Posts by teamrealty

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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Post Flood 2019: What to do as the Water Recedes

In the last few weeks, parts of the Ottawa area have seen record flooding and with the water slowly receding, it’s now time to think about the next steps. Whether you are a homeowner affected directly or just want to lend a helping hand, there is still a lot that will need to be done. Here is what you need to know, but for the most up to date information on everything flood related, it is important to check www.ottawa.ca regularly for updates. Homeowners Affected by Flooding:   Keep Sandbag Walls Up for the Time Being – with heavy rain
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Ottawa Real Estate highlights & Market Snapshot April 2019

Ottawa Real Estate Highlights April 2019: There’s been an upward pressure on prices due to the continuing lower supply levels (residential supply is down 18%, and condo inventory is down almost 40% from last April 2018 according to the latest OREB stats). However these price points are “still well under the Canadian average, and our residents tend to be in comfortable financial situations due to secure employment and a thriving local economy.” [President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board]  who also notes that  “Certainly, the stunted supply is likely responsible for the multiple offer situations we are experiencing, but the reality
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Selling Your Home Yourself May End Up Costing You

It may seem tempting, to try and save money on commission, to sell your home yourself but it’s important to consider all the factors. In a lot of cases, sellers who choose to go this route do not come out ahead so let’s look at why.   What are You Really Saving? Let’s use as an example a 5% commission of the sale price of your home that you may pay to a full service real estate company for their services. When you list your home for sale with a Real Estate Professional, what you may not know is that
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Getting Ready for a Move

As the end of April approaches, many people in Ottawa are preparing to move. Whether you bought or sold in the busy spring market, it’s time to start packing! Packing is often everyone’s least favourite task in the moving process but just remember, there is a light at the end of the tunnel; before you know it you will be in your new home! Here are some helpful hints to guide you as you prepare for closing day. Start Now! Even if your move is not for a few months, and it may seem difficult to start, the more you
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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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Tidying Up: The Joy of Purging

Earlier this year, Netflix launched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, a wildly popular series based on Marie Kondo’s bestselling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The series outlines, in a step by step guide, the Konmari method of cleaning and organizing and it has had everyone talking (and purging!) Second-hand stores have seen a surge of donations unlike they have ever experienced before and people are saying goodbye to many of their possessions with hopes of finding joy living in a more minimalist lifestyle. Whether you are preparing your home to list or just want to de-clutter, purging can
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OTTAWA REAL ESTATE HIGHLIGHTS: Higher Prices but Fewer Sales in MARCH 2019

Tightness of listing supply is significantly reducing days on market,  properties are selling very quickly.   The latest statistics are out from the Ottawa Real Estate board!   here are the highlights… 1,511 residential properties were sold in March through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® System, compared with 1,654 in March 2018, a decrease of 8.6 per cent. 1,136 in the residential property class, a drop of 12.4 per cent from a year ago, and 375 in the condominium property class, an increase of 5 per cent from March 2018. The five-year average for March unit sales is 1,402. The average sale
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OTTAWA REAL ESTATE HIGHLIGHTS: Higher Prices, Fewer Residential Sales

Tightness of listing supply is significantly reducing days on market,  properties are selling very quickly.   The latest statistics are out from the Ottawa Real Estate board!   here are the highlights… 1,511 residential properties were sold in March through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® System, compared with 1,654 in March 2018, a decrease of 8.6 per cent. 1,136 in the residential property class, a drop of 12.4 per cent from a year ago, and 375 in the condominium property class, an increase of 5 per cent from March 2018. The five-year average for March unit sales is 1,402. The average sale
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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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