News

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%.

In June 2016 a total of 1,133 homes exchanged hands. That makes last month the best June on record. "Not only are we on a roll, we are on a streak – a winning streak," says Stacey Evoy, President of the London and St Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR). "April 2016 was the best April ever. May 2016 lost out to May 2007 – the best month in the history of LSTAR – by only 7 units, and June was the best June ever." Sales were up Year-to-Date by 8.6%.

Twenty-two Past Presidents of LSTAR assembled at the Highland Country Club on the evening of June 28, 2016 for the Association's annual Past Presidents Dinner, including Ron Annis (1981-83), Greg Anthony (2000), Vince Bogdanski (1997), Dennis Broome (1996), Glen Gordon (2003), Michael Hines (2002), Peter Hoffman (1994), Jim Holody (2014), Jack Lane (2011), Nancy McCann (1998), Angus McLennan (1973), Harry Mohaupt (1987), Grant Monteith (1993), Rick Odegaard (2001), Doug Pedlar (2013), Joe Pinheiro (1986, 1992), Tony Sonderup (1989), Richard Thyssen (2010), Carl Vandergoot (2015), Gerry Weir (1999), Barb Whitney (2012), and LSTAR's most Senior of Statesmen, Ron Richardson, whose first term took place 68 years ago in 1948.

National real estate leader and noted management consultant John Geha has been named CEO of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR), one of Canada's fifteen largest real estate associations, representing over 1,600 REALTORS®. Geha, well-known throughout Canada and the U.S. for his efforts helping local real estate brokers increase productivity, growth and profit, will succeed retiring CEO, Betty Doré, effective immediately.