The latest episode of the Livabl Launch podcast features an exclusive interview with Justin Bobier, CEO of Crystal Creek Homes.
Tune in as Matt and Justin chat online home shopping, luxury markets and all things Calgary – from market challenges to the infamous real estate boom in Alberta.
Here are some highlights from the episode:
On Crystal Creek’s company philosophy:
“I really enjoyed engaging with customers, and understanding the frustrations that they were having with their builder. When I started Crystal Creek Homes, I knew that I wanted to be different. So, we first started in the Calgary market as a high-end, estate builder, really focused on customer service – not only through the process, but even after possession. To this day, I’m still friends with a number of the customers I built for 20 years ago. That was really the foundation of the company – customer service. Realizing that there’s a better way of building a home, and that this can be win-win for both parties. I always had that approach, and I think that lives true to this day.”
On current challenges in Calgary’s market:
“As home builders, we can be our own worst enemy. So, because of this strong sales pace, and the lack of inventory, being able to build the product, service the product – labor in general, it can be a challenge. It really goes to the relationships that you’ve built over the many years that you’ve been around, and relying on your trade base and your professional partners to step up to the plate and support your business.”
On affordability:
“As an industry, we need to provide affordable housing. Yet, each year between levies, taxes, building permit fees – these things are going up at an incredible rate. It’s so difficult when somebody sees the price of a lot, and they say, ‘how can it be so much?’”
“[The assumption] immediately goes to there must be a huge amount of profit, but there isn’t. There’s a ton of costs that are being placed, and the everyday consumer is paying for it. But it is, in a lot of cases, government fees, taxes, internal levies, approval fees, these sorts of things that consumers don’t see. We strive to provide affordable housing for our clients in various different ways, but it is difficult when government preaches one thing and puts the onus on the builder or developer.”
On the future of online home purchasing:
“It’s so nice to go into a show home, see the finished product and be able to touch and feel it. […] I think the first step is getting information online and understanding what the opportunity may or may not be. But I don’t think you can replace that physical sales center where you can touch and feel the products that are going to be in your home. We have in the past built homes with people where the home was sight unseen. And we see that, but that is certainly not the majority of our homeowners. The majority of our homeowners want to be involved in the process to some degree by being able to see the final product.”
To learn more about the podcast or listen to past episodes, check out Livabl Launch on Podbean.
