Brooks, Alberta Is Booming? The Biggest Housing Surge in 20 Years | Real Estate Investing Canada | Alberta

🎧 Brooks, Alberta Is Booming? The Biggest Housing Surge in 20 Years Real Estate Investing Morning Show – Hosted by Wayne & Gabby Hillier Today's episode started with Friday shenanigans… but quickly turned into a serious conversation about a surprising Alberta market making headlines. Brooks, Alberta is reportedly experiencing its biggest housing boom in 20 years. A town of just 17,000 people is suddenly seeing new development, rising rents, population growth, and builder incentives. So what's really going on? And more importantly — should investors be paying attention? 🧠 What You'll Learn in This Episode Why Brooks, Alberta is seeing a surge in housing starts How municipal tax incentives are attracting developers What rising rents in small markets really mean The risks of chasing headlines in small towns Canada's recent housing price decline compared to other major economies Why young couples are choosing down payments over weddings How to properly handle tenant move-outs and rent ledgers in Alberta The truth about RRSP lending and joint ventures 🏗 Brooks, Alberta: The Comeback Story Brooks is reporting: 15.5% population growth over five years 3.4% year-over-year population growth in 2025 Rents up roughly 33% over two years Over 50 housing starts in 2025 after years of minimal development The city introduced: Four-year phased tax exemptions on new builds Zero-fee permits Discounted city lots Developers from larger cities have taken notice. But here's the key point we discussed: Small markets require extreme due diligence. Just because rents are rising doesn't mean the fundamentals are strong. Just because housing starts are increasing doesn't mean long-term stability is guaranteed. Investor takeaway: Before investing in smaller markets like Brooks, ask: What is driving population growth? Is it diversified or employer-dependent? What is long-term economic stability? Who are the major employers? Is demand sustainable or temporary? Headlines don't replace fundamentals. 📉 Canada's Housing Price Decline We also discussed new data showing Canada experienced one of the largest housing price declines among advanced economies: Roughly 5% inflation-adjusted decline year-over-year Nearly 19% down from peak 2022 levels But context matters. Prices are still significantly higher than pre-2020 levels. This is normalization — not collapse. Long-term investors understand cycles. 💍 Doorbells Over Wedding Bells Another article we covered showed that many young couples are choosing to buy a home before spending $30,000+ on a wedding. In Edmonton: Average wedding cost: ~$29,000 Minimum down payment on average home: ~$20,400 The conversation wasn't anti-wedding. It was about priorities. Real estate investing is a long-term compounding game. Starting earlier matters more than starting bigger. If you delay investing 5–10 years, the long-term impact can be massive. 📋 Alberta Landlord Systems We also answered live questions about: Proper tenant move-out procedures Cleaning responsibilities at end of tenancy What a rent ledger is and why it matters What documents must be included in a statement of account How RRSP lending actually works Professional landlording isn't complicated — but it must be structured. 👥 About Your Hosts Wayne & Gabby Hillier are full-time real estate investors and coaches based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Through their REI Masters Mentorship Program, they help Canadians build long-term wealth using rental properties, BRRRRs, flips, joint ventures, and creative real estate strategies. New episodes every weekday morning featuring real stories, coaching moments, and tactical investing advice. 💡 Resources & Contact Learn about our Mentorship Program: www.reimasters.ca Bookkeeping & tax help: www.finngo.com/rei Submit a question: [email protected] 🤝 Thanks to Our Sponsors 🏠 Calvin Realty – Edmonton Investor-Focused Realtor 🌐 calvinrealty.ca 🔗 Facebook 📊 Finngo Bookkeeping & Tax – Investor-Focused Accounting Firm 🌐 www.finngo.com/rei 🔗 Facebook 💼 Kirkwood & Brennan Mortgage Group – Investor-Focused Brokers 🌐 www.kbmortgages.ca 📧 [email protected] 🔗 Facebook 🏫 Edmonton Real Estate Investing Course – Hosted by Wayne & Gabby Hillier Thinking about investing in Edmonton but not sure where to start? Our 8-week Edmonton Real Estate Investing Course gives you a clear blueprint to invest with confidence, including: 🔹 Why Edmonton is one of Canada's strongest cash flow markets 🔹 The economic drivers shaping Edmonton's growth 🔹 How to analyze neighborhoods for cash flow and upside 🔹 The five main asset types and how they perform 🔹 Tenant selection strategies that protect your returns 🔹 How to buy rental properties that actually make money 👉 Learn more and register at: www.reimasters.ca