Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot – August 2020

Market Snapshot: Ottawa’s resale market was still hot in August as we saw an increase in new listings.

Multiple offers continue to be a dominating factor in the resale market price increase. With a high number of active Buyers we are happy to see that the new listings numbers are on the rise as Sellers are ready to capitalize on their investments.

If you’re considering a move we’re here to help answer any questions you have, in this market you’ll want a qualified, professional real estate team protecting your interests. Message us anytime!

Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot – July 2020

The numbers are up again as this past months unit sales increased 19% from this time last year! Ottawa’s resale market offers solid returns for many Sellers, while Buyers continue to feel the squeeze. Those most impacted are especially those attempting to enter the housing market. Multiple offers are a common occurrence with over 57% of properties selling over the listing price compared to 33% of transactions last July. If you’re considering a move we’re here to help answer any questions you have, in this market you’ll want a qualified, professional real estate company protecting your interests.

Coolest Luxury Upgrades (and what they cost!)

Luxury homes offer just that – luxury – and many of them feature a variety of amenities to make life easier and add convenience. Here are the top 10 sought-after amenities for luxury homes compiled from interviews with Royal LePage agents across the country. Just in case you’re interested in upgrading your current home, estimated costs for each item is also included.

Car Lifts and Indoor Car Washes

Estimated Cost – Car Lift – $2,500 to $6,000Indoor Car Wash – $30,000+ If you have a luxury home, it only makes sense to have space to park your luxury cars. If space is limited, car lifts add capacity and an indoor car wash will ensure that your vehicles always look clean and shiny.

Walk-in Refrigerators

Estimated Cost – $7,000 to $20,000 Let’s face it, we could all use a little more fridge space. A large kitchen with plenty of storage is a must for any luxury home but a walk-in fridge adds something extra special to appeal to the luxury home buyer.

Spas, Gyms, and Yoga and Pilates Studios

Estimated Cost – $50,000+ This is not your standard home gym! A spa, massage rooms, and high end equipment ensure the ultimate fitness and relaxation experience right at home.

Wine Cellars and Tasting Rooms

Estimated Cost – $60,000 – $150,000 Exquisite taste and luxury go hand in hand and the same is true for wine. Some homes feature individual cellars for red and white wines, tasting rooms, and custom designed cabinet to provide optimal conditions for enjoying, storing, and aging fine wines.

Concierge Services

Estimated Cost – $50-$75 per hour To ensure that everything is taken care of in the home, a concierge service is just the thing for those who have the money to outsource time and energy consuming tasks. A concierge service will manage your domestic affairs, take care of the chores and errands, and even offer assistance.

Custom Theatres & Media Rooms

Estimated Cost – $50,000+ Take your TV, streaming, and movie viewing up a notch with lavish leather reclining seats, theatre sized screens, surround sound or even movie theatre style seating. All you need is the popcorn!

Wrapping & Sewing Rooms

Estimated Cost – $5,000+ Wrapping and sewing are both projects that require a little bit of space. Instead of clearing space at the dining room table, assign a room and put in optimal furniture and equipment to ensure that you have the space you need in a quiet and inspirational place.

Structure Wiring and Security

Estimated Cost – $25,000+“Smart wiring enables smart living.” By integrating home theatres, audio systems, communications, lighting, heating systems, appliances, and security systems, it is possible to control an entire home from your computer or smart phone. You will never be left wondering if you locked the door after you leave home, as you can always just check on your phone.

Home Elevators

Estimated Cost – $30,000 for equipment and installation; renovation costs, if needed, are extra While elevators may be a necessity for some people, they are certainly a convenience for all. They take luxury to a whole new level, literally.

Heated Driveways

Estimated Cost – $5,000 for a 600 square foot driveway + installation In Ottawa we get some pretty miserable winters. To make shovelling snow easier, or not even necessary, consider adding a heated driveway. With the flick of a switch, watch that white stuff melt away!

Whether you’re in the market to purchase a luxury home or just like to dream, these are some of the most unique and sought after amenities in luxury properties in Canada. Did we miss any? We’d love to hear what you think!

Ottawa Real Estate Market Stats June 2020

Market Snapshot: A dramatic upswing in the number of sales this past month with unit sales within 2% of this time last year! While it didn’t come as a surprise that the number of properties sold dropped by 55% in April, and 44% in May, in dramatic contrast the June figures are a welcome sign of things getting back on track in our marketplace. Prices continue to rise in both the condo & residential market and we are seeing increases in the double digits compared with last year, with less than one month’s supply currently available, we are still in a strong Seller’s Market. According to the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s latest statistics approximately 56% of properties sold over asking price and multiple offer situations are common. If you’re considering a move we’re here to help answer any questions you have, in this market you’ll want a qualified, professional real estate company protecting your interests. Message us anytime!

How to Move Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Moving is a task that few find pleasure in, as it requires countless hours of organizing, packing, and lots of heavy lifting. Unfortunately, when doing this through a pandemic with travel restrictions in place and physical distancing measures still active, it may feel like there could not be a more inconvenient time to relocate. However, with closing dates getting closer, putting off your move may not be an option to your avail, but you should consider a few things before you go:

Is your new town a hot-spot for COVID-19?

Will you be coming into close contact with others during your trip?

Are you or your co-travellers considered high risk for COVID-19?

All of these questions are important to consider when planning out your move to keep you, your family, and your new community safe by minimizing your risk of exposure. To ensure your move goes well despite these current circumstances, it is important to arrange things with more care than you may have originally thought to. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your move goes smoothly and safely during this unusual time.

Touch Base With Your Moving Company Businesses in Ontario are taking precautions to protect their customers as well as their employees, and moving companies are no exception. Many of these companies are taking a different approach to the way they work in respect to social distancing measures, this includes: estimates based on photos and videos; truck and equipment sanitation; and wearing masks and gloves while working with your belongings. While planning your move, you should make sure to touch base with your movers to ensure you understand the guidelines that they are following. In being aware of the processes beforehand, you can organize yourself to ensure the movers have the time and space they need to get the job done efficiently, while remaining physically distanced when you can.

Packing Supply Calculations Ensuring you have enough packing supplies while minimizing your trips to the store can be a tricky thing to do. Fortunately, companies such as U-haul have a free packing calculator right on their website to help you make an accurate estimate of all of the supplies that you will need to pack everything in your home. You can order directly from their website to receive all supplies at once, and choose between shipping and pick-up services.

Pack Your Own Stuff. While packing can be a dreaded task that we would much rather outsource to someone else, by doing it yourself you can reduce contact with moving personnel. As we are aware, the novel-coronavirus can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours, so plan ahead to ensure your boxes are packed and untouched for this time frame before the movers arrive. Once you make it to your new house, try to avoid any unpacking for the same amount of time to reduce your risk of exposure.

Be Courteous Of Others If you are moving from or into an apartment or condominium, try your best to inform your neighbours so that they can avoid movement throughout common areas, elevators, and stairways during this time. Use doorstops to keep doors open and reduce contact with high-touch surfaces, and have hand-soap, sanitizer, paper towels, and disinfectant in a marked box to ensure they are the last on and first off the truck, making them readily available for everyone to use.

Welcome Home! Once you make it to your new home, be sure to disinfect all high-touch surfaces including door handles, cabinet and drawer pulls, light switches, and appliances both before and after your movers arrive, if possible. Secondly, set up your soap dispensers to ensure you have hand-washing stations available for use right away. Last but certainly not least, relax! You moved during a pandemic, and there is nothing you deserve more than a little downtime in your new abode.

Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot – May 2020

Real Estate Market Snapshot May 2020:

Buyers are still on the hunt and would love to have more inventory to choose from. Typically we see a boom in the spring market in terms of number of available listings and sales but, as with many other things these days, 2020 is not like any other year we’ve experienced. The unit sales in May dipped significantly which is no surprise, as our industry has quickly and wisely adapted to the new guidelines and measures, while actively assisting buyers and sellers. A 44% decrease in sales is significant, however compared to the 55% decrease in April, many experts in our industry see that it as a positive sign that as our economy gets back on track and people feel more comfortable and confident in the future, our real estate market will quickly follow suit. Thinking of making a move? There are several new practices, both in our policies and in our use of technology that are helping to minimize the health risks, if you have any questions we are always here to help. Let’s chat!

What You Need to Know

Recreational cannabis has been legal in Canada for just over one year now, but Ontario has been the slowest of the provinces and territories with the implementation of the new laws regarding The Federal Cannabis Act. What has been the impact of these laws on the Real Estate market, and what will it be in the future? It is important to work with a knowledgeable, professional and trustworthy Real Estate professional to ensure your questions are answered.

To stay up to date and informed, here is what you need to know about the cannabis legislation in Ontario as it pertains to homeownership, buying and selling.

Time to Buy a Year-Round Cottage!

With many people working from home for the foreseeable future, the thought of a year-round cottage has become an option that more and more homeowners are considering. Here is how your own private retreat is even more practical now than ever before: LINK.

Having a comfortable and quiet place, with a great view, and a strong wifi connection will only be part of the reason you won’t want to leave. For any questions on how to plan accordingly to purchase your dream cottage, contact The Agent DK Team today.

Featured Community: Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill is a primarily residential area, built in the 1960s and ’70s. With a population of approximately 17,445 (2006 census), it consists of two parts: Beacon Hill North and Beacon Hill South. The neighbourhood is bounded on the east by the Greenbelt, including Green’s Creek ravine area, to the south by Highway 174, and on the west by older neighbourhoods of Cardinal Heights (south of Montreal Road) and Rothwell Heights (north of Montreal Road).

Neighbourhood Details

Amicably referred to as “The Beaks” or “The Hill,” it drew its name from a lighthouse in the Ottawa River. It was thought that light could be seen from the top of the hill at Naskapi Drive. Although the lighthouse is no longer there, the foundation remains visible from the bike paths meandering along the river.

Beacon Hill Named After Lost Lighthouse | OTTAWA REWIND

What To Do In Beacon Hill

There is an abundance of green space in Beacon Hill, including the Ottawa greenbelt and the Green’s Creek ravine area, in addition to six parks: Acres, Appleford, Elmridge, Fairfield, Jasmine, and Kinsmen. If you enjoy winter activities, there are there toboggan hills and plans are currently in the works for a new arena with four ice pads. There is also plenty of outdoor space to enjoy in the summer with areas to play soccer or baseball.

Ogilvie Square is conveniently located in Beacon Hill, featuring various stores including Metro and PharmaPlus to meet your everyday needs. St. Laurent Shopping Centre, featuring over 195 stores, including Sears and The Bay as major anchors, in addition to Bath and Body Works, Guess, SportChek, among many others, is just a short distance away. Gloucester Centre is also nearby, featuring FutureShop, Loblaws, Chapters, and a Cineplex theatre.

Getting Around

There are many OC Transpo routes that service the vast area of Beacon Hill. There are both regular routes that operate with a daily schedule and peak period express routes that go back and forth to downtown. The regular routes bring passengers to key transfer points such as Gloucester Centre and St. Laurent Shopping Centre.

Neighbouring Beacon Hill, you’ll discover more Ottawa East neighbourhoods including Carson Grove, Orleans, Rothwell Heights and Viscount Alexander Park.

Ottawa’s Most “Luxurious” Neighbourhoods

Ottawa’s neighbourhoods are diverse and most offer something for everyone. If you are looking for luxury, it’s all around us with little pockets throughout the city. Large lot sizes in rural areas and even within the city allow for beautiful large custom homes and these opportunities are popping up everywhere! Below you will find a list of some of Ottawa’s most “luxurious” neighbourhoods but it’s also important to remember that just like there are luxury homes all over, there are more moderately priced opportunities to own in these neighbourhoods as well. Each of these neighbourhoods offer unique opportunities and homes. It’s important to work with your agent to ensure that you find the right property, no matter what you are looking for!

Rockcliffe Park

Close to the center of the city, Rockcliffe Park is one of Ottawa’s most prestigious neighbourhoods. The area is zoned as a Heritage Conservation District which will ensure that its charm is maintained for years to come. The community is made up of primarily large and opulent 19th Century residences on large properties. The area is also home to a variety of political residences including the Governor General’s residence and Stornoway, the residence for the leader of the opposition. In 2016, the population of Rockcliffe Park was 1932 people and the benchmark price for a single family home in August 2017 was just over $1.5M.

Cedarhill Estate

Located directly adjacent to Barrhaven, Cedarhill is an enclave of stunning luxury homes in Ottawa’s west end. It is comprised of approximately 100 custom built homes, all sitting on 1 acre lots and it was established in 1979. The area has a strong community association who ensure community flower beds and common areas are maintained. Homes in this neighbourhood can be some of the priciest in the entire city!

Manotick

Manotick is a larger community of almost 5000 people located in the city’s south-west end. Property values are high in comparison to other parts of the city but there are a variety of options outside of the luxury market as well. Manotick is home to some of the city’s most stunning luxury homes, specifically along the Rideau River. With a combination of large old historical homes and new modern mansions, there is something for everyone.

Westboro

Up until the turn of the century, Westboro was largely an industrial neighbourhood but given it’s proximity to the city’s core and the significant gentrification that has occurred, Westboro has become a hub for luxury and style. With high end boutiques, new condos, and trendy restaurants now lining Richmond Road, Westboro homes have seen a significant increase in value. Most homes in the area were built between 1900 and 1970 but more and more infill properties are popping up as the lot sizes can be large in some parts of this area. 71% of the houses are detached. With a total population of over 22,000, this area continues to grow year over year! These are just a few of some of Ottawa’s more luxurious areas but there are lots of opportunities for luxury in most areas of the city. To see what’s available in your area, Contact Ottawa Top Realtor Agent DK at 613-883-5555

Importance of Community

Throughout these unprecedented times, many of us have been able to slow down and enjoy the simple things, like taking walks, talking to our neighbours, and enjoying our natural neighbourhoods to the fullest.

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been a reminder of the importance of community, and what it means to be a part of one.

To many people, it’s more than just a location, but a combination of amenities and like-minded individuals that improve your quality of life.

The word community can mean different things to different people. It can simply be a name to define a certain geographical area or neighbourhood, or it can mean a lot more. For many people, finding the right community is much more than location; it’s finding a neighbourhood with like minded people, amenities of interest, or even just a place that feels like home! Everyone is different and there are many factors that affect our sense of community; this is why the City of Ottawa has so many distinct areas. It is important to consider community in your home search and here are some tips to help you do just that. Here are some tips from Royal LePage Team Realty to include in your home search to help you find the place that’s right for you.

Contact the Agent DK Team for the Demographics. We have has access to the demographic information for any neighbourhood in the city. This is especially useful if you are looking to live in an area with people of your own age and stage in life. For example, if you are looking for a home to raise your children, being in a neighbourhood with lots of kids is likely a priority for you so that your children have playmates close by. But it’s not just for families, some neighbourhoods are geared more towards seniors or different age groups. While this information is not definitive, it can certainly provide you with more insight than a map.

Join the Neighbourhood Social Media Groups Almost every neighbourhood has a social media group of some sort and they can provide great insight into the type of community it truly is. While these pages may only provide a snapshot, you can get a sense of what the local issues are and how neighbours support each other to deal with them. If you want, ask a question about the community but be warned, most people love where they live so the responses may be a little biased.

Take a Stroll If you want to get a true sense of any neighbourhood, it is often best to immerse yourself in it. Park your car and take a stroll around to see what kind of place it really is. Make sure to include a walk down streets of interest, check out local parks, and stop by local businesses. As you’re walking, are people friendly or do they keep to themselves? Depending on your personality either may be a plus or minus. Are you comfortable in the neighbourhood and could you see yourself living there?

Check Out Organizations Depending on what you are looking for, community organizations may be of interest to you. Whether you’d like to get directly involved in organizing events and fundraisers (most of these groups are run by volunteers) or you are just looking for an area with lots of things to do, an active organization can make or break a community.

What Else Does the Community Offer? Check out the local businesses and amenities in the neighbourhood; it’s important that you find things that match your interests. This can be anything from a yoga studio to walking trails to art galleries. Not all neighbourhoods have the same amenities but if the neighbourhood is home to a specific business or location that fits your personal interests, you are likely to find like minded people in the area as well. At Royal LePage Team Realty Agent DK, our team lives and works in the great communities that our city has to offer. If you are looking for assistance in finding the community that is right for you, we are here to help. Give us a call, we would love to grab a coffee and help you in the search for your perfect home.

The Agent DK Team – Client Appreciation Party 2019!

The Agent DK Team: Client Appreciation Party 2019 – Lago Bar & Grill, Dow’s Lake!Top Ottawa Realtors

The Agent DK Team hosted an Evening at Lago Bar & Grill overlooking Dow’s Lake complete with lots of great food, wine, cocktails, champagne, live music, dj, and many surprises!

To All of Our VIP Clients, Family and Friends,

The Agent DK Team would like to thank all of our clients, preferred partners, friends, family and our support staff for an incredible 2019!

The Agent DK Team wanted to thank our clients in style by hosting over 200 clients to a magical winter night full of Music, Food & Entertainment!

We at The Agent DK Team believe it is important to thank our VIP Clients in Style!

We also celebrated our great success with our clients on this evening!

Ottawa Top Realtor The Agent DK Team received the coveted CHAIRMANS CLUB AWARD from ROYAL LEPAGE CANADA for the 5th Consecutive Year which places THE AGENT DK TEAM in the TOP 1% IN CANADA! WE WERE RANKED #116 OUT OF 18,000 AGENTS WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE FEAT!

The Agent DK Team was also named ONE OF THE TOP 100 REAL ESTATE TEAMS IN CANADA BY REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE IN 2017!

FROM ALL OF US AT THE AGENT DK TEAM…THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS & FOR YOUR TRUST!

Agent DK

Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos
Sales Representative | Team Leader of The Agent DK Team
Office: 613-883-5555
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.AgentDK.com

*Awarded the National Chairmans Club Award (Top 1% for Royal LePage Canada out of 18,000 Agents)

*Named One of the Top 20 Canadian Real Estate Agents on Social media by PropertySpark

*Named One of the Top 100 Real Estate Teams in Canada by Real Estate Professional Magazine

Closing Up Your Cottage

Cottage owners everywhere are counting how many more weekends they can take to enjoy their cottages before closing up for the season. For those of you who are new to the process, or are curious to know what it takes to close them up safely for the season, see what the process entails here.

Many new cottage owners will be doing this process for their very first time this year. Utilize these great tips and check off all your necessary points before shutting down your own personal vacation paradise for the season.

First Time Home Buyer?

Are you looking into becoming a first time home buyer but get cold feet when thinking about the financial obligation? The Government of Canada created a first time home buyers incentive to relieve some of that burden from people who are looking to buy a home for the first time, by allowing them to apply for a shared equity mortgage. For more information on this incentive and its qualifications, see the link here for more information.

Home Projects to Ready Your Home for Summer

There is no better time than the present to increase your home’s curb appeal! Put a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of your home, or reseal your deck or fences to preserve longevity and keep your home looking fantastic all year-round.

Be sure to read our article about home projects here!