside and out. The property flipping strategy boils down to arbitrage – i.e., recognizing price disparities between value and asking price, and acting as the middleman in the transaction. The important part is not to get stuck holding the property long term if you are not prepared to turn it into income property.

Income Property

If your investment strategy is to buy Winnipeg income property, you may want to consider shopping for Winnipeg foreclosures and short sales. As an investor, you need every advantage you can get to purchase the property as cheaply as possible so your monthly payments will be low enough to allow a positive cash flow.

It is important to research the rental market to be able to price your monthly rents attractively enough to have minimal vacancy period after the property is purchased. Ideally, you should start advertising to get rental prospects interviewed while the property is in escrow.

Real Estate Development

Another form of Winnipeg real estate investing that may fit your investment goals is real estate development. This strategy can include commercial real estate or residential tract development. This is a difficult business in most markets, and requires some experience to be able to efficiently build and price the property for a profit. In a rising market, many investors flock to real estate development. The savvy real estate developer under ideal conditions has already invested before a bubble forms. That means the best time to invest in development property is during periods of depressed property prices.

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Living in Manitoba, Canada

September 12th, 2009

If you are considering moving to Manitoba, which is arguably one of the most beautiful Canadian provinces, you will want to know what it’s like to live, work, and play there. Manitoba boasts a relaxed lifestyle, with plenty of things to do for kids and adults, whether you choose to live in a Winnipeg home or out in the picturesque countryside.

Manitoba has a population of about 1.2 million residents, most of whom live in the capital of the province, Winnipeg. The province is large, covering approximately 650,000 square kilometers, ranking only slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Texas.

Manitoba outdoor recreation

Because of the large expanses of land in Manitoba, residents have plenty of options for outdoor recreation. There is fishing year-round, whether ice-fishing on Lake Winnipeg (or one of the other hundreds of scenic lakes), or salt water fishing in the Hudson Bay along Manitoba’s north eastern border. Fly fishing is also popular in Manitoba’s many rivers and streams.

For those who are into power sports, there are year round off-road sporting opportunities in Manitoba. There are thousands of kilometers of trails for ATV riders and snowmobiling enthusiasts.

Of course, there is also plenty of skiing and snowboarding available to both novices and pros. Drop in by helicopter on pristine wilderness powder with one of Manitoba’s outfitters, or get some of the best snowboarding in the province at Stony Mountain, just ten minutes north of Winnipeg.

Manitoba family recreation

Looking for things to with kids in Winnipeg on a cool, wintry day, or balmy Manitoba afternoon? You have plenty of choices in this family-friendly place, like bumper cars and boats, mini golf, and batting cages at Grand Prix Amusements in Winnipeg.

There are also plenty of museum for fill the day with enjoyable learning experiences, like the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre in Morden, the Manitoba Musum and Manitoba Children’s Museum in Winnipeg, or the Winnipeg Art Galley. Get your kids into science at the Western Canada Aviation Museum, or interest them in history at the Transcona Historical Museum.

Manitoba homes

Most city dwellers in Manitoba province choose to live in Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba. You will find quiet, family-friendly Winnipeg neighborhoods, with reasonable Winnipeg real estate prices that represent a good value in any market. The quality of life in Manitoba is hard to match elsewhere, making it one of Canada’s best spots to live.

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Things to do in Winnipeg

August 13th, 2009

Winnipeg is a city located in the Manitoba province of Canada, just an hour and a half from the North Dakota border town of Pembina. Winnipeg is the largest city in Manitoba, with well over half of the population of Manitoba living there. Over 695,000 people live in Winnipeg, making the Winnipeg homes market an important part of the local economy.

You will find a variety of home styles in Winnipeg. The city has everything from urban living, complete with Winnipeg condos located near “The Forks,” older classic homes, and newer custom homes. Whether you’re just starting a family, have a growing family that needs a larger home, or are empty nesters needing to downsize on your Winnipeg home, you will find what you need in this friendly town.

There are plenty of things to do in and around Winnipeg. The Red River and Assiniboine River run right through town, converging at a location popularly known as “The Forks.” Fishing on Lake Manitoba is only an hour and a half away, and Lake Winnipeg is just over an hour away from downtown Winnipeg.

You’ll find that searching for Canadian real estate is very different from searching for American real estate due to different MLS rules. You are sure to discover that current Winnipeg MLS listings are tough to find online. The only way to guarantee you are getting the most accurate and current Winnipeg listings is to contract with an experienced Winnipeg estate agent who has access to the full database of homes for sale~The only way to guarantee you are getting the most accurate and current Winnipeg listings is to contract with an experienced Winnipeg estate agent who has access to the full database of homes for sale~The best way to ensure that you are getting accurate and up to date Winnipeg listings is to develop a relationship with an experienced Winnipeg estate agent who has access to the full MLS database of homes for sale}.

Before buying Winnipeg property, most people want to know what the weather is like in that part of the world. Winnipeg is the 6th sunniest city in Canada year-round; nevertheless, Winnipeggers (that’s what local call themselves) jokingly call it “Winterpeg” because of the low winter temperatures. While lows in the winter can get as low as minus 9 degrees in January (not counting wind chill, of course) they do get back around 78 in the summer months.

About Winnipeg neighborhoods

There are over 200 neighborhoods in Winnipeg, which an experienced Winnipeg real estate agent can help you find. A good real estate agent can direct you to the best ones that match your family’s lifestyle and budget. The most popular of the Winnipeg neighborhoods are:

  1. The Winnipeg Forks
  2. Winnipeg Central Park
  3. The Winnipeg Waterfront District
  4. The Broadway-Assiniboine Area
  5. The Exchange District
  6. Chinatown

For more information on Winnipeg homes or Winnipeg condos and real estate, please see a local Winnipeg real estate agent who is an expert in all the Manitoba region has to offer.

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Searching for Winnipeg real estate

July 9th, 2009

Winnipeg PropertySearching for Canadian real estate is a different experience than searching for real estate in the United States. If you are looking for Winnipeg real estate, for instance, you will find that up-to-date Winnipeg real estate listings are hard to find on the Internet. The best way to get the most accurate and current listings is to contact a Winnipeg real estate agent, because they have access to the most recent data.

Many agents do not like to link to live MLS listings, because broker reciprocity agreements in Canada place the listing broker’s contact information on the listing. This increases the likelihood that the listing agent would get the phone call from a potential buyer rather than the agent who linked to the MLS in the first place. The system is stacked in favor of listing agents, which just tends to discourage buyers’ agents from promoting listing agents’ properties.

The data available to the public on the official “Realtor.ca” site are not 100% up-to-date as well, meaning most searchers are better off simply contacting a real estate agent from the start. By doing that, you’ll ensure that you are looking at current listings.

About the Winnipeg area

Winnipeg is located in Manitoba, Canada. It is the largest city in the province, with more than half the Manitoba population living in the municipality. There are over 700,000 residents in the city, which is located near “The Forks” – appropriately named for its proximity to the convergence of the Red River and Assiniboine River.

Winnipeg weather

Before buying real estate in Winnipeg, most people want to know what the weather is like in the region. While Winnipegers jokingly refer to the city as Winterpeg because of its low temperatures, it is also the sixth sunniest city in Canada year-round. Although the winter lows can get down to -9 in January (not counting wind chill), they return to a comfortable 78 in summer.

Winnipeg neighborhoods

While there are over 200 neighborhoods in Winnipeg, the most popular are:

  • The Waterfront District
  • The Forks
  • Central Park
  • Broadway-Assiniboine
  • Exchange District
  • Chinatown

For more information on Winnipeg homes or searching for up-to-the-minute Winnipeg real estate listings, please see a Winnipeg real estate agent who is an expert in all the region has to offer.

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