Strong Sales in Canada!

The Canadian Real Estate Association has just reported that MLS® home sales were much stronger than expected in the second quarter of 2009, with activity having climbed throughout the quarter and into July. The remarkable recovery of resale housing has prompted a change to the MLS® home sales forecast issued by CREA, for 2009 and 2010.
The speed and magnitude of the rebound in sales activity to date has lifted CREA’s national forecast for the number of transactions to 432,600 units. This represents an annual decline in activity of 0.4 per cent compared to levels set in 2008, and is a significant upward revision from the previously forecast decline of 14.7 per cent in CREA’s forecast issued last May.
CREA President Dale Ripplinger says, “The difference in the resale housing market now, compared to the beginning of the year, is night and day, and nowhere is this more evident than in the West.”
“Low interest rates are boosting sales by returning homebuyers to the market who moved to the sidelines late last year, and shifting ” said Chief Economist Gregory Klump. “Buyers are also shifting purchase decisions forward as they take advantage of attractive interest rates now before financing costs increase.”
Great news for the Real Estate Industry, here in Canada.

Thanks for the Testimonial

We appreciated all your hard work on the sale of our home on Burwell Road. We are very satisfied clients and would highly recommend you to others. Many thanks for a job well done. Tom & Elouise Perry

Best July on Record for mls Home sales!

The Canadian Real Estate Association reported that the national resale housing market activity continued climbing in July 2009. Posting the largest year over year gain in two years and the first time on record that sales activity topped 50,000 units for the month of July in any year on record. Great news for the housing industry. It has been busy here in Grand Bend as well with listings and sales.....plus the weather is better and there are more people around the Bend!

The Beaches are Great in Port Franks

The family was able to get away for a week at our cottage in Port Franks and we actually had good weather! The beaches are fantastic and Jeannette and I spent every night watching the sunsets. Let's hope the weather improves so we can all spend more time enjoying the summer.

Monthly News Letter is out!

Just in case you missed my monthly news letter I've attached a link to it. If you are interested in receiving this just send me an email and I would be glad to send it to you!...Doug ..Just click on the link below:
http://www.justenuffnews.com/newsletter.php?id=394&n=VZ+c

June sales jump nearly 5%!

Last month, 946 homes exchanged hands in the jurisdiction of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR), a 4.5-per-cent increase over June 2008. Year to date, 3,296 detached homes have been sold – down 11 per cent compared to the same period in 2008.
“We are very pleased to see a 4.5 per cent increase in sales,” says Joe Hough, LSTAR President. “2008 was a record-breaking year, so it is just outstanding to see a gain for June 2009 over June 2008. Sales may be down year-to-date, but the numbers we are seeing are still very positive.”
Hough says the average residential price is also improving. “Year-to-date for June 2009, the total residential average price is up 1.5% to $211,583, compared with a decline of 1.2% in May, 1.8% in April, 2.7% in March, 2.4% in February and 2.8% in January.”

Home Ownership Up

The London Free Press reported that Canada has become a nation of home owners, according to a new report by Scotiabank, saying 68.4% of Canadian households owned their own homes in 2006 and the number likely edged up even further in 2007. That is up from 63.6% that owned their own homes a decade earlier. As well 9% of Canadian households own a second home, such as a cottage, resort condominium or other vacation residence, up from 7% in 1999.