UPDATED: FEB 2024

Perhaps you are looking for a new home in Halifax, Nova Scotia?

In the past, there was certainly plenty to choose from and in every price bracket but due to pandemic related impacts, robust growth in population and a significant increase in housing demand, housing supply in HRM (Halifax Regional Municipality) as well as most of Canada, is critically low. This has contributed to rising prices and diminished affordability.

The Nova Scotia provincial government is taking bold action to tackle housing shortages and increase supply in HRM and has designated nine special planning areas with development approval for more than 22,000  homes to be built within the next few years.  Halifax house prices have jumped by significant amounts in the past two years and the premise for speeding up development and building homes faster is an increased housing stock, thus lowering housing cost.  Here’s an outline of the special planning areas (these are estimates and may change, so stay tuned).

Why Build New?

Building a new home within a community development certainly has a lot of advantages. Here are just some of the great reasons why you should think about building within a new community in and around Halifax:

  • They have the latest technology and infrastructure (great internet and reliable services)
  • A growing community means more resources and money allocated.
  • The amenities – communities are often built close to all the popular amenities
  • Schools – in particular, developers always research the best schools in the area as they choose their location.
  • Being part of a community. There’s nothing like watching the community grow around you.

How do you choose the best community in Halifax?

Once you’ve decided to build your home within a new community development, choosing the right one can be a bit of a challenge. How do you decide between opportunities and developments? Naturally, there are some factors that you can look at while making your decision:

Planned and existing amenities.

Halifax has some amazing local amenities and each community within Halifax has its own. That’s no different with new community developments as well. Check to see what the community is close to for everyday necessities and the nice-to-haves. How far will you need to travel to get to the grocery store? The gym? How about schools for your kids?

Ask plenty of questions and find out as much information as you possibly can.

The stage of development.

Is the community in its infancy or is it already well established? This will determine the amount of construction in the area, how many businesses and amenities are established close to the community, and what you can expect after you move into your new home.

There will also be a lot more options with newer communities. Want the corner lot? The last one on the street? Getting into a planned community development early will give you the choices that you otherwise won’t have if you build late in the development.

What home builders are building within the community?

This is important to consider. If you love one of the great local Halifax home builders but they are not currently building within the community you are interested in then perhaps it might not be the right fit.

It is sometimes possible to have an outside builder create your dream home, depending on the community rules and regulations, so be sure to ask before simply ruling out a community if you really love it.

Physical location.

The physical location of the Halifax community will play a big role. If it is on the other side of town compared with where your family works or if it is not as close to the events you currently attend, that is something you should consider. There will always be growth in communities and more amenities will likely arrive, but you can never change where it’s located.

Here is a list of new and existing community developments in the Halifax and surrounding area.

Special Planning Areas within HRM

The special planning areas are:

  • former Penhorn Mall lands, 950 units
  • Southdale/Mount Hope, 1,200 units
  • Bedford West 10, 1,300 units
  • Bedford West 1 and 12, 2,500 units
  • Port Wallace, up to 4,900 units
  • Indigo Shores, 150 building lots
  • Morris Lake expansion, 3,100 units
  • Dartmouth Crossing, 4,100 units
  • Sandy Lake, 6,000 units. 
  • Fall River Site C 120 units    

For more information on the special planning areas visit Halifax.ca

Oakfield Woods: CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE – A well-designed community close to great golfing, parks and Grand Lake. Close to Highway 102 with easy access to the airport, this subdivision offers single family homes starting in the mid $500,000’s on 1-2 acre wooded lots.

Oaken Hills, Wellington – This established community still has some lots available. It very much focusses on family living with an emphasis on outdoor lifestyle. Well located, close to Provincial Parks, Grand Lake and Oakfield Golf and Country Club. www.parkdaledevelopments.com/oaken_hills/

Parks of West Bedford – Located between Kearney Lake and the Hammonds Plains Road, this large development of new homes has a good choice of house sizes, designs and price points available. www.theparksofwestbedford.ca

 

Rockingham South, Bedford – Located at the highest point in Halifax, with views of Halifax Harbour and Bedford Basin. Centrally located, close to shopping, amenities, and highways. www.rockinghamsouth.com

The Ravines of Bedford South – A new townhouse and single-family home development, close to ravines, ponds, streams, walking paths, trees, and natural vegetation. Sales for available units range in price from $600,000 upwards. www.cresco.ca/our-communities/the-ravines/

Kingswood North – A well-established residential community situated between Hammonds Plains Road and Lucasville Road. Surrounded by lush natural forest, Kingswood North offers a peaceful country setting, close to Bedford and Sackville. Phases 6 and 7 in progress. www.kingswoodnorth.com

Berry Hills, Middle Sackville (COMPLETED) – A brand new community development in Middle Sackville, Berry Hills offers the tranquility of country living with the convenience of city life. Located just off Sackville Drive, it offers quick access to everything important for the growing family. Houses starting at mid $500k www.berryhillsliving.com/

Indigo Shores – Indigo Shores is a lakefront community located directly off Highway 101, via Exit 2A. The community is minutes from shopping at the Bedford Commons and the Burnside Industrial Park, and only 25 minutes to Downtown Halifax. Located on gorgeous McCabe Lake, the community features over 450 large, wooded home sites as well as riverfront and lakefront lots. www.indigoshores.ca/

New phase released early 2023 with lots starting at $150k

Lost Creek Village, Beaverbank – A new 700-acre development bordered by Kinsac Lake and Lost Creek Golf Club. This new affordable community will take about eight years to complete and will have only 400 lots. All the properties are wooded and range in size from 1.5 to 3 acres. www.lostcreek.ca/village

Long Lake Village – A 40-acre development on Northwest Arm Drive. A flexible mix of multi-residential buildings, single family homes, semis, and townhouses. Close to everything and only 10 minutes to downtown Halifax. Long Lake Provincial Park is 5,000 acres of lakes, forests, trails, rivers and streams in the heart of the city. www.longlakevillage.ca

Seven Lakes, Porters Lake – The Villages of Seven Lakes, is an award-winning new lakeside community just 25 minutes from Halifax. Surrounded by stunning lakes, beautiful forests and green spaces, the development offers a variety of home styles and a number of builders from which to choose. www.sevenlakescommunity.com

Russell Lake West, Dartmouth – CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE:  In its final phase of development, Russell Lake West is ideally located to enjoy a natural lakefront setting while living in the heart of Dartmouth. This master-planned community features executive homes nestled on the hillside overlooking Russell Lake. www.claytondev.com/communities

Colby South – (LOTS NOW SOLD) A community on the shores of Bissett Lake, offering large home sites in a community close to shopping, schools, and services. Lakefront or wooded lots available. The community features direct access to trails and is minutes from Long Lake Provincial Park – 2000 hectares of protected land featuring hiking trails, lakes, streams, and waterfalls. www.colbysouth.com/

Governors Brook – Located off of Herring Cove Road, Governor’s Brook is an established residential community featuring a mix of housing types. 15 minutes from Halifax’s downtown core with good public transportation. Phase 7-12 is currently under construction. www.governorsbrook.com/

Erindale Estates – Eastern Passage’s newest seaside community, featuring a mix of semi-detached and single-family homes. Eastern Passage is a quaint community that lies along the Atlantic Ocean. The community is home to unique destinations including the local shops, art galleries, and restaurants at Fisherman’s Cove and golfing at Hartlen Point. www.erindaleestates.com/

The Links at Brunello – A lifestyle and golf real estate community, well situated, close to Bayers Lake and only 15 minutes from downtown Halifax. Bordered by Nine Mile River, the 6000-acre Otter Park, and the Wilderness Common. A good selection of lots and homes available. www.thelinksatbrunellorealestate.com/

Lovett Lake (Construction Started) – Located in Beechville, this upcoming Armco Capital Inc. development will feature 257 residential and commercial dwellings (single family homes and townhomes) to be built over 2 phases. 

Enfield 

Kiln Creek (The Shaw Group) is an exciting new master planned community in Lantz, Nova Scotia with plans for 1500 new homes, townhomes, apartments and retail to be completed by 2030. 

Wickwire Station (Armco Capital Inc.) has plans pendig for between 1,925 and 2,205 residential units and will be built over a decade.

Seton Ridge: One of the most exciting and anticipated new builds, currently in pre-construction is Seton Ridge, Clayton Park. Located just 2km from the Halifax Peninsula above Mount Saint Vincent University and overlooking the Bedford Basin, this development proposes 2400+ housing units including 175+ single family homes https://southwest.ca/developments/seton-ridge/

Other smaller build developments include:

Fall River: Phase 9A of Kinloch Estates – Confederation Ave (approximately 80-100 single family homes to be built) Various builders tbc. Marchand Homes and Mitchell Contracting have started releasing facsimile designs and lots.

Fall River : Schwartzwald Heights, a single family home development by Ramar currently close to completion at Clivedon Court, Fall River, Perrin Drive in Fall River has a few lots available and St. Andrews West, a single family home development by Stonewater Homes currently in preconstruction at Dunsmore Drive & Heddas Way (NOW COMPLETE)

Hammonds Plains: Voyageur Lakes, a single family home development, senior living apartments and commercial units. For more information visit the developer United Gulf

Parks of Lake Charles, Dartmouth: (COMING SOON) The Parks of Lake Charles community is an exciting mixed use community in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. There is a range of housing styles proposed, from apartments and townhomes to bungalows and two-storey homes. Infrastructure and roads are in and building will commence very soon. Clayton Developments nd Cresco have partnered on the development with Rooftight and Cresco being the builders. Site Plan and website

New pockets of construction is popping up all the time with Halifax, so if you are looking for a new home, please reach out and we can narrow down your search and community to find the perfect fit for you.

Hope you find this helpful. I’m only ever a call or message away to answer your questions and always happy to help.