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The Top Economic Stories of 2020 Part 4 of 5


Notwithstanding the many American citizens who live in Canada, most of us cannot vote in U.S. elections. And yet, we pay attention to them as much or more than we do our own—at least when the presidency is on the line. The U.S. is, after all, our neighbour, largest trading partner, military ally, main source of tourists and the winter landing spot for many snowbirds from Canada. 

The recent race between President Trump and former Vice President Biden for what is arguably the most powerful elected position in the world was particularly gripping.

What does…

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Happiness is banking with ATB.

The Top Economic Stories of 2020 Part 3 of 5


China has become, and will continue to be, a source of important economic news. From a trade war with the United States to its rapid economic recovery in the face of COVID to the signing of the The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), China continues to make large economic waves with ripple effects felt around the world, including Alberta.

Some of us on The Owl team are long enough in the tooth to remember when the big economic player and newsmaker in Asia was Japan. China was barely on the radar.

Fast forward to today, and even though…

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The Top Economic Stories of 2020 Part 2 of 5

Happiness is banking with ATB.

ATB Economics

Second only to the pandemic in terms of its negative impact on the Alberta economy in 2020 is the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Back in January 2020 before COVID was a household word, the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) forecast for the average price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude in 2020 was $US59. As of December 8, the EIA expects the 2020 average to come in just under $39. The price averaged $57 in 2019.

The demand destruction brought on by the pandemic is the main reason for the difference, but bad…

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The Top Economic Stories Of 2020 Part 1 of 5

Happiness is banking with ATB.

ATB Economics 

It’s that time of the year when we take a look back—from an Alberta perspective—at the top economic stories that took place over the previous 12 months. Each Owl this week will examine one story.

The full list, along with other observations about the year that was, are discussed in the latest edition of ATB’s The Future Of podcast hosted by our Chief Economist Todd Hirsch. The year-end edition can be found here and features commentary from energy guru Jackie Forrest.

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First up is the ongoing saga known as Brexit. Brexit (a combination…

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Credit: Secrets to Unlock the Bank's Vault

 

As an agent, I have helped MANY clients purchase their first home, and have learned what the banks want. If you think you have ANY issues getting approved to purchase your next home, watching this credit video (and my other videos) will help tremendously towards your future purchase. When your normal banks won't grant you credit, I suggest:

  1. A SECURED card: https://www.capitalone.ca/credit-cards/guaranteed-mastercard/  or https://www.hometrust.ca/credit-cards/secured-visa-card/ 
  2. After this, I suggest cards from a variety of retailers. Retailers are keen to help you shop in THEIR stores; store specific cards are generally easier to get than "main stream" cards. Many retailers offer co-branded…

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How to Get Approved for a Mortgage in 5 Easy Steps Featured Image

Whether you’re a seasoned homeowner or a first-time home buyer, navigating the mortgage process can be downright daunting if you don’t know what to expect ahead of time. Don’t worry, we’re here to help!

Here is the start-to-finish mortgage process, summed up in five simple steps.

1. Ready Your Down Payment

To purchase a home in Edmonton (or anywhere else in Canada), you’ll need to come up with the mandatory 5% down payment. While we understand it can be tempting to move ahead as soon as you’ve scraped together the minimum (after all, it can take months or years), keep in mind, the larger your down payment, the more affordable your mortgage will be in the long run.

Mortgage lenders also tend to look more favourably on larger down payments.…

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City of Calgary, December 1, 2020 –

For the sixth month in a row, sales in the Calgary market recorded a year-over-year gain.

Sales growth over the past several months has been the strongest seen in the past five years, but the activity has not been strong enough to offset the pullbacks from the spring. Year-to-date sales remain over three per cent lower than last year's levels.

New listings continue to slow, reducing inventory in the market. On a year-to-date basis, new listings have eased by nearly ten per cent and are at the lowest level recorded since 2001. This has reduced the oversupply that has been impacting the market for nearly five years.

"The gains in sales in the latter part of this year have been a bit surprising considering the…

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