Young families, investors, retirees… Quebecers are turning to mobile homes because the price of single-family homes has risen by 57% in just under three and a half years. The newspaper went to meet those who made this decision to stay afloat.
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“We lived in a condominium with a friend’s roommate. I got pregnant. “It was more urgent to find something quickly,” says Fanny Desrochers-Poirier, a young mother who just bought a $300,000 mobile home in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
In Quebec, the price of an average single-family home has skyrocketed 57% in three and a half years, from $312,262 in January 2020 to $488,932 last month, according to the Association professional des courtiers immobiliers du Québec (APCIQ) via the Centris system.
Worse, according to APCIQ, the median price rose more than 64% over the same period, from $265,000 to $435,000.
This makes mobile homes more attractive. This fascinated Fanny Desrochers-Poirier from Montérégie.
“We were stressed because it’s super expensive,” says the 30-year-old mother of a baby. Luckily for her, her real estate agent Simon Martel of Royal LePage managed to find her home.
“Due to the easy accessibility, the demand for mobile homes is much greater than you think,” says the agent, who knows the market well.
Simon Martel of Royal LePage Photo Simon Martel
Swimming pool, garden, terrace… The mobile home designed by Fanny Desrochers-Poirier is in no way inferior to the bungalows that populate the Quebec region.
“We have a dog. We have two cats. We wanted our animals to have space. “We wanted space for the baby,” says the new owner happily.
Fanny Desrochers-Poirier Photo Francis Halin
“We have no foundations. They are pillars. Winter is cooler, but summer is also interesting. We have the country,” she continues.
But if you want, you will not find mobile homes. Last Friday there were just 268 mobile homes for sale on Centris, a drop in the ocean.
A culture in itself
Director Nathalie Goulet also sees at the real estate agency Vendirect that buyers are switching to mobile homes because of house prices.
“There are no further transactions in this direction. People who own properties like this keep them!” she summarizes.
In the past few days, Le Journal has traveled through several RV parks. Halfway between camping and suburbs, these peaceful neighborhoods have their own culture.
In the heart of Longueuil’s largest mobile home park, Domaine le Marquis, two sisters have just bought one to live in and sell.
Criss-crossing the park’s narrow streets, glued to Route 116, you’re forced to slow down due to the many speed bumps. Difficult to park without bothering a neighbor.
“We bought this mobile home six months ago for $85,000. The land is rented for $288 per month. “We hired a contractor to do the cladding, roof and interior,” explains Mélissa Filiatrault, 22.
Catherine and Mélissa Filiatrault invest in real estate. Photo Francis Halin
“It’s less risky to buy an RV. There’s a lot less work. Must meet the requirements, upgrade the two bedroom house. The roof must be gabled,” continues the person who wants to live there for a while.
Beside her, her 25-year-old sister Catherine says the home is estimated to be worth almost $240,000 after the renovation and profits are expected to be around $100,000.
“We like the atmosphere of the park. It’s like a campsite. There is no noise. All people know each other. “The bus picks up the kids at the park entrance,” says Catherine Filiatrault, who fell in love with the place.
Stop talking about money
A few blocks away, an RV owner who prefers to keep his name a secret tells the Journal he’s tired of his big bungalow with a mega pool. He sold everything to get a more modest residence. Since then it has been happiness.
“We only talked about money at the table, my wife and I. Now we travel several times a year instead,” he says, smiling broadly.
In Saint-Basile-le-Grand, further on the 116 towards Saint-Hyacinthe, Mario Lévesque, who bought his motorhome for a pittance in 1990, does not regret getting his hands on his little gem with a stream at the back.
“I wanted a house within my means. “I got here, and that made my business,” the retiree confides to a Montreal school board.
Mario Lévesque keeps his mobile home despite being inundated with offers to buy it. Photo Francis Halin
“They call me once a week to find out if we’re for sale,” he says.
“We had to fight in the city not to have twins. “We should have peace for ten years,” he concludes before returning to work.
– In collaboration with Nicolas Brasseur and Ghislain Larochelle
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