News

Following recent revelations that the Ontario government is considering expanding powers to charge a municipal land transfer tax province-wide, the London and St Thomas Association of REALTORS® is calling on local residents to send a clear message to their MPP to oppose this tax at an upcoming vote in the legislature on December 3rd.

Betty Doré, long-time Executive Vice-President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®, has announced her retirement. Doré has been with the Association for thirty-eight years; for the last twenty-five, she has been its Executive Vice-President.

October 2015 homes sales came in just a hair lower than those of October 2014, the best October since 2007. A total of 695 homes exchanged hands last month, just three shy of October 2014, which saw 698 sales. 577 detached homes sold in October, up a marginal 0.9%, while condo sales dropped 6.3%. Total sales were down a very negligible 0.4%. "Clearly we've hit the mark and are holding steady," says Carl Vandergoot, President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. Year-to-date sales are up over 2014 by 9.8%.

At LSTAR's annual President's Breakfast in St Thomas, held on October 20 in that City's historic CASO Station, Violence Against Women Services Elgin County's Special Events Coordinator, Pam Dyck, was on hand to receive a cheque for $25,000 from LSTAR's Quality of Life Advisory Group Chair Heather Arnott to be used towards the construction of a new Women's Shelter in Elgin County. "REALTORS® are proud to be a part of making sure that women and children fleeing violence and abuse in Elgin County have a safe place to go," said Arnott. "Somewhere with enough room to take them in and care for them and help them get back on their feet."

Not only did 2015 see a best June ever for real estate sales in the jurisdiction of the London and St Thomas Association of REALTORS®, now it's seen the best September ever! A total of 840 homes sold in September 2015, up 23.2% overall from September 2014. "Year-to-Date we've clocked 7,513 transactions," says Carl Vandergoot, LSTAR President. "That's an increase of 10.8%."

August 2015 was yet another month in which home sales in the jurisdiction of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® were the best they've been since 2007's Global Financial Meltdown. A total of 864 homes sold in August 2015, up 9.2% overall from August 2014. "2015 is shaping up to be a really good year," says Carl Vandergoot. "So far we're up a solid 9.4% from 2014."

A total of 934 homes sold in July, down 4.7% overall from July 2014. "To put these numbers in perspective, July 2014 was the best July since 2007 with 980 sales. That's only 46 more sales than took place last month," says Carl Vandergoot, President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. "Compare this month's sales to those of July 2013 (788), July 2012 (746) and July 2011 (742) and it's clear that July 2015 finished strong." Year-to-Date, sales are up 9.5% over last year.

The London and St Thomas Association of REALTORS® is proud to announce the recipients of this year's LSTAR Scholarship. They are: Sophia Koladich, the granddaughter of LSTAR Member Judy Siskind, Courtney Simpson, the daughter of LSTAR Member Brian Simpson, Jack Phoenix, the son of LSTAR Member David Phoenix, and Sam Peifer-Dawson, the son of LSTAR Member Tracey Peifer.

With 1,109 home sales, June 2015 breaks the record for the best June in the history of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. "For the second best June on record, you'd have to go all the way back to June 2006 when there were 1,011 sales," says Carl Vandergoot, LSTAR President. He adds, "We could tell that June was going to be a banner month, but we didn't expect it to be quite this robust.” 892 detached homes sold in June, up 11.5%, while 217 condos exchanged hands, up 19.9%. Total sales for the month were up 13% over June 2014. “Job growth, stable mortgage rates and affordable home prices have all played a part in making this market so strong," says Vandergoot. Listings were up 6.8% overall, while inventory – active listings end of period – were down 5.5%. "In other words, things are moving," says Vandergoot. "That means that now is a great time for Buyers and Sellers to get into the market – when it is both balanced and dynamic."