SOHO Champagne - Building Update - September 18th

SOHO Champagne is the 3rd SOHO building by Mastercraft Starwood in Ottawa. It is a 200 unit, 20 storey, "hotel inspired" condominium building that is located at 111 Champagne Avenue. Currently under construction, SOHO Champagne is looking to start building occupancy in April 2015. 

Currently there are 38 units left and they are about 85% sold out. The main section of the building, there are only four one bedroom floor plans still available for purchase;
- Model E - 535sqft plus an 82sqft balcony, starting on the 11th floor for $302,900
- Model E1 - 535sqft plus an 82sqft balcony, starting on the 11th floor for $298,900
- Model f - 666sqft plus a 57sqft balcony, starting on the 10th floor for $353,900
- Model G - 614sqft, starting on the 4th floor for $307,900 

In regards to The Skycollection, higher units starting on the 16th floor, there are also a number of floor plans sold out, with only a few remaining. Ranging from 535sqft plus balcony for $314,900, up to 897sqft plus balcony for $510,900. 

If you are looking for Pathway Suites (lower units on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floor), you have a good selection still remaining at a great price. Keep in mind that six of the 15 floor plans are already fully sold out.

They have seen a number of units sell over the past week and are looking to continue this success into the fall market. 

Notes:
- Parking is $35,000
- Locker is $3,500
- Condo Fees are $0.49sqft plus hydro

Are you looking for more information on SOHO Champagne or the SOHO brand in Ottawa? Fill out the form below to contact me, I would love to help.

Click Here to get more information on SOHO Champange

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Written by Matt Richling.

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

Gotham Ottawa - Building Update September 15th

Gotham Ottawa, is a 17 storey, 251 unit building, located at Lyon St. and Gloucester St. It is a project of Lamb Development and Fortress Real Developments that is set for completion later this year.

View fullsize

"Loft 13" which is still available for $233,900.

Sales Update

Currently 87-90% sold, there is more supply of the Jr. one bedroom and one bedroom range. While if you are looking for something larger, only a few two bedroom plus dens still available. All two bedrooms, three bedrooms, and "Glass House" units are sold out. Keep in mind prices for the smaller units have recently been increased and the larger units have had prices lower slightly. These price changes range from $10,000 to $12,000 depending on the unit and size. Prices range from $233,900 for the 426sqft one bed "loft 13", up to $619,900 for the 1,300sqft two bed plus den "Loft 316".

Construction Update

The building has been topped off, and most of the exterior glass windows and doors have now been installed. Interior work on the lower floors is underway with PDI's (pre-delivery inspections) being scheduled in October and occupancy beginning in November. 

Photo from "urbform" on flickr, showing building construction topped off, and glass windows mostly finished.

Are you looking for more information on Gotham Ottawa? Or looking to purchase a new condo unit? I would love to help!

Click Here for More Information About Gotham Condos

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Written by Matt Richling.

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

SoBa Condos - Building Update

**For updated information about SoBa Condos, check out the dedicated section with regularly updated construction and sales information. CLICK HERE to view.**

SoBa Condos in Ottawa - Building Update September 15th, 2014

SoBa Ottawa, is a 23 storey, 240 unit, condominium building that will be located at 203 Catherine street, between st. Bank and O'Connor st. It is a project of Lamb Development Corp. and Fortress Real Developments, and is expected for completion of fall 2016 to early 2017. 

Currently at 73% sold out, with a steady amount of sales over the last few weeks (seven units were sold last week alone). They are getting ready to close down the sales office in the next few weeks, start digging in October and finish the digging in December. 

They have a great mix of units still for sale, with many units either sold out, or only one of the model left. Most of the one bedroom, and one bedroom plus dens that are still available, are only available on one floor. While if you are in the market for a two bedroom or something on the larger side, you will have much more selection.

Prices start from $255,900 for unit 716 which is a one bedroom (floor plan D) 465sqft  plus a balcony, facing east. Up to the largest unit a 1,264sqft two bedroom facing North for $680,900. A few penthouse still remain, $671,900 to $828,900, 980sqft to 1,219sqft (just think of the amazing views!).

View fullsize

Floorplan D, which is still for sale $255,900.

Notes: 
- Parking: $39,900 only available for units 604sqft or larger.
- Lockers: $3,500
- Maintance fees - $0.48sqft
- Deposit for Purchase - $5,000 on signing, balance to 5% in 30 days, 5% in 60 days, 5% in 120 days, 5% at closing

If you are interested in SoBa condos or learning more about what they have left, fill out the form below. I would love to help you find the perfect condo, to live in or as an investment.

Click Here to Find Out More About SoBa Condos

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Written by Matt Richling.

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

Smart House and Micro Living - Media Coverage

Here is an updated list of media stories that are about Smart House Ottawa or micro-living! 

Last updated: January 5th, 2015

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Micro-Condos Kept Spreading Across Canada in 2014
Huffington Post - December 23rd, 2014 - Jesse Ferreras

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Micro-condos make big splash
Ottawa Business Journal - October 16th, 2014 - David Sali

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Urban Capital brings its Smart House micro-condo concept to Ottawa
Ottawa Citizen - October 16th, 2014 - Patrick Langston

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Tiny, living-room-sized home attracts Ottawa couple
CBC News - October 6th, 2014

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Architecture of inches: Intelligent use of space makes the smallest condos livable
National Post - September 13th, 2014 - Suzanne Wintrob

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Micro Condos On The Way
Ottawa Sun - August 30th, 2014

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Bigger isn't better: Why the next wave of condos will be under 500 square feet
CNN Online - August 20th, 2014 - Allyssia Alleyne

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Tips and Tricks for Streamlining your life in a Smart House Micro Condo
Buzz Buzz Home News - March 5th, 2014

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Toronto's Smart House Micro-Condo Wins Design Awards
Huffington Post Canada - July 5th, 2014 

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Micro Condos - Nothing New for Ottawa

 Studio condos like the one above from 360 Lofts (360 Cumberland St). 

Right now, there is a lot of buzz about micro-sized condos and the urbanization of cities. Micro-condos, also known as studios, are condos without a separate bedroom area and typically under 500sqft. Urban Capital is about to launch a micro-condo building called Smart House Ottawa, after the instant success of its sister Smart House Toronto. With this new building comes talk about if it will sell, and who will buy them. 

Funny thing is that studio condos or micro-condos are not a new concept to Ottawa. Many post 2000's condo buildings have at least one! Lets take a look at a few of the buildings around the downtown core that have studios or micro condos.

- Galleria Phase Two (234 Besserer) has two units per floor under 500sqft. "The Williams" which is 490sqft and priced at $201,000,  and "The Danby" which is 410sqft priced at $167,000 (both units priced on 1st floor).

- Claridge Plaza Phase Three (242 Rideau) has one studio per floor. The Broadway  is 440sqft and priced around $185,000 (on 3rd floor).

- The East Market (180 York, 383 Cumberland, and 179 George), has one unit per floor in each phase under the 450sqft mark. These do have separate bedroom areas. This was the first building by Urban Capital that brought small, modern condos to Ottawa.

- 360 Lofts (360 Cumberland St) which had a large number of 404sqft studios, sold almost 70% in a couple days with prices starting at $187,900.

Some newer buildings include...

A kitchen inside a studio at 360 Lofts.

- SoBa (Catherine St) which has 56 units under 509sqft and another 36 units from 511sqft - 516sqft.  Prices start at $181,000 for the 407sqft unit with a few units left. Smallest unit is 373sqft.

- Gotham (Lyon and Gloucester) has 41 units all under 436sqft, with prices starting from $226,900 almost fully sold out.

- Central Phase 1 (354 Gladstone) has 32 units under 478sqft. Which all sold out fairly quick.

- The Slater (Slater St) which has four studio floorplans per floor (64 units total) that are between 408sqft and 425sqft, with pricing starting at $210,000.

- Centropolis (Kent and Gladstone) which has units that are 295sqft, 305sqft, 315sqft, and 340sqft. Infact, there are 44 units in the building or 10 per floor that are under 340sqft. This building is fully sold out. One studio has re-sold in the building earlier this year at $195,000 (list price on MLS).

These are just a few buildings that include studio apartments. Could you live in 400sqft space? Many people in Ottawa already are, and with very few re-sales I would say that they love them. Looking to purchase a micro-condo, I would love to help!

*Pricing taken from builder price sheets over the last 5 years. Not up-to date prices for all units.

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Written by Matt Richling

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

Smart House Ottawa - Amenities

Smart House Ottawa - Building and Unit Amenities

Clever spaces, smartly designed to maximize space

Birds eye view of the amenities for Smart House Ottawa.

Creating an amenities space that acts like an extension of your unit, will provide you with much more enjoyment. At Smart House Ottawa, Urban Capital has done that, bringing features that you would expect and allow you to live, exercise, lounge, and be social, all while at home. Just because you live in a micro-condo doesn't mean your social life does as well.

Interior Amenities
- Party room containing kitchen and screening area, opening onto the outdoor terrace, with wireless high-speed internet access
- Fully equipped fitness room including free weights, weight machines and state-of-the-art cardio equipment, and adjacent yoga/stretching area
-Office/productivity centre, containing large-format printer (on a "fee for service" basis), and conference room
- "Product Library", for residents to rent useful household items

Outdoor Amenities
- Outdoor terrace located on the second floor, adjacent to the indoor amenity area, with intimate lounge seating areas surrounding gas fire pits, barbecues, dining tables, freeform plantings and landscaping

Building Amenities/Features
- Two residential elevators
- Underground heated parking (accessed from Flora st)
- Executive concierge service
- "Enterphone" security system in lobby, along with fob-based access system
- All suites have water efficient toilets, faucets and shower heads
- All units will be individually metered for all utilities, allowing occupants to control their personal electricity, water, and energy usage.

Smart House Ottawa building amenities as seen from the outside. (note that the exterior amenities were removed from this rendering for visual effect)

Step inside the units and you will understand why they are called "Smart" and space saving. By using high quality products that utilize space saving design, you are able to have that "big house feel" inside your condo. Using a fully-integrated Liebherr 24" refrigerator (the same ones used in SoHo Lisgar, and SoHo Parkway), Porter & Charles 12" two burner smooth cook top(when was the last time you used four burners at once?), 1.5 cubic foot stainless steel microwave-oven, and Fisher & Paykel 24" single tall-tub dishwasher drawer - your kitchen has high-end european appliances right where you want them. Both the AEG architectural hood fan, and integrated cutting board, are both tucked away so you wont notice them.  Even the European-style Porter & Charles 24" washer/condensing dryer is space saving, taking up a fraction of the space a normal set would use! When not in use, all you see is a modern clean space.

Smart House Ottawa Kitchen was fully designed to save space and look good. 

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Looking for advice about floor plans, views, pricing, etc? I would love to help you out, just fill out the form below. 

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Written by Matt Richling

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

What Schools Are Located in Downtown Ottawa?

A common question before buying is "which school would my child attend?" or "what school zones are for this area?" For those who are looking to start or grow a family, this can be very important when choosing the perfect area. 

Ottawa has four major elementary and secondary school boards, in addition to many private schools throughout the region. Many boards have a "School Locator" that allows you to input the possible new home address and requirements your child will need, and it will display which school boundaries that your home falls in. Keep in mind that this data is always changing (new schools/ larger boundaries/etc), so it could change year to year. See below for the full list.

The Ontario ministry of Education has a great website FAQ up that contains many common questions/answers that a parent would ask. It is a great resource - Learning in Ontario FAQ. 

If you are thinking of making a move to another school zone, I would love to help! 

Click Here to Contact Matt Richling

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The four major boards are:

• Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (English public board)
• Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board (English catholic board)
• CÉP de l'Est de l'Ontario (French public board)
• CSDC du Centre-Est de l'Ontario (French catholic board)

The full list of the private schools:

English

• Ashbury College
• Astolot Educational Centre
• Collège Sphere College
• Counterpoint Academy & Preschool
• Counterpoint Academy West & Preschool
• Elmwood School
• Fern Hill School
• Glebe Montessori School
• Great River Waldorf School
• Heritage Academy
• Maryvale Academy (Catholic) Woodroffe/417
• MindWare Academy
• Mississippi School for the Arts
• Ottawa Carleton E-School
• Ottawa Montessori School
• Rainbow Montessori School
• Turnbull School
• Carleton Montessori School
• Tancook Bell School
• The Greenwoods Academy
• Redeemer Christian High School
• Venta Preparatory School
• VINCI School- Elementary School for Gifted Kids
• Westboro Montessori School

Bilingual

• Académie de la Capitale International School
• Académie St-Laurent Academy
• Canadian Montessori Academy
• Collège Sphere College
• Macdonald-Cartier Academy
• Ottawa Montessori School/École Montessori d'Ottawa
• Parkdale Montessori School
• Westboro Academy

Jewish

Kindergarten

• Rambam Pre-school
• Ganon Pre-school
• Westboro Jewish Montessori Preschool

Community Schools

• Ottawa Jewish Community School

Elementary Schools

• Torah Academy
• Rambam Day School

Ottawa Torah Institute

• Machon Sarah High School (Female)
• Ottawa Torah Institute (Male)

Christian

• Calvary Christian Academy
• Community Christian School
• Ottawa School of the Bible
• Maryvale Academy (Catholic) Woodroffe/Queensway
• Ottawa Christian School
• Redeemer Christian High School
• St. Timothy's Classical Academy
• Bishop Hamilton Montessori School

Islamic

Full-time schools

• Abraar School
• Ottawa Islamic School
• École Ibn Batouta
• Ahlul-Bayt Islamic School

Part-time / Weekend Schools

• Al-Furqan Islamic School
• Al-Nour School
• Al-Rahma Language School
• Cordova Academy

French

• Alliance Française
• Collège catholique Franco-Ouest
• Canadian Montessori Academy
• Collège International L'Odyssée
• Lycée Claudel d'Ottawa[2]
• Académie Providence
• École Montessori d'Ottawa
• Parkdale Montessori School
• Collège Sphere College
• Official Languages School

Christian (French)

• Académie Réveil

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Written by Matt Richling

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

Smart House Ottawa - Pre-Launch Information

**Edit** For all Smart House Ottawa information - check out our Smart House Ottawa page.

Launching Thursday September 18th from 6pm to 9pm is the first official VIP Launch for Smart House Ottawa. Brought to you by Urban Capital, (the same developer who built Mondrian, The East Market, Central Condos and Hideaway) as well as Ottawa-based Tamarack Homes, the building will feature 152 condo units inside Ottawa's first micro condo development. Building off its success with Smart House Toronto, Urban Capital is looking to expand the idea here to Ottawa. Going to be located in the same neighbour hood as Central, at the corner of Flora and Bank streets, these units will range from 315sqft to 596 sqft (two bedroom units). Prices start at $179,9000 with all units featuring exposed concrete ceilings, and large oversized windows. Roderick Lahey was included in the project as the architect, which ensures the building will please those who will call this project home.

Other features of the building include, product library (will lend out tools you need to make basic repairs to the home), productivity centre which will allow you to work from home (includes a large-format printer/scanner), sunny boardroom, gym and full yoga studio, and party room (with projector/screen, full kitchen and bar, outdoor dining). 

Also to note, this building will have the utilities for each unit separately monitored (not included in the condo fee), which has always been a source of argument at condo board AGM's. This means, you only pay for what YOU consume, not based on a percentage of the building consumption. 

Please note: I will have more information over the next week (pricing, floorplans, etc). Fill out this form if you would like this advanced information, as soon as it becomes available. 

**For everything Smart House Ottawa related, visit our Smart House section - HERE.

Request for more information regarding SMART HOUSE Ottawa.

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Video from the Smart House Toronto project.

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Written by Matt Richling

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

Why Ottawa Real Estate Buyers Must Be Tech Savvy in 2014

The Importance of Technology for Today's Real Estate Buyers in Ottawa

There is a ton of discussion about becoming more tech savvy for the real estate industry in Ottawa as new websites and apps come out, but is technology really going to help you when looking to buy your condo or home?

Lets take a look at exactly why you will, and should, be using technology as an important tool during your hunt.

You will see properties first.

One of the first tools I will use as a real estate agent with my clients is the "Auto Notification" emails for new listings. This service automatically sends you an email of the new property (and price changes) as soon as the agent publishes the listing on our back end MLS (called MLX). This email can give you advanced notice before other buyers, sometimes up to 24 hours, before it will be uploaded to the public MLS. This is a HUGE advantage, especially if it is a hot property or in high demand. 

You will save time.

Recently, the Ottawa Real Estate Board added a feature that allows us agents to upload more  property photos (used to be only ten photos). This alone gives you a better idea of the space, and if it is right for you. Plus over the last few years, Video Tours and the horrible looking "visual tours" have started to become more used, which give you an even BETTER feel into the property and how it flows. All of this to help you decide if the property is right for you, faster, without wasting time to see every property first hand.

You will save MORE time.

Real estate and paperwork, used to go hand in hand. A few years ago, you would set a time to meet your agent, then print, sign, scan, send or fax, print, etc. the agreement, each time we needed to make a change. Now, by using program called DocuSign, I can use digital signatures to cut the time to fractions to get a counter offer. Plus, for the clients who spend the weekend at the cottage, boat, or ski hill, they can spend more time enjoying life rather than dealing with paperwork. Minutes rather than hours, not to mention a much better looking agreement at the end. However, in Ontario, digital signatures for the purchase agreement are still not allowed to be used. We can still use them for everything else such as the listing, buyer, ID verification, etc.

More information.

As an agent, I am also able to add "attachments" to the listing.  These attachments can include great information such as any pre-list building inspections, surveys, floor plans, utility bills, etc. (not every agent uploads this information, so every property is different). Keep in mind they are only accessible by real estate agents who are a member of the Ottawa Real Estate Board, since they usually contain private information. The more information you and your agent have, the better when it comes time to negotiate.

Better organized

When you head out and see ten or even five listings, it can be difficult to keep track of each specific thing you liked or disliked for every home.  It is very easy, very common, and almost expected for first time buyers to have problems keeping track. While I have my own tools and techniques that I have learned and use, every buyer will benefit from keeping notes as they go, to help later when looking back and comparing. Apps or tools like Evernote, can easily become your best friend during the hunt. Allowing you to take photos, videos, emails, notes, attachments and throw it all into an easy to find folder for later use.  

Okay, so it's not a guarantee, but the more tech savvy you are as a buyer, the better chances you will have to find that perfect Ottawa home. Can I help you find your home? 

Looking To Buy Real Estate in Ottawa? Click to Contact Matt

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Written by Matt Richling

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

Help! Just moved in, and something is broken?!

You just got the keys and started moving in to your new place, when you realize that something is broken or missing. What do you do?

Keep in mind that there are a number of possible problems that could occur, such as; broken appliances, missing chattels, holes in the wall from the seller moving, scratches on floor that were not there, things that were supposed to be fixed and were not. Use the contact button for help with your particular problem.

Right Away

Take photos and notes as soon as possible. The earlier the issue is found then the better for you. If it takes three weeks, and then you contact someone about the stove that is missing, its harder for us to go back to the previous seller. Contact your agent, and let them know. They can get stated on solving the problem. Your agent will then contact the other agent, and possibly your lawyer. Depending on the issue and how easy it is to prove the seller is at fault.

Involve My Lawyer?

Most likely there is not much at this point that the lawyer is going to be able to do. They will let you know and tell you if it is worth moving forward. The thing to ask yourself, is it worth your time? Is it worth getting the lawyer to chase the previous buyer for a $100 cleaning bill because they didn't clean the floors?

Don't Panic

The key here is communication among all the involved parties. You need to communicate everything to your agent and lawyer. They need to communicate the issues to the other agent and lawyer. And it might just be a simple fix or simple answer, or maybe something more detailed. They will have a better idea for each different scenario.

Next Time

The BEST thing you can do, is be proactive. Do a final walk through the day before closing to ensure all the appliances still work, and there are no large holes in the walls. If you find a problem before closing, your lawyer can hold back closing (depending on the issue). Many times there is no way you could have known it was going to happen. Many times we can avoid any issues before they begin.

Have a question or thinking about buying your first Ottawa home or condo? I would love to help. Click the button below.

Click Here to Contact Matt Richling for Information

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Written by Matt Richling

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

Selling: Millennials Are Here, And Looking To Buy Your Condo

This is an Ad for SOHO, which targeted Millennials. Offering a free lease of a brand new Mercedes CLA with purchase of select units.

When you sit down and prepare to sell your Ottawa condo, knowing who your target market is, will help you stand out and get results. Millennials, like baby boomers or Gen X, don't have a single definition, but the are typically considered to be people born between 1980 and the late 1990's. They are addicted to technology, and are now one of the larger demographics buying real estate across North America. 

If you are not going to include or pay attention to Millennial clients, then you are cutting out a large pool of possible buyers from your condo.  So, you ask if it is just marketing hype? Should you even care?

Take a peek at these economic and real estate statistics below that indicate Millennials are ready to purchase in the coming months - and beyond.

“Nearly 40% of buyers are first-timers, with Millennials making up 76 percent of the demographic.”

— National Association of Realtors

Half of 25-to-34-year-olds project to account for half of first-time buyers in the next decade. (Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies) 

A third of homebuyers during the first quarter of 2014 were Millennials. (National Association of Realtors)

Mortgage rates should remain near their record lows through the end of the year and start of 2015. (Bankrate)

Credit standards are easing for first-time buyers, which is great news for many Millennials with low scores. (Wall Street Journal)

Home prices are expected to improve between May 2014 and May 2015, with a predicted rise of 6%. (CoreLogic)

“Homebuying sentiment remains high for 94% of potential buyers, including many Millennials”

— Discover

77% of Millennials are confident they’ll know how to organize personal finances in the future. (Wells Fargo)

From 2015-25, Millennials are forecast to form 24 million new households. (Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies)

Many young renters aspire to buy homes soon, as they view homeownership as more ideal than renting. (Fannie Mae)

“Gen Y finances are improving: A third of Millennials are saving 6-10% of income for retirement.”

— Wells Fargo

From February 2013 to December 2017, home values are forecast to improve by an average of 22%. (Zillow)

Over 80% of Millennials say they are either currently comfortable financially or will be soon. (Pew Research Center) 

Eight in 10 Millennials cited the recent U.S. recession as the main reason they’ve become better savers. (Wells Fargo)

Older residences, including foreclosures, are providing Gen Y'ers countless affordable home options. (National Association of Realtors)

Take advantage of this knowledge and contact me about selling your Ottawa condo. Click the button below. I would love to help you out!

Click To Contact Matt Richling About Selling

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Written by Matt Richling

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

When Is The Best Time Of Year To Sell My Ottawa Condo?

When it comes to selling, one of the most common questions I am asked, is "when is the best time to sell?" 

The best time of year would be when there is the most demand for buyers and sellers. When both buyers are looking and sellers have their condo listed for sale. This is usually the Spring, followed by the fall, which are both our busiest time of the calendar year. The spring market in 2014 started much later than usual due to the weather, but normally mid-March or mid-April, lasting till mid-July.  The fall market being mid to late August till early-mid December. It cools off over summer and the December holidays.

Keep in mind, my favourite saying in relation to selling condos is, "There is no snow in condo land." Meaning there are always buyers looking and the condo market is less affected by the weather and the seasons. Condo market starts earlier in the spring, and will go later till the holidays in December. Buyers are less likely to be dependant on families and more on their own schedules/wants.

One hidden/unknown time is always the mid-January rush, where we have the buyers who have finished holidays (or a family house that was way to small with all the family over) and can't find what they are looking for since the sellers are waiting till spring. 

That being said, there are ALWAYS properties selling and buyers looking. If you are looking on new years or Christmas day, you are a serious buyer who is in need of a home. So don't be so quick to say no if you get a showing request.

Click the button below to learn more about selling your condo here in Ottawa. I would love to help you!

Click Here for More Information About Selling Your Ottawa Condo

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Written by Matt Richling.

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

We’re Hiring - Marketing Coordinator/Administrative Assistant

We are looking to add a part-time to full-time marketing coordinator and administrative assistant to our office. We are growing and need to add another member to the team to help with this growth.

What we’re looking for:
We’re looking for the complete package: someone who has the skills we need but who is also the kind of person we’d want to grab a beer with on a Friday and challenge to Just Dance. Specifically, we’re looking for someone with:

• Social media experience. This should include leveraging social media from a business perspective. Killer project management skills with keen attention to detail. Creativity. We are constantly trying to push the envelope in our industry. We need someone who can help us do that. Passion for writing. We’ll need help writing for our blog as well as coming up with creative social posts. Head-down-get’er-done attitude. We are looking for someone who is passionate about their work and willing to work hard day in and day out. The ability to be resourceful. We don’t want someone who will give up when they hit a road block – we want the kind of person who treats it as if it’s just a speed bump.

The marketing coordinator will be responsible for not only coordinating the various campaigns related to marketing and our listings but also for executing some aspects of them.

To apply, please submit your cover letter, resume, wage expectations and links to your social profiles to resumes@mattrichling.com

New Construction Ottawa Condos

Constantly updated list of new construction condos in Ottawa. These are blog posts that are under the new construction heading.

Have a question about new construction condos here in Ottawa? I would love to help. Fill out the form below.

New Property Teaser Video - Edgecliffe Ave

Here is a short property teaser that we threw together for a new listing that is coming to the market.  Edgecliffe Ave., located just south of Carling and Kirkwood sits above the homes to the north which provides stunning northern views and tons of privacy. This large house was completely renovated and is move-in ready for the new owners.

Are you looking to sell and would like a similar high quality marketing product for your house?

 Fill out the form below to contact me, I would love to help!

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Written by Matt Richling.

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home or condo that fits their lifestyle. 

Learn from Matt Richling - DocuSign and Other Paperless Tools 101

Ottawa real estate agents, I'm teaching an upcoming course at our office's admin location (Frank St and O'Connor) about Docusign and going paperless, next Thursday (22nd). It's going to be pretty hands on and cover Docusign, Evernote, Dropbox, and a few other tools you must have! Contact me if you would like to attend, and I'll send you more details.

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Written by Matt Richling

Matt is a licensed salesperson at RE/MAX Metro City Realty in Ottawa, Canada. Matt loves helping sellers and buyers find the perfect home that fits their lifestyle. 

Agent Reboot Toronto - Recap

#TBT to yesterday at Agent Reboot in Toronto, when the amazing Virginia Munden used my custom for sale signs as an example of thinking like a business and not being afraid of breaking the rules. She was one of many great speakers from across North America chatting about tech, video, and pushing the boundaries in real estate. 

Front Page this Weekends Ottawa Citizen Homes Section

Front page of this weekends The Ottawa Citizen, Homes and Condos section. Talking about a recent sale of a one bed condo at Central 1 in Centretown, built byUrban Capital

Rogers Daytime - Chat About Ottawa Real Estate and Ottawa Condos 2013

If you missed it last week, Matt was invited to Rogers Daytime to chat about the Ottawa real estate market and condo buildings.  It was a great clip about what to expect from the market this spring and how to prepare your home for selling. if you have any questions about selling your home or condo, contact Matt at 613-286-9501 or Matt@MattRichling.com