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PAGE 16, WMfTBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANU ARY 17. 1990 Coulter new president of district real estate board Whitby real estate broker John Coulter has taken over as president of the Oshawa and District Real Estate Board. Recently elected for a one-year termn, Coulter says he and the board's directors face a series of zhallenges. "Our clearest role wiPl continue ta be that of niaking sure the public receives the highest level of professionalism possible from our rnembers," Coulter says. Government intervention into t;he real estate industry will ontinue to be a target of the new Président and the. board of àirectors. Coulter says Faderai Finance Minister Wilson's decision not to include resale homes in bis goods and services tax was a step in the right direction, but other government tax bis from al levels, -including local government levais, are critically threataning' Canada's housing industry. "Everything from special education levies to employer health taxes seems designad to cripple a. prdfession which functions to help place families into affordable homes." Coulter says the board will continue to lobby at local, provincial and national levels against legislation placing housing further out of reach of the average family. Coulter's New Yeaars message to the board's 1,500 members is one of optimi0m. He i predicting a consistent iesale ho es market for tle coming monthsl He is also reminding members that their ideas are an integral part of the board's mandate. "We need the participation of all members ... not just a.few, to miake this year a suiccessfu1 one." In the near fuure, the board will be consideriný such issues as the' rapidly expanding market- place and increasing the number of upgrading and . updating courses for salespersons and brokers. Market expected to remain steady Durham Raegion can look forward to continued growth and prosperîty, according' te John Coulter, newy president of the Oshawa & District Réal Estate Board. "We expect the real astate market te j remain steady throughout 1990." Statistics !from the Oshawa District Real Estate Board show a 28 per cent increase in listings compared with 1988. There was aiso a 15 per cent crop in the number of sales. However, Coulter says "it is not significant because you can't compare 198e, a boom year, with 1989. Furthermore, we recorded over a billion dollars in MLS volume in 1989 which represents an increase 'of 5.2 per cent in dollar volume over 1988. Durham Region continues to be a very attractive place for people te live and work," he says. As long as interest rates remain stable, Coultex1 predicts a strong and healthy market for JOHN COULTER' Durham Region. "If interast rates drop, we Will see aven more activity.", Strongly opposed te, the government's proposed goods and services tax, Durham' Region* realtors .will continue te lobby with their national association, the. Canadian Real Estate Association, in 1990. However, Coultar says,,"We are relieved that Finance Minister Michael Wilson vetoed the five per cent tax on increased consumption or equity on resale homes." We are aso encouraged by cut-backs in government spending and reduction of GST from nine to, seven per cent. In terms of new homes sales, Coulter believes peoplea who are adamant about buying wili do so befora thé proposed GST takes affect. "Other people may change their niind about buying a new home which may give the resale market a boost." In 1989, the Oshawa and District Real Estate* Board increased its membership by 23 per 'cent. The board represents more than 1,500 licensed real estate practitioners in AjaxfPïckering, Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville and Port Perry. ODREB, a member of the Ontario Real Estate Mscsiation and the Canadian Real Estate Association, is celebrating its 35th year of service to the real estate industry. 1988 1989 % chango Affordable homes impossible wîthout cheaper land, says Gianone The price of land is-the number one reason builders can't produce affordabla homes in the Metro Toronto area, Toronto Home Buildars' Association president Frank Giannone told a receptive audience at the 1989 Home Building Coriference and Exhibition, Building Strategies for the '90s, held at the Constellation Hotel recently.* Speaking at the seminar on <Is teRoad to a Cheaper Home Uphill?,' Giannone teld the more than 100 in attendance that the concept of affordable housing wili be an impossibility in Matro Toronto unless somathing is done about land prices. "The price te actually build a home is no différent in Toronto or Calgary or Montreal. But land pricas are so much higher in Toronto, that is what's stopping affordable homes here." Giannone said getting the first time homebuyer irnto the market is vital. "Without tham the whole chain breaks, but we are making it axtremely difficult, if not impossible, for them te, enter the market." Giannone was part of a four-mamber panai addressing the issue of affordable new homes. Othars included Vaughan Mayor Lorna Jackson, Ontario Ministry of Housing spokesman Anne Beaumont, and .Rene Soatens, Progressive Conservativa Member of Parliament for the Ontario riding. Globe and Mail business columnist Terenca Corcoran acted as moderator. Giannone cited two major reasons why land prices are so high in Metro. The first, ha said, was due te the lack of good servicable land. It's a question of supply and damand. Thare isn't anough land on the market ou.t thare, and that shoots the price up. Unlass the provincial govarnniant raleases more land the situation is going te get worse," hae said. The second major reason for high land prices is the exorbitant amount of taxes first-time home- buyars face when purchasing a new home. "Homebuyers are carrying five lavaIs of goverrnment on thair shoulders. And there are more taxas cÃ"ming. Our association an uphill struggle, and a gre.At part of that reason comas from the amount of taxes put on new homes," said Giannone. Things ara going te get worse,, he added,* with the faderai proposadý goods and services tax (GST) slated to take affect in 1991. In addition, Giannone was particularly upset with a plannad lot levy coming from local school boards. The layaes, expected toe- used to build new sehools, would increase the price of a new home by a minimum $5,000. The THBA has coma out strongly against tha school levy, and Giannone said the matter could wind up in the courts. "If a board tries te impose this levy we are prepared to figlit it. We feel it is unconstitutional and discriminatory -- becausa it only applias to new homes." It was estimated that a buyer of a new home worth $237,000 would be paying close to $40,00 in taxes. Soatens teld the group that the new 5 par cent trade-up GST proposal could make the tax te the housing industry more equitable. Ha said that housing was not treated well undar the GST proposai, "So we cama up with a counter proposai. We propose te remove the tax from the sale of new housing. The consumer wili pay tha faderaI tax only one tima on the différence of bis trade up value." That would mean if a buyer had a $150,000 home and purchasad one for $200,000, '"hen ha would only pay tax on the diffarenca of $50,000. We feel this is fairer for aIl, it takes into account resale homes and addresses the Toronto market specifically," ha said. Giannone commanted that aithar proposaI "is discriminatory against first-tima buyers. Our suggestion has been te pull out the land component, the price of the land, and just tax the cost of the house. That wouid eliminate the regional disparity problem." The provincial govarnment teok much ofithe brunt of tha criticismn during jîhe seminar. Vaughan Mayor Lorna Jackson, who in the past has been accused of objecting te affordable housing projects, said Ontario has te release more lands and+,pxrovide, noe4 sewages and water capacitias before land pricas could decrease.- She strongly objected to the government's imposed policy of having, 25. par cntaordable, housing ,inianynepÃ"ct< It doesn7t work at ail. If a buildar is forced te do 25 par cent affordable, that nieans the rest of the development will be higherý priced, in affect subsidizing the 25 per cent." The Province has estimated an affordabia home price for a low-te, middle income family in Metro Toronto to be $157,000. Jackson was also upset with the Province's intentions te change the Building Coda, which wouid increase insulation facters and upgrade security devices. "Ail that will mean is highar prices for homes. The insulation increasa is somathing no one wants, the Province can't ha serious about affordable homes when thay do something.lika that." Giannone said the changes ara Incredible. It's just a gold plating excuse to get monay. It doesn't make sense." Ministry of Housing spokesman Anne Beaumont rasponded by saying that cheaper homes can be made availftble, but changes in thinking wore necassary at al levais.", "There has to ha fewer delays in- the planning procass, a shortar time for approval of housing developments is -needed te help reduce costs. Wa have to get aur house in order, but ail levels of government have te rathink their zoning, -pianing and density,"- Beaumont said. Jackson suggestad.that people may have te start lowering their expectations. "Smallar homes are ana way te go, or have the buyers do soe after-market work te' reduce costs. But I know a lot of young people want everything, two cars, high lifastyle and a new home. Thay can't have averything." Giannone endad the seminar on a positive not l, saying affordabla homes can be obtainable if averyone is willhng te, work at the solutions. "The builders are ready te deliver, but the politicians have te develep* the wiil te do something, -and.xotjusttalkaout4t.': &* *. Listings 10.472 13,444 sales 6,643 6.646 Average Price $163.00 $189,O00 28%+ 15% 2496 + CORPORATION 0F THE TOWN OF WH-ITBY IN THE MATTER 0F THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT, R.S.O. 1980, C. 337 AND THE MATTER 0F LANDS AND PREMSESAT THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPAL ADDRESS IN THE PROVINCE 0F ONTARIO NOTICE 0F MNENT TO DESIGNATE TAKE NOTICE THATJ THE Council of the Corporation of the Town of Whitby intends to designate the interior of the building at the following municipal address as being of historlo or architectural value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1980, c. 337. Inverlynn 1300 Gifford Street WHITBY, Ontario REASONS FOR DESIGNATION 0F THE INTERIOR 0F 1300 GIFFORD STREET ARCHITECTURAL The interior features of lnverîynn are well preserved examples of architectural styles and workmanship prevalent at the timne of construction of this house in 1860. These features include the plaster ceiling mouîdings, base wood mouldings and door and window trim. The centre staircase and three (3) tireplaces are also significant features. Any person rnay-, oefore February 2, 1990, send by registered mail or deliver to the Clerk of the Town of Whitby, notice of his or her objection to the proposed designat ion together with a statement of reasons for the objection and aIl relevant tacts. If such notice of objection is received, the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Whitby shaîl refer the matter to the Conservation Review Board for a hearing. DATED at the Town Of Whitby this 3rd day of January 1990. Donald G. McKay Town Cîerk The Corporation of the Town of Whtby 575 Rossland Road East WHITBY, Ontario LUN 2M8 PHONE: (416) 668-5803