Quebec housing starts in November

MONTREAL , Dec. 8 /CNW Telbec/ - According to the results of the latest monthly survey conducted by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), residential construction fell this past month in Quebec's centres with 10,000 or more inhabitants. In all, 3,693 dwellings were started in November 2009 , compared to 4,236 a year earlier. However, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of starts for this same month (35,100) was stronger than the pace recorded in October (31,900). Nationally, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts was 141,100 units in November.

The decline in residential construction registered in November in Quebec was mainly due to the decrease in activity recorded in the single-detached home segment (-24 per cent). With the exception of the Montréal CMA, where such starts increased by 12 per cent, all other CMAs in the province sustained significant drops (see table). The 7-per-cent decrease noted in the multiple-unit (semi-detached, row and apartment) housing segment also contributed to the decline observed in November, but to a lesser extent.

"In November, single-detached home starts fell across the province, except in Montréal, where they posted a notable gain for the second month in a row. We will be closely monitoring any changes in this major market segment," said Kevin Hughes , Regional Economist at CMHC.

For all census metropolitan areas (CMAs) across Quebec , single-detached home starts declined by 15 per cent from November 2008 , while multiple-family housing starts went down by 3 per cent. On a disaggregated basis, the survey data revealed results reflecting this situation (see table). In all, foundations were laid for 3,307 dwellings in the province's CMAs during November, for a decrease of 6 per cent from a year earlier.

In the larger census agglomerations (with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants), the starts volume dropped by 33 per cent in comparison with November of last year (to 141 units). Activity was down in several agglomerations, including Granby (-63 per cent), where practically no rental or condominium housing starts were enumerated this past month.

Still according to the survey results, construction got under way on more condominium units (particularly in Montréal and Québec), but there were far fewer rental and freehold home starts compared to November 2008 .

As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes-homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country. For more information, visit www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642.

    
       Preliminary Results - Monthly Starts Survey - Province of Quebec
                        (centres with 10,000+ inhab.)

                                   November

                    Singles             Multiples              Total
                 2008    2009    %    2008    2009    %    2008    2009    %
              -------------------- -------------------- ---------------------

    Centres
     with
     100,000+
     inhab.

    GATINEAU      169      89  -47     200     215    8     369     304  -18
    MONTRÉAL      487     547   12   1,906   1,646  -14   2,393   2,193   -8
    QUÉBEC        192     135  -30     165     419 (xxx)    357     554   55
    SAGUENAY       31      21  -32      27      38   41      58      59    2
    SHERBROOKE     92      43  -53      67     102   52     159     145   -9
    TROIS-
     RIVIÈRES      46      34  -26     152      18  -88     198      52  -74

    Subtotal
     (100,000
     +)         1,017     869  -15   2,517   2,438   -3   3,534   3,307   -6

    Centres
     with
     50,000 to
     99,999
     inhab.

    DRUMMOND-
     VILLE         32      24  -25       8      20 (xxx)     40      44   10
    GRANBY         34      24  -29      71      15  -79     105      39  -63
    SAINT-
     HYACINTHE      6       6    0       6      14 (xxx)     12      20   67
    SAINT-JEAN-
     SUR-
     RICHELIEU     17      16   -6       8       2  -75      25      18  -28
    SHAWINIGAN     20       8  -60      10      12   20      30      20  -33

    Subtotal
     (50,000 to
     99,999)      109      78  -28     103      63  -39     212     141  -33

    Quebec
     (estimate
     10,000+)   1,366   1,038  -24   2,870   2,655   -7   4,236   3,693  -13


                             January to November

                    Singles             Multiples              Total
                 2008    2009    %    2008    2009    %    2008    2009    %
              -------------------- -------------------- ---------------------

    Centres
     with
     100,000+
     inhab.

    GATINEAU    1,061     976   -8   2,038   1,992   -2   3,099   2,968   -4
    MONTRÉAL    6,267   4,930  -21  14,426  12,357  -14  20,693  17,287  -16
    QUÉBEC      1,933   1,610  -17   3,176   3,350    5   5,109   4,960   -3
    SAGUENAY      388     316  -19     413     219  -47     801     535  -33
    SHERBROOKE    746     611  -18     739     820   11   1,485   1,431   -4
    TROIS-
     RIVIÈRES     353     326   -8     666     513  -23   1,019     839  -18

    Subtotal
     (100,000
     +)        10,748   8,769  -18  21,458  19,251  -10  32,206  28,020  -13

    Centres
     with
     50,000 to
     99,999
     inhab.

    DRUMMOND-
     VILLE        299     295   -1     252     164  -35     551     459  -17
    GRANBY        306     222  -27     698     341  -51   1,004     563  -44
    SAINT-
     HYACINTHE    105      59  -44     120     176   47     225     235    4
    SAINT-JEAN-
     SUR-
     RICHELIEU    250     201  -20     227     128  -44     477     329  -31
    SHAWINIGAN    112      81  -28      56     101   80     168     182    8

    Subtotal
     (50,000 to
     99,999)    1,072     858  -20   1,353     910  -33   2,425   1,768  -27

    Quebec
     (estimate
     10,000+)  14,184  11,377  -20  24,623  21,546  -12  38,807  32,923  -15


    (xxx) Absolute value greater than 100%
    

For further information: Province: Kevin Hughes, Regional Economist (province of Quebec), [phone]; Montréal: David L'Heureux, Senior Market Analyst, [phone]; Sherbrooke (Estrie): Francis Cortellino, Senior Market Analyst, [phone]; Québec: Élisabeth Koulouris, Senior Market Analyst, [phone]; Trois-Rivières (Mauricie): Marie-Élaine Denis, Market Analyst, [phone]; Gatineau (Outaouais, Abitibi): Patrice Tardif, Senior Market Analyst, [phone]; Saguenay: Sébastien Paquet-Poirier, Market Analyst, [phone]