Quebec housing starts in December

MONTREAL , Jan. 11 /CNW Telbec/ - According to the results of the latest monthly survey conducted by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), residential construction grew this past month in Quebec's centres with 10,000 or more inhabitants. In all, 3,696 dwellings were started in December 2009 , compared to 2,747 a year earlier. Moreover, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of starts for this same month (44,400) was stronger than the pace recorded in December (37,700). Nationally, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts was 157,100 units in December.

The jump in residential construction registered in December in Quebec was due to the increase in activity in both the single-detached (46 per cent) and multi-family (30 per cent) home segments. From a regional standpoint, the Montréal and Québec CMAs posted significant rises (see table).

December's result brings total annual housing starts in urban centres to 37,006, down by 11 per cent from 2008.

"The level of activity recorded in 2009 corresponds exactly to our forecast of a year ago. As we expected, new homebuilding in Quebec did in deed decline in 2009, however not to the extent observed in other provinces. Given Quebec's less vulnerable industrial base and the fact that it's housing markets had already began to cool since a few years, it was clear to us that housing demand in the province would be less affected by the recession. This was indeed the case," said Kevin Hughes , Regional Economist at CMHC.

For all census metropolitan areas (CMAs) across Quebec , single-detached home starts increased by nearly 50 per cent from December 2008 , while multiple-family housing starts went up by over 40 per cent. In all, foundations were laid for 3,051 dwellings in the province's CMAs during December, for an increase of 44 per cent from a year earlier.

In contrast, census agglomerations with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants recorded another drop in December (75 less units than in December of 2008). This was, however, due to lower activity in the multi family segment (- 44 per cent). Starts of single-family, on the other hand, posted growth of 33 per cent. In smaller urban agglomerations (with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants), the level recorded in the last quarter of 2009 were practically identical to those recorded during the same period a year ago (see table).

Still according to the survey results, construction was up across all tenure types. Starts of homes destined to the freehold (50 per cent) and rental markets (94 per cent) were notable examples. Meanwhile, the increase in the total amount of condominium starts (20 per cent) was due to activity in the Montréal CMA.

"Again in 2009, the share of multi-family housing starts increased in Quebec urban centres. This share amounted to 65 per cent last year, compared to 45 per cent at the beginning of the decade. In addition to longer run factors such as population aging and the movement toward densification, the search for more affordable housing has recently strengthened this trend," added Kevin Hughes .

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. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making vital decisions. For more information, call 1-800-668-2642.

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

                                   December

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

    Centres
     with
     100,000+
     inhab.
     (December)

    GATINEAU       59      80   36     146      68  -53     205     148  -28
    MONTRÉAL      335     516   54     899   1,448   61   1,234   1,964   59
    QUÉBEC         98     136   39     250     417   67     348     553   59
    SAGUENAY       12      21   75      56      28  -50      68      49  -28
    SHERBROOKE     56      57    2      86      92    7     142     149    5
    TROIS-
     RIVIÈRES      20      49 (xxx)    109     139   28     129     188   46

    Subtotal
     (100,000
     +)           580     859   48   1,546   2,192   42   2,126   3,051   44

    Centres
     with
     50,000 to
     99,999
     inhab.
     (December)

    DRUMMOND-
     VILLE         23      37   61      78      34  -56     101      71  -30
    GRANBY         24      34   42      57      20  -65      81      54  -33
    SAINT-
     HYACINTHE      2       6 (xxx)     85      30  -65      87      36  -59
    SHAWINIGAN     13       6  -54       9       0 -100      22       6  -73
    SAINT-JEAN-
     SUR-
     RICHELIEU     22      29   32       3      45 (xxx)     25      74 (xxx)

    Subtotal
     (50,000 to
     99,999)       84     112   33     232     129  -44     316     241  -24

    Centres
     with
     10,000 to
     49,999
     inhab.
     (4th Quart.)

    ALMA           10      23 (xxx)     22      14  -36      32      37   16
    AMOS           13       8  -38       0       0    0      13       8  -38
    BAIE-COMEAU     6       2  -67      24      24    0      30      26  -13
    COWANSVILLE     8       6  -25       0       6 (xxx)      8      12   50
    DOLBEAU-
     MISTASSINI     5       4  -20       8       0 -100      13       4  -69
    GASPÉ          10       9  -10       0       3 (xxx)     10      12   20
    JOLIETTE       49      41  -16      54      98   81     103     139   35
    LA TUQUE        2       3   50       0       0    0       2       3   50
    LACHUTE        21      24   14      28      55   96      49      79   61
    LES-ÎLES-
     DE-LA-
     MADELEINE     33      11  -67       4       4    0      37      15  -59
    MATANE          2       6 (xxx)      6      10   67       8      16 (xxx)
    MONT-LAURIER    9      14   56      62       6  -90      71      20  -72
    MONTMAGNY       1       4 (xxx)     20       0 -100      21       4  -81
    PRÉVOST        34      57   68      14      32 (xxx)     48      89   85
    RAWDON         27      20  -26      24      16  -33      51      36  -29
    RIMOUSKI       39      43   10      50      44  -12      89      87   -2
    RIVIÈRE-
     DU-LOUP       19       9  -53      54      54    0      73      63  -14
    ROBERVAL        2       6 (xxx)      2       0 -100       4       6   50
    ROUYN-
     NORANDA       20      30   50       0       4 (xxx)     20      34   70
    SAINTE-ADÈLE   21      31   48      22      17  -23      43      48   12
    SAINTE-MARIE   12       7  -42      40      15  -63      52      22  -58
    SAINTE-
     SOPHIE        44      71   61      24      24    0      68      95   40
    SAINT-
     FÉLICIEN       4       6   50       5       0 -100       9       6  -33
    SAINT-
     GEORGES       26      44   69      18      36 (xxx)     44      80   82
    SAINT-LIN-
     LAURENTIDES   46      45   -2      43      33  -23      89      78  -12
    SALABERRY-DE-
     VALLEYFIELD   16      14  -13      25      30   20      41      44    7
    SEPT-ÎLES      11       9  -18       0       0    0      11       9  -18
    SOREL-TRACY    26      14  -46      16      70 (xxx)     42      84 (xxx)
    THETFORD
     MINES         11      10   -9       2      12 (xxx)     13      22   69
    VAL-D'OR       54      12  -78       6       9   50      60      21  -65
    VICTORIA-
     VILLE         28      34   21      64      29  -55      92      63  -32

    Subtotal
     (10,000 to
     49,999)*   609     617    1     637     645    1   1,246   1,262    1

    Quebec
     (estimate
     10,000+)     804   1,170   46   1,943   2,526   30   2,747   3,696   35


                             January to December

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

    Centres
     with
     100,000+
     inhab.

    GATINEAU    1,120   1,056   -6   2,184   2,060   -6   3,304   3,116   -6
    MONTRÉAL    6,602   5,446  -18  15,325  13,805  -10  21,927  19,251  -12
    QUÉBEC      2,031   1,746  -14   3,426   3,767   10   5,457   5,513    1
    SAGUENAY      400     337  -16     469     247  -47     869     584  -33
    SHERBROOKE    802     668  -17     825     912   11   1,627   1,580   -3
    TROIS-
     RIVIÈRES     373     375    1     775     652  -16   1,148   1,027  -11

    Subtotal
     (100,000
     +)        11,328   9,628  -15  23,004  21,443   -7  34,332  31,071   -9

    Centres
     with
     50,000 to
     99,999
     inhab.

    DRUMMOND-
     VILLE        322     332    3     330     198  -40     652     530  -19
    GRANBY        330     256  -22     755     361  -52   1,085     617  -43
    SAINT-
     HYACINTHE    107      65  -39     205     206    0     312     271  -13
    SHAWINIGAN    125      87  -30      65     101   55     190     188   -1
    SAINT-JEAN-
     SUR-
     RICHELIEU    272     230  -15     230     173  -25     502     403  -20

    Subtotal
     (50,000 to
     99,999)    1,156     970  -16   1,585   1,039  -34   2,741   2,009  -27

    Centres
     with
     10,000 to
     49,999
     inhab.

    ALMA          102      81  -21      69      42  -39     171     123  -28
    AMOS           41      32  -22       4       0 -100      45      32  -29
    BAIE-COMEAU    23      31   35      24      24    0      47      55   17
    COWANSVILLE    40      25  -38      29      62 (xxx)     69      87   26
    DOLBEAU-
     MISTASSINI    36      19  -47      20       0 -100      56      19  -66
    GASPÉ          95      60  -37      26      17  -35     121      77  -36
    JOLIETTE      246     220  -11     169     186   10     415     406   -2
    LA TUQUE        6       8   33      17       2  -88      23      10  -57
    LACHUTE        80      49  -39      78      93   19     158     142  -10
    LES-ÎLES-
     DE-LA-
     MADELEINE     40      47   18       4      22 (xxx)     44      69   57
    MATANE         23      34   48       8      12   50      31      46   48
    MONT-LAURIER   43      40   -7      64       6  -91     107      46  -57
    MONTMAGNY      13      17   31      26       8  -69      39      25  -36
    PRÉVOST       132     173   31      14      39 (xxx)    146     212   45
    RAWDON         78      70  -10      32      42   31     110     112    2
    RIMOUSKI      151     143   -5     182     157  -14     333     300  -10
    RIVIÈRE-DU-
     LOUP          77      54  -30     100     100    0     177     154  -13
    ROBERVAL       18      16  -11       6       8   33      24      24    0
    ROUYN-
     NORANDA      102      97   -5       4      50 (xxx)    106     147   39
    SAINTE-ADÈLE   87      77  -11      49      57   16     136     134   -1
    SAINTE-MARIE   39      37   -5     148      43  -71     187      80  -57
    SAINTE-
     SOPHIE       159     180   13      70      62  -11     229     242    6
    SAINT-
     FÉLICIEN      27      16  -41       5       0 -100      32      16  -50
    SAINT-
     GEORGES      105     109    4     106      84  -21     211     193   -9
    SAINT-LIN-
     LAURENTIDES  207     124  -40      73      70   -4     280     194  -31
    SALABERRY-DE-
     VALLEYFIELD   74      62  -16     219     101  -54     293     163  -44
    SEPT-ÎLES      44      41   -7      11       0 -100      55      41  -25
    SOREL-TRACY    99      85  -14     106     132   25     205     217    6
    THETFORD
     MINES         49      37  -24      19      48 (xxx)     68      85   25
    VAL-D'OR      118      90  -24       9      20 (xxx)    127     110  -13
    VICTORIA-
     VILLE        148     133  -10     286     223  -22     434     356  -18

    Subtotal
     (10,000 to
     49,999)* 2,502   2,207  -12   1,977   1,710  -14   4,479   3,917  -13

    Quebec
     (estimate
     10,000+)  14,988  12,814  -15  26,566  24,192   -9  41,554  37,006  -11

    *    Data adjusted to reflect geographical definitions of the 2006
           Census. Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Mont-Laurier, Prévost, Rawdon,
           Sainte-Adèle and Sainte-Sophie now belong to the 10,000 to 49,999
           population category.

    (xxx)  Absolute value greater than 100%
    

For further information: Province: Kevin Hughes, Regional Economist (province of Quebec), [phone]; Montréal: Bertrand Recher, 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): David L'Heureux, Senior Market Analyst, [phone]; Saguenay: Sébastien Paquet-Poirier, Market Analyst, [phone]