Newsletter – June 2015
Ottawa Real Estate Board MLS Statistics
For the statistically minded, below, please find a selection of MLS statistics from the Ottawa Real Estate Board for April 2015. For the less statistically minded please give Molly or myself a call to help you understand how these apply to your area and more specifically to you.
Molly & Claude Newsletter – May 2015
What to Look for in a Real Estate Agent
Are you ready to sell your home? If so, you’ll want to find a real estate agent who can sell your home for the best price in a timely fashion, while also providing customizable service. Here’s what to look for when it comes to choosing a real estate agent to sell your home:
Experience
When you choose an agent with decades of experience in the industry, they have seen it all, but also keep up with changing trends in the Ottawa real estate market. You want to choose an agent who has plenty of experience selling homes just like yours, has established many contacts in the industry, and knows how to troubleshoot issues should they arise.
Personable
While we would all love selling a home to be an overnight process, that can’t always be the case. You’ll be spending some time with your real estate agent, so talk to them before you hire them as an agent and see if your personalities mesh. Choose an agent who is invested in your interests, communicates well, and works hard to find the right buyer for your home.
Expertise & Availability
Some people take up real estate as a part-time hobby, but are not fully committed to the profession and may not have the expertise to find the best buyer for your home. Others are extremely able agents, but don’t have the time and availability to devote the proper attention to selling your home. Find a full-time agent who has the availability to sell your home and the expertise to do it right.
Social Media Savvy
In this day and age, there’s a lot more involved in selling a home than putting it on the market and hoping for the best. Choose an agent with social media savvy to attract desired buyers to your home. From Facebook and Twitter to Pinterest, Google+, and LinkedIn, your home needs all the exposure it can get if you want to find the right buyer.
Area Knowledge
Ottawa is a large city, and each community and neighbourhood within the city has its own unique considerations. Choose a real estate agent who specializes in your neighbourhood and has the connections and insights to attract desired buyers to your home.
Follow these guidelines, and you are sure to choose the right real estate agent to sell your Ottawa home so you can move on to your next adventure.
Developer seeks approval to build Ottawa’s tallest tower
This just in! Next week the city will be asked to approve a proposal for a 55 storey building in the Dows Lake area. It’s actually a trio of buildings the other 2 are 45 stories and 18. If it is approved the Icon (at 45 stories) would be beat before being built. My next question is where are these people coming from. Read more here.
3 Compromises You Shouldn’t Make When Buying a House
Unless you’re building a dream home from scratch, it is simply a reality that you will have to make some compromises when buying a home. As you search for a home, you will learn what items on your wish list might have to be axed in favour of the greater good. Yet when it comes to buying a house for sale in Ottawa, here are some things on which you should never compromise:
Location
A home is about more than looks and price. Ultimately, it is where you will be living each and every day of your life, possibly for decades to come. With this in mind, it is evident that location cannot be compromised. When you buy a house for sale in Ottawa, make sure that it has good access to services and amenities which meet your needs. If you have a child in school or nearing school age, then proximity to good schools is important. If you enjoy shopping at local establishments and eating at restaurants, then you shouldn’t compromise on a nice central location. You can have an amazing house, but if it isn’t in a location which suits your lifestyle, you won’t be satisfied.
Budget
With all the incredible homes for sale in Ottawa, it can be easy to get caught up and push the budget higher and higher. Unfortunately, for most home buyers, a budget is not a suggestion but a hard limit based on financial realities. In the excitement of searching for a new home, it can be easy to push the budget and deal with the consequences later. Instead of setting yourself up for financial troubles down the road, a trusted Ottawa real estate agent can help you find an amazing home well within your budget.
Structural Issues
Sometimes, it can be easy to be swayed by great design choices and superficial elements in a house. If the structure is sound beneath the attractive surface, then you’ve found a great home. But if a home inspection reveals structural issues or signs of future problems, then it’s best to walk away. No matter how nice the home looks, structural issues can cost a tremendous amount of money down the road, cause considerable stress to the homeowners, and even cause potential risk and harm to the residents. Save yourself the trouble and don’t compromise on a home which has structural issues.
Stay firm on these three matters, and you’re sure to find a house for sale in Ottawa which you’ll enjoy for years to come.
To Buy a House or a Condo?
It seems that one of the great debates for home buyers lately is whether to buy a house or a condo. Lifestyles for many are far too busy to maintain a property, yet not everyone likes the idea of condo living. Here are some pros and cons for both options to help you decide which is better for you.
Condos
The modern condos for sale Ottawa has to offer are well designed to help you live a comfortable lifestyle in a well-planned space. You will find well-appointed design details with high end finishes. You will also discover a well maintained building and surrounding property. Here are some of the pros for buying the condos for sale Ottawa has available:
- Low maintenance living: The property management is responsible for all those nasty little chores such as shoveling snow and mowing lawns.
- Utilities Included: In many cases utilities are included in your monthly maintenance fees such as water and heat. This means less bills to manage.
- Your Own Decor: You can decorate your home however you wish.
- Amenities: Many condos have amenities be it a pool, rooftop patio or even a gym.
- Insurance: Any damage to the exterior of the building is covered by the property management’s insurance.
- Views: Depending on where you buy your condo you can often find stunning views to add to the appeal of your home.
- Repairs: Depending on what your maintenance fees cover you might have free repairs for things such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical.
Here are some of the cons for condo living:
- Maintenance Fees: Although the maintenance fees cover utilities they also mean paying out additional costs every month.
- Renovations: Although you can decorate your personal space however you wish, you do need permission from the condo board to make major changes or improvements.
- Outdoor Space: You might have a balcony or a common area such as a rooftop patio, but you won’t have your own backyard.
- Insurance: You will still need to pay for your own personal insurance to cover your belongings.
Houses
When you buy a house you not only have a home, but a lovely private property you can enjoy. Here are some of the pros to owning a house:
- Outdoor Space: Many people enjoy having a private yard and garden to enjoy as additional living space.
- Renovate and Decorate: You can do whatever you want to improve your property both inside and out whenever you see fit.
- No Fees: You won’t have to fork out additional money for condo fees.
- No Boards: You will have control over your own property without having to deal with a condo board.
- Investment: Buying a house is a better investment than buying a condo as homes in urban areas tend to appreciate in value.
Here are some of the cons to owing a house:
- Maintenance: You are responsible both physically and financially for all maintenance of your property both inside and out. That means shoveling, mowing and all repairs from roof to basement, electrical to plumbing.
- Insurance: Your insurance must cover all damages both exterior and interior.
- No Amenities: Other than a backyard and perhaps a pool, for the most part houses do not have additional amenities such as a gym.
- Bills: You will be responsible for all bills including hydro, water, heating, etc.
Whether you’re shopping for houses or condos, it all boils down to which one will make a better fit for your lifestyle and budget.
Interest rate hike: 4 ways Canadians should prepare
It is expected that interests rate will go up at some point this year. In order to prepare this article suggests 4 actions:
- Pay down debt
- Lock in mortgage or line of credit rates
- Don’t rush to buy a home
- Sell the house
What’s on the market in Centretown
Seems like today will be a 2 post day. And both from the Citizen! This one complements my first post in that it highlights 5 resale listings in Centretown.
