Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (May 27/02) - What's a community to do when it has no real estate salesperson and there is a growing demand to buy houses and land?

The Town of Fort Smith has taken matters into its own hands by gathering information to help match buyers and sellers.

The town recently distributed a flyer to residents, asking them to fill out a form to provide information on available houses, duplexes, apartments, mobile homes and land.

Mayor Peter Martselos says the information will be used to compile a list for potential buyers.

The targeted buyers are employees of the BHP Billiton and Diavik diamond mining companies. The flyer explains the town has received numerous requests for information from diamond mining employees. Martselos says that, as of early last week, there were four or five submissions of information in response to the flyer. "We've got lots of interest."

The town itself also has 18 fully-serviced lots for sale.

The town would also like to see a private individual enter the real estate field, Martselos says, adding, "It's not the town's business."

Fort Smith has not had a real estate company for about two years, he says, explaining the owner of Snowbird Real Estate Services left Fort Smith for family reasons.

"The business was doing very well," says Martselos.

And he thinks someone could do very well in today's Fort Smith market. "For sure there's a demand for a real estate person right now."

The town has actively promoted itself as a home for employees of the diamond mining industry, and Martselos made a trip to Yellowknife with the town's economic planner to meet BHP workers.

"The response was overwhelming to come to Fort Smith and look at the town," the mayor says.

Martselos says four or five workers at the diamond mining companies have already purchased property in Fort Smith.

"If we attract 20 families, we'll be more than happy," he says.