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Buying New

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or purchasing your retirement home, find all the information you need about buying a new home.

Buying New? Consider a Net Zero Home

Energy efficiency has quickly become a top consideration for new home buyers. In fact, CHBA’s Home Buyer Preference Survey shows that energy efficiency features like high-efficiency appliances and windows are frequently among the top 10 features homeowners are looking for in their homes year-over-year. This has led to a growing popularity in Net Zero Homes, … Continued

Top 5 Projects for the Best Production Net Zero Home Award in the 2023 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence

Home energy efficiency is a growing topic of conversation among Canadians. Buyers and homeowners are increasingly showing interest in Net Zero Homes – and builders and renovators across Canada are delivering.  The  CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence is Canada’s premiere competition for new homes, renovations, community development, and residential marketing. This year’s competition featured … Continued

All Buying New Posts

Navigating the Purchase Contract: A Guide for Homebuyers

Entering the world of real estate as a homebuyer can be both exhilarating and daunting, and a key milestone in the journey towards homeownership is signing a purchase contract. This document, dense with legal terminology and intricate details, is the blueprint of your purchase, outlining the rights and responsibilities of both buyer and seller. While … Continued

Buying New? Consider a Net Zero Home

Energy efficiency has quickly become a top consideration for new home buyers. In fact, CHBA’s Home Buyer Preference Survey shows that energy efficiency features like high-efficiency appliances and windows are frequently among the top 10 features homeowners are looking for in their homes year-over-year. This has led to a growing popularity in Net Zero Homes, … Continued

Top 5 Projects for the Best Production Net Zero Home Award in the 2023 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence

Home energy efficiency is a growing topic of conversation among Canadians. Buyers and homeowners are increasingly showing interest in Net Zero Homes – and builders and renovators across Canada are delivering.  The  CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence is Canada’s premiere competition for new homes, renovations, community development, and residential marketing. This year’s competition featured … Continued

The Science Behind a Net Zero Home

Every part of a Net Zero Home works together in harmony to create the ultimate energy efficient living space. Every aspect of the home, including the building envelope, mechanical systems, and renewable energy systems, works together as a system to ensure peak performance. Through advanced “building science” techniques, technologies, and products, builders can significantly reduce … Continued

Net Zero Communities Across Canada

Net Zero Homes were once only seen in custom homes, but committed and passionate builders across Canada are now offering Net Zero production homes and even full communities. Energy efficient homes are becoming more desirable to many Canadians who are looking for superior quality, greater comfort, and who want to be environmentally responsible. And Net … Continued

Planning for What You Need – and Want – in Your Home

When looking to buy a home, you’ll probably start searching for one that meets your short-term needs. Maybe your company just went remote, and you want a place with a home office. Or maybe you just had a baby and need more space or somewhere without an elevator. While it’s great to search for a … Continued

A Look Inside an Award-Winning Net Zero Home

Greg Hasler, Founder and CEO of Qualified Net Zero Home Builder Hasler Homes Ltd. As home energy efficiency continues to be prioritized by new buyers, and government incentives like the recent Greener Homes Grant make home energy efficiency renovations more accessible to homeowners, Net Zero / Net Zero Ready Homes are growing in popularity. And … Continued

Are all energy efficient homes the same?

The difference between an EnerGuide Label and a CHBA Net Zero Home Label Thinking about building a new home or renovating your existing one? Investing in energy efficiency for your home will pay off in lower energy bills and can even increase the value of your home. But not all energy efficient homes are the same. There are a few options that you and your builder/renovator can choose from if you … Continued

What is a Net Zero Service Organization?

If you’re purchasing a Net Zero Home, whether it’s a model from a builder you love or you’re building a custom home, your main point of contact is likely going to be your builder. If you’re renovating your home to Net Zero, your renovator is your main point of contact, though if you’re still living … Continued

The Beauty of Energy Efficiency: Net Zero Homes in Canada

Net Zero Homes put on their best show yet in this year’s CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence. From rustic to modern, budget-friendly to luxury, new builds to renovations, qualified Net Zero builders and renovators across Canada showed that Net Zero Homes are pushing the envelope in energy efficient design, construction, and renovation. To have … Continued

What’s the Difference Between Net Zero & Net Zero Ready Homes?

If you’ve researched energy efficient homes, you’ve probably come across the terms “Net Zero” and “Net Zero Ready.” But what do they mean, and how are they different? We’re breaking down the differentiating features of a Net Zero and Net Zero Ready Home. What is a Net Zero Home? Net Zero Homes are defined as … Continued

CHBA Survey Delivers Unique Insight into Today’s New Home Buyers

For the last six years, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) has teamed up with Avid Ratings Canada – a leading customer satisfaction research company – to ask new home buyers about what drives their purchase decisions. You may remember we’ve talked about some results before, like this post on renovation trends. The annual CHBA … Continued

What is an Energy Advisor?

What is an Energy Advisor? Energy Advisors (EAs) are specialists in rating home energy efficiency, and they provide guidance to homeowners who are interested in improving their home’s efficiency. EAs are registered by National Resources Canada (NRCan) to deliver EnerGuide Rating Systems (ERS) for new or existing homes. In short, an Energy Advisor is a third-party consultant who works closely with builders, renovators … Continued

Welcome to Sunset Dunes, A Perfect PEI Modular Home

Modular home construction is an efficient and environmentally sensitive way to build a home today. With shorter build times, fewer wasted materials, and exemplary safety measures for workers, the construction method is rising in popularity. Dubbed Sunset Dunes, this residence we’re about to showcase is just one example of an innovative modular home. Located in … Continued

Net Zero Homes in Canada: Diverse and Efficient

Diversity in Net Zero builds wasn’t lacking this year for finalists of the 2020 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence, powered by Avid Ratings Canada. From custom homes in the country, homes with budget-friendly mindfulness, suburban homes for growing families, a complete Net Zero renovation of an existing heirloom home, to an urban project that … Continued

Community Development Trends Transforming The New Decade

Today, a master-planned community development offers a beautiful balance between nature, homes, shops and amenities. Thanks to this years finalists, residents are finding themselves in vibrant up-and-coming, sustainable neighborhoods with acres of green space to enjoy the outdoors or relax and watch the sunset. “Whether you prefer to paddle on the lake, hike trails, or … Continued

The Latest in Marketing for Homes: Virtual Tours to Homeowner Stories

When it comes to marketing for homes across Canada, projects in the 2020 Marketing Awards category of the CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence remain a gold standard of creativity, design, branding and advertising techniques. This year, we are seeing many campaigns with unique concepts that cater to new customer experiences, including virtual reality, beautiful … Continued

Home and Design Trends: CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence

The 2020 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence, powered by Avid Ratings Canada, received more than 700 entries across 39 categories this year! Nearly 200 judges volunteered their time to review the incredible entries. And now, the finalists have been announced! So, what home and design trends are we noticing in the finalist entries? Let’s … Continued

Why Net Zero Homes Are So Comfortable

Net zero homes are an excellent option for those looking for a comfortable, energy efficient space. By producing as much clean energy as they consume, net zero homes are up to 80% more energy efficient than typical new homes. In order to reach such impressive levels of energy efficiency, these homes need to have extremely … Continued