2017 was an amazing year for Real Estate in Ottawa! Records were broken and property values continue to increase. As the year comes to a close, let’s take a look back at some of the highlights with our Top 20 Blog Posts of 2017!

#20 – Understanding Multiple Offers

This year the Ottawa market became more competitive than ever before and multiple offers have become far more common. Here are some helpful hints to help you navigate multiple offers!

#19 – Pets and Real Estate

New research emerged this year showing that more and more homeowners are making housing decisions with their furry friends in mind while others are avoiding homes where pets have lived. Let’s look at the impact of pets and how they can affect real estate.

#18 – Your Home and Winter Travels

It’s at this time of year that many of us choose to get away; whether it’s visiting family for the holidays or heading somewhere sunny and warm, there are certain things you must consider before leaving your home for an extended period of time.

#17 – Buying a New Home

It seems that everywhere you turn, builders are building new homes around Ottawa. Deciding between a new home or a resale home can be challenging but this article breaks it down for you. And remember, a Realtor can assist you in buying a new-build home to make sure that you have someone on your side!

#16 – Why it Doesn’t Always Pay to Sell Your Home Yourself

As the market heats up, many people believe that they can take advantage and save some money by listing their home themselves (without a Realtor). In many cases though, this may actually cost you more. Read on to find out more!

#15 – Buying a Home that is “For Sale By Owner”

Just because the seller has decided to go it alone, does not mean that you must do the same. To ensure that you know what you’re buying and that the whole process goes smoothly, it’s always best to hire a Realtor.

#14 – Residential Landlord Rules: An Update

There were many changes in the last year affecting both landlords and tenants in Ontario. New protections for tenants were put into place including rent control. Whether you’re a tenant, a landlord, or looking at buying an investment property, it’s important to understand all these changes.

#13 – Here’s an Idea of What Goes Into Pricing Your Home

There is a lot that goes into pricing a home to ensure maximum return for the sellers in the quickest time. Realtors have many tools at their disposal to ensure that a home is priced competitively in the current market.

#12 – Backup Offers: What They Are and How They Work

With the competitive market this year came lots of talk about “backup offers”. Find out how they work and how they can be a great option for both buyers and sellers in some situations.

#11 – The Role of a Realtor When Selling a Home

What exactly does a Realtor do for you when selling your home? A lot more than you may think! Everything from marketing to paperwork, get a little insight into what goes into selling home.

#10 – The Role of a Realtor When Buying a Home

As a follow up to #11, let’s look at what a Realtor can do for you when buying a home. Having a buyer’s agent on your side is always the best scenario to ensure that your best interests are being considered.

#9 – Why You Should Check Out That Open House

The internet changed the real estate world and with that more people are house hunting online than ever before! That being said, there are some pretty great advantages to attending open houses so this should not be overlooked!

#8 - “Oh I Forgot to Tell You…”

What are sellers legally required to disclose about a property? The simple answer is any known latent defects but what about stigmas? Find out how to protect yourself if a stigma would be of concern to you. Stigmas include a house being haunted, the site of a violent crime or death, or the location of a grow op.

#7 – The Bank of Mom and Dad

With rising house prices and changes to the mortgage rules that can make it more challenging for first time home buyers to get approved, more and more millennials are turning to their parents for help buying a home.

#6 – New Year Reno-Resolutions

Are you planning any major (or minor) renovations in the coming year? Now is the time to start planning and budgeting! Like any other resolution, keep it realistic to ensure the greatest likelihood of success.

#5 – Bang for Your Buck Renos That Will Increase Your Home’s Value

After reading #6, you may have some great ideas but you’re not sure of which renos will provide the greatest return on investment. Check out this guide to find out!

#4 – Why Listing Price is So Important?

A lot of talk surrounds the listing price of a home but why does it matter so much? If a home is priced right, it will bring the seller top value in the shortest amount of time possible. If priced too high or low, both can be negatively affected.

#3 – Choosing a Brokerage When Buying or Selling

What things should you look for in a brokerage when choosing who to buy or sell your home with? Royal LePage Team Realty offer top level resources and support to our Realtors to ensure client satisfaction.

#2 – Primary Residence Tax Exemption

This was a major change in 2017 and something to keep in mind when doing your taxes! Although the rules did not change for this tax exemption, everyone will now have to declare the purchase and sale of property even if it is their primary residence. Make note for April if this applies to you!

#1 – New Mortgage Rules

This topic dominated the real estate talk for the last few months of 2017 and it’s important that everyone understands the implications of these changes. Take a moment to watch this great video to get a clearer view!