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Real Estate: The Oakville Beaver, Thursday, December 29, 1994 â€"2 majority of home builders across the A province expect sales to increase next year, according to a survey by the Ontario Home Builders‘ Association. Twentyâ€"one per cent believe a lasting and substantial improvement in new home sales has already begun, while another 55% believe this will happen next year. Only 8% believe that home sales will go down next year, comâ€" pared with a whopping 64% who were pesâ€" simistic in 1990. The optimists have climbed buyers. NNE WINTER, B. 338â€" RUTH ANNE WINTER, INTER, B. 338â€"9000. A GREAT PLACE TO START $169,900. Terrific opportunity for first time Open concept Ilvm% 3 bedâ€" ly rooms, updated kitchen and baths, fenced yard with inground ly decorated_throu rb%u 8 WALK TO DOWNTOWN $799,000. Heritage home located steps from the heart of town. Spacious princiâ€" al rooms, high ceilings, cornice mouldâ€" ings, five bedrooms, Iovelg %ordens. Call B. 338â€"9000 NT â€" DOWNITO $l,3mlfi$oin house customâ€"built in 1980‘s. Large 4â€"bdrm. fam. home with all principal_rooms overlooking Lake Ontario, 4 FP.s, large solarium kitchen; fin. lower level, sep. guest house. Call RUTH ANNE WINTER, B. 338â€"92000. $1,495,000 on ced home overlooking 16 Mile Creek, 17 acres of Eroper’ry Just 6 miles north of Oakville, erraced into rolling hills, heated indoor ool, spa and sauna. Call RUTH ANNE from 8%t in 1990 to 59% this year. ‘"We are very encouraged by the survey results," says Ward Campbell, a Hamilton home builder who is president of the OHBA. He says the survey substantiates OHBA‘s own forecast of a 4% increase in Ontario housing starts in 1995 to 50,000, and for starts to remain in the 45,000 to 55,000 range for the next few years. Campbell says Ontario finance minister Floyd Laughren‘s forecast of a 12% jump to room . with fuII?/ ool, tastefulâ€" Call RUTH in RNN WINTER, features wide 000. 338â€"9000. O ool. all 38â€"9000 ing distance 338â€"9000. IVE BEDROOMS $214,900. Terrific family home, cozy famiâ€" breakfast bar, tasteful decor throughout, of room for everyone. Call RUTH CENIRAL LOC,/ $649,000. Tudor style heritage home on 300 foot lot with pond and window, detached double car 5 bedrooms. Call RUTH ANNE WINTER, B. LDE OAKVILLE ' $399,900. 4 bedroom home in heritage area. Hardwood floors, casement winâ€" dows, separate dining doors, spacious eatâ€"in kitchen, inground RUTH ANNE WIN GRACIOUS LIVING $1,150,000. Beautiful estate propen‘z, completely renovated throughout, walkâ€" Large principal rooms, master suite and much more. Call RUTH ANNE WINTER, B. Ontario homebuilders optimistic about new year 54,000 starts in 1995, followed by a 25% increase in 1996, with starts averaging 74,000 in 1996â€"1998, is somewhat optimistic. "It would be nice to see those numbers, but I don‘t believe they are realistic." He warns that even with OHBA‘s more conservative forecast, there will be tremendous pressure on builders to increase prices. ‘"Municipal levies are increasing, lumber prices are rising and the costs of other components in new homes are going up." fireplace, kitchen with B. 338â€"9000. LOCATION ool. Home plank floors, stained glass arage, room, French R, â€"B. to downtown Oakville. Campbell says the builders‘ association and its members will receive a more detailed analysis of their economic future at the OHBA‘s first annual Economic Focus Ontario on Jan. 10th, where a panel of experts will give their views. The Economic Focus will be immediately followed by the popular twoâ€"day Ontario Builder Forum where there will be 24 different sessions for builders, ranging from futuristic construction methods and materials to preserving heritage buildings. Deadline nears for . OHOSP he end of the year is near and contributions I firstâ€"time home buyers who BR â€" wish to open or contribute to an Ontario Home Ownership Savings Plan (OHOSP) must do so by December 31, 1994. As of Sept. 30th of this year, 468,935 plans have closed for home purchases, releasing approximately $370.7 million in funds to home buyers. Individuals and households have so far received approximately $129 million in OHOSP tax credits. The OHOSP program was first introâ€" duced in 1988 to help Ontario residents with net incomes of up to $40,000 (for single individuals) and $80,000 comâ€" bined (for couples) save for a first home. It offers tax credits based on qualifying contributions to the plan. The program was due to end on December 31, 1993 but has been extended indefinitely. Some changes have been made to the OHOSP program since its extension was first announced. OHOSP plans opened after December 31, 1993 have a fiveâ€"year term in which eligible contriâ€" butions can be made. After the fiveâ€"year contribution deadline, these planholders have two years to buy an eligible home. In the past, planholders whose home cost less than $200,000 were entitled to a full or partial Land Transfer Tax (LTT) refund based on the amount paid for the home. This refund was disconâ€" tinued for those plans opened after December 31, 1993. The LTT refunds are still available for individuals who already had an OHOSP at the end of 1993. The definition of "spouse" has also changed. The term "spouse" now includes a person of the opposite sex who has been living in a conjugal relaâ€" tionship with the taxpayer for the past 12 months, or who is living with the taxpayer and is the parent of the taxpayâ€" er‘s child. OHOSP information guides are available at most financial institutions and from the Ministry of Finance. If you need further information, please call the Ministry of Finance‘s Information Centre tollâ€"free from anyâ€" where in the province: Q All areas â€" 1â€"800â€"263â€"7965 Q French language enquiries â€" 1â€" 800â€"668â€"5821 Q Teletypewriter (TTY) â€" 1â€"800â€"263â€" 7776.