Canadian Home Builders' Association - Calgary Region

Welcome new members

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:32:59 GMT

As our membership grows the Association is strengthened and each new addition helps us to successfully build a voice for the industry.
Our members are our lifeblood, which is why we are pleased to introduce some of our newest additions (descriptions provided by companies):

ManndateSL
ManndateSL delivers quality products with a competitive tiered price structure for the Hospitality, Senior Living, Condo and Residential markets. We offer five levels of price points, with nine looks per level. We are proud to say that our Upholstery (Soft Furnishings) and Case Goods are North American made. Specialty Senior Living/LTC/Healthcare/Case Goods and Upholstery; designed with elegance to suit your needs.
www.mslinteriors.com

Cimarron Sales Ltd.
Cimarron Sales Ltd. is a wholesale moulding company in Calgary that stocks over 450 picture frame mouldings and architectural mouldings. Besides mouldings, Cimarron offers a full commercial picture framing business, computerized matt cutting and framed mirrors. Picture frame quality prefinished architectural mouldings are a new product line.
www.cimarronsales.com

Calgary Economic Development
Calgary Economic Development is an opportunity-maker, helping to spark and fuel Calgary’s growth.
Our job is to connect people with resources that can help them grow their careers or businesses, thrive in new locations or markets, and feel at home in our community. We offer a wealth of information to help everyone succeed and we tirelessly promote Calgary, in Canada and around the world.
www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com

CUE Creative Services
A Calgary-based creative services agency providing Graphic Design, Web Development, Content Creation and Project Marketing Coordination solutions with a core competence in marketing for the real estate development industry and related sectors. CUE Creative’s lean organization and visceral understanding of the Calgary marketplace keeps clients’ marketing costs low, plans focused and messaging clear and consistent.
www.cuecreative.ca

Mountain View Building Materials
Mountain View Building Materials is a full service lumber and building materials centre located five minutes west of Calgary in the Springbank Commercial area. Established in 2006, Mountain View has quickly developed a reputation for providing its customers with affordably-priced, hig- quality exterior products, unparalleled customer service, and knowledgeable staff.
www.mountainviewbm.ca

D.E.B. Design Group Ltd.
In business since 1984, our main scope/focus has been the providing of architectural design and drafting services for the Calgary housing industry, particularly low-rise residential units. Our specialties include single-, multi-family and custom designs, ranging in value from start homes to $5Million+ properties.
www.debdesign.com

Design House of Calgary Ltd.
Design House of Calgary Ltd. is a residential design and drafting company, with a staff of experienced residential designers. Design House provides a full range of design and drafting services that include custom design, renovations and inner city redevelopment.
www.designhouseofcalgary.com

CenturyVallen
Established in 1937, CenturyVallen is one of Canada’s largest suppliers of Safety, MRO and Janitorial supplies. We have the expertise to recommend, select, and train your staff regarding care, use and control of these goods. CentutyVallen also performs site audits to ensure you are work site is compliant with OH&S standards.
www.centuryvallen.com

Watercycles Energy Recovery Inc.
Watercycles drain water heat exchangers are the bolt-on green solution for increasing the energy efficiency of new homes cost effectively. The Watercycle DX-3036 is specifically designed for the new home market, increases the output of a hot-water heater for your customers and qualifies for BuiltGreen in Alberta. The Watercycles are installed in hundreds of homes in Alberta every year.
www.watercycles.ca

A warning to members: Secure your sites

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:17:48 GMT

Thefts from construction sites and show homes are on the rise and builders are reminded to keep sites secure. Copper and aluminum are two of the most wanted items.

“We have had numerous thefts,” says Randy Atchison, manager of operations at Stepper Custom Homes. “The last was the spec home across the street from our Copperfield show home. In this case they broke in twice in one month and access was gained through the basement window both times. They took various types of furniture.”

Construction sites are being targeted as well, with copper and aluminum going missing, and it’s pretty easy to see how the cost of these thefts can really add up, says the construction manager of Shane Homes.

“We have had six electric coils stolen from our construction sites in the last six weeks,” said Nels Margetts. “The average cost to replace a coil is between $500 and $600, depending on the length.”

In February of this year alone, $72,175 worth of goods from new home construction sites was reported stolen and $39,495 of related damage was reported. March was on the lower end of the scale with $21,700 worth of stolen equipment and other goods, with $27,200 of related damage.

To see a full list of monthly theft reports click here.

The coils are made of aluminum, and are targeted because thieves want to sell them as scrap metal says Francis Dziuba, senior construction manager at Excel Homes. But copper is a target for scrap metal recycling as well.

“Copper is a big target and we have seen lots of copper thefts in the city,” says Constable Glenn Rowley from the Calgary Police Service.

There’s hope for those who have been victims of theft for scrap metal. Bill 201, the Scrap Metal Dealers and Recyclers Identification Act, requires any metal dealer or recycler to ask for identification from the person bringing the scrap metal in. This will allow for a record of those bringing in metal to be kept, and allow for further investigation if the transaction seems suspicious.

To read more on Bill 201 click here.

Safety and security are always the number one priority at CHBA – Calgary Region. One of the best ways to protect your site is through our Builders Watch Program, a partnership between CHBA – Calgary Region, Crime Stoppers and the Calgary Police Service.

This program offers free, double-sided posters designed to convey information regarding basic site safety and urgent response information on one side, and criminal deterrence and reporting information on the other. These should be hung in a very visible location to deter theft and aid in crime reporting.

“Hang up those posters, that is what they are for,” says Constable Rowley. “Always make sure that incidents are reported, otherwise we don’t know that these thefts are happening.”

Also available on our website are Builders Watch sticker templates to mark tools, equipment and alliances with the message that you are serious about reporting their disappearance. These are free and easy to download. Click here.

As for securing show homes, minimalism may be the key, says Stepper’s Atchison.

“Don’t install appliances in spec homes until they are sold and a customer is taking possession that day. Do a complete walk around inside of the home, make sure to check all windows and doors every day as well as check the security system wiring for any tampering.”

Always be sure to report a theft to the police by calling 403.266.1234.

"Click before you Dig" - a message from ATCO Gas

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:46:51 GMT

It’s important to get locates to avoid damaging underground utilities. “Click Before You Dig” at alberta1call.com, or call 1-800-242-3447 at least two full working days before any large-scale project that involves ground disturbance. Plan the work area and see if it’s absolutely necessary to dig near a natural gas line. If so, exercise caution and hand-expose buried facilities in the work area first. The excavator should not dig any closer than one meter away from the gas line unless it is hand-exposed.

In 2012, 268 gas lines were damaged in Calgary:

73 percent – excavators responsible
38 percent – locates not requested
35 percent – locates requested but gas lines not hand-exposed
100 percent – preventable!

The same trend continues in 2013. In January, professional excavators accounted for two-thirds of damaged gas lines. Every hit line poses a hazard and threat to public and private property; a fire or explosion becomes a real possibility. This can have a number of consequences including loss of service, property and even lives. Depending on the severity of the damage, the cost can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Remember to “Click Before You Dig” to request locates, and practice safe digging. Not only can this reduce the number of damaged lines, it also reduces risks to the community as a whole.

The results are in

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:22:08 GMT

Here at the CHBA – Calgary Region we are always striving to make sure that your membership provides value, which is why we have begun rolling out a series of surveys in order to get your feedback and ensure that you get the most out of your membership.

We had a great response to our most recent survey regarding CHBA – Calgary Region’s current forms of communications. Four hundred and fifty people provided us feedback on how satisfied they are with our communications methods and what they hope to see in the future.

The results are in.

The top five forms of communications that members read and interact with were Builder and General Bulletins, E-Newsletters, Mass E-mails, the Profile Magazine and LinkedIn, followed very closely by the web news articles and Facebook.

Overall satisfaction with the various communications methods was high with the majority of members and we will work hard to incorporate the comments received by participants to take these numbers even higher.

The complete results are on our website. Click here.

It was great to see such a high number of participants in our survey and we hope to have even higher numbers in the future.

To thank everyone who took time out of their day to complete the survey, all participants were entered into a draw for a chance to win $250 in cash. Congratulations to our winner, Christa Sanders from Apex/Excel Homes.

Watch for our next online survey for a chance to win even more prizes and have your voice heard.

Let’s build this city on Rock and Roll - again

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:10:05 GMT

The same sales gurus who rocked your world last year are back by popular demand with an all-new show – the 2013 School of Rock Rally– and it’s better than ever, with a whole new program Wednesday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mount Royal University Leacock Theatre. Register here.

Join Melinda Brody, Meredith Oliver and John Palumbo at this high energy, educational show featuring new strategies to give your sales an immediate boost. More than 330 people attended last year’s event and some even brought their entire sales team to learn what these experts had to say – no surprise because this trio continues to sell out everywhere they go. It is designed to boost sales right at the height of the busiest selling season of the year. Timing couldn’t be better.

“The 2013 School of Rock Rally will have the energy and motivation you loved from last year, with ALL NEW content and ideas to help you sell more homes,” says Oliver. “It will be high energy, motivational, educational, inspiring, and thought provoking.”

New this year is a special program exclusively for sales managers. The new Sales Manager Seminar is designed to offer ideas for more effective sales management through a combination of instructor-led education and “Ask the Expert” question-and-answer periods. It takes place from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“The Sales Managers Seminar is designed to offer ideas for more effective sales management and allow participants to ask questions about how to implement any of the ideas in the morning rally,” Oliver says.

You will learn tips to take your sales to the next level. For example, Oliver says, don’t make the mistake of writing one email and sending the exact same copy out to 10 different prospects. You must make this message truly personalized.

Here are the rock stars of the Rally:

Palumbo, an international author, speaker and master closer with more than three decades of selling experience, has closed over one billion dollars in real estate sales and will be sharing all-new closing strategies and how to master the art of influence and persuasion.
Oliver, aka The Digital Diva, is a professional speaker, author and founder of Creating WOW Communications, a full service web marketing and sales training firm. She will be sharing the secrets on how to be more effective and efficient with follow-up using technology and apps.
Brody, president of Melinda Brody and Company Inc., has evaluated and inspired new home sales agents for over two decades. The firm works exclusively with builders to evaluate and motive their on-site sales team through high energy, real-world sales seminars and state-of-the-art video shopping. She will be exploring the results of her firm’s annual Benchmark Study, including how top producers scored on demonstrating, presenting and closing.

Don’t miss this chance to rock your sales! Register now.

Mentorship luncheon provides words of wisdom

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:54:46 GMT

Join the Young Guns Wednesday, May 22, from 11:30 am to 2 p.m. at the Blackfoot Inn for your chance to sit down and learn from those who have years of experience in the industry. Register here.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to hear words of wisdom from these very successful individuals. Mentors that will be attending are:

SAM ATTIA
General Manager
Landmark Homes Calgary

Sam Attia is General Manager of Landmark Homes Calgary, overseeing the division’s growth since its establishment in 1995.

Born in Sudan, he has a Bachelor of Architecture from Cairo and worked in Sudan for several years before immigrating to Canada in 1985.

For the first five years, he owned a Home Hardware in Leduc, AB, and developed a solid foundation of customer service skills and knowledge of building materials.

In 1991, Sam joined Landmark Group of Builders and held roles in drafting and estimating while maintaining his interest in construction management. It was a natural progression to take on the role of establishing the Calgary office.

“It is important to have a vision, to believe in it and to believe it will happen one day. You will overcome challenges when you believe in your vision.”

……………………………………………………

BILL BOBYK
Vice-President
The Sterling Group

After obtaining a diploma in architectural engineering, Bill Bobyk started his career in Saskatchewan as construction manager for 14 years with a custom-home builder, which included small commercial, government housing contracts and major renovation projects.

He started with Sterling Homes under the Qualico umbrella in 1993 as construction manager for nine years, then general manager and vice-president – a position he has held for the past 12 years. The Sterling Group has expanded to include not only Sterling Homes but Pacesetter Homes and builds in Calgary and area as well as Edmonton.

“Get out of your comfort zone and do the things you may think you cannot do.”

……………………………………………………

ALEX CHUPIK
CEO
Canyon Plumbing and Heating

After a few years in the plumbing trade Alex Chupik and his brother Harry started Canyon Plumbing and Heating. That was 35 years ago. During that time Alex obtained his Masters Plumbing and Gas Fitting certification. Through the years, the family business has grown and he has had the role of vice-president, president, and is currently the CEO.

“Although plumbing is my first love I have found through the years of building the company that creating successful business and personal relationships with suppliers, employees and builders to be the most rewarding and enjoyable.

“Customer satisfaction should be the focus and the most important goal for any business!”

……………………………………………………

DAVE HOOGE
Stepper Custom Homes
President and General Manager

Dave Hooge has been in the residential construction industry for 27 years. He is past-president of the CHBA - Calgary Region and current president of CHBA - Alberta.

Dave has been volunteering on CHBA – Calgary Region committees for many years, including the Economic Research Committee, Technical committee, 4-party Trenching Sub-committee and more. He has been involved throughout the years in many charitable endeavours, including Stepper’s building program for the people of El Salvador.

“One of the most important things a young entrepreneur or young person looking to get into the housing industry should know is that there is a lot of opportunity in our industry. A lot of times our industry gets a bad rap because of stigmas around ‘construction’ work. But if a person is passionate about what they are doing, is prepared to work hard, take industry education as well as general education, and get involved in industry associations, the sky is the limit.”

……………………………………………………

ALLAN KLASSEN
Managing Partner and President
Albi Homes

Allan Klassen started in the home-building industry in 1991 as a sales rep for Albi Homes and worked his way up to his current position as president and managing partner of Albi.

He was CEO of Homes by Avi for four years. He is past-president of CHBA – Calgary Region and CHBA – Alberta and has won many awards over the years, including the George Frieser Award in 2007, the highest level of recognition given to a volunteer at the provincial level for his leadership in gaining local and provincial support of the One Voice – One Industry initiative.

An accomplished speaker, Klassen has topics of relevance to young entrepreneurs, including ‘How to be Successful in a Dog-Eat-Dog World.’

“Decide every day is going to be a great day, bring your attitude to work with your lunch pail and be an authentic leader, one who leads by what you do, not by what you say.”

……………………………………………………

MIKE PLUMTON
Vice-President
NuVista Homes and Augusta Fine Homes

Mike Plumton started his career with the Qualico Group in Winnipeg in 1982 and moved to Calgary in 1998, founding NuVista Homes. The company focus on customers has earned NuVista many awards based on customer service over the years.

In 2007, he started Augusta Fine Homes, a luxury home company.

Plumton has been involved in many charitable projects over the years and involved in industry. For instance, he pioneered site safety programs and standards in industry and was recipient of WCB Alberta Worksafe Award of Distinction.

“Do not take things for granted. Hard work is still the number one way to succeed in business today.”

………………………………………………….

JIM STINSON
Owner
Astoria Group of Companies

Jim began his career in home construction 34 years ago, gaining expertise in the business on-the-job from the group up. His years of hands on work experience lends itself well to resolution of building complexities from estimating to design to construction and finishing, ensuring a quality home he is proud to put his name to and has earned him a reputation of a trusted and respected home builder.

As well as his volunteer work with CHBA – Calgary Region Jim was heavily involved in the fundraising campaign for Calgary City Police HAWCS to purchase a second helicopter by building two lottery homes through Astoria Homes.

“The most important thing I think young entrepreneurs need to know to succeed in the home building industry is to focus on quality, pay attention to the details, listen well, and treat customers, employees and trades with respect.
……………………………………………………

CHARRON UNGAR
Avi Urban
President

Charron Ungar, currently CHBA – Calgary Region president, is also president of Avi Urban, the multi-family division of Homes by Avi. Ungar grew up in the business: his father, Avi Amir, founded Homes by Avi in 1978 and has expanded to Edmonton and Austin, Texas.

Charron graduated with a Bachelor of Art History from the University of Calgary in 1997 and immediately dove into his family business. He is active in the community in many ways, serving on the board of directors for the Better Business Bureau, Southern Alberta and Kootenays, for over 10 years, as well as mentoring a group of Architectural Graduate students from the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Environmental Design.

Homes by Avi is involved in many charitable endeavours, including the building of the Stampede Dream Home for years.

“The future of our industry is founded on the passion of our youth. It is imperative to the future success of home building in Calgary that those coming up the ranks take everything in from today's leaders and innovators. That knowledge will serve them well in future years as they take what they know, blend in new efficiencies and new ways of doing things, and ultimately create a better industry building better homes. That is how we grow. That is how our industry will evolve.”

……………………………………………………

CAL WENZEL
Shane Homes
CEO

Cal Wenzel founded Shane Homes in 1979 after a management position with Jim Pattison Group of Companies.
The company has expanded, adding Creations by Shane and a development wing.

Wenzel’s past experience includes founding partner and president of Excel Homes and founding partner and vice-chairman of Apex Land Corporation. He is past-president of CHBA - Calgary Region and CHBA - Alberta, executive vice-president of CHBA, and past director of the Alberta New Home Warranty Program. Through the years he and his company have given generously to charities, including the Children’s Hospital through the Kinsmen lotto every year, Theatre Calgary and Ronald McDonald House.

“The keys to success: hard work, honesty and integrity with all people involved in your business dealings.”

……………………………………………………

JAY WESTMAN
Jayman MasterBUILT
President and CEO

Jay Westman founded Jayman MasterBUILT with his father, Al, in 1979 and has grown to the point where it is in Calgary and Edmonton, building approximately 1,000 homes per year. The company has expanded to include smaller homes (Innovations by Jayman), a multi-family division (Jayman Modus), a development wing and hotel division.

He spent close to 10 years at night school and many courses at SAIT to earn a Business Administration Certificate. He was director of the Professional Home Builders’ Institute of Alberta (PHBI) and was in the first graduating class as a Master Builder, was chairman of the Alberta New Home Warranty Program for over 15 years, and is past-president of both CHBA – Calgary Region and CHBA – Alberta.

Westman and Jayman have given extensively to charities over the years.

“The two key lessons learned that I would like to share that helped and have shaped my success are:

We are all created equal – whether man or woman. We all put on our clothes in the morning and we all groom ourselves for the day ahead. The difference between people who are successful and people who are not as successful, is where you choose to spend your time and focus.
Your name is your credit card in life (my dad would say). How you conduct yourself, how you build equity in your currency, how you work at the firm, your accomplishments, how you leave a firm, how you treat people – all of these are your resume for life – your name is your brand. Your name is your credit card of life – so today, you decide - what’s your limit?”

Two maps: two viewpoints

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:40:55 GMT

The complex issue of how much land is in the city for future development both short- and long-term is one of the most important discussions within the residential construction industry and at city hall these days – and it’s at the heart of the trepidation the industry is feeling about the future of the suburbs.

The city has created a map that shows just how much serviced land is available; the Urban Development Institute has devised its own map showing how many people can be accommodated in single-family units with that lot supply – based on market demand that indicates most people want a single-family home.

Two viewpoints: two maps. Click here to the Vote Calgary site to see the maps and more discussion – including some questions – about these two maps and what they mean for future growth.

Perfect timing for spring renovation and infill tour

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:38:40 GMT

Alberta homeowners plan to spend the most in Canada on home renovations according to a recent CIBC poll, which is why the timing for the Spring RenoMark™ Renovation and CHBA – Calgary Region Infill Tour couldn’t be better.

This free self guided tour takes place Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More than half of Alberta residents who were polled by CIBC said they plan to renovate their home in the next 12 months and will spend an average of $22,900, much more than the national average of $15,300.

And the popularity of inner-city living today is growing. Builders are moving into established, close-in communities and rejuvenating them with brand-new homes that are equipped with all the latest technologies, designs and environmentally-sustainable principles that are so in vogue today. At the same time, infills are fulfilling the city’s vision to densify established neighbourhoods – which is why this opportunity exists for our members to show off their work to the public.

So now is the time for those who are planning a renovation or those who want to buy new in an inner-city neighbourhood to come and check out what is new in the inner city and see some of the amazing transformations of homes by our members.

This is a chance to experience infill construction, full home renovations and partial renovations such as basement, kitchen or bathrooms at their finest.

This year’s tour will feature five renovations and five infills from builders and renovators such as Astoria Homes, Channel Custom Builders, Eastmen Developments Inc., Fire Ant Contracting, Gemini Group Inc, Hillson Homes, Homes by Avi, Landmark Homes, Pinnacle Group Renovations and Ultimate Renovations.

Click here for more information on the homes that will be featured during the tour. The location map for each home will be available closer to the day of the tour.

All of the renovation projects included in the tour have been completed by companies that are registered as a RenoMark™ member, a program created to combat the underground renovation economy and to find a way to provide consumers with access to high-quality companies.

RenoMark ™ raises the bar and identifies renovation contractors who have agreed to the CHBA – Calgary Region Code of Ethics and a renovation-specific Code of Conduct.

RenoMark™ members believe in professionalism and are committed to their industry. They are educated to be the first to know about changes in building codes, municipal requirements, and health and safety requirements and must offer a minimum two year warranty on their work.

To learn more about the RenoMark program click here.

Take advantage of this great opportunity to see just what our members can do!

Students impress at the 41st annual Student House Design Competition

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:36:21 GMT

CHBA - Calgary Region has been supporting the future of the building industry for decades by hosting the Student House Design Competition. This year marks the 41st anniversary of $8,000 worth of scholarships from CHBA - Calgary Region going to students from SAIT and various high schools.

“Many from the homebuilding community competed and even won this event,” said Mike Borkristl, president of Tricor Design Group and chair of the committee of the competition. “For many, the competition was the deciding factor in coming to the home building industry. If we can encourage students through events like this to seek employment in our industry, it’s very worthwhile and rewarding.”

The recipients of scholarships from the high school level as well as SAIT are invited to showcase their winning submission at the next Dinner Meeting Tuesday, May 7. Register here.

And this will be the chance for industry members to meet students who represent the next generation of designers, builders and home buyers.

“These students are ‘the cream of the crop,’ so to speak,” said Borkristl. “Members will be amazed to see the work being produced by these students; it is always a treat to meet the best this year has to offer.”

With 117 submissions from SAIT and 134 submissions from high schools in and around Calgary, the competition for scholarships was fierce.

“In all of the years I have been involved, the students constantly impress us and force us to raise the bar,” said Borkristl.

Submissions were judged based on four criteria: function and buildability; design rationale; site consideration; and graphics and presentation.

This year’s competition at SAIT boasted the highest percentage of honourable mentions ever, and was the first time the first place winner, Christopher Fedyna, was chosen unanimously by all 13 judges.

“This is just surreal,” said Fedyna, who received a $1,200 scholarship. “I never expected to win this. I was just doing what I love to do and I just did the best that I can. Winning is the icing on the cake.”

2012 SAM Award Winners Announcement

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 03:43:04 GMT

Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Calgary Region is pleased to announce the list of winners for the 2012 SAM Awards.

The SAM Awards, now in its 26th year, celebrate innovation and excellence in the Calgary and area’s residential construction industry. The Gala was held Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the Telus Convention Centre with more than 1,600 people in attendance and a record number of submissions (758) from members vying for the prestigious awards.

The best-of-the-best 2012 Grand SAM Winners were: Builder of the Year - Calbridge 2010 Ltd.; Builder of Merit - Douglas Homes Ltd.; Multi-Family Builder of the Year - Streetside Development Corp.; Renovator of the Year - Albi Renova Ltd.; and Partner of the Year - Lux Windows and Glass Ltd.

“The competition was very close this year, with 40 different companies taking home at least one of the 61 awards,” says Shane Wenzel, chairman of the SAM awards committee. “The most any one company won this year was four awards (Streetside Development Corp). That shows the value that our members place in these prestigious awards with so many companies competing at such a high calibre – and it’s a real testament to the Grand SAM winners that they reached the pinnacle. Congratulations to each of them.”

The award process is detailed with volunteer industry peers judging the submissions and awarding points in each category. The top five in each category receive additional placement points that help determine the Grand SAM winners. Companies must enter a set number of categories in order to qualify and must win at least one of those categories. The results are authenticated by an independent auditing firm.

“Congratulations to everyone who not only won an award, but reached the finalist stage. We had 105 companies competing this year, including two dozen who had never entered the competition before and five brand new members,” says Wendy Going, vice-chairman of the SAMs. “With the competition so tough, it’s obvious all who made it to the finalist category had the right combination of quality, innovation and market value – and that means the true winners are the new home buyers.”

The following SAM Awards categories (the number of awards in each category follows in brackets) were given out: Advertising & Marketing Awards (8), Developer Awards (4), Industry Achievement Awards (2), Multi-Family Awards (11), New Home Awards (15), Partner Awards (3), Renovator Awards (7), Sales Achievement Awards (4), Sales & Information Centre Awards (2), and the GRAND SAM Awards (5). GRAND SAM Awards are presented to the Builder, Renovator and Partner that have demonstrated a superior achievement in design, sales, advertising and/or service. Click here for the full press release.

Canadian Home Builders’ Association - Calgary Region is a network of professionals, and is the respected voice shaping the future of the home building industry. Membership is comprised of: new home builders, renovators, developers, trade contractors, building material manufacturers and suppliers, lenders and other businesses operating in the residential construction sector.

Customer Choice Award Winners Announced

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:40:52 GMT

J.D. Power and Associates in partnership with PHBI and The Alberta New Home Warranty Program awarded eight deserving members of the CHBA – Calgary Region awards for their outstanding levels of customer satisfaction.

These awards, which were presented during the 2012 SAM Awards Gala on Saturday, are unique and highly valued by builders because the winners are chosen based customer responses to detailed surveys.

“This is a very important award because it is unbiased and based on whatever our customers say about us,” said Craig Wiens of Kingsmith Homes. “Receiving this award this year and last year means a lot to us, because it means we are doing a good job and our customers like the homes we are building for them.”

The winners included:

J.D. Power Builder of Excellence in Calgary Single-Family Home Market

Brookfield Homes
Innovations by Jayman
Sterling Homes

J.D. Power Builder of Excellence in Calgary Multi-Family Home Market

Jayman Modus Calgary

New Home Buyers’ Choice Award™

Homes by Us Ltd.
Kingsmith Homes
Truman Homes 1995 Inc.
Hons Construction Ltd.

“There is nothing that we don’t do that isn’t focused on the customer,” said Mike Cole, construction and warranty manager at Sterling Homes. “We are exceptionally proud of this award. Our mantra as a company is doing the right thing, and this clearly tells us that in the eye of our customers we are certainly achieving that. This is nothing but an honour.”

J.D. Power and Associates is a standard measure of customer satisfaction across North America for many different types of businesses based on responses from millions of consumers annually and has partnered with PHBI and the ANHWP to measure customer satisfaction in the housing industry.

Next year PHBI will be partnering with CustomerInsight™ - a leader in research and consulting programs in the homebuilding industry and winner of the Supplier of Service award at the 2012 SAM Awards. Together they will launch the CustomerInsight program. Watch for an upcoming news story for more information.

Click here to view press releases provided by PHBI, J.D. Power and Associates and the ANHWP.

New Government Relations Report keeps you informed

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:03:39 GMT

With the ever-changing and more complex world around us, we at Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Calgary Region are always working to help our members be successful in their businesses.

That is why getting reinstated as valuable partners with the City and having a voice at committee meetings that impact the residential construction industry was imperative – and why the City and ourselves have made a commitment to work together.

That is why we also recently sent out a Communications Survey to our members to get their feedback - and we did. Thanks to everyone for their valuable input. We had a tremendous response and will be sharing that with you shortly.

Here is a first step.

We are very pleased to announce our latest value-added feature on our website. You can find an icon on our home page entitled Government Relations Report right below the Market Trends icon. Members simply click on it and sign in to see just where CHBA – Calgary Region has been focused. It will be filled with the latest on our on-going advocacy efforts on your behalf with government.

You could find letters we have sent to various groups and government officials stating our position on items that are of interest, or impact, our members; you could find updates on our work with our civic partners; or you could find articles related to any of the initiatives that affect you.
It will have information vital to your business dealings with the city and complying with the rules and regulations that affect the residential construction industry. We’ll update you on committee work that impacts us, and more.

In short, we’re endeavouring to keep you informed so you will know how and what we are working on for our valued members, and where you can get involved. Check it out now and keep coming back to it so you won’t miss any updates from Amie Blanchette, our government affairs director.

A special thank-you goes out to our many volunteer members whose valuable input has been critical to us in our work at the city. Did you know that we are working with the city on more than 25 different items that involve the residential construction industry right now? We couldn’t do it without the expertise and commitment of our volunteers.

Any questions? E-mail amie@chbacalgary.com.

Calgary builders tops with customers

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:17:36 GMT

The customer is the key to any business success – and in the homebuilding industry, the homebuyer is the secret to unlocking the treasure chest of loyalty.

Avid Ratings Canada is one of the programs builders use to measure that success through customer satisfaction surveys sent out to each new homebuyer – and Calgary builders have reached the top in the latest results.

Calgary builders dominated the Avid Awards for 2013, given out recently by Avid Ratings in Calgary. Four of our members took an incredible five of the 10 national awards – and Alberta ranked as the number one province in Canada for home builder customer satisfaction.

The survey measured the responses of more than 10,000 builder customers across Canada.

Brookfield Homes took two awards, one in the single-family category and a Gold award in the multi-family category.

Other winners were: Albi Homes, which also took a Gold award in the single-family category; Avi Urban in the multi-family category; and Innovations by Jayman in the single-family category.

The scoring was based on the Avid Index Score, where the accumulated points could be a maximum of 300. It included total home buying experience (42.5 per cent of the marks), willingness to recommend the builder (another 42.5 per cent) and actual number of recommendations (15 per cent).

As an example, the Custom Builder for all of Canada was G.D. Nielsen Developments of West Vancouver. The scores: Avid Index was 292.3 out of 300; with total home buying experience at 93.9 per cent and number of referrals 100 per cent.

Gold winner Allan Klassen, president and managing partner of Albi Homes, said: “We have a discerning, demanding buyer and we are blessed with a great team that is customer centric. The level of competition in Alberta is second to none, so it is an honour to win this award.”

In accepting the provincial award, Stephen Amonson, vice-president of CHBA – Alberta, said: “I know what hard work it is to win an award like this. It’s a testament to our builders in a province that is facing some of the most severe trade shortages in history.”

Lethbridge builder Galko Homes won the highest honour – the Avid Diamond Award for the best in Canada.

Also winning were: Mattamy Homes in Ontario which took two awards, a Gold award in Ottawa and one in the Greater Toronto Area, and Portrait Homes of Richmond, B.C. won a Gold award.

Single-family homes are the preferred choice

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:18:43 GMT

Although many believe that as the Baby Boomers grow older and head into retirement, the supply of traditional single-family homes will skyrocket, a new report by Royal LePage says otherwise.

And Generation Y is looking to have a life in the suburbs similar to their parents, says Phil Soper, CEO of Royal LePage Real Estate.

“Baby Boomers are the wealthiest generation in Canadian history,” says Soper. “They live in large homes with ample space for their many possessions. They love their garages and their yards. This study indicates that contrary to popular belief, most Boomers do not intend to downsize anytime soon.”

In fact, 64.5 per cent of Boomers are interested in owning a single-family home, according to the report.

And this continuing popularity of the single-family home could be related to the fact that adult children of the Boomers aren’t ready to move out on their own, staying with their parents to finish their education or to find a decent job, says Soper.

And the Gen Y people are following in their parents’ footsteps – not looking for a condo in the inner city.

“They dream of owning a lovely house in the suburbs, which provides value as well as access to parkland for children to play and the perception of greater family safety. Even as condominium living becomes more popular across Canada, the study results do not point to a corresponding decrease in demand for traditional single-family homes. For the Baby Boomers that do head downtown, there is a generation waiting to move in (to the suburbs).”

Check out more on this story at http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/03/31/survey-shows-gen-y-prefers-the-burbs

Check out our infographic below for more from Royal LePage's report.

Calgary one of the most affordable markets in Canada

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:56:53 GMT

2012 marked a kind of renaissance for the Calgary-area market, as it began to pull itself out of a four-year-long lethargy, says the recent Housing Trends and Affordability Report by RBC.

And Calgary has been marked one of the most affordable markets in Canada, according to the report.

The Housing Affordability Measures in the RBC report show the proportion of median pre-tax household income that would be required to service the cost of mortgage payments, property taxes and utilities on a variety of styles of homes at the going market price.

The higher the measure, the more difficult it is to afford a house. For example, an affordability measure of 50 per cent means that home ownership costs, including mortgage payments, utilities and property taxes take up 50 per cent of a typical household’s pre-tax income.

Calgary scored 38.1 for a detached bungalow, 38.6 for a standard two-story and 22.2 for a standard condominium.

In contrast, Vancouver was found to be the most unaffordable market scoring a whopping 82.2 for a detached bungalow, 87.87 for a standard two-storey and 41.8 for a standard condominium.

And it’s not just Calgary that is boasting affordability – it is all of Alberta, says the report.

“While home prices are not particularly cheap in Alberta, the ability to carry ownership costs is facilitated by the province’s highest household income in Canada. Barring an unexpected shock to the economy, housing market conditions should remain positive in Alberta in 2013.”

Alberta scored 32.1 for a detached bungalow, 34.7 for a standard two-storey and 19.7 for a standard condominium.

Take a look at our infographic for even more information from the RBC Housing Trends and Affordability report. Click here for the full report.

Job recruitment as easy as ABC

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:48:08 GMT

By Jim Rivait, CEO, CHBA – Alberta

Do you know your ABCs? At CHBA – Alberta, ABC stands for Alberta Builder Connect, a free job board for all CHBA - Calgary Region members.

This easy-to-use job board, managed by CHBA – Alberta, was designed specifically for our members to attract candidates who want to begin or continue an exciting career in Alberta's residential construction industry. This website connects industry-specific job seekers directly to our members.

Posting an employment ad is as easy as filling in an online form at www.albertabuilderconnect.com. CHBA – Alberta verifies the member’s job posting and activates the ad online where it will remain posted for 30 days.

Members have the choice of allowing online applications through the site to protect email addresses from spam bots (online robots that send out unsolicited spam) or specifying in their ad their application requirements. Job postings are easy to manage, too. By clicking on a couple of links, the job posting can be edited or deactivated once the job has been filled.

Recent postings on Alberta Builder Connect list jobs from across the province in a variety of fields from human resources to general labourers. Job seekers who sign up for RSS feeds are notified immediately when a new job is posted, increasing the chance of having your post viewed by thousands of potential applicants. More than 3,400 unique visitors were recorded on the site in January.

Now is the time to start using this free tool and make ABC part of your recruitment strategy.

Helping students connect to the building industry

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:31:54 GMT

This year’s recent Architectural Technologies Student Association Industry Event drew in an impressive crowd and provided students an invaluable chance to network and meet industry leaders.

“This event is extremely beneficial for the students to make contacts within the industry, even if it is just shaking a few hands or collecting some business cards," said Lauren Fehr, president of ATSA. "The contacts students make will help to ensure they don’t have to make cold calls after they graduate.”
Held in the new Trades and Technologies Complex with Mayor Naheed Nenshi as the keynote speaker, the event provided the opportunity for our members to make contact and network with potential new employees.

And the industry was well represented, with companies such as Excel Homes and Hopewell Residential meeting the soon-to-be graduates.

“This is such a great way to build rapport with companies in the industry,” said Ryan Pedlar, first year architectural technologies student. “I am so thankful that the leaders of our industry have taken the time to come talk with us. I can’t wait to get to know more about them and their companies.”

Even with the large success of this year’s event, the ATSA is going to make next year is even better, said ATSA Vice-President Blaire Schille.

“We hope to build on the momentum that was created these past two years. It can be hard to top each event because they keep getting bigger and better every year, but we are confident we can do it.”

The architectural technologies students from SAIT are competing for $4,000 in scholarships provided by the CHBA-Calgary Region, part of their course for the year.

If you missed the opportunity to talk with future potential employees, come to the May 8 CHBA – Calgary Region Dinner meeting. The winning students from SAIT and the high-school level will be on hand with their entries.

Nenshi said students should strive to plan and build projects that they would be proud of and communities would be proud of, because ultimately, they are not just designing buildings, they are designing a city.

“We [the city] have to move from seeing ourselves as a regulator of people’s behavior, to a facilitator of people’s success,” said Nenshi. “Of course we are the regulator, we have to ensure people’s health and safety and long-term sustainability, but we also have to make sure that we understand that the success of the industry, the success of builders and the success of developers is success of ours as well.”

Cities bring economic opportunities

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:15:29 GMT

Lake Louise, Alberta (March 9, 2013): People move to cities for just one reason: opportunity.
“People don’t move to cities because of their fountains or their urban planning,” said Wendell Cox, a leading demographer and principal of Wendell Cox Consultancy (Demographia). “They come because of economic opportunities.”
Economic growth is “imperative” if cities are to survive, the outspoken Cox said to delegates at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association annual conference in Lake Louise earlier this month.
Cox, a critic of many of the smart growth principles in vogue in many cities today, said detached housing is “under threat” because of these ideologies and “the policies are very much skewed against low-income people – and it’s getting worse.”
It’s simply the reality of what happens when supply is limited and demand is still high, he said. “Urban containment raises house prices.”
Density policies will increase sprawl, not reduce it, Cox said. “People will leave the city and move to where their standard of living is better, no matter what it takes.”
He cited a dramatic example of what happens when government controls the housing market – Portland, Oregon, which has restricted growth principles in place. “The land there is $16,000 US an acre outside of the boundary and $180,000 US inside.”
Calgary’s home prices are 40 per cent higher than they were eight years ago; albeit he said these were likely the result of a bit of a bubble, rather than smart growth policies. But that will change: “That’s higher than they should be. I see communities like Calgary and Toronto where strong consolidation of housing is still relatively new. This means a greater possibility of higher prices in the near future.”
Some states and countries have changed direction when they found out the urban containment philosophy wasn’t working, he said. “New Zealand is going back to liberalized policies and Florida repealed their smart growth policies two years ago.”
Here is his interview with the Calgary Herald.
In addition, Cox recently posted an opinion piece in the Calgary Herald refuting a claim that Stockton, CA was in financial trouble because of ‘sprawl.’ Read it here.
Wendell Cox Consultancy (Demographia) is an international public policy firm that specializes in urban policy, transport and demographics.
Cox studies more than 300 urban centres around the world, including 30 in Canada. His research shows that urban growth restrictions, forced intensification and anti-car transit policies fail to deliver a more ‘sustainable’ community. What these policies do achieve is reduced housing affordability that locks young people out of homeownership, and which contributes to greater housing market instability, he said.
Housing affordability is the real key to building ‘sustainable’ communities.

National CHBA president praises federal budget

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:12:16 GMT

The Canadian Home Builders' Association welcomed Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's budget measures that increase federal support for national infrastructure, improve the supply of skilled trades people, strengthen the manufacturing sector, and reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses.

"This is a fiscally prudent, forward-looking budget," said CHBA President Deep Shergill of Calgary. "We congratulate Minister Flaherty for setting the right priorities."

The federal government's leadership in providing additional long-term infrastructure financing to municipalities is very welcome. "It's an opportunity to restore fiscal integrity at the municipal level and fairness for younger generations. At present, many municipalities are financing community infrastructure by transferring the costs into the mortgages of new homebuyers, amounting to more than $5 billion a year. "
The budget's emphasis on skills training and development is the right direction to go, Shergill said. "We welcome measures to support apprenticeship and skilled labour training. Our industry needs skilled trades people to build and renovate homes for Canadians and this budget makes an important investment in that direction."

Steps contained in the budget to support manufacturing industries was another positive step, said Shergill, noting the home building industry would benefit from the employment that will be created.

But Shergill expressed disappointment that while the government has a strong focus on international tax cheating, it did not place the same importance on tackling the domestic underground cash economy.

"We have urged the government to work more effectively and aggressively on this front," he said. "A permanent renovation tax rebate would strengthen the government's weaponry in combating illegal contracting that creates problems for consumers, costs jobs and income, undermines our efforts to support a professional industry, and costs governments billions of dollars annually in lost revenue. "
Federal efforts to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses were welcomed. "We need to get rid of unnecessary regulations and red tape which add to costs."

The measures in the budget to support Canada's National Research Council are important for the housing industry, he said. "Investment in research and development has allowed new home builders to increase energy efficiency of a newly constructed home by 66 per cent since 1975. This is the result of innovation supported by government research and development. This collaboration must continue."

The budget didn't recognize the steady erosion of housing affordability and choice – a key to a healthy economy, he said. The low cost of mortgage money has masked the fact that house prices continue to be pushed ever higher through taxes, fees, levies, and charges, including the federal GST whose new homebuyer rebate thresholds have not changed since 1991. In some urban centres, the relationship between house prices and household incomes has reached a critical point.

A chance to have your say on the MDP

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:41:54 GMT

The Municipal Development Plan was adopted in 2009 and went into effect April 1, 2010, the result of extensive consultations with the community and stakeholders, sometimes lively discussions at city council meetings and the eventual passing of the new plan to guide Calgary’s future now and into the next half century.

CHBA – Calgary Region and the Urban Development Institute both supported the document.

Fast-forward to today and some parts of the plan are now being implemented with some degree of apprehension in the industry. Change is always difficult and perhaps, some of the new ideas in the MDP are not as you think they should be or are not working to your satisfaction.

This is your chance to let the city know – but you only have until March 28. The first major review of the MDP isn’t until 2020 but the city is asking for your help and expertise to determine which items in the extensive plan should be reviewed first.

Note that this is neither intended to rewrite MDP sections or policies, nor is it aimed to modify MDP provisions (these would occur only after analysis during the 2020 MDP policy review). However, the city does value your input to identify potential areas of concern.

Please click here to go to the brief questionnaire that asks you to identify the top five sections of the MDP that you consider the most important and most challenging to achieve in an effort to ensure the city is doing everything it can to overcome any challenges to the implementation of the current policies of the MDP.

e is for education. everywhere.

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:40:11 GMT

The evolution of PHBI “e-classes”

The Professional Home Builders Institute of Alberta (PHBI) aims to shape the future of the homebuilding industry through practical education that advances individual careers, business success and the industry’s reputation.

To obliterate the accessibility issues that long stood between their courses and many prospective students, PHBI is launching its first flight of e-classes.

Now, if you think “e-class” means little more than self-directed online modules, think again.

“Our e-classes are very sophisticated and interactive,” says Camille Sojer, PHBI’s manager, education. “We’ve partnered with a Calgary technology company to deliver live streaming of classes with real instructors and students. They’re like live sportscasts with multiple cameras showing the instructor, presentation content and classroom from various angles. It’s very dynamic.

“Unlike sportscasts, though, our e-classes are interactive. Participants can text, email, tweet or even phone an on-site moderator who’ll convey their questions to the instructor for discussion in real time.”

PHBI is launching its e-class delivery option* with select courses in its three core subject areas.
For more information, visit PHBIA.com

Construction
Problem Solving in Home Building (already held)
Plans, Specifications and Drawings (May 31/June 1)

Sales
Condominium Fundamentals (April 9/10/23/24)
Customer Service Professional (April 30/May 1/14/15)

Business
Law Fundamentals for the Home Building Industry (May 2/3)

While the physical classroom in Calgary accommodates up to 12 students, the number who can enrol for an e-class is unlimited.

Beyond needing Internet access, students need to be available at the scheduled class times. “As an e-class is a live webcast, students need to ‘show up’ just as if they were taking the class in the real classroom,” says Sojer.

“This is a terrific opportunity for builders who’ve been asking for easier access to PHBI courses,” says Angela Tripathy, PHBI’s chief corporate officer.

The next generation of PHBI education

PHBI has traditionally delivered its courses and seminars in classrooms in Calgary and Edmonton, which left many homebuilders in remote communities wondering, “What about us?”

“We received many calls from homebuilders who asked, ‘Can you bring your courses to us? We’re eager to enrol, but we can’t afford to send our people to you,’” says Sojer.

Tripathy adds: “We were eager to take our offerings on the road, but we just didn’t have the critical mass of enrolment to make it viable.”

Now, PHBI is leveraging Internet technology to take its courses to students who can’t come to PHBI.

E-classes bring PHBI courses to every homebuilder in Alberta.

Our province is populated with exceptional homebuilders. And what sets exceptional homebuilders apart from the rest?

“In large part, it’s the drive to build continually on the core competencies and business skills today’s homebuyers are demanding,” says Paul Salmon, project manager, education.

“Our membership includes many of Alberta’s most successful homebuilding companies that value and embrace skill-building education for the members of their teams,” says John Kozole, president and CEO of the Alberta New Home Warranty Program.

In the 25 years since its inception, PHBI has delivered nearly 18,000 courses and seminars, and well over 500 students have earned recognized PHBI certifications.

There’s clearly an appetite for PHBI’s offerings. While accessibility has been a perennial bugbear for many Alberta homebuilders, e-classes remove all the barriers.

City growth: Two perspectives

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:53:05 GMT

As you are no doubt aware, and as a couple of messages from our President Charron Ungar have updated you, we now have a letter of understanding between Mayor Naheed Nenshi and our president about the recent issues that resulted in the mayor banning us from participating as a stakeholder on city committees.

We are now back at the table.

Thank-you to all of our members for the support and understanding during this difficult period.

We would like to take this opportunity as well to thank the many volunteer members who have given their time and expertise on the various committees that deal with issues that impact our industry. Did you know that we are providing our invaluable input on more than 25 items at the city right now related to residential construction? It is crucial that the city knows and understands our position on all issues impacting the new home industry.

We are committed to representing you, our members, in the most comprehensive way we can. Watch for some new initiatives coming soon to provide even more insight to help you plan your businesses.

If you missed Ungar’s message or the joint agreement between our president and the mayor, Click here to read.

We have certainly caught the attention of everyone, as the many media outlets will attest.

In fact, just today, the Calgary Herald published an opinion piece from Bill Pringle, founder and executive chair of Bordeaux Properties, explaining why he thinks we could face a shortage of serviced lots within the next five years. Click here.

You may have seen the two-part series that ran in the Calgary Herald recently about the issues of growth and the impact it has on the city, its citizens, and our industry.

The first was from the industry perspective; the second, from the city.

Here are the links.

Part 1 – click here.
Part 2 – click here.

And Mayor Nenshi’s column in the Calgary Herald last Saturday. Click here.

What do you think? We’d love to hear your comments.

Calgary was well represented at the national CHBA SAM Awards

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:50:21 GMT

We are extremely proud of our CHBA – Calgary Region members, led by Albi Homes, who took home a whole lot of hardware at the national SAM Awards this past week in Lake Louise.

Congratulations to Albi Homes, which won the top award – the Grand SAM – as well as two other awards at the competitive event that had members competing from across Canada.

Albi also took the best single-detached home over 2,200 square feet in the Production category, and the best sales office in the Marketing Awards category.

Also winning a SAM award were:

Watermark Development LLP for Watermark at Bearspaw – Phase 1, which took the Community Development Award;
Malbec Homes & Renovations Inc. for a whole house renovation of more than $500,000;
Stepper Custom Homes Inc. for a print ad (“Passion Starts Early”);
And Homes by Avi (Calgary) Inc., for Direct Mail Promotion for the “2012 Dream Home Centennial Photo Contest”.

Our members stood out as well in the CHBA Leadership Awards:

Rick Gratton of Brookfield Homes, took the highest honour – the Beaver Award for outstanding builder member of the year;
Carol Oxtoby and Wayne Copeland, were each given an Award of Honour;
And our very own CHBA – Calgary Region, which was given the Susan Chambers Award of Recognition for the initiation and development of non-dues sources of revenue at the Executive Officers’ Council Awards.

Outstanding work by our CHBA – Calgary Region members. Congratulations to everyone.

And that brings us to the next great thing: Our very own 2012 CHBA - Calgary Region SAM Awards. The finalists were announced last week. Click here if you missed it. And it looks like a tight, exciting race.

Tickets are going fast, so be sure to order here.

As well, just a couple of sponsorship opportunities are available, so be sure to talk to David so you don’t miss out on this opportunity to showcase your product. David is at 403-730-4250 or david@chbacalgary.com.

New CHBA President calls on restraint from the federal government

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:47:48 GMT

In his inaugural address to delegates of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association conference in Lake Louise last week, Deep Shergill called on the federal government to stop any further actions that impact the housing market.

Moves such as the government-imposed changes to CMHC regulations regarding mortgage rate lending worked like a ‘hammer,’ said Deep Shergill, incoming president of CHBA, past-president of CHBA - Calgary Region, past-president of CHBA -Alberta, and president of Prominent Homes in Calgary.

“It seems less than forthright to constrain consumers’ ability to buy a new home – a real asset – while allowing usurious credit card interest rates to bury many consumers in non-asset backed debt,” Shergill said.

At the same time, “having intervened, the government must be prepared to take appropriate action if housing activity falls below demographic demand or if price stability is threatened.

“So long as governments persist in confusing the effect of low interest rates with real housing affordability, they will fail to recognize the steady erosion of housing affordability.”

It is time to roll back the chronic over-regulation of the new home industry which is pushing up housing costs.

Working to maintain a stable financing environment is one of seven priorities for Shergill over the coming year.

Other priorities are:

Regulation;
Government-imposed costs;
A skilled and productive workforce;
Land availability;
Market intelligence;
Investment in infrastructure.

New homes today are built much better than they have ever been, he said, praising the home-building industry for its sustainable practices.

A new single-family home built today performs with a 66 per cent improvement in energy consumption than a similar one built in 1975. That compares to similar models of family cars over the same period, which showed a maximum improvement in energy efficiency of 16 per cent.

“When it comes to energy efficiency, new home builders have outperformed the auto industry by a factor of four.

“Perhaps the most revealing aspect of this remarkable performance is that most of those improvements came before building codes adopted energy performance requirements – it wasn’t because of regulation. Instead, innovation resulted from solid collaboration with industry, supported by government research and development efforts.”

At the same time, the average 25-to-34 year old person working full-time at the average wage in 1976 had to save for five years to build up a 20 per cent down payment for the average home.

“Today, the same 25-to-34 year old has to save for 10 years. And in B.C., it is 15 years,” Shergill said, quoting Professor Paul Kershaw at the University of British Columbia in an article in the Globe and Mail late last year.

“Government-imposed costs on new homes must be rolled back, and actually reduced.”

For his full speech, click here.

Further Message from our President Charron Ungar

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:18:24 GMT

Click here for the letter sent by our President, Charron Ungar to the office of the Mayor today in response to recent statements made by Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

A joint statement was signed between our association and the Mayor on Wednesday, reinstating us to the committee table at city hall. Click here to read.