If you’re a in the market for a new home, buying from an experienced and reputable builder is paramount. Especially these days, with new home prices and other issues causing pause for some buyers, confidence and peace of mind are everything.

Mattamy Homes is one of those companies. From humble beginnings in Burlington, Ont. in 1978 to building more than 135,000 homes across Canada and the U.S., Mattamy has grown to become North America’s largest privately-owned homebuilder.

With a focus on creating quality low-, mid- and highrise communities in prime locations, Mattamy knows homebuilding.

We spoke with Sepideh Morshedizadeh, vice-president of marketing, for insight on Mattamy’s approach to homebuilding in 2025, including plans for upcoming communities.

The federal election recently wrapped up… what are your general thoughts?

We were pleased that the major parties expressed commitments to tackling the housing crisis.

These commitments are important because now is the time to lean into housing. By building more homes, we can help solve the housing crisis and foster necessary growth. Jobs in homebuilding contribute significantly to GDP, as do many of the Canadian products we source to build those homes (including lumber, brick and steel).

What suggestions might you have for the new federal government, or even the recently re-elected provincial government, when it comes to housing policy?

Now that elections are decided, we’ve been encouraging the federal government to quickly implement its commitment to cut the GST, while making it retroactive on all closings after April 28, 2025. We also recommend making it available to all homebuyers (not just first-time) and applying it to the first $1 million in cost of all new build homes. We are encouraging the government of Ontario to match the commitment with a cut to the provincial sales tax on new homes.

To both levels of government, we recommend finding ways to support the municipalities, so that they can cut development charges, helping to lower the cost of homes and speed up approvals. This will require resources, incentives and finding new, innovative ways to construct housing – enabling infrastructure such as roads, sewers and bridges.

Like many builders, you are offering some deals on move-in-ready homes and other incentives. How are buyers receiving them?

We’ve always offered pre-construction homes, which means they’re often ready in a year – or even several, especially in the case of condos. That works well for buyers who are planning ahead or appreciate more time to save up.

In addition, we’ve been offering quick move-in and move-in-ready homes that you can move into in less than a year or even as quickly as a resale home. And these have been resonating with a different kind of buyer – someone who’s ready to start their next chapter now.

What homebuyers appreciate most is that these homes are thoughtfully designed by our team with curated finishes and value-add upgrades already included – no decision fatigue, just timeless choices that add long-term value. In the chaos of life, people appreciate this ease and simplicity.

What general advice would you offer prospective homebuyers these days?

Affordability is top of mind, and we’re seeing homebuyers and builders alike get creative in their approach to homeownership. That might mean exploring new neighbourhoods, rethinking how we design and use spaces, considering multi-generational living and secondary suites or reimagining ownership financing models.

Our advice: Get really clear on what’s truly non-negotiable for you, then stay open-minded about how to get there. Because while the numbers absolutely have to work within your budget, buying a home is so much more than a financial transaction. It’s an investment in the quality of your life. Once you move in, it’s the emotional side that takes over. Your home becomes the backdrop to your life. It’s where you make new memories with loved ones; it’s the place that lets you be exactly who you are. And that makes it all worthwhile.

What else about Mattamy Homes would you like prospective buyers to know?

Our approach to our home designs starts with the customer’s lifestyle in mind – and that doesn’t look the same for all. We constantly research and gather feedback from our customers to understand their evolving wants and needs. Then we design our condos, towns and detached homes in the locations they want to live, with the features that empower their lifestyle.

And we build more than homes – we design and build communities made for living. They’re designed to inspire connection with nature and neighbours, to build a sense of community and belonging, which feels more valuable now than ever.

Woven into both are innovative and sustainable features that consider life today and tomorrow. We bring a customer-centric mindset to selecting advancements that we know our homeowners will value.

What’s next for Mattamy Homes?

We are always expanding our offering to meet the needs of homebuyers. We have many established communities across the GTA that continue to offer new condos, towns and detached. Later this year and into next, we’ll be introducing a few exciting new communities, including our Hounslow highrise condo at the heart of the Yonge and Finch neighbourhood, new condo buildings at our coveted Laurels and ClockWork communities, and five new communities with a combination of stacked towns, townhomes and detached homes in growing neighbourhoods within Guelph, Erin, Brooklin, Brantford and Georgetown.

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AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE...

How do you occupy your time when not at the office?

I’m happiest when I’m active – especially outdoors. Depending on the season, you’ll find me running, cycling, playing tennis, swimming, paddle boarding or hiking. This summer, I’m learning to sail and taking up rowing… the list keeps growing.

I also love spending time with my niece who lives a 10-minute walk away. Watching her experience the world through fresh eyes is so fascinating and inspires me to stay curious.

What do you consider your greatest inspiration, personally or professionally?

Something my dad told me has always stuck with me: “Do your best today, and tomorrow will take care of itself.” It’s simple and powerful. It reminds me to focus on effort and integrity in the present moment, and to use my personal best as both my motivation and my measure. It’s become a guiding principle for me and has shaped how I show up in life.