OPEN HOUSE WEEKENDS
During the last two weekends in March, homebuyers get a taste of what’s available
With a healthy selection of properties on the market in Montreal and interest rates at historic lows, the organizers of the 19th edition of Open House Weekends are hoping for a strong turnout of potential buyers. In fact they’ve centred the entire theme of their event, happening March 21-22 and 28-29, on the tagline: It’s time to buy!
“It’s not just our 2015 slogan though,” said Jacques Beaulieu, real-estate expert and founder of Open House Weekends. “The reality is that the market is more favourable to buyers now than it has been in the last 10 years.”
The wide variety of properties on the market all over the Montreal area is one of the highlights of the Open House Weekends event. In order to showcase just how many types of homes are available, organizers are planning to feature roughly 80 different properties stretching from Montreal, Laval, and the South Shore, to Lanaudière.
“It’s a market that is extremely favourable to buyers because there’s a very good choice of products at all price ranges,” Beaulieu said. “Not to mention the interest rates; everything combined has created the perfect conditions for buyers.”
Especially first-time homebuyers, he added. Each year, March is typically a good time for new buyers on the market to shop for a home because it’s during that time frame in Montreal that people make decisions about if and where they’re going to be moving during the summer months.
Now is the best time to shop around, explore what’s available and, hopefully, make your choice. JACQUES BEAULIEU
Renters, for instance, are usually required to give three months notice on whether or not they plan to renew their lease in July. This means that during the months of March and April each year, there’s an influx of first-time buyers on the market.
Developers are aware of this trend, and often time the delivery of their projects accordingly.
“It means now is the best time to shop around, explore what’s available and, hopefully, make your choice,” Beaulieu said. “There are also quite a few promotional offers out there that buyers will want to take advantage of.”
These include developers who are willing to cover buyers’ notary fees, and who include electrical appliances in the purchase price, rebates on furniture, and a slew of other possible perks.
“So you can surely get a good deal at this time of the year,” Jacques Beaulieu said.
“And, hopefully, given the many options we’re going to showcase during our Open House Weekends, we’ll be able to help.”
Helping first-time buyers find properties is something that Beaulieu takes very seriously, and it’s a huge motivation behind Open House Weekends.
“Becoming the owner of a house is an enrichissement — it means you are richer personally and collectively,” he said. “We hope more people living on the island of Montreal will become owners, for their own financial and socioeconomic benefit.”
The average attendance at each of the events over the last five years has been roughly 10,000 visitors. Weather, which is notoriously unpredictable during Montreal springs, has been one of the most important factors affecting the turnout each year.
In addition to targeting firsttime buyers, organizers will also be featuring a handful of projects that cater more to families.
“We also have an impressive collection of sustainable developments and heritage buildings that have been transformed into modern condos and homes,” Beaulieu said.
“These are always a popular attraction. People love heritage buildings because they get to live in a modern space, but with a great history and story to tell.”
Whether you’re shopping for your first home, an investment property, or a condo to downsize from a family home, the experts at Open House Weekends are hoping everyone will take advantage of the informative and educational elements of their event.
“If you go on our website you will see there is a ton of information about subsidy programs, articles on the steps to follow to become an owner, the state of the market, and so on,” Beaulieu said. “We have lots of tools on hand to help you make your decision and be better informed.”
As in previous years, attendees will also be welcome to participate in two different contests ranking the top properties featured during the weekends.
“No other event caters to new residential projects the way Open House Weekends does,” Beaulieu said.
“Builders that are competitors in real life get together for two weekends and work together to promote the many amazing projects in Montreal.
“We are very proud to have achieved that with the Open House Weekends and we’re looking forward to our 20th edition coming up very soon.”
For more information about participating sales offices and show homes please visit www.monhabitationneuve.com