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
Winter in Ottawa
Festivals and Events to Keep You Busy This Season Winter may seem like the perfect season to curl up on the couch and binge-watch your favourite Netflix series, but that would also mean missing out on a multitude of engaging and culturally diverse activities in the Ottawa and surrounding area. Read below for a highlight of this years winter events and festival lineup; before you know it, you will be kicking off your slippers and throwing on your snow gear to take part in these engaging winter activities: Christmas Lights Across Canada – December 5th – January 7th The 34th
Read More
Holiday Showings?
If your home is currently on the market, or you plan on listing in the next few weeks, here are some things to consider when it comes to showings. The Ottawa real estate market is still quite active this year so you want to ensure that you put your best foot forward for potential buyers. Embrace the season and work closely with your Realtor to get your home sold! Holiday buyers tend to be serious buyers The holidays are a chaotic time of year for everyone so keep in mind that people who are booking showings at this time are
Read More
As Markets Across Canada are cooling, the Ottawa Real Estate Market Remains Strong & Steady
The Latest Ottawa Real Estate Trends – November 2018 While most markets across Canada are cooling, Ottawa’s market performance is strong and steady as it has been for many years. Ottawa’s housing affordability and high employment levels shelter us somewhat from the dramatic swings that can cause instability. Sales were down 5.4% from November 2019, however experts say that wouldn’t have been the case if inventory was higher. Average sale price can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties or areas have increased or decreased in value. The calculation
Read More
Keep Jack Frost Out and the Heat In
How to minimize your heating costs this winter As frosty temperatures fill the air, and snow begins to cover the ground, there is a lot to think about when it comes to your heating bill. As the cost of heating your home rises in the colder months, it’s time to think about what you can do within your home to reduce some of these costs. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you to reduce the cost of keeping you and your home warm this winter: Take advantage of the solar heat – During the day, use the
Read More
Cannabis Legalization: One Month Later.
It has been just over a month since cannabis was legalized in Canada. Now that the hype and excitement surrounding the ability to buy recreational marijuana legally has settled, many of us are still left with questions surrounding these new laws and what this means for home owners, buyers, and sellers alike. Here is what you need to know about cannabis legalization and real estate in Ottawa: Home Buyers and Sellers While it may now be legal carry, smoke, and grow marijuana plants, there are many things to consider when you are in the market of buying or selling your
Read More