Real estate’s bright spot

I’ve always liked real estate: Single-family rentals, duplexes, and self-storage facilities. As long as you buy it right and manage your expectations, real estate can provide a good cash flow and long-term growth.

And I’ve written before how real estate investment trusts (REITs) can let you dip your toe in this sector without worrying about the day-to-day hassles that come with being a landlord. Let’s face it, though, the market really stinks now, especially in the U.S.

Well, you might want to take a look at our neighbors to the north. It seems the Canadian real estate market has weathered the global financial crisis better than most.

Among the reasons:

• Strong exports of oil and other natural resources

• Strong Canadian dollar

• Low borrowing costs

Watch this YouTube video to learn what the Canadian REITs are doing in their own country and around the world.

And here are three Canadian-based real estate funds you might want to check out:

• IA Ecoflex Real Estate Income Fund (IAECREIN CN)

• BMO Equal Weight REITs Index ETF (ZRE CN)

• Investors Real Property Fund (INVRLPRA CN)

Best wishes,

George