IMMO 2023: a record-breaking event that is decidedly focused on the future

Under the theme "Focused on the Future", the 11th edition of IMMO lit up the DoubleTree by Hilton Montréal on November 23rd. Bringing together 450 participants, the event stood out as the most important of its kind dedicated to rental real estate, featuring sold-out conferences and expert panels.

In the opening session, master of ceremonies Katerine-Lune Rollet underscored the importance of rental real estate in Quebec, asserting that it is the very fabric of our communities and a pillar of our economy. Éric Sansoucy, Chairman of our Board of Directors, outlined CORPIQ's strong commitment to finding solutions to the challenges facing the rental sector, broadening the discussion beyond traditional concerns. A tour of the province's major cities earlier this year reinforced this collaborative approach. Mr. Sansoucy shared mayors' concerns and stressed the importance of ties between CORPIQ, rental owners, housing cooperatives, NPOs, tenants, municipal housing offices and other groups of interest. Government announcements encouraged our chairman to hope for a relaxation of regulations, asserting that the future of rental real estate will be as promising as the dynamism made possible for real estate owners and investors.

The lunchtime conference with Pierre-Yves McSween brought a unique perspective, emphasizing the importance of diversifying real estate and financial portfolios, while drawing on astute strategies he detailed at length. Sébastien McMahon's economic update revealed a relatively robust economy despite interest rate fluctuations, warning of the coming impacts of interest rate hikes. Francis Cortellino of CMHC analyzed current real estate realities, highlighting the colossal challenge of meeting the growing demand for quality housing, while underlining the demographic and economic impacts on the market. PMML's Patrice Ménard shared fresh market data, warning of potential liquidity challenges in 2025-2026 linked to massive refinancing. The panel on conditions for success in the multi-residential sector discussed major changes in bank financing, stressing the importance of remaining active and planning for the long term. The panel on energy transition in real estate explored the challenges and objectives of decarbonization, underlining the need for strategic planning for real estate owners.

All in all, IMMO 2023 offered an in-depth panorama of rental real estate in Quebec, highlighting innovative solutions and a promising vision for the future.