Canadian debt levels no cause for alarm, economist says
Her comments below are right on.
Globe and Mail Blog
Posted on Monday, September 19, 2011 6:40PM EDT
A report that showed Canadian household debt levels have topped U.S. ones should be taken with a grain of salt, according to one economist.
Calgary MLS sales jump 22% in August
CALGARY — MLS sales in Calgary rose by 22.1 per cent in August compared with a year ago — a greater year-over-year rate of growth than the rest of the country.
The Canadian Real Estate Association said Thursday that Calgary recorded 1,907 MLS sales for all residential properties during the month for an average price of $394,251, up 2.2 per cent from last year.
Calgary house prices to get burst of energy
House prices to get burst of energy
Where oil goes, so goes Calgary.
As much as we like to say the city isn’t as dependent on black gold for its health and prosperity, the fact is, we are.
With oil prices regaining strength and with hiring happening in the oilfields, the economy is beginning to strengthen — and it’s pulling consumer confidence along with it.
Housing Market in Canada is Stable
Housing Market Still Stable: CREA
Friday, 16 September 2011
According to new data released from the Canadian Real Estate Association, housing activity in Canada remained stable in the month of August, which represents the second month in a row.
“The housing market in Canada remained on a firm footing in August when compared to volatile financial markets,” said Gary Morse, CREA President. “Through their actions, homebuyers are showing that they remain confident about the stability of the Canadian housing market, and recognize that the continuation of low interest rates represents an excellent opportunity to buy their first home or trade up.”
Why Some Languages Sound So Fast
Slow Down! Why Some Languages Sound So Fast
By Jeffrey Kluger
Passengers converse with each other on a train line in Tokyo, Japan.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2091477,00.html#ixzz1XlV9EEFtHere’s one of the least-interesting paragraphs you’ve ever read: “Last night I opened the front door to let the cat out. It was such a beautiful night that I wandered down to the garden to get a breath of fresh air. Then I heard a click as the door closed behind me.”
Alberta economic growth among Canada’s leaders
Alberta economic growth among Canada’s leaders: 3.7% hike forecast for this year
CALGARY — Alberta is positioned as one of Canada’s provincial leaders in growth, according to the latest RBC Economics Provincial Outlook report released Monday.
The Bank of Canada’s changing language
I love this data below as it is easily summarized into: World events mean that mortgage rates in Canada are going to stay low for about another year. This is great news for people in the variable as rates (Prime) were expected to rise and they are not going to for a while now. Fixed rates will also stay low too so everyone wins.
Calgary luxury home sales surge 24% from last year
This means there is more confidence cited in upper-end market
CALGARY — Sales in the luxury home market have ballooned in Calgary this year.
According to the Calgary Real Estate Board, sales for upper-end residential properties are way above the pace set a year ago. As of Tuesday, there were 291 single-family MLS sales over $1 million this year compared with 234 for the same period in 2010. Also, 18 condominiums have been sold year-to-date in the upper-end price bracket, compared with 11 in 2010.
Alberta earnings top Canadian provinces: Up 5% from a year ago
CALGARY — Average weekly earnings in Alberta were the highest in the country among all provinces in June, according to Statistics Canada.
And the federal agency also reported Thursday that the annual growth rate here topped all the other provinces as well.
Alberta repeat home buyers moving on to larger homes
Alberta repeat home buyers moving on to larger homes
This article is EXACTLY what we have been hearing over the last 6 months.
CALGARY — Repeat home buyers in Alberta are moving on to larger or more luxurious homes, according to a survey released Tuesday.