tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post1081813301200015806..comments2023-09-10T03:39:48.166-07:00Comments on Alberta Bubble: Impact on Alberta Island Continues....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-5653135969658256162008-09-18T08:48:00.000-07:002008-09-18T08:48:00.000-07:001) Nice try - since 93% of the people who paid Com...1) Nice try - since 93% of the people who paid Comfree "up front" did not sell their home & lost whatever advantage you are supposedly talking about...<BR/><BR/>100% of those who listed (& did not sell) through a realtor paid nothing - all advertising costs, etc... were paid for by the realtor.<BR/><BR/><BR/>2) Once all listing expenses (signs, advertising, MLS fee, gas, phone, etc...) are paid, the realtor only gets paid if he sells the house. With the average days on market around 50 days, the realtor is on call for 50 days straight earning a paycheck.<BR/><BR/>Compare that with 7% of Comfree clients who were on call for an average of 59 days (according to the July stats) to save some money.<BR/><BR/><BR/>So 93% of Comfree clients gave up the freedom to have a life away from work (basically forever since they never sold); paid cash up front, then lost more money since prices continued to drop.<BR/><BR/>I have never approached a Comfree listing either with a client or to ask for the listing. While Comfree was a good idea in a rising market - if someone is not intelligent enough to realize they are not getting a good return on the money they give Comfree during a down market, they are not people I wish to deal with...Gordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16014280331037833079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-32004847295896819912008-09-18T08:17:00.000-07:002008-09-18T08:17:00.000-07:00Considering that it costs my clients absolutely no...<I>Considering that it costs my clients absolutely nothing unless I get results...</I><BR/><BR/>1. That's not entirely true. If you can't sell their house, they lose the advantages they intend to gain by selling their house. In other words, if you're incompetent or less competent than another method they might employ, you've cost them something by offering them your 'service'. To sum: you've begged the question.<BR/><BR/>2. If you do sell their house, it costs them big time compared to ComFree. A cost-benefit analysis cuts through all your smooth words.<BR/><BR/>You're just playing with words, giving the standard gosh-that-sounds-good-martha-where-do-we-sign line.<BR/><BR/>Intelligent people see clearly through your transparent sales pitch. If you can't see through your own pitch, you're not very bright. If you do see through it, then you're dishonest. So one or the other, which are you? <-- you choose.oh wow that's so originalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04827557539282511388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-69027518038923858992008-09-18T08:14:00.000-07:002008-09-18T08:14:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.oh wow that's so originalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04827557539282511388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-66156647975584661922008-09-18T07:33:00.000-07:002008-09-18T07:33:00.000-07:00The edmonton real estate blog is worse. They are s...The edmonton real estate blog is worse. They are supposed to be industry experts yet their information is so shallow and common sense. <BR/><BR/>Next Youtube video they will post:<BR/>"How you can tell the sky is blue."7¿radleyparadox7?https://www.blogger.com/profile/12702617621317632754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-10211915916619576992008-09-18T07:22:00.000-07:002008-09-18T07:22:00.000-07:00cc all that money keeps on getting thieved..the cr...cc all that money keeps on getting thieved..the criminals are running the crime scene..we are helplesssquidly77https://www.blogger.com/profile/05932628180799650933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-61767215799633846722008-09-18T07:09:00.000-07:002008-09-18T07:09:00.000-07:00That should have been Bernanke's printing presses....That should have been Bernanke's printing presses......Carioca Canuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13560054096545858201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-72144828960708858192008-09-18T07:08:00.000-07:002008-09-18T07:08:00.000-07:00Bprinting pressed are operating 24/7 now......Anot...<A HREF="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080918083207.wh5hl7iv&show_article=1" REL="nofollow">Bprinting pressed are operating 24/7 now......</A><BR/><BR/>Another $180 BILLION......for the banks and brokers to buy worthless crap stock and bonds......kepe proppingup the market boys.....you'll just make it worse.Carioca Canuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13560054096545858201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-58201688376545992362008-09-18T06:56:00.000-07:002008-09-18T06:56:00.000-07:00trumans blog has turned into a total joke..its lik...trumans blog has turned into a total joke..its like children only can post theresquidly77https://www.blogger.com/profile/05932628180799650933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-68298107905721004562008-09-18T06:07:00.000-07:002008-09-18T06:07:00.000-07:00GREED...DECEPTION..LIES....LUST....WAR..THE TIME O...<A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMqwJc_EXnc" REL="nofollow">GREED...DECEPTION..LIES....LUST....WAR..THE TIME OF THE PIGMEN IS NOW</A><BR>squidly77https://www.blogger.com/profile/05932628180799650933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-54128735986568623832008-09-18T05:59:00.000-07:002008-09-18T05:59:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.squidly77https://www.blogger.com/profile/05932628180799650933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-50212818662046049862008-09-18T01:21:00.000-07:002008-09-18T01:21:00.000-07:00jim_s wrote:No.... unlike Comfree you are dripping...jim_s wrote:<BR/><BR/><I>No.... unlike Comfree you are dripping with envy, and you don't get results so it pisses you off that they are exhibiting healthy revenues while guys like yourself get left out in the dust.<BR/><BR/>In case you didn't notice, your "envy" issue with Comfree flies in the face of every Albertan. Wanna know why? Because you are apparently against people retaining as much of their personal wealth portfolio as possible. You are for having them pay inflated and unsubstantiated commissions for what you claim are "results".</I><BR/><BR/><BR/>jim_s,<BR/><BR/>Most intelligent people prefer to pay for results - after the job is done.<BR/><BR/>Considering that it costs my clients <B>absolutely nothing</B> unless I get results...<BR/><BR/>Considering that 93% of Comfree's July clients paid in advance - they saved absolutely nothing because they never sold their property.<BR/><BR/>I find it interesting that you have such hatred for all realtors - yet you are a Comfree pimp...Gordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16014280331037833079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-37003615661577227972008-09-18T00:49:00.001-07:002008-09-18T00:49:00.001-07:00Stormy passed out at his computer desk again.Stormy passed out at his computer desk again.my genes made me do ithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13578439116625477377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-17184682056629013122008-09-18T00:49:00.000-07:002008-09-18T00:49:00.000-07:00Stormy petrel, don't go getting all aroused becaus...Stormy petrel, don't go getting all aroused because I said 'grammar checker'.my genes made me do ithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13578439116625477377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-70375745503063819212008-09-18T00:46:00.000-07:002008-09-18T00:46:00.000-07:00And you aren't forced to use a realtor. True enoug...<I>And you aren't forced to use a realtor. </I><BR/><BR/>True enough. It's a process of natural selection. The weak and feeble-minded can't avoid the parasites and other predators. The strong and wise know to stay away. Some of the strong and wise (such as post on this blog) try to warn the week and feeble-minded, but then the parasites cry "Fowl!" and whine and complain that it's in their genes --- their pitiful lives will be unfulfilled if they are denied victims.<BR/><BR/><I>Well I am impressed.</I> You're a very strange duck if you were impressed.<BR/><BR/>Regarding the remainder of your post, it was incoherent. Lay off the booze Larry. Or get a grammar checker. No I'm not referring to somebody's grandmother -- the word is grammar, not gramma.my genes made me do ithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13578439116625477377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-67272975208360015012008-09-18T00:12:00.000-07:002008-09-18T00:12:00.000-07:00Jims wrote: You, the MLS, and the association do n...<I>Jims wrote: You, the MLS, and the association do nothing for society. The "value added" service you claim makes people better off does nothing except pad your own wallet. You are obviously not only envious, but selfish.</I><BR/><BR/>And you aren't forced to use a realtor. But you spend a pathologically inordinate amount of time reflecting on realtors. To the point that your psychic abilities allow you to determine, over the AlGores, a fellow poster's frame of mind about the competition. <BR/><BR/>Well I am impressed.Art Vandelayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06564450756839952495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-48051472743824719752008-09-17T23:50:00.000-07:002008-09-17T23:50:00.000-07:00stormy petrel, The fact that you crave this sort o...stormy petrel, The fact that you crave this sort of attention should be ringing some alarm bells in your head. Get help.be very afraidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16994048829799558915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-63974125026838939152008-09-17T23:49:00.000-07:002008-09-17T23:49:00.000-07:00be very afraid.stormy petrel, I have been reading ...<I>be very afraid.</I><BR/><BR/>stormy petrel, I have been reading your posts for many years. You seem to like sex, toilet subjects and violent imagery. Your most lucid posts barely border on sanity. If I ever met you on the street and knew who you were, I would turn and probably run. You are a scary guy and should get help.be very afraidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16994048829799558915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-64499441698500924502008-09-17T23:39:00.000-07:002008-09-17T23:39:00.000-07:00Oh and BTW Radley, you should take some accounting...Oh and BTW Radley, you should take some accounting courses. What you find on financial statements with companies and their "exposure" to the US markets won't be an honest representation. No one but they know what is truly on the books. To say that Canadian banks etc are safe is absurd. Canadian banks have to invest their money somewhere and it just isn't going to be in Canada. DUH!7¿radleyparadox7?https://www.blogger.com/profile/12702617621317632754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-23320049569167581882008-09-17T23:37:00.000-07:002008-09-17T23:37:00.000-07:00As we fall asleep on the island of Alberta, big tr...As we fall asleep on the island of Alberta, big trouble in the Asian markets as they begin to start their day.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://canadianbusiness.com/markets/headline_news/article.jsp?content=b091804A" REL="nofollow"><I>Asian markets tumble as financial fears deepen</I></A><BR/><BR/>Jeremiah Marquez, The Associated Press<BR/>September 18, 2008 - 1:45 a.m.<BR/>HONG KONG - Asian stocks tumbled Thursday, tracking declines on Wall Street as investors feared more companies could succumb to the global financial crisis that forced the U.S. to bail out troubled insurer American International Group Inc.<BR/><BR/>Every regional benchmark fell deeply in the red. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index led the region's losses, tanking 1,272.86 points, or 7.22 per cent, to 16,364.33 - its lowest level in over two years.7¿radleyparadox7?https://www.blogger.com/profile/12702617621317632754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-49495541622331182132008-09-17T22:59:00.000-07:002008-09-17T22:59:00.000-07:00Gentle reader. The CC and sguidly posts above are ...Gentle reader. <BR/><BR/>The CC and sguidly posts above are the most significant insight to their agenda, ever. Total obedience to their notion of economics. Destroy the judicial system create a police state that has the power to summarily execute the disobedient. <BR/><BR/>The people are the true Canadian terrorists. This is a glimpse of the Fascist’s amongst us these people are the true slime of this country.<BR/><BR/>Read their post several times, and be very afraid.Stormy Petrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15062050673244964353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-39045085449801708462008-09-17T22:50:00.000-07:002008-09-17T22:50:00.000-07:00http://i.pbase.com/u37/digitalgee/upload/34776777....http://i.pbase.com/u37/digitalgee/upload/34776777.Quicksand.jpg<BR/><BR/>paste itsquidly77https://www.blogger.com/profile/05932628180799650933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-19541305030662263882008-09-17T22:48:00.000-07:002008-09-17T22:48:00.000-07:00the whole world is melting down tonightthe whole world is melting down tonightsquidly77https://www.blogger.com/profile/05932628180799650933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-21089732639453024962008-09-17T22:12:00.000-07:002008-09-17T22:12:00.000-07:00-Fear coursed through the U.S. financial system on...-<BR/><I>Fear coursed through the U.S. financial system on Wednesday, as hope for a resolution to the year-old credit crisis faded.<BR/><BR/>(...)<BR/><BR/>The desperation was especially striking in the market for U.S. government debt, long considered the safest of investments. At one point during the day, investors were willing to pay more for one-month Treasurys than they could expect to get back when the bonds matured. Some investors, in essence, had decided that a small but known loss was better than the uncertainty connected to any other type of investment.</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122169684690350209.html?mod=googlenews_wsj" REL="nofollow">Mounting Fears Shake World Markets <BR/>As Banking Giants Rush to Raise Capital</A><BR/><BR/>Not good. Thankfully we are not tied to the US as close as South Africa so it will not affect us at all. Will it?<BR/><BR/><I>South Africa won't be ``immune'' to the global financial crisis as commodity prices fall and economic growth in the U.S. and Europe slows, National Treasury Director General Lesetja Kganyago said. <BR/><BR/>(...)<BR/><BR/>``We are not an island, we will be affected through a number of channels,'' Kaganyago said. ``But you are not going to see anything that would necessitate an intervention'' from the government. ``The spillover of the subprime crisis into the South African financial system has been negligible.''</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aDly7ZLkIJxM&refer=africa" REL="nofollow">South Africa Not Immune to Global Financial Crisis</A><BR/><BR/>And we've got oilsands while they've got quicksands. Or is it that we've got oilquicksands... err... quickoilsands... what is it that we’ve got?<BR/>-BADhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08896288573355012563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-4937317398401276342008-09-17T21:46:00.000-07:002008-09-17T21:46:00.000-07:00Just a little follow-up on my last post:I want to ...Just a little follow-up on my last post:<BR/><BR/>I want to thank the great posters of this blog for indirectly keeping me "on the fence" during these troubling times. You know who you are (carioca canuck, squidly77, jim_s, bearclaw, hybrid, etc.) and of course Gloria White for the blog's creation. I'm no financial expert, but even I knew this bubble was ready to burst. I sold my house last year and banked the profit. All of it in High Interest Savings accounts. In case you're new to HIS accounts, here is my "two cents" on the ones I use(d):<BR/><BR/>CTFS (www.myctfs.com) <- Fast, simple and no hidden fees. Currently, 4.3% for the first 90 days and a $20 bonus. 3.05% after 90 days. Interest rate paid monthly.<BR/><BR/>HSBC (www.hsbc.ca) <- Fast, simple and no hidden fees ... you even get an ATM card. Currently, 3% interest rate -- paid monthly.<BR/><BR/>ICICI (www.icicibank.ca) <- Had issues with the web interface. Then after reading many reviews, I was concerned about their service. Eventually, I cancelled my account which they charged me $25 because it was an early cancellation.<BR/><BR/>BMO (www.bmo.com) <- Deposited over $60,000 to get the better interest rate. Beware! The higher interest rate is for the amount over $60,000 and NOT the whole amount. In other words, if you deposit $75K you will get a high interest rate for $15K and a low interest rate for $60K. I was even assured by the bank manager that if the deposit is over $60K, I would get the high interest rate for the whole amount. Needless to say, after getting my statements, I transfered the funds to my other HIS accounts. I just checked their website, they now indicate this with the asterisk. Always read the fine print ;)<BR/><BR/>In summary, I like CTFS and HSBC. Both work great and there was no hidden surprises. Both transfer funds to and from your regular bank account within days. Just remember to keep the amount below 100K for each CDIC member, as mention by another poster. I am sure there are better places to put your money for a greater return, but I like security :) I also "linked" two regular bank accounts to each HIS account. Again, for the extra security. I hope that helps. Of course, you pay taxes on your earnings. I believe it's the marginal tax rate.<BR/><BR/>When all of this financial and real estate mess gets straighten out, first round of drinks is on me! Thanks again for keeping me on the fence. Now I am going to perch again and enjoy the view.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15937782981943283715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588496932754350322.post-42527652971357193002008-09-17T21:36:00.000-07:002008-09-17T21:36:00.000-07:00Money market funds falling under par price of $1.Money market funds falling under par price of $1.Radley77https://www.blogger.com/profile/14825702358596382959noreply@blogger.com