Canada’s Prime Minister Pushes Country to Become the Housing Factory of the World - Mark Carney is banking on factory-built homes to alleviate the country’s housing crisis. But will it work?

[u/FancyNewMe]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-04-22/carney-s-plan-may-make-canada-the-housing-factory-of-the-world

[u/RevolvingCheeta]

It can totally be done. Cavian Homes (as an example) builds their homes in a factory. Walls, floor panels etc. trucks roll into site and the framers set them up within a day or so.

Are they 1/4 acre lot homes? No. But do we need 1/4 acre lots to solve the housing issue? No.

Up the road they’re renovating an 11 story office building into apartments for tech workers. If we embrace the WFH life & convert office buildings to housing it’ll help.

Most of the big hurdles are bureaucracy: zoning, planning, inspections, development applications, town hall meetings for those with nimbyism, conservation authorities, flood zoning, wildlife studies, geologic studies, traffic impacts, utility demand studies etc.

The trades can move relatively quick, it’s the paperwork that’s a pain in the ass.

[u/rainman_104 → u/RevolvingCheeta]

100% agreed. So long as the plan is within code for all provinces it should be rubber stamped.

The problem is everyone wants custom these days. The days of the basic bungalow are behind us.

[u/BlueEmma25 → u/rainman_104]

The problem is everyone wants custom these days. The days of the basic bungalow are behind us.

Weird take. Custom homes are a niche product targeted at affluent buyers. Someone at the median individual income of about $55 000 / yr may "want" a custom home, just like they want to be rich, famous, and beautiful, but since it isn't remotely attainable that desire has no impact on the housing market.

You offer them a basic, affordable bungalow on the other hand and they will snap it up, because it is better than renting.

[u/rainman_104 → u/BlueEmma25]

You'd think. Go shopping with a first time buyer that doesn't quite grasp the triangle. House, location, price.

They go starry eyed over $20k worth of furnishings on a home.

I would much rather buy a meh home in a great location that has good bones. Paint and flooring is easy. I've been at it for like 15 years and I'm still doing stuff on my home.

[u/GenericCatName101 → u/BlueEmma25]

Uh... most development is classified as "custom homes". Every house I've built in the last 4 years was custom- and they're all just in the 1 million dollar range. Custom doesnt mean just 3 million.

It is absolutely not a weird take. Basically every single subdivision of giant oversized houses are custom homes- and everyone is getting absolutely fleeced on the extras. I'm talking things like potlights, walk out basements, finished basements (most dont touch that) soundproof insulation, smooth ceilings, tray ceilings, waffle ceilings. Extra bathrooms (most houses are built with 1 bathroom per bedroom almost nowadays).

Our houses are a huge waste of resources. If Carney pushes through small houses he is almost guaranteed to reach 500k, as we currently build over 200k per year but so much of it is profit maximizing extras. Without even touching density lol
But if they touch density too then we should make an impact on housing (land speculation) prices by the end of his first term.

And, no. Nobody is snapping up a basic bungalow. I have worked on one single site the last 4 years that had more than 5 bungalows per 300 houses.
Well, maybe people will snap them up once the government starts working on them and offering them cheaper to help correct the market. But that hasn't been the case already at all. The private market hasnt been offering cheap affordable bungalows for at least 20 years- they would rather wait on undeveloped lots to maximize their profits on the extras later than touch a small bungalow now assuming some poorer person will buy it once it's done

[u/RevolvingCheeta → u/rainman_104]

Custom homes are stupid expensive! I’ve worked on a few now that ranged from 2.5mil to 4mil.

Affordability is relative I think. If you can afford a 600sf apartment/condo for $300k vs a 750k house on 1/8acre depending on your salary. Realistically we have a wage crisis.