Ottawa Multiple Family Construction Leads in December

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 11, 2011) - According to the latest preliminary data released by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), total housing starts in the Ottawa Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) reached 542 units in December. For the calendar year, total starts were above the 10-year average reaching 6,446 units, up 11 per cent compared to 2009.

Healthy activity was witnessed in all housing segments during the month, with multiple and single family housing starts coming in at 293 and 249 respectively. "The multiple family segment had an exceptionally strong year," said Sandra Pérez-Torres, Senior Market analyst at CMHC. "It therefore comes as no surprise that high-density starts made up 64 per cent of new homes in Ottawa this year, representing the highest proportion of multiple family homes we have seen," added Pérez-Torres.

Although condominium apartment construction was lighter in December, it reached a record level this year, with 1,509 units erected. This represented 81 per cent of overall apartment starts.

To view the graph associated with this release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/cmhc111c.pdf.

Ottawa Housing Starts

	Dec-09	Dec-10	% Change		2009 (YTD)	2010 (YTD)	% Change
Single-Detached	238	249	4.6	%	2,471	2,302	-6.8	%
Multi-Family	583	293	-49.7	%	3,343	4,144	24.0	%
Semi-Detached	24	34	41.7	%	299	362	21.1	%
Row House	258	128	-50.4	%	1,909	1,928	1.0	%
Apartment	301	131	-56.5	%	1,135	1,854	63.3	%
Total	821	542	-34.0	%	5,814	6,446	10.9	%

Nepean led the way this month with 41 per cent of total starts in the Ottawa CMA and, along with Kanata and Osgoode, had a higher number of starts than last December. Nepean also represented almost one-half of multiple family homes constructed, with 73 of these units built inside the Greenbelt – the most since April 2004. The old city of Ottawa had 66 multiple starts, of which 48 were condo apartments, while Kanata had 44 row units erected. Rideau, Osgoode and Gloucester had solely single-family starts in the month of December.

The year ended strongly in all areas, the only execptions being Gloucester and Cumberland – Gloucester was down marginally, while Cumberland had 13 per cent less starts than the previous year. Nepean closed the year with the largest volume of home starts in the region. Multiple dwelling starts represented 92 per cent of starts in the old city of Ottawa, with the vast majority being condominiums. Kanata, Nepean, Gloucester and Cumberland also had a larger proportion of multiple family dwelling versus singles. The remaining areas in Ottawa had a stronger focus on single homes, with Rideau and Osgoode having virtually all homes of this variety.

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, visit www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642.

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