Archives for Real Estate Information

2017 Recap!

2017 was an amazing year for Real Estate in Ottawa! Records were broken and property values continue to increase. As the year comes to a close, let’s take a look back at some of the highlights with our Top 20 Blog Posts of 2017! #20 – Understanding Multiple Offers This year the Ottawa market became more competitive than ever before and multiple offers have become far more common. Here are some helpful hints to help you navigate multiple offers! #19 – Pets and Real Estate New research emerged this year showing that more and more homeowners are making housing decisions
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Ottawa Real Estate Latest Market Snapshot

It’s hard to believe November is over but here we are!  If you’ve been following Ottawa real estate you’ll know it’s been a busy 2017 and December will likely be no exception.  With the new mortgage rules coming into play in a few short weeks, many buyers are motivated to have firm deals completed before January 1st, 2017. We’ve included the latest news release from the Ottawa Real Estate Board below.  Please note: average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value.
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What Canadian home buyers need to know NOW about the upcoming changes to Mortgage rules

Confused by the upcoming changes to the mortgage rules? Don’t panic. Our very own Kent Browne, Owner and Broker at Royal LePage Team Realty, sat down with Mortgage Broker York Polk  of Mortgage Alliance to discuss all these changes in order to help you, our clients, understand how they may affect you. What home buyers need to know before 2018 As of January 1, 2018, Canadian homebuyers will have to meet stiffer requirements in order to qualify for a mortgage with a federally regulated mortgage lender. Why are the Mortgage Rules changing? As Canada’s financial “watchdog” OSFI believes these new
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Residential Landlord Rules: An Update

Over the past year, there have been many significant changes to the rules for Residential Landlords. These changes may seem overwhelming, but we are here to help; if you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact a Realtor. Outlined below are the major rule changes as well as an understanding of how they may affect you as either a landlord or a tenant. September 2016 – Terminations for Domestic Abuse New rules have been put in place involving the termination of a lease in the case of domestic abuse. The landlord no longer has the ability to challenge
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Choosing a Brokerage when Buying or Selling a Home

When it comes time to buy or sell a home, finding the brokerage to work with is a very important step to take. You need to find a company that will work with you to make this the most positive experience possible. “At Royal LePage Team Realty we commit to delivering high quality, industry leading and innovative real estate products and services on a complete cost-effective basis. Our business relationship will be characterized by the highest degree of honesty, credibility and fair dealing.  We are committed to setting the pace in service excellence. We commit to delivering a level of
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5 Reasons To Sell Your Home in the Spring

With the busy spring market upon us (it actually started early this year!),  let’s take a look at why this season is often seen as the best time of year to sell a home. With a large percentage of the year’s sales occurring in just a few short months, homes also tend to sell for more and spend less time on the market. And don’t worry, you’re not too late; statistics show that May is the best month of the year to list a home. Here 5 reasons spring is so popular: Homes show better in spring: Let’s face it, spring
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Ottawa Real Estate Update | March Goes Out Like a Lion

Second best March on record for units sold, multiple offers, fewer days on the market and the average price for a residential home over $415K , spring has definitely sprung in the Ottawa Real Estate Market! From the Ottawa Real Estate Board April 5th, 2017 OTTAWA, April 5, 2017 – Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,485 residential properties in March through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® System, compared with 1,160 in March 2016, an increase of 28 per cent. The five-year average for March sales is 1,240. “The busy spring selling season descended upon Ottawa early this year,”
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“Oh I Forgot to Tell You…”

Picture this, you have just taken possession of your dream home. You did your due-diligence; the property passed the home inspection with flying colours and your research shows the neighbourhood is safe and has great schools. You are chatting with a new neighbour only to find out that your brand new home was once the site of a violent crime or a drug operation, or that it is thought to be haunted! Would this bother you? What can you do? Did the previous owners fail to disclose something that they were legally obligated to? When selling a home, known physical
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Pets and Real Estate

Pets are a very important part of many Canadians lives. In 2014, it was estimated that 57% of Canadians owned pets which equates to approximately 7.5 million households. In many cases, our pets become part of our families to the point where terms like “pet parent” and “fur baby” are used to define this unique relationship. But what impact do pets have when it comes to real estate? Buying a Home with our Pets in Mind Pets affect our choices in real estate. When we buy a home, we consider the needs of our family, which often enough includes our
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Getting Ready to Buy in the Spring Market

Maybe you are a first-time home buyer, or maybe you will be selling a home and looking for something new, either way the spring real estate market is fast and approaching and you want to be ready. This is an exciting time of year in the real estate industry and for everyone buying and selling homes. It can be a little crazy though, so here are some tips to help you be prepared. It’s not too early to start getting ready. Get Mortgage Pre-Approval You will want to start off by setting up a meeting with a mortgage broker or
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