Meeting high demand for housing to support families and remote work in the resort town of Mont-Tremblant, Que. is core to the identity of Eclipse, a community being developed and built by Waddell Construction.

Planned for 37 expansive three-storey townhomes, each with four or five bedrooms, it will be located along the Algonquin ski trail on the southern side of the mountain known as Versant Soleil.

Prices will start from approximately $2.3 million and range up over $3 million.

Waddell is a developer-builder based in Mont-Tremblant with a history in the region since 2003. Past projects include Tremblant-les-Eaux, Horizon Tremblant and the recently completed Verbier Tremblant communities.

Now, it is aiming to satisfy buyers who are coming to Mont-Tremblant “for the lifestyle” and “for family”, Andre Parisien, a broker from Engel & Völkers who is representing Waddell, said.

Large, luxury townhomes for remote workers and families

About a year ago, Waddell purchased the land for the site which was first owned by Station Mont Tremblant. The company has developed Eclipse with the shifting market dynamics of the COVID pandemic in mind. More homebuyers have been interested in rural areas where they can work from home and relish in the outdoors just a few steps away from their homes.

“Some people now, since COVID, are buying a four-bedroom, five-bedroom to come and work from the resort,” Parisien said. That's a stark difference from the days when he dealt with mostly studio and one-bedroom unit sales when he started brokering in Mont-Tremblant over two decades ago.

Three kinds of townhome models will be offered to buyers. Keeping with the astronomical theme, they are named Astral, Zenith and Polaris.

Astral will be the biggest at 3,550 square feet to 3,235 square feet, followed by Zenith at 3,296 square feet to 3,185 square feet, and Polaris at 3,185 square feet to 3,085 square feet.

The homes are designed to be luxurious, featuring abundant floor space, high-end appliances and high-quality finishes with space for a private spa.

Ski-in, ski-out access to the Algonquin trail will be a key draw for Eclipse, as well as access to Club des Montagnards which grants perks such as discounts on local activities.

Gondolas and a shuttle bus service will connect Eclipse’s residents to the pedestrian village of Mont-Tremblant that offers a wide range of retail and dining options. As a major tourism and resort destination, golf courses and the Mont-Tremblant Casino will also be within close distance of Eclipse.

No recession in Mont-Tremblant, broker says

Early marketing efforts have already resulted in seven homes being sold, Parisien said, and a public launch will take place in early June.

From Canada, potential buyers from Ontario and Quebec have expressed the most interest in Eclipse, he noted. U.S. customers have also been emailing Parisien in high numbers because of the favourable exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar.

“For them, it’s good for the dollar to purchase in Mont-Tremblant . . . The people still want to invest in Mont-Tremblant.”

Serving as a family property or as an investment have been the main reasons people have shown interest in Eclipse.

“We don’t have a recession here,” Parisien said in reference to the Mont-Tremblant market, with expensive properties continuing to sell without significant impacts from the uncertain economy. Decreasing interest rates have played a part, a trend also seen in other segments of the recreational housing market, but luxury buyers who are more insulated against economic uncertainty and can pay for their properties in cash have been a driving factor, he added.

Construction on the foundation of the first home is anticipated to begin in mid-June, with the hope of delivering it by late December this year. Construction of the community is expected to be finished within two years if all goes according to plan, Parisien said.