Thursday, 1 November 2012

Buffett Forms Venture with Brookfield

Bay Adelaide Centre Toronto
Buffett Forms Venture with Brookfield

Brookfield's Bay Adelaide Centre in Downtown Toronto


Warren Buffett's Berk-shire Hathaway Inc. is extending its bet on the U.S. housing market by forming a venture with Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management Inc. as low interest rates, inventory and prices spur a real-estate rebound.

Berkshire's HomeServices of America Inc. unit will be the majority owner of the venture to manage a U.S. residential real-estate affiliate network, according to a statement on the new company's website. The firms plan to offer a new franchise brand, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, starting next year. Brookfield's network has operated under the Prudential Real Estate and Real Living Real Estate brands.


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AIG Cuts Reliance on Wall Street Real Estate

American International Group Inc. (AIG) is increasing direct investment in real estate to reduce its reliance on Wall Street as record-low interest rates pressure investment income. 

“It’s making sure that we are taking control of the risks we’re going to put on our books, and we can’t rely on the public markets,” including commercial mortgage-backed securities, Chief Executive Officer Robert Benmosche said at a conference this week in Chicago. “We have to do direct investment.” 


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A Sweeter Shade

Getting a Mortgage and Mortgage Insurance through Empire Life for financing a loan to purchase at FIVE Condos is actually a relatively easy process, and new rules from the federal government has required that company include new regulations, which have made the home loan and mortgage process a bit more difficult. Those changes at Empire Life include shortening the amortization period for which the loan can be held by the consumer, and the degree to which the property is financed by the mortgage. They have also increased deposit requirements to lift the loan insurance amount. Mortgage insurance from Empire Life is actually one of the major financing costs on home loans.

Investment Trusts have no taken to looking to purchase rental properties and acquiring mortgages through financing auctions by the banks looking to shore up their balances sheets in light of stricter government regulation. These regulations have actually made holding residential mortgages by the large financial institutions harder to hold. Currently investors are looking to increase their position in rental properties in Toronto, at the same time the federal government in co-operation with the financial institutions are making getting and qualifying for loans and mortgages more difficult

Empire Life : What is Condo Insurance?
Condo Insurance is required to protect your personal contents from theft or fire damage in your condo if these unforeseen events should happen you should make sure that you have adequate protection. Some items in your condo are will also be protected by your condo association insurance policy which covers the general building. The events that are covered by condo insurance include Fire, as well as Lighting. Other weather related causes such as Windstorms, and Hail are also covered. The major one that most people worry about is theft which is covered by condo contents insurance policies.

Toronto Condo Market Report – February 26, 2014

Toronto Condo Prices continue to trend upwards, as sales also move up with general improvement not only in the Toronto economy, but the nation as a whole. Condo sale prices have not increased to the same degree as detached family housing, due to new supply coming onstream. However fears of a condo bubble, have not proved accurate, as trends move to the upside. Average Home prices are still up in Toronto, and look like they will continue to rise for the remainder of 2014. Year over year, detached housing prices increased by over 14%. Just amazing.

What to Expect for Home and Condo Prices in 2015 in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area

The latest reports on the Toronto Real Estate market predict that the condo prices if left unsupported will fall, due to oversupply. However, this prediction has been the case for over 10 years now, and nothing has come to pass with regard to any major price drop even with predictions of a correction coming from the world’s largest and most respected financial institutions.

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