Category Archives: News


Take It Outside! Moncton’s Outdoor Rink Locations

 

Baby it’s cold outside! Lucky are Monctonians to live in an area with no shortage of outdoor fun options- for kids and grown-ups alike.

This year, the City Of Moncton has increased the number of outdoor rink locations for your skating pleasure & I have to admit, it puts a smile on my face to see kids outside on the ice.  I learned to skate on a pond in Moncton and there is truly nothing like an afternoon spent on an outdoor rink. So, get your kids off the couch and on the ice… they’ll thank you for it & you’ll probably enjoy it as much as they do.

From the City of Moncton website:

Outdoor Rinks

Grove Hamlet (39 Ripplewood Road)

Mapleton Place (90 Candlewood Drive)

Prince Edward Park (25 Burlington Avenue)

Boys & Girls Club Moncton/Renton Park (280 Noël Street)

Sunny Brae Park (45 Centre Street)

Lewisville Park (Edgehill & Willowbend Drive)

Beechwood Community (Joyce Avenue)

Other Outdoor Rinks:

  • Centennial Park Pond
  • Centennial Park Kaboom Rink
  • Mapleton Park
  • City Hall
  • Victoria Park (Weldon at John Street)

Indoor Rinks:

  • Redball Internet Centre
  • Crossman Community Centre-Kay Arena

 

 

 

 

Moncton Christmas Tree PickUp: At Your Door!

Happy New Year!  Behind resolutions, goals and diets, some of us still have our big beautiful green buddies standing in our living rooms. OK… so maybe they’re not quite as big or green as they once were.  The great news is that, in this case, procrastination has paid off!  Next week, there will be Christmas tree pickup at your door!  According to the City Of Moncton website

“There is free drop-off at the Westmorland-Albert Solid Waste Corporation beginning December 27.   Info: 877-1040” OR “Residents… may set them out at the curb on their regular garbage pick-up night during the week of January 9 to 13, 2012 only. Info: 859-2643.”

Perfect! I have to admit, my tree is still standing. Is yours?

-Natalie

 

The Secret To My Success

When I started Martell Home Builders, nearly 5 years ago, I got some solid advice from my old brother Dan. “Go out and find people who’ve already accomplished what you’re trying to do, and ask them for advice”, he said “Not only will you learn faster, you can usually avoid making the same mistakes they have”.

That specific advice lead me on a journey of self learning and many trips across north america. In the first year alone, I travelled to PEI, Halifax, Toronto, even Calgary so I could meet and get advice from some of the top home builders and real estate marketing experts in the industry.

It’s because I know the power of great advice, that I’m so excited for the launch of Dan’s new company: Clarity. If you’re a business person living in, or around Moncton, you won’t want to miss this event. He’s got over 400+ of the world best entrepreneurs available for calls through Clarity. He certainly can explain things better than me .. but you’ll need to be at the event to get access.  (ex: Here’s my profile )

Clarity.fm Launch, Thursday, January 5th @ 5pm, Capitol Theatre, 811 Main St, Moncton, NB

Register Today

I hope you make it. Sometimes a simple 10 minute phone call with the right person can change your life forever.

The Ups and Downs of Moncton’s Housing Market

Lot 98-06 Westshore - Point du Chene

2011 has been an interesting year for new housing in Moncton. Depending on who you ask, and what segment you are looking at, the market has seemed either good or bad.

Multiple Starts Down
Significantly in Greater
Moncton
The new homes market in Greater
Moncton recorded a year-over-year
decline of 29.5 per cent in multiple
starts during the second quarter of
2011.  Activity in the rental market,
in particular, was weak during the
second quarter of 2011, with a total
of 26 apartment starts in the Moncton
CMA, all in Moncton City proper. In
comparison, 103 apartment starts
were recorded in Moncton City
during the same period last year, with
an additional 48 units in Riverview.
Semi-detached starts, which were
off to a slow start during the winter
months, rebounded during the second
quarter, with a significant year-overyear increase in starts. Despite the
strong performance, the number
of unabsorbed units, which had
previously peaked at a historically
high level in 2009, continued to trend
downwards in 2011 as supply and
demand continued to move towards
a more sustainable balance. Even
though semi-detached homes remain
the starter home of choice in Greater
Moncton, a growing number of new
units have started to command higher
prices as consumers seek increased
amenities.
Single starts were solid in the
Moncton CMA during the second
quarter.  A notable year-over-year
increase in both Moncton City and
the Town of Riverview, however,
was offset by fewer starts in Dieppe
City and the remainder of the CMA,
resulting in a 7.6 per cent, year-overyear decline for the quarter. Despite
fewer starts during the second
quarter, the average price of a newly
absorbed, single-detached unit was up
5.2 per cent to $265,634. Year-to-date,
the price change was negligible, down
0.2 per cent.
Single Starts Decline in the
Provincial Capital
In the second quarter of 2011, singledetached starts in Fredericton were
down 24.6 per cent to 86 units. The
avera

When looking for housing data, we frequently turn to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). CMHC is Canada’s national housing agency. While they are perhaps best known for providing mortgage loan insurance, they also are a leading source of housing data, and one of the first places market researchers turn to when looking at trend in the real estate market.

Each quarter they release a quarterly ‘Housing Now’ report for various cities across Canada. The report provides insightful analysis of local housing markets and a summary of housing statistics, including starts, completions, dwellings under construction, absorptions, real estate sales and home prices, as well as key economic indicators.

Here are some of the CMHC highlights about the real estate market in Moncton:

Apartments Down

New multiple starts (i.e. apartments, condos and row houses) recorded a substantial decline of 29.5 per cent a year-over-year decline during the second quarter of 2011. New rental starts were particularly week, with just 24 new apartments breaking ground in the Moncton region. This compares to 151 apartment starts in the region during the same period in 2010

Semis Up

Semi-deatched starts did significantly better. After a slow winter, they rebounded during the second quarter, with 184 new duplexes getting underway—a 19.4% year-over-year increase. While semi-detached homes remain the starter home of choice in Greater Moncton, a growing number of these new units are being built with increased amenities and commanding higher prices.

Mixed Singles

Single-family home starts were a mixed story during the second quarter, While parts of the region—notably Moncton and Riverview saw notable increases, they were more than offset by fewer starts in the rest of region. As a result, single family starts were down 7.6% during the period. Despite the fewer starts, however, the average price of a single-detached house was up 5.2 per cent to $265,634 over 2010.

 Housing Activity Summary of Moncton CMA Q2-2011

You can download the full report from the CMHC Publications and Reports page.

Save 75% or More on Your Energy Bills with an EcoPlusHome

EcoPlus-Blog2Join us on August 21st from 1-4pm to learn how you can reduce your energy costs and carbon emissions when you buy an EcoPlusHome at Sterling Meadows.

The first two EcoPlusHomes at Sterling Meadows are projected to save their owners 75% or more on their energy bills for electricity, heating, cooling and hot water than if the houses had only been built to code with lower energy efficiency (e.g. EnerGuide rating of just 69). In addition, annual projected green house gas emissions are expected to be at least 80% lower – the equivalent of taking three cars off the road each year.

With energy prices increasing every year and supply in question, these savings are compelling enough to take a closer look.

The buzzword in sustainable home construction is net-zero housing … a house that provides owners with the opportunity to use less energy than it generates. In other words, zero energy consumption from the power grid which translates into huge savings!

While “living off the grid” conjures up images of a modest dwelling beside a lake in the woods, inhabited by granola-eating tree-huggers, a net-zero home is a game changer in the sense that it offers a comfortable and viable living option that is suited for living in suburbia.

The net-zero concept depends on two key elements: the energy efficiency/generating capacity of the home, and the energy consumption patterns of the homeowners. With the potential of an EcoPlusHome, homeowners with the desire to save money and the planet can now be closer than ever to living a net-zero lifestyle within their own four walls depending on how much energy they choose to consume.

It is important to note that EcoPlusHome energy consumption, energy cost savings, and green house gas emission data are calculated using Natural Resources Canada official statistics for an average family of four (two adults, two children). These statistics also assume the EcoPlusHome uses compact fluorescent lighting and EnergyStar rated appliances.

Using advanced alternative energy solutions by Bosch, Martell Home Builders – in partnership with EcoPlusHome and Maple Leaf Homes – are building two EcoPlusHomes at Sterling Meadows (off the Old Shediac Road) with pre-construction EnerGuide ratings of 93 out of 100.

The Martell EcoPlusHome is the premier energy-efficient home on the Moncton market with a payback on a homeowner’s investment being realized in as little as five years depending on the homeowner’s energy consumption habits (and that’s based on today’s power rates).

Knowing that an investment in an EcoPlusHome will pay for itself by allowing you to continue saving on energy costs while increasing the eventual resale value of your home – which home would you choose to build or buy?

We are very excited about this project.  Please plan to come out to see it for yourself on August 21st.

Photo Contest: What Your Home Means to You

Client Photo Contest

Do you remember the photo contest we had last year where we gave away a trip to Cancun, Mexico? Well, this year we’re doing something very similar because we know how much you loved last year’s contest!

You don’t need to be a pro photographer to win this photo contest; if you’re a client of ours, all you need is a creative mind to be eligible to win (well, and access to a camera, computer and Facebook!).

The Photo Contest

We want you to tell us the story of what home means to you in a single image. Get creative, get sentimental, get emotional, get taking those pictures! Home is, by far, the most important place in our lives; there’s truth behind the saying “Home is where the heart is” and there’s a reason why people get homesick. Home is where family and friends get together; share good times and bad; where hectic times and quiet moments are spent; where our children grow and grandchildren visit. If they could talk, our homes could tell the story of our lives. We want to see your home through your eyes.

The Prize

This is the exciting part. The grand prize winner will receive a brand new Napoleon fireplace! This beautifully designed electric fireplace will hang like any other wall décor and simply plugs into a standard wall socket.

Napoleon Fireplace

How to Enter

Once you’ve taken a picture of what your home means to you, simply go to our Facebook page (and “Like” it if you haven’t already done so!) and upload your picture by August 3rd. Make sure to tag yourself in the photo so all your friends can lend their support.

The Martell Home Builders team will carefully consider each entry based on creativity and the emotional impact the photo has on them (that’s right – make them cry, get bonus points!). The team will then vote amongst themselves to decide on a winner.

The winner will be announced on August 6th, at our annual Client Appreciation Party. You must be there in order to claim your prize, so make sure you’ve registered!

Good luck!

Moncton: Canada’s Most Canadian City

Canadian Flag(Source)

Last week, Canadians from coast to coast celebrated Canada Day.  It turns out the residents of Moncton had a little extra reason to celebrate. The city has been named the Canucky-est City by the Martin Prosperity Institute. The Institute, a University of Toronto think-tank, developed the Canuck Index to determine which cities contain the most Canadian touchstones for their population size. This is yet another reason why Moncton rocks!

The Canuck Index

The Canuck Index is a blend of eight quintessentially ‘Canadian measures including:

  • The number of local breweries
  • The number of Tim Horton’s restaurants
  • The number of maple syrup producers
  • The number of fur stores
  • The labour force share of the fishing, farming and forestry class
  • The number of Hudson Bay Company Stores (the Bay, Zeller’s, and Home
  • CHL and NHL hockey teams in those areas
  • How close the distribution of language within the region is to the distribution of Canada’s two official languages.

Each of these measures were applied to 144 Canadian cities and indexed per 100,000 residents. NHL teams were given twice the weighting of a CHL team; although smaller places lucky enough to host a CHL team still preformed the best.

The study also included a measure based on how close the distribution of language within the region is to the distribution of Canada’s two official languages. The researchers felt that this collection of Canadian touchstones made for a “Canucky” place. Notably absent from the list were measures of snowfall, politeness and Roots stores.

Top 10 ‘Canucky’ Cities

Exhibit02_500px(Source)

Moncton Mayor George Leblanc told CTV that he wasn’t completely surprised by this honour:

“I’ve always thought that Moncton was representative of the country…. It’s a secret we’ve kind of kept to ourselves so it’s nice to see Moncton being recognized.”

While Moncton wasn’t a top performer on any individual metric, it ranked high enough in each to claim top place overall, with an index scored of 0.74 out of 1. The city’s top categories were bilingualism (4th) and Tim Hortons (8th). Halifax was the only other maritime city to make the top 10, while Bathurst ranked a respectable 12th.

Win a Night Out at Dooly’s for You and 39 Friends!

Dooly's

(Source)

We have three house plans that need awesome names but we’re unable to come up with anything that we can all agree on, so we’re asking for your help. In return for your creative juices, we’re giving away three awesome Dooly’s prizes. Oh, hell yeah!

What We Want From You

Okay, so here’s the deal: we’ve got three house plans that need a name. We’ve posted images and details of each of these plans on our Facebook page. Several people have voted already, and we’ve created polls of the top answers for each house plan. BUT (and there’s always a but, ‘cept this is a good but!) the contest is still open to new ideas, so just because we’ve created a poll doesn’t mean that we’re closed off from hearing your ideas! If you think you’ve got a better name for one of these house plans, leave a comment below to let us know and we will totally consider it!

What You’ll Get From Us

Oh yeah, you probably want to know what you’ll get if you win. The winner will receive a night out at Dooly’s in a semi-private room for themselves and 39 of their closest friends. You’ll have access to pool tables, Nintendo Wii, a stereo … everything you need for an awesome night will be provided (except the friends, you’ll need to get those yourself).

As we need three names, we’ll be providing three of these kick-ass prizes. The winners will be announced at the end of next week (probably on Thursday, June.16th).

The Details to Get Started

Here are the deets on each of the house plans, including links to more pictures.

Two-Storey Semi-Detached Model

2-Storey Semi-Detached Home

Pictures of this home, including floor plans, are posted here.

Check out our Facebook poll with the top names here (don’t forget to vote!).

Single Family Model

Single Family Home

Additional photos and floor plans can be viewed here.

Here’s a link to the poll with the top names.

Raised Ranch Semi-Detached Model

Raised Ranch Semi-Detached Home

To see photos and floor plans of this home, check out our Facebook album.

To vote for the best name, check out the poll of the top names.

Give Us the Best Name to Win

Don’t forget, we’re still open to hearing your ideas! Just leave a comment below, letting us know your ideas and for which house plan. You can also participate by clicking on any of the links above. Good luck and thanks for lending us your brain!

Make Social Media Your Business

Social Media For Your Business

Social media is still your #1 unleveraged asset.

Witness what happens when you:

  • Blow up your business model;
  • Tie online interaction to trust;
  • Measure your social media ROI

Martell Homes has received national recognition and been written about in two recently published books – The Now Revolution and Nuts, Bolts and a Few Loose Screws – for this very reason.

At the age of 26, Pierre rocketed from the brink of bankruptcy to unparalleled growth in the home building industry because he made social media his business.

He firmly believes that collaborating and sharing best practices among like-minded entrepreneurs is the only sure fire way to accelerate success in business.

Register by March 22nd and discover how Martell Home’s built and sold 91 homes in two years using social media – and more importantly, how these ideas can be applied in your business.

Register Now

Time: 9-11am

Date: March.24, 2011

Location: Jim Gilberts Wheels and Deals – World Class Boardroom!

402 St. Marys Street

Fredericton, New Brunswick

Cost: Free

MHB Wins Atlantic Home Warranty 2011 Customer Choice Award

Atlantic Home Warranty 2011 Customer Choice Award

We are so stoked. For the second year in a row, we have received the Atlantic Home Warranty Customer Choice Award!

Atlantic Home Warranty is a not-for-profit organization that offers third-party warranties on new homes providing protection for new homebuyers, as well as the confidence they need in home builders. The company is based in Halifax, with representatives in all four Atlantic provinces.

New homeowners decided on the winner of the Atlantic Home Warranty Customer Choice Award, basing their decision on the quality of service they received, so it’s a complete honour to accept this award.

Anyone who knows us, knows that we’re “all about the experience” and so it’s absolutely fantastic that we have accomplished our number one priority: making the home building experience the best it can possibly be.

To our wonderful clients: thanks for choosing Martell Home Builders to build your new home!