Real» estate hot again IT’S ONLY early spring but the local real estate market is already heating up, says the public rela- tions spokesman for the North West Real Estate Board. Listings in the medium price range of $100,000 to $150,000 are scarce and interest is strong, says Verne Ferguson, who is also a local realtor. In one sense, the spring start is the second Qurry of the new year, he added. That’s because mild weather in January brought out buyers and encouraged sellers. “January was very spring-like. The market’ really started to go earlier than normal,” said Ferguson, But winter weather returned in February, dampening sales inter- est. There were 32 sales in February in Terrace and area worth $2,813 million and 45 sales in March worth $2.965 million. ‘*A few years ago a house price of $100,000 or so was a big price. Nowadays, it’s common,’’ said Ferguson of average house costs in the city and surrounding area. Recent statistics indicate house prices have risen by an average one per cent a month. That may result in some raised eyebrows by. home buyers new to TERRACE STANDARD.. we _e ae na Trade show looking good LOOK FORWARD to food and music at this year’s Ter- race and District Chamber of Commerce's trade show, reports chamber vice presi- coming from Vancouver,’’ said Evans of a display planned by the federal and provincial governments and the Nisga’a Tribal Council dent John Evans. which are negotiating the **In response to comments latter’s land claim. we received last year Also on the list is Alcan, there’ll be a food court,’ said Evans las! week in reviewing plans for the April 29-May 1 event at the arena. . , And there'll be a jazz quintet Friday night and Sat- urday afternoon. “Hach year we look io make improvements and we fee] these will add to the show,’’ Evans added. This’ll be the third year the chamber has undertaken now before a provincial public hearing into its plan to take more water from the Nechako River to produce. more hydro-electricity. Those attending can also visit a booth pul on by the Terrace-Kitimat Airshow Society which is putting on an airshow May 3. The trade show opens at1 p.m. April 29 with official ceremonies at 1:30 p.m. It closes that day at9 p.m. SPRING WEATHER brings new homes and an increase in sales. That's real estate board spokes- man Veme Ferguson at the site of anew home on Walsh Ave. The market Is good and promises to be very active this year. Activities resume April 30 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on May 1 from noon until 4 p.m, the trade show and its theme is tourism, There are 80 booths this year, a sell out of space the area but it isn’t all that sur- prising to Ferguson. “We are becoming the hub of the northwest. This is becoming the centre for government and for secondary industry,” he said. “I don’t think there’s another place in northem B.C. that’s higher. We have passed Prince George,”’ the agent continued. And although some may think prices are high, Ferguson noted they have reached the level of re- placement costs. Ferguson also said a lack of housing starts in the early to late 1980s created a shortage of supp- ly. This then resulted in a pent up demand for housing from local’ people which exploded at the Same time as newcomers to the area entered the market. The strong interest in new homes can be found in the num- ber of custom building projects now underway, said Ferguson. He hasn’t noticed a drop in home buyers since the mortgage rales went up last month, But one gap in local housing is a lack of condominium projecis, said Ferguson. “E believe there is a market for high quality condos. We have some here but they are converted apartments and that’s not quite the same thing,’’ he said. CHAMBER OF commerce mem- bers can expect very soon their copies of its directory. The publication contains list- ings of all chamber members, broken down alphabetically and also by business category. It’s slim in size and meant as an easy reference to give informa- tion on the more than 260 mem- bers of the chamber, kak kk Scheduled for April 28 here is a luncheon and talk on op- portunities for smaller population centres. It’s sponsored by the Real Estate Institute of B.C. and fea- tures economist Dr. Roslyn Kunin. She says there are opportunities Out & About in world markets, tourism and hospilality and in land claims settlements for people and businesses insmaller centres. Kunin once worked for the fed- eral government and is now a pri- vate consultant. More information is available by calling Tracy Wall or Charles Johnstone at 638-1116. ke kkk Tribal Resources Investment Corporation (Tricorp) hosted a week long session in Prince George on helping small towns survive. The April 11-April 15 session drew more than 40 people from the northwest. A number of issues were exam- ined, including community devel- opment, conflict management, understanding and managing change, marketing and leader- ship. Tricorp brought in the Heart- land Center for Leadership to run the session. | Do you have a Jungle Out There? vib sil ‘ hy J t If your lawn is gelting va be rah minute, get it under control with HOMELITE. 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