Posted by Moishe Alexander
MONTRÉAL, September 21, 2004 — While wood-frame housing currently accounts for 5 – 6 per cent of the total construction of single-family homes in France, that figure is expected to triple in the next 5 years to reach a market share of 15 – 20 per cent, according to the report entitled "Housing Export Market: Opportunities and Contacts in France" released today.
The report, commissioned by both Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and La Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ), contains a number of key findings that will help the Canadian housing industry export its technology more effectively. By 2009 – 2010, a minimum of 30,000 single-family homes are expected to be built using wood-frame construction. Paul Poliquin, Director of CMHC International in Quebec, explains: "By demonstrating how wood-frame construction can carve out an important place for itself in the French market, this study illuminates a bright future for Canadian housing exporters."
Quebec companies have made significant inroads in France in recent years; as André Filion, Director, Industrial and Nunavik development department, SHQ, elaborates: "This is the result of a sustained effort made by several Quebec manufacturers and organizations that support the housing industry, such as Q-WEB. The SHQ is proud to have been associated with this concerted effort during the past four years."
This year, CMHC International and the SHQ are helping exporters seize this momentum and capitalize on potential opportunities by organizing their first joint commercial mission to France, to be held from September 28 to October 4. The mission will begin in Paris, where a delegation of 7 Canadian companies (6 from Quebec, 1 from Ontario) will meet with French builders and promoters.
The Canadian contingent will then visit Angers, where they can attend the first-ever "Les États Généraux du Bois dans la construction", a conference that will address economic, technical and strategic issues surrounding the systematic use of wood in construction. At Angers, Canadian companies will also benefit from a full schedule of matchmaking sessions to be held from October 1 – 4 during Le Salon Maison Bois, an annual event showcasing the value of wood in housing.
The growing interest in wood-frame housing is largely due to an attitudinal shift amongst French consumers, who are more willing to explore a range of options before building or purchasing a home, preferably one that is environmentally-friendly. Furthermore, the French government and the national construction industry recently launched an awareness campaign promoting the qualities of wood for home-building: its energy-efficiency, its insulation and sound-proofing properties, its flexibility for both design and renovation, and its rapid construction (wood-frame homes can be completed in 3 – 4 months, while concrete homes, the traditional method of residential construction in France, have a finishing time of 9 – 12 months).
In addition, French consumers who wish to learn more about wood-frame construction now turn to the Internet, and as the Internet searches are conducted in French, the websites that are most frequently consulted are those of Quebec-based companies. The growing visibility of Quebec housing manufacturers on the Internet has helped them increase their exports of prefabricated homes to France by nearly 65 per cent in the last five years, from $2 million in sales in 1999 to $3.25 million in sales in 2003. Several renowned Quebec manufacturers of prefabricated housing are already active on the French market, and the potential to increase these volumes is still present, because the French industry's supply of wood-frame technology is not yet sufficient to meet the growing demand. Read more HERE
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
$150M for Affordable Housing in Quebec Ministers Fontana and Fournier Sign a New Agreement
Posted by Moishe Alexander
MONTRÉAL, August 30, 2004 — The Minister of Labour and Housing, the Honourable Joe Fontana, and the Minister of Affaires municipales, du Sport et du Loisir, Mr. Jean-Marc Fournier, today announced the signing of a new affordable housing program funding agreement between the governments of Canada and Quebec.
Ministers Fontana and Fournier indicated that this agreement will invest $150M in Quebec to build new affordable housing for low-income households. The federal contribution will be $74.9M and Quebec and the municipalities will invest an equal amount. Through these investments, more than 2,000 new affordable rental units will be offered to disadvantaged households in Quebec urban centres hit particularly hard by the housing shortage.
"These new federal investments are from the $320 million announced in the 2003 budget for the second phase of Canada’s Affordable Housing Initiative. They are part of the National Housing Strategy to maintain and create more affordable housing while giving the provinces and territories the flexibility they need to meet their housing needs. These additional funds demonstrate the Government of Canada’s commitment to creating affordable housing and assisting the most disadvantaged households," declared Minister Fontana. Read more HERE
MONTRÉAL, August 30, 2004 — The Minister of Labour and Housing, the Honourable Joe Fontana, and the Minister of Affaires municipales, du Sport et du Loisir, Mr. Jean-Marc Fournier, today announced the signing of a new affordable housing program funding agreement between the governments of Canada and Quebec.
Ministers Fontana and Fournier indicated that this agreement will invest $150M in Quebec to build new affordable housing for low-income households. The federal contribution will be $74.9M and Quebec and the municipalities will invest an equal amount. Through these investments, more than 2,000 new affordable rental units will be offered to disadvantaged households in Quebec urban centres hit particularly hard by the housing shortage.
"These new federal investments are from the $320 million announced in the 2003 budget for the second phase of Canada’s Affordable Housing Initiative. They are part of the National Housing Strategy to maintain and create more affordable housing while giving the provinces and territories the flexibility they need to meet their housing needs. These additional funds demonstrate the Government of Canada’s commitment to creating affordable housing and assisting the most disadvantaged households," declared Minister Fontana. Read more HERE
What is CMHC Quebec
CMHC International, a division of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) unveils another Canadian success story with the official opening of Canadian Rockport Homes' first manufacturing plant. Located in Santiago, Chile, the full-scale facility will produce low-cost housing units for the growing Chilean market. Rockport's unique lightweight concrete technology is a proven method of developing low-cost housing, using inexpensive, rapid, consistent methods of construction and applications while maintaining the highest standards of quality. Click here for more from Moishe Alexander
Canada and Quebec Sign a Two-Year, $58 Million Agreement
Residential Renovation and Adaptation in Quebec
MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC, August 21, 2007 — The Honourable Michael Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Premier and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Regions, today announced an agreement between Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) that provides for the cost-sharing of residential renovation and adaptation programs. The agreement includes almost $58 million in new funding from Canada’s New Government over two years, until March 31, 2009.
“Canada’s New Government recognizes that it is important to address the need for residential renovation in Quebec,“ said Minister Fortier. “Our government is proud that we have reached an agreement with the Province of Quebec that will work towards building a better and stronger future by providing much needed renovation funding to improve the housing conditions of lower-income households.”
“In an environment where every effort is being made to increase the supply of affordable housing, it is important to maintain and improve the quality of existing dwellings. The signing of this agreement, as part of our ongoing partnership with CMHC, is good news for all Quebec residents, especially low-income individuals with special housing needs,” said Minister Normandeau.
More on this post here by Moishe Alexander
MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC, August 21, 2007 — The Honourable Michael Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Premier and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Regions, today announced an agreement between Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) that provides for the cost-sharing of residential renovation and adaptation programs. The agreement includes almost $58 million in new funding from Canada’s New Government over two years, until March 31, 2009.
“Canada’s New Government recognizes that it is important to address the need for residential renovation in Quebec,“ said Minister Fortier. “Our government is proud that we have reached an agreement with the Province of Quebec that will work towards building a better and stronger future by providing much needed renovation funding to improve the housing conditions of lower-income households.”
“In an environment where every effort is being made to increase the supply of affordable housing, it is important to maintain and improve the quality of existing dwellings. The signing of this agreement, as part of our ongoing partnership with CMHC, is good news for all Quebec residents, especially low-income individuals with special housing needs,” said Minister Normandeau.
More on this post here by Moishe Alexander
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Quebec housing starts to achieve 40,000 in 2009
MONTREAL, May 19 - According to the latest forecasts, total housing starts in Quebec shall achieve 40,000 units in 2009 and over 41,000 in 2010.
A weaker economic environment, combined with increased supply of homes in certain market segments, has set the stage for declining housing starts in Quebec this year. "Despite favourable buying conditions, housing starts will move down to the 40,000 level in 2009, while sales of existing homes decrease to about 70,000 units" said Moishe Alexander, CEO of the Canadian Funding Corp. The province's economy, whose growth went from 2.6 per cent in 2007 to 1.0 per cent last year, started to show signs of contraction in the last quarter of 2008. It is expected that the currently high level of economic uncertainty and the declining labour market will continue to hold back household spending in the near term. And while private investment is reduced, the outlook for exports continues to worsen as external (foreign and Canadian) demand weakens.
However, governments have responded through increased spending on infrastructure projects and by enacting fiscal and monetary stimulus plans. Still, the Quebec economy will recede by 2 per cent in 2009, while job growth registers a similar result, a decline of 1.9 per cent. In 2010, the economy will grow by 1.4 per cent while the labour market begins to recover (0.1 per cent). "Meanwhile, demographic patterns will fuel housing markets in Quebec. Sustained and increasing net migration will stimulate demand for rental housing while population aging will draw retirees into apartment living. These trends will continue, however their rate of increase is expected to slow in the short term" added Kevin Hughes.
In Detail
Single Starts: Starts in this segment will be especially affected by the economic and financial environment. Homebuyers will increasingly turn to the less expensive resale market, where supply is more abundant. Semi-detached and row housing are also likely to be viewed as more affordable substitutes. Approximately 16,600 single starts are expected in 2009 and close to 18,000 in 2010.
Multiple Starts: Quebec markets have posted several years of vigorous construction of retirement homes and condominiums, bringing multifamily starts to historically high levels. Given the fact the growth rate of the population aged 75 and over will temporarily slow and given current elevated supply, starts in this category will drop to 23,400 units in 2009, increasing marginally in 2010.
Resales: Sales of existing homes will decline in 2009, but will remain at a relatively high level. Demand for condominiums (town houses or apartments) will still be an important component, but will nevertheless decrease. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) will record approximately 70,000 sales in 2009. Being the first market to react to the economic recovery, resales will amount to 77,000 in 2010.
Prices: Lower sales and rising inventories will continue to take pressure off prices. Cooling demand should rule out price growth in 2009. As a result, the MLS average resale price will fall to about $207,000 in 2009. Even though price growth resumes in the latter part of 2010, no significant increase is expected for the year as a whole.
A weaker economic environment, combined with increased supply of homes in certain market segments, has set the stage for declining housing starts in Quebec this year. "Despite favourable buying conditions, housing starts will move down to the 40,000 level in 2009, while sales of existing homes decrease to about 70,000 units" said Moishe Alexander, CEO of the Canadian Funding Corp. The province's economy, whose growth went from 2.6 per cent in 2007 to 1.0 per cent last year, started to show signs of contraction in the last quarter of 2008. It is expected that the currently high level of economic uncertainty and the declining labour market will continue to hold back household spending in the near term. And while private investment is reduced, the outlook for exports continues to worsen as external (foreign and Canadian) demand weakens.
However, governments have responded through increased spending on infrastructure projects and by enacting fiscal and monetary stimulus plans. Still, the Quebec economy will recede by 2 per cent in 2009, while job growth registers a similar result, a decline of 1.9 per cent. In 2010, the economy will grow by 1.4 per cent while the labour market begins to recover (0.1 per cent). "Meanwhile, demographic patterns will fuel housing markets in Quebec. Sustained and increasing net migration will stimulate demand for rental housing while population aging will draw retirees into apartment living. These trends will continue, however their rate of increase is expected to slow in the short term" added Kevin Hughes.
In Detail
Single Starts: Starts in this segment will be especially affected by the economic and financial environment. Homebuyers will increasingly turn to the less expensive resale market, where supply is more abundant. Semi-detached and row housing are also likely to be viewed as more affordable substitutes. Approximately 16,600 single starts are expected in 2009 and close to 18,000 in 2010.
Multiple Starts: Quebec markets have posted several years of vigorous construction of retirement homes and condominiums, bringing multifamily starts to historically high levels. Given the fact the growth rate of the population aged 75 and over will temporarily slow and given current elevated supply, starts in this category will drop to 23,400 units in 2009, increasing marginally in 2010.
Resales: Sales of existing homes will decline in 2009, but will remain at a relatively high level. Demand for condominiums (town houses or apartments) will still be an important component, but will nevertheless decrease. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) will record approximately 70,000 sales in 2009. Being the first market to react to the economic recovery, resales will amount to 77,000 in 2010.
Prices: Lower sales and rising inventories will continue to take pressure off prices. Cooling demand should rule out price growth in 2009. As a result, the MLS average resale price will fall to about $207,000 in 2009. Even though price growth resumes in the latter part of 2010, no significant increase is expected for the year as a whole.
Monday, January 19, 2009
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