Ottawa Condo Expert

Marnie Bennett's Home Smarts - Part 35

2012-02-02T11:55:00.002-06:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
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Marnie Bennett is a broker and the team leader of Bennett PropertyShop Realty, a full premium service five star real estate brokeragespecializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums andinvestment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio shows the RealEstate Hour and Business Class, a millionaire real estate investor and a realestate wealth management coach. bennettpros.com

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 35

2012-01-26T14:40:00.000-06:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________
Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 34

2012-01-02T13:51:00.003-06:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 33

2011-11-22T14:00:00.002-06:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 32

2011-11-09T10:58:00.006-06:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 31

2011-10-24T10:52:00.001-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 30

2011-10-17T13:58:00.002-05:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 29

2011-09-26T14:08:00.002-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 28

2011-09-20T13:36:00.001-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 27

2011-09-20T13:32:00.003-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 26

2011-09-20T13:27:00.003-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 25

2011-08-09T14:37:00.002-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 24

2011-06-27T11:07:00.003-05:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 23

2011-06-06T12:15:00.002-05:00

Finding Your Dream Home!! - Marnie Bennett

2011-05-19T10:19:00.005-05:00

Here is a great article written by Marnie for all you newlyweds, finding the love of your life is a monumental event. Falling in love with a home runs a close second!! Click on the article below to learn the secrets in ensuring you find your next dream home.

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 22

2011-05-19T10:17:00.001-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 21

2011-05-19T10:08:00.003-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 20

2011-05-19T10:05:00.001-05:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 19

2011-05-19T10:02:00.001-05:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 18

2011-03-18T10:16:00.003-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/
____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett is the number one realtor world-wide for KWRI, and is in the top 1% of North America’s realtors. She is a broker with KWVIP Realty and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, a full premium service five star real estate team specializing in marketing and selling new and resale homes, condominiums and investment real estate. Marnie is the host of the weekly radio show the Real Estate Hour, a millionaire real estate investor and a real estate wealth management coach.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 17

2011-03-18T10:12:00.002-05:00

Marnie Bennett - In The News - REM

2011-03-11T11:52:00.007-06:00

With Marnie Bennett and her team of professionals being recently named #1 Sales Team Worldwide for Keller Williams International Realty for 2010, the media has been in a frenzy! From interviews, radio shows, to television appearances Marnie Bennett has been a very busy woman.

With her recent success, REM - Real Estate Magazine featured Marnie Bennett as the cover story for their publication. Click on the images below to read the insightful article published in the March issue of REM - Real Estate Magazine.

For more information on the Bennett Real Estate Professionals and their recent success visit http://www.bennettpros.com/

Marnie Bennett - In The News - Canadian Real Estate Magazine

2011-03-11T11:25:00.007-06:00

With her recent success, Canadian Real Estate Magazine asked Marnie Bennett her expert advice on condos and condo living. Click on the images below to read the insightful article published in the March issue of Canadian Real Estate Magazine.

Enjoy!!

For more information on condos and condo living contact the Bennett Pros at http://www.bennettpros.com/

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 16

2011-02-25T16:37:00.006-06:00

SoHo Italia - Tallest Building in Ottawa on Preston Street?

2011-01-20T15:40:00.003-06:00

Should Ottawa's tallest building be on Preston Street or is the spot too small for vertical development? CLICK HERE TO VOTE AND COMMENT

Last Updated: Monday, January 17, 2011 12:08 PM ET Comments102Recommend25. CBC News

A condominium developer is seeking to construct a 35-storey tower in the heart of Ottawa's Little Italy that, if completed, would be the tallest building in the city.

An artist's concept of the Soho Italia, a 35-storey condominium tower. (Roderick Lahey Architect Inc.)Mastercraft Starwood Group wants to build "Soho Italia" just behind the archway of Little Italy on the site of an old parking lot on Preston Street.

Last week, developers pitched the idea to mayor Jim Watson and the ward's city councillor, Diane Holmes, as well as Peter Hume, the chair of the Planning and Environment Committee. An official zoning change request has not been filed yet.

An artist's conception for the project from architect Roderick Lahey shows a slim glass and concrete tower that resembles a stack of plates. The design also includes a ground floor dedicated to a museum of Italian culture.

Lahey said he's excited about the project, and describes it as a fluid design that's supposed to look like water moving, inspired by the Aqua Tower in Chicago. The Ottawa building would house about 220 residential condo units.

If completed, it would likely edge out tower C of Place de Ville, the 29-storey, 112 metre building, and the 32-storey, 108 metre-tall Minto Metropole in Westboro, as the tallest building in Ottawa.

Developers have battled over this land in the past and won concessions from the city.

The spot is currently zoned for 19-storeys for a commercial building and 22-storeys for a residential building, according to a spokesperson with Mastercraft Starwood. The company has also met with the local business improvement association and is expecting to meet with community groups to discuss the plan.

Local residents, businesses and politicians CBC spoke with expressed surprise at the sheer size of the planned building, with some questioning its height while others worry that it is too wide for the available lot.

Lot is 'tiny postage stamp': Holmes
"It's hardly the location for the tallest building in Ottawa," said councillor Diane Holmes. "The problem is it's a tiny postage stamp piece of land."

The potential site of the proposed condo on Preston Street is just north of Carling Avenue and next to a CIBC branch. (Ashley Burke/CBC)"I think the height is way beyond what that area can put up with. The fact they are going to 35 is quite an exaggeration. I don't see the value that we would get," said Holmes.

The developers are also consulting with the Preston Street Business Improvement Association on the plan.

Stoneface Dolly's owner and Preston Street BIA member Bob Russell said he has mixed feelings about the proposal.

"It came out of the blue, it was a bit of a shock... I mean we're looking at a significant size building...and it's a concern," said Russell.

"On the one hand, I want to protect the heritage of Little Italy and that's what [the BIA is] trying to do...on the other hand, being a business owner I say well [it's] 2,000 more people coming in. So it's going to be very delicate to get a balance."

Dalhousie Community Association president Eric Darwin said that while businesses and the city are getting word of the proposal, the public has yet to hear directly from the developers.

"I think most people will go ballistic when they first hear about it," said Darwin. "It's just squished in."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2011/01/17/ottawa-preston-tallest-building.html#socialcomments#ixzz1Bc7NhLZH

For more information on up and coming condo developments in Ottawa visit www.bennettpros.com

Golden Payoffs - How Our Clients Made Millions$$$ with Our Help!

2011-01-19T15:50:00.002-06:00

In case you missed the article from this Saturday's Ottawa Citizen paper, read below to see why It's Better with Bennett!

Golden Payoffs
Smart investors are smiling as they head to the bank with profits from buying, then flipping condos. Not so fast, warn experts. There's always a downside when the market's saturated or interest rates start to creep up.

By Patrick Langston, Ottawa Citizen January 15, 2011

Ottawa investors, those seemingly far-sighted folks who buy condos and then rent or flip them for a neat profit, must be rubbing their hands in glee.

The latest numbers from the Ottawa Real Estate Board show that all classes of existing condos sold for an average of $249,359 last month. That's a jump of 10.4 per cent over 2009, and almost 37 per cent more than the increase in single home prices in the same period.
Holy investment you say. Yup.

It is after all sweet news for smart investors who buy a condo at the pre-construction phase and sell it when the building is completed two or three years later, scooping up a chunky profit, thanks to Ottawa's robust real estate market.

At the same time, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. is forecasting that Ottawa's apartment vacancy rate -- at 1.6 per cent already the second-lowest in the province, right after Kingston -- will get even tighter this year because of increased immigration, a healthier job market and slower rental construction.

That's a dandy scenario for real estate investors, especially condo buyers, whose properties typically command a higher monthly rent than mainstream apartments because they're newer, boast more amenities and often sport a more hip, urban look.

With reports of people racking up investment returns of 20, 30, even 50 per cent, it's no wonder Marnie Bennett, the self-proclaimed condo queen and owner of Bennett Real Estate Professionals calls our condo investment market very strong. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation backs her up, saying at least 20 per cent of condos are rented out, putting us close to Toronto and Vancouver, where roughly 25 per cent of condos become part of the rental market.

Others, however, sound a note of caution.

Real estate investing can be a risky business they say, and for every boom, there's eventually a bust or at least a steep slide. You better have deep pockets and nerves of steel if the market does an about-turn, according to the doubting Thomases.

Our current unbridled enthusiasm for condo investments, says Bennett, springs from a large population of well-heeled baby boomers looking for a smart place to park their cash; a high number of cagey Generation Yers with the income to support their investment ambitions; and plenty of folks who, still bruised from 2008's market meltdown, want to diversify their holdings.
Since 2006, reports CMHC, the number of investor-held condo apartments in Ottawa has grown by more than over 30 per cent from about 3,400 to roughly 4,500.

Deborah de Grasse and her family are among those who have benefitted from this precocious real estate infancy. In 2007, they put a small deposit on a penthouse in Urban Capital's Mondrian project at the corner of Bank Street and Laurier Avenue. When construction was completed in late 2009, they wrote a final, large cheque, bringing their total payment to $65,000. About six months later, they sold, earning a profit of roughly 50 per cent on their $65,000 deposit.

The family also owns two condos in Urban Capital's other condo offering, Central, now being built on Bank Street, and a condo in Claridge Plaza on Rideau Street.
"It's a really good way of investing. It's tangible, unlike the stock market," says de Grasse, a civil servant. "You need the stomach for it because you never know what the market's going to do."

She admits to feeling nervous that all the condo projects in Ottawa mean we're reaching a saturation point. Her investment philosophy, however, has always been, "If you can't afford to lose, don't risk it."

It's understandable that some investors might ignore such a basic principle.

"Construction is averaging $450 a square foot now," says Brian Card, president of Ottawa's CRG Consulting. "If you bought when it was $350 and sell now, you can make a huge profit." However, as mutual fund advertisements caution, past performance is no guarantee of future performance.

While condos might look attractive to major investment groups, including boomers in their 50s and 60s -- Card asks a tough question. "What happens when interest rates creep upward, as they inevitably will? If you're renting out a condo with a large mortgage and making a profit of just $150 a month, a one or two per cent jump in the interest rate could bite deeply into that profit."

Developers will also eventually start building apartments again, giving condo landlords a run for their money, predicts Card.
Last year, according to CMHC, rent for an average two-bedroom apartment in Ottawa was $1,082.

In October 2010, the average two-bedroom condo in Ottawa rented for $1,212. That put us among the most expensive major centres in Canada, although modest compared to Vancouver at $1,610 and Toronto at $1,590.

"I've seen the busts," says Card. "And there will be one here. It's just a matter of when."
In the meantime, he says that 700 to 900-square-foot units are the most popular choices for investors. A lot of owners are also offering their rental condos partially or fully furnished, appealing to Ottawa's large temporary and "fly-in" workforce who are often looking for a three-to six-month lease.

Bruce Dwyer has found his niche in the condo market, buying, renovating and then renting nine older units. The full-time professor and program coordinator at Algonquin College was inspired after attending a real estate seminar led by Marnie Bennett.

He buys in the $150,000 to $160,000 range, updates the kitchens and bathrooms, and then re-mortgages them. The improvements mean their value has increased, so he uses the extra money from the bank to buy the next unit.

Dwyer, 46, plans to have $100,000 equity in each property within 20 years. He says he has positive rental cash flow on every property and, by being choosy, has never had a serious problem with a tenant.

"My advice," says Dwyer, "is find a real estate agent who specializes in investment properties and has been through the bumps and bruises. You can learn from their mistakes. My only regret is I didn't do this sooner."

Mark Roundell isn't so sure about leveraging strategies. The certified financial planner with Scotia Mc-Leod says that because real estate is a tangible investment, we're often lulled into thinking it's also an assured one.

"Most people wouldn't go out and borrow $100,000 to invest in the stock market, yet they do it for real estate investments. We forget that (real estate) is like the financial markets: it can go sideways for a long time. It will eventually go up, but so do other investments."

A real problem can occur, he points out, if you suddenly need to off-load a piece of real estate in a bad market. You might take a bath selling downward-plunging stocks, but at least you can get rid of them. Not necessarily so a chunk of real estate if everyone else is trying to do the same.

"Portfolio diversification is good," concludes Roundell, "but most of us already have a substantial investment in their own homes."

Canadian Business Magazine compared returns on real estate investments and the stock market over the past 25 years in a dozen Canadian cities in a March 2010 story and found real estate lagged behind the TSX substantially. Toronto provided the best return on real estate investment of 5,75 per cent, while the TSX was during the period was 13.85 per cent.
Don R. Campbell says condo investing isn't really investing at all.

"It's speculating, and you better have deep pockets," says the Abbotsford, B.C.-based real estate investor, author and president of Real Estate Investment Network ( http://www.realestateinvestingincanada.com/).

While Campbell says he's a fan of Ottawa's normally very stable economy, he has also seen what can happen in a volatile one like Vancouver's.

There, for example, at least two developers have launched suits against condo buyers who reportedly attempted to walk away from their pre-sale purchase agreements after the market tumbled and values declined. When they went to get mortgages, the banks weren't willing to cover the full amount of the original purchase price.

His advice is to buy resale condos: "you can analyse the property as it actually is; you know the maintenance record; and you can negotiate price."

Done properly, he says, condo investing can produce a good return. The trick is to regard any profit you might make by selling the unit as the "dessert" in a financial meal: sweet but more treat than anything. The appetizer, he says, is the bit of cash flow from rental, while the accumulation of an asset by having other people pay for it with their rent cheques is the meat and potatoes.

There are other models of condo investing.

As well as his units here, Bruce Dwyer is part of condo investment consortiums in Toronto and London. The groups pool rental revenue from each building, pay a property manager and other expenses, and then distribute the profits. If a unit in the building sits vacant too long, the owner is paid "rent" out of the pooled revenues.

Toronto-based Urban Capital, meanwhile, will soon offer property management services to those renting out their units. The cost will equal about one month's rent, says company partner David Wex.

Ottawa's Phoenix Homes has its own co-op-based condo investment model, explains Rahul Kochar, vice-president of operations. Phoenix buys and sells the land to a company of shareholding condo owners, at this point mostly friends and family. That company handles construction. Because Phoenix makes its money on the land deal and doesn't have the usual soft costs of marketing, sales agents and so on, the condo buyers pay less for their units than they would in a normal deal.

Those savings can be up to $40,000 on an 800-square-foot unit, says Vincent Colizza, the architect who designed the 80-unit Phoenix condo project currently going up near the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. That means, he adds, that owners should be able to rent their units at a reasonable price without having to worry that they could end up subsidizing their tenants if interest rates or other costs increase.

Ajay Jain, an investor in the project, adds: "With the hospital, there are a lot of nurses and doctors and even families of long-term patients who would want to rent. I don't think it's going to be a problem finding tenants."

Phoenix plans a second, similar project near Rideau and King Edward streets, says Kochar. But don't go looking for a share: It's already fully subscribed, mostly by the same people who bought into the first project.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

For more information on investing in Real Estate visit our website at http://www.bennettpros.com/gold_customform3.asp and register for our next FREE "Increase Your Wealth Through Real Estate Seminar"

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 15

2011-01-19T15:36:00.006-06:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/

____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett owns Bennett & Co. a boutique real estate marketing firm providing a full range of marketing services to developers and builders. She is also a broker and team leader of the Bennett Real Estate Professionals, the #1 Real Estate Team Worldwide for Keller Williams Realty Internation 2010.

QWest - Another Succesful Launch for the Bennett Pros!!

2010-12-09T09:13:00.006-06:00

Another successful evening for the Bennett Pros! With line-ups starting at 9am, excitement and anticipation built throughout the day! The night ended with 30 condos being sold in only 2hrs!

Stay tuned for more exciting launches to come in 2011!

Below is the Ottawa Citizen's features article on the evening.

Condos sell fast at site of former convent
Hundreds of buyers vie for 42 units
By Sneh Duggal, Ottawa Citizen December 9, 2010

More than 30 apartments were sold Wednesday night after the release of a condominium that is to be part of the controversial development at a former convent site.

At least a couple of hundred investors and home buyers turned up to inquire or get a stake in the 42 units that were part of the initial release of the condominium Ashcroft Homes plans to build at 108 Richmond Rd. The building is expected to be ready for occupancy by 2013.

"We've had a year of very intense public consultations. It's great when you finally launch the project and you get such a big reception," said David Choo, president of Ashcroft Homes. "We're launching it on a very cold December night in Ottawa and yet still we have such a large reception for the project. That's encouraging."

The condo will be part of the proposed Q West development near Richmond Road and Island Park Drive. Ashcroft bought the 2.2-hectare site from Les Soeurs de la Visitation, who were unable to maintain the aging building.

Ashcroft plans to build more than 600 units on the surrounding grounds.
Individuals wanting to purchase a suite in the building were required to put down a $1,000 deposit Wednesday evening.

About 60 per cent were first-time home buyers, 30 per cent were investors, and 10 per cent were individuals wanting to downsize from their current residences, said Ashcroft consultant Marnie Bennett of Bennett Real Estate Professionals. Some of the units are being sold fully furnished.

Bennett said about 28 people are still on the waiting list. She said she noticed a lot of young people at the launch and thinks it is because of the pricing.

The cheapest units were listed at about $217,000, with prices going up to about $500,000.
"It's really price-driven; in Westboro, that's incredible," she said.

Yan Li, 25, was looking to purchase his second property. While his first, a condo at Centrepointe, was bought as an investment, Li said he is undecided about whether he would do the same with one of the Ashcroft units.

"This one really appeals to me -- if I do go through with it, it will be a tossup as to if it's a rental or whether I (move in)," he said.

Johanne Belisle, 53, and her husband, John Martin, 64, put down a deposit for a two-bedroom apartment. They are buying the unit as an investment, but said they might eventually move in.

"My husband is retired -- eventually we'll probably look to downsize," Belisle said.

Bennett said the development is going to provide residents with a community-living experience, especially with a central courtyard. She said there is a plan to have an arts theatre, a restaurant and a spa in the former convent.

"We have a lot of green space, a heritage building -- it's going to be very festive here," Bennett said. "It's a lifestyle that you're buying, it's not just a floor plan."

Ashcroft plans to release more of its units in January.

In recent months, some community members have voiced opposition to the development, stating that the proposed buildings are too high and that neighbours do not want a road to cut through the Byron Avenue linear park.

Li said he thinks Ottawa needs to build up, not out. "I'm in support of the project, provided that no heritage site is demolished," he said.

Bennett said while change is often difficult for people to accept, she thinks more people will be on board with the project once they start to see it unfold.
The community went before the city's planning and environment committee on Nov. 16 to voice their concerns.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Read more CLICK HERE

For more information on Q West and other condominium buildings throughout the city of Ottawa visit the Condo Experts at http://www.bennettpros.com/

BENNETT BUZZ - What Industry Leaders Are Saying About the Bennett Pros

2010-12-07T13:18:00.009-06:00

Hard work, loyalty, dedication, and a positive frame of mind, has helped the Bennett Team reach the Top of Ottawa’s Real Estate market and industry leaders have taken notice!

“Wow Marnie! Such a wonderful story! I cannot tell you how amazing this is and how much we all truly respect what you’ve accomplished.It’s a real honor to be in business with you! Onward....”

Gary Keller – Co-founder and Chairman of the Board – Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

“Marnie! I've thought about you a lot since meeting you. I was wowed by your real estate practice. You definitely have built one of the most impressive real estate businesses I've ever seen. Congratulations on that!
I'd love to see your office sometime. We really appreciate being in business with you, and can't begin to express adequate kudos for all of your success!

Please stay in touch and let me know if there's ever anything I can do to help or support you!”
Mark Willis – CEO Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

For more information on the Bennett Team and how they can help you buy or sell your next home visit www.bennettpros.com

Ottawa Real Estate Conditions - Looking HOT HOT HOT!!

2010-12-07T12:02:00.003-06:00

Here are two informative articles from this Saturday's December 4th, Ottawa Citizen.
Enjoy!

Condo market lifts Ottawa prices
Ottawa Citizen December 4, 2010

Buoyed by a strong condominium market, Ottawa housing prices increased 3.4 per cent to $324,218 in November compared to the same month last year, says the Ottawa Real Estate Board.

Condo prices jumped 17.4 per cent to $265,704, far outpacing the 0.6 per cent increase in residential-class properties to $342,154.

The board said 942 residential properties were sold through its MLS system, compared with 913 in November 2009, an increase of 3.2 per cent.

"Both the residential and condo classes showed slightly higher sales than last year, selling prices increased at nearly the same rate and the number of properties available for sale rose from a year ago as well,'' said Pierre de Varennes, the association's immediate past president.

Year to date, condo prices have risen 13.1 per cent, and residential properties 7.6 per cent.

Read more CLICK HERE

Golden neighbourhoods
Home price increases inside the Greenbelt outstripped their suburban and rural counterparts
By Robert Bostelaar, Ottawa Citizen December 4, 2010

Homes within the Greenbelt -- and especially in some key Ottawa neighbourhoods -- gained far more value in the past decade than their suburban and rural cousins, a City of Ottawa analysis reveals.

And the appreciation gap could widen further as city intensification policies and downsizing boomers bring more people into central Ottawa.

The downtown price surge, which Ottawa shares with many other North American cities, won't be a surprise to anyone who watches real estate ads.

But the City of Ottawa data, presented to a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation conference last month, reveals both the extent of gains and which areas are hottest.

Across Ottawa, the value of the average home rose 92 per cent between 2000 and 2009, city planning official Court Curry told the conference. That increase pushed the average price to $321,267 from $167,246 -- well above the decade's cumulative inflation rate, which is pegged by the Bank of Canada at 21.6 per cent.

Some neighbourhoods far surpassed the average rise.

Westboro, the trendy Richmond Road district that is home to bike shops and bakeries, old houses and new condos, was the biggest winner, pushing up average prices by 164 per cent. The average price in Westboro jumped to $457,253 last year, from $173,414 in 2000.

Courtland Park-Rideau View, a neighbourhood south of Baseline Road and east of Fisher Avenue, was second with a 159-per-cent rise in values, taking the average price to $336,626 from $130,208.

Next was Chinatown-Little Italy-Mechanicsville (157 per cent) and two Westboro neighbours: Wellington Village (155 per cent) and Highland Park (129 per cent).

Even Vanier, a mixed commercial and residential district east of downtown that has earned its share of negative press, appreciated more than the Ottawa average, at 129 per cent.

So if these areas appreciated more than the average, which neighbourhoods came in below the 92-per-cent figure? Neither the city nor the Ottawa Real Estate Board, the source of the data, would say.

Given the close-to-the-bull's-eye positions of the big gainers, however, it's probably safe to assume that the slower areas are in the outer rings of the amalgamated city.

Curry was willing to predict which areas could show the biggest increases, residential and commercial, in the coming decade. These neighbourhoods line Ottawa's planned light rail transit (LRT) route, of which the first phase, from Tunney's Pasture through downtown to Blair Road, is expected to begin operating by 2019. The line will tunnel under central Ottawa and have 13 stations.

A projected annual ridership of 76 million, almost double the ridership on the current bus transitway, should spur "significant positive effect on the value of lands around stations," he told the conference.

Even before LRT construction starts in 2013, a boom in condominium projects, spurred by the city's housing intensification strategy, is encouraging young professionals, baby boomers who have consolidated their households, and others to live downtown.

Within two blocks of Rideau and Cumberland streets, for example, 1,200 housing units are under construction or completed and another 670 are planned, boosting the area population by 3,100.

"That's the equivalent of the town of Almonte," Curry said.

Some 2,100 units are under way or complete in the downtown-Centretown district, with another 2,000 units planned. In Westboro, 505 units have been added and another 1,110 are proposed.

Still another hot area is Little Italy by the Carling station for the O-Train, forerunner to Ottawa's LRT service. There, 725 new dwellings will accommodate as many as 1,200 incoming residents, while new office and retail space will provide up to 1,650 jobs.

"We really think that Little Italy and the whole Somerset (Street) area is a sleeper," Curry said.
The general rise in property values is good news for homeowners, less good for buyers -- especially first-timers facing increasingly high initial and monthly payments to get on the property ladder.

Ottawa broker Pierre de Varennes, however, suggests that wage hikes in the past decade have helped buyers keep pace with the price increases.

As well, with a six-decade record of steady but moderate increases in resale values, Ottawa remains the second least-expensive large Canadian city in which to buy a home, he noted in an interview. Montreal is the cheapest.

"From that perspective, Ottawa tends to be a relatively safe place to invest in home ownership, relative to some other Canadian cities," said de Varennes, who just completed a term as president of the Ottawa Real Estate Board.

"We're not vulnerable to the large swings as may be seen in, for example, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver."

As in other cities, he says, the downtown should continue to be desirable to older buyers who want to be in walking distance of shops -- especially if they have health problems that could limit their ability to drive in coming years. Others are simply tired of daily traffic jams.

"They're willing to pay a little more for convenience -- the time-savings. Certainly there are people who have moved in from the periphery, and that may allow them to go from two cars down to one, or three cars down to two."

For first-time buyers seeking a "starter" home, rising downtown prices could steer them to neighbourhoods outside the Greenbelt, where larger townhouses or even single-family homes are attainable.

More affluent first-timers, "especially if they're being helped by mom and dad," tend to gravitate to the downtown.

"They tend to be young professional people. They're not necessarily, in their first property, interested in mowing the lawn, that sort of thing, because they're focused on their career.
"They're looking to be closer to the nightlife, the activities, and be in a condo," said de Varennes.

Read more CLICK HERE

For more information on the Ottawa Real Estate Market visit http://www.bennettpros.com/

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 14

2010-12-07T11:44:00.005-06:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 13

2010-11-24T12:23:00.003-06:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 12

2010-11-24T12:19:00.003-06:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 11

2010-10-26T08:56:00.004-05:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 10

2010-10-14T15:11:00.006-05:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 9

2010-09-28T14:33:00.005-05:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 8

2010-09-23T12:49:00.004-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/

____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett formed her boutique real estate marketing firm after meeting, with remarkable success, as an award-winning realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Bennett & Company provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors. Marnie is a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Pros a top-producing five-star team, providing five-star treatment.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 7

2010-09-23T12:25:00.015-05:00

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 6

2010-08-19T09:28:00.003-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/

____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett formed her boutique real estate marketing firm after meeting, with remarkable success, as an award-winning realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Bennett & Company provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors. Marnie is a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Pros a top-producing five-star team, providing five-star treatment.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 5

2010-08-18T15:54:00.009-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/

_____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett formed her boutique real estate marketing firm after meeting, with remarkable success, as an award-winning realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Bennett & Company provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors. Marnie is a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Pros a top-producing five-star team, providing five-star treatment.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 4

2010-06-25T15:21:00.008-05:00

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit http://www.bennettpros.com/

_____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett formed her boutique real estate marketing firm after meeting, with remarkable success, as an award-winning realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Bennett & Company provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors. Marnie is a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Pros a top-producing five-star team, providing five-star treatment.

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 3

2010-06-10T14:19:00.002-05:00

Marnie Bennett is the exclusive real estate expert columnist for New Homes and Condos. Pick up your FREE copy at news stands and distributors throughout the city of Ottawa. See below for her new column "Home Smarts" and learn everything there is to know about real estate.

Seeing Beyond the Sticker Price: Additional Fees on New Homes
Published in the June 5th, 2010 issue of New Homes and Condos

Most of the homebuyers who walk into my office are savvy enough to know that a new-home sticker price is not the end of the financial story. They expect some additional fees; however, the details of those fees tend to blur together. I like to prepare my clients by outlining these costs in simple terms.

Although most builders absorb the majority of these fees, it is important to have a sense of what they are (as they can make a big difference to your bottom line). Don’t be shy: ask your builder’s representative which costs are included.

Sales Tax - Many of my clients confess to being confused by Ontario’s new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), set to begin July 1, 2010. Until this date, 5% GST (but no PST) will continue to be applied to new homes. Afterwards, the HST, which totals 13% of the purchase price, will be applied to new homes. However, new home buyers will receive a rebate of 6% on the first $400,000 of the purchase price. It is important to note that many home builders currently include GST in the price of the home. If HST is included in the price of the home, the government rebate will be payable to the builder, not to you.

Land Transfer Tax - This provincial tax is applied to both new and resale homes. It’s somewhat of a complex structure and it depends on the value of the land. As an example, a $300,000 home will require a land transfer tax of $2975. First time homebuyers are eligible for a rebate up to $2000.

Utility & Meter Connection - These usually cost approximately $600.

Municipal Lot & School Levies - These fees, which cover a wide range of municipal services, are typically absorbed by the builder. However, any new levies that arise before closing may be passed on to you.

Tarion Corporation Warranty Fee - This mandatory warranty protects homebuyers against construction defects and failure to fulfill terms of the purchasing agreement. This is normally covered by the builder.

Legal fees - Most lawyers charge between $1000 - 1500 for their services.

Mortgage Processing Fee - Ask your mortgage institution if they will waive this fee.

Moving costs - These vary greatly, depending on the number of movers hired, possessions to be moved and distance to be traveled.

Reviewing additional costs isn’t the most exhilarating part of new home hunting. But I can assure you: the better informed you are, the happier you’ll be with your final decision.

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit www.bennettpros.com

_____________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett formed her boutique real estate marketing firm after meeting, with remarkable success, as an award-winning realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Bennett & Company provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors. Marnie is a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Pros a top-producing five-star team, providing five-star treatment.

Hottest April on Record for Ottawa Resale Housing Market

2010-06-01T15:26:00.002-05:00

Ottawa, May 5,2010 :

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,841 residential properties in April through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,591 in April 2009, an increase of 15.7 per cent. Of those sales, 425 were in the condominium property class, while 1,416 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked 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.

“Last month’s sales blew away the record for April, which is always one of the busiest months of the year for our market,” said Board President Pierre de Varennes. “The increased sales activity may be partially due to buyers trying to avoid the impending HST and the mortgage changes that came into effect on April 19, but also demonstrates that consumers feel confident about our local economy,” he added.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in April in the Ottawa area was $332,979, an increase of 11.6 per cent over April 2009. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $254,220, an increase of 17.4 per cent over April 2009. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $356,617, an increase of 11.7 per cent over April 2009. 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 2,590 sales representatives and brokers in the Ottawa area. Members of the Board are also members of the Canadian Real Estate Association.

The MLS® system is a member based service, paid for by the REALTOR® members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. The MLS® mark symbolizes the cooperation among REALTORS® to effect the purchase and sale of real estate through real estate services provided by REALTORS®. MLS® commercial and residential listings are available for viewing on the Board’s internet site at www.OttawaRealEstate.org and on the national websites of The Canadian Real Estate Association at www.mls.ca and www.ICX.ca.

Information about listings and open houses is also available in the Board’s weekly newspaper, Ottawa Real Estate Guide, available free at 700 locations across the Ottawa area.

For more information on the Ottawa Real Estate Market visit our website at www.bennettpros.com

Trademarks are owned or controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA (REALTOR®) and/or the quality of services they provide (MLS®).

View From the TOP - No. 1 Sales Team in the Ottawa Market

2010-06-01T14:30:00.005-05:00

MARNIE BENNETT IS ONLY LOOKING UP
Published in the May/June issue of outfront magazine, A publication of Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

What does it take to become the top-producing team for Keller Williams Realty? Marnie Bennett, associate with the Ottawa market center and Ottawa’s 2009 Businesswoman of the Year, has a pretty good idea. Ranking as No.1 for the first quarter of 2010, with $693,683 in GCI, Bennett’s winning strategy is a combination of experience, creativity and skill.

Read below for the full published article.

For more information on the Ottawa Real Estate Market visit our website at www.bennettpros.com

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos Part 2

2010-06-01T14:13:00.002-05:00

Marnie Bennett is the exclusive real estate expert columnist for New Homes and Condos. Pick up your FREE copy at news stands and distributors throughout the city of Ottawa. See below for her new column "Home Smarts" and learn everything there is to know about real estate.

Your New Home Search: Zeroing in on “The One”
Published in the May 22nd, 2010 issue of New Homes and Condos

When I’m getting to know new clients, I sometimes sense that they’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options on the new home market. While approaching the home search with an open mind is helpful, it’s equally important to recognize the aspects of a home that are truly important to you. Compromise is often part of the process, but there are always a few items that are simply non-negotiable – and, believe it or not, it can take a bit of soul-searching to discover what they are.

I like to sit down with my clients and have an in-depth conversation about their practical needs as well as their “dream home” ideals. The following questions can help to unearth some key priorities:

Life Stages - Families evolve, and it’s wise to consider the future as well as the present. Do you plan to have children? Do you have teenagers who will be moving away soon? Are you close to retirement? Will you need a home that can accommodate different stages of life? These questions can go a long way in helping you decide what type and size of home will best meet your needs.

Lifestyles - The way your family works and plays is fundamental in choosing a neighbourhood. How much commuting are you willing to do every day? How much will your commuting costs be? While houses are generally more affordable outside of the city, the costs of gas and perhaps a second car can add up quickly; sometimes spending the extra money for a more central location is balanced by savings elsewhere.

Examine – honestly – how you spend your leisure time, whether it’s playing sports, visiting cultural hot spots, exploring nature or cocooning with the family. How close would you like to live to extended family and friends? How important are good schools, recreation facilities and walking paths?

Size Requirements - How many bedrooms and bathrooms are needed? Do you need space for a hobby, storage or home office? A family room? A two-car garage?

Special Features - These can range from the indulgent to the absolutely necessary. Do you want air conditioning, a fireplace or a swimming pool? Do you require certain features to accommodate family members with special needs? Are you interested in saving energy, enhancing indoor air quality and reducing environmental impact?
We all have different priorities. Ask yourself which ones are closest to your heart, and the right home will follow!

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit www.bennettpros.com
________________________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett owns a boutique real estate marketing firm known as Bennett & Company, providing a full range of marketing services to real estate developers and builders. Marnie is also a broker and the team leader of the Bennett Real Estate Professionals with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty. The Bennett Pros are the leading real estate team in Ottawa providing 5 star services, with five star treatment.

Summer Festivals in Ottawa

2010-05-18T13:00:00.004-05:00

The Bennett Pros want to ensure that you have a fun and exciting summer in Ottawa!

Here is a great list of festivals to be held around the city this summer! Whether you enjoy savory foods from around the world or listening to talented musicians on a gorgeous summer day, the nations capital has an array of festivals and events that will keep you entertained all summer long. CLICK on the links below to receive full details about each event.

The Canadian Tulip Festival - May 7 to May 24

International Children's Festival - May 26 to May 30

Race Weekend - May 29 to May 30

Italian Week - June 10 to June 20

Westfest - June 11 to June 13

Festival Franco Ontarien - June 17 to June 20

Fringe Festival - June 17 to June 27

Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival - June 18 to June 20

The International Chicken and Rib Festival - June 23 to June 27

The Ottawa Jazz Festival- June 24 to July 4

Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest - July 7 to July 18

Hope Beach Volleyball - July 10

Chamber Music Festival - July 24 to August 7

Ottawa Busker Festiva l - July 29 to August 2

Lumiere Festival - August 7 to August 21

Greekfest - August 12 to August 22

Folk Festival - August 13 to August 15

SuperEX - August 19 to August 29

Capital Pride - August 20 to August 29

For more information on Ottawa's real estate market or to see what's going on in your neighbourhood, contact the Bennett Real Estate Professionals at www.bennettpros.com

Home Smarts - From Ottawa's New Homes and Condos

2010-05-13T13:19:00.006-05:00

Marnie Bennett is the exclusive real estate expert columnist for New Homes and Condos. Pick up your FREE copy at news stands and distributors throughout the city of Ottawa. See below for her new column "Home Smarts" and learn everything there is to know about real estate.

Opening Yourself to the Possibilities:
Choosing the “Home Type” That’s Right for You
Published in the May 8th issue of New Homes and Condos

Buying a new home is an exciting process with a happy outcome – but to be perfectly honest, it can be a bit of a roller coaster ride. In reality, few of us are able to find our dream home, delve into our bottomless pockets and move in the following day.

After 29 years in the real estate business, I’ve noticed certain patterns in home-buying behaviour. While most clients have a fixed idea of the type of home they want before they begin searching, it’s surprisingly common for buyers to change their minds mid-search. One client may realize that they’re not as eager to mow a large lawn as they’d thought; another may discover that the detached home they’d dreamed of is beyond their means.

I encourage my clients to become familiar with the different property types on the market, and to keep an open mindset as possibilities are everywhere!

Condominiums - Condos are often purchased by single people and couples without children, with good reason! They offer a maintenance-free style of living that’s ideal for those with busy work and social lives. However, the owner pays a monthly maintenance fee for the privilege known as condo fees. Condominiums tend to come with smaller or no outdoor spaces, but they usually have an abundance of lifestyle amenities such as fitness studios, home theatres, hot tubs, roof top terraces and party rooms – an important consideration for downsizers and active singles.

While we often associate condos with downtown high-rises, they are increasingly popular in suburban areas; they may be townhomes, semis or even detached homes, and are common in adult-oriented gated communities. Condominium is actually a legal definition referring to the method of ownership, not the type of building. When you purchase a condo, the interior space of your home belongs to you. “Common elements” such as elevators, recreational facilities and outside grounds are jointly owned by you and the other homeowners in your condominium community.

Detached homes - A fully detached home provides the most privacy and, often, the most space of any home type. New detached homes are commonly built on lot sizes between 35 and 60 feet, although some new home builders – particularly custom home builders – may offer larger lot sizes.

Semi-detached homes - A semi-detached home is joined to another home on one side. If you’re having trouble finding a detached home in your budget, you’re likely to be pleasantly surprised with some of the semi-detached homes on the market. They often offer similar layouts and features for a lower price, due to lower construction costs and marginally smaller lot sizes. If privacy is a concern for you, be sure to tour the builder’s homes to observe how sound travels from one home to the next. Most modern semis and townhomes provide good sound insulation.

Townhomes - Like semi-detached homes, town homes often offer more than you might expect. Many condominium townhomes are “executive-style”, boasting high-end finishes. Condominium terrace townhomes are “stacked”, with upper units providing a large balcony or roof-top patio instead of a yard. Non-condominium townhomes, known as “freehold”, offer more freedom to change the landscaping and outer appearance of your home.

In my next column, I’ll address some practical ways to narrow your new home search. Until then, happy hunting!

Email your questions to mbennett@bennettpros.com
Or for more information on Ottawa Real Estate visit www.bennettpros.com
________________________________________________________________________

Marnie Bennett owns a boutique real estate marketing firm known as Bennett & Company, providing a full range of marketing services to real estate developers and builders. Marnie is also a broker and the team leader of the Bennett Real Estate Professionals with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty. The Bennett Pros are the leading real estate team in Ottawa providing 5 star services, with five star treatment.

SOHO Lisgar Priority VIP Launch - What a Night in Ottawa

2010-04-28T09:39:00.009-05:00

7:30am is the exact time the first eager SOHO Lisgar VIP purchaser waited patiently in line for the doors to open. As the line-up slowly grew throughout the day, the apparent hype about this unique luxurious condo inspired building by Mastercraft Starwood was confirmed. When such a unique product was offered, in such an ideal location, Ottawa residents flocked to reserve their DREAM CONDO.

With each unit custom designed by the acclaimed Gl uckstein Design, including 9 ft. ceilings; Floor-to-Ceiling and Wall-to-Wall Windows: Designer Kitchens with lacquer cabinets concealing AEG appliances; caesarstone counters; marble bathrooms with 5 ft. glass enclosed showers with rainshower head and an amenities package including an outdoor lap pool and hot tub; outdoor kitchen; home theatre; Dalton Brown Gym and many more, the DREAM CONDO concept was surely delivered.

An overwhelming one thousand people had registered for the SOHO Lisgar VIP Priority Launch. However with the amazing success of SOHO Parkway (which only has 2 suites left!) the Bennett Real Estate Professionals were not surprised to see such a large growing Ottawa SOHO fan base.

The surprise did come when at 3:00pm the growing Ottawa SOHO fan base and future purchasers, were lined up as far as the eye could see down Lisgar St., pouring onto Bank St.

The evening turned out to be a great success with the Bennett Team taking well over 150 reservations!

There are still many opportunities left in this amazing complex! For more information on this development or to get the inside scoop on the next cutting edge condominium launch contact the Bennett Real Estate Professionals at www.bennettpros.com

Here are a few photos capture during the evening.

Increase Your Wealth Through Real Estate Seminar - Ottawa ON

2010-04-20T10:31:00.004-05:00

Whether you are a first time home buyer, moving up the Ottawa property ladder or an investor, we will show you how to develop the mind set of a millionaire investor! With over fifty years of combined real estate knowledge coupled with industry exclusive relationships and hands on experience of investing in real estate, make the experience gained through our program truly BETTER WITH BENNETT. We will show you how to increase your wealth through real estate including using your RRSPs to invest in real estate. Our next seminar will take place on April 28th at 7:00pm. Register ONLINE to receive full details.

Success Stories

"Just a quick note to say we have rented our Loretta property. So now with Pinecrest rented, Loretta rented, London rented and closing in Hamilton next week and it being rented. I guess we are just about ready for our next new adventure. Wow, four rented units and it only took me 2 years to finally pull the tigger on the first purchase. We are sure glad we started this venture and we are equally glad we are going to continue to grow, before long we'll blink an eye and our portfolio will start to look like yours. What does Marnie keep saying - PASSIVE INCOME PASSIVE INCOME...Talk to you soon."
- Brian

"It’s amazing what can happen in a couple of weeks. Thanks to your patient guidance, some encouragement from your team, and great financial support from Liliane, my wife and I have decided to invest in two condos, one at Wellington and Island Park, and one ay Chateau Royale in Hamilton. I truly appreciate the time you’ve taken to work with me and look forward to making more investments with you and the amazing Bennett Team.Wishing you all the best!"
- Sam

Due to the overwhelming demand our registrations are on a first come, first served basis.

For additional information visit www.bennettpros.com

24th Originals Ottawa Spring Craft Sale - Staging Your Home

2010-04-13T15:08:00.006-05:00

Join us-Marnie Bennett and Kristi Blok this weekend for a special presentation at Lansdowne Park for the 24th Originals Signature Spring Craft Sale.

Staging Your Home.

Presented by the Bennett Real Estate Professionals and KIKI Interiors. Marnie Bennett and Kristi Blok will be on stage to show you how you can increase your home’s value through the latest staging techniques.

Saturday, April 17th at 3pm & Sunday, April 18th at 1pm

STAGING YOUR HOME INCREASES YOUR HOME’S VALUE!

For more information on Staging and other topics related to real estate visit our website at www.bennettpros.com

Ottawa Citizen Article - re Hotel and Residences

2010-03-22T13:32:00.002-05:00

This past Saturday the Ottawa Citizen posted an introductory article about the new re Hotel and Residences. This stunning luxurious condo/hotel is a unique concept to Ottawa and will present a new standard to high-end living.

Luxe living by the Hill
Posh boutique hotel and condos are designed for the diamond and Mercedes set who value a clear view of Parliament Hill
by Sheila Brady, The Ottawa Citizen, March 20th 2010

David Choo is on a roll. Earlier this month, the president of Ashcroft Homes unwrapped plans to restore and develop the stone convent and prime Westboro property that was home to the Soeurs de la Visitation.

Now the fiery spark-plug is set to launch a posh boutique hotel and condos on Sparks Street designed for the diamonds and Mercedes crowd.

Re Hotel & Residences will become Ottawa’s priciest piece of real estate, pushing a business-residence combo that has flourished in Toronto, Vancouver and large, international cities.

A six-storey building with ground-level retail shops will front on Sparks Street Mall, while an 18-storey building will open to Queen Street. The $100-million project, which promises an intimate interior courtyard,

To continue reading please click here

For more information on this amazing development and many others visit www.bennettpros.com

Sneak Peek - re Hotel and Residences

2010-03-18T11:45:00.007-05:00

Luxury hotel/condo will be a downtown Ottawa icon

re Hotel & Residences brings new life to Sparks Street

Ottawa, Ontario - March 16, 2010 – Ashcroft Urban Developments announces the official launch of re Hotel & Residences, a unique and exciting project in Ottawa’s central business core. Part boutique hotel, part luxury condominium, re heralds a revival of Ottawa’s historic Sparks Street. re will be to 21st century Ottawa what the Château Laurier was to the 20th – an iconic architectural landmark, a meeting place for politicians, business people and trendsetters, and an exclusive retreat at the very heart of everything that matters in the capital. More than just a building, re Hotel & Residences is a visionary concept, and the winner of a national competition sponsored by the National Capital Commission. Pioneered by David Choo of Ashcroft Urban Developments, re sets a cosmopolitan standard for beauty, luxury, elegance and fine living in keeping with Ottawa’s standing as a G8 capital.

The setting
Few national capitals boast Ottawa’s natural setting. Our stunning Gothic Revival Parliament Buildings, set on a bluff high above the majestic Ottawa River, are framed by the natural beauty of the ancient Gatineau Hills. Because the condominiums will occupy only re’s upper floors, views will be stunning. And because of its unique location in the heart of Ottawa’s Parliamentary Precinct, it’s a view that will forever remain unimpeded, changing only with the seasons. A setting of unparalleled beauty and a front-row seat overlooking Parliament Hill: This is only the start of what re Hotel & Residences has to offer.

The concept
A stay at re Hotel & Residences will be no less stunning than the views. From the building’s elegant lines to the sumptuous appointments of its suites, every detail has been thought through by architect Roderick Lahey of Roderick Lahey Architects, Inc. and by Cecconi Simone Inc., an interior design firm. The hotel will be an oasis of luxury, where every amenity will be available to guests. And because of the pairing of hotel and condominium, every condominium resident will have access to all the hotel’s services, from the concierge to the restaurant.

The hotel
Imagine stepping out of your hotel and into the very centre of power. The House of Commons, the Senate, the Supreme Court of Canada; the offices of the Prime Minister and major government departments and agencies; the headquarters of dozens of national organizations – all are only steps away. Well rested after a night in a room where in which every element has been carefully chosen, you are ready to tackle your day’s work. The hotel’s attentive and knowledgeable staff attend to mundane details, leaving you free to concentrate on business.

When your work is done, relaxation is close by. The National Arts Centre, the National Gallery of Canada and the nightspots and award-winning restaurants of the ByWard Market or busy Elgin Street are an easy amble away. Closer still are re’s spa, its sixth-floor lounge, and its own trend-setting restaurant.

The condominium suites
re’s residents get more than a superb location and an iconic view: They get an elegant and refined urban lifestyle. Every suite will be provided with finishes of the highest quality, including Euro-style ‘spa’ bathrooms, hardwood or porcelain flooring, and kitchen appliances by Gaggenau and Bosch. Residents will enjoy urban living at its absolute best. And when they have guests, the condominium tower’s 12th floor Sky Lounge will be THE place to gather.

For more information contact the Bennett Team at susan@bennettpros.com

For information on our other new condo developments please visit www.bennettpros.com

Bennett Open House Marathon Weekend

2010-01-21T11:55:00.002-06:00

Come join the Bennett Real Estate Professionals and GO TRAVEL DIRECT for an exclusive Open House Extravaganza!

Attend one of the following Open Houses this weekend and you could be entered for the chance to WIN an ALL INCLUSIVE TRIP for 2 to PUNTA CANA!

Whether you’re searching for the perfect home for yourselves or as an investment, this weekend provides an amazing opportunity to view current homes for sale and enter for a chance to WIN a WINTER GETAWAY!

Find an Open House in your neighbourhood:

Featured Open House

Neighbourhood: Centretown
275 McLeod St. (New and Heritage Condos)
View the Newly Built, Professionaly Decorated Model Unit
Starting in the $290’s
January 23rd and 24th from 2-4pm

Other Open Houses

Neighbourhood: Centretown
PH807-320 McLeod St. (New Luxurious Condos)
Starting in the $440’s
Sunday January 24th from 2-4pm

Neighbourhood: Byward Market
1402-180 York St. (Beautiful Custom PH with 47’ Terrace)
$674,900
Sunday January 24th from 2-4pm

Neighbourhood: Overbrook
River Court Lofts-(New Georgian Inspired Condos)
108-55 Ontario St.(Model)
Starting in the $360’s
Sunday January 24th from 2-4pm

Neighbourhood: Queensway Terrace South
49-1250 Pinecrest Rd. (Completely Renovated 2bed+den)
$225,000
Sunday January 24th from 2-4pm

Neighbourhood: Crystal Bay
12 Rocky Point Rd. (Custom Luxurious 4bed, 4bath, Bungalow)
$949,000
Sunday January 24th from 2-4pm

Neighbourhood: Greely
6661 Woodstream Dr. (Beautiful 3bed, 2bath)
$569,900
Sunday January 24th from 2-4pm

Neighbourhood: Barrhaven
15 Halley St. (Newly Renovated 4bed, 3bath)
$359,900
Sunday January 24th from 2-4pm

Complimentary desserts will be served at each Open House.
Don’t miss this great opportunity! Find your DREAM HOME or WIN a trip for 2 to Punta Cana!
See you there!

For more information visit www.bennettpros.com

Media Release - Ontario Home Builders Association

2009-12-11T08:27:00.004-06:00

The Ontario Home Builder Association has just release their expectations for 2010. Builders in Ontario are optimistic for the future. Growing demand and a strong real estate market has given builders a positive attitude towards their future developments. We can expect to see plenty of new home construction and opportunities in the near future. Ottawa can see even more than other major cities in Ontario due to the federal government and a strong economy.

See below for media release from the Ontario Home Builder Association,

Ontario Home Builders’Association
MEDIA RELEASE

Over 80% of Builders Optimistic for Housing in 2010
Survey Says HST is top issue for industry

December 8, 2009 – Toronto, ON – In a survey of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA) membership,builders and renovators are cautiously optimistic with nearly 4 in 5 anticipating 2010 residential construction activity will be equal or better than it was in 2009.

Hot on the heels of a difficult year, housing starts have improved the last few months with an 11% increase in November starts as reported by CMHC today. With housing activity improving, 22% of builders and renovators plan to hire new staff in 2010. “The residential construction industry appears to be on the road to recovery,” said OHBA President James Bazely, adding, “We are cautiously optimistic that next year the new housing and renovation sectors will be positive contributors to job creation and economic growth.”

OHBA members surveyed said the incoming harmonized sales tax was the top issue for the residential construction industry going into 2010. “One of our members top concerns was whether or not they would actually see any tax savings passed on from suppliers and manufacturers that they could in turn pass onto consumers,” noted Bazely,
adding, “The general sentiment is that while some savings should occur by removing embedded taxes, new home builders and renovators will believe it when they see it.” Bazely continued, “The primary issue for renovators is the threat of a growing underground ‘cash’ economy when the sales tax jumps from 5% to 15%. This will rob the government of tax revenue and expose consumers to higher risks.”

“We are still facing a lot of economic uncertainty, especially with the impact of new sales taxes coming into effect next year. But we do see the housing market stabilizing and an increase in housing starts in 2010,” concluded Bazely. CHMC has forecasted housing starts to improve from 47,400 in 2009 to 56,500 in 2010.

The Ontario Home Builders’ Association is the voice of the residential construction industry in Ontario representing 4,000 member companies organized into 29 local associations across the province. The industry contributes over $37 billion dollars to Ontario’s economy, employing over 360,000 people across the province.

For more information on new homes in Ottawa and to contact the Bennett Team visit www.bennettpros.com

OTTAWA CONDO - Just Listed

2009-11-18T12:58:00.008-06:00

1504-90 George St.
The Better with Bennett force of influence!

When we list a residential property or condominium, the Bennett Pros work as a team to provide our clients with the best possible marketing plan. Take for example, this beautiful sub-penthouse at 90 George St., located directly in the Byward Market. The unit was vacant, so the Bennett Team came up with a unique marketing plan in order for this unit to be more appealing to buyers.

We placed a call to M.Y. Homes, one of our many unique partners, to give us a hand. The Bennett Team was able to get approximately $25,000 worth of furniture in order to stage this large 2 bedroom sub-penthouse, free of charge! We were also able to run a full page, coloured article in the Saturday issue of the Ottawa Citizen, the most read newspaper in Ottawa, once again, free of charge!

Do you know any other real estate team that can do that for you?

Staging can increase the chances of selling a home. The stats don't lie!

Staged homes sell 50% faster than unstaged homes
Staged homes sell for (on average) 6 to 10% more than unstaged homes
94% of staged homes sell in one month or less
98% of staged homes sell for more than asking price

Click HERE to read the full article.

After seeing what the Bennett Real Estate Professionals can do for this property, imagine the possibilities for your own home.

For more information visit www.bennettpros.com

Each property provides unique opportunities. Not every home can be marketed the same way. Conditions do apply.

NEW OTTAWA CONDO - Sneak Peek- Wellington at Island Park

2009-11-16T13:46:00.003-06:00

Wellington at Island Park
by Theberge Homes

Boutique-Inspired Luxury Condo Living

Intimate in size, contemporary in design, revered in location, The Wellington at Island park projects refinement, sophistication and creativity unequalled in boutique-inspired luxury condo living.

Sleek lines and harmonious proportions exude confidence in every facet of the Wellington’s bold exterior and chic interior designs. Reminiscent of a boutique luxury hotel, the Wellington at Island Park offers upscale amenities, rich finishes and exceptional comforts that leave nothing to the imagination.

Located in Ottawa’s thriving Wellington Village, The Wellington at Island Park rests mere steps away from upscale shops, restaurants, boutiques and entertainment. Architecturally inspired and designed by award winning architect, Barry Hobin, The Wellington at Island Park defines a new standard for Ottawa’s elite urban condominium residences.

The Bennett Real Estate Professionals are the exclusive Realtors for Theberge Homes

To register for the Wellington at Island Park priority guest list CLICK HERE

www.bennettpros.com

NEW OTTAWA CONDO- Daly Square

2009-11-16T12:56:00.004-06:00

DALY SQUARE
130 Daly Ave.

Starting in the $260's
Spirited Urban Flats- Where everyday living becomes extraordinary!

Welcome to Daly Square and experience an irresistible design, rich in details and extraordinary space that is both Fashionable and Unique.

Central located in Sandy Hill you are minutes from the Byward Market, the University of Ottawa and the Rideau Shopping Centre.

Daly Square is all about you - your well being, your convenience and your social life. Get Ready for Daly Square to transform your everyday into something extraordinary.

Daly Square is more than just a place. It’s a vibe that defines they way you live. You can feel it the second you walk through the door. These upscale finishes and fixtures, gourmet kitchens with exotic granite, stainless steel appliances, gleaming hardwood floors, imported ceramic tiling, are so chic and contemporary. It’s the perfect place to call home.

For more information on floor plans and pricing please contact the exclusive Realtors for Daly Square the Bennett Real Estate Professionals

To view the article written in New Homes and Condos CLICK HERE

www.bennettpros.com

1402-180 York St Ottawa Condo

2009-11-10T13:33:00.000-06:00

Home Smarts - New Homes and Condos Article 5

2009-10-19T13:49:00.001-05:00

Taking the reins:Today’s woman in real estate

I love introducing women to the world of real estate. Since I began my career as a realtor, that opportunity has been arising more and more often. The fact is, more single women are buying homes today than ever before.

This can be chalked up to several factors. Many younger women are choosing to focus on their careers rather than getting married and starting families in their twenties. Such financially independent women see no reason to postpone home ownership. On the other side of the coin, it’s the unfortunate truth that approximately 50 per cent of marriages lead to divorce, leaving many women to househunt solo for the first time. Finally, women live seven to ten years longer than men on average, which translates to a significant number of widows finding themselves in the market for a smaller home.

This adds up to a lot of women who are faced with making crucial financial decisions about matters such as mortgages, insurance and investments, for the first time in their lives. Having been raised by a single mother, this is an issue that’s close to my heart. I watched my mom struggle financially, and long ago decided that, married or not, I would take control of my personal finances; for me, real estate investment was key. I strongly believe that engaging with the real estate market can be an excellent way to leverage your current funds. Many people give their savings over to financial advisors, acquiring paper assets; but such investments give them little control over their own finances. Property investment, on the other hand, gives the owner complete control: real estate can be leveraged, improved or rented out as you see fit.

Interestingly, 15 per cent more single women are buying homes as compared with single men. This may be connected with a nesting instinct, with a heightened desire for security, or with a preference for investing in something tangible as opposed to paper assets. Whatever the explanation, it’s a trend I’m happy to see. When women overcome their initial apprehensions about investing, they tend to do very well; in fact, studies have shown that all-women investment clubs regularly out-perform all-men investment clubs by as much as 20 per cent.
The reason for this? I believe that, just as women are more willing than men to ask for directions, they’re not afraid to ask questions when it comes to learning something new. They’ll listen to professionals and weigh all the factors, whereas men are more likely to want to do things their way. Women are also often more moderate risk-takers; having succeeded, they’ll take their money and move on to the next endeavour. Applied to real estate investment, these traits stand women in good stead.

Unlike some career ventures, I believe there is no glass ceiling in the world of real estate investment. Given the motivation and the proper know-how, there’s nothing holding women back from finding significant financial success through property ownership.

Email your questions to news@bennettpros.com

Marnie Bennett formed her boutique real estate marketing firm after meeting with remarkable success as an award-winning realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Bennett & Company provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors. Marnie is a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Pros a top-producing five-star team, providing five-star treatment.

Home Smarts - New Homes and Condos Article 4

2009-10-19T13:48:00.002-05:00

Understanding Model Homes 101: Looking past the surface

It’s no secret that one of the most enjoyable aspects of shopping for a new home is touring the builder’s decorated models. A well-designed model can help you envision living within its walls, as well as providing excellent inspiration for the decoration of your own space. In these ways, models constitute a valuable resource for purchasers.

On the flipside, builders are well aware that model homes are one of the most powerful selling tools at their disposal. It’s clearly in their interests to dress these homes up to the nines – both to increase their appeal, and to encourage purchasers to splurge on the featured upgrades. They’re banking on an emotional response, and they usually get one. In order to stay objective, what should you be looking for when touring a model home?

With the recent proliferation of television shows about staging and “flipping” homes for sale, you’re probably aware that there’s a real science to creating alluring spaces. Through judicious use of colour schemes, mirrors and well-proportioned pieces, decorators are able to make homes appear larger and more luxurious.

But it’s the lavish application of upgrades that can be really misleading. Many models feature a laundry list of stunning decorating options: hardwood and slate flooring, stone fireplaces, intricately tiled steam showers and well-finished basements. On the home’s exterior, stone may be substituted for brick, elegant front doors installed and the lawn lushly landscaped. The accumulated cost of so many high-end features can run upwards to over $250,000 in some cases pending the type of housing product you are viewing.

It’s easy to imagine losing perspective at the prospect of living in such an incredibly appointed home. That’s why it’s crucial to have a grasp on which features are standard and which are upgrades. Don’t be shy: ask the sales representative to walk you through the home and have them write down exactly what is upgraded, and at what cost.

If the builder has a design centre, it should be simple to compare standard selections with available upgrades. Go over the standard specifications with a fine-toothed comb, so that you understand exactly what is included in the asking price; ask for a menu of upgrades with clearly marked pricing.

Next, take this information home with you and consider carefully. Will this upgrade add value to my home when I sell it in the future; will it increase my home equity? How much will this feature enhance my lifestyle? Can this feature be easily added at a later date?
Be careful not to “over-upgrade” your home. This may seem counter-intuitive but, when it comes to resale value, it’s not necessarily an advantage to own “the castle in the neighbourhood.” Often, those buyers who can afford a spectacular home desire an equally spectacular neighbourhood.

As a general rule, upgrades that recoup their initial expense include hardwood floors, fireplaces, finished recreation rooms and double showers in master ensuites. But above all, keep to your budget; you won’t be doing yourself any favours by overextending yourself financially.

Email your questions to news@bennettpros.com

Marnie Bennett formed her boutique real estate marketing firm after meeting with remarkable success as an award-winning realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Bennett & Company provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors. Marnie is a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, and team leader of Bennett Real Estate Pros a top-producing five-star team, providing five-star treatment.

Home Smarts - New Homes and Condo Article 3

2009-10-19T13:45:00.002-05:00

Condo Ownership, Part II: Let the hunt begin

Shopping for a new condominium is an exciting process. But, as with all substantial purchases, there are important considerations to be weighed before making your final decision. With this column, I hope to give you a framework for making a wise and informed purchase.

Firstly, if you don’t need to move into a new home immediately, you should know that there are significant advantages to buying your condo during a development’s planning stages. In order for a builder to receive construction financing, that builder typically needs to show that 60 per cent of the units have been sold. To reach this goal, it’s in the builder’s best interest to offer better prices earlier on in the sales process. Buying early can result in substantial savings, and offers the greatest equity growth potential. It also allows you a much wider selection of floor plans and locations within the building.

Consider where you want to live. While the most important factor influencing price in real estate is location, this doesn’t mean that the priciest section of town is necessarily the best for your personal lifestyle. Consider proximity to your workplace, and to the kinds of amenities you feel are important, whether that means shopping, restaurants, greenspace or recreational centres.

Once you’ve zeroed in on a particular condominium development, it’s equally important to consider the location of the unit itself within that development. Examine proximity to the elevator, street noise levels and the quality of the view; often, the higher the floor, the higher the price.

This raises the question: how much do you want to pay? Your personal budget may not allow you to buy the penthouse of your dreams; again, weigh what’s most important to you. Some factors to consider when selecting your suite include functionality of the layout; exposure to natural light; ceiling heights; and access to a balcony or other outdoor space. A development’s curb appeal will affect both your enjoyment of your home and its resale value. The same applies to density; the fewer people sharing your development’s facilities, the better.

All condos are not created equal. What’s behind the walls – mechanical systems, for example – is just as important as those things you can see, though admittedly more difficult for a homebuyer to judge. That’s why choosing a builder with a good reputation is crucial. Research builders by asking your realtor for information; by visiting previous developments; by speaking with current owners; and by researching the equity growth of their homes as compared to others. Be sure to check the builder’s Tarion Warranty Corporation Rating. Tarion is a government regulated organization which licenses all new home builders in Ontario, and provides safeguards to all new home purchasers. Finally, make sure that the builder has a strong customer service team with extended hours.

There’s no denying that buying a home is an emotional process. Just be sure not to let your heart rule your head.

Email your questions to news@bennettpros.com

Marnie Bennett formed her boutique real estate marketing firm after meeting with remarkable success as an award-winning realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Bennett & Company provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors. Marnie is a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, and team leader of a top-producing five-star team, providing five-star treatment.

Homes Smarts - New Homes and Condo Article 2

2009-10-19T13:40:00.002-05:00

Condo Ownership, Part I: Understanding the Basics

I’ve watched the evolution of the housing market over the past twenty-five years with great interest. It’s been quite a ride, to say the least. Over the past seven years alone, there’s been a staggering fivefold increase in the percentage of Canada’s new home market share for condo sales. Locally, the Ottawa region has seen condominium sales increase by 25 per cent over the last two years alone.

Why the massive shift? There are a number of explanations. Firstly, for many city-dwelling first-time buyers, it’s become the only realistic financial option. Next, even among those “Generation Y” purchasers with thicker wallets, the hipness factor of condo living goes a long way: to a childless thirty-year-old, an urban loft has more appeal than a four-bedroom home with a lawn to mow. Additionally, as the baby boomers become empty nesters, there’s a growing segment of the population looking to downsize from large family homes. And both younger and older purchasers appreciate the worry-free aspect of condo ownership: maintenance and security issues are kept to a minimum, allowing what we like to call the “lock-and-leave lifestyle”.

While the word “condominium” often conjures an image of a high-rise tower, it’s actually a legal definition that refers to the method of ownership, not the type of building. In purchasing a condominium, you own the interior space of your home outright. Other elements of the building, such as hallways, elevators, recreational facilities and outside grounds, are known as “common elements”. These are jointly owned by you and all the other homeowners in your condominium community. Your balcony or terrace, and sometimes your parking spot, are known as “exclusive use” common elements. This means that, while their upkeep is not your responsibility, they are intended for your use only.

While condo owners are mercifully free from such concerns as pruning shrubs and vacuuming the swimming pool, they do pay for such maintenance through a monthly charge known as a Maintenance Fees, or Condo Fee. This fee also cover the costs of management, administration and insurance for common element areas, and often covers the cost of utilities. In many cases, a condominium “reserve fund” will cover the replacement cost of items such as a broken furnace; as many of us know, those living in typical freehold homes aren’t so lucky.

Maintenance fees can vary substantially between condominiums, depending on both the square footage of the owner’s home and the level of the building’s amenities. For instance, a high-rise condo with a swimming pool and gym will have higher fees than a townhome condominium with minimal groundskeeping. Keep in mind that having such amenities at your doorstep may save you the cost of a fitness club membership. You may be able to entertain in a huge party room, or watch movies with friends in a multi-media lounge – pastimes that would likely be beyond your reach outside of the condominium paradigm.

While condo living isn’t for everybody, an increasing number of people are discovering its benefits. It comes down to weighing what’s important to you.

In my next column, I’ll discuss how to narrow your search for the perfect condo. Till then, enjoy the hunt.

Email your questions to news@bennettpros.com

Marnie Bennett formed her boutique real estate marketing firm after meeting with remarkable success as an award-winning realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Bennett & Company provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors. Marnie is a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, and team leader of a top-producing five-star team, providing five-star treatment.

Home Smarts-New Homes and Condo Article 1

2009-10-19T13:38:00.001-05:00

Forging a Real Relationship with Real Estate

All of us have a relationship with real estate in some shape or form. For most of us, it’s a somewhat emotional relationship that begins with the excitement of purchasing our first home. Others approach real estate as a calculated means of investment. And for a few, it’s a passion.

As a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, and the founder of my own realty and marketing firm, I’m definitely a member of that third group. I can say with all honesty that, with all its challenges and rewards, there’s no career I’d rather pursue. But I’m keenly aware that, for the vast majority, emarking on real estate transactions can feel like diving into murky waters.

This is the first in a series of columns whose goal is to help you feel more comfortable with this sometimes mystifying world. The issues are myriad: How should I begin the search for a new home or condominium? What do I need to know before I decide to purchase? What pitfalls should I be aware of? How can I increase my wealth through real estate? How can I get the best price for my home when I ultimately decide to sell?

These are just a handful of the questions I plan to address. I encourage readers to write in with any others, and I’ll gladly answer them in this forum. Because, while I’ve been in the industry for over 25 years, engaging with people is still my favourite part of the job.
While most of us think of real estate in terms of property and numbers, that’s only part of the equation; the human element is by far the most intriguing aspect. Because I specialize in both sales and marketing, working equally with homebuyers and developers, I have the privilege of seeing that element from different angles.

I love helping people find the right home. I also love working with developers to help them create homes that people will be drawn to. This isn’t quite as straightforward as it may sound. Times change, and people change with them. The dream home of twenty years ago isn’t the dream home of today; and the desires of a hip urban couple aren’t the desires of a growing family with live-in grandparents. A significant part of my job is to forecast trends; to understand the buying public and the ways they live. To this end, my team and I are constantly reading and researching, conducting surveys and studying trends in other industries.

I formed Bennett & Company after meeting with considerable success as a realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Our firm provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors, selling both new and resale homes. My passion for real estate seems to be contagious; today, my entire family works with me in the business. Our team also includes seven top-notch real estate agents.

I hope that, through this column, some of that passion will be passed onto you.

Marnie Bennett formed her boutique real estate marketing firm after meeting with remarkable success as an award-winning realtor and as Executive Vice-President of a market-leading custom home builder. Bennett & Company provides a full range of services to real estate developers, builders, property managers and investors. Marnie is a broker with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty.

The Ottawa Condo Expert is on the Road

2009-10-08T12:04:00.004-05:00

Marnie Bennett is on the road and will be touring Ottawa's most exclusive and luxurious condos. Enjoy pertinent facts about the neighbourhood, the buildings unique features and the builder. Join us on Youtube and view these amazing condo buildings from the comfort of your home or office.

The Galleria
Luxurious Brand New Condo, located in the heart of the City, seconds from the trendy Byward Market. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Peace Tower and the Gatineau Hills from this amazing highrise building. The large windows and natural light create warmth and charm.

To view our Exclusive Bennett Pros videos go to
Youtube-Bennett Pros

Steady As She Goes Part5 - Final

2009-09-25T15:59:00.000-05:00

Why these five neighborhoods made it through the recession with flying colours and why everyone should keep a close eye on these hot Ottawa areas.

The five Recession Proof Hoods:

The Glebe

New Edinburgh

Rockcliffe Park

TODAY’S FEATURED NEIGHBOURHOOD: Rothwell Heights

WHY: Because although it’s tempting to describe Rothwell Heights as a poor man’s Rockcliffe, there are benefits: lower house prices and much larger lots, to name two. Rothwell Heights also boasts the same village atmosphere and absence of commercialization. There is the sense that people here are pleased to be a bit isolated from life’s challenges and troubles. People want to live in neighbourhoods like Rothwell Heights – if they can afford it – forever. (Just 19 houses sold on Multiple Listing Service last year.) The average sale price of $716,763 was up 9.6 per cent over the previous year, a jum of about $62,000.

Westboro

The final neighbourhood has been revealed hope you enjoyed learning about Ottawa's exciting up and coming neighbourhoods.

For more information visit www.bennettpros.com

Ottawa Condo Expert Video

2009-09-24T12:29:00.003-05:00

Enjoy this exclusive video tour of the Soho Parkway by Marnie Bennett- The Ottawa Condo Expert!

Before we introduce you to SoHo Parkway, the building and its many amenities, let us first describe your new neighbours – because it is our belief that the exciting new Ottawa condominium community that is soon to emerge at SoHo Parkway will attract a crowd notable for their zest for living life at warp speed. Possibly more than its convenient location, or its stunning architecture, or its benchmark fitness, entertainment, party and business facilities, or its hotel managed services, it’s the SoHo Condominium owners who will be this building’s biggest draw. Folks who love to work hard and play hard. They love nature and fitness, and the location next to the Capital Pathway fulfills their desire for the active outdoors life. The Dalton Brown Gym is unlike anything in any other condominium project. To see what we mean you only have to visit the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel.

This is the first of many online video's about Ottawa's Condo Market.
Visit www.bennettpros.com for more information

Steady As She Goes Part 4

2009-09-18T14:09:00.004-05:00

Why these five neighbourhoods made it through the recession with flying colours and why everyone should keep a close eye on these hot Ottawa areas. Make sure to visit my blog next week to learn why the final of the five, will also stand strong for years to come.

The five Recession Proof Hoods:

The Glebe

New Edinburgh

TODAY’S FEATURED NEIGHBOURHOOD: ROCKCLIFFE PARK

Why:
Because it’s the standard by which all other real estate in Ottawa is measured. Land here can sell for up to $3 million an acre, and they are not making any more of it, which is why Rockcliffe’s astronomical prices are expected to hold steady. Houses in Rockcliffe may be worth up to $11.8 million. That’s the latest assessment on socialite Marlene Cowpland’s too-modern-for-some home. Prices are highest west of McKay Lake. There, average sale price on the Multiple Listing Service rose 10.4 per cent last year. To $1,447,714. East of the lake, average sale price fell 24.8 per cent to $838,154. But in Rockcliffe, such stats can be misleading because of the small number of houses sold.

Rothwell Heights

Westboro

New Listing in Byward Market

2009-09-16T10:44:00.003-05:00

S579,900
124 Guigues Ave. Unit A201
Ottawa, ON

One of a kind heritage loft, executive 2 storey Ottawa condo, 2 bedroom plus den, 2 bath, with a roof top terrace and main floor terrace, views of Ottawa's Peace Tower, Notre Dame Basilica, and the National Art Gallery - 2 underground parking spots, and 2 lockers included in price.

This loft is so special and has been custom designed complete with a corner gas fireplace, wall to wall California shutters, gleaming hardwood floors - wide plank style set in a diagonal pattern, upgraded custom kitchen with extra high cabinets, lots of storage space, pull out spice rack, special gourmet canopy hood fan, upgraded stainless steel appliances, fridge complete with water and ice dispenser, exotic granite counter tops in kitchen and both bathrooms, breakfast island with storage and wine rack, gorgeous master en-suite with wall to wall windows and a special spa en-suite with double shower and body jets.

This unique loft will not last long - available October 2009 - by appointment only to qualified purchasers.

For more information visit www.bennettpros.com

Steady As She Goes Part3

2009-09-10T12:35:00.001-05:00

Steady As She Goes,
Why these five neighborhoods made it through the recession with flying colours and why everyone should keep a close eye on these hot Ottawa areas.

The five Recession Proof Hoods:

The Glebe

TODAY’S FEATURED NEIGHBOURHOOD: New Edinburgh
Why:
Because New Edinburgh has it all, plus houses cachet. Architecturally speaking, much of Ottawa’s history is here. Once modest 19th-century houses sell for half a million and up. Way up. The neighbourhood has far more character than its much pricier neighbor, Rockcliffe, plus top private schools close by, quality shops along Beechwood Avenue, and superb parks along the river and around Rideau Hall. New Edinburgh is equally attractive to young and old. And it’s just a good walk to the Byward Market. Property is priciest on the Rideau Hall side of Dufferin Street. There, the average sale price shot up 27.6 per cent last year to $593,684. Between Dufferin and Beechwood, the average house price has increased 8.1 per cent to$450,677.

Rockcliffe Park

Rothwell Heights

Westboro

Steady As She Goes Part 2

2009-08-25T14:26:00.001-05:00

Why these five neighborhoods made it through the recession with flying colours and why everyone should keep a close eye on these hot Ottawa areas.

The five Recession Proof Hoods:

TODAY’S FEATURED NEIGHBOURHOOD: The Glebe

Why:
Because by buying in, you get to live among like-minded people in a nice house near the canal, with good shops, schools, and restaurants close by. Sure, Glebites love to complain about how their property taxes keep going up and up. But what do they expect when their property values are always on the rise? Besides, they’re getting a break for the next three years as any increase to their tax share is phased in. Still, buying in is expensive. Average house sale price last year was $555,162 east of Bank Street (up 16 per cent ) and $587,232 west of Bank (up 5.4 per cent).

New Edinburgh
Rockcliffe Park
Rothwell Heights
Westboro

Steady As She Goes

2009-08-20T14:53:00.002-05:00

Why these five neighborhoods made it through the recession with flying colours and why everyone should keep a close eye on these hot Ottawa areas. I will be highlighting a new neighbourhood each day so keep posted!

The Five Recession Proof Hoods:

The Glebe

New Edinburgh

Rockcliffe Park

Rothwell Heights

TODAY’S FEATURED NEIGHBOURHOOD: WESTBORO

Why:

Because it seems that every young, upwardly mobile family that’s not already settled in the Glebe has its sights firmly set on Westboro. It’s chic to shop, hang out, and be seen along Richmond Road near the Newport restaurant. (Less chic, perhaps to be seen inside.) A real estate agent operating in this area, says demand is so high that many are moving farther west to hot spots McKellar Park and Highland Park, where average house sale price last year soared 19 per cent to $544,381. Real estate statisticians lump those two neighbourhoods together. Those are even higher prices than in Westboro itself, where average sale prices last year were still below $500,000.

Put Your Tax Dollars Back Into Your Home

2009-08-20T13:46:00.001-05:00

Homeowners who are contemplating renovations have six months left to take advantage of the Home Renovation Tax Credit and save hundreds of dollars on their income taxes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper reminded Canadians today.“There has never been a better time to renovate your home,” said the Prime Minister. “This new tax credit will help homeowners who renovate this year save on their taxes. In addition, these renovations will often lead to reduced energy costs or increases in the value of your home. Best of all, every time Canadians invest in renovations, they are also helping create construction and building-supplies jobs in their local communities.”The Prime Minister visited an Ottawa-area hardware store that is participating in a nationwide campaign to inform Canadians about how to apply for the Home Renovation Tax Credit. Thousands of stores across Canada have already signed up to promote this innovative new tax credit to Canadian consumers.A key component in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Home Renovation Tax Credit provides a 15% income tax credit on eligible home renovation expenditures for work performed or goods acquired between January 27, 2009 and February 1, 2010. The credit may be claimed on expenditures exceeding $1,000 but not more than $10,000 and will provide up to $1,350 in tax relief.

For more information on the Home Renovation Tax Credit please visit: http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1531.

In Ottawa's condo game, knowing what sells -- and to whom -- can be a mystery

2009-08-17T11:09:00.003-05:00

View this great article published in the Ottawa Citizen on Saturday August 15th, where I talk about the current condo market and what's to come in the future.

Big or small? Cheap or pricey? Young or old?
By Patrick Langston, The Ottawa Citizen August 15, 2009

For a town with a reputation for staid predictability, Ottawa is anything but when it comes to the condo market. One minute boomers aren't buying, the next they're tripping over each other to sign on the dotted line.

Ask builders about the much-touted trend to smaller units and they'll nod in agreement before throwing out enough exceptions to fill a gleaming condo tower. Makes you wonder if a Ouija board wouldn't work as well when it comes to defining the market.

We do know condo sales, after a recession-driven slowdown that hit the entire housing market, are healthy. According to the PMA Realty Group, May sales of apartment-style condos represented 12.8 per cent of new home sales, jumping to 13.6 per cent in June. July figures aren't yet available, but builders say they were good. July resales were up a record-breaking 7.6 per cent over 2008, according to the Ottawa Real Estate Board.

Thing is, no one seems to know who's going to be plunking down cash for condos or exactly what designs they'll want.

A recent weekend found empty-nesters surging through the sales office at Ashcroft Homes' 101 Richmond Road project, a chic glass-and-brick building planned in super hot Westboro.

The demographic caught sales representative Patti Bourassa "completely off-guard. Before then, it was nearly all 25 to 35 year-olds," she says. That weekend, boomers were snapping up 1,000-square-foot apartments after months of holding off on condo purchases.

"They know the inventory is limited, and maybe they have realtor friends who are saying, 'Sell your house now for a good price.' "

Boomers were the hardest hit buyer group this winter because their investments deflated and they were seriously afraid prices for their homes were also going to shrink.

The fear factor is gone, says Bourassa. "I heard some of them saying, 'I can't believe the price of condos. If I don't buy now, who knows what will happen in two years?' "

"Sometimes with trends, you try too hard to find the reason," says Ashcroft president David Choo. "There are shifts in the market and there's nothing you can do about it. There's no science about coming to the market; you're not saying, 'I know that's what's required.'"

- - -

Brenda and Ian Miller, longtime Orléans residents and married 48 years, recently bought a 1,000-square-foot corner condo at 101 Richmond Road. At Brenda's urging -- she's known to many as Brenda the Psychic and says she immediately "felt something very strong" about the site -- the couple bought within 20 minutes of entering the presentation centre.

Her husband, a Saskatchewan native now retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, is looking forward to the condo's proximity to bike paths and kayaking opportunities at Meech Lake. As well, he says, "the last few years, I've been missing that village aspect."

The Millers, like the other boomers who have flocked to 101 Richmond, may have been the exception that proves the rule. That rule, says Ron Desjardins, vice-president of PMA Brethour Group, states that young singles and couples, primarily professionals, are the major buyers of condos, mostly smaller ones.

In Ottawa, that trend was ignited a few years ago when Toronto-based Urban Capital Property Group opened the first tower at East Market. The small condos, priced at $99,000, appealed to young, first-time buyers. There are now three towers with mostly modest size units, although there are larger condos with spectacular views of the Ottawa skyline. Urban Capital followed up East Market with the Mondrian, a sleek condo that has risen at the corner of Bank Street and Laurier Avenue and, most recently, Central on Bank Street at Gladstone, a launch that sparked a feeding frenzy of buyers, many of them young.

- - -

Young buyers have been snapping up condos partly because prices have been stable and interest rates low, says Desjardins. Now, like the rest of the market, they're getting even more active. "There's talk that interest rates could see a bump, and they're seeing builders reducing the number of incentives," says Desjardins. "Also, builders discounted units through the winter and now they'll try to recover their margins. Even some drywall and toilet costs are increasing because manufacturers shut plants in the recession and now the inventory is tight.

"(Buyers) are seeing the window of opportunity to get the best deal getting tighter," says the veteran analyst.

Kristina Johnston is one of those young buyers. The 28-year-old, who runs a medical centre, bought an 800-square-foot condo at Westboro Station Phase II on the western edge of Westboro. The building, which will be ready in 2011, is being developed by Ottawa's Bourk Family Developments, and the 800-square-foot apartments were swiftly snapped up, especially by first-time buyers.

"I definitely checked out the condo market in Ottawa," says Johnston, who currently rents in Wellington West. She settled on Westboro Station in part because of the layout and size, and because she likes the neighbourhood's atmosphere and proximity to the Queensway.

But if young, first-time buyers dig Phase II at Westboro Station, which is 55 per cent sold, the average age of buyers in Phase I was reportedly 51. Go figure.

Buyers are all over the map, says Doug Casey, president of Ottawa's Charlesfort Developments. "Small is popular, but large is too. It all depends on the location and quality." Cosy, 460-square-foot condos in Charlesfort's downtown project, Hudson Park II, have sold well, but so have the building's larger apartments.

And, of course, there's the ultra-luxurious Metropole by Minto off Scott Street near Island Park Drive. Opened in 2004, its top-end units run well over 3,000 square feet.

On the other hand, Domicile Developments Inc. had a heck of a time selling its bigger, two-storey condo at G in the Glebe. The company finally chopped the units down and has since sold most of them. Its latest project, Second Avenue West on Bronson Avenue at the western limits of the Glebe, contains more units in the 600-square-foot range.

"It's an affordability issue," says Domicile president John Doran. With construction costs running $400-a-square-foot and more, the only way to keep units affordable is to shrink them. At the same time, Doran says older buyers expect fine finishes, while younger ones look for appliances as part of the package, neither of which comes cheaply. And it seems most buyers are looking for amenities, including exercise rooms, while nobody wants high condo fees.

Just to muddy the picture further, Doran says his company is looking at a Wellington West site where it may ramp up condo sizes again.

When it comes to living small, Ottawa architect Barry Hobin, whose projects include Hudson Park and Westboro Station, says he's seen a downward trend in Ottawa from over roughly 650 square feet to about 550 square feet.

Everything shrinks, he says. "Bedrooms are 10 feet wide instead of 12. The newest trend is that the dining room disappears and instead there's an eating island in the kitchen." Bigger windows and condo-scaled furniture, he adds, can go a long way to creating the illusion of spaciousness.

Ottawa still has a way to go in the incredible shrinking condo game.

Here, says Choo, a 600-square-foot condo would be considered small. In Toronto, it's mid-sized. "The whole condo experience is evolving. Designers are becoming more innovative in how they design small units, and builders are more innovative in how they present them."

- - -

Condo living, big or small, has become stable part of the Ottawa marketplace. Condo sales have represented about 10 per cent of total new home sales during the first six months of each year since 2006, according to the Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association. Resale figures from the Ottawa Real Estate Board, meanwhile, show condos representing 20 per cent of total home sales this year.

These numbers are radically different from the roughly two per cent of the Ottawa market that Marnie Bennett says condos represented only seven years ago. That's when the Keller Williams Ottawa Realty broker started selling condos here.

"We're not at the peak yet," she says. Case in point: runaway sales when the presentation centre for Mastercraft Starwood's 15-storey SoHo Parkway, planned for the corner of Parkdale Avenue and Scott Street, opened last month. Virtually all of the units, which run from 508 square feet to the $1.2 million, 2,779-square-foot penthouse, are being held in reserve for prospective buyers, Bennett says. She expects the vast majority of the sales will be completed.

"Everyone wants to travel now. We want to be surrounded by the finer things, be pampered and get the lifestyle we couldn't get in a single family home." Buyers, she says, are looking for nine-foot ceilings, marble bathrooms and the like. Ottawa architects and designers, meanwhile, are becoming more sophisticated in response to buyer expectations.

And Ottawa buyers can be a discerning lot, says Bennett. "There's much more informational sales here. People in Ottawa will call city hall and check up on all the little details of a project. We're research geeks."

Ottawa Housing Market Hits New Heights

2009-08-13T15:24:00.002-05:00

Real estate in Ottawa has almost been considered recession proof; it has continued to withstand the recession. Many consumers believe that the worst has subsided and now is a good time to invest and purchase in real estate. The record-low borrowing costs have been a huge factor in the decision making process of many money making hopefuls.

The housing market for example in May 2009 was the fourth consecutive increase in monthly sales. Also the average sale price of a home sold through multiple listing services has reached a new record of $319,757. The Ottawa Real Estate Board reported for the month of July that more than 1577 homes were sold, which was 11.5 % higher than July 2008. Rick Snell, the president of the Ottawa Real Estate Board said that the high demands from consumers combined with low listing inventory is creating a strong seller’s market with multiple offers and increased pricing. The Canadian Real Estate Association states actual sales were up in 14 of the 25 major markets CREA surveys with major markets leading the way. The jump in these sales is a direct reflects as supply is in demand.

Canada’s Economical Growth Expected to Grow in 2010

2009-08-13T14:52:00.003-05:00

COUNTRY RANKINGS

Country	Country Ranking in 2008	Country Ranking Expected in 2010
Australia	6	2
Austria	4	6
Belgium	12	4
Canada	11	5
Denmark	5	7
Finland	15	13
France	9	9
Germany	13	14
Ireland	17	17
Italy	16	12
Japan	14	11
Netherlands	3	15
Norway	1	1
Sweden	7	10
Switzerland	2	8
U.K.	10	14
U.S.	8	3

Source: Conference Board of Canada & Canwest News Service

CANADA’S INDICATOR RANKINGS

	2008	Expected in 2010
Overall Economy	11	5
Income per capita	8	8
GDP Growth	12	6
Labour Productivity Growth	12	14
Inflation	1 (tie with five countries)	1 (tie with five countries)
Unemployment	11	9
Employment Growth	8	8
Inward FDI performance index	10	3
Outward FDI performance index	9	5

Source: Conference Board of Canada & Canwest News Service

40 Kempster

2009-08-12T15:05:00.004-05:00

Location: Britannia
Price:$369,000.00

Why have two places, when you can live the cottage lifestyle in Ottawa? This home was originally a cottage, then transformed into a fully renovated dreamy New England-style home. 3 bed/2 bath on quiet street mere blocks from river. Granite, hrdwd thru, main floor family rm, s/s appliances, large treed lot, tons of windows allow natural light to flow in, this is a must see!

29 Main St. Unit 201 - Glassworks

2009-08-11T15:51:00.002-05:00

This stunning 1138 sq.ft.Charlesfort Glassworks condo is steps from the canal and downtown. It has hardwood and granite throughout. Master bedroomon 2nd floor has juliette balcony that overlooks living room and dining room. Balcony allows for great views of rideau canal. This unit includes 2 parking spaces.

SoHo Parkway

2009-08-06T15:42:00.004-05:00

Soho Parkway - by Mastercraft Starwood

28 Million Dollars, worth of real estate sold within 4hrs! What a successful evening. This development will surely turn heads.

Click here for the full New Homes and Condos article.

Common Mistakes of Real Estate Marketing

2009-08-06T14:55:00.003-05:00

Marketing is one of the major aspects of a successful real estate investment. If you are able to market your home properly, then you certainly are ahead of the rest. Having a well staged, and presentable house, will not only attract more buyers for viewings but will also result in selling the unit quicker. Failure to market your unit properly will more then likely result in your house being on the market for quite longer then usual.

If you take help from a real estate agent in selling your property, you can sell it faster. ‘For sale by owner’ properties take longer time to sell because of lack of proper marketing strategies. A professional real estate agent can sell it much faster as they have the experience and expertise to accomplish this.

When you see that similar properties in your real estate area are getting sold but not yours, you should immediately check whether it is due to lack of marketing or not. The general psychology of the buyers if they get to see a ‘for sale by owner’ sign in front of the yard is that they think the owner wants to make huge money out of it.

The result of this is that buyers tend to overlook that property. Suppose you have a nice property that you want to sell. You should never try to sell it to someone who knows about it. Besides, you won’t be attracting competitive bids till the time a good number of people know about it and wants to own it.

Avoiding making these common mistakes should you wish to earn great deals from your real estate investment. The novice investors tend to make a selection of their properties on the basis of numbers. If by chance they purchase a unit at a great value and then fix it up with minor renovations and then sell it for a high price, then they have made an excellent investment.

However, the aim of the real estate investor should be drawing profit. Lack of good marketing strategy while selling a property before buying it, is a great mistake that most of the novice real estate investors make. The marketing strategies have to be decided upon before purchasing a real estate.

One of the most critical things that needs to be done is budgeting a cost for how to market your house. A key rule to live by is to never go beyond your affordability and use only those strategies that come within your budget. You can even take help of a professional to see what strategies he follows.

Real estate investment has several risks. However, there are also ways by which one can manage these risks. There are many investors who in a bid to make quick money rush into matters ultimately losing thousands of dollars. One of the excellent tips for management of real estate investment risks is not expecting appreciation.

Home Selling Tips for First Time Home Sellers

2009-08-06T14:51:00.001-05:00

When you are selling your home for the first time, you need to take care of certain important things. These are very essential if you intend to sell your home fast and at a good price. The first thing is pricing your home correctly. If the price is too high, it wont’ sell. The lower the price, the more hits its going to receive and greater chance of it being sold faster.

However, this does not mean that you will price it very low. For knowing the right value of your property in the real estate area, you can either look out the prices of other homes for sale in your locality or take advice from some professional real estate agent.

The next essential thing is staging the property. This will certainly make you earn great deals from the transaction. Your home must look good so that it can attract the buyers easily. For this, you should remove all the clutters, paint if needed, mow the lawns, and place everything nicely on the day when a buyer visits your home.

However, you need to make sure that the person is willing to see your property by asking a few questions to him right on the first day when he makes his first call to you. These questions should relate to the amount the buyer is willing to invest on your property, their affordability, whether they have a good credit, etc.

You should allow your potential buyers to move freely and give a look at your house. It is after all an emotional decision for your buyer. They should have this freedom to get a feel of the property that will help them in taking decisions. You should obtain a qualified bank appraisal and committal for finance from a lender.

A qualified bank appraisal is one of the best marketing tools for your property in today’s real estate market. Make sure that you are obtaining a pre-approval for the next home you intend to purchase. You can put your home on MLS as that will give it a wide exposure to the people from the real estate world.

This can help you in getting multiple offers. You can take pictures of your property and put it online so that the interested buyers can see it right there before coming to see your property. Show emphasis on the location of your property. If its within close proximity to schools, hospitals, recreational parks, and shopping malls will help in selling your property to potential buyers.

Businesswoman of the Year! 2008

2009-04-03T10:16:00.002-05:00