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Are You House Poor?

The great American Dream has always revolved around owning a home. Sure, having the 2.3 kids, the cushy corporate job and the stylish car to drive to work everyday are part of the myth, too, but nothing quite summed up Americana quite like the white picket fence. But if recent economic numbers are any clue, this dream is becoming a nightmare for many in the US. According to date released by the United States Census Bureau, an increasing number of homeowners are spending a larger and larger amount of their incomes on housing than in previous years. People in 49 out of 50 states reported an increase. The only state that didn’t, Alaska, spent the same amount. The report showed that people are spending around 21 percent on their housing needs, up from 19 percent in 1999. This is a huge problem for first-time buyers who may now be priced out of housing markets all across the country. Economists point to rises in home prices in the last 7 years, as well as higher interest rates, coupled with stagnant wages over the same period. While everyone seems to be in agreement that the housing “bubble” is either bursting, or getting...
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Alberta Economy Benefits

If you have been thinking about moving, you might want to move to Alberta. Alberta is one of the western provinces of Canada along with British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The towns of Edmonton and Calgary are located in Alberta, which makes the province one of Canada's major distribution and transportation hubs. Nature wise, Alberta is a land of stunning beauty. It is home to the Rocky Mountains, the Continental Divide and many beautiful lakes and rivers. The province itself is landlocked and most of it sits on a high elevation, which means that the weather is often cool and comfortable there. Most of the population lives in the southern areas of Alberta and the Alberta real estate market is booming. In addition to the major cities of Edmonton and Calgary, towns like Spruce Grove, Brooks, Lethbridge and Camrose are coming into their own. Alberta real estate reflects the province's strong economy. In fact, Alberta's economy is potentially the strongest economy in all of Canada as it is supported by agriculture, technology and, of course, the growing petroleum industry. A study conducted by the TD Bank Financial Group showed that the level of wealth in the Calgary-Edmonton corridor is ten percent...
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A Second Home: Take it or Leave it?

For many, wanderlust is just a part of life. You buy a beautiful home somewhere, settle down, have a family, but there is always a part of you that’s itching to get away. Vacations are part of that wanderlust; the chance to get away someplace beautiful. And then you see it. The local newspaper at your vacation destination, and lo and behold, there is a real estate section right there. Dare you even look? You can’t afford it, can you? Two homes? Is dual home ownership for you? A second home can work for you, but you have to go into the process knowing what to expect. If you’re looking to get rich quick, don’t count on it. According to recent data, the price of real estate in areas that are deemed “Vacation Markets” has risen twice as fast as real estate in other areas. So, not only is a second home in your destination of choice going to cost you a pretty penny, it’s no longer a well-kept secret anymore and the chances of you flipping it to make a quick buck are slim. The best piece of advice a possible vacation home buyer can heed right now is...
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