Achi news desk-
Like many of her clients, realtor Jenny Celly and her family moved from southern Ontario to southeastern New Brunswick to find a more affordable home.
The slower pace and quality of Maritime life was very attractive.
“There is less traffic. People, because they’re not as stressed, they’re friendlier, I think, so that attracts a lot of people,” said Celly.
Moneysense.ca and Zoocasa, a consumer real estate search platform, have ranked Moncton as the best place in Canada to buy real estate for the third year in a row.
Forty-five neighborhoods and boroughs were ranked using factors such as average home price, price growth over time and neighborhood characteristics.
According to the rankings, the Greater Moncton area has the highest value and best buying conditions, and has seen growth of 69 per cent over the past three years.
Celly said the region is still seeing buyers from Ontario and British Columbia buy homes sight unseen using Zoom or FaceTime – something that was very popular during the pandemic.
“I put myself in their shoes. So I say, ‘Okay, it smells really funny,’ because you are their eyes and they will submit an offer after seeing the home via video. Most buyers see their home for the first time on closing day,” says Celly.
Recently, one of realtor Tracy Gunter’s homes in the north end of Moncton sold in less than two weeks.
Gunter said it’s a seller’s market here, but there isn’t much inventory.
“We don’t have much to sell. So, our buyers come in, they want to spend their money, but we don’t have the homes for them to buy. There is a housing shortage,” Gunter said.
Gunter said what is selling are semi-detached homes and properties under $400,000 to people from outside the state and the country.
The average price of a home in the Greater Moncton area last year was $328,383.
“Things are slowing down a bit, but people are still coming,” Gunter said. “Right now, it’s just about finding homes for the people who need them.”
Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold said the appeal of the city is its lifestyle and its residents.
“We have kind, compassionate and collaborative people who want to work together who are engaged. They want to be part of it all. There is a real sense of positive energy in our community right now,” said Arnold. “There are some really amazing people in our community.”
Celly said the area attracts many families, retirees and investors.
The main reason: the prices.
“We’re looking at bigger markets, bigger cities where prices are two or three times what you find in Moncton,” Celly said. “A lot of people who look at the Maritimes also look at the quality of life.”
Saint John came second for the best places to buy real estate, Fredericton was fourth and Halifax/Dartmouth was sixth.
