Real Estate Blog - Linda McCallum

Pool Dreams: Creating Your Stay-at-Home Backyard Oasis

The hot ticket item throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been changing at a pace that almost seems impossible to keep up with. It began with toilet paper and Lysol wipes, and moved quickly to office furniture and electronics, and now that summer is here, and a hot one at that, Ottawa area residents are now looking to get their hands on patio furniture and swimming pools to transform their backyards into an oasis where they can fully enjoy their summer at home. While installing a pool is a project that has excellent benefits both for personal use and resale value, finding the right pool for your property can be a tricky game, and there are many factors ...

Ottawa and Area Real Estate Market Snapshot July 2020

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How to Move Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Moving is a task that few find pleasure in, as it requires countless hours of organizing, packing, and lots of heavy lifting. Unfortunately, when doing this through a pandemic with travel restrictions in place and physical distancing measures still active, it may feel like there could not be a more inconvenient time to relocate. However, with closing dates getting closer, putting off your move may not be an option to your avail, but you should consider a few things before you go: Is your new town a hot-spot for COVID-19? Will you be coming into close contact with others during your trip? Are you or your co-travellers considered high risk for COVID-19?...

Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot June 2020

Ottawa Real Estate Snapshot June 2020: June Statistics are a Welcome Sign of Things Getting Back on Track in our Marketplace

How we are Helping to Stop the Spread

ROYAL LEPAGE TEAM REALTY STANDS WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD TO END THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 As a devoted member and essential service in Ottawa and Surrounding Area, Royal LePage Team Realty and our agents have been working hard to end the spread of COVID-19 while remaining mindful of the changing needs and expectations of our clients. As a trailblazer in the industry, we have adopted new and innovative ways of delivering our services with care and quality. They follow all the guidelines set forth by the government and adhere to our own set of values and standards. This ensures that our clients, employees and visitors remain safe throughout these unpreced...

Home Projects To Ready Your Home For Summer

With the spring season now in full bloom, summer approaching quickly, and social distancing guidelines leaving you a little stir-crazy, you may be feeling anxious to spend time outdoors and keep yourself busy while waiting for restrictions to be lifted. Fortunately, when you have to #StayHome, you might be able to find some time to work on some home projects that may have otherwise been neglected. Because home projects are usually essential or seasonal tasks to ensure your home is properly maintained, this can also be a great learning opportunity for kids who are currently unable to attend school, and trying to learn from home instead. If you don’t hav...

Mother's Day from a Distance

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and while many of us generally take this time to visit and surprise our Mothers with gifts of appreciation, good food, and laughs with the family, the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic still has us practicing social distancing measures, limiting our interactions. While this certainly isn’t how we thought we would be spending Mother’s Day this year, there are still ways we can adapt and celebrate; With accessible technology, plenty of local and online buying options, and a touch of creativity, there are still lots of ways to brighten the day and show some appreciation to our loving Mothers. Here is how you ...

Video Chat Platforms: Social Interaction During Social Distancing

The onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic has created changes and challenges in the way we conduct our normal daily activities. While we used to enjoy taking a break from the busy world outside of our homes, we are now being asked to make that break our new reality by staying inside and practicing social distancing measures in order to do our part to flatten the curve and stop the spread of this virus. While the importance of this effort cannot be argued, it is recommended that we seek out alternative methods of social interaction to stay connected with our friends, family and community. To accommodate our need for social interaction, social media has...

What style of House are you?

Have you ever wondered what type of neighbourhood best resonates with you? Buying a home is an exciting time for new, and there are so many choices when it comes to housing styles, are you a bungalow, a stacked condo, a single-family dwelling? Each of these styles of homes can be found in neighbourhoods with different characteristics, making it essential to determine which one is most representative of your wants, needs and abilities. Understanding the importance of lifestyle and personality traits and how they work best with different types of neighbourhoods can save you from the dreaded “Buyer’s Remorse.” So whether you are a working prof...

Ottawa Real Estate Snapshot March 2020

Market update: March 2020. While we are thankful to have been named an essential service, Realtors® and brokerages everywhere are working together to ensure that necessary protocols are in place to ensure public safety in this new reality. As trusted advisors, committed to flattening the curve, our industry is finding creative ways to use technology to assist clients who are in urgent need to buy or sell. While the beginning of the month there was plenty of activity as the spring market started to heat up, when the Ontario State of Emergency began, our industry rightly made the adjustments necessary to protect our clients, our staff and the public....

Is the right time for us to purchase Real Estate?

Time for buying my home, now or future Is the right time for us to purchase Real Estate? The question of when it is the right time to purchase real estate is always a very important family decision. For millennials, homeownership in Canada is approximately 50 percent. In contrast, 55 percent of their parents currently own their own homes. While millennials have lower ownership rates, it is expected that the numbers will increase this year. The average millennials are married at the age of 29, and most are in their early thirties. Many have been married for two to three years when they start a family, and then they start looking for a home to purchase....

What You Need to Know About Cannabis Legalization in the Housing Market

Legal Recreational Cannabis and the Impact on the Ottawa Real Estate Market Recreational cannabis has been legal in Canada for just over one year. The Federal Cannabis Act has been rolled out in a very Canadian manner. Saskatchewan is considered to have been the most effective in the implementation of the new law. Ontario has been the slowest and is still lagging all the other provinces and territories. What has been the impact of the law on the real estate industry now and what will it be in the future? The Federal and Provincial regulations and the City bylaws are constantly being updated. To keep up to date, it is very important to work with a knowl...

Buying your first home in Canada – What you Need to Know

One of the reasons Canada is the greatest country in the world is that we embrace new Canadians. The indigenous people were the first people in Canada. All other Canadian families have come from another country, we all have come from somewhere. Canada proudly is one of the most diverse and safe countries in the world. One reason for this is that as new Canadians we work hard and embrace our new communities. A recent Royal LePage survey found that “newcomers to Canada represent one in every five home buyers. If the current international migration level is maintained, Canadian newcomers are expected to purchase 680,000 homes over the next five years”. Ho...

Buying your first in Canada – What you Need to Know

Owning versus Leasing

It is essential for a business that they find the right location to set up their business and to decide whether to buy or lease a location. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. You will need an experienced commercial REALTOR®, an accountant and a lawyer working together to help you make the right decision. There are several financial as well as non-financial factors that need to consider. Non-financial factors may include whether the business owner insists upon owning. They want absolute control of the property or do not want the hassle of having to renew leases, the availability of properties in the desired location. Financial factors for o...

Ottawa Real Estate January 2020 Highlights and Statistics

Based on information released February 5, 2020 by the Ottawa Real Estate Board Average Sale Prices up over 19% in both Residential and Condominium Properties January’s average sale price for a condominium-class property was $338,077, an increase of 19.1 % from January 2019 January’s average sale price of a residential-class property was $516,229, an increase of 19.3 % from January 2019. Compared to last month, however, the average price for residential-class properties increased by a modest 3.2 % and the average price for condominium-class units was 8.8 % higher.* The Board’s Housing Price Index (HPI), which is another data point of price trends base...

Commercial Property …Not without a realtor

Have you ever considered owning, investing or leasing commercial real estate? Commercial real estate is defined as any non-residential property used for commercial profit-making purposes. It includes; office, retail, industrial, institutional, land, multi-family residential, and hotel/motel properties. All aspects of acquiring or leasing a commercial property are much more complicated than residential and require a skilled team of professionals to ensure a smooth transaction. Why Should I Invest in Commercial Property? There are many reasons to purchase a commercial property: As an element of your overall investment strategy As the location of your b...

Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot

Ottawa Real Estate Highlights December 2019 Record-Breaking 2019 Closes Out Decade Another record breaking year in both the number of sales & average prices! The average sale price of a residential property crept up over $500K during several months in 2019, with the annual average sale price settling at just below $490,000. As we head into 2020 we anticipate that the prices will continue to increase, however even then, the Ottawa area real estate market remains one of the most affordable major cities in Canada. Highlights from the Ottawa Real Estate B...

All I want for Christmas is a HOME

Buying a house is an exciting time, and whether you are just entering the market or you are a seasoned buyer ready for your next move, investing in real estate is a smart decision. To some, the Realtor App could be considered the Tinder of the Real Estate world, swiping past sub-par matches looking for the one who really might be worth the work. While looking at homes seems to be a logical first step, it may not. Some steps should be taken to ensure that you are prepared to be as competitive as possible when in a multiple offers situation. Unfortunately, this reality is becoming more and more common, listing prices below market value as a pricin...

The Season of Giving – Gift Ideas for all the Homeowners in your Life

Coming up with gift ideas for the people in your life can be difficult sometimes. We have put together a gift-giving guide for those people that have moved into a new home or a new condo. Perhaps you are the one that has moved this year if so we included some ideas for little gifts for your new neighbours around the holiday season. Homeowners Buying gifts for the new homeowners in your life can be an exciting gift to shop for and the possibilities can seem endless! Toasters, towels, and linens at every corner! If your homeowner hasn’t registered anywhere, the choices can easily make a fun experience feel like a nightmare. Here is your cheat sh...

Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot November 2019

Weather isn’t Cooling the Resale Market! Highlights from the Ottawa Real Estate Board December 4, 2019 Ottawa Real Estate Highlights November 2019 UNIT SALES Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,288 residential properties in November through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® System, compared with 1,161 in November 2018, an increase of 10.9 %. Residential: 958 Up 10.5 % from November 2018 Condo: 330 Up 12.2 % from November 2018. The five-year average for November unit sales is 1,133. “Even with the typical winter slowdown, Ottawa’s home resale market still experienced a relatively brisk pace in November. Our inventory is not having a ch...

Picking a Condo that Matches your Lifestyle

While many people once shied away from condominiums, today, this home-owners option is sought out by people of all ages and lifestyles. Condominiums are popping up in all neighbourhoods, with amenities that cater to the needs of people with all types of wants, needs, and abilities. Whether you are a working professional, young family, retiree, live an active lifestyle or require accessibility accommodations, appealing features offered by many of these condominiums are making this home-buyers option an appealing and competitive one. As with the growing market of condominium homeowners, the variety of notable features offered under the fees are growing a...

Ottawa Real Estate Snapshot: October 2019

Ottawa Real Estate Snapshot: October 2019 Based on information from on the Ottawa Real Estate Board November 5th, 2019 Properties Sold Total properties sold: 1,607 an increase of 16.9% over October 2018 1,211 in the residential-property class, up 15% over October 2018 396 in the condominium-property category, up 23% over October 2018 The five-year average for October unit sales is 1,319. “New listings are down, inventory remains scarce, and yet more homes changed hands this October than in the past decade and a half,” reports President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. “It’s perplexing at first; however, when you consider the current breakneck trans...

Condo Living – Is it right for you?

After a few flat years, the Ottawa condo market started picking up steam in 2016 and continues to be a popular choice for Ottawa buyers today. Lower inventory levels and higher prices in the residential market have helped to increase activity in the condo property class. According to the Ottawa Real Estate Board “September [2019] sales included 436 in the condominium-property category, an increase of 26.4 % from September 2018”. There are many advantages to owning a condo, maintenance is a big one. Typically, condo dwellers have little or no external maintenance. Not only is there no grass to cut or snow to shovel, but for those who like to travel t...

Condo Living – Is it right for you?

First Time Home Buyer Incentive – Need a Little Help?

new homeowners hold up sign for their first new buy and excitement of new life stage while pregnant 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 op...

What can we expect from the Fall Real Estate Market in Ottawa?

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 to list to take advantage of the increased demand as buyers look for more a...

Is that House Haunted?

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 poll by Pollara 27% of Canadians believe in ghosts. In this, the spookiest month of the year, inspired by All Hallow...

Having Your Home Listed Over the Holidays

If you are planning to sell your home in the next few months, it is wise to plan to maximize the sale of your home. As the temperatures are cooling and the days are getting shorter, we are starting to think of the coming fall and winter seasons. We will also start to think of the many special holidays we will be celebrating in the next few months. The good news is that buyers who are looking over the holidays tend to be more serious. We have put together some simple tips that will ease the pressure of having your home listed and ready to show over the holidays. We will help you get through the chaos of the holiday season while making sure your home ...

Ottawa Real Estate Update: September 2019

Ottawa Real Estate update September 2019 The fall real estate market in Ottawa is in full swing with strong numbers showing no signs of a slow-down in spite of the upcoming election. Condo prices have recovered (and are moving upward) in the Ottawa Real estate market and sellers are jumping back in to take advantage. Condo sales are up a whopping 26.4% over this time last year. With days on the market continuing to drop in both the residential and condo market, it’s a time when buyers should be ready to act quickly and sellers can take advantage of historically low inventory. Thinking of jumping into the market? Message us anytime! The fall real estat...

Luxury Style on a Budget

Do you check out luxury listings on Carriage Trade and become envious of the homes that you see? Luxury homes are often the epitome of style but you can bring some of that style into your own home without breaking the bank. Using these creative ideas, any home can feel like a luxury dream home! Eliminate Clutter Luxury homes often feel spacious and airy. By eliminating the clutter in your home, you can achieve this as well. If you have a small space, avoid bulky furniture as this can make it feel crowded. Keep surfaces clear of stuff and find places to store everything neatly. This is a great opportunity to purge things that you may not use very often ...

Ottawa's Most "Luxurious" Neighboourhoods

Ottawa’s neighbourhoods are diverse and most offer something for everyone. If you are looking for luxury, it’s all around us with little pockets throughout the city. Large lot sizes in rural areas and even within the city allow for beautiful large custom homes and these opportunities are popping up everywhere! Below you will find a list of some of Ottawa’s most “luxurious” neighbourhoods but it’s also important to remember that just like there are luxury homes all over, there are more moderately priced opportunities to own in these neighbourhoods as well. Each of these neighbourhoods offer unique opportunities and homes. It’s important to work with you...

Coolest Luxury Upgrades (and what they cost!)

Luxury homes offer just that – luxury – and many of them feature a variety of amenities to make life easier and add convenience. Here are the top 10 sought-after amenities for luxury homes compiled from interviews with Royal LePage agents across the country. Just in case you’re interested in upgrading your current home, estimated costs for each item is also included. Car Lifts and Indoor Car Washes Estimated Cost – Car Lift – $2,500 to $6,000 Indoor Car Wash – $30,000+ If you have a luxury home, it only makes sense to have space to park your luxury cars. If space is limited, car lifts add capacity and an indoor car wash wi...

What is Carriage Trade?

You may have heard the name “Carriage Trade” tossed around but what does it mean? If you are looking to purchase or sell a luxury property, the Carriage Trade designation by Royal LePage will ensure that your property gets the right exposure to the right people or will aid in your search by seamlessly providing your with a curated list of the market’s most exclusive properties. This is an exclusive service offered by Royal LePage to market distinguished home in Canada to discerning buyers from around the world! Will Your Home Qualify for the Carriage Trade Program? Homes that are featured through the Carriage Trade program, must meet a specific set of ...

Ottawa Real Estate Market update: August 2019

Ottawa Real Estate Market update: August 2019 (September 5, 2019) If you’ve been following the Ottawa Real Estate market it probably won’t come as a surprise that both unit sales and prices were up last month, in spite of continuing issues with low supply. Heading into the fall months we don’t see any signs of our fast paced market slowing down. If you have any questions, we’re always here to chat! Market Highlights: Number of Sales: Total properties sold 1,731 compared with 1,581 in August 2018, an increase of 9.5 per cent. 1,300 in the residential-property class, up 9.7 per cent over August 2018 431 in the condominium-property category, up 8.8 ...

Find Sold Prices Online!

At Royal LePage Team Realty, we are thrilled to announce that we are the first major brokerage in Ottawa to offer a Virtual Office Website where users can now have access to more information than was ever possible before. With a simple click, anyone with an email address will now be able to access sold prices and other information on listings that have already sold. As a brokerage, we believe in transparency and we are excited to provide this tool to our clients to aid in their real estate journey. Take some time to do some research, but when you’re ready, give us a call; as a full service brokerage with over 550 professional sales representatives, we’...

Beyond the Sign: Price It Right

When a home is listed, it needs to be at the right price in order to ensure that you get what you deserve for your home. There are a lot of factors that go into pricing a home and your Royal LePage Team Realty agent will help guide you through the process to ensure a positive outcome. Ultimately, the listing price is your decision, but trust your agent; they know what they are doing! What’s in a Price? When it comes to listing a home, the price can be everything. Pricing a home too low may mean that the sellers may not get top dollar and pricing a home too high may deter buyers. It’s so important to have a home priced right, the moment it hits the mark...

Beyond the Sign: Knowledge

You wouldn’t get your car fixed by anyone other than a mechanic and you definitely wouldn’t let anyone other than a doctor perform a medical procedure on you but would you consider buying or selling a home without an expert in your corner? Buying or selling a home is likely one of the biggest transactions of your life so it’s important to ensure that you have someone there to ensure that you and your assets are protected. A Royal LePage Team Realty agent is an expert in their field and they will ensure that every part of your transaction goes smoothly from start to finish. Access to Information Your Realtor® has access to information that is not availa...

Beyond the Sign: Marketing

There is a lot more to selling home than putting a sign on the front lawn. A sign on the lawn is definitely a great marketing tool but the reach is limited. Did you know that your Royal LePage Team Realty Realtor® is able to leverage a variety of marketing strategies and tools to ensure that your home is put in front of as many potential buyers as possible to ensure that the right buyer is found in the least amount of time? This month we will be looking at the behind the scenes of real estate so let’s start by looking at the variety of marketing tools your Realtor will use to sell your home! Professional Photography Before your home hits the market, yo...

Real Estate Market Snapshot: Hot Market in a Scorching July

The Ottawa Real Estate Board recorded the highest number of July sales in 15 years! Real Estate Market Trends and Highlights July 2019 1,842 residential properties sold on MLS® in July 2019, compared with 1,605 in July 2018, an increase of 14.8 per cent. 1,382 in the residential-property class, up 12.3 per cent from a year ago 460 in the condominium-property category, a rise of 23 per cent from July 2018. The five-year average for July unit sales is 1,579. July’s average sale price for a condominium-class property was $299,665, an increase of 6.8 per cent from last year The average sale price of a residential-class property was $487,308, an increase o...