Friday, December 18, 1992 - North Shore News - 21

HOME & GARDEN»

National vacancy rates | »
highest in two decades | ss

THE NATIONAL average
apartment vacancy rate in-
creased to 4.8% in October
from 4.4% in April,
Canada Mortgage and
Housing Corporation
(CMHC) reported last
week.

This is the highest average rate
for privately initiated rental struc-
tures of three units or more since
1987 and the highest rate in 20
years for structures of six units or
more. .

As 2 general role, a vacancy
fate reaching 3% provides renters
with a reasonable choice, but a
lower rate is required in certain
markets to stimulate investment.

“More renters decided to buy
houses,’” explained Bruno
Duhamel, market analyst for
CMHC, as the key reason why

Take time to
assess security
of your home

ASSESSING YOUR home's secu-
rity is the first step towards effec-
tive burglary protection.

Take a walk around your home
and property and try to identify
the vulnerable areas of your
home.

@ Make sure that you have secure
doors and better than just ‘good
locks.” :

The door, frame and jock form
a mini-security system that is only
as good as its weakest member.

@. Sliding patio doors offer easy
access points for burglars.

- Most patio door locks are flim-
sy and can be easily pried open;
installing a special locking device
will be a deterrent to theft.

@ Always keep your garage door
locked.

@ Inform your neighbors if you
are away and exchange each
other’s phone numbers.

@ If you are away, use a timer to
control your lights.

“When your house looks oc-

cupied, you are less of a target for
the burglar.
@ Suspend all newspaper
deliveries for the time you plan to
be away and arrange to have your
mail picked up by a neighbor.

- A dark, empty home with a pile.

of newspapers and mail on the
front porch is an open invitation
for a thief.

baby |

vacancy rates have increased.

“Low interest rates, stable
house prices and the two federal
housing programs have combined
to greatly improve people’s ability
to become homeowners, therefore
freeing up rental units.”

A_ slower than expected eco-
nomic recovery and low employ-
ment in many markets have im-
peded| the take-up of vacated
units,resulting in higher vacancies.

Over half of the centres in
Canada have registered a higher
vacancy rate in the last six
months. The highest vacancy rates
in Canada were Sherbrooke and
Montreal with 9.3% and 7.7%
respectively, followed by
Chicoutimi, 7.1%; Trois-Rivieres,
7.0%; Oshawa and Winnipeg, at
6.1%.

“Cities in British Columbia and
Ontario continued to post the
lowest vacancy rates in the coun-

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try.’ Duhamel added. The na- ff peo.
H ‘edo0 saet egos.

tion’s capital, although still conti-

nuing to increase, recorded the

lowest rate at 1.3%. Victoria and

Vancouver foliowed closely. (ust over 2nd Narrows Bridge)
This is attributed to British “corner of Hastings & Nanaimo

Columbia’s relatively strong § turn right at Hastings

economy. Toronto's vacancy rate | =

was 2.2% and Hamilton, 2.3%. — - ‘ nee a

Oshawa posted the highest On-

tario rate of 6.1%.

There are goed times to sell. And there are bad times to sell. The best
time to sell is when a person is ready to buy. And when people are ready
to buy, they turn to their newspaper. Not their mailbox.

Too many times, advertising mail comes at exactly the wrong time,
mixed among your important daily maii. Perhaps that explains why three
times as many people would prefer to receive their advertising
information from a paper.

Newspaper readers share a common curiosity about people, places,
facts, figures, and prices. People turn to their newspaper for the latest
price information, and they turn there with interest. Which means that's
where your advertising message needs to be.

With all the choices available, it's difficult deciding how best to
advertise your business. But everything becomes a little simpler when
you remember one rule...