OTTAWA AREA HOMES

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. is going to make it easier for homeowners renting out apartments in their principal residences to borrow money, a move that could further heat up markets in Toronto and Vancouver. The Crown corporation, which controls a majority of the mortgage default insurance market in Canada, announced changes to its rules Monday and effective Sept. 28 which are aimed at boosting affordable housing. A background document sent to lenders and obtained by th

The federal government confirmed Monday it will commit up to $1 billion to the second stage of Ottawa’s light rail project. Ottawa-Orleans MP Royal Galipeau, who made the pledge in a letter to Mayor Jim Watson last week, joined regional minister for Eastern Ontario Pierre Poilievre to officially announce the funding at the Bayview transit station, the northernmost stop of the existing O-Train Trillium Line. “This investment is being delivered through the government’s new Publ

Canada is the "most admired" country with the "best reputation" in the world, according to an annual survey ranking the reputations of developed nations across the globe. Click Here for a Video The 2015 report from the Reputation Institute ranked Canada as the most reputable country in the world, based on a variety of environmental, political, and economic factors. The Reputation Institute's Fernando Prado says Canada offers "something good" in many different categories evalu

Successful burglars have lots in common — home owners who unwittingly give invitations to robbery. Here’s how thieves thank you for your generosity. You come home to an open front door, a ransacked house, and missing valuables. How did a burglar know you’d be gone? How did they get in? In these 10 thank-you notes, your friendly neighborhood burglars share advice on how to stop lending them a helping hand. 1. Thanks for the ladder! Call me a social climber if you will, but

The price of a home in Ottawa climbed slightly in the second quarter according to the Royal LePage House Price Survey and Market Survey Forecast released Tuesday. The value of an average two-storey home was up a modest 2.3 per cent from the second quarter of 2014, to $411,350. Detached bungalows were up 1.9 per cent to $409,167, and standard condominiums were relatively unchanged, at $257,467. "We had a good start to the year with strong activity including a record number of

Fannie Mae report and commentary find that millennials favor living in single-family homes, whether they buy or rent Much has been written in recent years about the millennial generation and the challenges young people face in getting a mortgage loan, but whether today’s young adults choose to dip their toes into homeownership or rent their homes, one thing is clear: They prefer to live in single-family homes in either scenario. Offering a recent commentary for Fannie Mae, Pa

Canadians looking to make a few extra dollars this summer by renting out their home or cottage when they aren't using them should call their insurance broker first or face the risk a claim may be denied if trouble arises. "Traditional personal coverage wasn't necessarily designed for commercial activity and people need to be aware of that and what their insurance coverage requires," says Steve Kee, a spokesman for the Insurance Bureau of Canada. "Each company may have its own

Arrangement allows buyers to dive into neighborhoods and culture in ways that staying in a hotel cannot. Buying a home is a big decision and can be even more overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the city or state where you’re moving. It’s not just about finding a home with four walls; it’s about finding a community that fits your lifestyle and personality. And as a real estate agent, it can be challenging to showcase everything a specific community has to offer to a poten

Seeing the teddy bear in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey told him all he needed to know. T.K. Butler of HomeLife Cimerman Real Estate Ltd. was escorting a pair of young newlyweds through a house for sale in Ajax. He looked around at the basement festooned in Leafs memorabilia – from posters to a light fixture to stuffed animals – and sensed that fanatics lived there. Mr. Butler also recalled that his young client, Derek Warner, has possession of a family heirloom more valuable t

Consider giving your home any of these 10 upgrades when looking to sell. If you're preparing your home for sale, there are certain improvements that are definitely worth their cost in helping to attract more buyers, sell your home faster, make back most (or all!) of your investment, or even increase the value of your home. We asked Toronto agent Matt Dawson of Chestnut Park Real Estate about what he sees as the 10 best upgrades you can make to your home, whether you're sellin