Manitoba

Spending $1M lets you 'live like a king' in Winnipeg

Royal LePage looked at what kind of home people could buy for $1 million and found the best value for that money was in the Manitoba capital.

But more seven-figure listings in Manitoba compared to 10 years ago

A home in Winnipeg's Sage Creek neighbourhood is one of 40 in the $1-million range that have sold since January 2016. (CBC News)

A new report shows how much more you can get for your real estate dollar if you live in Winnipeg compared to most other Canadian cities.

Royal LePage looked at the kind of home people could buy for $1 million and found the best value for that money was in the Manitoba capital.

"Where $1 million might buy you tear-down in Vancouver, you can live like a king here in Winnipeg,"  Michael Froese, realtor and managing partner with Royal LePage said.

$1M lets you 'live like a king' in Winnipeg

8 years ago
Duration 2:14
A new report shows how much more you can get for your real estate dollar if you live in Winnipeg compared to most other Canadian cities.

On average, a $1 million home in Winnipeg nets you four bedrooms, four bathrooms and roughly 3,505 square feet compared to a small fixer-upper in Vancouver or a starter home in areas outside of Toronto.

More pricey listings

Winnipeg is also boasting more and more $1 million listings compared to a decade ago. In 2007, four homes in the $1 million range sold compared to 40 since January 2016, Froese said.

"Ten years ago ... you pretty much had to lead [buyers] down Wellington Crescent, into Tuxedo, maybe some parts of north River Heights or South Drive and that was about it," he said. "Now you have lots to choose from with the new developments such as Sage Creek, Bridgwater, Pritchard Farm, etcetera."

Realtor Michael Froese says 40 Winnipeg homes sold in the $1-million range last year, compared to just four homes a decade ago. (CBC News)

While $1 million buys you more space in Winnipeg than other cities, it nets you less than 10 years ago. On average, $1 million bought 4,400 square feet in Winnipeg in 2007; today, it buys 3,505 square feet.

Buyers moving to Winnipeg 

The typical buyer for the $1-million listings is a family with two working professionals between the ages of 35 and 50, Froese said.

"A lot of Winnipeggers have bought these homes ... but definitely we've seen some people from Vancouver, Toronto," he said. "Those markets have been going crazy so they've made their hay over there and have come back to Winnipeg." 

On average, $1 million in Winnipeg buys you a 3,505 sq. ft. home. (CBC News)

Froese says the surge in $1 million house listings shouldn't concern the entry-level buyer.

While the average price of a home in Winnipeg, which is $278,000, has increased significantly over the last 10 years, it still remains well below the average price across Canada.