Made it up skiing...

If only Grand Bend had a ski hill, we would be in heaven here! But at this point in time there are not any volcanoes or major fault shifts that would create a mountain, so we have to go to Collingwood. Here I am with Mark and Garrett trying to keep warm on a cold day....note the smiles on our faces though.

Home Sales still steady in January

The London St. Thomas Association of Realtors reported that in the first month of 2011, 428 homes exchanged hands, down 9.3% from the previous year.
“The ten year average for January sales stands at 458,” explains LSTAR President Jack Lane.
“So, while this month’s figures are nothing to get excited about, they are also nothing to be
concerned about. Slow and steady wins the race.”  This month, as in previous months and years, homes in LSTAR’s jurisdiction maintain their affordability compared to other major Ontario and Canadian centers.

Winter is quiet time along the Ausable River

With all the activity going on around town this past weekend it was quiet down by the river with the snow piling up and not a lot of boat traffic!

Winter Carnival here in Grand Bend

The weather was perfect for the Winter Carnival here in Grand Bend. These pictures show some of the snow carvings along the Main Street. Everyone had alot of fun in the snow.

Mud Creek Cottage only steps to the Beach

Just listed this great lake view cottage in Port Franks on Mud Creek Road. Only a short walk to the sandy beaches of Lake Huron this 3 bedroom year round retreat features a 100' x 160' private treed lot, central gas heating with air conditioning, vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace and 4 appliances. This is the view off the front deck with Mud Creek out the front door.

Home Sales Down according to CREA

The Canadian Real Estate Association just reported that home sales across Canada dropped 3.9% in 2010, less than the forecast, on stronger than expected activity in the forth quarter. Some 447,010 homes traded hands over the mls system in 2010. The annual average price for a home in Canada rose 5.8% to $339,030. CREA predicts the market to be stable in 2011, with prices starting to plateau in some of Canada's most active market areas.

Home sales stay the course in 2010

By Year End, 2010 had managed to outstrip 2009 by a modest 0.7% in terms of sales. A total of 8,128 homes exchanged hands in 2010 – 6,587 detached homes (up 0.4%) and 1,541 condos (up 2.1%), putting sales for last year on par with those of 2002 and 2003. “Both of those years were banner years for real estate,” says Richard Thyssen, 2010 President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. “Our Census Metropolitan Area took a hit with the Great Recession, but we bounced back. Holding our own over the past year is evidence that the sort of market stabilization that both the Canadian Real Estate Association and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation forecast in the autumn of 2010 is, indeed, taking place. “
A total of 381 homes exchanged hands last December – 301 detached homes and 80 condos, down 14.7% and 5.9% respectively from December 2009. However, to put these figures into perspective, December 2009 had the distinction of being the best December on record with 438 sales. “We were just coming out of the downturn,” explains Thyssen. “There was a lot of pent up demand that got met in December 2009, which accounts for the unusually high volume of sales.” The average number of sales during December over the past decade stands at 379. The average price for a home in the Association’s jurisdiction in 2010 rose 6.3% for detached homes to stand at $240,147, 7.9% for condos to stand at $171,098 , and 6.4% for total residential to stand at $227.056. The average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar