Press Releases
Buyers are acting more quickly before the expected price increase—
Fall Open House showcase new housings during a highly active season in the Greater Montreal residential market
22nd edition of the Open House Weekends on April 7, 8 and 14, 15:—
An excellent opportunity for buyers: Innovation, creativity and excellence in new housing, plus a new challenge issued to professionals!
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Buyers are acting more quickly before the expected price increase
Fall Open House showcase new housings during a highly active season in the Greater Montreal residential market
Montreal, October 15, 2019 — Fall has arrived and brings the opportunity to benefit from the best offers of the year in the new housing market in the Greater Montreal area! During the next edition of Fall Open House (October 26 and 27 and November 2 and 3) that will be taking place in an ever-growing economic context combined with a major increase in the job sector, buyers will be offered to discover some 70 projects. Historically low interest rates together with several financial incentives offered by the different levels of government will allow each and every one to find happiness here and now.
If Spring has long been the traditional season for real estate shopping with close to a third of annual transactions, Fall is emerging as the other important period in the new housing market. In some respects, it is even a better season, namely for tenants, since they enjoy more time to consider their decision and make their choice before their lease expires while benefiting from the recent arrival of several new residential projects on the market.
A Prosperous Time
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recently published data on residential housing starts in August 2019 in urban centers with 10,000 inhabitants or more. In Quebec, it has identified 3,008 housing starts, which reveals an impressive jump of 62% compared to August 2018.
Such an increase can be explained by the construction of collective housings (apartments, semi-detached houses and town houses), while 2,575 housing starts recorded in August represent a remarkable increase of 81%. In terms of individual homes, housing starts remained perfectly stable with 433 new units.
Geographically speaking, residential construction in the Montreal metropolitan area is truly booming, while the number of housing starts has more than doubled compared with the same period last year. In August, the increase has reached 120% with 2,031 housings in the Montreal area.
Besides, since monthly results often show significant fluctuations, the evolution of housing starts over a twelve-month period gives us a better idea of the general trend. Thus, between September 2018 and August 2019, the 44,659 housing starts recorded in the province reveal a 3% increase compared to the previous twelve-month period.
Financial tools allowing to buy a house for the cost of rent
Several factors are now working in favour of buyers seeking to buy a house at an affordable price, such as the huge inventory of properties and interest rates that are still very low. Visitors will be impressed by the number and the variety of condos, new homes and living areas that they can afford for the cost of rent. These affordable units sometimes compare very favourably with more upmarket options in terms of design and quality. Those who wish to buy a first home can benefit from the few financial tools offered by governments, such as the new incentive proposed by the CMHC. Or they can buy a RRSP to pay less taxes and then convert resulting savings into a down payment thanks to the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) and benefit from the mortgage loan insurance offered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In addition, some cities, including Montreal, offer programs that may bring additional help.
Solutions Adapted to the Needs of Families
Throughout the Montreal area, builders and increasingly proposing units that are specially designed for families. It is not always easy to find the ideal nest, but it remains possible provided that the selection of housing projects is interesting. Over the last few years, family housing underwent several transformations in line with the evolution of mores. It is fair to say that it handles the style and design while integrating functional and convenient aspects that fragmented and blended families cannot live without in the 21st century. The offer is sometimes diversified and scalable, whether in the downtown area or beyond the Montreal Island.
Prestigious Projects Are in Full Swing
The prestigious project niche is in full swing! The array of choice has never been this vast, especially since Montreal attracts part of the international clientele who, despite being financially at ease, is nevertheless beginning to find other Canadian cities somewhat too expensive. Since 2017, Montreal is imposing itself as one of the new high-end real estate hubs. And there is no sign of slowing on the horizon. Therefore, what the heck if you can afford it?
Several Options for People 55 Years Old and More
Given the demographic evolution, builders are now using their creativity to propose residential complexes adapted to the taste, the needs and the aspirations of mid-age people who are still in good shape. An increasing number of young retirees or pre-retirees are selling or intend to sell their suburban home to begin a new step in their life. Whether looking for the lively atmosphere of the city or for an oasis of peace located as far as possible from the urban environment, between all architectural styles, the many interior designs, high-end collective equipment, the diversity of services included or à la carte and even the size of complexes where they can buy or rent a housing unit, young retirees truly have plenty of choice!
An event focusing on design!
During Fall Open House, households wishing to change décor may try the “Habitat Design Circuit” and find their inspiration in the many furnished model units that will allow them to appreciate all modern trends in the fields of interior design and residential architecture. You will all find innovative ideas in terms of colours, lighting, floor covering, decorative elements, etc. In fact, this is a wonderful window on design vanguard to help all those wishing to transform their living space!
The virtual world settles once and for all in the sales office
This year, in collaboration, among others, with SmartPixel, sales offices participating in Fall Open House will allow buyers to visualize their next home and learn about new state-of-the-art technologies. This interactive and immersive approach based on the latest developments in the field of video games allows buyers who are not very familiar with blueprint reading to better appreciate and to understand their future living environment.
From intuition to achievement. ACDF Architecture professionals invite us in their workshop
Never seen before! On Sundays, October 27th and November 3rd, the ACDF Architecture firm, known for using a multidisciplinary approach for design, invites the population to familiarize itself with its original ideation process that led to achievements marking the modern Montreal and Canadian urban landscape. In addition to visiting its workshop and to speaking with designers who will be present, it will be possible to witness the production of mock-ups leading to the first intuitions of creators that they will then materialize using virtual tools.
A Guide and the Corresponding Web site: www.monhabitationneuve.com
During Fall Open House, visitors will also be capable of buying at the participating developers’ sales office the printed version of the 2019 Buyer’s Guide, which contains a wealth of information for any aspiring home owner. The most determined visitors will certainly take advantage of this opportunity to improve their knowledge of the housing market while exploring the reference site at MonHabitationNeuve.com.
The list of all these projects, including the price range, is available on the campaign Web site (MonHabitationNeuve.com), that will remain active until September 2020. Households intending to buy a new home may find information on all aspects of their project, find the answer quickly to their questions and take a virtual tour of several of the units that are registered.
Presented by GuideHabitation.ca, Fall Open House are organized within the framework of the campaign Le mois de l’habitation, developed in collaboration with DuProprio, GE Appliances and the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ. Produced by Jacques Beaulieu, consultant, promoter in the new residential sector since more than 20 years.
- 30 -
Media Relations:
Jacques Beaulieu
Phone: 514-255-4066
j.beaulieu@jbeaulieu.com
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
22nd edition of the Open House Weekends
on April 7, 8 and 14, 15:
An excellent opportunity for buyers: Innovation, creativity and excellence in new housing, plus a new challenge issued to professionals!
Montréal, March 22, 2017—Over the years, the Open House Weekends have emerged as the most important event dedicated to new housing in Québec and the 22nd edition (April 7, 8 and 14, 15) will certainly be an excellent one.
Indeed, the event will still be held under ideal conditions for buyers: a balanced market, mortgage rates still very low, a rising employment rate and a positive net migration supporting demand in Greater Montréal. Only one downside, the anticipated increases in mortgage rates could quickly change the situation! That gives real meaning to the campaign’s theme “It’s time to buy!” which refers to the unparalleled supply of new styles of housing currently on the market in more than 70 participating house and condo projects: for first-time homebuyers, for families, for the 55+, as well as for affluent households and luxury lovers, and even new apartments for rent and for the first time, some projects offered in the National Capital region.
The perfect opportunity to take action now!
According to the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l’habitation du Québec (APCHQ), given an anticipated slowdown in economic growth and job creation and other probable increases in interest rates, the number of housing starts forecasted for 2018 in Québec will decrease by 1.2% compared to 2017 to reach 41,500, of which 20,751 in the Montréal metropolitan area (8,534 rental units, 7,525 co-ownership units and 4,689 single family homes). On the other hand, according to the Greater Montréal Real Estate Board (GMREB), 4,081 residential sales were completed in February 2018, which represents an increase of 5% over the same period last year. This is a 36th consecutive increase and also the best month of February since 2012.
Under the banner of innovation, wood is gaining momentum as a high-performance building material
As part of the Circuit Innovation Cecobois, visitors will also be able to discover, both in Québec City and the Montréal metropolitan area, innovative residential projects using engineered wood and a brand-new modular construction technique developed in Québec enabling to erect high-rise constructions with CLT solid wood panels recognized for their superb structural, energy and environmental performance.
The Domus Awards — Symbol of Excellence since 1984
In collaboration with the APCHQ – metropolitan Montréal region – The Open House Weekends will invite the public to discover the finalists and winners of the 35th Domus Awards, which honour professional builders who demonstrate notorious qualities as businessmen, innovators and developers of quality housing projects. Since the launch of the competition, 3,300 applications have been submitted and some 400 awards have been presented.
5th edition of the Habitat Design Awards: The Public’s Choice and new challenges
In addition, as part of the Habitat Design Awards, which recognize the best model units and best designed sales offices, the public will be invited to vote for their favourite decorated unit among the finalists in the running. In addition to stocking up on decorating ideas, participants will automatically be eligible to win a GE Appliance Set valued at $5,000.
Universal design and the Richelieu Awards to recognize the talent of emerging young interior designers
Building on their success, the Richelieu Awards will be back this year. This time, inspired by the micro-spaces of the residential projects Noca in Griffintown and Ateliers Castelnau in the Mile-Ex, under development by DevMcGill, the creators will have to offer their vision of the urban apartment of tomorrow under the banner of universal design. Once again this year, the winners of this competition will be chosen by professional designers and architects who are eager to discover young emerging talents and are ready to cast their e-vote on a website designed for this purpose.
Launching of the new Val-Mar Challenge in landscape architecture
Finally, this spring, landscape architects will be invited to take up the Val-Mar Challenge in landscape architecture. To this end, participants will be required to submit to the jury an innovative concrete pool construction concept for the Prével 21e Arrondissement multi-residential project in Old Montréal or for a single-family dwelling of the Les Maisons du Nouveau-Saint-Laurent project of Rodimax.
The Open House Weekends are organized by the firm Jacques Beaulieu Consultant, and are presented by Guidehabitation.ca, in collaboration with the Association des designers d’intérieur du Québec (APDIQ), the Association des architectes paysagistes du Québec, Richelieu, Val-Mar, Go Cube, GE Appliances, duProprio, Cecobois, Batimat, and Formes magazine. The public choice and the Habitat Design Awards recipients will be revealed in June 2018.
2018 edition of the Open House Weekends: Saturdays and Sundays April 7, 8 and 14, 15, from 1 to 5 pm.
Information: 514 255-4066
Website: www.visiteslibres.info
- 30 -
Press relations:
Andrée Peltier
514.846.0003 – cell.: 514.944.8689
apeltier@videotron.ca
Facebook
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.