Townhouses Led Starts in Brantford

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 10, 2012) - Total starts in the Brantford Census Metropolitan Area rose by 42 per cent during the fourth quarter of 2011. More townhouse starts were the primary driver of the increase, as starts of these homes more than doubled as compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, in both the City of Brantford and Brant County. Single-detached starts also increased to 77 homes, but there were no starts of semi-detached homes or apartments during the fourth quarter.

While starts were up during the final months of the year, starts for 2011 fell slightly behind the 2010 level for all home types. The largest drop in starts came from the low-rise, ground-oriented single-detached and semi-detached home sectors in the City of Brantford. Total starts in the city fell by 25 per cent. At the same time, starts in Brant County increased by 20 per cent.

"Townhouses are becoming increasingly popular as a first home for many buyers," said Sarah Fong, CMHC Senior Market Analyst for the Hamilton and Brantford area. "While townhouses have historically been concentrated in the city, we are starting to see this building type, which raises population density, in the more rural Brant County as well."

As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 65 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable housing solutions. 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 informed decisions.

For more information, visit www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642. CMHC Market Analysis standard reports are also available free for download at CMHC Housing Market Information.

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