Soup'n Bread Day in London

President Barb Whitney, Melissa from London St. Thomas Association of Realtors (LSTAR) and myself helped feed the homeless in London yesterday. LSTAR sponsored the annual event that was held at the Covent Market in downtown London on York Street. We served goodies, bottled water and Melissa's birthday cake.

National home sales rise in March

OTTAWA – April 16, 2012 – According to statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national resale housing activity edged higher in March 2012.
Highlights:
• Home sales rose 2.5% from February to March.
• Actual (not seasonally adjusted) activity stood 1.6% above levels in March 2011, the smallest year-over-year increase since last April.
• The number of newly listed homes eased 0.3% from February to March.
• While still well balanced, the national housing market tightened due to the rise in activity.
• The national average home price edged down 0.5% on a year-over-year basis in March.
Sales activity over MLS® Systems of Canadian real estate Boards and Associations rose 2.5 per cent from February to March 2012. The increase lifted national activity to its highest monthly level since April 2010.

March sales down slightly

In March, local real estate sales decreased 4.8% over those of previous year, with 623 detached homes and 147 condos exchanging hands over the course of the month. Detached were slightly down by 3.7% and condo’s by 13.3%. “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” says Barb Whitney, President, London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®.
“The number of active listings at month’s end was up by 2.5% – our inventory or supply of available homes. This is the kind of market REALTORS® like to see – lots of activity. Sellers see that properties are moving at a good pace and buyers have a wide array of choices. In other words, our local market continues balanced.” says President Barb Whitney.

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



Just Click Here for the Newsletter!
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