According to RealtorMag, twenty-three percent of recent buyers indicated that convenience to parks or recreational facilities influenced their choice of neighborhoods.  Proximity to parks and recreational facilities was the most important to recent buyers aged 34 and younger, and to those aged 35 to 49.  Here are some reasons to believe those numbers will rise. … Buying Near Parks and Recreational Facilities Read More » ...

WOW what a month in Ottawa Real Estate! Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,985 residential properties in June 2016 through the Multiple Listing Service® setting a record for the highest sales in any month ever in the history of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. While average price dropped slightly in both residential (slight decrease … Ottawa Real Estate News | June 2016 sets record for the highest number of sales ever Read More » ...

If you can turn the lights in your home on and off from your cell phone, you have the beginnings of a smart home. Smart home technology is now available that allows you to remotely control a variety of electrical appliances and components in your home, even when you’re not there. The purpose is to … What Is a Smart Home? Read More » ...

  Home Owners:  Tips to Prevent Break-ins A recently published story by CBC June 28th, 2016 warned Ottawa residents that the number of residential break-ins has almost doubled in the first half of 2016 as compared to the first half of 2015. While Ottawa is considered a safe city, it’s always a good idea to be … 8 Tips to help Prevent Break-ins Without Breaking the Bank Read More » ...

When you’re shopping for a new home, there’s a good chance you’ve got a long list of considerations that you will factor into your decision-making process: size, neighborhood, condition, etc. But have you ever considered a home’s street name to be a factor when you’re deciding whether or not you want to … What’s In a Name? Is your Street Name Desirable to Home Buyers? Read More » ...

So, you want to buy or sell a house in Ottawa or beyond. What’s the first thing you do? If you’re like most people, you go find a real estate professional to help. While the whole process sounds pretty simple (hire a representative you like and trust!) there’s actually one extra decision you’ll need to … 4 Important Things to Know About the Difference Between a REALTOR and Real Estate Agent Read More » ...

What happened in Ottawa Real Estate in May 2016? Here’s the Market Snapshot! From the Ottawa Real Estate Board released Monday June 6th, 2016 Sales stay consistently hot through May heat wave.  Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,921 residential properties in May through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with similar sales … Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot May 2016 Read More » ...

The Ontario government has announced plans to begin regulating home inspectors, requiring potential inspectors to pass a written exam and field test in order to qualify for a license. In doing this Ontario will be following in the footsteps of British Columbia and Alberta, the only provinces in Canada that have home … Regulating Home Inspectors in Ontario Read More » ...

Once a For Sale sign goes up, it’s official! You’re ready to begin your new journey! Or are you? It’s normal to experience some raw emotions as you embark on selling your beloved home. Follow these simple steps to help you take memories from one home to another. Create … Home for Sale: A Guide for Your Next Housing Journey Read More » ...

  April was a busy month in Ottawa Real Estate…see the most recent market highlights below -information provided by the Ottawa Real Estate Board Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,714 residential properties in April through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,567 in April 2015, an increase of 9.4 per … Second-best April on record for Ottawa Real Estate! Read More » ...

As the world’s population increases and resources dwindle, sustainability, development that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, has become a priority for homeowners, developers and governments.  This shift in focus has driven improvements in building design and construction, including sustainable building materials. Green building materials impact energy and … Sustainable Building Materials Read More » ...

  If you are a homeowner, a tax refund presents opportunities to invest for a profit that aren’t available to renters. Whether you plan to sell, stay or are undecided, there are ways to optimize the financial impact of your refund. The first step is to treat your refund check the same as you treat … What Home Owners Can Do With a Tax Refund Read More » ...

Ottawa Real Estate: March market springs into action!  The following information provided by the Ottawa Real Estate Board.  Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,166 residential properties in March … Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot March 2016 Read More » ...

When it comes time to purchase a new home, your mortgage strategy will likely depend on the stage of life you are in. Early-career home buyers (Millennials) have just entered the workforce so they usually have little cash and may be in debt. Gen X home buyers are busy trying to advance their careers, raise families … What Mortgage Strategy Is Best For Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers? Read More » ...

Because the Internet has changed the way we buy and sell homes, most real estate professionals believe home staging is critical to selling success. Almost all home buyers begin their search online meaning sellers need to make a good first impression so potential buyers want to see their home in person. Hence, staging has taken … How Important Is Home Staging? Read More » ...