Archives for Buyers

First Time Home Buyer Incentive – Need a Little Help?

October 28, 2019 | Comments Off

With the recent federal election there has been a great deal of discussion around the Liberal Government’s incentive for First-time Home Buyers which was effective September 2, 2019. The Government of Canada has allocated $1.25 billion over the next three years for this program. The incentive is designed to help first-time home buyers find an affordable home. Finding an affordable home has proven to be a challenge for first-time home buyers and especially younger Canadians. The lack of inventory has affected the availability of affordable housing options. This has made the cost of housing as a percentage of gross income
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What can we expect from the Fall Real Estate Market in Ottawa?

October 25, 2019 | Comments Off

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?

October 21, 2019 | Comments Off

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

May 22, 2019 | Comments Off

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

April 17, 2019 | Comments Off

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

March 22, 2019 | Comments Off

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

March 15, 2019 | Comments Off

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

January 30, 2019 | Comments Off

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

November 8, 2018 | Comments Off

Selling your home in the winter Real Estate market may seem undesirable to some, but it has many overlooked advantages that actually make the cold dreary season a potential sellers-market! One thing found is that winter buyers are generally more serious, which makes complete sense, as most people don’t find joy in dawning winter-wear and bracing cold icy roads and weather just to check out the real estate market on a lazy sunday. Additionally, with fewer properties listed for sale, the market is smaller, making it easy to stand out in the neighbourhood. Keeping up with yard work and weeding
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Neighbourhood Snapshot: Kemptville “Green and Growing”

September 19, 2018 | Comments Off

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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