News

The London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® held its 2014 Annual General Meeting on April 21, 2015 at the London Convention Centre.

Despite a March that both came in like a lion and out like a lion, the 2015 Spring market is off to a solid start with home sales totaling 769 last month. "Compared to March 2014, the numbers are up a good deal," says Carl Vandergoot, President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. "However, given the impact of last year's Polar Vortex on home sales during the early months of 2014, comparing March 2014 to March 2015 doesn't give you a true picture. That being said, the five year average for home sales in March stands at 726, so we are, in fact, above the average for that time period."

At the Ontario Real Estate Association's 2015 Leadership Conference in Toronto, Londoners took home not one, but two Ontario REALTORS Care Foundation Spirit Awards – one for the Association and one for an individual – in this case, London REALTOR® Mary Johnson.

LSTAR applauds the reintroduction of legislation that will bring fairness to the tax treatment of Ontario REALTORS®. Introduced by Prince Edward-Hastings MPP Todd Smith, the Tax Fairness for REALTORS® Act, 2015 will allow real estate salespeople to use personal corporations. The bill is being co-sponsored by Liberal MPP Mike Colle (Eglinton-Lawrence). LSTAR is urging its Members to visit www.orea.com/cfa to send an email to their MPP in support of the Tax Fairness bill.

Despite record-breaking cold, a total of 535 homes sold in February. "Given that the average number of February sales over the past decade stands at 489, I think it's fair to describe February 2015 as a good, solid month for home sales," says Carl Vandergoot, President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. He cautions against comparing February 2015's activity with that of February 2014. "It wasn't a typical year. The Polar Vortex had home sales in a deep freeze lockdown in January and February 2014. Comparing the two month-over-month would not only be counterproductive, but it would also give a false impression."

2015 was off to a good start with the most home sales for a January since 2007, just prior to the Global Financial Meltdown – a total of 475. January was also the ninth straight month in a row in which area home sales outstripped those of the previous year. "Bear in mind that last year's Polar Vortex put January 2014's home sales in a bit of a deep freeze," cautions LSTAR President Carl Vandergoot. "That's part of the reason this month's figures look so robust."

A total of 475 home sales took place in December, making the last month of 2014 not only the best December since 2006, but also the eighth straight month in a row in which area home sales outstripped those of the previous year.

St. Thomas REALTORS® turned out in force to man Salvation Army Christmas Kettles at their local Walmart, collecting $1,210.91 over a two day period (December 4 and 5). "LSTAR has been organizing REALTOR® Day Kettle Drives in London for four years now," says Jim Holody, President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®, "and we're very pleased to see our St. Thomas Members come out in such numbers to support their own Kettle Drive."

Acting on behalf of the St Thomas and Elgin County Members of LSTAR, Earl Taylor, who sits on LSTAR's Board of Directors representing the City of St Thomas, as well as REALTOR® Jim Harris presented Christmas Care Coordinator Andreanna Collins with a cheque for $985, a sum that included a $500 donation from LSTAR, along with a cart full of non-perishable food.