New Homes
New Homes
Urban location, rural lifestyle
No matter what your budget, buying a home is never a simple proposition.
That's because we - admit it or not - want a home that has it all. Which is to say, most of us would love a like-new home with all kinds of space - and that's well-removed from potentially noisy (and nosy) neighbours.
Reality is, most of us will never realize our dream to own a home that has all the prerequisites (a long list, at that) that we wrote down on a blank eight-by-eleven sheet of paper.
Nevertheless, you can come close to Nirvana - provided you're able to appreciate a home's strengths and live with (or, over time address) some minor shortcomings.
One such example is 318 Chalfont Drive, a 2,646 sq. ft., two-storey home found on the eastern edge of Charleswood next to the Assiniboine Forest. Built in 2006 by Huntington Homes, 318 Chalfont has much to offer: a contemporary design, superior construction quality - the home was built on piles with a structural wood floor - and a central, yet countrified location.
"It's a like-new home that's essentially a spacious sanctuary of warmth," said RE/MAX Executives' Esther Dyck. "I think the location is excellent. You can get downtown and out to most areas of the city quickly, yet you're on a huge lot with your own private, beautifully-treed back yard. And you're next to the Assiniboine Forest, and only minutes from Assiniboine Park."
As attractive as the location is - it never hurts to head home to a residence that's close to the middle of the city, yet feels like you're outside city limits in a world of your own - there's the home itself, which truly is like-new, and offers all kinds of space on all three levels.
In total, the home contains four bedrooms -- three upstairs and one downstairs-- that immediately qualifies 318 Chalfont as a home that would be ideal for a large, active family.
"The two secondary bedrooms upstairs are larger than normal and come with big windows and ample storage - one even has a walk-in closet," said Dyck. "Both rooms are bright and private and have room for kids to grow into. A four-piece bathroom (also huge) and linen closet and master bedroom make up the rest of the upper level."
And what a master suite it is. For starters, there's not only a huge picture window set in the back wall, but two other large windows set on the side walls. Having so much glass concentrated in one spot accomplishes two things, Dyck said.
"It's the master bedroom of your dreams with the view of the park-like back yard below and all the natural light that pours in," she said. "Then, there's the luxurious ensuite with its (corner) air jet tub, tile floor, five-foot shower and huge walk-in closet. The bedroom is big enough to put a reading chair (or two) by the windows. When you look down into the yard, you feel like you're out in the country."
The main level - which features dark maples hardwoods throughout - is also well-appointed. An open-concept great room area contains an island kitchen (the island is no less than nine feet long), which is tastefully finished with honey maple cabinetry, a tan tile backsplash and dark brown laminate counter tops. Stainless appliances by Jenn-Air and Bosch finish out the kitchen in efficient style.
Meanwhile, the family room is not only big and bright (thanks to another picture window), but beautifully finished with a wood burning fireplace that comes with an insert that can blow the fire's warmth throughout the area on chilly winter nights. Adjacent to the kitchen is a dining room with tray ceiling (and two more large windows) that borders doors that lead to a back yard deck.
"To me, the thing that stands out the most is the huge windows," said Dyck. "I love the fact that you can see the whole back yard from virtually any point in the great room - you can see the beautiful pines and elms out back, along with any deer that might wander by. A deck door takes you to a private, multi-tiered deck with hot tub and a stone patio. It's a great spot in the summer."
Because this is a home of recent vintage, it also features - in a compact wing by the deck door - a powder room and main floor laundry/mudroom that offers quick access to the double attached garage. Purchase an older home down the road in Tuxedo, and the floor plan may not be as efficient.
Last but not least is an expansive, fully-finished lower level that contains a media room, games room, fourth bedroom, three-piece bathroom and ample storage.
"This home may require a few tweaks - some new paint, new flooring downstairs and perhaps granite counter tops in the kitchen and bathrooms - but this isn't a 100-year-old home that requires multiple upgrades," she added. "With a few minor changes, you can have a great family home that has space, style and is in a wonderful location that's private, yet close to everything."
lewys@mts.net
DETAILS
Location: 381 Chalfont Road, Charleswood
Year Built: 2006
Style: Two-storey
Size: 2,646 sq. ft.
Lot Size: 73' x 326'
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3.5
Taxes: $7,975 (Gross 2011)
Price: $770,000
Contact: Esther Dyck, RE/MAX Executives Realty @ 987-9800
New Homes
All gussied up
In this day and age of the 2,000- square-foot-plus home, anything less than that doesn't seem so big.
That is, unless its layout is logical and precise. Which is exactly what Randall Homes did with the Newport A, which is 1,768 sq. ft., says sales representative Fred Dawes of Randall Homes.
"When a home is this size, every inch has to be well-used," says Dawes as he surveys the great room of the latest incarnation of the Newport A, found at 210 Tychonick Bay in Kildonan Green. "There's little, if any wasted space on any of its three levels."
Due to the design -- the garage is flush with the front of the home, which reduced interior space on the main floor -- space never feels as if it's at a premium. That feeling of space not only comes from a well-thought-out layout, but also from incorporating clever design tricks in key areas.
Take, for example, the foyer, which is positioned under a soaring ceiling right next to an open-concept dining/flex room. Although the area isn't huge, it feels larger than it is. With an L-shaped upper-level staircase (finished with a maple bannister and antique-style metal spindles) and large windows surrounding the area, the foyer gets the house off to a bright, spacious start.
Even though the foyer is open-concept, it gives way to an angled hallway that allows you to see only a sliver of the great room -- a welcome feature for those who don't want visitors to take in the main level with one glance.
Meanwhile, the great room is notable for two things: the amount of natural light that flows through it and its open, yet segmented floor plan. Flow is impressive -- both in terms of ease of movement and light.
"The first thing that hits you is the amount of natural light that flows through the area," Dawes said. "That comes from a big, low-silled window over the kitchen sink, sliding deck doors and a huge window in the family room, all placed along the back wall. In the kitchen, the island is just the right size; the aisles are wide enough so that flow isn't compromised."
Although the great room is bright and open, that doesn't mean it's one big box. The compact island defines the kitchen from the dinette area, while the dinette area is neatly divided from the family room by a Randall trademark, a maple-capped one-third wall with display shelving on the kitchen side and a wine rack on its end. Honey maple cabinets, granite countertops and medium-stained maple hardwoods round out an impressive array of finishes.
It's a feature that adds utility, character and definition. With a huge picture window, maple entertainment unit that spans the width of the rear wall -- the focal point being a gas fireplace set in multi-coloured cultured stone -- it's a distinct area (further defined by taupe carpeting) that would make a great gathering place for guests or family hangout.
Upstairs, an already impressive floor plan gets better. All told, there are four large bedrooms, a laundry room and good-sized four-piece bathroom with soaker tub. Fittingly, the master suite is set off by itself in a secluded spot by the stairs.
"It would be an understatement to say that having four bedrooms and a laundry room on the upper level is a popular feature," Dawes says. "The space offered by the kids' bedrooms and convenience of the laundry room is something families really appreciate."
The private master suite offers weary parents a bright and expansive space in which to regain energy.
"Like the rest of the home, it's very well-laid-out and is an intelligent use of space. It's elegant, spacious and very nicely appointed. A large picture windows lets in all kinds of light, while the bedroom is separated from the ensuite with a one-third, maple capped wall. Just behind the wall is a makeup area with granite counter and maple drawers. There's a hallway that goes past a walk-in closet with bi-fold doors, and into the ensuite."
The ensuite is spectacular, with six-foot soaker tub (with headrest), honey maple vanity, granite countertop and smart brown vinyl floor. A speaker in the ceiling allows you to pipe in relaxing music while you soak.
"This is a home that offers a lot of value," he said. "All the space is well-used, and it's nicely dressed up for a home that's priced at $399,900. It's in a nice neighbourhood, close to amenities on Regent Avenue and Lagimodiere (Boulevard), is on major bus routes and relatively close to downtown. It's an intelligent, affordable plan that serves families well."
Builder: Randall Homes
Model: Newport A
Style: Two-storey
Size: 1,768 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2.5
Address: 210 Tychonick Bay, Kildonan Green
Lot Size: 40' (front) x 63' (back) x 110'
Price: $399,900 (including lot & GST)
Contact: Fred Dawes, Quest Residential Real Estate @ 237-9769 or Tina Dixon, Sales Consultant @ 654-2326
New Homes
Cautious building trend? Not in my Canada
I am going to use this week's column to vent a bit about what constitutes Canada.
I just finished reviewing a document by a reputable private-sector real-estate research and consulting group that cautions the Canadian new-home construction industry regarding future development.
In their short paper, they note that new housing starts are on a par with 2010, which was up 27 per cent from 2009. It also notes that prices are increasing in line with inflation and resales are within the 10-year average. The report also concedes the Canadian economy appears to be performing better than many developed countries.
So, what is the problem that warrants caution?
My first move was to break this down regionally. After all, if Canada is in a caution mode, there must be widespread regional concern.
Well, it's certainly not to be found in Newfoundland, as St. John's has been enjoying unprecedented economic growth and prosperity as reflected in their increased new home starts.
Halifax is showing optimism not displayed in decades. Quebec had a very good year in 2010, and there's no appreciable difference noted for this year.
Saskatchewan has been experiencing the most robust economy in Canada, and Edmonton is bouncing back from some tough times.
Toronto has a very strong condominium market, but there's concern that there is very little resale inventory on the market and not as many people will be buying.
Ottawa is a troubled market experiencing declines, and Calgary remains in a 'bust' phase. B.C. and Vancouver are in wait-and-see mode -- with the pending elimination of the HST, no one is going to make a major purchase until the harsh economic penalties are fully removed.
So, from all that roundup, this research group concludes that Canada is in a cautionary mode. Well, I contend that Canada is more than Ottawa, Calgary and B.C. We have five provinces that are doing exceptionally well, we have parts of other provinces that are either holding their own or starting to rebound, and then we have a few major centres that need to exercise caution.
Canada is much more than three or four urban centres. I appreciate their numbers can impact everyone else due to their size, but my Canada recognizes the uniqueness and strengths of every province.
When one considers every region of this great country, my Canada is doing quite well.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
New Homes
Renovation of the Year awards presented
THE RenoMark Renovators Council of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association held its annual Renovation of the Year Awards Night on Nov. 4 at the Victoria Inn.
A total of 43 entries were received in six different categories from 10 separate renovators. A panel of judges reviewed and evaluated all 43 entries, scoring them on criteria devised specifically for this competition.
The quality of work was amazing and all 43 projects were on display on signs posted in the banquet room. Competition was extremely close and only a point or two separated many entrants
Each category was broken into sub-categories by price point to enable the judges to fairly compare one project to another. The following are the award recipients by category:
-- Category I: Additions
Gold -- Trikor Builders
Gold -- Character Homes
Gold -- Sakiyama Construction
-- Category II: Kitchens
Gold -- Harwood Design Builders
Silver -- Home and Renovation Masters
Bronze -- Home and Renovation Masters
Gold -- Hands-On Design
Gold -- Rempel Builders
Gold -- Rempel Builders
-- Category III: Bathrooms
Gold -- Trikor Builders
Gold -- All Canadian Renovations
-- Category IV: Basements
Gold -- Trikor Builders
Silver -- All Canadian Renovations
Gold -- Harwood Design Builders
Gold -- Harwood Design Builders
-- Category V: Exteriors
Gold -- Harwood Design Builders
Gold -- Oswald Construction
Gold -- Oswald Construction
-- Category VI: Whole House
Gold -- --Home and Renovation Masters
Gold -- Sakiyama Construction
Gold -- Trikor Builders
Congratulations and thanks go to all participants in this year's event.
A considerable amount of work goes into the preparation of each entry.
All entries will be on display at the Ask A Renovator booth at the Kitchen Bath and Renovation Show Jan. 13-15, 2012 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.
For a complete listing of all MHBA renovators and more information on the RenoMark quality guarantee, visit the Manitoba Home Builders' Association web site at www.homebuilders.mb.ca.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
New Homes
Never been a better time to build a new home
THE latest housing forecast summary was released by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation last week and the news is good for all aspects of housing in Winnipeg and Manitoba.
New-home starts in Winnipeg in 2011 will be on a par with the numbers achieved in 2010. Before you ask why standing pat at last year's pace is considered good, you should know that last year represented the most new- home starts in Winnipeg and Manitoba in the past 23 years ---- 3,244 and 5,888 starts respectively.
Overall, starts in Manitoba outside of Winnipeg were reforecast to be down slightly this year. This is a logical premise given the flooding conditions that existed throughout a significant part of the province.
Housing start numbers will continue to be strong throughout 2012 as there are no signs of easing back.
These numbers will hold true for single-family detached houses and for the multi-family sector. Condominiums, townhouses and row houses continue to be in demand, especially in Winnipeg. The city still has one of the lowest apartment vacancy rates in Canada, making that niche attractive to select builders.
How does Manitoba continue to produce such optimistic numbers? It's a variety of factors, never just one thing. Our unemployment rate continues to be among the lowest in Canada. Our GDP continues to grow at around two per cent. After a long series of double-digit price increases in resale homes, 2011 will represent an increase, but a softer one at around four per cent. New-home prices are increasing at approximately the same pace.
One interesting factor to note is that the price of land has been increasing much faster than the price of a new home, primarily due to some externally imposed charges that will be addressed at a later date. Inventory in single- and multi-family homes is quite low so there is very little on the market not already spoken for.
Given that the price of a resale home in Winnipeg is $67,000 less than in Saskatoon and $161,000 less than Calgary, this is still one of the most affordable places in the West to buy or build a new home. All indications for the rest of this year and 2012 are that there's never been a better time or place to build a new home.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
New Homes
Slow and steady approach serves province well
I just returned from the fall meetings of the Canadian Home Builders' Association and it was extremely interesting to hear current trends and future projections on both regional and national levels. We tend to be isolated in Manitoba, given that we have enjoyed steady growth and strong employment for some time.
All indications are that Canada will continue with its solid economy with a 2.5 per cent growth rate in 2012. Interest rates for new home mortgages continue to be at staggeringly great rates in the four per cent range and will likely stay in that neighbourhood over the next three or four quarters.
With our national full-time job growth exceeding our part-time job trend, Canadians will be in an even better position economically as it relates to the purchase of a new home. Uncertainty about the European economic situation tends to promote caution, but that's our style anyway.
New-home prices are still on an upward trend throughout most of Canada and definitely in Manitoba. The Canadian average projection is around 2.5 per cent with British Columbia being the only exception. The confusion caused there by the implementation and then the repeal vote of the Harmonized Sales Tax has brought the new-home market to a standstill.
Very few people are making major purchases until the previous tax regime is restored so that they can save money that would otherwise be taken away by the HST.
Manitoba seems to be bucking a national trend in renovations. Where other provinces have experienced a slight decline in renovation spending after the sale of resale homes, we still want to renew and revitalize before assuming full possession. This may be a product of our older housing stock.
Housing starts in Canada continue to grow. Projections for 2011 exceed 190,000. Much of this optimism is based on the Toronto and Calgary condominium markets combined with a surge in the resale market.
In Manitoba, we enjoyed 5,888 new home starts in 2010. All indications are that this year is tracking close to last year, a year in which we had the most new home starts in 23 years.
Given our natural aversion to risk, this slow and steady approach to big-ticket spending has served us well in recent years and will continue to do so in the future.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.