What better way to celebrate a holiday dedicated to love than by sharing a little love with those who are less fortunate? Innovative Community Support Services (ICSS) plans to do just that and wants to invite the Orleans community to join them. On February 12th, ICSS is hosting a dinner and dance at the Orleans Legion to help raise funds for victims of the Haiti earthquake disaster. Doors are open from 5pm-10pm. Broadway Bar and Grill will be cooking a delicious dinner for the event, entertainment will get your dancing shoes tapping and a silent auction will be part of the evening's festivities! Tickets are $35 per person or $60 per couple. Cash bar inside. ICSS is a non-profit charitable organization that is committed to supporting our diverse culture with cost effective community base... 02/10/2010

I'd like to take a minute to input my thoughts on real estate agents and public perception. Since the issue with the Competition bureau and the Canadian Real Estate Association has gotten more public I've been reading many posted comments.  I'm not going to go into details, since I'm sure you have all been paying attention to the news releases, etc... Now I guess you could call me a newbie in the business since I'm approaching 8 years in the Real Estate industry; however I am still following the developments of this case very closely and I'm so disapointed with some of the comments I'm seeing from the public. For example there was an article posted in today's Ottawa Citizen "CREA Chief goes on the defence" and right below under comments an anonymous reader wrote the following: "Calling ... 02/10/2010

The best way to get to know your community is to get involved with it! Orleans is host to many friendly clubs, foundations, and associations that you can become an active member of at any time. Here is a list of some our local organizations: Orleans Photo Club                                                                                                                                                               Are you a photography enthusiast? If your motto is "a picture‘s worth a thousand words," then you will find like minded individuals at the Orleans Photo Club! The club is a group of friendly East end photographers of all styles and levels that get together to improve their skills and participate in challenges, workshops, and community events.  Meetings are held the second Sat... 02/08/2010

Please come and Join us at our open house this Sunday February 7th from 2-4pm at 2082 Sunland Dr. in Orleans!   $294,500 Description: RARE end unit bungalow on a premium treed lot approx.90ft.back. Charming and very well maintained 2 bedroom + Florida room with patio door to large deck, and privately fenced pool-sized yard. The wood fireplace in sunny living room adds coziness to the room, neutral flooring throughout, newer skylight, and windows done in 2004 and roof in 2005. Truly fabulous layout, loads of oak cabinets, eat-in kitchen, bay window, private view, main floor laundry, and added shower. Beautiful colonial doors and trim, tiled entry, and cedar front deck. Large unspoiled lower level with large window provides ideal opportunity for your custom touches!  Ideal for seniors or ... 02/05/2010

One of the Ottawa Real Estate Questions I often get asked by Sellers is , "how do I package my home for Sale? " Well there are staging experts who get paid for this, but I simplify my advise down to a few pointers: 1.If your home needs a refresher coat of paint, do it ! This is one of the cheapest things you can do to increase the appeal of your home and it smells fresh too.The more neutral the paint tones, the better.Not everyone likes a red accent wall, for example. 2.Declutter your home.......pack away all your overflow things into boxes in the garage or preferably storage.Your home should show like a model home ideally.Imagine the Builders model homes and try and emulate that for your home.When it goes to market it is a commodity, it ceases to be your castle any longer regrettably. ... 02/04/2010

6291 Tealwood Place Directions: Orleans Blvd. to Maple Run to Oak Meadows to Tealwood Place. -Beautiful, 2 Bdrms., 1.5 bath, split level Condo. Rent/mth. $1095.00 + utilities. Avalable March 1st., 2010. Non-smoker, very small pets allowed. Access to back yard from Patio door on main floor. Parking included, #60 right in front of door. A/C, Cozy Gas Fireplace, 5 Appliances. Close to Bus Routes, Parks, Shopping and Schools. Call: Rossie at 613-824-2800, 613-302-6008 or e-mail ros.mor@rogers.com 02/04/2010

Below is a great article sent out by Riopelle Griener Professional Corporation in their montly Real Estate Bulletin about hot water tank issues. Buyer and Sellers beware! Buyers should beware of water-heater rental agreements registered on title    There are new water heater rental companies in the marketplace with a different approach to the usual month-to-month rental to which homeowners are accustomed. Lack of awareness can cause some complications when selling a home.   We recently encountered a situation where the sellers of a residential home had replaced their water heater with a new rental unit.   What they didn't realize was they had signed a 10-year rental contract, and the company registered a Notice of Security Interest against the title to their home. This unusual situation... 02/04/2010

Are your toddlers ready to sing their ABC's?  If your child will be four or five years old by December 31, 2010 then they are ready to start Kindergarten in September 2010. Kindergarten registration for all Ottawa-Carleton district schools runs from February 1 - 5, 2010. Registration is quick and simple. Visit your local school to register and be sure to have these three important documents with you:  •1)      Your child's proof of age •2)       Ontario health card •3)      Immunization record To use a "School Locator" to find out what school your child will be attending, or for further information on different educational programs visit: www.ocdsb.ca or call 613-721-1820. 02/03/2010

One of the Ottawa Real Estate Questions I sometimes ask myself is "how do I stay motivated as an Agent?" Especially on a "dead day".Do you know what a dead day is ? A day when you have nothing on the calendar, yet feel too guilty to take off, as you know you should be working. We all know what we SHOULD be doing to lead generate, but every now and again, I find myself sitting at my desk, and not really feeling like doing what I know I need to be doing to get new leads.I think it is the result of being on the chaotic work busy busy busy treadmill for so long, that when you get a chance to just catch your breath, you sometimes just don't feel like it !! Feel like what ? Well, feel like doing anything to generate leads or activity. Instead of feeling guilty, just go with it, take a reduced... 02/01/2010

One of the Ottawa Real Estate Questions I sometimes get asked is "how does building a property portfolio fit into my overall goal planning for 2010?" Well , with all of the best Goal Setting intentions in the world I think it is important that your goals are aligned with your VALUES and that your goal setting activities align with your life values . Start off answering one of the interesting Ottawa Real estate Questions by asking yourself , "what are my values?" How many people could rattle them off without having to think too hard about it ? Very few ! Do most people even know what a VALUE is ?? My Life values are PEACE, LOVE, COURAGE, HOPE AND FAITH I wake up every morning and think about what these things mean to me in the context of my own life.... As a reminder to me I have these l... 01/30/2010

  On February 5th Winterlude in Ottawa will open and the events will finally start.  It is so nice to know that even with the freezing cold temperatures outside these days that we will still see people in our beautiful city out enjoying themselves.  If you are new to the city and you are wondering well "what is Winterlude"?  Winterlude is a unique winter celebration, because hey, if we live in this city during the winter months, then we better learn to embraces it!  Winterlude events happen on the Rideau Canal Skateway and at various other locations within Ottawa and Hull. It is more than a festival, it's a celebration of Canada's distinctive northern identity.  Check out the link below for more details, dates and times.  If you are new to the area and are looking to purchase a home, w... 01/29/2010

One of the Ottawa Real Estate Questions I often get asked by Buyers and Sellers is "what do you think will happen to the interest rates ?" David Rosenberg is chief strategist for Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc. and a guest columnist for Report on Business says on January 27,2010,  "In a nutshell, the Canadian market is already braced for 50 basis points of tightening from the Bank of Canada by September. With that in mind, it is difficult to believe that there is any significant rate risk here; if anything, the surprise will be that the bank is on hold for longer...........In fact, my view is that the Bank of Canada will not be raising rates until mid-2011 - at the earliest." So Buyers,in answer to this all important of the Ottawa Real Estate Questions, the window of opportunity remains... 01/28/2010

Vancouver has become one of the most unaffordable housing markets in the world, with Toronto and Montreal not far behind, according to a survey released on Monday. Ottawa, like most other Canadian cities in the survey, remained in the "moderately unaffordable" category.                                                   Vancouver not only has the least affordable housing of 28 markets measured in Canada, but of 272 metropolitan markets ranked in Ireland, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, United States and Canada. As Canada's resale housing prices rose in 2009, affordability fell, sending the national average reading to 3.7 from 3.5 the year before.  That would place Canada's overall housing market in the "moderately unaffordable" category, which is from 3.1 to 4. The numbers are calculate... 01/28/2010

I have a good sense of direction, tested in numerous cities around the globe, despite having grown up thinking west was north in Ottawa. (I know!) At the heart of the issue: aside from getting some fun driving lessons in a hot little red Fiat Spider convertible tooling around Rockcliffe (back when it was still a village) I never really drove in Ottawa. I grew up walking all over the downtown core: Centretown, the Glebe, the Market, Golden Triangle, and so I oriented around the Rideau Canal which occurred to me (erroneously) as running east-west. I've got it handled now... don't worry. If you tell me you want sunset views, I won't sell you a place where you'll wake up blinded every morning. I promise! I refuse to give yoga mats out as apologies. But lately, I've been wondering about my O... 01/28/2010

After some great response to my recent blog post on how to select your Real estate agent in Ottawa I think it's time to go over some of the qualities and traits that should be present in a great Realtor. Now everyone will have differences of opinions therefore these are my top pics and my personal views. I believe that there will be different qualities your Real estate agent in Ottawa should have depending on if you're Buying OR Selling a home. When selling your home in Ottawa here are a few qualities to look for in your Realtor:   1) Someone who will ojectively evaluate your home. Based on market information and current trends they will suggest a fair listing price. It may not be what you want to hear - but what you need to hear.   2) Someone with communication skills is EXTREAMELY imp... 01/28/2010

After blazing through the worst of the recession, Canadian Real Estate is poised to remain a strong Seller's market in the first half of 2010.  According to the Bank of Canada: "A hot housing market is part of the natural flow of economic recovery."  We have emergency low interest rates that are stimulating demand and encouraging Buyers back into the market.  What exactly does this mean for homeowners?  With the seasonal low inventory of homes for sale, paired with an increase in Buyer demand, it sets up an equation that equals time to make a move!  With competition among Buyers, Sellers receive multiple offers and home prices appreciate significantly.  Numbers will say it all, in the last quarter of 2009 the average sale price of residential properties in the Ottawa area was $330,471. ... 01/27/2010

Realtors Dan Salhany and Mary Caird are proud to be associated with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty (KWO). Last week a challenge was put out to the 270 KWO Realtors to raise $10,000 in Ten Days for the Haiti Relief Fund. In only a few days the team at MyOttawaRealEstate.com along with our fellow KWO Realtors have raised over $6000.00 for Haiti and climbing quickly. 01/25/2010

CHMC said the the economy is in the recovery mode and it looks like the Ottawa and surrounding areas market is booming!  With the good weather, Buyers are out there looking for a home to move to in the Spring or early Summer.  There's a little bit of an issue - not much inventory!  Sellers this is the time to do it.  Don't wait, call your real estate agent (me) and get it on the market. Multiple offers are a norm instead of an exception.  Some properties, you put up the sign and before it hits the MLS agents are calling to set up showings.  In one case, this week, sign went up at 9:00 p.m. the property was sold by 10:45 a.m. the next morning.  DO NOT HESITATE - the time is right. To get the best price in the shortest period of time and with the least hassle - www.irenebilinski.com is th... 01/24/2010

Sandy Hill Strathcona on the Parc condos Strathcona on the Parc is a 10 unit residential restoration, renovation and infill project located in the Sandy Hill Heritage Conservation District. The development features the restoration of the two existing Queen Anne Revival heritage houses, and a new 17,000 square metre, four storey addition at the rear of the property to accommodate eight new residential condominium units. Strathcona on the Parc is designed in a contemporary vernacular sympathetic to, but distinct from, the existing heritage residences. It demonstrates that residential intensification in one of the Ottawa’s Heritage Conservation Districts can be achieved with a strategy of careful restoration and sensitive infill. Some of the jury comments: “A clean, clear and honest infill... 01/23/2010

We are proud to say that I Dan Salhany and Mary Caird have achieved the status of the #1 partnership at Keller Williams Ottawa Realty! Our unmatched expertise can give you a competitive edge when it comes to properly pricing and staging your home. We are also proud to say that Keller Williams Ottawa Realty are Ranked the Top Real Estate Franchise in North America now for two years in a row!  We are recognized for selling homes faster and closer to the Original asking prices than any other Real Estate companies in Ottawa. What a great job we have done Keller Williams Ottawa Realty and great job to our Team at www.MyOttawaRealEstate.com! 01/22/2010