Posts Tagged ‘home construction’
Home buyers demand smaller, smarter designs
Posted by: soconnor in New home builders, Real estate industry news on February 24th, 2010
The results of Better Homes and Gardens magazine’s Next Home Survey are in, and buyers have spoken.
Prospective new home buyers list energy-efficiency, organization and comfort as their top priorities in considering their next move. Demand for traditional McMansions appears to be waning as more and more people come to value intelligent design over wow factor.
“We continue to see a ‘cents and sensibilities’ approach when it comes to buying or improving a home, said Eliot Nusbaum, Better Homes and Gardens’ executive editor for home design. “Today’s homeowner is also looking for a home that fits the entire family—from a multi-tasking home office, to expanded storage space, to a living room that can adapt to advancements in home entertainment and technology.”
Builders working to reduce impact of HST on new home buyers
Posted by: soconnor in Finance & insurance, First time home buyers, New Homes and Condos, New home builders, Real estate industry news, Real estate market updates on February 19th, 2010
The controversial new HST rules have been causing quite a stir as their July 1, 2010 implementation date approaches, and nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of the biggest of big purchases, new home sales.
The good news for most Ontario homebuyers is that because of the way the tax is structured, there will be no significant increase in cost for new homes that are priced below $400,000.
Homebuilders lining up to become licensed for energy efficiency
Posted by: editors note in First time home buyers, New Homes and Condos, Tips for Green Living on November 4th, 2009
(NC)—It’s easy being green, at least for builders of new homes in Canada. The trend towards building energy-efficient homes has never been hotter as more and more builders across Canada are calling Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to become licensed builders under their energy-efficient new homes initiatives.
Renovation tax credit boosts home improvement projects in Canada: RBC survey
Posted by: editors note in Home decor, Home improvement tips, Real estate industry news, Real estate market updates on October 22nd, 2009
A majority (63 per cent) of Canadian renovators plan to take advantage of the federal government’s home renovation tax credit this year and close to half (47 per cent) have done more renovations because of the tax break, according to a new RBC study.
Housing activity will moderate in 2009, improve in 2010
Posted by: editors note in First time home buyers, New Homes and Condos, Real estate industry news, Real estate market updates on May 28th, 2009
Housing starts are expected to decline to 141,900 for 2009, but increase to 150,300 for 2010, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) second quarter Housing Market Outlook, Canada Edition(*) report.
Canadian Housing market shows some spring in its step
Posted by: editors note in New Homes and Condos on May 12th, 2009
Canada’s housing market is showing signs of emerging from its winter hibernation, according to the latest Real Estate Trends report released today by Scotia Economics. Nationally, home sales strengthened in both February and March, and preliminary reports suggest this
firming trend continued in April.
Concrete is the efficiency kingpin
Posted by: editors note in Home improvement tips, New Homes and Condos, New home builders on February 11th, 2009
(NC)-Concrete is king in green construction-and it’s in high demand by Canadian home builders who insist on energy efficiency, as well as limiting the use of natural resources. The latest technology developed by Nudura, for example, is reported to provide double the insulation by constructing walls, ceilings and floors with pre-assembled, concrete forms. The Nudura system (consisting of Lego-like blocks of reinforced concrete sandwiched between two layers of polystyrene) makes the building project much quicker to construct, with less waste, and with none of the toxic emissions associated with new buildings. This certified concrete system (nudura.com) is now the base for constructing better homes, schools, hospitals, condominiums, hotels, and offices. Money is saved due to durability and energy efficiency – and the resulting structure is reported to be up to nine times stronger, with far more fire protection, far more sound insulation, and with a potential to reduce energy costs of up to 70 percent.