RE:Canadian housing and interest rates My opinion is that they'll be much better off than bigger markets. banks typically already charge higher rates in secondary markets and they're far less volitile to market change as it's already built into thir rates. Look up rents in Fort st James, you can lease a 2-bed for $900/m easily. Rent costs and housing prices are far less effected because the market is insolated/isolated. This means if the markets plummet, they're also more insulated.
Now, if were talking about rates spiking and going up 15% we'd be talking about a much bigger issue. 90% of us would be hooped and we would be facing much larger issues if that were to happen. also, the poor would "eat the rich" at that point so I wouldn't bet on it happening.
In my opinion, this is a smart play for long hold realestate. reasonable dividends, low enough risk, diversified markets, compitent managment and they own virtually all rentals in a few of their markets. The hardest part about owning realestate in remote locations is managing it and they seem to be doing that well enough.