Archives for Buyers

What can we expect from the Fall Real Estate Market in Ottawa?

In Ottawa, we talk about the Spring market and the Fall market as being the two busiest seasons to buy and sell real estate in Ottawa. Our Spring market started earlier this year and instead of slowing down over the Summer it continued to be strong throughout the Summer months. Throughout the year we have seen consistent growth in both listing prices and sale prices. In June, the Ottawa residential average sale price climbed over $500K for the first time ever! There is also great news for condominiums. Now that condo prices have bounced back, more condo sellers are deciding
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Is that House Haunted?

Stigma and Real Estate Would the fact that property is believed to be haunted affect your decision to purchase it? If a property had been the location of an unspeakable act, would that change your opinion on it? Picture this, you’ve just found the home of your dreams and have put in an offer. Of course you’ll want to make sure that there’s nothing wrong with the home before you firm up so who are you going to call? Ok, so it’s probably your home inspector and not the ghost-busters, however it may surprise you that according to a recent
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Importance of Community

The word community can mean different things to different people. It can simply be a name to define a certain geographical area or neighbourhood, or it can mean a lot more. For many people, finding the right community is much more than location; it’s finding a neighbourhood with like minded people, amenities of interest, or even just a place that feels like home! Everyone is different and there are many factors that affect our sense of community; this is why the City of Ottawa has so many distinct areas. It is important to consider community in your home search and
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Buying in a Seller's Market

If you are thinking of selling, the current low inventory and rising prices in Ottawa may make right now seem like the perfect time but it may seem like a different story if you are looking to buy. Whether you are looking to buy your first home or looking to up or down size, it may seem like a very challenging time to purchase a home. Not to worry though, with some creativity and careful planning, there are ways to easily navigate this market with your Realtor®. Here are 5 helpful hints for buyers this spring: Work with a Realtor®
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Infill Homes

As Ottawa continues to grow, more and more infill homes are popping up in key neighbourhoods around the city. Infill homes can sometimes be a contentious issue within a neighbourhood but they can also improve the housing stock, add value to the community, slow urban sprawl, and replace older and outdated homes with more modern and appealing options. What are Infill Homes? In the natural progression of any city, the city’s core contains the oldest buildings with new construction occurring along the periphery where there is space available. Infill is the practice of building new homes in already developed neighbourhoods
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Ottawa Neighbourhoods to Watch

Spring Market: 4 Neighbourhoods to Watch As the spring real estate market in Ottawa heats up, here are some neighbourhoods that will certainly be of interest to home buyers. Each of these communities has something unique and different to offer so there is something for everyone. No matter what community you are looking at, don’t forget to hire a Realtor® to help you find your dream home (and make sure that you get it for the right price!) Bells Corners – Re-imagining an older neighbourhood With the opening of the Department of National Defense Headquarters at Carling Avenue and Moodie Drive,
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Home Inspections: What You Need To Know

A home is quite likely one of the biggest purchases of your life and you want to make sure that you know what you are buying. While the home may have looked perfect to you, there may be underlying issues that are only visible to a trained eye. For this reason, it is important that you include a home inspection in the conditions of your offer. You should never judge a book by it’s cover and the same is true for home buying. Condition of the Sale Typically, when you find a house you love, your Realtor will draw up
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Getting Ready to Sell Your Home in Winter: What You Need to Know

Selling your home in the winter real estate market may seem undesirable to some, but it has an upside. Let’s break down some of the advantages that actually make the cold dreary season a potential win for sellers. Ottawa is in a Seller’s Market. Regardless of the weather, listings that are on the market are getting the attention of buyers, there is just not enough inventory to keep up with the demand. Current active inventory is less than half of 2015-16 [October 2018]. Compared to last year, condo inventory is down 34.5% while residential inventory is 17.5% lower than October
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Neighbourhood Snapshot: Kemptville “Green and Growing”

Life in Kemptville “Green and Growing” Kemptville, in the municipality of North Grenville, is one of the Ottawa areas blooming communities, fitting of the “Green and Growing” slogan! Offering a welcoming community, great schools, hospital, golf course, retirement residences, business opportunities, and an easy commute to Ottawa, its steadily growing popularity is no surprise! An easy 30-minute commute to Ottawa via the 4-lane 416 highway, the Kemptville area could be considered a “bedroom community”, but it’s so much more than that! With the steady growth of population, as well as a recent boom in economic and real estate development, it
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The Search Is On – Listings: How the majority of buyers & sellers find listings in 2018

As the age of technology and the Internet continues to thrive, many industries have developed over the years to incorporate the constantly changing world of advertising and reaching potential clientele. Long gone are the days of people driving around on the weekends in search of potential listings, and fewer are checking the paper in search of their potential dream home. Despite these changes, the housing market is still booming and buyers and sellers alike are finding their future properties. The real question is, how has the search for real estate listings changed? The majority of that question can be answered
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