Declining Canadian Dollar Has Positives Too

Canadian Dollar Slides

First Published Date: January 24, 2016

The Canadian dollar is in a declining mode and hit a 13-year low recently by hitting below 69 cents. This happened last in 2003. There is no sign of moving into positive territory in the short run, as the oil price is staying around or below $30 US.

As a wide array of global issues are unfolding, it’s hard to see anything positive enough to push up the Canadian dollar any time soon. China’s sluggish economy, Iran’s stepping into the global market, and the Syrian crisis are only a few to mention.

However, it can’t be all bad for a dollar that’s at its decade low. Yes, a low dollar means paying more at the groceries, travelling abroad less, and shopping less online and outside Canada, but it has some good sides too.

The film industry, Hollywood North, has experienced an accelerated incoming flow from Hollywood to make more movies due to the low dollar.

The tourism industry is also going through a boost as more visitors are coming in from the USA and across the globe. From hotels to dining, and everything else, the Canadian dollar makes much more sense now than before.

Shopping malls across Canada are experiencing more foreign buyers than ever before. In the past, Canadians are the one to cross the border for bargains, but the picture has reversed, as Americans are finding things a lot cheaper with currency conversions and shopping in Canada makes sense.

Industries such as animal agriculture, mining, goods and services, automotive, and anything related to manufacturing industries will be able to export more as foreign buyers will find cheaper prices more attractive due to the dollar’s nosedive.

As the Canadian dollar goes through its cycle, just like everything else, Canadians are embracing and adjusting to deal with the dollar’s peak and dips.

What Rewards Canada Is Not Telling You About Its Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Don’t Get Burned Trusting These Ratings

First Published Date : January 25, 2016

Canada’s travel rewards website Rewards Canada just came up with its annual ranking of best credit cards. This is one of many sites that do annual ranking for travel and other rewards credit cards. The site is pretty upfront about its ratings and telling all sorts of good things about the cards it is recommending. However, it is not telling you a lot of important information you need to know before booking your trip with one of these cards.

For example, if you follow Rewards Canada blindly and book your trip with its number one recommendation travel card (American Express Gold) and you need to cancel your trip due to illness, you will get burned heavily before your sun-filled trip to the Caribbean begins because the number one card does not come with trip cancellation insurance. What may interest you is the fact that many other travel cards that charge a lower annual fee than Amex Gold offer full travel insurance including trip cancellation.

These rating sites are hiding a vital piece of information from consumers that you should have before making any selections. What’s more? They are also not disclosing if there is any financial compensation going on behind the scenes to put certain cards on the top of the list. However, you can rest assured that they are heavily compensated when you apply for any of these cards by clicking on the Rewards Canada website.

These sites are affiliated with all these credit cards they are recommending. If you hover your cursor on the link underneath the card picture, you will see an affiliate ID or tracking code. That’s how credit card companies keep track of their accounts (how many people are signing up) and pay them. The more good things you hear about these cards, the more people will sign up and more compensation is generated for these sites. So for obvious reasons, you are not going to hear anything that prohibits you from signing up for these top cards.

Here are some facts I have here today for you, which you will not find anywhere on any sites that are rating these cards for obvious reasons.

American Express Gold – A travel card that charges a $150 annual fee and does not offer trip cancellation insurance. You may lose all your money if you have to cancel your trip for valid covered medical reasons. Neither American Express nor Rewards Canada will tell you that it’s risky behaviour booking a trip without trip cancellation insurance.

Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite MasterCard – Insurances provided by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, an American insurer. There are numerous complaints and bad reviews online about these providers when it actually comes to processing claims. All the insurance benefits this card provides look very good on paper, but would mean nothing if they are unable to properly process your claims.

ScotiaBank Gold American Express Card – Same insurance provider as Capital One card above. Also, does not support contactless payment. What this means is that you have to punch in your PIN every time you make a purchase and no tapping. I doubt there is any other card in Canada that, instead of going forward, is going back in time and offering no contactless option.

(Update: July 1, 16 ScotiaBank Gold Amex now provides contactless payment feature)

When choosing your credit cards, do not rely on any single site, and look for if these sites are affiliated with the credit cards they are recommending. There are independent sites that do not offer affiliated links and the opinions you will find on these sites are likely to be unbiased. Also, go through the credit card company’s own sites and look for all the information they are providing. Spend some time researching your dream cards and make educated decisions based on information from various sources.

A Dawn Journal and my YouTube Channel are not compensated by or affiliated with any credit card companies. All credit card articles are 100% unbiased and honest.

Real Estate In Varna

The Eternal City of Varna and Moving There

First Published Date: Aug 29, 2010

If you are going to move somewhere in Europe, one of the best places to go has to be Varna. This Bulgarian city is the largest city along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and the third largest city in all of Bulgaria after Plovdiv and Sofia. In all, it is the 92nd largest city in the European Union. Currently, it has a population of about 357,821 and it is often called the summer capital of Bulgaria because it is a major tourist city for the country and much of Europe. The city is a major business city, as well as an education one with its university. As well, it has a seaport where the Bulgarian Navy is stationed. In April of 2008, it became the seat of the Black Sea Euro-Region by the Council of Europe. Varna is generally considered to be the second-most important economic center in the country after the capital of Sofia thanks to its trade link over the Black Sea to Russia.

The country has a humid sub-tropical climate, which means it is generally warm all year round, something that many people like about it.

There are also many different sights within the city including Roman Baths, parks, an archaeological museum, the museum ship of the Drazki Torpedo Boat, as well as the Sea Garden, which is an open-air theatre and garden with museums, a zoo and more within it.

Now, if you are thinking of moving to the city, there are plenty of options for the city you decide to move to and you want to make sure you choose the right place for yourself. When you have a friend or someone within the city find you a good location, you need to do a few more things before you get the place.

1.    In Bulgaria, you need to own a Limited Liability Company within the country beforehand before you can buy property in Bulgaria. It is usually best to have the company with someone who is in the country to make it easier to manage.

2.    There are some fees you will have to pay out, including real estate fees, which can push roughly 10 percent of what the total cost of the purchase is. You need to make sure you are aware of the fees before buying.

3.    Make sure you have the proper visa through the Bulgarian government before you buy property. You need to have a visa that lets you live and work in the country for longer than 90 days.

4.    Once you have made the purchase, you need to have a notary process and approve the sale as they are the only ones within the country who can oversee a real estate sale.

Varna is a beautiful city and one you should truly consider if you are going to move to Bulgaria, as one that you may want to live in. It is a beautiful city, with plenty of history behind it.

Private Property Sale In Canada

Is It Possible To Make A Private Property Sale In Canada?

First Published Date: Apr 10, 2010

Canadian Real estate 101 Selling is a serious process just like buying is. A person needs to understand how to go about it. The most recommended process is finding a selling agency to offer guidance. A seller has to be prepared to pay a certain commission in exchange to the help a selling agency provides. In this case he or she does not have to worry about being swindled or anything of the sort. This is a good option if a seller has no time or expertise to find a good property buyer.

On the other hand, a seller can decide to oversee the entire process personally to avoid paying realtor commissions. This is certainly complex but not when a seller has taken time to research the Canadian market currently. He or she must be ready to find all the information that an experienced agent is aware of. The good news is that one can easily find sites that guide homeowners through the process of making private property sales. Choosing to use an agent is a decision one can make freely in Canada or some other countries in the world.

After going through these sites one realizes that this procedure is not as complicated. There are some advantages that a private property sale can bring. For instance, a homeowner is always in a position to disclose everything about his or her property to a buyer. Therefore a private home seller can oversee home viewing and price negotiation personally. If a seller decides to make private home sale, he or she has many advertising options. Internet is the trendiest advertising platform right now and there are famous gateways in Canada.

There are several other sites that do private property listing in Canada but it is prudent to find out how it happens. Of course every private home seller wants to be sure of the site’s authenticity trademarks. He or she may want to consider a site’s traffic hits and if the site is actually moving properties fast. A real estate advertising site that a client can flexibly use and obtain support when necessary is good. Before posting a home poster online, one has to make sure that the house is properly maintained.

Avoiding using any realtor does not mean a seller won’t deal with one. Any buyer will often prefer to hire an agent to help him or her in the process of buying. A seller will therefore deal with a person who has ample knowledge of the Canadian real estate 101 selling procedure. The process can get complicated and a seller may end up hiring a lawyer or an agent. In fact it is possible to receive calls from agents willing to do business with a seller after viewing his or her property ad.

If a seller is still willing to sell the privately, he or she may need a lawyer’s note to shun the persistent realtors. Selling a private property via auction is possible but a seller’s home must be cozy, attractive and modern looking. A home situated in the hottest locations in Canada and it is also upscale will receive good bids fast.

BMO World Elite MasterCard: Should You Keep It?

BMO World Elite MasterCard Review

First Published Date : January 31, 2016

Disclosure: Information provided here may not be accurate and no longer valid. The mentioned card provider is not related to A Dawn Journal and neither monitor this site nor responsible for any inaccurate information. Contact the card company directly for accurate and updated information. A Dawn Journal or my YouTube Channel are not compensated by or affiliated with any credit card companies. All credit card articles are 100% unbiased and honest.

The BMO World Elite MasterCard is a travel rewards credit card that lets you earn BMO Rewards points for everyday purchases that can be used towards eligible travel costs without any blackout periods or restrictions.

The Cost

Annual Fee = $150. Additional cards = Free

Minimum annual income required = $70,000 (personal) or $120,000 (household)

Rewards Points Snapshot

– Earn 2 points for every $1 spent in all credit card purchases

– No caps, no tiers, no restrictions

First Time Bonus

A 300,000-point (valued $300) welcome bonus (no need to spend certain amounts like other credit cards, just make one purchase to receive the bonus). Also, the annual fee is NOT waived for the first year.

Anniversary Bonus

Annual Priority Pass membership (valued US$99) and four complimentary passes per year (valued US$27 X 4).

Features & Benefits

– Book through the BMO Rewards program and redeem points for your complete trip, including taxes and surcharges.

– BMO provides price match guarantee.

– Complimentary 24/7 premium concierge service (provided by Aspire Lifestyles Concierge).

– Emergency Medical Insurance (21 days<65, None>65 or older, Amount: 2 M/per person).

– Option to add extra medical insurance days for under 65 or over 65 at a low cost.

– Travel Accident Insurance (up to $500,000 CAD).

– Auto Rental Theft and Collision/Loss Damage Insurance (up to 65,000), Car Rental Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefits (up to $300,000), Car Rental Personal Effects Benefits (up to $2,000)

– Trip Cancellation Insurance ($2,500 each, maximum $5,000).

– Trip Interruption Insurance ($2,000 each).

– Flight Delay Insurance (After 6 hours, maximum $500 per occurrence).

– Lost and Delayed Luggage (maximum $2,000).

– Extended Warranty Insurance (1 additional year, $60,000 lifetime limit).

– Purchase Security (90 days, $60,000 lifetime limit).

What’s Missing

– Price Protection Insurance

– Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance

My Take

Except a few minor flaws that I’ll get to shortly, The BMO World Elite MasterCard is an excellent high-end credit card that I believe you should look into adding to your credit card portfolio IF you make at least one trip a year and appreciate using airport lounges.

The four lounge passes and annual membership that comes with this card is valued at $290 Canadian dollar, as of the 2016//01/30 exchange rate. So you already exceed that $150 annual fee and are up by $140 on the plus side. Also, the strong insurance benefits cover your annual fee many times over.

There are some minor flaws this card has that I can complain about. One of them is that the rewards points redemption structure is not flexible. BMO forces you to book travel through their website and that’s the only way you can use these points. So by using this card, you are forced to book through the BMO Rewards Program. However, you should book only online because BMO charges $30 if you book by phone.

The other thing I can complain about is the Insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance. While their reviews and ratings are not as bad as American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida (provider for ScotiaBank Gold American Express and Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite MasterCard), I would be more comfortable dealing with providers like RSA, TD, RBC, and so on.

The return rate on this card is a flat 2% on everything, which makes this card easy to understand and use. If you use other credit cards for category purchases where you want to earn higher returns or airline/hotel points, you can still use the BMO World Elite MasterCard for all other non-category purchases.

The one not-so-advertised feature I like about this card is that since this is an Elite series card, BMO has a dedicated customer service for this card. Every time I called them, my waiting time on the phone was zero and I received excellent customer service. This is something you will not find anywhere else. Also, I use their concierge service frequently and so far I have found nothing to complain about Aspire Lifestyles Concierge.

As of this writing, I hold this card and I only use it for lounge accesses (and concierge service). I also use this card for some non-category purchases. I will continue to hold this card as long