Friday, February 27, 2009

"Another Winner!" a blog by Richard Crenian

Richard Crenian Blogs
February 27, 2009

“Another Winner…..!”

It’s like the Oscars in Canada, winning banks, without Obama’s or interfering governments, and now the other big winner announced is the TD Bank with better than earnings results.

The fact that the TD Bank is still making money while allowing for writedowns says a lot for this Canadian Bank.

Sure beats our US counterparts and Citibank……..yikes, or do I call it Obamabank now?
Three cheers for Canada! If we believe that the US operates in a free economy why aren’t we letting the bad US banks go down and the non competing US Auto Industry go the way of the do-do bird? Throwing good money after bad……….? Bottom line, it’s all about the people (see votes) but you know that.

Remember old Bobby Rae, the former NDP Premier of Ontario, that everyone supposedly gave a big majority to, and decided to spend his way out of the economy?
Ohhh, that hurt us so bad, and no one, not one person admitted to voting for him after his mess. I try and stay apolitical, but could this be Obama in a few years?

Howard my partner doesn’t care, he says buy cash flowing good quality retail investments and sit back and watch everyone else shoot themselves in their foot.
He’s worked too long and too hard to watch governments come and go only to screw up a economy. He wants cash flow and the government can do whatever he wants!

We love Canada, and you thought America was the way to go? Never. Howard is golfing today. Ask him what he shot? 403 630 4544.

Richard Crenian

Thursday, February 26, 2009

"And the Winners Are?" a blog by Richard Crenian

Richard Crenian Blogs
February 26, 2009

“And the Winners Are…”

How about those Canadian banks, eh?
CIBC, Royal Bank and National Bank all made a profit in Q1.
Wow!! All these without the help of the Canadian Government….WOW! WOW!
Hats off! (Stick that in you pipe USA!!)

Can you imagine all that hand out monies that went to the US banks and what did they do with that money?……Pay huge bonuses!!

So what do we do with GM and the 13.5 billion that they received?
IS that good money after bad? Maybe we should have spent that money on education, and educating the workers to get ready for other jobs? Let’s see what happens.

So Canada is good, and the USA? They are spending all their hopes on Government Bailouts and Government programs.

So what are we teaching our kids? Work, spend and if you blow it the Government will help you out? Is this right………..? Based on this our kids futures would all be blown by Government. I am sure glad I live in Canada. Thanks for setting that up, God!

And your Pensions, not good if you are an Auto Worker, or if you noticed the Caisse lost 25 per cent of their portfolio, and OMERS lost 8 Billion…….nice……….that’s your pension.

So take care of yourself, invest wisely, buy cash flow products and don’t be greedy, if it is too good to be true it is.

Call Howard and ask him what he does. He is having too much fun in Arizona. Phone is 403 630 4544.


Richard Crenian

PS A buddy of mine was talking to an arrogant US Citibank worker, and reminded the Citibank employee that his boss was OBAMA!! LOL!!!!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

"Of Scammers and Funds!" by Richard Crenian

Richard Crenian Blogs
February 25, 2009

“Of Scammers and Funds” a Blog by Richard Crenian

Great article the other day in the Toronto Star. It stated that Investors want their money back.

They gave their Investment Advisors their retirement monies and those monies went inot mutual funds, and have lost a good portion of their retirement funds (30%) and are considering suing them.

So let me think, you gave your “Investment Advisor” money with the knowledge that it was going into a mutual fund (what I call lay your bet down and hope that you will win) and now since it has gone down you want your money back.
(I feel the same way as there was a lot of pressure to put money in mutual funds and those that have, have since suffered)

The problem is that we didn’t know that the stock market was filled with scammers, promoters who were there to grab your money without any conscience. It was hard to resist in those heady days. (What, only last year?) Then you find out about the Madoffs and the Stanfords (Allen Stanford who calls himself a Texas Billionaire) who ripped off the public for $50 Billion and $8 Billion respectively.

Oh well if you want high returns there are risks, risks that the guys you are dealing with are rip off artists……

Me and Howard, we sweat the small stuff, invest in cash flow proven real estate, and enjoy the slow and steady growth. At least those investments are safe.

I phoned Howard in Tucson yesterday and told him it was snowing in Calgary, and he laughed. Said he didn’t see any snow on the ground in Tucson. Phone him and bug him please, 403 630 4533. He likes to know that he is missed!

Richard Crenian

Friday, February 20, 2009

"How Credit Worked with the US Auto Makers!" by Richard Crenian

Richard Crenian Blogs
February 20, 2009

“How Credit Worked with the US Auto Makers!” by Richard Crenian

So Saab just filed for bankruptcy protection and GM and Chrysler are thinking of doing the same. (GM owns Saab). Saab asked the Swedish Government for the same type of support, and US auto makers and in its wisdom, the Swedish Government said NO!

So how did things get so bad for the automakers?
In a paint by number way I will answer with my views.

1. GM (Put any Auto Maker in here if you like) builds a car, and thinks the market will be great, and builds on an assumption that the market is endless.
2. Auto Maker sells car to its own leasing company to lease guys. When you sell to your leasing company it’s a sale! Wow…magic, just like that! (So if I build a cabinet and sell it to my wife does that make me successful?)
3. Automaker reports sales are up, and profits are up. Stocks go up and everyone is happy. Meanwhile GMAC the buyer needs to lease the cars. If they don’t they are stuck.
4. GMAC runs out of money. It cannot afford to buy cars for lease.
5. GM sales drop naturally and now needs bankruptcy protection.
6. Government steps in to save their business model.

How great is that, when you as an individual screw up does the government bail you out?

Ok so stick with safe and sound investments. The stock market is a legal gambling den for sharks to bury you.

So Howard (my business partner and Mentor) does what? He buys cash producing properties, and makes sure they are in well located and well tenanted areas. Then he retires and golfs. Sounds good to me.

What are the GM auto executives doing? Not golfing for sure, and definitely selling their jets……..

Phone Howard and bug him. He is enjoying the beautiful weather in Tucson and here we are in the frozen north!! Good for him! 403-630-4544.

Richard Crenian

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

"Amazing, Yet True!"

Richard Crenian Blogs
February 18, 2009

Amazing Yet True!!

When it’s too good to be true it usually is. We had Madoff and his 50 BILLION dollar ponzi scam, now an Allen Stafford…….he looks like a lousy crook with only 8 Billion dollar ripoff compared to Madoff’s 50 Billion!

Amazing yet true!

You know folks, when the deals look too good to be true they usually are. When someone is offering you guaranteed rates higher than normal, usually that is baloney……so buyer beware!

There have been more guys out there mostly under $1 Billion. It fact there are three people involved in a scam, with investors money losing everything and the guy is in Costa Rica now. Monies were raised in Alberta and BC, by a Wayne Boyd, for the so called Christian based fund that guaranteed seven per cent per month. It was called the Legacy Fund, run by Hal Mcleod and Dianne Sharon Rosiek. (The BCSC has caught up with their scam but cannot do anything.) They were offering to pay you 5-7% interest per month!!)

Here were some of his other scams…..

http://www.fic.gov.bc.ca/pdf/enforcement/trust/20031128ts.pdf

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/securities/administrative_actions/2008/july/legacycapital_top.pdf


Where are they now? Where are the monies they raised? Who knows? One can only guess.

They worked and sold on the greed factor. Anyone who professes to be a Christian and then says “Trust me, I am a Man of God,” or “I work with religious Youths!” should ring alarm bells if they are asking for money. They are worse when they purport to be “Men or the Cloth!”

Madoff was no exception; he used his Jewish religion to rip off his friends including important Jewish Funds with tales of big returns. Scary!! Many of his friends have lost their life long savings to him because of their own greed.

Once religion enters an investment offering it is usually bound for failure. You let your guard down then boom! You get ripped off.

This is not new. Robert Vesco did this and ripped off over 220 million in 1970!!

Who do you think invented the name Ponzi? Yes, there was a real Mr. Ponzi!

Stay with something safe and secure that provides reasonable cash flow and normal type’s returns.

Greed should not apply here.

Ask my business partner Howard, he knows. He lives the life “da vida loca!!”
By the way he just shot a 75 in golf, and he just turned 65 years old.

Not bad, Howard.

Don’t forget to wish him a Happy Birthday; he’s in Tucson at 403-630-4544.

Richard Crenian

PS Did you hear what they call the Bank UBS now? (Used to Be Safe!) Ughh!

Friday, February 13, 2009

"Instant Classic Cars!" by Richard Crenian

Richard Crenian Blogs
February 13, 2009

“Instant Classic Cars?” by Richard Crenian

Who would have thought they your GM product of Chrysler Auto may end up being an instant classic car? Shocking isn’t it?

When you consider how much the cost of labor is for them vrs Toyota it makes you worried for them. I believe it is a culture of entitlement that pays you per hour versus what one produces that ends up getting one into that kind of trouble. I have friends that work for these plants, good hardworking people, solid to the core, who are stuck in a job with this culture.

In 1988 before the end of the Soviet Union, I visited a large bakery in Moscow.
I had heard at that time that the lineups for food were long and that the Muscovites couldn’t even get the basic staples and that selection and availability on the shelves were almost non existent.

Anticipating this, I visited this production bakery, but unfortunately it was the end of the day, and they were shutting down. They showed us their plant and I happened to peek out the back door (curious as ever) and was shocked to see so much bread being left outside on the grass.

I asked what and why that was, and they said they produce as much as they can daily and then whatever isn’t picked up is thrown outside the door for the birds.
So the workers worked their nine or ten hours, baked and left with no quotas just to make work. What was more surprising at that time was the Muscovites, most who made the equivalent of $15-$25 US per month, regardless whether they were Doctors or Laborers, were not being fed well and this wasted food was going to the birds literally.

Doesn’t this quite sound like our domestic car makers that production continued in spite of slow sales and now what?

Why does a Wal-Mart make money in recessionary times? They sell quality at good prices to the masses and the purchaser always knows he can go to Wal-Mart and get his basics, at the best price. Makes sense?

Cash flow quality investing is the same. You’ve worked hard for your money now you don’t want to blow it. Therefore you want safety and security in your investments.
Howard does just that. Call him in Tuscon at 4036304544 and ask him how many rounds of gold he has played in the past two days. Good for him. He turns 65 on the 17th of February!

Richard Crenian

Monday, February 9, 2009

"Of Speculators and Crazies!" by Richard Crenian

Richard Crenian Blogs
February 9, 2009

“Of Speculators and Crazies……”

The Donald was on Larry King the other night. I liked what he said (even though I am not too crazy about him).

He said that the government should not meddle in the cause of business, and that the government should allow banks to fail. I think he is right. If we believe in a free enterprise, and a capitalistic society then banks will fail, businesses will fail it is only natural? Why prop up the banks and then in the case of the USA, find out that the Executives paid themselves bonuses of $18 BILLION last year with tax payer’s money?

He said that if businesses fail, then maybe we can buy some cheap assets and make some money in the long run. Makes sense to me.

Here is why I don’t like some of his advice. Prior to the crash, the Donald was predicting that his condos would always go up in price. I never figured out why one would buy expensive condos unless you are going to live in them. If you speculate, does the rent cover your expenses? If it doesn’t when the crash in condos comes, (and it is here folks!) the true value of the condo is what you can rent it for and keep your head above water with the rental after expenses.

The Speculation was all driven by greed and I know that we have some of that in us. However in our portfolio did we set aside some money for cash flowing investments?

Howard? He is driving to Tucson as we speak, he drove from Calgary to Salt Lake City last night, and now will hit Arizona and the warmth today. Lucky guy, he will be on the golf course tomorrow I am sure. He turns 65 next week, and the smartest thing he did was to invest in our cash flowing assets. Ask him, he is at 403-630-4544 on his cell.

Richard Crenian

Thursday, February 5, 2009

"True Value" by Richard Crenian

Richard Crenian Blogs
February 5, 2009

“True Value”

I read yesterday that Calgary home sales are off.

The Calgary Herald reported that “The average sale price was $413,049, down 9.28 per cent from $455,297 a year ago. The average days on the market to sell a home was 62, up 24 per cent from 50 days last year. And the month-end inventory increased by 1.1 per cent to 4,040 this year from 3,997 a year ago. New listings during the month were 31.6 per cent less than a year ago at 2,068 compared with 3,023.”

Ok let’s analyze this for a second.
An average sale price in Calgary costs what?? $413,000? Are you kidding me? Isn’t that a little expensive for a city with an average sale price of a home in the year 2000 at $176,500??? (http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/cns/homelessness/trends_affordable_home_ownership_calgary.pdf)

You have to wonder how the news comes at you. The fact is that since 2000, the average price of a home in Calgary has increased 2.3 times. How ridiculous is that?

You wonder why? Guys were buying homes and flipping homes for $25,000 to $50,000 more within ninety days with a short supply in Calgary. So now the house prices are easing and supply is growing as the speculators are forced to sell as they don’t have the funds to carry the houses.

So in all this bad news what’s the good news?

Good news is as the speculators get out and house prices ease, more real home owners will get back into the market place, but this will take a while. So, if you bought or invested in land to build those large track of houses, you are kinda (how should I say this kindly?) “in a pickle.”

Land prices will obviously drop substantially if there is no demand. The land sellers of old that sold you their land prior to the “highs” are laughing, and you if you did buy or invest in land are stuck.

Not everyone bought land or invested in land. In tougher times you can’t get cash flow from non farming land, so I am sure we will see banks take action and foreclose on the existing high purchased land owners and investors now. (Sorry for the bad news).

How did we stay recession proof? Simple. Don’t be greedy, be patient and buy cash flowing product. Ask Howard if he is worried? He is going to Tucson to relax. His cash flow from our product is paying his way. 4036304544.

Richard Crenian