A Strong Loonie Makes Canadians Migrate

In the last few months, the Canadian dollar has been stronger than ever - stronger than it’s been in over 30 years. Canadians are now enjoying a dollar that is right around par with the US dollar and many Canadian businesses, anticipating the trend will stick, are introducing “new Canadian pricing.” In other words, Canadian sellers are passing on some of the benefit of their suddenly-wider profit margins to consumers.

Average House Prices Have Risen Between 10% and 11%

So what about the real estate market in Canada? Average house prices have risen be-tween 10% and 11% in each of the past three years. Smaller city markets like Calgary and Saskatoon are booming off the charts. If you purchased a home in either of these markets three years ago, it’s likely doubled in value by now. Great for Canadian homeowners, but if you haven’t bought anything yet, you might not be able to afford to get in. If you’re looking to upgrade, don’t expect to be able to buy back the house you’ve just sold in two weeks time without getting a new mortgage.

Discounted Prices

Luckily, property developers across Canada are sharing their wealth too. Buyers looking for a new build can often enjoy discounted prices in many of Canada’s growing markets. You can lock in a price at the ground floor and reasonably expect your new home to be worth at least 20% more by the time it’s ready for you to move in.

Wondering Where These Growing Markets Are?

Wondering where these growing markets are? Sit down with a map of Canada, close your eyes, and wherever your finger lands is likely a good bet (except for maybe a de-serted island in the arctic). Now is a great time for both Canadian and international investors to put a bid on their piece of the pie. Go to www.mls.ca to get an idea of the wide variety of properties available in Canada right now.

Mortgage-Free With a Healthy Lump of Cash Left Over

Many Canadians are also choosing to move to different parts of Canada to stretch their dollar even further. If you own a home in Montreal or Vancouver, you could sell it and purchase the full value of a new home anywhere in Saskatchewan and some areas of Ontario. While the move may sound daunting, being mortgage-free with a healthy lump of cash left over in the bank certainly does not. Not only that, but as the bigger cities in Canada become crowded and cost-prohibitive, Canadian urbanites are starting to give the smaller markets a chance.

A Great Place to Live

The amazing thing about Canada is that no matter where you choose to buy, you’ve probably chosen a great place to live. Canada is home to breathtaking scenery, great schools, great health care, low crime, diverse culture… the list ambles on as far as the Rocky Mountains. The extra bonus these days is that right now, you’re almost guaranteed to be investing in a piece of property that will be worth more tomorrow than it is today.
For some great Canadian homes and views, visit some of the following sites:
www.sasktourism.com
www.vkisaskatchewan.com/
www.vancouver.com/real_estate/
montreal_driving_tour.htm