News

New federal incentive for first-time home buyers to launch Sept. 2 – Globe and Mail The federal government released new details of its First-Time Home Buyer incentive Monday, including that its ultimate cost to home buyers will rise or fall in direct proportion to the value of the property. The program will launch Sept. 2 […]

CHBA has a Renovators’ Manual in the works. Similar to CHBA’s best-selling Builders’ Manual, the Renovators’ version applies building science to renovations. Existing buildings are going to be important as Canada takes steps to limit climate change. This month CHBA is offering a small sample of what readers can expect from the new book, when it […]

Winners Announced for 2019 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO – MAY 10, 2019 – The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) is pleased to announce the winners for its 2019 National Awards for Housing Excellence, powered by Avid Ratings Canada and representing the best new homes, new communities, home renovations, and residential […]

With just over a week to go until CHBA CEO Kevin Lee’s appearance as a panelist on the Sixth Estate’s show on housing from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, he shares his views on how the federal government can work with CHBA to unlock the door to homeownership. Read the full article here  

It’s no secret the demand for skilled trades workers in Canada continues to increase. According to their 2019 report, BuildForce Canada has identified a future gap in tradespeople with over 91,100 workers expected to retire by 2028 – just in Ontario alone. The construction industry, as well as the educators at Skilled Trades College of […]

As of January 1st 2019, all new homes built by Doug Tarry Homes will be built to Net Zero Ready as the minimum standard. This is the final outcome of being committed to this goal specifically while on the path of continual improvement over the last decade!   But why is this a goal you […]

CHBA is urging builders to participate in a National Research Council survey on changes to step dimensions for the 2020 National Building Code. With the increase to a 10 in. tread in the 2015 Code yet to be adopted in some jurisdictions, proponents are already calling for a further increase to 11 in., along with […]

CHBA Home Buyer Preference Survey – The Largest Market Research Study in Canada SIGN UP ENDS DECEMBER 8TH The CHBA has launched the fourth National Home Buyer Preference Survey in partnership with Avid Ratings Canada, and this is a valuable opportunity for home builder members from our local HBA. If you participate in the survey, […]

On Wednesday, October 26th at the Net Zero Energy Housing Council meeting, members were the first to get a look at the new Net Zero Home branding. It included the new Program name, logo, and tagline as well as key messaging such as the “elevator pitch” and some language/copy on the main benefits of these […]

Looking for a rewarding career with great prospects for employment today and in the future? Then take a close look at the residential construction industry. Building and renovating homes combine practical skills with creative thinking. It is a great fit for those who thrive on challenges, who like working with others, and who love seeing […]

Some Fixes to Recent Mortgage Insurance Rule Changes As you are aware, on October 3rd, Finance Minister Morneau announced a tightening of rules on mortgage insurance. CHBA is concerned that these new rules go too far, and will harm markets that are already challenged while doing little to address the ongoing supply pressures evident in […]

By Jason Miller   BELLEVILLE – The city’s building department is working in conjunction with a provincially-run agency to stop illegal builds like the dream log home of a Napanee couple bilked out of $850,000 in construction costs and left without a place to call home. “They left them with the walls of a log cabin, no […]

Home Hardware Announces Geerlinks Home Hardware Building Centre as Store of the Year   St. Jacobs, ON, May 2, 2016 – Home Hardware Stores Limited is pleased to announce the recipient of the annual Walter J. Hachborn Store of the Year Award. Now in its 19th year, the award pays tribute to the top store […]

Understanding the importance of building permits Building permits are a formal permission for the construction, demolition or alteration of a home, and acquiring them can be a complicated process. Bryan Tuckey So, you’ve decided to renovate. A home renovation is a great way to increase the value, not to mention your enjoyment of your home. […]

Nothing is ever free, someone has to pay. Therefore when Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced on Monday that it will be proposing legislation for “inclusionary zoning” my first reaction was: ‘new homebuyers are going to have to pay more.’ While Monday’s official press release sounds good, it is very concerning to anyone […]

Understanding the true cost of an underground economy By Anita De Vries   Cheap is expensive. That was the message given to Parliamentary Assistant Laura Albanese on Monday, January 11, as she began consulting with the building industry on the Underground Economy. The residential construction sector comprises almost 30% of Ontario’s underground economy, which amounts […]

Province aims to tackle underground economy TORONTO—The province is looking for input from Ontario’s construction sector on ways to deal with the underground economy. In particular, Ontario is hoping to gather feedback from individuals who work in residential construction on how to prevent illegal practices that contribute to the underground economy such as under the […]

40 years of protection and advice BY HOWARD BOGACH   A few months ago, I took the trip of a lifetime and travelled throughout various parts of Asia. I made my way around Macau, Vietnam, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap, Hanoi and Hong Kong. I noticed a stark contrast in building standards; brand new condominium towers not far from run-down shanty homes. It was a blunt […]

Review of Tarion long overdue Agency which is supposed to fight for new home buyers victimized by shoddy workmanship, often doesn’t By: Rosario Marchese   If you haven’t bought a new house recently, you may not have heard of the Tarion Warranty Corporation, and you may not care about the provincial review of Tarion announced […]