Posts by curiousprojects

Ottawa Real Estate Market Hightlights August 2016

September 7, 2016 | Comments Off

According to recently released statistics by the Ottawa Real Estate Board, August 2016 was a record breaker. 2016 continues to outpace 2015 in number of properties sold! While inventory has dropped compared to this time last year the total number of sales are up and so are average sale prices. With fewer homes for sale in the Ottawa real estate market for buyers to choose from, OREB’s president speculates a Seller’s market may be on the horizon, but only time will tell. While these statistics are helpful in establishing trends there are many factors to consider when buying or selling that
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Considering Your Lifestyle When House Hunting

August 21, 2016 | Comments Off

Considering Your Lifestyle When House Hunting Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. As a result, making a smart and focused decision requires an analysis of your unique needs, allowing you to find a home that suits not only those needs but also your lifestyle. In addition to the physical attributes of a home, such as the number of bedrooms and total square footage, you should consider your lifestyle when choosing a home. Evaluate these factors on your next house-hunting adventure. Commute Time Your dream home might not be a dream if a
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Voice Control & Connected Devices Fuel Home Automation

August 15, 2016 | Comments Off

Connected devices hooked up to the Internet are advancing home automation in a way that helps you make your new home a clean, energy efficient and welcoming place. The key to controlling the devices can be a smartphone, tablet or computer. As you bring devices under your control and make your home a Smart Home, get them to interact with one another, you can also help them work together to improve your living environment even more. Voice automation, which involves controlling connected devices with your voice, makes it possible for you to direct many changes. Through a virtual assistant, the
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4 Helpful Tips for Purchasing Home Insurance for a New Homeowner

August 9, 2016 | Comments Off

An insurance policy is an asset for any home owner. Owning a home for the first time is incredibly exciting. After all, you have a space that is completely yours to decorate, spend time in and simply enjoy. However, with the rewards of homeownership also come the responsibilities, and people who are buying their first houses will discover that they suddenly have a whole slew of necessary to-dos. One of the most important things for a new homeowner? Buying a home insurance policy for the new house, which will not only protect the structure of the house, but also
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Market Snapshot July 2016 Ottawa Real Estate

August 5, 2016 | Comments Off

According to recently released statistics by the Ottawa Real Estate Board, Summer 2016 in real estate is still hot, continuing to outpace 2015. While inventory has dropped by 15% compared to this time last year the total number of sales are up and so are average sale prices, providing us with a Real Estate Market Snapshot July 2016. While these statistics are helpful in establishing trends there are many factors to consider when buying or selling that can affect market value in a specific neighbourhood, home or style of dwelling. Our sales team have access to the most up
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Housing Trends We are Seeing in the Canadian Real Estate Market

July 29, 2016 | Comments Off

The Canadian housing market is already in the news, thanks to the recent collaboration of Vancouver residents to form the #DontHave1Million campaign that went viral. This Twitter campaign was in response to the recent reports that the average home in Vancouver will set you back $1.27 million, which is more than double the average price of a home throughout the rest of the Canadian market. And, at the rate things are going, this trend shows no sign of slowing down. With this in mind, let’s see the other nine trends in the Canadian housing market to keep in mind in
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The Lowdown on Open House Etiquette for Home Buyers

July 27, 2016 | Comments Off

Open houses in Ottawa are an excellent opportunity for you to check out potential future homes. You do not need to have a real estate agent, nor is making an appointment necessary. You don’t even have to be an official home buyer. Instead, open houses can be a stress-free way for you to ease into buying a home. They may help you prioritize what you want, for example. That said, if you are new to open houses, you may be unsure how to act, so here are a few etiquette tips. Just Show Up You may feel odd attending open
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What Home Owners Can Do With a Tax Refund

April 24, 2016 | Comments Off

If you are a homeowner, a tax refund presents opportunities to invest for a profit that aren’t available to renters. Whether you plan to sell, stay or are undecided, there are ways to optimize the financial impact of your refund. The first step is to treat your refund check the same as you treat your paycheck. Avoid the temptation to splurge and give that refund money a purpose. Here are three home owner-only options to grow that refund: But, Are You Withholding Too Much? Most of us enjoy getting a large tax refund every spring. But, a refund
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Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot March 2016

April 22, 2016 | Comments Off

Ottawa Real Estate: March market springs into action! The following information provided by the Ottawa Real Estate Board. Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,166 residential properties in March through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,200 in March 2015, a decrease of 2.8 per cent. The five-year average for March sales is 1,220. “We are definitely seeing a resale market increase from the previous month, with 256 more properties sold in March over February,” says President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board, Shane Silva. “Properties are starting to sell faster, indicating that we are heading
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What Mortgage Strategy Is Best For Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers?

April 17, 2016 | Comments Off

When it comes time to purchase a new home, your mortgage strategy will likely depend on the stage of life you are in. Early-career home buyers (Millennials) have just entered the workforce so they usually have little cash and may be in debt. Gen X home buyers are busy trying to advance their careers, raise families and save for retirement. Baby boomers have often left the workforce, so they have less income and may already be spending their retirement savings. Each of these life stages present unique challenges that call for a different mortgage strategy. Here are some tips to
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