Ottawa is the most challenging place in the country to buy a property right now. According to the Canadian real estate association, Ottawa is the hottest market in Canada and it’s not even close! This presents an interesting set of challenges for military buyers. They have only limited time on their house hunting trips. There is much less to look at and you really can’t start favouriting too much before you arrive because the good houses are usually sold. I have been trying my best to get off-market listings ready for my clients before they arrive. This past week we had some great success with Corey and Marie who bought a house that was off-market. It was a brand new house that had closed only a few weeks earlier. It was the first place they looked at on Monday and it stood up against everything else we looked at. These exclusive opportunities are one way I am trying to give my military house-hunting clients a leg up over the competition. It is the second off-market deal we have done in this regard this year. In both cases, it was a win-win for everyone involved.
If you or someone you know is relocating to Ottawa please feel free to get in touch. This is what we specialize in.
If you have been transferred to Ottawa and are booking a house hunting trip there are a few important things to consider. Here are my top 3 tips:
1) Resale: Find a house that does not have any major strikes against it. This could be power lines in the backyard, house on a really busy street, it has an unusual layout or some type of stigma attached to the house/area. You have to make sure the house can be sold quickly on the other end when/if you are posted outside of Ottawa. Exceptions can be made if the price is very good.
2) Location: Find a location/neighbourhood close to transit, has good resale and is accessible to good schools. I can help guide you in this respect. I have good knowledge of all the areas in Ottawa.
3) Realtor: As you know this week is going to be very important for you. Your new home/area can in some ways dictate how you will enjoy your time in Ottawa. It is important to get aligned with a great Realtor who is familiar with house hunting trips. There is no time for mistakes.
If you have any questions about your posting to Ottawa please feel free to get in touch. I am always reachable via my cell at 613-863-6999 or email.
The move to a new National Defence Headquarters is happening with the first group moving this month. Approximately 8,500 people from the National Capital Region are being relocated over the next 2 years. Check out this video for all the excitement!
One question that is often asked of me is Why specialize in military relocation?
The answer is quite simple. The people I have been fortunate to work with over the past 11 years have been incredible. There is lots of repeat business if you do a great job too.
I have had one military client move to Ottawa, get transferred out to Edmonton, then back to Ottawa and then relocated out East. They have plans to come back for 2017. I have gotten to know them so well over the past 11 years. As a military Realtor if you do a good job it is amazing how loyal your clients will be. Having the right real estate agent in Ottawa can definitely make all the difference. Keep me in mind if you are transferred into Ottawa.
Ottawa is a very popular destination for military postings. This has given me the opportunity to help dozens of military families get settled in Ottawa. Working with military families has always been the favourite part of my job. Military clients understand the process and do what it takes to get their home ready for sale. As buyers, they realize that relocation is just part of the job.
I had the pleasure of helping Heather and Alex sell their Ottawa home this summer. This was the fourth transaction I have helped them with. I also got them setup with a great Realtor in Fredericton. They are such a joy to work with. It was the fourth time in 7 years they have moved cities. Think about that! That is incredible! It is not easy to just pick up and move to a new city – especially with a young family. These sacrifices often go unnoticed. They are among the many reasons why we should all hold our CAF members in such high regard.
Following a number of high-profile news stories describing some very expensive same-city moves, a change has been announced for the Canadian Military Relocation Policy.
The federal government will no longer cover moving costs for retiring members who are relocating within a 40km radius. This change will align the IPR policy with those of other federal departments and agencies, such as the RCMP.
DND said they will make “compassionate exceptions for medical reasons and extenuating personal circumstances”.
The retirement resettlement policy was designed to allow soldiers and their families to expense one final move when they retire so they can choose where they will live. It makes fiscal sense to exclude same-city moves, however, this will put significant pressure on the last house-hunting trip. It is very difficult to find the perfect retirement home on a 5-day, jam-packed, HHT, often handled without input from the spouse.
If you are posted to Ottawa, I would be happy to help you with your HHT.
