Homes Sales Increase Nearly 5%.......London Free Press Wed Dec 16, 2010

Existing home sales rose for the fourth straight month in November, suggesting Canada’s real estate market is levelling out after a year of dramatic swings.

The Canadian Real Estate Association said November's seasonally adjusted resale activity via its Multiple Listing Service was up 4.8% compared to October.
"Following the chilling lows at the onset of the recent recession and the dizzying heights during the subsequent recovery, the national housing market appears to be returning to some semblance of normalcy,” said CREA chief economist Gregory Klump.
Sales activity rose in many local markets but eased in others.Vancouver, Fraser Valley, B.C., and Montreal posted the biggest sales increases with transactions up 11.3%, 10.5% and 8.2%, respectively.
When compared to November 2009, existing home sales were down but that’s masking the steady improvement in national sales since July 2010, CREA said. In the recent past, sales activity peaked in the fourth quarter of 2009 before hitting a low point in the third quarter of this year.
The average price for a resale home in November was $344,239, up 2% year-over-year.
New residential listings on the MLS fell slightly in the month though the supply-demand picture remains balanced, the report said.
"An increase in new listings is likely to return many sellers markets to balanced territory over the coming months," Klump said."With sales activity having returned to better health and a firm floor under prices, sellers who previously shied away from putting their home on the market are expected to list their home in response to improved housing demand in recent months."
Klump also said stiffer mortgage lending rules introduced this past spring helped strike the right balance between preventing speculative housing market activity and keeping homeownership within reach for Canadians.
“Rising interest rates and weaker than expected job growth are likely to contribute to softer prospects for housing market activity and average price growth next year, reflecting weakening economic growth prospects,” he said.

By QMI Agency

Upgrade for Huron Country Playhouse

This week part of the Huron Country Playhouse bit the dust making way for a 4 million dollar rebuild and upgrade.

2010 MunicipalElection Results

Who won-Lambton Shores, Bluewater, South Huron





Lambton Shores- 51% voter turnout (this number is not official and could be higher).

Mayor-Bill Weber-2196 (John Dehondt 2027, Mark Simpson 1351, Syd Fletcher 604, Marvin Wallace 79)
Deputy-Elizabeth Davis-Dagg-3215 (Carolyn Jamieson-2906)
One-Dave Maguire-446 (Cam Taylor-391)
Two-Doug Bonesteel-773 (Steve Clemens-35)
Three-Lorie Scott-601 (Gerry Rupke-501)
Four-Ruth Illman-acclaimed
Five-Martin Underwood-454 (Jim Hansen-358)
Six-Doug Cook-353 (Sushil Nakhwal-242)
Seven John Russell-312 (Allan Martelle-287, Jeff Wilcox- 259)




South Huron -Voter turnout for South Huron was 56.45%


George Robertson-mayor-2473 (Ken Oke 1698)
Jim Dietrich-Deputy-Acclaimed
Bill Francis-ward 1-836/Tom Tomes- ward 1-721 (Dianne Faubert 622, Agnes Lempriere-374)
Wayne Deluca-ward 2-798/Dennis Hockey- ward 2-950 (Cathy Seip-767, Bud Heaman-771, Jim Bearss-526)
Dave Frayne-ward 3-Acclaimed




Bluewater
Bill Dowson-mayor- 2588 (Jim Fergusson-2242)
Paul Klopp-deputy-2781 (Doug Johnston-2030)
Tyler Hessel-councilor at large-2442 (M. Taylor-2270)
Geordie Palmer-Bayfield-527 (Janet Snider-357)
John Gillespie-Hay West-582 (Jillian Clarke350)
Kay Wise-Hensall-318 (M. Dickert-151)
Dave Roy-Stanley East-370 (Wayne Keller-201)
Janisse Zimmerman-Zurich-264- (Marg Deichert-215

What good is hydro if the majority of people will not be able to afford it

FYI : What is going on here.....This letter to the editor was submitted by ROSS AYOTTE 6 CORNELIA ST E SMITHS FALLS ONT K7A1L2


Duguid who is the energy minister for Ontario insists the 784,000 households in the province that are already on time-of-use billing, “ do not see a dramatic shifts” in hydro costs. Wait a minute Mcguinty and Duguild promoted this as cost saving for Ontario. As more people
get there hydro bills they are seeing they have almost doubled in price some people have actually cried when they open there bill.
Duguid said, “I think we got it just right in terms paying producers of solar, wind and other forms of green energy, who can earn as much as 80 cents per kilowatt hour in 20-year contracts this will attract new investment that’s required to build a green energy economic hub here in Ontario.”then Duguid says “we would not have got through this summer without serious problems, disruptions and brownouts.
These are critical investments but Tax payers paid Bruce power last year 57.7 million not to produce hydro, then Mcguinty cancels a contract for a Natural Gas power plant in Oakville at a further cost to tax payers and the government has no idea how much it will cost in penalties to cancel the $1.2 billion Oakville gas power plant, Then McGuinty suggested TransCanada will give the province a break yes that's you the tax payer but one has to wonder how much did Liberal friendly lobbyist and consultants make from Mcguinty to sign this deal in the first place as Mcguinty said the 900 megawatts of power it was to generate is not needed so why did he sign the deal or was it cancelled to save a Liberal members seat.
But one thing we do know is our hydro bill will go up over this blunder. Opposition parties warned the penalties could be as high as the value of the contract .So if were paying Bruce Power not to produce Power and the Oakville plant is not needed as there is no need for it why are we paying 80 cents a Kilowatt for Green Power if it is not needed at a cost 20x more than gas or nucular power and I also would like to note in Ontario, the cost of residential power by 2015 is seen at 21 cents/kWh, nearly triple the price in 2015


Under Ontario's Green Energy Act, a feed-in tariff (FIT) will siphon $3.8 billion from consumers' pockets by 2015 to subsidize wind and solar power producers.



Ross Ayotte

The Race is on in Lambton Shores

Lambton Shores is the Municipality formed as a result of the amalgamation of Grand Bend, Forest and Bosanquet Township and includes 12,000 residents, living for the most part in the towns and villages of Arkona, Forest, Grand Bend, Ipperwash, Port Franks and Thedford

Now with with five declared candidates for Mayor of Lambton Shores the horse race gets underway as the deadline for declaring comes to a close.


When incumbent Mayor Gord Minielly announced in January he was ending a 30-year political career it created a political vacuum in Lambton Shores


Eager to fill it are three sitting councillors — Bill Weber, Mark Simpson and John Dehondt , one newcomer, Marvin Wallace and a previous Mayoral candidate Syd Fletcher




Beachfront usage and a contentious sewer extension in Grand Bend are two key issues,
With three councillors seeking the mayor's job, seats have opened up Wards 1, 2 and 3 inspiring an influx of new candidates.

Wild election looms in Lambton Shores

Lambton Shores is the  Municipality formed as a result of the amalgamation of Grand Bend, Forest and Bosanquet Township and includes 12,000 residents, living for the most part in the towns and villages of Arkona, Forest, Grand Bend, Ipperwash, Port Franks and Thedford

The following article about the upcoming Municipal Election is from the Sarnia Observer July 28,2010.

SHAWN JEFFORDS The Observer
The mayor's job is up for grabs in Lambton Shores and the campaign promises to be a wild one with four declared candidates and electricity in the air.
When Gord Minielly announced in January he was ending a 30-year political career it created a political vacuum in Lambton County's "other" city.
And eager to fill it are three sitting councillors — Bill Weber, Mark Simpson and John Dehondt — and one newcomer, Marvin Wallace.
In fact, 17 candidates have already filed papers seeking a council seat and nominations don't close until Sept. 10.
Minielly said the "silly season" has begun in Lambton Shores.
Beachfront usage and a contentious sewer extension in Grand Bend are two key issues, and he's happy to let a new crop of politicians duke it out, he said.
"There's a group in the Bend that thinks (council) is evil, and they're trying to put a candidate in every ward," he said. "They're trying to overthrow the government. There's lots of s...t going on."
With three councillors seeking the mayor's job, seats have opened up the wards, inspiring an influx of new candidates, Minielly said.
"The incumbent always has an edge. Because there's no incumbent in those wards there's quite a big interest."
The large slate of candidates is unusual so early in an election cycle, said former Grand Bend Mayor Bob Sharen.
The response reflects a lack of transparency on council over the sewer extension in the Bend, he said.
"It's going to get heated, or at least I hope so. That makes it interesting."
Sharen, who considered running himself, said even more mayoral hopeful may yet enter the fray.
"I'm hearing rumours of at least one more candidate who may come out of the woodwork," he said.
Despite hard feelings created by the sewer issue, Sharen said he hopes the coming debate is civil.
"The candidates need to focus on the issues, not personalities. I think the new people will have an edge in this election. ... They have to get out and let everyone find out what they're really like."
The charged atmosphere in Lambton Shores is in sharp contrast to the quiet mood in Sarnia, which has no declared candidates for mayor and just four council candidates.
Minielly believes Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley will run again but he won't declare until the last minute.
As for himself, Minielly said he plans to be a regular citizen again free of the constraints of political life. Asked specifically what he intends to do, the mayor replied he wasn't sure.
"I guess I'll do whatever I want," he said with a laugh.

Welcome to Grand Bend!!!

The final component of the recent revitalization of Main St. Grand Bend went into place recently. The new "Gateway" was included in the project as homage to the old "Welcome" sign that used to span the Main St. The project received nearly $1,500,000.00 in Federal / Provincial funding support from the Stimulus Program.

Grand Bend

New Grand Bend sign going up in time for Canada Day. As part of the multi million dollar Main Street upgrade one of the finishing touches is this new sign at the top of Main Street remniscent of some that existed in the past..see 2 examples below. The last Main St sign disappeared in the early 1960's. The cars give you an idea of the era.

Grand Bend 's Downtown Comes Alive

Changes are Fast and Furious to Grand Bends Downtown

thanks to a multi million dollar upgrade right on the heels of

last years multi million dollar Beach Enhancement.

Other changes as well as the Bend gears up

 for the Two Four  Weekend

A new Licensed Patio Being added to the Colonial and Gables

Changes and themes to Each Intersection This one at Archies Emporium ( Eilber and Elmwood at Main St )

New Clothing Store at the old Barefoot Pedlar

Elmwood and Main St Intersection

Kazwear and Kazmania's New Building

New Parking Lot Between Archies and Little Ginos with 30 plus Parking Spots

Hard to see but a New Funky Restaurant in the Lakeview 's fromer location behind Appropos called The Sunset

House .

Complete Reno to Grand Bend Hardware beside Sea Jewels which will be the return of George

The following is from The London Free Press May 5, 2010


Premier Dalton McGuinty has finally admitted Ontario families will pay hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars more in taxes because of the new 13% harmonized sales tax, or HST.



It's about time, but it's really no surprise since basic logic told most of us long ago that if we're paying more taxes on more items than before the change, we'll be paying more, despite promises of transition payments and income tax cuts that are supposed to make the HST a wash.


McGuinty had to concede Ontarians will be paying more, and kudos to the New Democrats for releasing a study showing the impact of the HST.


McGuinty is banking on taxpayer (voter) support to pay more in taxes to create more jobs and a better future. Don't count on it.


But there comes a point where shifting taxes from business to taxpayers is not just a burden, but also unfair and a mug's game as the money paid in taxes is taken out of the economy. The shift reduces discretionary spending, especially in the service sector, and costs jobs for the low-income workers who dominate that sector.


McGuinty clearly believes he's doing the right thing and, if the public disagrees, they'll let him know at the polls.


Again, he's right. The pressure's building. Don't be surprised if voters let of a little steam.

Dramatic rebound characterizes Canada's luxury home segment in 2010

69 per cent of markets set records for best-ever first quarter sales

Just on the market, first time, in Southcott Pines Grand Bend

4-6 bedrooms $ 568,000. Call Larry for details 519 709 8977

more pics below 

Mississauga, ON (April 26, 2010) - Luxury home sales soared in the first quarter of 2010 as affluent purchasers moved to take advantage of favourable market conditions across the country, according to a report released today by RE/MAX.
The RE/MAX Upper End 2010 Report, highlighting sales and trends in 13 major Canadian centres and five sub-markets, found that improved economic performance, increased personal wealth, immigration and foreign investment all contributed to a serious upswing in sales. Virtually all areas experienced double and triple-digit increases between January and March of this year over 2009 figures for the same period. Nine out of the 13 markets examined (69 per cent) shattered existing records - setting new all-time highs for first quarter activity in the upper end.
"Real estate continues to resonate with purchasers at every price point," says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. "With the top end of the market shifting into high gear, every segment of the residential real estate sector is now operating in tandem. Despite the upward momentum, there are still deals to be had - especially at the higher price points-a fact that is motivating buyers to act."

Still Time to Rent A Cottage in July & August

The Fabulous up-grade to Main St Grand Bend continues at a feverish pace to meet the end of May deadline.
Here's a look April 13, 2010

This project on the same scale and scope as last years multi million dollar Beach Enhancement will further Grand Bends reputation as the number one tourist destination. You can join us this summer .There are still a couple of Summer weeks available to rent at 44 Walker located in the heart of Downtown.

Details are at www.grandbend4sale.com/44walker.htm

A Really Good Friday at the Bend

Hundreds of people of all ages came out to enjoy the Beach at Grand Bend in near record setting temparatures as witnessed in this London Free Press photo by Derek Ruttan

While the main Street is still under construction with a multi million dollar upgrade it also was packed with people. The crowds continued Saturday and Sunday too getting a head start on the season. Grand Bends Beach was the recepient of a major multi million dollar transformation last year. This years Main St upgrade is slated to be complete by the May 24 weekend

Low inventory levels

Low inventory levels set stage for heated Spring market in most major Canadian centres, says RE/MAX

Active listings down in 81 per cent of markets in January

Mississauga, ON (February 24, 2010) - Lack of inventory will be the greatest challenge facing housing markets across the country this Spring, according to a report released today by RE/MAX.

The RE/MAX Market Trends Report 2010, which examined real estate trends and developments in 16 markets across the country, found that unusually strong activity during one of the traditionally quietest months of the year has led to a sharp decline in active listings in 81 per cent of markets surveyed. The threat of higher interest rates, tighter lending criteria, and in British Columbia and Ontario, the introduction of the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) have clearly served to kick-start real estate activity from coast-to-coast, prompting an unprecedented influx of purchasers. As a result, 87.5 per cent of markets posted an increase in sales in January. Average price appreciated in 81 per cent of markets surveyed.


"There have never been so many motivating factors in play at once," says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. "We're in for a heated Spring market that will, in all probability, spill over into the summer months, as the window of opportunity draws to a close. The supply of homes listed for sale has been drastically reduced, housing values are once again on the upswing, and banks and governments are moving in unison toward stricter lending policies."

Prime-time parking fees scheduled for Main St. Grand Bend

This Grand Bend aerial shot from the Lake looking East shows the new Beach, Main Street ( which is undergoing a major upgrade to be ready for this Spring ) and the Harbour taken May 2009

Here's a recent article by  DEBORA VAN BRENK, THE LONDON FREE PRESS
3rd February 2010.
Fun won't be free for visitors to Grand Bend's Main St. when beach season begins in May -- paid, prime-time parking is coming to the strip.
While some merchants fear it will harm business, metered parking is one way to make sure Main St. shopping traffic circulates regularly, said Lambton Shores Mayor Gord Minielly.
"The reality is that people were parking their cars at 9 in the morning and returning (to leave town) at 5 in the afternoon," Minielly said.
Paid parking, he said, "is simply a matter of recycling people through" during the busiest times of the day.
Grand Bend is a hot destination for beach- and party-goers during summer months and it's not unusual some weekends to see solid lines of drivers cruising the strip, looking for free places to park.
The new fees for Main St. -- $2 an hour to a maximum of two hours -- apply only during business hours during the summer, Minielly noted.
"Logically, it should benefit businesses on Main St.," he said.
Eight solar-powered pay kiosks will collectively manage parking for 85 parking spaces on the street -- which is newly redesigned with sweeping curves, wider sidewalks, better lighting and pedestrian crossings. With recirculation of visitors, those 85 spots can become the equivalent of 300, town staff say.
Those who don't feed the meter or who wear out their welcome beyond the two-hour limit face a $30 fine.
Paid parking, by the day or the hour, will still be available at the beach and free municipal parking is available a few blocks away.
Debora Van Brenk is a Free Press reporter.

Winter in the Bend

Changes on Main Street coming this Spring......

Grand Bend Hardware becomes the return of "Georges."

The former Bookstore beside JD's will be a Pet Food Store.

A bigger and better Kazwear.





Two Mayoral Candidates declared so far for Lambton Shores..Mark Simpson currently Ward 3 Alderman and Bill Weber currently Ward 2 Alderman
The two councillors have filed their intentions for the top spot in the 2010 municipal election.


Weber was on Stephen council 12 years- three years as deputy reeve and three years as reeve and it will be 10 years with Lambton Shores.
Simpson is the currently Ward 3 councillor, first elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2006.

Photo taken by Dave Bannister Jan 2010 looking toward the Lake past the Grand Bend Yacht Club Building

Happy New Year

Looks like 2010 will be great in this area. A brand new Main Street along with several new businesses. More details to follow.