My Montreal real estate blog which I call “One Good Earth” was created in honor of mother earth, this glorious earth which so generously and unconditionally nourishes and sustains us on this planet. When I think about the earth, I can’t help but reflect upon the beauty inherent in nature’s design. Nature’s bounty and abundance is evident everywhere we look…..
There’s so much wisdom and knowledge in the perfection of natural systems of which we still have little understanding……All I do know is that the time has come for us to rethink our relationship with nature and our place within the scheme of things. Modern civilization has progressed to the point where our constant expansion is having dire consequences on the planet’s ecosystems. Everything exists in relationship to the other and with the extinction of many species, we don’t yet understand that which we are breaking.
Real Estate makes up a huge portion of the built environment all across the world and sustainability is being discussed from countries to corporations to inspired individuals taking action to implement more sustainable choices. While this is all positive there seems to be this disconnect between our cityscape and the sense of nature that exists all around us. We’ve built our cities on an infrastructural base of concrete and asphalt, both of which are the worst materials in terms of their heat effect. How insane will the weather disruptions have to get before change is forced upon us. Can we be more proactive in our choices, finding solutions to some of the most plaguing problems on the planet like waste, energy efficiency and food production, conservation, etc….
My intention with this blog is to feature ideas, discussions and thoughts around companies, concepts and people that are attempting to tackle these issues. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed sharing this with you.
To quote Albert Einstein on insanity, “To keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result is a form of insanity.” So if we’re not happy with the status quo of our planet and climate, it’s time to take action and figure out some solutions.
Elimination of Transfer Taxes For First Time Home Buyers
Elimination of transfer taxes for first time home buyers was put on the table during the election campaign by the Parti Quebec. According to the QFREB, (Quebec Federation of Real Estate Boards), the homeownership rate in Quebec (61 per cent) remains considerably lower than the Canadian average (68 per cent), says the association.
The Government of Quebec, in 2018, took a first step in this direction by granting a $750 non-refundable tax credit for the purchase of a first home. “There is no question that real estate transfer taxes (known as the welcome tax) are an impediment to...
WorldGBC Project To Advance To Net Zero
WorldGBC Project To Advance To Net Zero is a project by the World Green Building Council which aims to promote and support the acceleration of net zero carbon buildings to 100% by 2050. Since buildings account for over half of all emissions, they are a logical target for energy remediation.
"The Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment (the Commitment) challenges companies, cities, states and regions to reach Net Zero operating emissions in their portfolios by 2030, and to advocate for all buildings to be Net Zero in operation by 2050.
By setting ambitious ‘absolute’ targets, the Commitment aims...
Crea's Market Forcast For The Balance Of 2018 And 2019
Crea's market forcast for the balance of 2018 and 2019 expect that "Economic and demographic fundamentals remain supportive for housing demand in many parts of the country; however, policy headwinds have impacted home buyer sentiment and access to mortgage financing in many housing markets. Further expected interest rate increases, combined with this year’s new federal mortgage stress test are expected to continue to keep home sales activity in check over the rest of the year and into 2019,” says CREA in a statement, adding the latest mortgage stress test has had...
Montreal Real Estate Stories September 2018
The short of it is that Montreal held it's own in August. Despite lower inventories, sales of condominiums increased by 12% compared to this time last year while sales of single family homes rose 5%. The largest increase in sales was in the plexes categories. Read the Centris Report below to view all the numbers. As for the full picture across some of the major markets across Canada, the National Bank Housing Index gives us a snapshot of Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and other cities in Canada. Ten of the eleven metropolitan areas recorded increases in the...
