January may feel like a daunting time to start searching for a new home: it’s cold and snowy out, the days are far too short, and everything just seems a little more difficult because of the winter blues.
However, there are some upsides to property hunting during the first month of the new year, and if you can get on board with the not-so-great parts, you may end up with a quality property you love at a reasonable price.
If you’re looking to sell your home in 2026, getting started at the top of the year will give you plenty of time to upgrade your property, allowing you to increase your return on investment (ROI).
Home improvements that maximize your home’s value in the new year can be both large and small, cheap or expensive, giving you plenty of options to add to your to-do list before you get set up to list your property.
The real estate market in Ottawa is typically always in a state of flux. While there are stable periods, the ever-changing real estate landscape means that, from one season to another, things can shift drastically, favouring either buyers or sellers—or, in some cases, both.
For 2026, several market trends are worth keeping an eye on for both buyers and sellers. These predictions, while not guaranteed to come to fruition, tend to paint as accurate a picture as possible of what to expect when you’re ready to either jump into the market, get a property off your hands or both.
Owning a home comes with a lot of pride, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility, especially if you want it to maintain its livability and beauty throughout the years. To ensure that your property stands the test of time, you’ll want to become familiar with performing seasonal maintenance.
This fall season, there are a few indoor and outdoor projects that won’t take up too much of your time but will prolong the life of your home, and you’ll be thankful you added them to your checklist.
Now that the summer has made way for autumn, and school-year routines are back in full effect, parents might begin thinking about how they can make the most of the fall season with their kids. From viewing the fall foliage to learning about different cultures, there is no shortage of experiences the whole family can enjoy in the Ottawa area.
First impressions are important, and summer is arguably the best season to utilize curb appeal because all that natural sunlight and greenery put your property on full display. However, if you have left some aspects of the exterior off your to-do list when getting ready to sell, those flaws can be even more pronounced in the summer season.
That’s why putting your property’s best face forward in a busy summer market is crucial so you can stand out from the competition and attract more buyers. The good news is that you can do a few things to ensure that your property gets a lot of interest, many of which won’t take too much time or money.
Kanata Lakes, also known as the Marchwood-Lakeside neighbourhood, is a gem in the west end of Ottawa. There is plenty to do in the area, from enjoying the natural beauty of Canada’s capital to participating in sporting events and other recreational activities.
Whether you’re looking for family events or just want to explore on your own, there’s a little something for everyone. So, if you’re looking to spend a day in Kanata Lakes, here are some options you should add to your itinerary.
If you’re planning on selling your home soon and want to stand out as one of the best options on the market, you’ll have to appeal to a broad audience.
With the rise of sustainability and eco-friendly lifestyles, making some environmentally conscious upgrades to your home will ensure that you draw in buyers from all sides of the spectrum—those who are worried about their carbon footprint, those who enjoy new tech, and those who are just looking for a standard home that has everything they need.
When the winter season takes its yearly sabbatical and spring takes over, you may be tempted to ignore the mundane to take in the longer days and warmer weather.
However, if you don’t give your property the attention it deserves, it can create headache-worthy issues down the line that will eat up much more of your free time than simple home maintenance tasks.
So, if you want to enjoy the spring season and your home at the same time, you’ll want to prioritize some easy yet vital property maintenance jobs.
According to the Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure, roughly 18% of Canadian homes have levels higher than what is deemed safe. Some regions are more affected than others, with places like Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick seeing higher rates of the radioactive gas than places like Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
Other factors contribute to whether a home has a higher radon level, including whether it is in a rural or urban community and the design of the building. Since radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, those at risk should know how to test for radon levels and how to reduce them if they're too high.
Your home should be your safe space, and you’ve likely gone out of your way to ensure that your family is taken care of with items such as smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, and security systems or locks. While not glamorous or high value-adding, these tools keep you safe from the elements or dangers of the outside world.
But there is another possible threat that you may not know about, and because of that, you are left vulnerable to its effects if it happens to make its way into your home. One specific harmful substance, known as radon, isn’t often on everyone’s radar, but it should be.
Many people may want to hibernate in the winter months, but if you’ve just bought your first home in Ottawa, you will want to explore your new city and all it has to offer. There is no shortage of things to do, from cheering on the Ottawa Senators or Ottawa 67s to hitting up Comic Con or the National Gallery of Canada. There’s a little something for everyone.
The Ottawa housing market has experienced rollercoaster-level ups and downs in the last few years. In 2023, the market was heavily volatile, but in 2024, recovery started to show that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
Now, in 2025, some new predictions are highlighting trends you’re likely to see take off this year in the real estate market, and if you can stay on top of the trends, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of the good ones while avoiding the consequences of the bad.
Here are four significant Ottawa real estate market trends you should watch this year.
Renovating can increase your home’s value significantly—or slightly—depending on the type of renovation, the current state of your home, and how much time and money you invest in it.
Not all renovation projects are the same, and knowing what to do and what not to do is the best way to ensure that any changes you make will come back to you when you sell and be up to code with local regulations.
The temperatures may be dropping, but that doesn’t mean you have to shy away from enjoying the great outdoors.
A good coat, pair of boots, and other winter staples will get you more than ready to brave the cold for some well-worth-it outdoor activities Ottawa has to offer.
From winter sports to walking trails, there is no shortage of ways to enjoy winter in all its glory when you live or visit Ottawa this season.
Owning a first home is a huge deal. Most new homeowners will remember the experience of going from renter to owner and finally getting all the boxes in the door for the rest of their lives.
For new homeowners, especially, giving them a gift that will help make the experience that much better is a great way to help them settle into their brand-new-to-them property. But what gifts are best when gifting new homeowners something they’ll love and use? We’ve got you covered.