Posts by curiousprojects

Costs on Your Home Over the Christmas Season: Trimming the Holiday Stress

December 21, 2016 | Comments Off

Christmas is indeed a time for many things. It is time well spent with our families and our friends, a time for celebration, a time for passing down holiday traditions (as well as creating new ones); and, of course, with the end of year approaching, it is a time of reflection and resolution. Moreover, with the abundance of festivities that our communities offer over the holidays, it’s a time to try new things, and to collect memories with your loved ones. With the joys of Christmas comes, of course, the stresses of the season. It’s only natural. We host
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Staging Your Home for Home Buyers Over the Holidays

December 14, 2016 | Comments Off

Selling your home in the (often dreaded) winter months of November-January, can render itself to be quite difficult for some. And although, for the most part, we tend to agree that our homes are more “visibly appealing” – on the outside – in the spring and summer months, there are several perks to selling your home and making it quite charming – on the inside – for homebuyers around the holidays! We can all admit to sometimes going a little overboard with our holiday decorating from time to time – and if we’re not a person who does, we
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The Perks of Buying a Home in the Winter

December 7, 2016 | Comments Off

There is a great majority of people who think that winter is not the best time to shop for a home. Contrary to popular assumption however, buying a home over the winter months may, in fact, be something worth considering. Sure, there might arguably be less homes for you to choose from, but the sellers might also be more motivated – playing to your advantage. You see it’s likely that, “the sellers will want to get the deal closed, especially for tax purposes. It’s the end of the year and they want to tie up loose ends. This is
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Real Estate Update: Latest news in Ottawa Real Estate

December 6, 2016 | Comments Off

As snow hits Ottawa, November sales slowed slightly, while “Condo sales continue to bolster Ottawa resale market“ Highlights: Ottawa condo market appears to be on the upswing 14,825 homes were sold in the first 11 months officially making 2016 a record breaking year for number of sales Average prices were up, $405,320 in the residential class, an increase of 6.5% over 2015. While these statistics are useful in establishing market trends they should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. If you’re interested in a property evaluation or statistics for specific neighbourhoods please email
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Home for Sale: A Guide for Your Next Housing Journey

May 16, 2016 | Comments Off

Once a For Sale sign goes up, it’s official! You’re ready to begin your new journey! Or are you? It’s normal to experience some raw emotions as you embark on selling your beloved home. Follow these simple steps to help you take memories from one home to another. Create a Memory Box There’s no need to wait until your house is sold to start packing, especially when it comes to the sentimental items. Locate a sturdy box or storage container, mark the box as “Memories” and start gathering! Event/Occasion Items: These items may be related to a favorite vacation, a
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Second-best April on record for Ottawa Real Estate!

May 6, 2016 | Comments Off

April was a busy month in Ottawa Real Estate…see the most recent market highlights below -information provided by the Ottawa Real Estate Board Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,714 residential properties in April through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,567 in April 2015, an increase of 9.4 per cent. The five-year average for April sales is 1,568. “The Ottawa resale market continued its steady pace upwards in April, making it the best April for unit sales on record since 2010,” says Shane Silva, President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. “Units sold are up
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Sustainable Building Materials

May 1, 2016 | Comments Off

As the world’s population increases and resources dwindle, sustainability, development that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, has become a priority for homeowners, developers and governments. This shift in focus has driven improvements in building design and construction, including sustainable building materials. Green building materials impact energy and water consumption, waste reduction and occupant well-being by minimizing the negative effects that our built environment can have on the planet. Here are some new materials that are leading the way: Solar Tiles Producing standard roof tiles involves energy intensive techniques and their only function
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What Home Owners Can Do With a Tax Refund

April 24, 2016 | Comments Off

If you are a homeowner, a tax refund presents opportunities to invest for a profit that aren’t available to renters. Whether you plan to sell, stay or are undecided, there are ways to optimize the financial impact of your refund. The first step is to treat your refund check the same as you treat your paycheck. Avoid the temptation to splurge and give that refund money a purpose. Here are three home owner-only options to grow that refund: But, Are You Withholding Too Much? Most of us enjoy getting a large tax refund every spring. But, a refund
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Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot March 2016

April 22, 2016 | Comments Off

Ottawa Real Estate: March market springs into action! The following information provided by the Ottawa Real Estate Board. Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,166 residential properties in March through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,200 in March 2015, a decrease of 2.8 per cent. The five-year average for March sales is 1,220. “We are definitely seeing a resale market increase from the previous month, with 256 more properties sold in March over February,” says President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board, Shane Silva. “Properties are starting to sell faster, indicating that we are heading
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What Mortgage Strategy Is Best For Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers?

April 17, 2016 | Comments Off

When it comes time to purchase a new home, your mortgage strategy will likely depend on the stage of life you are in. Early-career home buyers (Millennials) have just entered the workforce so they usually have little cash and may be in debt. Gen X home buyers are busy trying to advance their careers, raise families and save for retirement. Baby boomers have often left the workforce, so they have less income and may already be spending their retirement savings. Each of these life stages present unique challenges that call for a different mortgage strategy. Here are some tips to
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