If you’re considering moving to Ottawa, you’ll probably want to get acquainted with everything the city offers. As the capital of Canada, Ottawa prides itself on its unique old-world charm and modern amenities, giving residents access to everything they need to enjoy their lives in a new city.

Buying a cottage or a rural property can be a great way to establish a home away from home or move to an area that offers the peace and quiet of living closer to natural landscapes.

With Ottawa's population growing, rural living is becoming increasingly popular as a way to avoid the disadvantages of having thousands of neighbours.

While there are many pros to buying a cottage or rural property, there are also some pitfalls that you should be aware of so that you don’t end up purchasing the secluded house of your dreams only to find out it’s a literal nightmare.

Heading into retirement can be both exciting and scary because of the newness of it all. For those living in the Ottawa area, retiring isn’t simply about ceasing to work; it’s about finding and creating a new life conducive to your current lifestyle, state of health, and financial situation.

That said, it’s not always easy to figure out the retirement landscape without a bit of help from people who know the city best. That’s why, if you’re an Ottawa resident who has retired or is gearing up to retire, there are some things you should know about retirement living in Canada’s capital. 

When people are looking to upgrade their home, they often spend a lot of time fixing up the most-used rooms in the house, such as the bathroom and kitchen. These updates, while often worth it in the long run, aren’t the only valuable options when it comes to improving your property.

In fact, there’s a whole outdoor space that you could invest in, and that can bring you more of a return than most think.

Landscaping the outdoor space of your home will not only improve how you view and enjoy your property. It’s also a potential selling point if you plan to move to a new property in the near or far future.  

When you’re house hunting, and you’ve finally found the one you’d like to call home, it’s time to start the process of buying it.

But before that, you’ll need to ensure that you can afford the property and that a lender will give you the mortgage to cover the purchase price. This is where the entire mortgage process comes into play.

To get the best mortgage possible and the house you love most, you’ll need to understand the mortgage process in a way that helps you make the right decisions when buying your home.

The real estate industry is ever-changing. As the world progresses toward a new way to look at home ownership, the trends that will pick up speed in the years ahead pull focus to the current economic and environmental landscape future buyers face today. From rising house prices, climate change advocacy, and increasing numbers of older adult family members, here are the five real estate trends to watch in 2024 and beyond.

Looking ahead, RE/MAX brokers and agents in Canada are anticipating an increase in recreational prices by 6.8 per cent. Meanwhile, the number of sales is expected to rise in the majority of regions analyzed (61.9 per cent), with increases ranging from three per cent upwards of 50 per cent this year.  

If you want to sell your home for a lot of money but also want to get it done quickly, you may be told that you’ll have to pick one or the other. While selling fast and for a high amount isn’t always easy, it’s not impossible, and if you want to accomplish both, you can do so with the proper techniques.

Real estate investments are one of the largest asset classes worldwide, so it’s no wonder that many people want to take their shot at being a part of the club. There’s a lot of money to be made in real estate investing, and it’s often considered a low-risk investment, making it that much more desirable.

While luxury home-buying activity in Ottawa was strong out of the gate, sales softened somewhat in February with affordability taking a backseat to inventory. Just 48 freehold properties priced over $1.2 million changed hands in the first two months of 2024, down over seven per cent when compared to the 52 sales that took place between January and February of 2023.

A lot goes into buying and selling homes. When it comes to home value, factors such as current market trends, buyer and seller demand, and the current state of the economy all play a vital role in determining a property's listing price.

That said, a property’s true value is based on different factors in the appraisal process. But what exactly is a home appraisal, and why is it essential in real estate transactions?