They say only two things are certain in life: death and taxes. But for once, the government is scaling back its share. With around nine million of Canadians set to see their tax burdens lessened in 2016 thanks to the Canadian government's newly introduced tax cuts, CREB®Now breaks down some of the small print included in the changes.

$3.4 billion
With around nine million Canadians making between $45,282 and $90,563 set to see their tax bills decrease in 2016, the total cost to the Canadian government will be $3.4 billion. Single individuals who benefit will see an average tax reduction of $330 every year, and couples who benefit will see an average tax reduction of
$540 every year. The maximum tax reduction will be $679 per individual and $1,358 per couple.

Sharing economy proving controversial in Calgary and beyond

Share and share alike: for better or worse, it might be Calgary's new unofficial slogan.

Whether it's a home, room, or even a parking spot, Calgarians are proving to be big believers in divvying up their assets, with the controversial Uber car-sharing app and several other share-based service-providers gaining footholds in the local market.

Yet despite offering revenue-generating opportunities, services like AirBnB and Uber, also present some risks to providers, warn legal experts.

Revenue properties more stable than the stock market

What would you do if you could wake up every morning and have enough money to do  whatever you wanted to do that day?

What if you didn't have to punch the time clock, or head to the office for 9 a.m.?

What if you didn't have to let your boss determine your destiny?

Over the last couple of weeks, I've focused on revenue properties – how one client received 17 per cent returns on her first rental property, as well as three rules for buying rentals.

There's more to it than just buying a condo

In last week's column, I discussed a client who recently purchased a rental property that will    return 17 per cent annually on just the cash flow and mortgage repayment.

That's a pretty good return, especially when considering that return will increase as more principal is paid down, and as the property starts to appreciate in value.

However, there is more to consider than just buying a condo and renting it out. Our client is a smart buyer who followed three basic rules when it came to buying her investment property. While these rules are simple, they are also important.

Can be smarter than stocks or bonds
Calgarians may be surprised to find out just how profitable revenue properties are in this city – even in consideration of claims housing prices are already overvalued.

In fact, annual returns of 17 per cent, or more, before factoring in appreciation or tax benefits are not uncommon. All you need to get started is a 20 per cent down payment, which can be as little as $30,000 – or $15,000 if you partner with someone – decent credit, and the ability to think long term.