New Homes
New Homes
Follow local budget plans closely
THE proposed provincial and City of Winnipeg budgets were recently released, each praised in some circles and criticized in others.
The provincial budget was a deficit budget, and the government is in fact projecting deficits until 2014. That's a long time, and media editorials have warned that this could delay or eliminate new programs such as tax cuts while requiring increased user fees. Winnipeg city council approved an operating budget on March 23 that once again froze property taxes.
It's been suggested both budgets are election budgets, with a city vote this October and provincial elections a year later.
Given the inevitability of increased fees and budget deficits, it's interesting to look at what's going on in other jurisdictions and draw comparisons.
The U.S. still has a very long road to recovery. The dollar has been falling steadily over the past few months and some are calling for it to stay at its current rate for an extended period. Employment is likely to be the key to their recovery.
B.C. and Ontario will be implementing the Harmonized Sales Tax effective July 1. The entire country is anxiously watching to see the economic impact on theses provinces and the rest of Canada. Home ownership costs are definitely going to increase. In Nova Scotia, the government which has been in office less than one year is already considering increasing its HST by two per cent.
The federal budget plans to cut back the deficit by reducing spending and supporting economic growth, while not raising taxes. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty expressed confidence in the housing market, refusing to implement some suggestions that would make owning a new home more onerous.
Unfortunately, the popular Home Renovation Tax Credit will not be continued. Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney has called for a modest increase in interest rates in the near future with a 'wait-and-see' attitude regarding another increase in the fall.
So, we're all well advised to follow our local budget plans very closely. We can learn a great deal from neighbouring cities and provinces, both good and bad. Sometimes, slow and steady allows us to learn from the mistakes of others before rushing in to be first in line.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
New Homes
Show homes welcome you year-round
THE 2010 Spring Parade of Homes has ended but you still have plenty of opportunity to revisit those fantastic showhomes that you saw during the two weeks of Parade.
The weather was perfect this year and Manitobans responded in kind as record crowds visited 95 new homes by 38 builders in 30 subdivisions in 11 cities and towns. It was a whirlwind tour for many and one couldn't be expected to visit every home, no matter how hard you tried.
Many people have the mistaken notion that showhomes are only open during the Spring and Fall Parade of Homes. In fact, they're open year-round and, although the hours may not be the same as during Parade, they are able to accommodate all interested clients. So, now that your interest in a new home has been piqued by the Spring Parade, the timing is perfect to follow up with another visit.
Although you undoubtedly received an excellent welcome and introduction to each new home, it was probably quite busy. It may have been difficult to have a private conversation with the sales representative regarding the amenities of that home. Now that you have visited the best new homes in Manitoba, you likely have a number of questions you'd like to ask.
If you took an information piece from the home, it will have the contact number for the sales representative. Call and set up a private viewing. This will give you an opportunity to view in more detail and have a one-on-one conversation without interruption.
If you don't have the direct number but recall the name of the builder, they can facilitate your meeting. If you recall the neighbourhood but not the specific house which interested you, the entire Parade of Homes magazine is on the Manitoba Home Builders' Association website (www.homebuilders.mb.ca) or the Free Press website www.winnipegfreepress.com.
The important thing to remember is that almost all of the wonderful showhomes you saw during the Parade are still available for viewing.
Create your own personal Parade by visiting some of the homes that you weren't able to get to in the past two weeks, and revisit those that intrigued you but require more viewing time.
The 2010 Spring Parade of Homes may be over, but the opportunity to purchase your new dream home has just begun.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
New Homes
Tips for those attending Parade of Homes
The Spring Parade of Homes has started with a bang. We have been enjoying some of our best March weather in recent memory and, if the first week was any indication, crowds will continue to grow as the Parade progresses.
Last year, we printed a primer for Parade attendees; just a couple of tips to maximize your enjoyment of the Parade of Homes. For the benefit of Parade veteran and rookie attendees, the Manitoba Home Builders' Association offers the following tips for a successful Parade:
Wear Comfortable, Slip-on Shoes
There are 95 fantastic new homes available to visit. Although you likely won't get to all of them, you will find yourself trying to get to as many as possible. More than half of the subdivisions have multiple homes being shown, so you will probably park in one location and walk to all of the homes in that neighbourhood.
Upon entering each new home, you must take off your street shoes in order to tour. Given that some subdivisions have more than 10 homes open for viewing and you don't want to miss a thing, that's a lot of bending and lacing. Therefore, be sure to wear a comfortable walking shoe that easily slips on and off. It will make your visit that much more enjoyable.
Map a Strategy
If you have a particular destination site, make sure you look for additional homes along the way to visit. Many of the subdivisions are in close proximity to each other and it's easy to get to a number of them in one tour.
Don't Forget the One-Offs
Although there is tremendous variety in those subdivisions that have multiple homes, make sure you visit areas with a single listing. There are entire new neighbourhoods to discover and builders with unique designs. That hidden gem might just be your next new home.
Talk to the Agents
The sales agents know their show homes. Ask them about anything unique features, energy savings, specific materials and what makes this particular home special. These individuals are a wealth of knowledge and, in the event they don't have the answer, they will find out and get back to you in short order.
Have Fun
The Parade of Homes is an enjoyable couple of weeks where you can see the latest and greatest in new homes. You can go as fast or slow as you want, taking in the big picture or concentrating on a minute detail. It's all about what interests you. Enjoy the 2010 Spring Parade of Homes.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
