Because of rising housing prices
The two necessities in life are food and shelter. It looks like both are getting much more expensive. For a few years, the cost of food has been the most important food affordability barrier. Not anymore. The cost of housing is now seen by Canadians as the most significant barrier. A recent poll conducted by…
Innovative, low-cost features that make it easier for homeowners to maintain their independence over the long term
What does a home look like for someone who wants to stay there as they grow older? It’s a question that a University of Alberta researcher and an Edmonton-based homebuilder are tackling through innovative design. Collaborating with Effect Home Builders and using evidence-based research, doctoral candidate Lara Pinchbeck is helping identify meaningful features that can help design forever…
Only the private sector can deliver the high-quality housing that reserves need. Government waiting lists will never catch up
Adequate housing – especially in remote and northern locations – is an intractable problem facing First Nation communities. The high cost of housing in these locations and the never-ending cycle of backlogs plague reserve communities across Canada. The federal government must pledge to make housing a commitment on the same level as safe drinking water…
Construction and design features matter more to buyers than price or age of properties, engineering researchers find
Physical features such as construction materials, interior finishes and air conditioning are better determinants of how well a condo sells than price or building age, according to a University of Alberta study looking to pinpoint design-related features that increase the probability of a condo’s sale. “We’re trying to provide a framework through which builders can evaluate…
New guide shows how planners can revive urban centres by shifting focus of vacant spaces from commercial to cultural
In the wake of economic fallout from COVID-19, urban centres could see a sharp increase in abandoned spaces as some businesses are forced to close. But vacant space doesn’t have to sit idle, according to a research associate with the University of Alberta’s Wirth Institute. If managed properly, it could spark a cultural revival of sorts,…
RBC Economics’ data showed that both Alberta cities had much lower shares of income that a household would need to cover ownership costs
Calgary and Edmonton continue to be the most affordable housing markets for major Canadian cities. In its first quarter report, Housing Trends and Affordability, RBC Economics’ data showed that both Alberta cities had much lower shares of income that a household would need to cover ownership costs. For Calgary the percentage was 38.1 per cent…
Almost half (44 per cent) of Canadians believe that the real estate market will bounce back to the strength it was before COVID-19 by 2021
A new survey says 56 per cent of Canadians who are planning to engage in the real estate market expect to do so in less than a year, showing an eagerness to get back to buying and selling, reported RE/MAX Canada on Tuesday. The survey, conducted by Leger, found: Almost half (44 per cent) of…
But the May 2020 sales figure was still the lowest level for that month since the mid-1990s, says real estate association
Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS systems rebounded by a record 56.9 per cent in May although, that is as a percentage of the weakest month of April on record, reported the Canadian Real Estate Association on Monday. "As such, the May gain constituted a return of only a third of the activity lost between…
The number of housing starts in the Calgary region fell by 11 per cent in May from year-ago levels, says the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
The number of housing starts in the Calgary region fell by 11 per cent in May from year-ago levels, according to new data released Monday by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The federal agency reported that single-detached starts of 262 in the Calgary census metropolitan area for the month was down 11 per cent from…
As of June 7, the first week of the month has experienced 300 MLS sales which has dropped by 32.89 per cent compared to the same period a year ago
The pace of activity in Calgary's resale housing market has picked up in June but transactions remain significantly down from a year ago. According to the Calgary Real Estate Board website, as of June 7, the first week of the month has experienced 300 MLS sales which has dropped by 32.89 per cent compared to…