Blog

Home for Sale: A Guide for Your Next Housing Journey

May 16, 2016

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 » ...

Second-best April on record for Ottawa Real Estate!

May 6, 2016

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 » ...

Sustainable Building Materials

May 1, 2016

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 » ...

What Home Owners Can Do With a Tax Refund

April 24, 2016

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 Market Snapshot March 2016

April 22, 2016

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 » ...

What Mortgage Strategy Is Best For Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers?

April 17, 2016

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 » ...

How Important Is Home Staging?

April 10, 2016

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 » ...

Buying Old Versus New Properties – Pros and Cons

April 3, 2016

When buying any commodity, new is often better than used. In the housing market, though, your best opportunity can come from an old home or, as in Ottawa, where the inventory of new homes is overstocked, you may be able to purchase a new home for the same price buyers paid years ago. Here are … Buying Old Versus New Properties – Pros and Cons Read More » ...

Why Appreciate Your Real Estate Agent

March 27, 2016

When you decide to buy your first home, the initial excitement is often quickly followed by fear of the unknown. After viewing many attractive properties online, you have no idea where to start. Eventually, though, with the invaluable assistance of a real estate agent, you can purchased your dream home at a great price. … Why Appreciate Your Real Estate Agent Read More » ...

Time To Get Out The Spring Maintenance Checklist

March 21, 2016

In Ottawa, there are two sights that remind homeowners it’s time for spring maintenance: bikes on the road and geese in the sky. With the recent double-digit temperatures, it seems spring has won its annual wrestling match with winter. And, as spring fever sets in, you may want to store your parka and get … Time To Get Out The Spring Maintenance Checklist Read More » ...

Financing Your Home Purchase – Mortgage Broker or Bank?

March 15, 2016

When it comes time to purchase a new home, where should you go for financing? You may have a relationship with a bank from past transactions (RRSPs, savings accounts, car loan), so it’s the first option that comes to mind. But, mortgage brokers are licensed specialists who have access to many lenders and mortgage … Financing Your Home Purchase – Mortgage Broker or Bank? Read More » ...

7 Deadly Sins of Home Renos

March 9, 2016

Homeowners who renovate only to boost resale value should aim for a return on investment (ROI) of three dollars for every dollar invested. Resale renos should be neutral in colour and conservative in tone so they appeal to the maximum number of potential buyers. And, cost control always trumps elegance. In fact, some … 7 Deadly Sins of Home Renos Read More » ...

Real Estate Snapshot February 2016

March 3, 2016

What a difference a day makes! An extra day in February saw 46 sales on that day (February 29th) as per the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s news release March 3rd. See the full Ottawa Real Estate market snapshot for February and the full story from the Ottawa Real Estate Board below. With spring around the … Real Estate Snapshot February 2016 Read More » ...

Saving Strategies for Every Age

March 3, 2016

We all want to save more money, but doing it requires a plan. And, the best approach to saving depends on the stage of life you’re in because each phase has unique financial commitments. Although individual circumstances vary, these generation-specific suggestions will point you in the right direction. Millennials (19-35) Millennials, born … Saving Strategies for Every Age Read More » ...

First Time Homebuyers Government Incentive Programs

February 25, 2016

Thinking of buying your first home? If so, it may be time to get on with it, especially considering the possibility that interest rates will rise. Using government incentive programs that encourage first time homebuyers to enter the real estate market, you can realize additional savings. And, mortgage financing has been almost free … First Time Homebuyers Government Incentive Programs Read More » ...