Which Credit Cards Give the Most Rewards Points or Cash Back?

How to Get the Most Credit Cards Rewards Points

First Published Date: November 11, 2016

Today, I will talk about maximum rewards points offered by annual fee credit cards in Canada. Keep in mind that I am not looking at introductory bonus points, insurance benefits or other perks offered by these cards. The cards that offer the most rewards may not be the best credit cards when it comes to extra benefits. For example, the American Express Gold Rewards Credit Card is one of the best cards in terms of rewards, but in terms of benefits it’s one of the worst cards. Why? Read my Amex Gold Review here.

Author/Copyright: Ahmed Dawn www.adawnjournal.com

Best Proprietary Points Credit Card – The Scotia Bank American Express Gold Card offers the most proprietary rewards points (4 points per dollar) on 4 categories (grocery, gas, entertainment, restaurants). However, it offers a poor 1 point per dollar on all other spending.

There are three other credit cards that offer a flat 2 points per dollar on all spending across the board. These cards are: BMO World Elite MasterCard, MBNA Rewards World Elite MasterCard, and Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite MasterCard.

Best Airline Loyalty Points Credit Card – Both the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and the CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite offer 1.5 miles on 4 categories (grocery, gas, pharmacy, and at AirCanada.com purchases excluding vacation). However, these cards offer a poor 1 mile per dollar on all other spending.

Best Hotel Loyalty Points Credit Card – The Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) American Express Credit Card offers 1 Starpoint per dollar across the board on all categories. Although there are other hotel credit cards that offer more points per dollar, Starpoint is the most valuable hotel currency on the market (currently 1 Starpoint valued at 2.5 cents or more), and for that reason the SPG Amex credit card provides most value for every dollar spent.

Best Cash Back Credit Card – The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card offers the most cash back return (4 percent on gas + grocery and 2 percent on pharmacy + recurring bills). However, it offers a poor 1 percent on all other spending.

The BMO CashBack World Elite MasterCard offers a flat 1.75 percent return on all spending across the board. Another no fee credit card worth mentioning is Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. It offers 2 percent cash back in 2 categories of your choice and 1 percent on everything else.

Best Hybrid Points Credit Card – The American Express Gold Rewards Credit Card offers 2 points on gas, grocery, drugstore, and travel purchases and 1 point on everything else. These points can be converted to airline (Aeroplan, Avios, etc.) or hotel points (Hilton, SPG, etc.) or can be used as statement credit. The 2 points per dollar earning opportunity makes this card the highest Aeroplan (or other airline points) earner credit card in Canada.

Bonus Credit Card Points Tip – Although The Scotia Bank American Express Gold Card and MBNA World Elite Rewards MasterCard are proprietary points travel credit cards, its ability to redeem points for cash back (MBNA) and statement credit on any purchases (Scotia) make these cash back credit cards as well.

Last Word – Don’t pick any credit cards based on only rewards points they offer. There are many other elements to it, such as what types of insurance coverage provided, who is the insurance provider, if any concierge service is available, if the card provides anniversary bonus, and so on.

A Dawn Journal has lots of articles on credit card tips and unlike many other sites, I do not receive money, participate in any affiliate program, or promote any credit cards. So my opinions are honest and unbiased. Always do your research and make informed decisions before making your credit card selections.

Real Estate In Brazil

Buying Property in Brazil – making hay while sun shines

First Published Date: May 29, 2016

With its fast expanding economy, Brazil is now being counted in the top 10 largest growing economies in the world (currently at the 9th position but quickly gaining in ranking). The Investment Grade bestowed on Brazil in 2008 has further boosted its economic position and the real estate in Brazil is selling faster than hot cakes.

Why Brazil?

Investment in Brazil accounts for more than 40% of the total GDP of South America. Major contributors to the economic upliftment have been the manufacturing industries and the production of ethanol, in which Brazil stands at no.1 position. The recent discovery of oil and gas reserves in the country catapulted the country’s self sufficiency in energy and also opened up the doors of economic

stability. The first thing that such stability and economic boom has on is the interest rates on loans which at present in Brazil are running at an all time low. With a controlled inflation level (in fact by maintaining the rate at 5.7%, President Lula has created an all time low record); the private sector industries are thriving with the flood of investment.

On the other hand this economic boom and development has led to severe shortage of real estate in Brazil. While there is already a deficit of over 8 million housing units, the growing middle class is further crunching the demand and supply chain. The silver lining is the rise in availability of mortgaged real estate. In fact many Brazilians for whom owning a house was a distant dream, the economic independence combined with the mortgage products has opened new vistas.

International Standing

Brazil will be hosting the 2014 Football World Cup. There is little doubt on how such events can positively impact the host country’s developmental abilities. Such mega events mean sizeable increase in revenue from tourism and hospitality and huge investment ininfrastructure and tax base.

Some of the other facts that have helped the boom of real estate in Brazil are

· Affordable cost of living (just twenty percent of what you would spend to live in UK or Europe)

· Predicted increase in the property price by at least twenty percent

· Active encouragement by the government towards foreign investment

· Currency exchange receiving a favorable response which means foreigners will find it more lucrative to invest in Brazil

· Low maintenance costs of the properties

· Improved travel infrastructure – the air network between cities in Brazil is fast expanding and also many direct flights to US and Europe have been introduced

· Active encouragement of tourism – thanks to the dedication by the government tourism has increased by 100% with the creation of over two hundred fifty thousand jobs for Brazilians

· Warm and welcoming environment – Brazil has sunshine round the year with day time temperatures at a comfortable 27 degrees centigrade. Add to this natural beauty and fantastic scenery and Brazil is just a heavenly place to stay in. Brazilian people are known for their friendly nature and their rich culture what with all the vibrancy in the cities and the revelry at the carnivals and music festivals held each year with great pomp and fuss.

· The most important aspect, especially in today’s world would be the low risk that Brazil faces from international terrorism and war

Which real Estate in Brazil to invest in?

João Pessoa in north east Brazil with beautiful beaches and an exciting lifestyle provides many opportunities for the investors. Thanks to JPA international Presidente Castro Pinto Airport, João Pessoa has easy accessibility from all over the world as well as well connected to the other cities of Brazil. João Pessoa has a rich history still visible in the stunning architecture, ancient temples, historical finds and fine baroque structures.

Coming to the present era, João Pessoa is filled with beautiful white sandy beaches lined with palm trees as well as tiny islands. The highlights include Tambaa, Manaíra, surfing beaches like Oiteiro and Campina and the nudist Tambaba beach. Riding on the buggy strolls that connects to the beaches one can enjoy the mesmerizing sunsets or revel in the nightlife in the numerous bars and clubs. People with a green thumb will particularly find this part interesting – João Pessoa is world’s 2nd greenest city. The squares and parks keep the city center green and the residential areas are filled with ornamental and fruit plants and trees. One of the main sources of income here is the rapidly developing tourism industry and this natural beauty having the friendly and safe reputation is also a
hotspot for Brazilians to settle down in.

Another place worth exploring is the Queen of the plateau – Campina Grande. All round the year various cultural events are held here which is also the main attraction for most tourists visiting the country. One of the major events held here is the São João festival held over the whole month of June. Numerous little huts spring up in the city’s main park Parque do Povo during this festival where regional crafts and foods are on display and sale. The month of July is witness to the Winter Festival which features traditional singing, theatre, dancing, music, cinema and merriment. Another small festival that takes place in March is the Micarande carnival. But Campina Grande is not only about festivals. There is also an artificial lake in Boqueirão where swimming, boating and fishing takes place while the nearby forest region gives ample opportunities of mounting biking.

The other seaside town that is popular with investors is the pretty and quaint Jacumã. A sleepy fishing village, local and international tourists flock this town to enjoy the beautiful beaches which are rated amongst the best in Brazil. Jacumã has a tranquil cove setting and is especially child-friendly making it ideal for swimming and bathing and thus a favorite spot for holidaying families. There are also little sand dunes in the area where one can play skybunda (sliding on the dunes on boards). From the investment point of view, Jacumã is the place to lookout for as the government pumps in millions for improving the infrastructure and putting up shopping malls, supermarkets, golf courses and holiday resorts of international standards.

Hiring A Home Inspector

What To Know When hiring A Home Inspector

First Published Date: June 3, 2016

When you are buying a home, it is extremely important that you hire a home inspector. A good home inspector will ensure that you are not given any surprises when you move into your new home, and a bad home inspector can cost you thousands in things you never knew you would have to repair or replace in your home.

First things first, the realtor will probably give you a home inspector and you can use them, but do not rely on them. They probably are associated with the realty agency somehow, are being paid through them somehow and are not likely to stop a home sale. Always get a second opinion.

When you are looking at hiring a home inspector, make sure you ask them open-ended questions about their experience and training. You want them to explain their experience, rather than just answering yes or no to your questions. Your inspect needs to have training in construction and maintenance because that will give them a proper background for what you need. An inspector who also knows, or is, a structural engineer is also very important.

When you are interviewing the home inspector, find out what they will inspect and what they will not. If the inspector only looks at the interior of the house, rather than the roof and the outside as well, then you should not hire them.

Most inspectors should be able to provide you with a report template, or a sample report, which you can use to see what they are going to look on, how much detail goes into it and whether or not they will provide a lot of information in the report.

It goes without saying, but you need to get references for your home inspection. A lack of references means you could end up getting a bad home inspector. Once you have the references, call the people on the list and ask them about their experience with the home inspector and how satisfied they were. Talk to individuals who had a home inspection a year or more ago because some problems may not show up right away when a person buys a home. Mold is a good example of this.

Ask the home inspector what the policy is for mistakes or omissions that they make. No home inspector can catch everything, so you want a home inspector who can admit to mistakes and have something in place to remedy any problems that surface down the road. This will protect you in case something is found that the home inspector did not tell you about.

Lastly, find out if the home inspector is a member of any association. When a home inspector is a member of a home inspector’s association, they will be held accountable by the standards of that association. It also gives you an avenue for complaint if something goes wrong with the inspection, or the home inspector.

Home inspections are great, if you get one that is qualified.

The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Credit Card: Should You Keep It?

Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card Review

First Published Date: September 13, 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 Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite card is a cash back rewards credit card that lets you earn cash rewards for everyday purchases, which can be credited to your account balance at the end of each 12-month period once a year in November.

The Cost

Annual Fee = $99. Additional cards = $30

Minimum annual income required = $60,000 (or household income = $100,000)

Rewards Points Snapshot

– Earn 4 percent at eligible gas stations and grocery stores Canada.

– Earn 2 percent on eligible drug store purchases and recurring bill payments.

– Earn 1 percent on everything else.

Author/Copyright: Ahmed Dawn www.adawnjournal.com

First Time Bonus

From time to time, Scotia runs a promotional $100 bonus. Also, the annual fee is waived for the first year.

Anniversary Bonus

None.

Features & Benefits

– Visa Infinite benefits, including Concierge Services.

– Emergency Medical Insurance (15 days <65, none if 65 or older, Amount: $1 million).

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

– Auto Rental Theft and Collision/Loss Damage Insurance.

– Trip Interruption Insurance ($2,000 each, maximum $10,000)

– Flight Delay Insurance (After 4 hrs, $500 per trip).

– Lost and Delayed Luggage ($500 maximum)

– Purchase Security (For 90 days, up to $60,000 lifetime)

– Extended Warranty Insurance (1 additional year)

What’s Missing

Because this is not a travel rewards credit card, I can’t mention anything here like I do for a travel credit cards review.

My Take

It’s almost impossible to beat the high cash back return the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite card provides. These days, investors are having a hard time generating 4 percent return from investments, so a credit card that provides 4 percent rewards on groceries is a big deal. However, if your grocery spending is not that high, but spending on another category (that provides 1 percent return) is high, this card won’t make sense and you should probably look for another card.

Although this is not a travel rewards credit card, it offers many travel insurances and provides the option to add Trip Cancellation Insurance, which is a good thing. But don’t forget that travel spending will attract a low 1 percent return.

The $99 annual fee is very reasonable, although Scotiabank could have charged a $120 annual fee – which is standard for Visa Infinite cards.

The only thing I can complain about is that the cash back rewards are awarded only once a year. I have seen other cash back cards that have done a better job at this. For example, some award cash back every month or when you reach a certain amount.

The Tallest Skyscraper in Israel

The Tallest Building in Israel

First Published Date: September 16, 2016

Israel is getting a new skyscraper – which will become its tallest building with a height of 241 meters (790 feet). The Tel Aviv Regional Planning and Building Commission approved the plan. The Infrastructure work has already started and construction will start in the coming weeks.

Currently, Israel’s tallest skyscraper is the 68-floor Ramat Gan Moshe Aviv Tower, which stands 235 meters (770 feet) tall. At that time when it was built in 2003, it was the tallest tower building in the Middle East. Today, it is the 3rd tallest building in the Middle East.

The new tower, called The Eurocom Building, will be built by Eurocom Global Real Estate Ltd and its partners. Its architect is Amnon Schwartz. Its location will be on the corner of Shefa Tal and Arvei Nahal streets. It will be connected to the Tel Aviv Central Railway Station and the Ramat Gan Diamond Exchange via pedestrian and bicycle bridges and light rail.

Author/Copyright: Ahmed Dawn www.adawnjournal.com

The Eurocom building will have offices, a conference centre, a shopping mall, a hotel, and the Givatayim Municipality offices. The price tag to build will be approximately $270 million and will require five years to complete.

Currently, Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the world’s tallest skyscraper. It’s 830 meters (2723 feet) tall and has 163 floors. Recently, Saudi Arabia announced that it would build the world’s tallest building reaching 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) tall.