74 Viscount Street

Airport Heights, St. John’s

5 year old registered two apartment in East End St. John’s. Three bedrooms on main plus family room and laundry in basement. Main floor has hardwood in living room and hallway. Eat-in country kitchen with oak cabinets. Master bedroom has ensuite and walk-in closet. Basement apartment has two bedrooms. Each unit has individual laundry rooms. Income presently $1400 per month and potential for more.  Asking price is $229,900.  Call Fraser or Stephen Winters for more information.

This weekend (May 31 and June 1) the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation is holding the 24th Annual Janeway Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. This year’s theme The Heroes Among Us highlights the patients, the physicians and the medical staff of the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre and the men and women who work so hard to support our province’s only hospital dedicated entirely to pediatric health care.

On Sunday, June 1 RE/MAX offices in St. John’s will be answering phones and volunteering for the Telethon. As well, each year we provide a donation check to this wonderful cause. RE/MAX believes in giving back to the community and in doing so we donate a portion of each home sale to the Janeway.

Since 1992 RE/MAX Sales Associates have raised in excess of $50 million for CMN, $21 million of that in Canada alone, in contributions through RE/MAX’s Miracle Program in Canada.

Together we can make miracles happen for children in your neighbourhood. Please donate this weekend.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Economy Highlights

• Economic Performance 2007
  • Real GDP increased by 7.9% driven by exports of oil and minerals and consumer and government sector spending.
  • The unemployment rate fell to 13.6%, a reduction of 1.2 percentage points and the lowest rate in 26 years.
  • Personal income growth of 4.3% and personal disposable income growth of 5%.
  • Retail sales growth of 9.5%.
  • Increased residential construction investment of 9.9% with 2,652 housing starts.
  • Net in-migration of almost 2,000 people in last half of 2007.
• 2008 Expectations
  • Real GDP forecast to decline by 2% due to lower offshore oil production.
  • Capital investment expected to increase by 15%. Combined investment in oil and gas projects estimated to be $1 billion for 2008.
  • Housing starts stable at 2,657 for the year.
  • Employment expected to increase by 1.5%, adding another 3,300 jobs, and the unemployment rate is expected to decline to 12.4%, a further decrease of 1.2 percentage points.

The 25th Eastern Newfoundland Canadian Home builders Association Annual Home Show will be held May 2nd to 4th at the Mile One Centre. Once again RE/MAX will be headlining the show - this year with a wine tasting event. In order to receive a ticket to the wine tasting you must speak with a RE/MAX Realtor.

Again this year will be the popular Ugliest Patio Contest and Room make over Contest.

Each admission ticket gives you a chance to win a free fishing trip for two to Labrador Salmon Lodge in Forteau, Labrador as well as over $10,000 in door prizes.

25th Annual Home Show
May 2nd - 4th, 2008
Mile One Centre
Presented by RE/MAX

RE/MAX has a long tradition of supporting worthwhile causes. In 2004, the company threw its support behind the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

The RE/MAX offices in St. John’s will once again host their Yard Sale for the Cure on May 31^st. Last year local RE/MAX Realtors raised over $2,000.00. We have plans to do even better this year.

RE/MAX invites you to join the event that brings hundreds of neighbourhoods together for a massive one day yard sale in support of breast cancer.

“Yard Sale for the Cure” is the natural evolution of our involvement with breast cancer, and yet another occasion for us to give back to the community. In real estate, it’s often said that you only have one chance to make a good first impression. There is no truer adage when it comes to selling your home. A well maintained and clutter-free home will sell more quickly and for a higher price than a similar home that is not as inviting. “Yard Sale for the Cure” provides homeowners with an excellent opportunity to unload items no longer in use, while simultaneously raising much-needed funds for Breast Cancer Research.

Fundraising events such as “Yard Sale for the Cure” ensure we all play a role in finding a cure for breast cancer.

A $700 water tax may not be far off in St.John’s. The capital city is scrambling to find money to cover cost over-runs and cost increases associated with the harbour cleanup project. The topic is expected to come up again this evening at the weekly council meeting as members of council try to find ways around the problem. The extra $40 million will be cost-shared among St.John’s, Mount Pearl, and Paradise, but the three municipalities hope they will have help from the federal and provincial governments. Neither government has committed yet. Right now the water tax is about $440 a year per household but that could go up to $692 next year, and, city staff have done their homework. They note that even with the increase, water rates in St.John’s wouldn’t be far off those charged by other cities in Canada.

Source - Water Tax May be Going Up (www.vocm.com)

A Winter storm has blanketed most of the Avalon Peninsula today. Pretty much all of St. John’s is shut down. 20 - 50 centimeters is the forecast. This storm is a special storm as it gets the Newfoundland legend of being called “Sheila’s Brush“. Sheila’s Brush is the annual winter storm that occurs around St. Patrick’s day. The resulting snow is attributed to Sheila’s sweeping away of the last of winter.

Who is Sheila? In Newfoundland folk legend she is the wife, sister, housekeeper or acquaintance of St. Patrick. (Well they certainly narrowed that down) When combined with “brush” Sheila means a fierce storm and heavy snowfall around St. Patrick’s Day. Apparently Newfoundland has two “brushes” - Patrick’s and Sheila’s, that is to say, storms supposed to be connected with the birthday of St. Patrick and that of his wife.

A client mentioned to me yesterday about “Paddy’s Batch” but there seems to be many similarities to Sheila’s Brush and Paddy’s Batch on google. One entry however noted that Sheila’s Brush occurs on March 16, and Paddy’s Batch falls around the 14th.

Regardless of the name for this storm, something tells me it will be a slow day for Real Estate.