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PAGE 26, WITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY. lMRH 28, 1990 Housing Mnarket>may.ho eading back tonormal levels February sales of new homes increased 32 per cent from January, reason for optimismm that the market is inching back te normal levels as we head inta spring, said the president of the Tront Home Builders' Association (THBA). Chris Mullin, in bhis monthly report on sales activity in the Toronto region, said 821 new homes were sold during February, up substantially from the 622 sold in January. In February, 1989, 3,231 sales were recorde&. the highest one-month $253,900 CASUAL POOL SIDE LIVING... Can be yours to enjoy in this beautiful 72' x 1301 lot featuring inground heated pool. Then relax by the f ireplace in sunken Fam.Rm., with its beamed cathedral ceiling. COME HOME TO THE QUIET LIFE $1 999900 Lovely famiîy home in Blackstock. Walkout f rom finished basement to approx. 1/2 acre lot. Firepace and deck off kitchen. Dale Mcîntosh, Sales Representatîve 668-8844 or 427-8000 A EME 0 TI SAR IACILNEWO e0 TRAFALGAR REALTY INC. 668-4000 Emerald Point A Rare Rentai Opportwnity In A Luxurjou Lifeatyle For 1990 H[WY. 401 & BIROCK IROAD (Mnutes from Pickerng Town Centre) 1 Bedroom & Den, 1,009 sq. ft. & up 2 Bedroom Suites, 1,074 sq. ft. & up IN-SUJITES FEATURES. induding. *5 appliances, including in-suite laundry facilities *Solarium WRWallto wal quality broadlooni *Individually controlled het .garconditioning LIiFESTYLE AMEENTnES, inuig *Indoor pool, whirlpool * Cad oess sauna, squash entry system *Resident and *RRav IV-OO+m visitors parking Guest suites *Party room FOR APPOINTMNT CALI,- 686-6860 OR 229-980 ET8441 RENTAL CENTRE HOUBS.* Monday to Friday - 12 noon to 9 pm Saturday and Sunday - 10 amn to 6 Pm PICKERING HOME & DESIGN CENTRE total cf that-year. Muflin said ales are increasn ini both freehold and condominium sectors. "Two builders recently introduced condo prQjects prlced 'with firsttime buyers in mind. Both recorded- steady sales. Increased DRASTICALLy REDULCEDI BRING ALL OFFERS!! Circa 1845, 2600sq.ft. Regency cottage style homo on just under 1 private acre. 3 Brick fireplaces, original trim & wainscotting, pine and niaple floors, authentic bread oven, 1il' ceilings, 5 stail stable attached at rear. Reduced from $349,900 - now listed at $319,000. For appointment to view or for more information, oeil: Brian or Jackie Wright at 655-8444 or 655-8930 canaan land realty Inc. &%,6,r 55 baldwln st., p.o. box 491 R F brooklln, ontarlo LOB 1ICO phone: (416) 655-8444 torontoliIne:427-1263 TOP 0F WESTNE'Y 2 West ney RId. North, Town cf Ajax Minutes to GO Train & Pickering Town Centre NOW RENTING 2 & 3 Bedroomn units & Penthouse Suites FROM $995month FEATIURES INCLUDE: - 5 appliances including ensuite, Iaundry facilities eWall to waII carpeting* eIndividually controlled heating and air conditioning eOutdoor pool eWhirlpool, saunas and exercise roomn FOR APPOINTMVENT 428-7162 ASK ABOUT OUR ATTRACTIVE MOVE-IN BONUS Housing forain will address Maious topws By Bene Sootens Ontario riding MP A new decade brings -us man new challenges. Houusing is one of the xnost important cnes that we have ta face together in the years ahead. At the federal level, we muet find solutions that wiil meet the needs Canadians face today, whl keeping in mind cm! fiscal responsibilities. Housing is a complexiisue in itself. As well as being an economic, indicator, it is a basic necessity of life. Our federal housing pregrams have ta be fleible enough ta respond to the regional and cultural differences of our vast counitry. This complexity is demanding and requires the co-operation of several participants. At the constituency level, 1 believe I ain in the position ta help you with this challenge. As a Member of Parliament with years of town council experience, I bave been fortunate enough to acquire first-hanci knowledge of the obstacles facing homebuyers in Ontario riding. It is- with the goal of ensuring that home buyers take advantage of a the avaiable resources ta get the maximum out of their purchase, that we 'have set up a foruma on buying a house. T'he forum will be arranged in a senunar format and repre sentaetives9frora varieus organizations which weuld be of service when purchasing a home wilI b. in attendance. Some of the specific topics that wil1 be discussed include the role cf the real estate 'aget financing the purchase, insurance, the Ontario New Hme Warranty Prograi, the mile of CMHC, taxes, the Ontario Home Ownership Savinge Plan and the planning of your communt* Buyin a hoe iste rgestbusiness transaction most of us will ever make. Canadianïs buy and sell houmes for any number cf reasons, but no matter how emotional or rational Your decison is, the purchaseof a house is a complex businesq~ transaction. I encourage ýyou ta, participate in what I believe *ta b. an educational and worthwhile experience. There will* be a nominal fee of $5 to caver the costs cf the materials, refreshments and the venue. Advanced registration is' recommended. The prcgram is set for the morniuig cf March 31, commencing at 9 amn., at Ajax High School. fliose interested should contact iny constituency office at 103 Kingston Road, Ajax, LMT 3A6 (686-0432). Damage, theft cases reported By Trudie Zavadovica The occurrences cf mischief were reported te police in Whitby this past weekend. A stop sign was bent down on the northwest cerner cf Rossland Bd. W. at Goodfellow St. Tlhere are ne suspects. The Regicn cf Durhamn bas been notified. On.Sundaty, a Whitby resident reported that the mailbox. in front of her home had been dae.basketball hoop was stalen from a garage at a Glen- view Dr. residence sometime, Saturday night. Police report the culpritsstood on the car to get the net attached ta the front cf the garage, above the door. There are ne suspects. afcdblity wiil b. a trend mn 1990. According te Mullin, speculators are net the dominant force they were during the recent housing boom. "Good riddance te them. We did flot want speculators then, and we don't want them new. Homes are for famihies.", Mufin said mor people are aing questions in the sales offices about the impact cf the federal goods and services tax. "The media have been doing a good job informing people that the GST wiil be applied at closing, net at date of purchaàe. It can take up ta seven months ta, build, a home, se if people are planning ta buy a new home this year, they might soon run eut cf time if they want ta, beat the GST, he ad. Housfing Data Report, prepared by Brethour Research Associates for the THBA,stated that February sales confised cf 650 freehold, homes (79 per cent cf market) and 171' condominium homes (21 per cent cf market). The west region led in. freehold, sales with 242, followed by nerth 180, east 176 and central 61. Mississauga, set the pace in the west region with 106 sales, followed by Brampton with 70 and Oakville with 54. Woodbridge topped a north locations with 78 sales, followed, by Richmond Hill with 35 and Newmarket; with 31. Ajax led the east region with 95 sales, followed by Whitby with 38. In the central region, Etobicoke and Scaboro, recorded 38 and 22 sales respectively. The central regien led in condominium sales. with 62, foilowed, by nerth, 58, west 44 and east 7. Thornhill topped ail locations with 51 sales, followed, by Scarboro, (27), Burlington (18), Brampton (17), Toronto (14) and Pickering (6). Housing Data Report compiled sales figures reported by Toronto builders active in areas outoide cf THBA's tracking re The >81 sales were dis buted as foilows (twVo sales or more): Cobourg 17, Barrie 13, Peterborough 9, Cambridge 8, iàndsay 7, Stoney Creek 6, Fergus 5, Bolton 3, 3eorgetown 3, Fonthiil 3, :rntod 3, Newcastle 2, Bowmanville 2. (Note: Average asking price for Jan. and Feb. is net available. Brethour Research is switching computer systems ta track price data more efficiently. However, Brethour says; the average asking price, based on informai poillcf builders, is virtually unchanged [rom the $290,429 reported, for )ec. The average asking price for 'eb., 1989, was $270,359.) The Toronto Home Builders' &ssociation was eêtabished in L921 and has more than 890 nember companies representing )uilder I renovation I developera, inancial, professienal, supply/ r'ices and sub-contractors and 8the largest affiliate cf the In ar e n d C n a iM a n H o m e -