David Johnson’s Blog

Ottawa, June 3, 2009 : Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,895 residential properties in June through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,685 in June 2008. This is an increase of 12.5 per cent. Listing inventory is at a very low level, which has led to competitive bidding on many properties.Of those sales, 418 were in the condominium property class, while 1,477 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, etc.) which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

“This is the third consecutive record setting month this year and the fourth month where sales exceeded the previous year’s sales,” said Board President Rick Snell. “Year-to-date sales as of the end of June are up one per cent over the same time period in 2008. We have seen a strong recovery from the slow start to this year,” he added.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in June in the Ottawa area was $306,924, an increase of 3 per cent over June 2008. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $236,830, an increase of 8.3 per cent over June 2008. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $326,761, an increase of 2.5 per cent over June 2008. The Board cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.

 FROM:The President’s Pen column was prepared by the Ottawa Real Estate Board and first appeared in the June issue of the EMC community newspapers

Ottawa, June 3, 2009 : Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,969 residential propertiesin May through the Board’’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,896 in May2008, an increase of 3.9 per cent. That number also represents a 19 per cent increase over the 1,594 sales recorded in April 2009. Of those sales, 348 were in the condominium property class, while 1,621 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, etc.) which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties. 

“This was the best May on record for residential resale home sales in Ottawa,” said Board President Rick Snell. “Homes in every price range are selling well, from starter homes to luxury properties. Homebuyers and sellers are showing a lot of confidence in the Ottawa real estate market,” he added.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in May in the Ottawa area was $312,045, an increase of 5.3 per cent over May 2008. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $231,351, an increase of 4.6 per cent over May 2008. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $329,368, an increase of 4.7 per cent over May 2008. The Board cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.  

The Ottawa Real Estate Board is an industry association of 2,400 sales representatives and brokers in the Ottawa area. Members of the Board are also members of the Canadian Real Estate Association and thus are entitled to use the term REALTOR® OREB Stats

No one likes thinking about their property tax assessment, but wouldn’t you love it if there was a way to help is make more sense to you? You should know that the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, or MPAC, undertook some major changes last year, and one of theirnew and helpful features is the About My Property™ application available online through its website, www.mpac.ca. Through About My Property™, Ontario property owners can get free access to property assessment information, site information and recent sales information for their own property and similar properties.

All you need to use this service is an Internet connection, a valid e-mail address, and the User ID and password that are located on the bottom right-hand corner of your 2008 Property Assessment Notice. If you happen to own more than one property in Ontario, be aware that each property has its own unique User ID and password. The first time you log into the About My Property™ site, you will be asked to create a new password and then to re-log in to confirm it. Once you do that, and enter some other information such as your contact phone number and e-mail address, you’re ready to roll.

About My Property™ offers property owners two free reports. The first, called the Property Profile Report, you will see as soon as you log in to the application. This report includes your assessment roll information (roll number), site information (such as the frontage, depth and total size of your lot), recent sales information (month and year of sale, plus last sale price) and structural information (such as the square footage of your home).

The second, called a Properties of Interest Report, allows you to compare your property with up to 24 other properties of your choosing, based on information such as the current value assessment, sale and site information, and residential structural details, to determine whether you believe your property’s assessed value is accurate.

Click on “My Neighbourhood Properties” at the top of the screen to select comparable properties using an interactive map. You can select any properties you like, but keep in mind that selecting homes that are similar in size, age and style to your own will provide the best idea of what your home should be valued at.

What if you don’t have Internet access or an e-mail address? Last fall, MPAC launched a pilot partnership with a number of municipalities and library boards across Ontario to offer access to About My Property™ free of charge. The program is available in 268 municipalities, in either a local municipal office or library. Contact MPAC for locations near you if you would like to take advantage of this program.

If after viewing your reports, you feel that your assessment is inaccurate, you can click on the RFR (Request for Reassessment) link at the top right of the page to find out more about how your property was assessed and learn how to request a reassessment from MPAC. (OREB)

Ottawa, May 5, 2009 : Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,594 residential properties in April through the Board’’s Multiple Listing Service®® system compared with 1,560 in April 2008, an increase of 2.2 per cent. There were 1,162 sales in March 2009. Of those sales, 323 were in the condominium property class, while 1,271 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, etc.) which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

“Spring is historically the busiest time in the Ottawa real estate market, and it is clear that this year is no exception. Out-of-town buyers as well as local buyers are taking advantage of the low interest rates and our stable real estate market,”" said Board President Rick Snell.”"I’’m hearing from Board members that some properties are even attracting multiple offers, which shows me the confidence buyers have in our market,”" he added. “”This is a good beginning to the spring market. Confident buyers are taking advantage of the great opportunities that are available to them right now, such as historically-low interest rates and a good supply of properties for sale,”" said Board President Rick Snell. “”We’’re very fortunate to have a stable economy here in Ottawa, and I think buyers are acting cautiously but feeling positive about our resale housing market this spring,” Snell added.

The average price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in April in the Ottawa area was $298,150, an increase of 1 per cent over April 2008. The average price for a condominium-class property was $216,502, an increase of 2.8 per cent over April 2008. The average price of a residential-class property was $318,900, an increase of 0.7 per cent over April 2008. The Board cautions that average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.OREB Stats

A home is more than an investment: it’s where you live. Your home is your family’s place of refuge and respite from your job, commute, and other obligations. So when you buy a house,what you’re also buying is a lifestyle. The question that every home buyer needs to ask is: does this home fit the lifestyle goals that you are seeking? Or does it create challenges that may bring more unwanted stress into your lives?

Homeowners understand that where a house is located and the amenities of the neighbourhood can be even more important than the number of bedrooms or bathrooms it possesses. For some, it’s essential that their home is close to public transit so that multiple cars aren’t necessary. Others require proximity to schools for their children to avoid the need for busing or driving the kids to class every day. Some people cycle to and from work and other activities; in a city such as Ottawa, where our network of cycling paths is extensive and still growing, it’s a real, sensible option.

The City of Ottawa’s e-Map application, which is located on www.ottawa.ca, is a terrific resource for prospective buyers to find out more about the surroundings of a potential new home. The e-Map allows users to zoom in on a street or community, and then toggle various overlays on and off to see what’s located nearby. For example, the area around the intersection of Baseline Road and Greenbank Road, in the city’s west end, is home to numerous elementary and high schools, many parks offering facilities for soccer and softball, several child-care centres and a hospital, and is close to roads that have dedicated cycling lanes. That’s the kind of informationthat can really make a difference in a family’s interest level in a particular neighbourhood, especially if they aren’t familiar with our city.

That’s not to say that the number of bedrooms or the size of the backyard shouldn’t also be important factors influencing the home you choose to purchase. Everyone should make a list of “must-haves” when shopping for a home; these are things that allow you to live your desired lifestyle. If you love to cook, don’t compromise and buy a house with a kitchen layout you hate (unless you’ve got the will and the cash to renovate). If you love to entertain out-of-town guests, make sure you’ve got that spare room (and maybe an extra full bath). For others, a fenced yard for the beloved family dog to run around in might be essential. Every family’s list will be different.

Once you have a good idea of which areas you might like to live in, and what your housing needs are, why not work with a REALTOR® such as myself to find that perfect home for your lifestyle? I have access to the MLS® system, where I can conduct a customized search of homes for sale in your favoured neighborhoods that also possess your “must-have” home features. Saving you time and energy, making your home search simpler and faster – that’s what I can do for you. My email: djohnson@kwottawa.ca

FROM:

Traditionally, finding a REALTOR® to work with usually happened one of two ways: either you picked a name that you saw on a For Sale sign in someone’s yard, or you got a referral from a friend or family member who had worked with a REALTOR® to buy or sell their home.

These days, there are many more ways to find and choose a REALTOR®, and many of them involve the social networking programs that are becoming ubiquitous and very popular among Canadian internet users. To meet that change head-on, many REALTORS® are moving beyond simply maintaining a personal web site to promote themselves and their services on social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

The ads on Facebook are targeted to the network you belong to, so if you are a Facebook member in the Ottawa network, a local REALTOR® advertising him or herself on Facebook might pop up in your sidebar one day while you’re checking in with your friends’ recently posted photos. Click on the ad and you’ll be taken to his or her home page where you can read about their business model, their recent listings and sales, and how to get in touch with them. Some REALTORS® also run or belong to Facebook groups, so if you search for “Ottawa Real Estate” in the Facebook search box, you’ll come up with quite a few results.

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site where users can build a network of colleagues and contacts tailored to their interests and industry. You can search your network – which is composed of your connections as well as each of their connections - for search terms such as REALTOR® or real estate agent. Twitter, a sort of micro-blogging site, also has an excellent search engine where you can look for terms like real estate or REALTOR® to find Twittering REALTORS® (of which there are many!).My Twitter name is RealtorontheGo.

Many REALTORS® have also embraced blogging. They provide readers with regular updates about what’s happening in their market, offer advice for buyers and sellers, highlight hot new listings, and offer insight into how they do business. Reading a REALTOR®’s blog is one way to get an idea if he or she might be someone you’d like to work with.

Another great source for finding a REALTOR® is the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s website, www.OttawaRealEstate.org. It hosts an online roster of members searchable by name or by brokerage. While you’re there, you can search Ottawa properties for sale (and contact the salesperson by e-mail directly from the listing) and also obtain information about first-time buying and government programs that exist to help make that purchase a little easier.

The internet is full of real estate information and resources just waiting for you to find them. It’s amazing how technology can lead you to just the right human being to help you buy or sell your home.

The 2006 census reported that one out of every seven Canadian citizens is now a senior (aged 65 and older). That’s over 4 million Canadians. Many of those Canadians, as well as those in the age group 55-64, are homeowners. The needs of those homeowners are very likely to change as they age. If the home they currently live in does not meet their physical needs and limitations, they have two options available to them:

move to a more accessible home, or retrofit their existing home to meet their current needs.

But rather than waiting until they begin to have issues of mobility and accessibility, many homeowners are now choosing to update their homes earlier in life – or to choose newly built homes that they can grow old in comfortably.

If you plan to live in your current home, independently, for as long as you are able, and your home was not specifically designed for accessibility, there are some excellent modifications that can be made by a skilled tradesperson. Many renovation companies and contractors now specialize in these types of retrofits and adjustments, known as “barrier-free” living. Examples include widening doorways to 32 inches, in order to accommodate wheelchairs; lowering countertops (or installing counters at varying heights) and light switches for easier access while seated; switching out a bathtub for a walk-in or roll-in shower stall; swapping out door knobs for levered door handles, which are easier for people with arthritis to open and close; and installing ramps in place of steps for access from the outdoors. With clever design, none of these modifications have to look obvious or added-on.

Barrier-free living also ties in to a concept known as “visitability”, meaning that someone with limited mobility could visit your home and be able to move around with ease and use a washroom. The three basic requirements of a visitable home are: at least one entrance that has no steps and is accessible from a main street; wider doorways throughout the main floor; and at least a half bath on the main floor (with a wider doorway). As the population ages, even younger homeowners may find that many of their visitors (such as family members, friends, and colleagues) may experience limited mobility and require easier access. These simple adjustments will help all visitors to your home feel safe and welcome.

Some home builders already incorporate barrier-free and visitability features into their homes, so if you’re purchasing a new home, ask the builder about these options. Even if you don’t plan to live in the home long enough to need those features yourselves, they make a great selling point upon resale, and you never know what future needs your guests may have. If you’re searching for a resale home that incorporates barrier-free features, ask your REALTOR® for help. He or she can set accessibility as one of your search criteria on the MLS® system to help find you a suitable home.

Planning for your future is always a smart idea, and incorporating these simple design features into your home will help meet your needs and those of your guests for years to come.

The President’s Pen column was prepared by the Ottawa Real Estate Board and first appeared in the April 3,2009 issue of the EMC community newspapers.

Ottawa, April 3, 2009 : Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,162 residential properties in March through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,084 in March 2008, an increase of 7.2 per cent. There were 788 sales in February 2009. Of those sales, 250 were in the condominium property class, while 912 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, etc.) which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

“This is a good beginning to the spring market. Confident buyers are taking advantage of the great opportunities that are available to them right now, such as historically-low interest rates and a good supply of properties for sale,” said Board President Rick Snell. “We’re very fortunate to have a stable economy here in Ottawa, and I think buyers are acting cautiously but feeling positive about our resale housing market this spring,” Snell added.

The average price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in March in the Ottawa area was $286,888, virtually unchanged over March 2008. The average price for a condominium-class property was $208,936, an increase of 0.6 per cent over March 2008. The average price of a residential-class property was $308,256, a decrease of 1.4 per cent over March 2008. The Board cautions that average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.  OREB

Ottawa, March 4, 2009 : Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 787 residential properties in February through the Board’’s Multiple Listing Service®® system compared with 980 in February 2008, a decrease of 19.7 per cent. There were 530 sales in January 2009.

“What I am hearing from fellow REALTORS®® is that many buyers are out there looking, but seem nervous about making offers. They’’re confused by what they’’ve been reading and hearing about the state of the real estate market. The fact is, although sales and prices have both declined here in Ottawa, they have remained relatively steady when compared with the sharp decreases seen in other parts of Canada,”" said Board President Rick Snell. “”Ottawa’’s resale housing market is balanced, which offers opportunities for both sellers and buyers, especially first-time buyers,”" Snell added. “”More competitively-priced homes combined with current low interest rates make it a fantastic time for first-time buyers to get into the market.”

The average price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in February in the Ottawa area was $273,719, a decrease of 2.9 per cent over February 2008. The Board cautions that average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.OREB

Spring is on its way, and with it the rainy days that wash away the grey snow and dirt of winter. As the rain comes down, it reminds homeowners of the importance of a watertight roof (especially when it isn’’t) and a well-tuned system for channeling water runoff away from the foundation.Your roof should be visually inspected once a year, and spring is the best time to do this, because any damage caused by winter snow, ice and wind will still be fresh. Begin your inspection in the attic, to check for signs of leakage such as damp patches or water stains –– these can be caused by small leaks that wouldn’’t be visible from the outside.