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Weima says 1992 was a steady â€" if unspectacular year in real estate â€" and recently released statistics confirm 1990 was the bottom of the slump in real estate sales: the total dollar value of real estate sales in the Oakville/Milton area for 1992 totalled $538.4 million; 6% less than 1991‘s total; and 14% more than the value recorded in 1990. The trend is mirrored in the number of sales recorded in the three years with 2.831 sales in 1992; 3% lower than last Cautious optimism is guiding the start of 1993‘s real estate market and Oakville, Milton, and District Real Estate Board president Richard Weima is hopeful it will result in good news for area property owners... and those who want to buy in. Board buoyed by "cautious optimism" $399,000. interesting renovation $229 0 $2£3,000, Very SpaCIC GO & downtown. Immediate possessior $157,500. 3 bdarms., 2 bath & hall floors, w/o deck. Single garage. C EXCLUSIVE â€" EAST OAKVILLE| â€"| GREAT VALUE IN OLD OAKVILLE JACQUIE JOUANET* 844â€"6061 IDEAL FOR RENOVATION TWO BEDROOM CONDO SUSAN FLYNN* 844â€"6061 MO CONNELLY* 8446061 SUSAN FLYNN* 8446061 BRONTE TOWNHOME OLD ESTATE HOUSE EDNA KING* 844â€"6061 1¢ ve TE trom iiming room 1 lose to lake/shops batr 36 )6 h0oe The federal government has extended its program â€" allowing purchasers to buy a house with only 5% of its value in cash â€" interests rates are fairly stable and prices have softened somewhat. There‘s still plenty of choice for buyers in all price categories and sales traditionally increase in the first three or four months of the vear. ‘"There were no real surprises last year," Weima says. ‘"We expected sales to be slightly better than in 1991 and although sales were down, they were only off by a handful of percentage points." year‘s total; and 19% higher than the year before. ‘"The statistics point to a tremendous increase in purchases of properties priced p ermm e 2 . i 1 i |x u 4 FARST AD â€" OLD OAKVILLE JANE LUMBERS* 84446061 H EDNA KING* 844â€"6061 ISTOM B ENNISCLAREâ€"ONâ€"THEâ€"LAKE HOME OF THE WEEFK T €AAC at less than $150,000 â€" almost twice as many last year as in 1990," he adds. ‘"That means firstâ€"time buyers are firmly back in the market." Weima says many of the properties priced at $150,000 or less are condominiâ€" ums â€" a sign that part of the market is starting to move after several years of oversupply. "The condo market has finally responded," he says. "Prices were extremely soft for a couple of years, but we‘re seeing signs that they‘re starting to firm up again." Weima cautions home sellers to remember they are competing with other resale properties and properties in new developments, and "pricing is an imporâ€" ANN SINGLEHKHURST* 8446061 BRENDA NEWELL* 844â€"6061 THE RIGHT ADDRESS DELIGHTFUL EYEFUL EDNA KING* 8446061 Sales Re FORD O‘BRIEN® $187,500. 3â€"bdrm., 2‘/ baths, 5 appl Vacant & immaculate. Eatâ€"in kitchen Superb views. Indoor pool, plus more. tant part of your selling strategy. We recâ€" ommend people consult a member of the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board for advice on what their property is worth." Weima notes that experts are only now starting to report real economic growth and he says there are signs 1993 will be a better year for real estate. ‘"We are finally coming out of the recession," he notes. "I‘m hopeful that we‘ll see more slow, steady growth over the next 12 months. We have to remember we‘ve just been through one of the biggest sustained recessions in decades â€" and it‘s no surprise that it‘s tough to put it behind us. But there‘s always room for optimism SUPER CONDO MARLBOROUGH WT GLEN ABBEY DOLL HOUSE BILL HUMPHREYS** 8446061 THE TIME TO BUY IS NOW BILL HUMPHREYS** 8446061 BRENDA NEWELL* 8446061 244 WALES CRESCENT FORD O‘BRIEN®* 844â€"6061 FORD O‘BRIEN®* 8446061 100. Elegant decor, AC, CAV, «itchen, family room w/FP, master w/ensuite. Quiet st., premium lot. QUIET CULâ€"DEâ€"SAC Nell maintained freehold finished basement. Great tential. #er s 3â€"bdrm. bungalow ers unlimited potential 8‘ x 200‘ treed lot. Dric« bung., open room. hardwood It (n