Parade of Homes | Spring 2015

Spring 2015 Parade of Homes

March 7-29 2015

Publisher Bob Cox Editor Pat St. Germain Vice President Sales Laurie Finley Manager of Niche Products Barb Borden Design & Colour Services Corinne Ball/Coral Enterprises Sandy Pawlitsky/Pixel Genie Contributing Writers

Dollars and Sense Clearing the air on affordable housing

Wendy King Todd Lewys

Jennifer McFee Holli Moncrieff David Schmeichel Pat St. Germain Jim Timlick Photography Marianne Helm Darcy Finley Printing Quantum Graphics

By Todd Lewys – Photos by Marianne Helm

If you’re thinking about buying or building a new home, your wish list may include anything from a spa bath to a butler’s pantry, but chances are the budget is your No. 1 concern. Housing costs are a hot topic for the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association (MHBA) as well, and the organization is working to ensure new homes in Manitoba remain among the most affordable in the country. The MHBA is acutely aware of the many factors that contribute to costs, but it appears that many consumers are harbouring misconceptions, particularly when it comes to new communities. Mike Moore, president of the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association, says people are often surprised to learn the facts. “Probe Research recently conducted a random poll of just over 600 people asking them who they thought paid for what in new developments,” Moore says. “The poll brought some very interesting numbers to light, to say the least.” A high percentage of respondents mistakenly believed the city paid for much of the infrastructure in new communities: 42% thought the city paid for land drainage, 51% thought the city paid for local streets and 56% believed the city paid for parks and green space.

The MHBA is acutely aware of the many factors that contribute to costs, but it appears that many consumers are harbouring misconceptions

MHBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Glenda Sobie, Chair Ventura Custom Homes John Daniels, Past Chair Qualico Jason Jaquet, 1st Vice Chair Randall Homes Brian Arnold, 2nd Vice Chair Trikor Builders John Lund, Secretary-Treasurer Steinbach Credit Union Spencer Curtis, Director Hilton Homes

Laurie Finley, Director Winnipeg Free Press Alan Gray, Director Vacuflo Manitoba Colleen Kuruluk, Director

Manitoba Hydro Janet Milne, Director Milne Homes Ltd. Andrew Reimer, Director All-Fab Building Components Inc. Brett Robinson, Director Robinson Lighting Ltd.

Cont’d on page 6

4 Parade of Homes Spring 2015