We recently had the pleasure of assisting a military couple with their house hunt in Ottawa, turning it into an efficient and exciting adventure. The journey began with setting up a personalized portal tailored to their preferences,
allowing them to interact with listings by favouriting, disliking, and commenting on homes. This interactive approach helped Chris develop a strategic itinerary to maximize their limited viewing time.
To ensure efficiency during their brief visit, Chris pre-booked an inspection with a trusted home inspector before the couple’s arrival. This foresight was crucial in accommodating the tight timeframe and guaranteed that they could work with a reliable inspector.
Upon their arrival on a Sunday, the couple dived into their home search, visiting 28 homes over four days across Ottawa and its surrounding areas. Chris’s deep knowledge of the region helped them explore a variety of neighbourhoods, from the small-town feel of Carleton Place & Kemptiville to the notable suburbs of Kanata, Barrhaven and Stittsville. We explored them all! More inventory in the 2024 posting season has made military house hunting in Ottawa easier than in previous years. Good to see more balanced conditions in our marketplace.
The highlight of their trip was of course finding their dream home in Kemptville and swiftly fulfilling the home inspection condition, providing them with essential peace of mind.
This story exemplifies the success of a well-planned House Hunting Trip (HHT). If you’re preparing for your HHT in Ottawa or surrounding areas, our team is ready to guide you through every step, ensuring a smooth and successful home-buying experience.
Interested in starting your house-hunting journey? Contact us today to learn how we can assist you!
Spring is approaching, and the real estate market, after a unique start in 2024 with hesitant buyers and sellers, is showing signs of optimism. Check out why we expect a pickup in activity as confidence grows, anticipating a dynamic and bustling season ahead. If you have questions about what’s happening in your neighbourhood, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. My team and I would love to have a chat with you.
Why settle for just any realtor when you can choose a team that truly understands your unique needs? Our focus is crystal clear – we specialize in serving the military community, making us the top choice for your real estate journey in Ottawa.
Navigating the intricacies of military relocations is our forte. Our team members bring invaluable experience from countless house-hunting trips and seamless transactions involving military purchases or sales. When you choose us, you’re not just getting a realtor; you’re gaining access to a network of BGRS-approved vendors, ensuring a smooth journey from the beginning to well after your deal is closed. With an impressive track record of dozens of military deals under our belt, we proudly stand as Ottawa’s leading military real estate experts.
What sets us apart is not just our focus but the people we bring to the table. We have carefully curated a list of top-tier professionals, from specialized BGRS lawyers to inspectors well-versed in the intricacies of the military process. Having the right people at every step ensures a seamless and stress-free transaction for you.
But we don’t stop there. We proactively search for the perfect home on your behalf. Annually, we dispatch over twenty thousand letters to the most coveted neighborhoods, giving our military clients exclusive access to homes in Ottawa that aren’t available to the general public. Our proactive approach has proven successful, creating matches that go beyond what’s readily available, making your real estate experience truly exceptional.
In a sea of realtors, choose the team that not only knows the military but also has the expertise, connections, and dedication to make your real estate journey in Ottawa a resounding success.
This year, Colin, made us proud by participating in the Army Run, where he excelled in both the 5K and 10K races. Notably, he achieved personal best times in both events and ranked 58th out of 715 participants in the Sergeant Majors Challenge. Colin’s dedication extended beyond the race, as he also raised significant funds for the military.
Our commitment to supporting military families in Ottawa is unwavering. We understand the unique challenges they face during relocation, and our local expertise and tailored services ensure a smooth transition. Colin’s exceptional performance exemplifies our dedication to making a positive impact on our military clients.
It has been a successful year for us so far at the Chris Scott team with Military Relocations. The only way we are able to make these military relocations work is as a team. Chris, Colin and Rachel take a team approach to ensure we are providing the best client experience for both our buyers and sellers.
We helped relocate 18 military families so far, this year alone. We thought it would be of interest to share the neighbourhoods in the Ottawa area where they are located. As you can see from the map below, we work in all areas of the National Capital Region.
Jackson Ridge in Carleton Place, ON
Cam’s Way, Beckwith, ON
Admaston/Bromley, Admaston, ON
Richmond, ON
Stonebridge, Nepean, ON
Redwood Park, Qualicum Woods, Ottawa, ON
Jackson Trails, Stittsville, ON
Fairwinds, Stittsville, ON
Westwind, Stittsville, ON
Stittsville South, Stittsville, ON
Stittsville South, Stittsville, ON
Heights South, Orleans, ON
Notting Hill South, Orleans, ON
Avalon Encore, Orleans, ON
Hiawatha Park/Convent Glen, Orleans, ON
Springridge, Orleans, ON
Morgans Grant, Kanata, ON
Longfields, Barrhaven, Nepean, ON
Wherever you are most comfortable looking for a home in Ottawa, the Chris Scott Team has the knowledge and experience to help with your relocation- before, during, and after your HHT. Our mission is to turn every client into a Raving Fan!
Ottawa has many rural areas that are of interest to our house-hunting military clients. Estate lots can provide privacy and space to spread out. It is important to note the directive on lot sizes if you are considering buying this type of property. Brookfield may not cover a portion of your land transfer tax if the house is over 1.25 acres.
Per CFIRP Directive 8.1.05 Lots and lot size,
The reimbursement of expenses is limited to a lot size of:
• 1.25 acres (½ hectare); or
• up to four acres (2.47 hectares) where required by zoning laws and city bylaws.
If additional land is sold or purchased, CF members are entitled to reimbursement only for that portion of costs which would have been reimbursed within the above limitations.
If there is a zoning bylaw for your area that requires this larger lot size in order to purchase in this area, then you can submit proof of this and resubmit the claim.
If not, the requirement is that you supply 3 comparables of properties in the area at 1.25 acres or less. If this is not possible, as you note, you will need to have an appraisal done of your own property at 1.25 acres to show that the additional acreage adds no extra value. Despite the letter provided, it will need to be an appraiser and not a realtor who provides this information. If the appraisal shows no additional value, the claim can be processed as submitted. If there is additional value, the reimbursement will be capped at the value of 1.25 acres.
As a trusted military Realtor in Ottawa we will work with BGRS to provide the letters and comparable properties they need in order to pay out the refund. This year we successfully defended 2 properties. In one case we had to go through the process a few times to get the exception. There is no guarantee. This is something that BGRS is getting more strict about and is something that military buyers in Ottawa should be very aware of.
If you are planning your house hunting trip and relocation to Ottawa I hope you will interview us for the job! We specialize in this type of transaction.
While buying a home in Ottawa remains challenging in 2021, it has been a successful start to the year for our relocation clients. The pandemic has again affected how some HHTs are being authorized. Travel restrictions and quarantine protocols are forcing some to reevaluate their approach to finding a home in Ottawa. This year I have already completed three purchases with military clients, each a little different.
Our first HHT was an Imposed Restriction. Only one of the buyers was able to be in Ottawa. After two close calls in multiple offer situations, we found a property backing onto a golf course that was willing to entertain pre-emptive offers. We performed a home inspection first to protect ourselves and ensure we could present a strong offer and secured the home before other buyers could get organized.
Our next purchase was entirely virtual, with an in-person HHT as back-up. The top priority was to avoid higher prices and competition later in the year. With an iPad and lots of discussion on the road we toured several properties and secured a 2021 built home in a brand-new community. Buying a home without ever stepping foot inside is not for everyone. It can be hard to get a feel for the house, let alone the neighbourhood. To these buyers, the age of the home meant that the possibility of unnoticeable issues was low compared to resale homes, which made buying sight-unseen much more comfortable.
Most recently, we purchased a home with another IR client. Many listings hit MLS Tuesday-Thursday and wait to review offers until the following week. Our buyers were able to be in Ottawa Monday-Friday, which made it difficult to compete against buyers who had been preparing all week. Our clients adapted well and were able to make quick decisions. We launched the team into action to compete against a bully offer at a home we had been discussing and came out on top despite having only 30 minutes to prepare our offer.
All of our relocation success stories are built on preparation, organization, and communication. Flexibility is key. Contacting a Realtor in Ottawa should be one of the first things you do if you think you will be receiving a COS letter. We look forward to helping many more relocation clients during the upcoming posting season.
Every year the Chris Scott Team helps as many CAF members as we can, with their relocation into or out of Ottawa. My name is Colin and I am part of the Chris Scott Team, I have personally helped many buyers with their military relocations. Military relocations are a huge focus for us, and a part of our business that we all thoroughly enjoy. Based on recent moves and current trends, these are my Top 5 areas for members to check out in 2021:
Fairwinds, Stittsville (west)- Affectionately known as CFB Fairwinds, this is a neighbourhood that our relocation clients continue to flock to! A newer community that has a focus on family living, Fairwinds is a popular choice for military moves. It offers homes from several well-known builders that come in an array of sizes, styles, and prices across the neighbourhood- which makes for a great selection of homes when you are moving in, and a large pool of Buyers when you are promoted to another city. The west end of Ottawa has remerged as a hotspot for cutting-edge tech industries, in addition to the recent opening of the National Defence Headquarters on Carling Ave.
Hunt Club Woods (central/south)- One of my favourite areas in Ottawa. Phenomenal access to highways in all directions, downtown in 20-25 minutes, and well- established neighbourhoods. Walk scores are sometimes a little low, yet there are several major shopping hubs within a short drive or bus ride. There is a hearty sense of community from many long-term homeowners, and more recently a new generation of families with young children.
Riverside South (south)- An area that is still developing, Riverside South has a lot to offer for some Buyers. Many homes and subdivisions are quite new, in an area that shows strong potential for growth over the next few years. Many homes are move-in ready and may not need any big-ticket upgrades before your next posting. Ideal for members working at CFS Leitrim, or those who do not have a daily commute to downtown. It has the same great access to major routes as Hunt Club, yet in the newer areas there are still some amenities that are lagging a bit behind the pace of home construction. The good news is that they are coming, along with future stages of the OC Transpo Light Rail System, so there are many reasons to expect value to continue increasing.
Avalon/Fallingbrook, Orleans (east)- For those looking for some relief on purchase price, the east end can sometimes be the answer. There are many similar neighbourhoods as in Kanata and Stittsville- yet without a home for Tech and DND, the longer commute has historically helped to temper the average sale price. With an increasingly gig-focused economy, Covid-19, Stage 1 of the LRT at Blair Station in Gloucester (with more track coming soon heading east), and new subdivisions under construction every day, Orleans has become a popular place for incoming members in this competitive market.
Kemptville/Carleton Place/Arnprior (south/west surrounding towns and cities)- With home prices consistently on the rise, and many members relocating from smaller markets, these outlying communities are often go-to areas to shop in during our HHTs. Distance to Ottawa means that property values are generally lower than in the city, although these areas are growing closer and closer to Ottawa every year, as new Industry and home prices drive Buyers away from the downtown core. These areas can also offer a bit of greenspace for Buyers who are giving up large lots in rural towns to move to Ottawa. There can be less competition from other Buyers, yet resale opportunity can also be a factor at the end of a posting.
Wherever you are most comfortable looking for a home in Ottawa, the Chris Scott Team has the knowledge and experience to help with your relocation- before, during, and after your HHT. Our mission is to turn every client into a Raving Fan!
This blog post was a contribution by our team member Colin.
I have been fortunate enough to work with military members for over 15 years on their relocation moves to Ottawa. It is my favorite part of real estate. The thrill of finding homes for people on tight timelines is always a fun challenge. April & May are always the busy house hunting trip months. We were geared up for another busy posting season when Covid-19 hit. The impacts on the market were immediate. With the exception of a few military members who sold their homes in their respective cities all booked HHT’s were cancelled or postponed. Many listings that were ready to go to the market got pulled. When HHT’s resume hopefully later this month this is what the new Ottawa market looks like:
Listing Inventory Down
Sales were down 56% in April. There are fewer listings available but still, lots of buyers looking. Prices have stabilized but I am starting to see more multiple offers in the past week or so. Our market is starving for more new listings. I believe that they will be coming in the next few weeks. Sellers have been waiting for the right time to put their homes on the market.
Virtual Showings
We have already completed our first virtual house-hunting trip. I think we will have more to follow this year as families do not want to travel. We are face-timing clients through homes and providing them with as much information to make an informed decision. It seems challenging to buy off a video tour and floorplan. However, most new homes are sold the same way. I think this will be part of our new normal in weeks and months ahead.
Spring Selling Season Delayed
The spring market is going to be delayed into the summer this year. I think there will a very active summer market. If you are coming late on your Ottawa HHT this year it will not be reflected in the market. August right now seems like a very popular closing month for many of my clients.
Obstacles Can Be Navigated
Our team is committed to our military clients having the absolute best experience possible. Last year we navigated dozens of CAF members through a very hot market. This year it is the Covid-19 crisis. No matter what is thrown at us we will make sure you find a suitable home.
If you want to chat more about the market or your own real estate needs my cell is 613-863-6999
3 Biggest Challenges Facing CAF Members on their HHT’s
Our team has specialized in helping military families buy & sell their Ottawa homes for over 15 years. It has always been the most enjoyable part of what we do. The current market conditions in Ottawa have created some real challenges for our military clients relocating the capital. It is a seller’s market and the absorption rate is at an all-time high. Here are the 3 biggest challenges facing our HHT clients in Ottawa:
1: Available properties to buy
In many neighbourhoods within the city there is not much inventory available. It is even more prevalent in the areas our military clients like to purchase. Kanata, Stittsville, and Nepean are all grappling with a shortage of available listings. These are historically low levels. The graph below illustrates this well. When supply is down and demand is strong it puts upward pressure on prices. It also tends to make house-hunting trips a bit more stressful!
2: Speed of Sales
Homes in Ottawa are selling at record speed. Before you arrive on your HHT the properties you may hope to see are sometimes sold. It is challenging when we have a full list of houses to look at, only to discover that many have been put under contract. It also means that when you are on the ground here the houses can sell quickly. Decisions on properties need to be made quicker than usual.
3: Multiple Offer Dates
This was the biggest hurdle for my military clients in 2019. Many sellers in Ottawa are not entertaining offers until a certain date and time. For instance, a house may come for sale on a Wednesday. Showings will begin but there will be no offers until the following Monday. Then on offer day, you may be competing against 3-5 other buyers for the house. I don’t have to explain the logistical concerns involved for clients coming in for a few days on their house-hunting trip. It is something that we had to overcome in 2019 for sure. All our HHT’s were successful last year.
Ok, so I have given you a few of the challenges that one might face. It is also important to know the solutions. Here are some of the solutions to tackle this challenging house hunting trip environment:
