Archive
 oz@jurock.com
Don't Listen to the Gloomers
Who are these people who forever preach doom in real estate?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Wal-Mart a Signal Something is Happening
First it was the Big Mac index, then the Costco index, now it is clearly the Wal-Mart index when it comes to identifying up-and-coming communities.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Understand Your Objectives as an Investor
Real estate markets are primarily local in nature. Thus, if one looks at measurable statistics, mixes in some historical performance - one should be able to come up with a fairly accurate forecast. Factors like affordability, interest rates, inward migration, demand and supply determine, or are likely to affect, market values. The intangible - locally - is of course confidence ... but even that is measurable to some extent. The problem right now is that we are not in a normal real estate market.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
The $80,000 Condo
$80,000 condos do exist. In our BC survey, we didn't count condo hotels, fractional ownerships or any form of timeshares (which we don't like), or condos in very remote towns, such as Port Hardy. We looked only at MLS listings.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Another Look at the U.S.
Ozzie Jurock offers advice for savvy investing in the U.S. property market
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Riding The Real Estate Waves
What to do during times of uncertainty? Ozzie Jurock has some advice and looks at B.C. areas that offer value and prices that still make sense.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Managing Property Requires Clear Goals
Most people must rely on professionals.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Opportunities Await Knowledgeable Buyers
A lengthy forestry strike, shut downs at
major pulp mills and an expected slowdown
in Alberta and other offshore buyers may open
a window of opportunity for real
estate investments on Vancouver Island over
the next three or four months.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Life energy 'blueprint' aims for well-being
Feng shui's seemingly strange rules based on common sense.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Real Estate Heaven In 2007?
With the economy booming, real estate prices at record highs and still ascending, a tight rental vacancy rate and thousands of people flocking into the market seeking real estate, the No. 1 question every week at Jurock's Real Estate Insider is: "Is it over, will it stop ... should I sell now, lock in the profit?"
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Environment Trend has Green Cash Potential
GREEN: The term is everywhere these days. Climate change and global warming has become the new doomsday clock, the new cold war, the new Y2K of our collective what-if nightmares. And green is a force to be reckoned with in the real estate industry too - it would be foolish to ignore the challenges and opportunities it represents.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Land of Lakes and Wine
The startling real estate market that has formed in British Columbia's Southern Okanagan, as pressure from the Lower Mainland, Calgary and points east converge on a collection of eleven small towns and villages, is truly amazing.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Write Down Your Goals for Real Estate Investment
You've got to know where you're starting from before you can map a route to where you want to go.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Make Your Investment Plan Personal
When it comes to your personal real estate investment action plan, the key word here is 'personal.'
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Real Estate Action Express in Calgary, April 28
Learn how YOU can create passive income for life through real estate!
Monday, April 02, 2007
Becoming Older - And Wiser
Coastal resource towns offer a number of excellent retirement-community options to attract today's seniors, who are the wealthiest in B.C.'s history.
Monday, March 26, 2007
West Kootenays Are Luring Buyers
While the East Kootenays have become the playground for Albertans, the West Kootenays are being seen as the new destination for Greater Vancouver buyers.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Don't listen to the prophets of gloom
Who are these people who forever preach doom in real estate?
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Making a Million With No Money - You Still Can
The start of 2007 is a good time to reflect back on your finances in 2006. Did you have a real estate action plan to create passive income in the future through owning rental property? Did you achieve it? If not, why not?
Monday, January 29, 2007
A Dose of Housing Reality
For 37 years I have listened to the naysayers and they have always been wrong in the long run.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Quarter shares are going from residential to business classification
We've mentioned our 'lack of like' for fractional ownership many times before ... now there's another reason to avoid them.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Kootenays Luring Buyers
The Kootenays, especially the East Kootenays of British Columbia, are now the prime destination for Calgarians looking for recreational and investment real estate.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Vancouver Island Numbers and Listings
Average prices continue to rise, but there are still some deals...
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
What you can buy for $200,000 in B.C.
From houses on large acreages to operating bed and breakfasts...
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Single Family Homes under $150,000
As seen on the Noon News, 10/12/05.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Properties under $100,000
As featured on the Noon News Hour, 9/28/05.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Duck Hunting and the Economic Boom
Forecasting is always difficult but Jurock's Real Estate Insider is confident that 2005 will be an historic year for Western Canada. It will be a year that will cement the economic recovery of the past few years.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Resort to Resorts
As the province builds towards the 2010 Olympics there are some jewels in the string of ski resorts that now dot peaks from the Coastal Mountains to the Rockies.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Camping and Investing
The slowdown in tourism over the past two years has resulted in some great deals in campgrounds and old resort properties in the B.C. interior.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Is it the beginning of the downturn?
No matter what subject I write about, the questions in the last two months are always the same: Is it a bubble? Is it over?
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Questions, Questions
I receive hundreds of questions - here is a sample of, hopefully, general interest.
Monday, July 05, 2004
Why I Still Buy
Even real estate investments - seemingly the only safe haven - now start to worry the 'yeah butters' again. I mean ... could it continue, would it not collapse this time?
Sunday, June 06, 2004
TIMING
Forget 'Location, Location, Location' - timing is everything...
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Safest Investment is in Growth Areas
Virtually all rural regional districts in BC will have less people living there by 2005 than they did in 1996. What does this mean for real estate investors?
Monday, May 03, 2004
'No Inflation' But Prices Rising Everywhere
Single family home prices skyrocket while new condos struggle
Monday, April 26, 2004
Making a million with no money — the easy way
This spring is a good time to reflect back on your finances in 2003. Did you have a plan to create unearned income in the future through owning rental property? Did you achieve it? If not, why not?
Monday, April 05, 2004
Deciding where to invest in today’s hot market
As a rule, look no farther than a three-hour drive from home
Monday, March 22, 2004
Don't rush into buying a vacation property
Get your priorities in order, then follow these guidelines to avoid a costly mistake
Friday, July 25, 2003
Deals - deals - deals
Where are the good deals in British Columbia for a real estate investor?
Monday, July 14, 2003
Realtors find the Web a great resource
Real estate boards in Canada are all online and about 60 per cent of Realtors have their own personal web sites
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Mortgage rates have never been better
At a time when cash creation is increasing and inflation seems certain to rise,
hard assets are, even more, your best bet - and low interest rates mean the
timing is perfect for purchasing real estate
Wednesday, May 28, 2003
Only time to invest is now
In real estate investment - the only time to act is NOW. Always. There are no perfect markets, no perfect situations, and no 167 secrets to make that great buy.
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Investors should be aware of all available tax deductions
20 last minute ways to save taxes on your real estate investments
Monday, April 28, 2003
Wide variety of mortgages available for homebuyers
Enormous choice results from competition between financial institutions
Thursday, April 17, 2003
When your real estate goes to pot
Across Canada, police say there are more than 50,000 active grow houses. Most of them are in residential areas and the neighbours have no idea what is happening next door. That's a big problem, say police, because grow houses are a serious danger to their communities.
Friday, April 04, 2003
Real estate versus stocks
Of course I'm biased, but the right real estate purchase is really no different from other ways of investing your money.
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Some advice for a world of ups and downs
Your questions answered on property, interest rates, taxes - and more
Friday, March 07, 2003
Well, did you take my advice?
If you'd invested in real estate instead of stocks you'd be in a favourable position today
Friday, February 21, 2003
War threat brings confusion to rates
In spite of turmoil, North Americans still
want to own their homes
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
It's never too soon to invest in property
It isn't rocket science: Your home's your best investment
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Buy real estate in BC - it's a failsafe investment
Living here will always be in demand
Monday, January 06, 2003
New mortgages aimed at self-employed
People who cannot prove how much they earned will find it easier to buy a home
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
Yes, you can buy a home with no cash down
But you're best off working with realtors who know what to do and care enough to write the offers, or use a mortgage broker
Monday, December 02, 2002
Demographics? They don't mean a thing
Real estate investors needn't worry about demographics - there will always be more than enough people looking to buy properties
Saturday, November 09, 2002
Whether to lock in mortgage is a tricky question
Anyone that tells you they can answer the question: Where will interest rates go, is either a fool or a liar. I am neither.
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Unearned income: The key to wealth
Why is it that the rich keep getting richer and the poor poorer? What is the secret? What is it that keeps money in the hands of the rich?
Thursday, October 17, 2002
Don't listen to these prophets of gloom
There isn't a week that goes by without someone sending questions about this or that guru.
Thursday, October 10, 2002
Some questions and answers on real estate
I have received hundreds of questions in the last few months. Here is a sample of - hopefully - general interest.
Tuesday, September 17, 2002
Inflation, stock market woes make real estate a good buy
OK, so, more inflation and more buyers taking up inventory - good for real estate right? Well, yes and no.
Friday, September 06, 2002
Spelling out details: Make sure partnership responsibilities are clear
All partnerships that do not have a clear, clean itemized agreement of all possibilities have a good chance to fail or at least create a lot of unhappiness.
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
Why would you? (Buy a timeshare that is)
Usually a small investor is away on holiday somewhere and it's a bright sunny day and to kill some time he finds himself walking into a timeshare building and by some mysterious chemistry he finds himself having this vision of owning the suite that is being shown. That investor should at that point run for the hills as fast as he can.
Saturday, August 03, 2002
Shark or Flipper, the market's aways good
Whether you're cruising the real estate waters looking for opportunities or just seeking quick, short-term gain, it's all about awareness
Friday, July 05, 2002
Study and action pay off in real estate
We understand a lot ... it’s not enough. Action is everything. Take MASSIVE action!
Wednesday, June 19, 2002
Developers ignore Feng Shui at their peril
Just plain old common sense. Any BC builder will find it extremely useful - even necessary - to understand these concepts.
Saturday, June 01, 2002
How you, too, can predict real estate trends
Real estate values will not rise or fall everywhere at the same time - real estate values are always local in nature.
Monday, May 06, 2002
How can we cope with all that 'input'?
No, technology is not going to do away with the real estate professional, but a real estate professional with technology may well do away with the professional without it.
Friday, April 26, 2002
Worldwide, the house-price boom has arrived
The most underreported number is the increase in house prices worldwide.
Wednesday, April 10, 2002
Deciding mortgage term depends on interest
We get a lot of questions every week. Thanks. I try to get to them all. When
I don’t, don’t be mad get even - send another one.
Tuesday, March 26, 2002
Hold the 'yeah, but' negativity and get on board
Is the boom over?
Thursday, March 14, 2002
There are no bad markets - only bad deals
Of course there is no such thing as a 'good market' or a 'bad market'. The only thing that matters is whether YOU make a good or a bad deal - whatever THE market.
Tuesday, March 05, 2002
Soaring Sales Have Realtors Smiling
Real Estate Sales roared throughout Canada (and yes, also the US) in 2001.
Tuesday, January 29, 2002
Seeking a Windfall at Property Auctions
Real estate auction sales in Canada are starting to become more popular.
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Simple ways to avoid a scam
How do we filter out the bad deals? You've got to ask the right questions. And if you don't get the right answers you have to walk away.
Wednesday, January 02, 2002
Can You Really Buy With No Money Down?
The concept seems mythical, impossible. Something for nothing?
It's too good to be true.
Thursday, December 06, 2001
Don't just think about investing - do it
Ignore the gloomsters: the property market still gives you the best dollar return on your money that you'll ever get
Monday, November 19, 2001
Better days likely ahead
Stocks and real estate have traditionally rebounded after wars or disasters
Sunday, November 04, 2001
Managing a rental property can be a mixed-up world
Often we mix up our objectives when we try to manage our rental property ourselves.
Monday, October 22, 2001
Seller doesn't have to accept asking price offer
Readers have a lot of questions about real estate. Here's a few of general interest.
Thursday, September 27, 2001
No certainties, but BC's real estate future looks good
The facts of the Lower Mainland real estate market speak for themselves, and in every area the words can be considereed encouraging
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
What To Buy and What Not To
Some property classes will rise in value and other fall at the same time in the same marketplace.
Monday, August 27, 2001
So You Wanna be a Real Estate Investor?
Saying that all real estate is good, is like saying all mutual funds are good, let's buy some. It doesn't work there and it doesn't work for real estate.
Monday, August 13, 2001
I Want to Buy A Condo But Where Do I Go?
If you follow some basic principles, and you are not drawn to get to the Cariboo where the deer and the Germans roam,
downtown may well be the best place for you to look
Wednesday, July 25, 2001
No, I want to see the cows ... not smell them
As more and more people move from the big urban centers and into the smaller, more saner towns ... grabbing their kids, their laptops and their satellite dishes, savvy investors can benefit from understanding their motivations. This article is the first in Ozzie Jurock's Vancouver Sun series.
Monday, July 09, 2001
REIT'ingly Yours
REITs are like those books that everybody quotes but nobody has read. So, let's just say that a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is like a mutual fund that deals only in real investments.
Monday, April 23, 2001
GETTING READY FOR THE BOOM
It's a great time to buy real estate in BC.
Friday, September 22, 2000
How to Buy a Condo Right!
Buying a Condo? While Ozzie Jurock believes that other types real estate - such as townhomes, single-family and anything with dirt under its foundations - appreciates faster than condo product, this lopsided appreciation curve may change in five to 10 years.
Wednesday, August 30, 2000
Principles of Investing In Real Estate BEFORE You Buy
It's amazing how we're constantly exhorted and bombarded by financial planners, banks, trust companies, government agencies -- you name it -- to plan for our retirement income.
Wednesday, August 30, 2000
Where the Deals Are
Creating a deal is much more an art than a craft --- it certainly isn't a science. You can make, save --- or lose --- a lot of money in how you structure your deal.
Wednesday, August 30, 2000
Can You Really Buy With No Money Down?
The two most important things people care about: How much down? How much per month? But there is something even better yet: Nothing down!
Wednesday, August 30, 2000
Real Estate Principles for the New Millennium
Over the last 30 years I?ve been involved in making major forecasts and multi-million dollar decisions on behalf of various major North American real estate firms. How to separate the wheat from the chaff is what I?ve learned.
Wednesday, August 30, 2000
Do I Really Need a Realtor?
It's time to sell the home and move to different quarters. One of the first things you're going to consider is whether to sell it yourself or use the services of a Realtor.
Wednesday, August 30, 2000
BUILDING COSTS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF
Development cost charges in some municipalities have gone through the roof. The only growth these communities want is in the DCC. Look, compare and weep ... and build where it is cheaper.
Wednesday, August 30, 2000
21 ways to make your home sell faster
When selling
a home (or anything else for that matter), the marketing effort must
be coordinated on all fronts.
Monday, August 14, 2000
A QUICK REVIEW OF THE HOUSING MARKET HALFWAY THROUGH 2000
This summary takes residential sales and Single Family Detached prices and compares the first 6 months of 2000 to the first 6 months of 1999.
Wednesday, July 19, 2000
DOWNTOWN, WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE MOVE...
Rather than trotting off to Calgary and buying at the peak of the market take another look downtown.
Thursday, June 22, 2000
SALMON ARM AND THE SHUSWAP
While, generally speaking, sellers are much more confident, prices have stayed low.
Wednesday, May 24, 2000
REAL ESTATE IN THE OKANAGAN
From Penticton to Osooyos...
Wednesday, May 17, 2000
REAL ESTATE IN THE CITY OF VERNON
Great deals...
Wednesday, May 10, 2000
VANCOUVER ISLAND MARCH NUMBERS REVISITED
Prices are very soft, there still is time to get that fine deal.
Wednesday, April 26, 2000
Hearing gobbledygook and eyes fogged over?
For most Canadians, today's mortgage market is bewildering.
Wednesday, April 19, 2000
VANCOUVER NUMBERS
Great news ... the real estate market is substantially better.
Wednesday, April 05, 2000
CONDO DEALS STILL ABOUND...
For the astute buyer with his professional condo Realtor at his side, great deals abound.
Wednesday, March 29, 2000
SPOTLIGHT ON VANCOUVER ISLAND
Overall the Island had a slow start with volume about where it was a year ago or down slightly and prices sagging.
Wednesday, March 22, 2000
PRICES UP, UP and ... AWAY?
As we reported last week, the US home sale market is scorching (people are making fortunes in real estate!). Well Canada, is no slouch either!
Wednesday, March 15, 2000
WHISTLER NUMBER ONE AGAIN
With the most snow in North America and for the eighth consecutive year, Whistler rates as the number one ski resort in North America.
Wednesday, February 16, 2000
HOUSING STARTS ARE DOWN
CMHC reports 532 housing starts in January.
Wednesday, February 09, 2000
VANCOUVER NUMBERS
Prices up by 10%, volume down by 12%
Wednesday, February 02, 2000
DEALS OF THE MONTH
No money or low money down deals.
Wednesday, January 26, 2000
REAL ESTATE ON THE NET
Wednesday, January 19, 2000
ASSESSING YOUR ASSESSMENT
Wednesday, January 12, 2000
VANCOUVER NUMBERS
Wednesday, January 05, 2000
Y2K - BE PREPARED BUT DON'T BE SCARED
(Or, trust in Allah, but tie up your camel!)
Wednesday, December 22, 1999
WHAT TO DO, WHEN THINGS GO WRONG...
Wednesday, December 15, 1999
YULETIDE SELLING
Wednesday, December 01, 1999
THE FUTURE FOR TENANTS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF HOUSING IS STRONG
Wednesday, November 10, 1999
DO THIS NEW CONDO HEALTH CHECK-UP BEFORE YOU BUY AND YOU'LL LIVE LONGER
Wednesday, November 10, 1999
Tuesday, November 09, 1999
THE FALL IN VANCOUVER AND THE FRASER VALLEY
Wednesday, November 03, 1999
MORTGAGE ARREARS TRIPLE SINCE 1996
Wednesday, September 29, 1999
ALBERTA vs BC
Wednesday, September 22, 1999
WHAT $200,000 WILL BUY YOU
Wednesday, September 15, 1999
CONDO DEALS
Wednesday, September 08, 1999
PROPERTY IN THE LOWER MAINLAND FOR UNDER $80,000
Wednesday, September 01, 1999
SUMMER TIME ... AND THE BUYING IS EASY... Part 2
Wednesday, August 25, 1999
SUMMER TIME ... AND THE BUYING IS EASY... Part 1
Wednesday, August 11, 1999
THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR WHEN BUYING RECREATIONAL PROPERTY
Wednesday, August 04, 1999
17 SECRETS OF TOP PRODUCING PEOPLE
Wednesday, July 21, 1999
RECESSION? WHAT RECESSION?
Wednesday, June 02, 1999
AUCTIONS
Wednesday, May 26, 1999
FORECLOSURES ARE NOT AN EASY MONEY MAKER
It is tough, it is tedious, and Judges always side with the owner.
Wednesday, May 19, 1999
ISLANDS IN THE SUN
Wednesday, May 12, 1999
NOTHING DOWN
Wednesday, April 28, 1999
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