INDUSTRIAL VACANCY
DESIGN TRENDS 2017
Is the worst behind us? INDUSTRY A2
Advice on transforming your space
NEW GROWTH Indoor gardening: as simple as lights, seeds, action
TRENDS A4
BALZER A6
FREE jan 20 to jan 26 2017 issue 07-02 editorial 403-781-1324 advertising 403-263-4940 crebnow@creb.ca
real estate news from industry experts
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RIGHT NOW, IF DOMESTIC PRODUCERS WERE ARGUING THINGS WERE UNFAIR FOR THEM, NOW WITH THE DUTIES, THE PENDULUM HAS SWUNG THE OPPOSITE WAY. JASON BURGGRAAF
TEARING DOWN TRADE WALLS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND POLICY ADVISER WITH THE CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION
Homebuilders hope recommendations to lower duties will lead to lower cost for industry, consumers JOEL SCHLESINGER for CREB®Now
R
ecent recommendations by a federal trade tribunal have the homebuilding industry hopeful that high duties on U.S. drywall imports will soon come to an end. The Canadian International Trade
Tribunal issued its Statement of Reasons Jan. 19 outlining why it found drywall duties on U.S. imports are negatively impacting Western Canada’s housing industry. Yet it also found U.S. manufacturers were indeed dumping drywall into the Canadian market, an unfair advantage over domestic manufacturers. Both homebuilders — including
CITY OF CALGARY
related industries — and the gypsum board manufacturing industry in Canada see the recommendations as potentially beneficial. “Yes, the trade tribunal indicated there was injury to domestic producers with the dumping, but, on the other hand, it’s clear the wider economy can’t handle duties of 100 to 300 per cent depending on which company is doing the importing,” said Jason Burggraaf, government relations and policy adviser with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association. Canadian Border Services Agency put the tariffs in place last September, ranging between 200 and 300 per cent of the cost of product coming from the U.S. The move was aimed at ensuring
MLS® NEW LISTINGS* DEC ’14 – DEC ’16
fairness with domestic producers who are unable to produce drywall at as low a cost as their U.S. counterparts. For the industry, the decision would save jobs — about 120 — otherwise at risk without the duties. But the homebuilding and wider construction industry in Western Canada lobbied the federal government to remove, or at least reduce, the duties. In response the federal government set up the tribunal to help guide its decision. The tribunal has taken a middleof-the-road approach, recommending duties be suspended for six months and reduced thereafter to about 43 per cent. It also recommended duties already collected be used to offset increased
costs for end users. As well, it suggests provisions be made to reduce costs for drywall used in the reconstruction of Fort McMurray. The final decision is now in the hands of the federal Finance minister. The union representing drywall manufacturing workers in Western Canada remains optimistic the government will protect Canadian jobs in the industry. “Our 120 members employed by CertainTeed can breathe a collective sigh of relief knowing that their jobs are secure,” says Kevin Sheptycki with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers.
DRYWALL A3
CANADIAN CONTENTS HOME SALES UP NEWS BRIEFS IN DECEMBER TRENDS
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A4
Interior Design
2,093 DEC14 1,381 JAN15 3,288 FEB15 2,950 MAR15 3,136 APR15 3,064 MAY15 3,161 JUN15 3,122 JUL15 2,733 AUG15 3,081 SEP15 2,678 OCT15 2,182 NOV15 1,491 DEC15 2,741 JAN16 2,906 FEB16 3,227 MAR16 3,217 APR16 3,319 MAY16 3,078 JUN16 2,683 JUL16 2,759 AUG16 2,976 SEP16 2,364 OCT16 1,985 NOV16 DEC16 993
CREB® STAFF
MORTGAGE RATES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4
R
esale residential sales activity rose by 2.2 per cent in Canada last month, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). MLS® activity was up on a monthover-month basis in about 60 per cent of all local markets, led by Calgary and Edmonton where sales rallied following large declines in November. Actual (not seasonally adjusted) sales were down five per cent in December from a year ago, when it reached the highest level ever for the month.
HOME SALES A3
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity. Includes detached, attached and apartment.
NEIGHBOURHOODS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Inner-City
HOW TO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A7 Winter Showings
MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 OPEN HOUSES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B11
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Donna Williams $309,900 SOUTHWOOD ATTACHED DUPLEX • 2 bdrms, 2 baths, no condo fees • Huge 32 x 130 lot • Attached bung w/dev bsmt • New T & G roof • Walk to schools, bus, LRT
MLS®C4072388
$362,500 MCKENZIE TOWNE
MLS®C4091609
• End unit townhome • 2 bedrms up 3½ bathrooms • Hardwood floors on main • 9 ft ceilings • Single garage • Finished basement • Sunny south back yard
$399,900 CARSTAIRS • 2013 built 2 storey • TRIPLE ATT GARAGE • Upgraded kitchen & appliances • 9 ft ceiling • bonus room • 3 bedrms & 3 bath • 2178 sq ft
MLS®C4076288
$190,000 TEMPLE
403-617-7749 donna@donnawilliamsrealestate.com
MLS®C4085028
• 2 Storey Townhouse, 3 bedrooms • Full Bsmt w/ large family room • Recent upgrades: windows, shingles & doors • Granite counters • Fenced yard • Well run complex, buss right outside complex
SUTTON CANWEST REAL ESTATE