U of A Students Fight Homelessness

15 Responses to “U of A Students Fight Homelessness”

1. Kendal H 20. Mar, 2007 at 11:19 pm #

   Thanks Sara! We are off to spend another night in the -18 (with windchill) weather. What a week to get a coldspell!
2. Debbie 21. Mar, 2007 at 10:16 am #

   It seems kind of weird that you want us to support their cause but don’t you think you should be asking your own kind. It’s the Realtors that have caused this insane problem with the real estate scamming.

   Yeah that what I said scam. Realtors only care about how much money they can get for a seller so that they can make as much commission as possible. They don’t give a hoot about people who actually need a place to live and this problem trickles down to what you are writing about in this article.
3. BearClaw 21. Mar, 2007 at 11:08 am #

   Kudos! Great work!
4. reese 21. Mar, 2007 at 11:14 am #

   You know, I’m not generally one to be waving flags for realtors, but Debbie needs a response.

   To ‘blame’ realtors for the increased cost of living and home prices in Edmonton is a misunderstanding of economics, to say the least. Realtors alone cannot drive up home prices. Markets dictate prices. The situation in Edmonton is relatively simple: our supply, even when including the statistical significance of private listings, is low, compared to the insane demand for housing. This demand is likely driven, in part, by the influx of workers to Alberta’s oil sands.

   If Realtors could “create” demand so easily, I’d become one in a heartbeat. Nothing is that magical. While I personally find the realtor commission rate a bit deplorable (they essentially get a raise every time property values go up that goes far beyond the raises most people get in their jobs), it is unfair and inaccurate to blame them for high prices and homelessness. Edmonton’s economy grew a bit fast for its britches, and many people are feeling a great deal of pain because of this. Sara and Sheldon are doing an empathetic thing here by highlighting these students’ aim to raise money for homelessness.

   I’ve observed that generally the people who are the most bitter and quick to blame when it comes to financial distress are also those most unlikely to pull themselves out of it and find financial freedom. There is much to be said for the correlation between money and mindset.
5. Debbie 21. Mar, 2007 at 4:23 pm #

   Thank you for the explanation, but I understand this already. What I’m saying is that they inadvertently are causing alot of the problems. They are also advertising that they will get a seller the most for their home and not really caring whether it hurts the buyer. I don’t know if you saw the Simpsons episode (rerun) the other night where Marge is wanting to become a Realtor, it is so true how they try to scam anybody gullable enough to fall for it.

   Too much of real estate is a monopoly that if you don’t want to pay the price that is out there, tough luck.

   This is wrong and that is why a lot of people are on the streets, moving away and are having problems with their landlords raising rent. They are not caring about peoples livlihood and that is very scary. Boom is good in some ways but in other ways it is very unmoral.
6. Kendal H 21. Mar, 2007 at 9:29 pm #

   Debbie, I have to address your comment. Yes, realtors jobs are to get the most money for a home they sell. Just as a CEO’s money is to get the most money for their shareholders. Just as a vacuum salesmen is supposed to sell you the most expensive vacuum. Just as the car salesmen is supposed to make the most money for the dealership. Do you really think that if realtor’s went out there and tried to sell the house for the lowest, that they would have a job? No, they would also become homeless.

   Not only is your comment completely economically impossible (thats like saying stock brokers can change how the TSX stock market moves), but your comments define the way the world works. We live in a world where the object is to maximize profit. This is not a Realtor’s fault. For you to blame a MARKET shift on a profession is not only ridiculous, but also incredibly uneducated.

   Sara is great for posting this to her site. She is doing her part to raise awareness for the campaign. That is what a GOOD Realtor does. A good Realtor will, of course, try to make money, but will also do things that help the community, such as supporting an initiative with this.

   I am excited to sleep outside tonight and discuss your comments with the other business/econmics students and the professor. We are always looking for some good entertainment
7. Kendal H 21. Mar, 2007 at 9:41 pm #

   Calling Realtors scammers?

   Are you comparing a real economic market situation with the SIMPSONS??

   They dont look out for the buyers? What do you want?? “Oh, I’m sorry buyer, you cant afford $300,000? Well, thats too bad. How does $75,000 dollars sound? Better? Oh ok, good, I am glad I could make you happy.”

   “Oh what home seller? You mean i cant sell it for $75000 dollars because there are 10 other buyers WILLING to pay $300,000?” Oh, well thats a travesty! I cant sell for $300,000 when people want to pay it, thats a scam! Debbie told me so!”

   You are lucky I am not about to make some pretty blunt and honest statements right now… but I can’t promise this will be the same for the other 3 people who have just spent the past 3 nights sleeping on concrete.
8. Mike Polessky 21. Mar, 2007 at 10:23 pm #

   Debbie,
   I’m sorry to hear that you’re upset about the rising cost of real estate in Edmonton. I can relate I just purchased my first place and had to pay a premium.

   That being said I think you’re misguided in your frustration. You cannot blame the landlords and realtors as they are just doing what the market forces are demanding.

   As to your comment “Too much of real estate is a monopoly” Edmonton’s market is far from a monopoly. It’s actually a very competitive market there are a large number of players in this marketplace which is the exact opposite of the term monopoly.

   Landlords are faced with increased capital costs, and operating costs which requires them to charge higher rents. A realtor’s job is to look out for the best interests of their clients. Often this means maximizing prices or doing what it takes to get the deal done. Calling them “unmoral” based on this misguided rationale is like calling you “stupid” without knowing how smart you really are. It’s petty and not based on rational information and more on a emotional frustration of what you may be faced with.

   That’s all
   Mike
9. Sheldon Johnston 21. Mar, 2007 at 10:32 pm #

   Well I think Debbie has heard enough and clearly has an uneducated view of how many affordable housing initiatives that the Real Estate industry has lobbied all levels of governments for. However that defeats the purpose of this post. It is to bring awareness to this issue. If you think I am or my industry is to blame, then suggest something that may positively affect change. Pointing fingers is for school children.

   If we don’t want our city to become the Calgary of the North or SanFran, or Toronto we need to work as a community.

   In our home Sara and I are thankful. We work very hard at do an exceptional job at what we do, but this post has made us think as well. Coldwell Banker is the largest corporate sponsor of Habitat for humanity and we are proud of that.

   So hopefully we can get this thread back on track. Kudos to the human beings that are giving of their time, talent and energy to bringing awareness to an important issue.
10. Debbie 22. Mar, 2007 at 9:51 am #

    One last comment. THE ONLY THING JUSTIFYING THESE PRICES IS OIL. There have been booms before and I’m sure this won’t be the last. But as before “what goes up, must come down” then you’ll move on to the next province and screw that one up too ie: Saskatchewan.

    PS: The only one you’re hurting in this situation are your kids, as they are the next generation of buyers and do you want them to pay 1 or maybe 2 million dollars for an average house here in Edmonton, if this keeps going. Thank goodness I don’t have any kids and plan to move away from this greed infested province. Good bye!!!
11. sheldon johnston 22. Mar, 2007 at 1:07 pm #

    Good grief Debbie, are you so dense as to not get the point here? Saying the same hysterical nonsense. So chicken little, the sky is falling o.k. is that what you want to hear, and as for moving out of the province, do you need someone to sell your home for more

    http://www.sellyourhomeformore.ca just kidding don’t call us.

    Maybe Ralph Klien will give you the bus fare.
12. Jack 22. Mar, 2007 at 2:51 pm #

    Can’t blame the realtor the rising cost of real estate in Edmonton. They don’t have this power to do this, you need billions of dollars. Is all about the oil price, economy and foreign investor putting money in Alberta. Do you know how many foreign investors came back in 2005? or I should ask you, do you know about it? I guess not… I’ve seen a few big tour buses in Edmonton fills with foreign investors, just to buy land & properties and YES, it’s happen back in 2005. Although, this website give me a feeling just to “buy, buy, buy” but still the statistic they provides is wonderful!!
13. BearClaw 22. Mar, 2007 at 3:00 pm #

    Debbie,

    Being caught on the wrong side of the trend sucks but its not the end of the world. Relax. No one is forcing anyone to buy and if prices go too high more people will become unable to participate. Welcome to supply and demand – econ 101. Sure there is some hype and misinformation, but the buyers are the ones that CHOOSE to buy. Realtors dont have the god-like market control powers you give them credit for.
14. Paul 22. Mar, 2007 at 8:55 pm #

    I remember going to an open house last year, and commenting on the high price of the property and the agents response was ” its based on what people are willing to pay”. When I think about this comment its obviously not the agents to blame but the people who are buying the properties and ultimately driving up the prices. The bottom line is when the supply is low, people are making good money, and they see the property as a good investment and the bank says “here is the money”, the prices will continue to rise. I feel that Debbie is just venting frustration over the high cost of housing right now in Edmonton. For a first time buyer it is tough with out some financial help. When I first bought in the mid 80s it was relatively easy for first time buyer of average income to purchase a house in Edmonton.
15. Peter 24. Mar, 2007 at 10:41 am #

    Hi Sheldon:

    I was sitting with one of the bankers yesterday who just came out from a meeting with CHMC. Apparently, CHMC has told the bankers that Edmonton market should see 30% appreciation of prices in 2007 – from CURRENT LEVELS. Can you please verify and post an article on this one? Good for people who already own, and bad for people who don’t. Really depends on which side of the fence you stand.