When Buying or Selling a home, it can be very inconvenient. Prepare yourself for this fact, be realistic, and the journey shall be much more tolerable and even enjoyable.

When selling your home, make sure your house is priced properly and be prepared leave for that "ever-important" showing at a moments notice. After all, those potential buyer could be "the ones". The more you give, the more you get. Have your house clean, have fresh neutral colours on your walls, de-clutter, and de-personalize. There is no better way, or more economical way, to showcase your home for minimal dollar. Chances are, you'll make it all back, and more!

As a Buyer, be prepared to move quickly with an offer should that dream home pop up for sale. Too many times we see people "sleep on it" and lose their dream home. Don't be that person! Also, as buyer, you want to make sure that your Realtor does their job and has you Pre-approved, in writing, from their lender. It will give you the upper hand in putting forth a stronger offer. After all, your Lender has given you the confidence to move forward!

Prepare yourself and you will not be disappointed.

The Glebe is one of Ottawa’s oldest communities commencing its establishment in 1832. The Glebe is also one of Ottawa’s first suburbs. Many of the homes in the area still have a historic visage, maintaining the authenticity of Ottawa’s heritage. The community is predominantly a working class community with many multiplex homes and just as many single detached homes. The Glebe is considered an upper class community with a prime location, minutes outside of the Ottawa’s downtown core. Some of the cities most expensive homes can be found in this community. Lansdowne Park, The Rideau Canal, Patterson Creek, Browns Inlet and Dows Lake are some of the major attractions to the community. A variety of shops and vendors line the Bank Street artery, exploiting the heart of the community and providing a window into the community’s soul. Pubs, café’s, eateries, coffee shops, butcher shops, grocery outlets, foreign and local specialty shops, classic bakeries, clothing stores, electronics stores, theatre’s all within walking distance, help keep this a tight knit community. The Glebe’s population was approximately 10,900 in 2007 and is still a growing community with a large amount of children.  The Glebe is gorgeous community desired by anyone with the interest to be in a beautiful, energetic surrounding amongst the shakers and movers in an influnential city.

The Average price for a home in the Glebe is approximately 425,000 – 450,000. 

The Mattamy Summerside in Orleans development will be coming to the Avalon area in just over a year, and will be located just south of the Portobello & Blackburn Bypass intersection.  This new development is being marketed by Mattamy as an attractive area for families who are “recreation-minded”. The neighbourhood has plans for new soccer fields, parks, nature trails, and a new community center all being built right in the development. Additionally, when considering its proximity to already established recreation areas such as Millennium Sports Field, the Mattamy Summerside in Orleans neighbourhood is going to be very attractive to younger families with active lifestyles.

The Mattamy Summerside Development in Orleans will showcase multiple styles and types of homes, ranging from the exceptionally priced Village Townhomes which are two to three bedroom row units with a single car garage, all the way to their 2417 sq ft double garage detached homes. Though this neighbourhood will attract young families who are recreation minded, it has something to offer to all families. We can’t wait to see what it looks like when they put the shovels in the ground! The sales center for the Mattamy Summerside in Orleans community is on Tenth Line just south of the Blackburn Bypass.

 

Location: Orleans

Type of Properties: 1100 sq ft townhomes to 2417 sq ft detached homes

Price Range: approx 200k to 400k

Best for: First time home buyers and younger families. 

Jackson Trails is a newer neighbourhood in Stittsville, Ontario; a suburb of Ottawa.  Conveniently located off Hazeldean Road, Jackson Trails was Canada’s first ever new home community of fully Energy Star qualified new homes, by respected builders Tamarack and Tartan.  This means that all homes built at Jackson Trails by both builders are Energy Star qualified to save homeowners up to 30% on home energy bills while reducing their impact on the environment.  Jackson Trails is a well planned community, featuring parks, playgrounds and pathways for it's residents to enjoy, as well as a location convenient to shopping and services, even if you don't have a car.  Scotiabank Place, shopping, schools, and transit services are all nearby as well, making this a great place to call home.  Jackson Trails also has a partnership with Wildlife Habitat Canada, which assisted in planning natural buffer zones that protect the community from traffic noise and wind while providing habitat for wildlife.   This also allows this suburban community to feel more park-like; great for young families to explore on neighbourhood walks.  You can find a wide array of home types and models, whether you’re a first-time buyer just starting out, a growing family looking for more space, or empty-nesters looking to downsize, there is something for everyone at Jackson Trails.

 

 

Location: Jackson Trails, Stittsville

Type of Properties: single family homes, bungalows, townhomes, condominiums

Price Range: $205k-$630K 

Best for: young families, professionals, downsizers

In the heart of Ottawa, Centretown is bustling. Main roads in the area include Bank Street, Elgin Street and Gladstone Avenue, which are packed with amazing restaurants and great shops full of goods that you can’t find anywhere else in the city.  Whalesbone, The Manx, Fresco Bistro Italiano and The Atomic Rooster are just a few of the tantalizing restaurants worth checking out.

This well established community is great for those who enjoy walking to local conveniences, there are many grocery stores, banks and drug stores all steps from anywhere in the area.  Centretown is also home to the Museum of Nature, Jack Purcell Park, The Sens Mile and many embassies, including: The Republic of Croatia, Iran, Iraq, the Republic of Madagascar, the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of Zimbabwe, and the Republic of Hungary.

The housing is a mix of single family homes, condominiums and high rise apartment buildings. The average sale price of a single family home in 2010 in Centretown is $489,303 and the average sale price of a condo in Centretown is $341,330.

 

If you are thinking of buying a piece of Ottawa Real Estate, it is important that you know the neighborhoods this vast city has to offer.  Convent Glen is a mature area of Orleans bordering the south banks of the Ottawa River. Convent Glen is located north of Highway 174 and west of Jeanne d'Arc Boulevard. With a majority of the neighbourhood built in the 1980’s, the area contains a broad range of properties including condo buildings, terrace homes, townhomes as well as detached properties. In common to all these types of properties is the how easy it is to distinguish the area regardless of property type as a mature area of Orleans filled with desirable traits such as trees, parks, and established amenities such as the Convent Glen Mall, and multiple schools. The two high schools within one kilometre of each other, St. Matthew High School and Carine Wilson High School, serve as the primary catholic and public high schools respectively to not only Convent Glen, but neighbouring areas as well. Just within Convent Glen’s borders is the Orleans Park & Ride, and within a two minute walk is Place D’Orleans with its accompanying bus station, making it very accessible for students and commuters to get downtown and across the city.

 

Location: North West in Orleans
Type of Properties: broad – ranging from terrace homes to detached triple garage.
Price Range: approx 175k to 550k
Best for: families, young and mature. 

New Edinburgh is a neighbourhood of approximately 4000 people located slightly east of the downtown core. It is a very desirable location for Ottawa residents to live and it is also the home to two of the Nation Capitals most famous houses, the Governor General’s house and 24 Sussex which is the official residence of the Prime Minister. The fact that New Edinburgh is bordered by the Ottawa and the Rideau River and is walking distance to downtown Ottawa makes it a very popular location to live. The New Edinburgh neighbourhood is home to many of the Embassies and consulates. Spain, South Africa, France, India and Slovakia can all call New Edinburgh their home from home. New Edinburgh has become popular for investors as they are able to buy some of the older properties. A it is such an in demand area, the rents can be high and re developed properties close to downtown can achieve good return on investments. There is a real mix of the older generation and the young population looking to move into this trendy area. The main language in New Edinburgh is predominantly English with the bordering neighbourhood of Vanier attracting more of Ottawa’s French population. The average sale price for a house in New Edinburgh in 2010 is $589,189 with the average detached home selling for $638,681.