Released


Released on = June 8, 2006, 12:22 pm

Press Release Author = The Real Estate Investment Network

Industry = Real Estate

Press Release Summary = The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) is pleased to
release a research report entitled The Gateway Effect detailing the impact of the
Gateway Project's transportation improvement projects on real estate in the Lower
Mainland and Fraser Valley. The report's authors estimate the benefit to be in the
range of 10%-20% for six key areas.


Press Release Body = Vancouver, BC - May 30, 2006 - The Real Estate Investment
Network (REIN) is pleased to release a research report entitled The Gateway Effect
detailing the impact of the Gateway Project's transportation improvement projects on
real estate in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. The report's authors estimate
the benefit to be in the range of 10%-20% for six key areas.

Their research has found that Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows is the number one region
positioned to benefit from these transportation improvements. This region is
followed by (2) North Langley/Fort Langley/Abbotsford; and (3) Port Moody/Coquitlam.
Secondary benefits will be felt by (4) Surrey/Delta; (5) Mission/Chilliwack; and (6)
properties located along the Canada Line Rapid Transit line in Vancouver/Richmond.

"With four new transportation arteries being constructed, real estate values in the
Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows area will benefit the most from the transportation
improvement projects being initiated in the Gateway Project," said Don Campbell, the
report's lead author and president of the Real Estate Investment Network. "Overall,
we project a 10%-20% general benefit in the six areas most directly affected by
these transportation improvement programs as congestion is reduced and access is
improved."

"People need to understand that commute and travel distances are now measured in
minutes, not kilometres," adds Campbell, who is author of the best-selling Real
Estate Investing in Canada. "If you can reduce commute and travel times to and from
an area, you make that area much more desirable as a place to live. That's the
Gateway Effect."

The Gateway Effect report reviews the peer-reviewed academic research that has been
conducted on the impact of light rail, highway expansion, bridge development and
expansion, and road improvements in other parts of the world. It also reviews the
impact of eight component transportation projects as part of the Gateway
transportation project.

These are: the Canada Line and Evergreen Line rapid transit expansions, the new
south and north Fraser Perimeter roads, the twinning of the Port Mann bridge, the
expansion and widening of the HOV lanes on Highway 1 to Langley, the new Pitt River
Bridge and Maryhill Bypass, and the Golden Ears Bridge construction from Maple Ridge
to Langley.

"There's a well-established urban legend that roads and bridges help boost real
estate values, but no one has ever really thoroughly investigated this," said
Russell Westcott, the report's co-author, and general manager and research analyst
for REIN. "Our research into the published peer-reviewed studies conducted around
the world provides an interesting confirmation of this effect. We were able to
utilize those studies to help us determine which areas of Greater Vancouver would
benefit most from the proposed transportation projects."

"It's been a long time since significant improvements to transportation have been
made in Southwestern B.C.," adds Campbell. "These projects will unleash the inherent
value in these markets so that, in the future, these Gateway areas will outperform
the rest. If the market goes up everywhere, these areas will increase about 10%-20%
more. If the values everywhere drop, these will drop by 10%-20% less. While there
are many important fundamentals to consider when buying principal or investment
property, there is now little doubt from our research that transportation is one of
the most critical factors to keep in mind."

The Gateway Effect report is available free to the public upon request by emailing
the Real Estate Investment Network at info@reincanada.com.

About the Real Estate Investment Network
Founded in 1993, the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) has grown over the years
into Canada's leading real estate research, investment and education organization.
REIN serves more than 1,600 member clients owning more than 12,400 properties valued
at $1.375 billion across the country. Members use REIN's unbiased research and a
focus on the fundamentals that drive real estate market values to invest in areas
with solid potential for future growth. This focus assists them in removing the
emotions, hype and misinformation that surrounds real estate markets across the
country.

The foundation of REIN's work is research and analysis of current real estate trends
and patterns, which the company then disseminates to its members through regular
seminars in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton, and via research
reports that detail current and emerging trends. REIN's primary purpose is to
provide expert assistance to its members and all Canadians to assist them in making
sound decisions about purchasing principal residence, and investment/recreational
real estate. REIN does not sell or market real estate to its members or the general
public, but instead conducts objective and unbiased research, analysis and investor
education. This Gateway Report is one such educational report, as are books such as
the bestselling Real Estate Investing in Canada (2005) and 97 Tips for Canadian Real
Estate Investors (2006).
- END -

For more information please contact:
Steve Campbell, Campbell & Company Strategies Inc., Vancouver, B.C.
(604) 888-5267, scampbell@campbellpr.bc.ca


Web Site = http://www.reincanada.com

Contact Details = Steve Campbell
Campbell & Company Strategies Inc.
scampbell@campbellpr.bc.ca