Why build more mansions?

By Shawn Lackie

All we seem to be reading about in the real estate market, are three things. Lack of sales, all the new listings, and need for more new builds, affordable new buildings. This is all very relevant, but as always, missing the mark.

Communities like Port Perry, Uxbridge, Lindsay and Brooklin have been building new subdivisions for years now. Their selling some, but not all of what has been built. Builders seem to keep forcing their valuations on would-be consumers, and they’re not biting. With good reason. All we've been hearing about the last number of years is, there is not enough affordable housing. This is with good reason. You see, a builder’s definition of affordable, and yours and mine are obviously worlds apart.

A number of years ago there was a small enclave of townhouses, built by a reputable builder, in a rather awkward area. They sold for crazy prices, in the 700k to 900k range. If that’s your definition of affordable housing, well then, we obviously have a disconnect here. So the other developers, who have been chomping at the bit, waiting for the sewer connections to be active, ran wild and started their missions.

Again, I wonder where the word affordable comes into play. These are all detached homes in the 700k to over 1 Million range. I guess it depends on your upgrades.

So I will ask again – where is the affordable housing? A number of years ago, the rumour was being spread around Port Perry, the field adjacent to the Legion was going to be sold to developers. Of course, everyone went bonkers. A field for kids, community spirit, why did they sell out, and more rants were posted on local social media boards.

So it was said, they would be building townhouses and some affordable housing. There’s that word again. Except, look at what transpired. At last look, there were two houses for sale, on Balsam, for around 1.5 Million. Is THAT the new definition of affordable?

There has been much debate about what the current fairgrounds are going to end up looking like and with good reason. We’ve been told, time and again, good things will happen. Ha! The three things not to believe. 1. The Cheque is in the mail. 2. The car is in the garage. 3. And I promise not....You get my drift.

With a council which seems to change opinion as the wind flows, this could get silly. The current fairgrounds might end up featuring more houses which sell in the 1.5 million dollar range. Since it’s been in a shroud of secrecy, nobody knows what will happen.

Those prices would satisfy the builders but certainly not consumers, especially those looking to move to Port Perry in an affordable fashion. That’s not gonna happen until politicians, builders and any other stakeholders recognize the despair buyers face, wanting to move to certain areas.

We are NOT Oakville, I get that: where the millionaires roam and buy goofy properties for astronomical prices. I know we are also not Port Perry circa 1975, when you could buy a reasonable place for a reasonable price. Still, can’t we at least find some middle ground here?

It's a novel concept but I’ll throw it out there again. Build something average people can afford to buy. Stop killing the middle class, Please.

Feel free to check out this story and more on my blog site, at https://slackie14.wixsite.com/buy-sell-and-more.