72 - Friday, November 27, 1987 - North Shore News THE TREND toward greater offshore investment in Canadian real estate in- evitably will continue and at an accelerating rate, said Charles St. Thomas, senior vice-president, Royal LePage commercial real estate ser- vices. ‘*Presupposing no restric- tive legislative action by either Canada or other foreign governments, this trend can only be beneficial to Canada generally and, more specifically, to our commercial real estate in- dustry,’’ stressed St. Thomas, a featured author in the 1988 Royal LePage Market Survey. The survey, released recently, is a comprehensive analysis and forecast of Ca- nadian residential and com- mercial real estate markets. $2 BILLION INVESTED While it is not possible to provide a definitive estimate of the amount of foreign money that has been in- vested in Canadian real estate, a best guess is that it currently ranges from $2 - $2.5 billion. Increasing pref- erence for Canadian real estate hy offshore investors can be attributed toanumber of key factors, notcs St. Thomas: * Limited availability of attractive investment pro- duct in key United States markets. Early attention to U.S. markets has caused prices to rise and reduced going-in yields. * Recent and reasonably sustained growth in Cana- dian centres, notably Toron- to, Montreal and Van- couver. © The opportunity for in- vestors who already have a presence in the United States to pursue geographic diversi- ty and maintain contro! over these new investments from a nearby established U.S. base of operations. As a rule of thumb, said St. Thomas, offshore in- vestment is most likely to originate from investors of maturing nations such as the United Kingdom, Holland, Japan, West Germany, France and Italy. By defini- tion, these nations have mature economies, relative to Canada, that offer limited opportunities to invest in DIABETES FUND RAISING ealtors canvass ABOUT 35 people from West Vancouver’s Bell Real- ty gave from the heart last week and took to the local streets in aid of the Cana- dian Diabetes Association. In a Monday night cun- vassing blitz, the firm’s workers went from door to door in the eastern part of the municipality to collect funds for the charity. FIRST TIME “We've done things like this before in conjunction, Estate)” with the (Real Board,’ explained Beil Re- alty organizer Penny Mit- Luxurious condominium residences located in desirable central Lonsdale just 4% block from shopp- ing. Here you will discover something special in apart- ment living — gas fireplaces, in-suite laundry hook- up, vaulted ceilings, skylights & artistic window treatment. For an opportunity to preview *’ in its early stages of construction, please PLAC. call for an appointment. ANOTHER MACLEAN MANAGEMENT PROJECT From $73,500 PAUL KORSCH OR DIANNE JACKSON .984-8711 OFF. ‘988-9904 RES. SUSSEX GROUP “ASHTON KORSCH-JACKSON REALTY CORP. 984-9716 chell. ‘‘But as far as doing something independent this is the first time we’ve done something like this.” The Bell Realty office was used as a depot for the can- vassers, who would come back and drop off the results of their labors at the end of the night. domestic real estate. _ In analysing the benefits that can accrue through the presence of foreign’ in- vestors, St. Thomas highlighted three key fac- tors: “They bring joint venture opportunities, motivated by a desire to work with local partners and their need for a distribution and service net- work that can help market products. They may enhance foreign investment referral opportunities. They bring lower cost of capital, par- ticularly if the capital is rais- ed by making an attractive deal on surplus or underutilization properties,’’ said St. Thomas. for charity SUCCESSFUL DRIVE “T think they'll probably be doing this next year it was so successful.’’ In North Vancouver, Sussex Realty was the depot for that area’s canvassers. “They were a big help to us,’’ explained Doreen Win- nett, the association’s district leader for the eastern part of the West Vancouver municipality. “It was an overnight blitz, and it went well even with the bad weather.”’ The money raised, which is still being collected, goes to diabetes research. NEW TOWNHOMES IN A PARK SETTING * OPEN SAT. & SUN. 1-4 4 TUES., WED., THURS. 2-4 “THE MEWS, quality designed with YOU in mind. Each home has a private roof deck with glorious ci- ty, harbour & mountain views. Attractive sunny patios all professionally landscaped & fenced for your privacy. Choice of 2-3 bedrooms with 4 sets of plum- bing. Sunken living rooms, Valor gas fireplaces ac- cented with mirror & fashion wallpaper & glass block treatment all add up to “CLASS” — you deserve the best so why not treat yourself to the “Mews” ANOTHER MACLEAN MANAGEMENT PROJECT DIANNE JACKSON/PAUL KORSCH 984-9711, 988-9904 SUSSEX GROUP KORSCH-JACKSON REALTY CORE. 984-9716