Beyond City Limits: Life in Ottawa’s Suburbs
 

Part 1: East of Ottawa

The East of Ottawa has always been a popular place for families to settle. There is so much to do in the area that you never really need to leave it to find exactly what you are looking for. There are four areas in the East that are currently booming:

Blackburn Hamlet - average resale price $261,162

Chapel Hill - average resale price $405,422

Convent Glen North - average resale price $292,571

Avalon - average resale price $351,124

Blackburn Hamlet is a very special part of Ottawa since it is surrounded by Greenbelt, and definitely won’t be getting much bigger. This community is perfect for people who are looking for that small town feel without being too far out of the city. What’s really great about Blackburn is the mature feel of the small ‘hamlet’. It has mature trees, large lots and a pedestrian friendly layout. Houses here generally sell very quickly, within three weeks, since it is such an exclusive area.

Chapel Hill is very close to Blackburn Hamlet, but has a very different feel. Houses are generally newer in this community; dating from the 1990’s onward. People shopping in this area are generally looking for newer & larger single family homes. The Chapel Hill area also features mature trees, many parks and great schools. Chapel Hill is a great place for families and since it is in Orleans, has many great amenities nearby such as recreation complexes, movie theatres and libraries. If you love Orleans, but find Avalon is too ‘new’ and far out for your tastes, Chapel Hill is the answer. 

Convent Glen North is a lovely mish mash community within Orleans. It features everything from condos to large four bedroom homes. Many homebuyers love the Convent Glen area since they can move within the same neighbourhood as their needs and budgets change and grow. This part of Orleans is also covered with parks & amazing trails, including the bike trail along the Ottawa river which takes you right down to parliament! Another hidden treasure in Convent Glen (well maybe not so hidden) is Taffy Lane! Every year the residents of Taffy Lane decorate their homes beautifully during the Christmas holidays. People come from all over the city to drive by and see the amazing array of decorations.

Avalon, as the sign at the entrance states, is a “perfectly planned community”.  It will eventually hold over 3,500 houses. What’s great about this area is the ability for homebuyers to have their ideal homes built.  Some really nice features of the community are the central squares (circles really). These are small parks within roundabouts; they feature parks and a great place to let your pets and kids run around. Even though this community is less than six years old, it already has a very active lifestyle with elementary schools and a brand new community centre.

And there you have it folks, the East of Ottawa is still expanding and full of many hidden gems and great family friendly communities. Many people think of the East of Ottawa as a sleepy government employee community, but as all of the expansion along Innes has proven, it is much more than that. In the East you can find that new development you're craving or that small town feel, if that’s more your speed. The above four communities are not the only gems the East of Ottawa has to offer, you can also find many other flourishing neighbourhoods such as: Fallingbrook, Orleans Wood, Chatelaine Village, Queenswood Heights, Springridge and Bradley Estates. I think it’s safe to say that the East really does, have it all!

(This blog post references the May 2011 issue of Ottawa Magazine)

LOVE IS IN THE AIR…

Win a spa manicure & pedicure basket from Beauticontrol by Joan Jesion or a Romantic ‘Tour of Italy’ Evening at Cuisine & Passion with executive Chef Marc Miron!

How to enter:
It’s simple! Comment on this post and tell us why you’d love to win!

Want additional entries? Hop on facebook or twitter!

1) "Like" Christiane Lafleur - YOUR Real Estate Professional & leave a comment

2) Follow me on TWITTER (@Christiane_L) & tweet: I'd love to win #valentinesdaycontest w @Christiane_L (Would you? http://goo.gl/aTiDt)

Feel free to comment as many times as you’d like until February 13th at 10AM. Each unique comment you submit counts as one entry!

The winner will be announced February 13th 2012 at 12NOON; just in time for a last minute Valentine’s Day Surprise - STAY TUNED!

For more information, Please call or email
The Christiane Lafleur Real Estate Team
(613) 859-0809 or admin@christianelafleur.com

It is a well know fact that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. They are the two most important rooms in a house since, if we’re going to be politically incorrect, women spend 99% of their time in the kitchen and men 99% in the bathroom, right? Well, let’s focus on what’s important and review some great tips on how to remodel your kitchens on a dime, without breaking the bank!

Let’s start with cabinetry. I know it scares us all to think about having to tear down our old, shall we say “rustic” looking cabinets and replace them with sleek modern cabinets, but fear not, there is another way! Instead of paying between $5,000 to $20,000 dollars on new cabinets, why not paint and reface your existing cabinets? Sure it’ll take a little bit of elbow grease and time, but isn’t it worth the thousands of dollars of savings? For an extra great finish top off your newly finished cabinets with beautiful new hardware; how’s that for kitchens on a dime!?

The next most important item when thinking of kitchen renovation is definitely the countertop. Of course we all dream of having granite, natural stone or other pricy materials, but why would we go for that when we can buy fake-outs for a quarter of the cost? Ceramic tiles are a gorgeous alternative, and now they even have amazing laminates which look like faux natural stones or faux granites.  It’s like spanks for women… Why pay for plastic surgery when we can cover it all up so well with our handy dandy spanks! Go ahead and fake it!

The last item which can make or break a beautiful kitchen is the floor. Let’s face it; if everything else in the kitchen is beautiful and the floor is atrocious… it’s like indulging on a fabulous dinner with no dessert, talk about an incomplete night! The trend right now for “high end” kitchens is marble flooring which can cost from $10 to $30 per square foot, yikes! A great alternative for a fraction of the cost is to use ceramic or porcelain tiles which are $5 to $20 dollars per square foot, much more reasonable and in my opinion, will look just as beautiful!

So there you have it, a few great tips to have a wonderfully updated space for a reasonable price. How did you enjoy Kitchens on a dime?  Obviously these are only a few of the many wonderful tips out there, so here’s your chance… what are YOUR tips for renovating on a budget?

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can you believe it’s 2012 already? A New Year means one thing for most people… Resolutions! How many resolutions have we all made (and broken) by now? Hey, it is the 6^th, keeping that ‘no junk food’ resolution was really tough come day three!

Well no need to fear unrealistic resolutions anymore. We have some great tips and tools you can use to set and achieve goals in 2012! The first rule, which may sound incredibly simple but is very important, is to set achievable goals. See, I should have known that not eating junk food would be impossible; alas it was a completely unrealistic goal! When trying to come up with achievable goals always think of the S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting Method:

S. Specific & Written – Make sure your goals are clear and concise. Writing them never hurts either, makes it more ‘real’ after all, doesn’t it?

M. Measurable in Progress & Completion – Be able to measure the small victories leading up to the big goal!

A. Achievable Outcome – Don’t set a goal to sky dive if you’re scared of heights! Make it something possible for YOU.

R. Realistic in Time & Skill - It’s important to make a goal you know you can attain if you work at it!

T. Time Based Achievement – Give yourself deadlines so you have something to work towards!

It’s as easy as that and you'll be Winning in 2012! Resolutions and Goals should be something that motivates us and pushes us towards being the best ‘me’ we can be. Following this simple method can help us all attain everything we desire in 2012!

Now, here are some interesting tips and facts to ensure we all have a prosperous, healthy and fun filled New Year (who doesn’t wish for more money, that sexy physique and more time to get jiggy?):

3 Habits of the Wealthy:
     1) Create and stick to a budget
     2) Pay down and eliminate debt.
     3) Build wealth in a savings account or through wise investments.

3 Healthy Practices to Adopt in 2012:
     1) Eat a balanced Diet.
     2) Exercise. Walking 15 minutes a day has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
     3) Reduce Stress. Stress leads to anxiety, fatigue and physical tension.

3 Ways to Spend More Time with Loved Ones:
      1) Plan a date night every week with your significant other.
     2) Eat dinner together as a family or set an evening aside for game night.
     3) Volunteer together. Participate in a beach or park clean up or help out at a local soup kitchen.

Sure many of these tips seem pretty obvious, but how many of us actually attempt to follow these tips on a weekly basis? Follow these 9 simple practices and guaranteed, you will be Winning in 2012!

Welcome to The Christiane Lafleur REAL ESTATE Team's CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CONTEST :)

How does it work?! From November 19th 2011 to December 15th 2011 you are able to make multiple entries to enter my Christmas Holiday contest. So... to be eligible to win a $75 gift certificate from HomeSense or Canadian Tire, you just have to comment on this post with what you would do with it if you won?! Top up on your decorating supplies?! More christmas lights? Purchase a gift for that special someone? The choice is yours!

Feel free to comment as many times as you’d like until December 15th at 10AM.  Each comment you submit counts as one entry (as long as each entry has a different use for the gift card each time). 

Do you want additional contest entries? Hop on facebook or twitter!

1) "Like" Christiane Lafleur - YOUR Real Estate Professional on Facebook and let me know what you'd use the gift certificate for in a comment on my fanpage wall.

2) Follow me on TWITTER (@Christiane_L) and tweet: I'd love to win a $75 gift card from HomeSense or Canadian Tire w @Christiane_L (Would you? http://goo.gl/6qaYU) #christmasholidaycontest

3) Refer any of your friends, family or coworkers (Selling, Buying or Investing) to The Christiane Lafleur Real Estate Team before December 15th 2011 at 10AM. Call directly or email anytime.

What are you waiting for!? I can't wait to see who takes home the gift certificate for my Christmas Holiday Contest - The winner will be announced December 15th 2011 at NOON; just in time for last minute holiday shopping - STAY TUNED!

**Contest is open to residents of Ottawa, ON, Canada and up to a 25km radius. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook or Twitter. Ottawa Real Estate Board members are exempt**

The other day I received an email from one of my clients in Victoria B.C. See below for a copy:

Thank you for the listings.  It is great to look and it is starting to feel real.  We rented a storage unit and are de-cluttering this weekend.  Net week we hopefully have a few realtors coming to look at our place.  Any tips we should ask?

I thought this would make a great post since many of my relocation clients ask me the same question frequently.  The following tips are also useful even if you're selling your home here in Ottawa.

Here's a few things to keep in mind when interviewing some Realtors:

1- Ask the agent how long he/she has been in the industry and how frequently they sell homes in your neighborhood. You don't need to pick someone that is the top agent in your neighborhood; but you do need someone that knows it very well and can identify the features and benefits it has to offer. Make sure they are a Realtor since we must abide by a strict code of ethics as opposed to a general real estate agent.

2- Ask the agent what their fee is. There are always "discount brokerages" available to you however you get what you pay for. You also want a professional negotiator to help once you receive an offer.

3- Ask the agent if they have a service/cancellation guarantee. You want some sort of recourse if you happen to be dissatisfied with their performance/services OR if they don’t do everything they say they will.

4- Ask the agent for their personal stats. How many homes they sell a year? What is their average days on market? What is their list to sale price ratio? You want to find a Realtor who prices properties competitively and can sell them effectively. Also ask for a list of their testimonials.

5- Be weary of a Realtor who pressures you to sign documents on the spot. Even if you get blown away by one in particular I would still strongly suggest completing all your interviews (min 3). All the forms they get you to sign are all pretty standard.

6- Ask the agent what their plan is for selling your home? What are their marketing strategies, etc...

7- And last but not least... trust your gut! Choose a Realtor that you have a good rapport with and trust. 

You can also review the info on my site for Sellers: http://www.christianelafleur.com/ForSellers.php (which will help you see what’s important and can give you ideas on what to look for in your Selling agent).

Good luck with your interviews! I'm here if you have any questions... 

My question to you is "Do you interview your Realtor?" and if you do, how many Realtors would you interview before making a decision on who will be hired to help sell your home?

Welcome to a years worth of contests with Christiane Lafleur REAL ESTATE :)

How does the April Contest works?! Every month you will be able to enter a contest to win some awesome prizes and gift cards! SPRING IS HERE and it's time to get cleaning! What would you do with a $50 gift card from Canadian Tire??? Top up on your cleaning supplies? Purchase outdoor paint? Add to your landscaping? Help with a new patio set? Spruce up your garden? To enter for your chance to win you just have to comment on this post and let us know what you would do with your gift card?! The choice is yours!

Feel free to comment as many times as you’d like until April 30th at 10AM. Each comment you submit counts as one entry (as long as each comment has a different use each time).

You can also get additional contest entries - how?:

1) "Like" Christiane Lafleur - YOUR Real Estate Professional on Facebook and let me know what you would do with a Canadian Tire gift card in a comment on my fanpage wall.

2) Follow me on TWITTER (@Christiane_L) and tweet: I'd love to win a $50 Canadian Tire gift card from @Christiane_L (Would you? http://goo.gl/8foAk) #aprilcontest

3) Refer any of your friends, family or coworkers (Selling, Buying or Investing) to Christiane Lafleur Real Estate before April 30th 2011 at 10AM. Call directly or email anytime.

What are you waiting for!? I can't wait to see who takes home the gift card for our April contest - Winner will be announced Monday May 2ND 2011 at NOON - STAY TUNED!

**Contest is open to residents of Ottawa, ON, Canada and up to a 25km radius. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook or Twitter.**

Welcome to a years worth of contests with Christiane Lafleur REAL ESTATE :)

How does it work?! Every month you will be able to enter a contest to win some awesome prizes and gift cards! Winter is coming to an end and MARCH BREAK is just around the corner. So... to be eligible to win the March contest, a $50 gift card to Mont Cascades, Mont Tremblant or Camp Fortune, you just have to comment on this post with which gift card you would select and what you would do with it?! Would you take a day to get away with a loved one? Find some time for overdue ski lessons? Spend a day tubbing with friends? The choice is yours!

Feel free to comment as many times as you’d like until March 17th at 10AM. Each comment you submit counts as one entry (as long as each comment has a different use each time).

You can also get additional contest entries - how?:

1) "Like" Christiane Lafleur - YOUR Real Estate Professional on Facebook and let me know which March contest gift card you'd like and why in a comment on my fanpage wall.

2) Follow me on TWITTER (@Christiane_L) and tweet: I'd love to win a $50 ___(insert type)___ gift card from @Christiane_L (Would you? http://goo.gl/TRB2m) #marchcontest

3) Refer any of your friends, family or coworkers (Selling, Buying or Investing) to Christiane Lafleur Real Estate before March 17th 2011 at 10AM. Call directly or email anytime.

What are you waiting for!? I can't wait to see who takes home the gift card for my March contest - Winner will be announced Thursday March 17th 2011 at NOON - STAY TUNED!

**Contest is open to residents of Ottawa, ON, Canada and up to a 25km radius. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook or Twitter.**

Welcome to a years worth of contests with Christiane Lafleur REAL ESTATE :)

How does it work?! Every month you will be able to enter a contest to win some awesome prizes and gift cards! So... to be eligible to win the February contest, a $50 gift card to Lowes, HomeDepot or HomeSense, you just have to comment on this post with which gift card you would select and what you would do with it?! Buy a new kitchen sink?! Some light fixtures? Complete your basement renovation? Add some color to your walls? The choice is yours!

Feel free to comment as many times as you’d like until February 28th at 10AM (eastern time). Each comment you submit counts as one entry (as long as each comment has a different use each time).

You can also get additional contest entries - how?:

1) "Like" Christiane Lafleur - YOUR Real Estate Professional on Facebook and let me know which February contest gift card you'd like and why in a comment on my fanpage wall.

2) Follow me on TWITTER (@Christiane_L) and tweet: I'd love to win a $50 ___(insert type)___ gift card from @Christiane_L (Would you? http://goo.gl/TRB2m) #februarycontest

3) Refer any of your friends, family or coworkers (Selling, Buying or Investing) to Christiane Lafleur Real Estate before February 28th 2011 at 10AM. Call directly or email anytime.

What are you waiting for!? I can't wait to see who takes home the gift card for my February contest - Winner will be announced Monday February 28th 2011 at NOON (eastern time) - STAY TUNED!

Yesterday I attended a great training session organized by Keller Williams Ottawa. They had a Realtor and lawyer come visit from Florida to explain how/why Canadians are buying a piece of paradise in Florida. They also explained the process which we need to take to do so.

Here's a few nuggets that I got from Esther Templin (KW) who focuses on a few different areas, mainly, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.

FORT LAUDERDALE
   - LAS OLAS by the River: a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom approx. 1,100 sqft condo sold in 2006 for $465,000. Just sold in 2010 for $180,000.
   - NU RIVER Landing: a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom approx. 1,100 sqft condo sold in 2006 for $374,000. Just sold in 2010 for $181,775.
   - A single family home in a good neighborhood had sold in early 2008 for $699,000, by the end of 2008 it was now valued at $299,000 and it sold in 2010 for $235,000.

HOLLYWOOD
   - REGENT PARK in downtown Hollywood: a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom approx. 1,100 sqft condo sold in 2005 for $379,000. Just sold in 2010 for $145,000
   - HOLLYWOOD Station: a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom approx. 1,100 sqft condo sold in 2007 for $310,000. Just sold in 2010 for $127,000.

With our dollar pretty much at par with the USA now is a great time to get the max value out of your investment. The best way to purchase of these homes is CASH however RBC in Florida will finance your purchase based on your Canadian assets and credit score - you MUST go in personally to visit them. Just a side note that your downpayment requirements may be slightly higher (30% vs. 25%). According to Esther now is the time for Canadians to be buying a piece of paradise!

Now onto a few tidbits of interesting information that I got from Dan Humbert, a real estate attorney who also practices in the Florida counties mentioned above.

The first thing Dan explained was how the market down in Florida is split right now. There are approx. 20% of their sales that are considered NORMAL (ie: a willing qualified buyer, and a willing non desperate seller; a typical everyday transaction). Approx. 50% are SHORT SALES (ie: Seller is under water financially and needs to sell quickly; homes priced realistically for today's market). Then approx. 30% are REO/BANK owned properties (ie: the bank has reposessed the home from the Sellers and usually sell at a very discounted rate). Now, if you're a Canadian wanting to buy a piece of paradise where do you start?! According to Dan it is very risky to purchase REO/BANK properties and you should definitely use the services of our own personal attorney; SHORT SALES are an interesting way to go however the time factor plays a role since the average timeline for closing is 90-120 days if not more. Purchasing a home under NORMAL circumstances are probably the best and most timely way to go; but at the end of the day your decision has to do with your personal circumstances.

Overall it was a very informative session and I learned alot on how the real estate market works down in Florida; I also had an "aha" moment when they were explaining how condominiums work down there too. Did you know there is no regulations or law for the condominium to have a "reserve fund" !? REALLY!? Condo fees are also higher since insurance costs are larger due to Hurricane, strong winds, floods, etc...

My big question remains is NOW the right time for Canadians to be buying a piece of paradise? After speaking to several professionals they all seem to be split 50/50. Some say now is the time and other say to wait till next year and feel the USA have not hit rock bottom yet?! What do you think?