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woutt mm For the first time since 1989, real estate sales have crossed the 4,000 transaction barrier and by all indications, things aren‘t slowâ€" ing down heading into 1997, says Ordiway. 1997 should see a strong and steady market for real estate sales says Kâ€"W Real Estate Board Association president John Ordiway f $ f v 'ét i ts , x / "From a CTT perspective, we‘re not marketing this area enough, That‘s a weakness that we‘re going to have to look at in the future, The businesses that we have here are doing well and are expanding, but our track record is poor when it comes to Jurâ€" ing new businesses." "We‘re lacking a cohesive economic strategy between the four communities involved in the CTT," he says of Kitchenerâ€"Waterâ€" loo, Guelph and Cambridge. "I have concerns that we‘re not doing enough to entice new businesses," says Carther. And while the outlook appears positive for existing local busiâ€" nesses, Carther foresees trouble brewing on the horizon with the Canada‘s Technical Triangle‘s inability to bring in new businesses to this area. A boost in consumer confidence is indiâ€" cating a great year ahead for retailers and businesses, says newly elected Chamber of Commerce of Kitchener and Waterloo presiâ€" dent Ron Carther. He says that with the combination of low interest rates, an increase in job stability and a steady Canadian dollar which is sure to entice export growth, it should be a great year for the retailer. "I‘d say that we won‘t see any major losses next year, like we had in 96 with the layolfs at Schneider‘s Meats and Babcock and Wilcox. 1 think the major size compaâ€" nies have done their restructuring and downsizing and maybe we‘ll see the smallâ€" to mediumâ€"size business going through restructuring in ‘97." The three sectors which Murray feels will be extremely important to success in the area in 1997 are automotive, highâ€"tech and insurance. "However, the competition is getting pretty stiff, not just locally, but from abroad as well and that may affect how much growth we‘ll see locally." pammame®s _ Es _ According to Murâ€" Dr. Alex Murray _ ray, a survey by the National Conference Board of Canada showed that over 60 per cent of business leaders in Canada feel that because of the low interest rates, this is the time to invest in plants and new equipâ€" 1997 will be a critical year for business in Waterloo and the surâ€" rounding area says Dr. Alex Murray, professor and head of the FovwngSurvcyUli(IWflfridlfliaWydedo‘ msccss "The economy has had a major upturn since the recession of 1992," says Murray "However last year there was a downturn, with jobs losses and corpoâ€" rate restructuring, Now that corporations and industry have gone through the cleansing stages, the question ,::; remains, will business _ Pigk 3 BUSINESS AND FINANCE be more attractive in 1997" _ Lookn Brian Hunsberger, development director at the House of Fnendâ€" ship, says that organization experienced, approximately. a 25â€"per cent increase in demand for services last year both in its emerâ€" gency shelter and emergency food programs And he expects that increased demand will continue in 1997 will bring the people back "I don‘t see next year getting any better, but | w surprised." SOCIAL SERVICES Retailer Helen Szabo, owner of Helen Anne Shop. 19 King St E., isn‘t optumistic about what hes ahead in 1997 Szabo, the third owner of the 41â€"yearâ€"old women‘s clothing store, just endured one of her worst years in the business a year which, she says, was worse than the previous year "It‘s getting progressively worse " says Szabo. "I‘m finding that too many people are still losing their jobs and others are just hold " ing on to their money " Helen "There‘s a lot of stability in the job market Combine that with the low interest rates and 1997 should be another great year for the market " "It looks like a steady, strong market for 1997 Bunlders are sull buying lots, banking on them and being very aggressive by buildâ€" ing rather than layirig back like they have in the past lew years * Ordiway added that many of the homes sold in 1996 were to firstâ€"time home owners, who trimmed their expectations of $135,000 homes and settled for homes in the $115.000 area "As long as the interest rates stay steady,. well have a similar WIngu“hdwulQ,mM,'wys(ndtwwy From the point of view of our agency Ahannstmaionisin s commmnecc se case DRTMOTHT Cpmerenememainn onl Her store caters to those age 40 and ove With many of her customers being semiors o hixed incomes, the low interest rates on thei savings has kept them from buying. "I don‘t know what has t get the customers back in government gets nd of the flgogd To th k we re probably the appen mavbe tha like to be If the manulac that number wil detnand lot emerger whzr at an increase ol increase in 1997 â€" 1 d expect that plateau But | think they‘ll contimue compared t what had been the case Hunsberger says the decrease ir insurance benefits in the fall of | increase in demnand lor services Wh ther cuts to socaal assistance beriefus on those benefits will continmue to sir looking at more of the same * H larrly signifcant denand for our 3 ter and emergency food | don‘\ ex m MaTk w wer the perâ€"cent ifk In the alle ng pas 1umbe FATITH expect that thow se @2 laar wi af