It’s the morning after the 6th episode in our series of workshops based on the best-selling book ‘The Millionaire Real Estate Investor’, and I realize that this is a great thing that we are doing with these events. We’re providing a much-needed service, to both current investors and people who are just beginning their real estate investing journey.

We’re taking a break from the series for July & Augst, but will be back in full-force with the workshops beginning the 3rd Tuesday in September. Over the Fall, we’ll be offering more classes from the fine folks at The Landlord & Tenant Board, along with bringing in featured guests such as an accountant who works with investors, a real estate lawyer, and a few others.

These guests will be coming in to make special presentations to the members of the Milton Real Estate Investors Club (MREIC), a newly-formed club that is as much a forum for sharing experiences as it is for getting advice and information. MREIC won’t be charging big membership fees, or having all sorts of requirements for membership, in fact, we are investigating the potential for finding places to meet monthly where there is no cost to anyone.

So, thanks for your support during our first 6 months of the Millionaire Real Estate Investor seires; we look forward to seeing you in September. In the meantime, just give me a call or shoot me an email if you have any questions.

Here’s the week in review for Milton, Ontario real estate.

It’s been another interesting week, as the sales remain fairly consistent, yet the inventory of available properties continues to shrivel.

There’s been some interesting happenings over the past week; I was set to show one particular property to my clients, when I got a call from the listing agent: “We’ve got 23 showings this first day on the market, and the seller’s don’t want any more. Oh, we’ve also got 7 offers registered.” Yes, that house sold over list price. For several other clients, a similar scenario played out – so many showings and multiple offers.

Where do we go now? Well, interest rates have risen slightly, and some brokers are saying that further increases are likely over the next couple of weeks. Given the shortage of inventory, that has to mean that prices will either rise or buyers will drop out of the market. I doubt that buyers will drop out, because prices are affordable and rates are still at ultra-low levels.

For more in-depth discussion, watch for the 2 reports from the Keller Research Institute that will be posted over the next couple of days.

So, here’s the weekly update:

And the ongoing Annual Summary:

And finally, the graph of the listings and sales activity:

Thanks to all who attended the session tonight; it was great to be in a room full of real estate investors, getting questions answered and learning some ways to protect themselves from unscrupulous tenants.

Personally, I found the entire evening fascinating, and was able to learn some things from some of the attendees as well as the guest speakers. The head of the Investigations & Enforcement division was particularly informative, and taught me something about potential liability that I could easily take on in my day-to-day life as a Realtor.

The basic premise of the evening was that any successful landlord should get to know the Residential Tenacies Act very well, and make sure to work within the rules of the Act. As things were explained, it would seem that the Board is neither pro-tenant nor pro-landlord, but rather, takes the stance that smart actions prevent problems, and to be a good landlord means to act smart.

I’m sure that the tenants of the landlords who attended tonight’s session will be better served by having a more informed landlord.

Look for a follow-up session in the Fall.

I recently received the email below from an amazing company, The Move Advocate. Basically, what they do is quarterback your move, getting you substantial discounts on moving expenses, all at no cost to you. If you’d like more information, please call me and I can hook you up.

How to Avoid an Expensive & Stressful Move

Unemployment is the highest it has been in 25 years. The DOW dropped to a record low in March. Everything is getting more expensive. These days we are faced with a lot of negative statistics and consumer confidence is suffering. When it comes to moving one might think that the costs should be cheaper, service should be better, and they should have more companies to choose from. But what are the facts?

• The drop in the economy has resulted in 20% less people moving which has caused a drop in the moving business
• The cost of a move has increased year over year since 2005
• The number of claims with the Better Business Bureau against movers has increased in the past year
• Many moving companies are closing due to the drop in business

Many consumers feel that choosing a mover is an easy task. It can be effortless, but how sure are consumers that they are getting exactly the services they need? After all it is not like ordering a sandwich. Consumer advocates say that even the savviest shopper may encounter hidden fees, stolen & broken items, and bad estimates.

When your clients are making a move there are several things to watch out for that can increase the cost of the move and lead to more stress:

• Estimates that are too low ? shady companies use low pricing to secure a job and then demand more money on the day of delivery.
• Proper licensing ? rogue movers often operate without proper licensing, use rented trucks and might not have an actual office making them harder to track in the event of a problem.
• Complaints ? it is important to check with the Better Business Bureau before choosing a mover to ensure that they are reputable.? Too many claims are not a good sign.
• Money up front ? a company that asks for a cash deposit or payment in full before the move takes place may not finish the job.?No reputable company asks for money up front.

We are entering the summer months which is an extremely busy time in the moving industry. Consumers should be extra careful when choosing a company to assist them and their family move. Working with an unscrupulous mover can add thousands of dollars to the cost, and unwanted stress.

Moving can be overwhelming with many details to manage. You can help; refer them to the Move Advocate. Our company has been in the moving business for over 20 years. We are your client’s advocate and assist them with getting multiple estimates, discounts, and advice. We only work with the most reputable moving companies. Don’t let your clients hit the yellow pages or recommend someone that might do a bad job. Recommend the Move Advocate and we will help make their move a success. For more information about our program, please contact Chris Newell at 905-208-7002