I am so excited about our new military division coming to Keller Williams! We are the first major brand to have such a division. It reinforces the importance our company places in supporting our troops with their real estate needs.
It was such an honor to meet Levi Rodgers. He is the new head of the Keller Williams military division. He is a veteran with an incredible story of bravery and determination. During his deployment, his vehicle was hit with an IED. He was the only one to survive the attack. He was heroically dragged to safety and there was not much hope he would make it. He was in a coma for weeks and had years of recovery ahead of him. Suffering from injuries and PTSD he left the army to start a career in real estate. He now operates one of the largest real estate teams in North America with over $900M in annual sales. Incredible achievement. Talk about perseverance!
I am so thrilled to work with and learn from Levi. Our team is proud to serve so many CAF members as buyers and sellers every year who relocate into and out of Ottawa. This new division will provide training and networks not available anywhere else. We will have the best connections across Canada and North America for our Ottawa clients who are posted out. I am so proud to be a part of this company that is so aligned with what we do. This new division ties so nicely to a core pillar of our business, assisting members of our military with their real estate needs.
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
DND management and OC Transpo are working together to resolve issues surrounding the DND headquarters on Carling Avenue. With the Ottawa light rail system launching, the plans are for quick and frequent service of the Carling Avenue location.
DND employees travelling from the west-end of Ottawa (Stittsville and Kanata) will have two options to transfer at either Moodie Station or Bayshore Station of which both will have frequent service to the DND. Route 66 will be revised once the LRT is up and running. It will be combined with Routes 101 and 103 as primary service to the DND.
Special thanks to all our 2019 Ottawa military clients who bought and sold with our team. Our house hunting trips took us to every corner of Ottawa and the surrounding area this year. Colin and I worked as a team to make sure everyone was well taken care of. It was a challenging Spring house hunting season in Ottawa but I am proud to say that everyone left with a house they were happy with. If you are relocating to Ottawa and need some assistance with your move always feel free to reach out.
It is no secret that Ottawa is the hottest housing market in the country right now. In Ottawa, one of the most active segments is the $400,000 to $480,000 price range. Our team was engaged by Heather and Byron who were relocating to Ottawa. Unfortunately for them, they were in this HUNGER GAMES price range. This is their story!
Day 1
We spent all day looking through various neighbourhoods in the city. We found a great house in Chapel Hill. It was a bit underpriced and judging by the multiple showings during our visit we knew it was going to be competitive. In the end we were notified there was 11 offers on the table! Let the games begin.
Offer 1
List Price$400,000
Our Bid$426,000
The winner was $451,000 with no conditions in the offer. 11 offers total. We were told our offer was in the top 1/3 of offers.
Me learning the news:
Day 2
More viewings and a new listing came up in the afternoon that we are the very first buyers into see. Excited at potentially doing this quickly. It is a holiday Monday and we figure this gives us an advantage. Beauty house on Steeple Chase in Kanata. We have our offer in within hours of listing. Afterwards, 3 other offers come in that afternoon. We know we have to go high to secure it. We make a very strong offer.
Offer 2
List Price$489,900
Our Bid$521,000
We felt very good about our offer. Unfortunately, they get a higher offer and we lose out again! The hunger games continue…
Pretty sure this is what the seller looked like:
Day 3
Time is starting to play a factor here. We need to secure something. A listing comes on the market at 9:30 am in Stittsville. We are in the house at 10:30 am and can’t believe our luck! It is a beauty. It is grossly underpriced for today’s market. They basically priced it at last years numbers. We head back to the office to chat about it. Before we can do much the agent calls and they have an offer on the table already. An hour later they already have 4 offers. They are presenting that afternoon at 4:30 pm. This is a bit of a problem because another house we liked was presenting at 6:00 pm. What one do we choose? We ended up putting an expiry of our offer of 6:00 pm for the first one so if we lost we could pursue the next. We go way over asking on this one!
Offer 3
List Price $439,900
Our Bid$476,000
Feeling a bit overconfident on this offer. Really strong but we ended up in second place! Luckily we found out just before 6:00 pm and bid on another home.
A surprising loss, time for a drink!
Offer 4
List Price$424,900
Our Bid$441,00
The house was really one of their favourites all along. We just didn’t want to overpay and felt our offer was a bit conservative. Funny that we were all not feeling overly confident on this one and then the call came in that the house was secured!! The hunger games were complete!!
WINNER!
The inspection was flawless and my clients went home happy.
Imagine all of the showings, paperwork, emotions, and stress of the 3 days above. It is not easy buying a house on any HHT let alone one in this market. At the end of the day, we got the job done and the clients are super happy with the process and the house they secured. That is what it is all about and why I love my job. It can be long days but it is hard to have a more rewarding feeling than making the call to let my clients know they have secured their dream home.
With our team the odds will always be in favour of our clients!
As a relocation specialist, the first question that buyers often ask me is about commuting to the new NDHQ. For many, this will determine where they will purchase. Right now there is plenty of parking available at the facility but this may change over the upcoming years as more people get transferred to the building. OC Transpo has been working with the city and CAF officials to create a viable plan for those taking the bus.
Most customers across Ottawa will be able to travel to Carling campus with one transfer on bus routes 101, 103, and 152. The city extended the transitway from Bayshore to the Moodie off-ramp to help accommodate the extra bus users this relocation is going to create. Here is a map of the bus routes.
Many of my clients who are relocating to Ottawa end up choosing areas Stittsville, Kanata, and Barrhaven due to its relatively close proximity to the Carling campus. We are always happy to chat with you about your move. Feel free to reach out via my cell at 613-863-6999 or fill out our HHT booking ADD LINK sheet and we will be happy to assist. We have been doing this successfully for 14 years. We have an excellent track record of results and would be happy to assist.
For more information regarding Ottawa transit click here, it will give you some great insight into transit times to major DND work locations.
