My Monthly Newsletter for March

I try and keep in touch with clients by sending out my monthly newsletter. If you're interested just click on the link! Have a great spring break as well...Doug



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Your March - 2012 issue of JustEnuffNews has arrived!

Local Real Estate Association wins provincial Leadership Award

On February 29, 2012, the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® received the award for volunteerism at the Ontario Real Estate Association’s 2012 Leadership Conference in Toronto. The award is intended to recognize and honour a real estate board or association for its exceptional efforts in the area of Leadership and Volunteer Development.
Receiving the award of behalf of LSTAR was 2012 President Barb Whitney, Past President Jack Lane and President-Elect Doug Pedlar.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our association,” says Whitney. “That’s why we focus on providing our volunteers with as many opportunities to grow and develop their leadership potential as we can. It’s also the reason why LSTAR is so widely regarded as a leader – and not just in Ontario, but across the country.”

Home Sales forcast from CREA

OTTAWA – March 5 2012 – The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has updated its quarterly forecast for home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems of Canadian real estate Boards and Associations in 2012, and extended it to 2013.
National home sales activity for 2012 and 2013 is projected to remain roughly on par with the 10 year average for annual activity, as interest rates remain low and further economic and job growth continue to support Canada’s housing market.

Wind Turbine Public Information Meeting

Had a great turn out for the Public Information Session on Wind Turbines, at the Grand Bend Public School on Thursday Feb. 16th., that was put on buy the Middlesex-Lambton Wind Action Group.  I was one of 4 guest speakers at the event, where over 300 people were in attendance. The best speakers were the family that lives around the turbines, the Michard family from Thamesville, who's health has deteriorated since the turbines have been in operation near their hobby farm. Within 2 days of the new turbines starting up, Lisa Michaud was in the emergency room with vertigo and since then the whole family has been sick. These turbines are 1.14 kms. from their home and can be heard inside the house.
We all need to become aware of what we are doing to our environment and that this is not "Green Energy". I have put some of the links on this, but there are more.
http://www.windactiongroup.wordpress.com/

http://www.southhuron.com/news/article/104238

London St. Thomas Association of Realtors Awards the Don Smith Buiding Awards

The winners of the Don Smith Commercial Building Awards, established by the Regional Commercial Council (RCC) of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) and sponsored by D&H, CBRE, TD Commercial Banking and Honeywell Building Solutions, were announced on February 7 to a capacity crowd at the London Club. According to Greg Harris, RCC Chair, the awards program was established, “to recognize, reward and celebrate excellence and innovation in commercial building right here at home.” The program was named after Don Smith, legendary co-founder of Ellis Don, a world-renowned construction company with London roots.


The 18 entrants to the competition were judged on how environmentally sensitive the individual buildings were; on design and innovation; and on the extent to which they met a specific developmental need within the broader community.
This was a great event that I got to attend as the President Elect for the London St. Thomas Association of Realtors. It was well attended and the Regional council did a great job selecting these outstanding buildings in the London area.

London New Home Starts Higher

LONDON, January 10, 2012 New home starts were up in the London Census Metropolitan Area  in December according to preliminary figures released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). However, in the year ending December 2011, single-detached home starts were down nearly twenty per cent compared to 2010.
“Single-detached housing starts have been gradually increasing over the last few months on a seasonally adjusted basis,” said Margot Stevenson, CMHC’s Senior Market Analyst. “The strength in both the single-detached and townhouse segments indicates new residential construction ended the year on a positive note,” added Stevenson.

2011 was another great year selling real estate

Just completing my records for 2011 and found that sales ended up very similar to last years! The number of sales were identical to 2010 but the number of listings taken, was up 40%, from 48 to 68 this year. We had more upper end sales this year and with the increase in listings there is more inventory available. Most of 2010 was a balanced market and prices should level off this coming year with the extra listings now on the market. Our average price for this year with the residential market in our office, was $234,200, which is in line with the London area as well. Wishing you and your families all the best for 2012.