CTV News Update – Affordable Housing Solution in Nova Scotia

Clinton Wilkins joins Bruce Frisko on CTV News to discuss a new affordable housing solution, the expandable 20 by 20 living space.

Affordable housing solution in Nova Scotia

Clinton Wilkins
Hey, Clinton Wilkins here. You’re listening to a special report.

Bruce Frisko (CTV Reporter)
On the picturesque St. Margaret’s Bay Road lies a potential partial solution to the growing housing crisis. It’s called an expandable home unfolding like a cardboard box to a 20 by 20 living space, one bedroom one bathroom one almost unbelievable price 65 grand.

Brandon Topple (CoFounder)
The supplier is the leading manufacturer in metal more than likely.

Bruce Frisko
That’s in China, where they’re made to customer specifications. It’s just the building of course finding a place to put it is your problem. There is a full bathroom and a partial kitchen but no fridge or stove. It’s ready for septic and electrical hookup though and extra insulation is added along with baseboard heat.

Brandon Topple
It really makes it suitable for a lot of different people and a lot of different scenarios.

Clinton Wilkins
You know, I think at that purchase price we’re looking at, you know, a mortgage in that $500 type range.

Bruce Frisko
if you can get a mortgage. He says noting lenders are fussy about homes having foundations.

Clinton Wilkins
I can see this type of property really working well for an investor. Maybe they buy several of these properties and they have a larger piece of land and it’s a really quick way to get you know fast access to housing.

Bruce Frisko
It comes at a time when home prices continue to rise Royal Lepage as a single family home and Halifax increased 4.6% Last quarter with a median price landing at 552,000. Condos are up nearly 5% A little more than 413,000. The increase comes even as the number of sales have dropped.

Matt Honsberger (Royal Leplage Atlantic, President)
We really see about a three to 5% growth over the next year or so.

Bruce Frisko
But he’s impressed with the innovation of an expandable home. He says with the seller noting it all comes down to numbers on his end as well.

Brandon Topple
We’re begging for a better solution than $350 a square foot for buildings. So this is it I think!

Bruce Frisko
Boxed up and ready to go on the picturesque st Margaret’s Bay Road.

Clinton Wilkins
If you’ve liked what you’ve heard, and you want to learn more, feel free to visit us online at teamclinton.ca