News

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

866 homes sold in September 2016 with a break down of 716 detached homes and 150 condos, showing 3.1% over last September and the best September since the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) began systematically tracking sales back in 1978. "2016 has been a year of breaking records," says Stacey Evoy, LSTAR President. "Not only has this past month been the best September ever, we've also had record breaking months of April, June and August.”

Just one short of a thousand homes exchanged hands in August 2016, making last month the best August on record for the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. "This has been an absolutely outstanding year for real estate in our area," says Stacey Evoy, LSTAR President. "We've seen the best April ever, the best June ever and now the best August ever – all in 2016." 804 detached homes sold last month along with 195 condos. Year-to-Date sales are up 9.1%.

990 homes exchanged hands in July 2016, making last month the best July ever with the exception of July 2007, which set the all-time record for July with 1,009 sales. “These kinds of numbers, month after month after month, speak to the vibrancy of our current market,” explains Stacey Evoy, President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. 807 detached homes sold last month along with 183 condos. Year-to-Date sales are up 8.2%.