OTTAWA REAL ESTATE BLOG

  As snow hits Ottawa, November sales slowed slightly, while “Condo sales continue to bolster Ottawa resale market“   Highlights: Ottawa condo market appears to be on the upswing 14,825 homes were sold in the first 11 months officially making 2016 a record breaking year for number of sales Average prices were up, $405,320 in the residential class, an increase of 6.5% over 2015. While these statistics are useful in establishing market trends they should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. If you’re interested in a property evaluation or statistics for specific neighbourhoods please email info@teamrealty.ca or contact one of our offices, or professional real estate representatives,  we would be delighted to assist.   News Release from the Ottawa Real Estate Board: Condo sales continue to bolster Ottawa resale market OTTAWA, December 6, 2016 – Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 995 residential properties in November through the Board’s Multiple ...

Royal LePage offers optimal customer service in order to deliver the best possible results to its clientele. Contrary to the way real estate was (years ago when real estate brokerages represented only the seller), you now have the option of being represented by a buyer’s agent, who’s responsibility is to protect you, your family, and your best interests all while providing you with the essential information needed in order for you to make an informed decision when it comes time to buying a home.     A buyer’s representative will locate the best homes that fit your needs. This will work in your favour, not only as a saver of time, but also in such a way that will deter you from those homes that just aren’t right for you. This said, among these suitable homes, research is done by your representative in order to foresee any potential issues that lie with ...

Winterizing your home for the cold snap is one thing; winterizing your yard, however, is another. And as much as most of us would like to avoid prepping our yards for the inevitable cold that is to come, it’s something that’s simply unavoidable – especially if we’re looking to save both time and energy when spring and summer rolls around next year. Rest assured, however, winterizing your yard is not as complex as most of us may think it is, in fact, it’s actually quite simple.   We’ve provided a list of ways below that will help you and your family maintain the quality of your yard, regardless of how cold it gets this winter:   Move your hoses into a shed or a garage: It’s advised that we unhook and empty out all the water in our hoses and store them in a warmer place (for example, in your shed or in your garage). ...

It seems like only yesterday that we were out enjoying the great (warm) outdoors at our cottages, lakes and so on. The days were sunny, the evenings were cool; we’d admire the gradual change in scenery as each tree in sight became more and more vibrant with time. And then without warning, as it does every year, it just hits us: winter. We feel it coming, we know it’ll be here in a quick blink of an eye, but it still somehow manages to sneak up on us. We ask ourselves if we’re even ready for winter, if we can prepare for it in such little time, and so on (if only we could just call a seasonal time-out!). The good news, however, is that we won’t need to. Getting ready for winter isn’t as complex and bone-chilling as it may seem. In fact, here are a few things you ...

House made from Canadian polymer $100 dollar bills.Related Images: There has been a lot of topical chatter about the significant changes our government has recently put in place on Canada’s housing rules. Over the last several years, our government has been known to change the mortgage requirements on numerous occasions which has (and continues to) deeply affect anyone who, is not only looking to perhaps qualify for government-backed insured mortgages, but also those who may be looking to purchase their first home and/or are looking to refinance their existing mortgage. We needn’t be too concerned, however. According to Phil Soper, President and CEO of Royal LePage, “Nationally, our real estate markets remain healthy, with home values showing modest to strong (yet rational) price appreciation in almost every Canadian city Even in the hardest hit oil patch regions, prices have held up well, with small single-digit declines, year-over-year”   As it stands, the ...

While temperatures are dropping, the fall real estate market in Ottawa remains steady with another record breaking month!  Recently released statistics from the Ottawa Real Estate Board  below show that the condo sales soared in October, up 27.2% over last year!   While these statistics are useful in establishing market trends they should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. If you’re interested in a property evaluation or statistics for specific neighbourhoods please email info@teamrealty.ca or contact one of our offices, or professional real estate representatives,  we would be delighted to assist.   Released by OREB, November 3rd, 2016 OTTAWA, November 3, 2016 - Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,214 residential properties in October through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® System, compared with 1,159 in October 2015, an increase of 4.7 per cent. The five-year average for October sales is 1,130. “October’s sales continued the record-breaking resale trend for ...

Whether you are looking for a neighbourhood with young families, an urban lifestyle or a quiet place to retire, “Your Perfect Life” could help you find your sweet spot. By way of entering a simple postal code, you are able to match your lifestyle and neighbourhood preferences in a relatable and engaging way. A first in Canadian real estate Fun, engaging content to share on your social channels With detailed demographic information about income level, life stage, household structure, employment types and education Ideal for clients who are considering relocating and want to learn more about prospective communities How it works... ...

Whether you're a first-time home buyer or are selling your house yet again, you need a REALTOR® that understands your needs. The home buying or selling process can be complicated as it is, and there is no need to cause yourself additional angst by picking a less-than-qualified realtor. Read on to discover a few traits you need to look for when selecting a real estate agent so you can confidently move through the buying or selling process. MEET OUR REALTORS® Qualifications A REALTOR® with no qualifications won't get you very far. You need a real estate agent that knows the process through and through and has a certification so you can be certain he or she knows how to do the job. Check to make sure the REALTOR® you are considering is a member of an upstanding organization, such as the Canadian Real Estate Association, and you can be confident that he or ...

If you’re thinking of buying a home, but not sure on how or where to begin, let us be the ones to help you! What’s important is to ask the right questions in order to make the right decision – the one that’s best for you.   First, if you’re a first-time home buyer, it’s important to get pre-approved for a home. This should typically be step one. Once approved, the rest of the home-buying experience can successfully follow. You can then answer such questions as how soon you’re looking to move, how quickly of a time-frame you’re willing to move in, or if you’re simply browsing your options, you can get a clear idea of what’s out there that’s within your price range.   Are you looking for a home for yourself, for someone else, or for your family? What you answer to this specific question will, of course, determine a ...

  Small businesses in suburban neighbourhoods bring a sense of the big city to smaller towns The high cost of downtown living in big Canadian cities like Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver are driving more and more people out of city centers and into the suburbs. However, millennials say they don’t want to miss out on the look and feel of the big city when they move to the outskirts. Some suburbs have heard these desires, and are trying to find ways to change and better promote the amenities they offer in order to attract more young people. The amenities offered vary depending on the particular suburb, but many neighbourhoods are promoting specialty shops, independent restaurants, trendy cafes, and other small businesses in order to bring the feeling of living right downtown into suburban areas. Perhaps surprisingly, one of the major features that draws younger people to particular suburbs is the presence of walking ...

No fall(ing) back in Ottawa’s resale market: News release from the Ottawa Real Estate Board October 5th, 2016 OTTAWA, October 5, 2016 - Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,371 residential properties in September through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® System, compared with 1,241 in September 2015, an increase of 10.5 per cent. The five-year average for September sales is 1,171. “Again this month, we have broken the record for residential and condominium units sold, with 200 more units sold than the five-year average for September sales,” says Shane Silva, President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. “With average sale prices remaining virtually unchanged since the beginning of the year, this could be an indication that prices have adjusted to market expectations and sales have rebounded as a result.” September’s sales included 269 in the condominium property class, and 1,102 in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, ...

Remote home control system on a digital tablet or phone. In today's digital world -- recently dubbed "The Age of the Internet of Things" -- technology is changing everything. From wearable health tracking devices to cars that drive themselves, tech has made day-to-day life easier, more convenient and also more fun. One area in which technology is having a huge impact is in the home. Recent inventions have made maintaining, taking care of and enjoying domestic life better than ever before. The following five home automation innovations represent some of the most cutting edge technologies that are shaping the way humans experience their homes.   Connected Refrigerators There's a good chance you've run to the grocery to pick a few things up -- only to return home and find out you've forgotten one essential item. You can avoid that annoyance now that there are smart refrigerators, which not only help you regulate the energy ...

Congratulations, you're a homeowner!  With all of the joys of home-ownership also comes the task of paying off your mortgage, paying property taxes and keeping up with regular maintenance as required.  While you've purchased a home within your means, paying off a mortgage can be daunting; however, there are ways in which you can make your payments a little more manageable. If you’ve decided to purchase a home, you’ve put down a certain percentage as a down payment, and you’ve agreed to pay into a mortgage (over the course of x-amount of years with an interest rate of x-percent). You can’t help but to ask yourself, “what can I do to reduce the costs associated with being a homeowner?” Airbnb might just be the answer you’re searching for. With Airbnb you’re able to rent out your home (or second home, depending on whether or not you’ve decided to take out ...

When buying a home, there are always a series of questions that run through a home buyer's mind. At Royal LePage Team Realty, we encourage you to ask them, we try to think of everything for you including a checklist to keep track of the important details about homes we show you! Of course your Real Estate agent will be there every step of the way to help you find the right home, but falling in love with a property is not the only factor to consider when purchasing a home. We’ve put together a checklist that outlines details that are important to many buyers and will help in your decision to make an offer on a property or move on to the next.  It includes such attributes as the structure of your home (examples: detached, semi-detached, condominium, etc.), the type of construction of your home (examples: wood, brick veneer, or block), as well as several detailed inquiries regarding ...

For several years now, Canada’s population of 65-and-overs has been increasing at rapid rates. In fact, in 2015, according to Statistics Canada, there were more Canadians over the age of 65 than there were those under the age of 15 – a pace that has only been growing since 2011. Coincidently, as the Canadian population grows older, the number of Canadian retirees will rise.  So, are you someone who is approaching the first stages of retirement? More importantly, are you ready to retire?   One of the biggest decisions an individual(s) will make upon retirement is purchasing their retirement home. It’s important to consider all of the factors involved. When do you plan to retire? Within the next 5 years? 10?  Do you and your spouse share the same retirement dream? Where would you like to retire? Do you have the proper financial plan?   There are several options that you and ...