Welcome Guests with a Well-Appointed Guest Room

Hosting friends and family is one of the joys of the season. Preparing in advance can make it less stressful to receive visitors anytime. Whether you have a dedicated guest room or a more improvised arrangement for overnight guests, there are many things you can do to make hosting headache-free for you and your family. […]

New Mortgage Rules for 2018

Starting January 1, new mortgage lending rules will require borrowers to undergo a financial ‘stress test’ to prove they could afford their mortgage if interest rates were to increase. Currently, buyers who provide less than 20% of their purchase price as a down payment are required to insure their mortgages. They must purchase mortgage insurance […]

Should You Own A Generator?

Winter is approaching and with it, blizzards, ice storms, and other extreme weather events for which we Canadians ought to be prepared. Even if you live in an urban area with lots of resources and amenities, your family should have an emergency plan in place and an emergency kit on hand that includes everything you […]

Making a Smart Purchase in a Seller’s Market

While Ottawa’s real estate market remains more balanced than some other large Canadian cities, increasing condo sales and a tightening inventory of available homes means that, in many Ottawa neighbourhoods, sellers will have the advantage in real estate negotiations. If you are interested in making a purchase in such a market, it is especially important […]

Ottawa Tops the List of Best Places to Live in Canada

For the second year in a row, MoneySense Magazine has ranked Ottawa as the #1 place to live in Canada. This news is hardly a surprise to those of us who love the Capital City. Ottawa has low unemployment, a healthy median income of $91,000 per year, and a less frenzied real estate market than […]

Understanding Flood Insurance

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, water damage has now surpassed fire as the leading cause of home insurance payouts. As climate change advances, Canadian insurance adjusters believe that flooding will become increasingly common. Large cities, including Toronto and Calgary, have experienced historic flooding in the past few years, and so has the Capital […]

Fall Fireplace Maintenance

A fireplace is an amenity often sought-after by homeowners, and some research even indicates that a fireplace can have a positive effect on a home’s selling price. It can add a feeling of warmth and luxury to a home, especially in our climate. But if a fireplace isn’t properly maintained, it can quickly become a […]

Condo Sales Help Set New Record for August Unit Sale

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,538 residential properties in August through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service System, compared with 1,481 in August 2016, an increase of 3.8 percent. The five-year average for August sales is 1,343. Condo sales continue to strengthen the Ottawa resale market. These numbers also assisted in setting a […]

Selling A Home That Needs Work

Before putting a home on the market, most sellers undertake some repairs and renovation projects to make the property more attractive to buyers; a fresh coat of paint, a thorough cleaning, replacing a cracked window or a wobbly door knob. Sometimes, however, there is a big project, such as a new roof or an overdue […]

Condo sales drive the Ottawa resale market in July

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,530 residential properties in July through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service System, compared with 1,490 in July 2016, an increase of 2.7 per cent. The five-year average for July is 1,446. Year to date, there have been 10,825 properties sold on MLS compared to 9,771, an 11.8 […]