News

On Friday, January 27, LSTAR hosted a news conference of the Ontario Real Estate Association regarding the increase of the Land Transfer Tax rebate for first-time home buyers. Our Association was represented by 2015 LSTAR President Carl Vandergoot.

The London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) is thrilled to announce the winner of the 2016 Christmas Kettle Challenge is the entire community of London and St. Thomas. LSTAR and London Firefighters engaged in some friendly competition, with the associations challenging each other on who could raise the most money for The Salvation Army's Centre of Hope London. Together, the two associations raised more than $33,000 for Centre of Hope London.

The London and St Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) announced 2016 was a historic year for real estate, with residential sales surpassing 10,000 for the first time. In 2016, a total of 9,235 homes were sold, up 8.8% from 2015.

The London and St Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) presented $12,000 to two local organizations Wednesday as part of its community investment program. LSTAR 2016 President Stacey Evoy and LSTAR CEO John S. Geha bestowed cheques of $4,500 to Investing in Children and $7,500 to Hockey Helps the Homeless.

At the last meeting of LSTAR's 2016 Board of Directors, the Association's 2016 President Stacey Evoy and LSTAR CEO John Geha presented a cheque for $25,000 to Julie McKenzie, Development Officer, London Health Sciences Foundation, and Julie Gerber, Adult Mental Health Eating Disorders Social Worker, to be used towards kitchen equipment, including appliances and upgrades to the Adult Eating Disorder Clinic's dining area. In 2015 LSTAR pledged to donate $50,000 over a two-year period (2016-2017) to the Clinic. The cheque presented today was in fulfillment of LSTAR's commitment for 2016.

722 homes sold in November 2016, 15.3% over last November and the best November since the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) began keeping track in 1978. “To get to the runner up for best November ever, you have to go back twenty years to 1996, when 673 homes exchanged hands,” says Stacey Evoy, LSTAR's 2016 President, noting that 2016 continues to break records, scoring the best September, April, June, August, October, and now November – six months in total. Year to Date, sales are up 9.8%.

Last week at the Ontario Real Estate Association's (OREA) Political Affairs Conference (PAC), REALTORS® from LSTAR met with MPPs Jeff Yurek, Elgin-Middlesex-London, Peggy Sattler, London West, and Teresa Armstrong, London-Fanshawe, at Queen's Park to discuss issues affecting the real estate industry in Ontario. Specifically, REALTORS® discussed the implications of the government's proposed mandatory home energy audit program and the land transfer tax rebate for first-time buyers.

Continuing with the positive trend, 825 homes sold in October 2016, 18.7% over last October, making last month the best October since the London and St Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) began keeping score back in 1978. “The runner up for best October ever was in 2006, when 711 homes exchanged hands,” says Stacey Evoy, LSTAR's 2016 President. “Not even close!” She notes that 2016 continues to break records, scoring the best September, April, June, August and now October. Year to Date sales are up 9.3%.

Today the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® hosted its second annual London Housing Industry Networking Conference and Lender Show at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn. The Hon. Matt Brown Mayor of London was on hand to greet the over 300 REALTORS® and other Housing Industry professionals who turned out to network, check out trade show exhibitors - the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), CIBC, LIBRO, RBC, TD, Mortgage Teacher, Mortgage Wise Financial and Dominion Lending - and listen to a number of Guest Speakers and expert panels