Buying a Home

For over 60 years, CMHC has helped millions of Canadians meet their housing needs. CMHC provides mortgage loan insurance that enables you to buy a home sooner with a minimum down payment of 5%. And CMHC is there with you every step of the way — with information before, during and after your home purchase.

Everything you need to open new doors

Renovating for Energy Savings

One-level factory built homes have been built since the 1950s and can be found in single- and double-wide models. These homes can be built on either pile foundations or a basement/crawlspace.

Renovating Homes

Who is Who in Home Building?

The type of builder you will be looking for depends on the area you live in, and the home you want. Here is a general overview of different types of home building companies.

Developers are responsible for getting large tracts of land ready for building. This can involve infrastructure and services (utilities, roads, sewers), community layout and design, including recreational spaces — whatever it takes to turn the land into a neighbourhood. Developers may also construct the homes, or the lots may be sold to individual home building companies.

Large building companies specialize in building homes in bigger developments. These companies generally offer a selection of homes designed specifically for the development. Minor customization by homebuyers is usually permitted, but there are usually limits to the amount of change possible. Most will also have a set process for all aspects of the purchase, from the contract signing to the pre-delivery inspection.

Medium-sized companies range from 10 to 50 homes a year, depending on your region. Medium-sized companies can be quite diverse — building in developments as well as on individual lots; constructing single-family dwellings as well as townhouses and other low-rise buildings.

Small-sized companies build under 10, and often less than five homes a year.

Custom builders build one-of-a-kind homes, each one usually designed and built for a particular customer who may or may not already own the lot. The custom building process allows for complete flexibility, within the limits of municipal regulations and what’s possible technically.

Construction contractor is another term for builder. Most commonly, it is used for companies who are contracted by purchasers to build a home on land they already own.

Modular / Manufactured housing builders construct homes in a factory and bring them to the building site as panels, modules or fully completed units. The amount of work required on-site to complete the home depends on the type and size of the building, the type of foundation and the customization required.

Selecting a New Home Builder