2009 News Index
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US New Home Sales Drop In November
December 23, 2009 - Sales of new homes in the US unexpectedly dropped in November. Prices were also down, while inventories fell as well.
Canadian Markets against the World
December 19, 2009 - The November edition of the Altus Group Housing Report examines the results of Toronto Board of Trade’s First Scorecard on Prosperity.
CHBA SAM Award Nominees Announced
The nominees for the 2009 CHBA National SAM Awards has been unveiled. Awards will be handed out at the CHBA’s 67th National Conference in March.
Ontario Survey Reveals Optimism for Market
December 12, 2009 - Ontario builders and renovators are optimistic about the general outlook for the market in 2010, but remain wary of the impacts resulting from the implementation of the HST
New Housing Starts Up Modestly in November
New urban starts were up 0.7 per cent in November, according to the CMHC. Quebec and the Prairies saw the biggest increases from a regional perspective.
Canada’s Housing Market Projected to Remain Strong in 2010
A new Re/Max report finds that the housing market will remain robust in Canada throughout next year, growing by over seven per cent in volume and five per cent in price.
Rebecca Evans Named New President of Durham Region HBA
The Durham Region HBA has named Rebecca Evans of Midhaven Homes its next president.
Deadline for Industry Consultation Approaches
Industry surveys are due by November 29 in Alberta. Surveys can be completed on-line through the Government of Alberta Municipal Affairs Web site.
BC Government Raises Threshold on HST
November 23, 2009 - The government of British Columbia is proposing to increase the threshold for the Harmonized Sales Tax New Housing Rebate to $525,000
Canadian Real Estate Market Continues Hot Streak
November 17, 2009 - Canada’s real estate market continues to hum along. The CREA has had to increase its guidance for the second time this year.
New Home Starts Up in October
October new home starts were up 5.4 per cent, led by multi-family starts and particularly strong activity in British Columbia and Ontario.
Housing Market Outlook Improves for 2010
November 5, 2009 - CMHC’s latest housing market report suggests the Corporation is more optimistic and is raising its guidance for the Canadian housing market through the end of this year and 2010.
Canadian Housing Sales Push Higher
October 30, 2009 - Canadian home sales and prices pushed higher in the third quarter. Listings, however, were down sharply, and if that trend continues it could put pressure on prices.
US Home Sales Up in September
The latest figures on US home sales show positive signs in a number of areas, but how much of that is thanks to the soon to expire first-time buyers tax credit?
September Altus Group Report Examines Material Losses
The most recent Altus Group report finds that lower investments in the residential construction sector has had a profound impact on related industries.
Housing Starts Down in September
October 8, 2009 - CMHC announced that total starts was down 4.6 per cent in September, but starts of single homes climbed to reach their highest level so far this year.
Local Unions Honoured for their Generosity
October 5, 2009 - The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) honoured two local unions for making $200,000 in charitable donations to help build classrooms
Awards Presented in BC Interior
September 29, 2009 - The 2009 Keystone Awards, honouring achievement by the members of the BC Central Interior Home Builder’s Association, were handed out this past Saturday.
US New Home Sales Rise
September 25, 2009 - American new home sales in August rose to their highest level since September 2008. Prices were down sharply to their lowest level since October 2003.
Lethbridge Hosts Their Largest Ever Parade of Homes
September 22, 2009 - CHBA Lethbridge Region will be hosting a Parade of homes between September 26th and October 11th, which will feature 36 showhomes from 20 local builders.
Ontario Home Builders’ Association Welcomes New President
September 18, 2009 - The Ontario Home Builders’ Association will be electing James Bazely, owner of Gregor Homes, as its new president.
Housing Outlook Conferences Fast Approaching
September 15, 2009 - The CMHC’s annual Housing Outlook Conferences will be hitting cities across Canada in November, find out when and where to be for these valuable meetings.
Vancouver Special Celebrated During Two-day Event
September 15, 2009 - The Vancouver Special style of homes will be celebrated on September 21st and 26th with a lecture and a self-guided tour which will examine the style’s past, present and future.
Starts Charge Ahead in August
September 9, 2009 - After pausing to take a breather in July, Canadian housing starts were up sharply in August by 12.1 per cent.
Altus Group Report Looks Back for Trends
September 5, 2009 - Among the findings from the latest Altus Group report are that between 2001 and 2006 the market for new homes was driven by first-time home buyers and a growing number of single or non-family individuals.
Big Changes in Canadian Facilities
September 1, 2009 - CAN-BEST is opening a new facility in Maple Ridge to better serve their Western Canadian clients, while Dow Building Solutions announced important changes to the production process used in their Varennes facility.
US Housing Starts Decline by One Per Cent
Housing starts in the US were flat for the month of July, signaling a break in a trend of upward momentum. Will it carry on or is a backslide in the cards?
Canada Housing Starts Decrease in July
The slight decline in July’s housing starts is mostly attributable to the volatile multiple starts segment.
US Housing Sales Rise Most in Eight Years
July 27, 2009 - Sales of new homes in the US rose by 11 per cent in June, producing yet another sign that the recession may be on its last legs.
Bank of Canada Declares Recession Over
July 24, 2009 - The Bank of Canada has announced that the Canadian economy will grow by 1.3 per cent on an annualized basis in the current quarter, thus putting an end to the recession which has been in effect since the end of 2008
2009 CARE Award Nominees Announced
July 16, 2009 - The Vancouver Island Home Builders Association has announced the nominees for the 18th annual Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence Awards.
New Feature in Hilti’s Tool Fleet Management
July 14, 2009 - Hilti has announced a new program which will provide replacement tools to customers who’s tools are under repair.
New Rules for Condo Sales in Ontario
July 9, 2009 - Transitional rules pertaining to new home transactions that straddle the HST effective date of July 1, 2010, have been laid out.
WorldSkills Competition in Final Preparation Stage
July 7, 2009 - Mike Holmes spoke at a breakfast event to honour Team Canada as it prepares for the WorldSkills Competition to be held this September in Calgary.
US Housing Starts Soar
June 18, 2009 - US housing starts grew more than expected in May, led by a rebound in multi-family starts.
Altus Group Sees Reno Market Cooling
June 11, 2009 - In their latest report, Altus projects renovation spending to decline through 2010.
Housing Starts Rise in May
June 8, 2009 - National housing starts were up last month, lending further weight to the argument that the housing market has bottomed.
Nine-year old is Hamilton’s Builder for a Day
June 5, 2009 - Hamilton’s second annual Builder for a Day contest drew 400 entries from local fourth-graders dreaming of carrot cake trees and diamond door bells.
Waterloo Region HBA Welcomes New President
June 3, 2009 - Brian Blackmere has been named the 36th president of the Waterloo Region Home Builders’ Association.
16th Annual Parade of Renovated Homes in British Columbia
May 28, 2009 - This year’s renovation industry showcase will feature a record 17 participants, most located in the Greater Vancouver area.
CMHC Projects Starts Will Fall 33% in 2009
May 22, 2009 - The CMHC’s latest quarterly Housing Market Outlook reveals that national starts are expected to drop by a third in 2009 before bouncing back six per cent in 2010.
Ontario Multiples Pull down April Starts
May 11, 2009 - The latest housing start stats from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation indicate a national decline in April, powered mostly by a sharp drop in the Ontario multi-family segment.
Central Alberta HBA Honours Best and Brightest
April 28, 2009 - The Central Alberta Home Builders’ Association hosted its 2009 Awards Gala this week, honouring its new home builders in a number of categories.
Has Canadian Real Estate Market Bottomed?
April 15, 2009 - New data from the Canadian Real Estate Association suggests recovery may have begun in real estate market as activity has increased for a second consecutive month.
Starts Unexpectedly Rise in March
April 8, 2009 - The CMHC has announced there was an unexpected spike in new home starts for the month of March. The 13.7 per cent increase puts the annual rate of starts at its highest point this year.
EcoENERGY Grants to Rise By 25%
March 31, 2009 - Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt announced yesterday that Canadian homeowners will be able to claim an additional 25 per cent or $300 million in grants under the EcoENERGY Retrofit–Homes program.
Ontario Announces Tax Harmonization
March 27, 2009 - The province of Ontario announced that as of next year, it will be using a harmonized 13 per cent tax rate. Aside from a couple of notable exceptions, this will increase the price of new homes and renovations in the province
RONA Unveils New Collection
March 23, 2009 - The Oasis, Global Village and Spirit lines are the latest under the RONA by Design brand. They cover a wide range of colours and feels and boast contributions from renowned artist Jean-Claude Poitras.
Ontario's Building Code to Undergo Facelift
February 17, 2009 - Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has hinted that changes are in the offing for the province's building code but has so far been short on details and long on innuendo.
No Surprise, January Starts Down
February 10, 2009 - The CMHC released its findings for the month of January in terms of new home starts. The results were grim, especially out West where the fall has been precipitous.
CMHC Gets In Your Crawl Space
February 6, 2009 - In a recent Technical Series report, the CMHC examined the remediation of dilapidated crawl spaces and what strategies proved most effective.
Renovation Industry May Benefit Most from Budget
February 3, 2009- A $3 billion tax credit for renovations is good news for the construction industry, but so is the fact you'll need a receipt to get it.
Flaherty Delivers Relief
January 28, 2009- Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unveiled his 2009 Economic Action Plan and, to the delight of home builders, it could include nearly $8 billion in tax relief and direct funding for the residential construction industry.
Housing Sales in GTA Halved
January 19, 2009 - Greater Toronto REALTORS released their sales figures for the first two weeks of January and at first blush the numbers are grim.
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