Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Could I have your comment on income investment Timbercreek Mortgage Investment Corp.? Thank you.

Article Excerpt

Timbercreek Mortgage Investment Corp., $9.37, symbol TMC on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 40.7 million; Market cap: $381.4 million; www.timbercreek.com), is a mortgage investment corporation, or MIC. MICs invest in pools of mortgages and distribute most of their profits to their shareholders. Some MICs yield 7% or 8% or more annually. They sound like conservative investments because they invest in mortgages rather than stocks. However, mortgages vary widely in their investment quality and risk. MICs can earn high profits because they take on riskier mortgages. Conservative mortgage lenders, such as banks and mortgage funds, mainly invest in top-quality first mortgages on commercial, industrial or residential properties. However, borrowers mainly use Timbercreek’s loans to bridge a period of up to three years and pay for such things as repairs or property redevelopment. The company also lends money for purchasing commercial properties, with as little as 15% in equity. Timbercreek Mortgage Investment Corp. yields 8.6%. Interest rates on MIC loans are higher than on corporate or government bonds with…