Leaving the city for the suburbs: A trend that’s here to stay?
It’s all over the media these days. More and more people are leaving Montreal to live in the suburbs—or even the countryside. The trend has been on an upswing, especially in the past year when COVID-19 hit and more people began working from home. Is this just a fad, or something more permanent? One thing’s for sure: The suburbs are making a comeback
Taking the plunge (and crossing the bridge!) for a better quality of life with fewer expenses is a decision thousands of Quebecers have been making in the last 14 or so months. Working from home has meant no more daily commute, making suburban life a lot more attractive. Today, more and more people are trading cramped spaces for a larger surface area, balconies for back yards, and the hustle and bustle of city life for easy access to the great outdoors.
A recent study by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) clearly demonstrates this exodus to the 450, which Montrealers have shunned for years. The trend only intensified the past year, especially in the second and third quarters.*
The benefits of the ’burbs in 2021
Access more affordable housing
The difference in average condo price between Montreal and some parts of the surrounding suburbs can be as much as 75%.* And for families, the suburbs is often the only place to purchase a single-family home—something that’s increasingly difficult on the island of Montreal. According to the CMHC, between 2015 and 2019, the average number of suburban homes purchased by Montreal families hovered around 22 to 24%—and hit a whopping 29% in 2020. That number was even higher in July 2020, when it reached 31%!
Enjoy more space
In the city, the cost per square foot for property is much higher than in the suburbs. That’s why relocating outside the metropolitan area allows people to access a larger condo or family home. After a year of lockdowns and working from home, having more space has become a key priority for buyers, who are looking for a home office or simply a living area with more square footage.
Live closer to nature
Although Montreal has Mount Royal and plenty of urban parks, the pandemic has driven many people to want to live closer to nature and wide-open spaces. The suburbs provide easy access to the great outdoors as well as living spaces that are less densely populated than the city. Plus living away from industry means the air is much less polluted in suburban areas.
Spend less time in traffic
Working from home during the pandemic has become the norm for many people, and for some this new reality is here to stay. Not only has this eliminated daily commutes, it also adds up to significant savings in time, money, and gas while providing people with more personal time for themselves. Being stuck in traffic—which has long been the reason people have put off moving to the suburbs—is now a thing of the past.
Get to know more of your neighbours
City living can feel be very anonymous, and having plenty of neighbours doesn’t guarantee you’ll get to know many of them. In the suburbs, however, neighbours tend to form communities. Soon new residents find themselves talking to people up and down the street, going to backyard BBQs, and extending their social circle.
Construction Voyer: Right here in the suburbs
Since 1973, Construction Voyer has been at the helm of sustainable, innovative, and high-quality real-estate projects in Lanaudière, the Laurentians, Suroît, Terrebonne, Laval, Montreal, and more. We are recognized for our single-family homes as well as our condo projects, and ensure quality construction that’s unparalleled in the industry with a 10-year warranty against major defects and deficiencies.
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*Source: Housing market insight, Montréal CMA, March 2021
