Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
It turns out that what planners and developers think buyers should want is not what they actually want. Millennials are following in the footsteps of every generation before them and moving to detached homes in the burbs to start families.
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Condos and kids (or even couples) are a bad combo, and younger millennials don't have the cash and/or aren't settled enough to buy the condos anymore.
I think there is a large segment of the population that would like to buy townhomes close to the downtown core. Those barely exist east of Toronto though. Not everyone wants to deal with yard maintenance and would prioritize a short commute, but most people likely want at least 1400 sq feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and space for a full bbq and outdoor eating area.
The focus should be on zoning for the "middle" across Canada, but we won't see that anytime soon. Frankly, what made me leave Calgary was the excessive commuting times and general sprawl. If there were proper medium density communities within walking distance of bars, breweries, restaurants, and other entertainment I would reconsider. Unfortunately, Montreal is the only city in Canada that has that properly down.
Overall, I'd say people aged 20-50 are even moving away from the house and yard model, but Canada largely doesn't offer anything but house/yard and condo. No middle.