Spring Cleaning – Get the Kids Involved

As the warmer temperatures begin to roll in, there is no thought more prevalent than the beginning of spring cleaning. Spring is a time when all the forgotten places of winter begin to come to light, and there is nothing more refreshing than refreshing your home. A major topic these days is how to involve your kids in spring cleaning, especially in a way that is fun and engaging for them. The hope is to get your kids involved and wanting to help clean, not only to teach them the value of hard work, and the importance of cleaning up
Read More

#TenYearChallenge

Recently social media has been filled with people taking the #TenYearChallenge. The premise is simple, share your profile picture from 10 years ago side by side with your current one. It’s a fun way to look back at the past and see how much we have all changed. We thought it would be fun to take our own #TenYearChallenge and see how things stack up in Ottawa Real Estate  compared to ten years ago. Setting the Stage: Ottawa in 2009 2009 in Ottawa had its highs and its lows. Larry O’Brien was mayor and some of the highlights for the
Read More

Embrace Winter: Go for a Skate!

This winter has been a challenging one for everyone; whether it’s the treacherous commutes or never-ending “snow days”, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Instead of focusing on how many more cold days lie ahead, try embracing the season for all that it has to offer. Skating is a truly Canadian activity but many of us haven’t laced up our skates since we were kids. Ottawa has many great ways to enjoy this winter sport in the great outdoors so get out and enjoy winter while it lasts. The Rideau Canal Ottawa’s
Read More

Ottawa Real Estate Update: January 2019 Record-Breaking Home Sales!

January 2019: Record-Breaking Home Sales! February 5, 2019 Highlights Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 820 residential properties,  an increase of 15.8 % over January 2018. 611 in the residential property class, a rise of 14.2% over January 2018 209 in the condominium property class, an increase of 20.8% over January 2018 $432,829 was the average sale price of a residential-class property,  an increase of 1.5 percent over January 2018. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $283,990, an increase of 7.7 percent over January 2018. Most active price point for residential-class sales was $300,000 to $449,999, accounting for
Read More

President and CEO of Royal LePage Named Most Influential Canadian in Residential Real Estate

For the sixth year in a row, Swanepoel Power 200  (SP200) has named Phil Soper, President and CEO of Royal LePage, the most influential person in Canadian residential real estate. The SP200 is the definitive ranking of residential real estate leaders across North America. Soper was ranked 11th overall, rising three positions from last year. With over 17,000 agents nationwide Royal LePage – a proudly Canadian company – is the largest real estate in brokerage in the country. Soper has been at the helm since 2003 and has used his passion for writing and previous experiences as a student leader
Read More

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
Read More

The Benefits of Home Staging

Defining Home Staging You may hear your Realtor suggest home staging in order to increase its chances on the market. Before you brush off the idea and assume you don’t need it, you should understand what it is and how you can benefit from it. Home staging is more than decluttering and depersonalizing your home, it’s when you hire professionals to reinvent the living space for new potential buyers. Home staging professionals know how to lay out a home in an optimized way and in most cases work with the furniture and accessories that you have. Small adjustments can sometimes
Read More

New Year, New Home

How do you know if you’re ready to move? Besides deciding that it’s something you want to do in the new year, and planning for the big transition, how can you be sure it’s the right call? Has your family grown too big for the house? Perhaps it’s not by choice but due to work. Are you interested in downsizing? Here is a checklist you might want to review before you go looking for a new home. Looking For More Space? Homeowners often change properties because they outgrow it, this comes with starting a family, or expanding it. Whether this
Read More

Market Snapshot: Ottawa Real Estate December 2018

That’s a wrap: Ottawa Real Estate Market December 2018! As 2018 wrapped up, the inventory shortage has had a ripple effect; while residential sales were down slightly, it also fueled the condominium market. Overall, 2018 was another stellar year in Ottawa real estate!  If you’re thinking of making a move in 2019, we know real estate. We’d love to chat! Another Stellar Year for Ottawa’s Real Estate Market (excerpts below were taken from the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s news release January 4th) January 4, 2019 663 residential properties were sold by REALTORS® in the Ottawa Real Estate board compared with
Read More