Blog — Matt Richling - Ottawa Condos and Lofts - Ottawa Real Estate For Sale

Matt Richling is a licensed Salesperson with RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group.

Ottawa Condos

Ottawa Condo Market Statistics - July 2019

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Each month we take a closer look and brake down the sales data of downtown condos from the previous month. Here are the statistics for July and the top five "downtown" area's - Centretown, Byward Market and Sandyhill, Little Italy (which includes Lebreton Flats), Hintonburg, and Westboro. The information will be specific to apartment style condominiums, and only what sold through the MLS. Also, DOM (Day's On Market) is calculated to include the conditional period, which in Ottawa is almost every single transaction to be roughly 10-14 days.

July is typically a slower month in Ottawa real estate, with everyone heading off to the cottage and enjoying the weather. Especially after a long, cold, winter like we just had! However, for most area’s the trend of low supply / seller’s market, kept it’s pace. Every neighbour hood (with the exception of Hintonburg), saw 99% list price to sale price ratio’s, and an average price over $400,000! Centretown saw the most action with 54 new listings and 46 sales. With Westboro dominating average sold price, shortest days on market, and a high list to sold price ratio, you are in a great position if you are thinking to sell. Overall, I would expect this trend to continue or let off slightly in August as we typically see, and then start picking back up in September as there are fewer cottage days, and a more normal focus on normal life.

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Do you have any questions about how this information affects your investment or looking for more information to make the best decision about your purchase? Let’s chat! Fill out the form on the bottom of the page.

Ottawa Condo Market Statistics - June 2019

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Each month we take a closer look and brake down the sales data of downtown condos from the previous month. Here are the statistics for June and the top five "downtown" area's - Centretown, Byward Market and Sandyhill, Little Italy (which includes Lebreton Flats), Hintonburg, and Westboro. The information will be specific to apartment style condominiums, and only what sold through the MLS. Also, DOM (Day's On Market) is calculated to include the conditional period, which in Ottawa is almost every single transaction to be roughly 10-14 days.

Wow, things keep getting hotter and hotter in the Ottawa condo market. The average selling price, days on market, list to sold price, - all keep getting more intense.

Sellers: While things are doing well for you, we are still seeing properties that don’t sell above asking, and are taking quite a while to sell. It is not as much of a sellers market as one would think. Pricing and how a unit is shown, is more important than ever. I am seeing condos listed both over and under market value (by lack of experience), and seeing condos priced correctly while also zero effort put into preparing for showings. If you had looked at selling over the last few years, but decided to put a tenant inside instead, this might be the time to review the market and data.

Buyers: Patience, preparation, and persistence. Be patient - supply is low right now and the best units will come on the market (maybe not in your price point anymore, but they will list, I promise). This isn’t a crazy sellers market. You have to be able to say no if the unit isn’t what you are looking for. Preparation - Get that mortgage pre-approval now. Know your numbers and what exactly you can afford. Being able to walk into the offer process with shorter timelines will make you stand out and give you more confidence with your offer. Persistence - Again, there is a supply shortage. The best units will come on the market, will just need to wait it out. We are also seeing more and more multiple offer scenarios, which means that you have a larger chance of loosing out if you don’t act quickly or are not prepared. If you do loose out, don’t give up!

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Do you have any questions about how this information affects your investment or looking for more information to make the best decision about your purchase? Let’s chat! Fill out the form on the bottom of the page.

Ottawa Condo Market Statistics - May 2019

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Every month we take a closer look and brake down the sales data of downtown condos from the previous month. Here are the statistics for May and the top five "downtown" area's - Centretown, Byward Market and Sandyhill, Little Italy (which includes Lebreton Flats), Hintonburg, and Westboro. The information will be specific to apartment style condominiums, and only what sold through the MLS. Also, DOM (Day's On Market) is calculated to include the conditional period, which in Ottawa is almost every single transaction to be roughly 10-14 days.

Centretown has been a very hot month for condo sales. Over last month (April 2019) we saw the average sold price has increased, along with the number of sold units, the days on market has dropped in almost half, plus the list to sell price has tightened up, all signalling that demand for Centretown has increased, while the supply (up until this month) had not. However we have seen the supply (new listings) increase from 58 in April 2019, to 79 in May 2019. While that is not a significant number, it should certainly help buyers who are trying to get into the area. Overall it is still a very strong sellers market.

Over last month (April 2019), Byward Market and Sandy Hill, continues to improve slightly, with over $22k average selling price increase, and an extra 1.2% list to sold price (99.5% vs 98.3% in April 2019). Number of units sold, number of new listings, and days on market improves only slightly. Overall, this shows the improvement over last year. The Byward Market and Sandy Hill are still a balanced market or slightly leaning towards a sellers market.

Little Italy is still a difficult area to breakdown with such few sold units - take these numbers even more with a grain of salt. While there was very little change over last month (okay, yes average sold price increased by 18k) the one exception was the days on market jumped to 60, which was more in line with what we were seeing in 2018. We are still seeing fewer listings on the market, which is helping to keep the list to sold price at a very tight 99%. With such little supply in Little Italy, the hot properties will sell quick and for a very strong price.

Same as Little Italy, these Hintonburg condo stats need to be taken with a grain of salt due to the low volume of sold units. We are starting to see the days on market rise, along with the amount of new listings to match what we saw last year at this time. However in perspective to other neighbourhoods in Ottawa, the days on market is still quite low, and with a higher list to sold price it is still clear that it is a sellers market in Hintonburg. If we saw more supply hitting the market, then we might see things balancing out in more favour for a buyer.

The Westboro condo market has continued to improve with only four new condos adding to the supply. The days on market is the lowest in the city, with the highest list to sold price (tied with Byward Market and Sandy Hill). This is certainly a sellers market and we will need a large number of new listings to help balance it out.

Do you have any questions about how this information affects your investment or looking for more information to make the best decision about your purchase? Let’s chat! Fill out the form on the bottom of the page.

Ottawa Condo Market Statistics - April 2019

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Every month we take a closer look and brake down the sales data of downtown condos from the previous month. Here are the statistics for April 2019 and the top five "downtown" area's - Centretown, Byward Market and Sandyhill, Little Italy (which includes Lebreton Flats), Hintonburg, and Westboro. The information will be specific to apartment style condominiums, and only what sold through the MLS. Also, DOM (Day's On Market) is calculated to include the conditional period, which in Ottawa is almost every single transaction to be roughly 10-14 days.

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Do you have any questions about how this information affects your investment or looking for more information to make the best decision about your purchase? Let’s chat! Fill out the form on the bottom of the page.

Ottawa Condo Market Statistics - March 2019

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Every month we take a closer look and brake down the sales data of downtown condos from the previous month. Here are the statistics for March 2019 and the top five "downtown" area's - Centretown, Byward Market and Sandyhill, Little Italy (which includes Lebreton Flats), Hintonburg, and Westboro. The information will be specific to apartment style condominiums, and only what sold through the MLS. Also, DOM (Day's On Market) is calculated to include the conditional period, which in Ottawa is almost every single transaction to be roughly 10-14 days.

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Do you have any questions about how this information affects your investment or looking for more information to make the best decision about your purchase? Let’s chat! Fill out the form on the bottom of the page.

Ottawa Condo Market Statistics - February 2019

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As we do every month, we have taken a closer look and broken down the sales data for the month of February 2019 for the top five "downtown" area's - Centretown, Byward Market and Sandyhill, Little Italy (which includes Lebreton Flats), Hintonburg, and Westboro. The information will be specific to apartment style condominiums, and only what sold through the MLS. Also, DOM (Day's On Market) is calculated to include the conditional period, which in Ottawa is almost every single transaction to be roughly 10-14 days.

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Little Italy - Stats.jpg
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Do you have any questions about how this information affects your investment or looking for more information to make the best decision? Let’s chat! Fill out the form on the bottom of the page.

Ottawa Condo Market Statistics - January 2019

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As we do every month, we have taken a closer look and broken down the sales data for the month of December 2018 for the top five "downtown" area's - Centretown, Byward Market and Sandyhill, Little Italy (which includes Lebreton Flats), Hintonburg, and Westboro. The information will be specific to apartment style condominiums, and only what sold through the MLS. Also, DOM (Day's On Market) is calculated to include the conditional period, which in Ottawa is almost every single transaction to be roughly 10-14 days.

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Do you have any questions about how this information affects your investment or looking for more information to make the best decision? Let’s chat! Fill out the form on the bottom of the page.

Ottawa Condo Market Statistics - December 2018

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As we do every month, we have taken a closer look and broken down the sales data for the month of December 2018 for the top five "downtown" area's - Centretown, Byward Market and Sandyhill, Little Italy (which includes Lebreton Flats), Hintonburg, and Westboro. The information will be specific to apartment style condominiums, and only what sold through the MLS. Also, DOM (Day's On Market) is calculated to include the conditional period, which in Ottawa is almost every single transaction to be roughly 10-14 days.

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Questions about how these numbers affect your investment/condo? Let’s chat! Fill out the form on the bottom of the page.

Claridge Icon - Sales Update

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** For more information about Claridge Icon, visit our Claridge Icon page, with all of the renderings, floorplans, detailed information, etc. CLICK HERE.**

Claridge Icon, located at 505 Preston street and just north of Dows Lake and in Little Italy, is continuing to sell units as construction moves along. Currently the building is over 50% sold out and has a good selection of sizes and prices. Units start at $336,000 for the Gable (610sqft), or the Redford (625sqft) for $338,000.

Occupancy is slated for October 2020. Prices average $604sqft. Deposit is 15%.

Ottawa Condo Market Statistics - November 2018

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As we do every month, we have taken a closer look and broken down the sales data for the month of November 2018 for the top five "downtown" area's - Centretown, Byward Market and Sandyhill, Little Italy (which includes Lebreton Flats), Hintonburg, and Westboro. The information will be specific to apartment style condominiums, and only what sold through the MLS. Also, DOM (Day's On Market) is calculated to include the conditional period which in Ottawa is almost every single transaction to be roughly 10-14 days.


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Questions about how these numbers affect your investment/condo? Contact us to chat more!

Zibi - O and Kanaal - Sales and Construction Update

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For everything about the Zibi development - check out the Zibi page HERE.

Zibi development located in both Ontario and Quebec is moving along quite well. The first building, named “O”, is located at 3 Rue Eddy in Gatineau. The second building, named “Kanaal” is located at 6 Booth street in Ottawa.

“O” - has started seeing its new residents take occupancy last week. It is 82% sold of the original 70 units. Of the units that remain, prices range from $339,900 up to 782,900. Sizes of remaining units range from 653sqft to 1362sqft. Some amazing views coming from every single unit. Check out the two storey “Traverse” floorplan, 1362sqft open concept corner unit, complete with 228sqft terrace.

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“Kanaal” - is currently under construction - currently pouring the grade slab. The roof is expected to be finished by February, with the first occupancy around November. The building is currently 89% sold out of the 67 units. Designed by Barry J. Hobin & Associates Architects Inc., Kanaal is a collection of 67 urban condo flats, two-story towns, and flow-through penthouses with private rooftop terraces. 

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Looking for more information about pre-construction condos in Ottawa? Fill out the form below to chat!

Ottawa Condo Market Statistics - October 2018

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Each month we take a closer look at the previous monthly condo sales data for the top five "downtown" Ottawa area's - Centretown, Byward Market and Sandyhill, Little Italy (which includes Lebretown Flats), Hintonburg, and Westboro. The information will be specific to apartment style condominiums, and only what sold through the MLS. Also, DOM (Day's On Market) is calculated to include the conditional period which in Ottawa is almost every single transaction to be roughly 10-14 days. Questions?


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Questions? Want to know how it affects your condo? Fill out the form below and let’s chat.

The River Terraces 2 at Greystone Launch Date

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EQ Homes is launching the latest condo building The River Terraces II this Saturday, October 13th at 10am. The building is a sister building to Terraces 1, which is located inside of Greystone Village - sandwiched between Main Street and The Rideau River. The building will be designed by Hobin Architecture Inc. and will consist of 99 units over nine floors. Units will range from 300sqft to 2,500sqft plus balconies or terraces.

River Terraces II at Greystone Village
October 13th 2018, 10am-5pm
175A Main Street in Ottawa

If you have questions about pre-construction projects in Ottawa, fill out the form below and let’s chat!

What is a PDI or Pre-Delivery Inspection?

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Often you will hear people in Ottawa throwing around the term PDI - Which stands for pre-delivery inspection. When you purchase a brand new condo (or home) you will be enrolled in the seven-year Tarion Warranty program. Before you take occupancy (move in), you will do an "inspection" of the entire unit with the builder. This is a comprehensive inspection where you may also be demonstrated on how to operate the home's systems such as plumbing, heating, and cooling. 

Any item that is damaged, missing, incomplete, or not operating correctly, should be noted on the PDI form that the builder will provide, which will verify that these conditions existed prior to occupancy. Some units have many small problems, some have very few. This is a chance for the builder to correct any issues before you take occupancy. Once the inspection is over, you will be asked to sign the PDI form.

Some examples that we have seen first hand are:
- tiles or flooring installed incorrectly or damaged
- appliances missing or damaged
- cabinet trim missing or damaged
- windows damaged
- baseboard trim damaged or missing
- poor paint or drywall mudding
- drywall nail pops
- counters missing or damaged
- the list goes on...

Keep in mind that the PDI is to establish that the problem existed before you moved in. If it is not mentioned on the PDI form, then it may be difficult to establish that the issue did not happen after you moved in and after you have occupancy. If there are any items that are not corrected by the time you move in, they need to be listed on a 30-day or year-end form. These forms represent a request for a warranty service and listed items that are covered under warranty that must be addressed by the builder within a specific amount of time.

If you are unable to make the PDI, you can always ask the builder and try to change the date. If that is not possible, you are able to send a designate (such as your real estate agent or friend/family member) - just provide your builder with written authority to sign the PDI form. 

Check out our post with tips for doing your PDI inspection - CLICK HERE.

Questions about buying condos in Ottawa? I would love to chat. Fill out the form below and ask away!

Condo Fees - What exactly am I paying for?

The gym at 111 Champagne (SoHo Champagne) is a common element which is paid for by the monthly condo fee.

The gym at 111 Champagne (SoHo Champagne) is a common element which is paid for by the monthly condo fee.

A common question people ask is regarding the monthly condo fees and what exactly the fee is paying for. To start, the fee is to pay for your share of the building... or your share of the common expenses. 
Your share is decided based on your percentage of ownership in the building or square footage of the overall building. In a highrise, it can be as little as .3% (or even less), however in a small lowrise that percentage could much higher. This would also increase if you have a parking spot and locker. Keep in mind that (typically, in most buildings) balconies or terraces are not used to determine ownership - you don't pay for the square footage of your balcony or terrace. They are referred to as exclusive common elements. You don't own them like the condo unit, instead, you have exclusive rights to use them. 

Common expenses can include:
- garbage collection
- snow removal
- landscaping
- water charges
- electricity for the common elements (hallways, parking garages, etc)
- natural gas heating for the common elements
- natural gas heating for the boiler tanks that supply heating to the units
- building insurance
- professional property management
- audit, legal, and professional expenses (lawyer, accountant, etc.)
- the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the common element components (this is and can be a big one - since this includes the building structure, elevators, windows, etc.) this also includes the amenities and equipment (gym equipment, bbq, pool, etc.)
- the cost of borrowing money (if a repair is needed that can't be covered by the reserve fund, the Corporation needs to borrow money)
- any remuneration payable to employees (superintendent, security, concierge, etc).

Every year Ottawa condo owners receive a breakdown of the expenses, and how the monthly condo fee was allocated and is projected to be spent. It is easy to ignore the document as it is long and dry, but important to look over and pay attention to how the money is being spent. 

Often I explain it as living in a condo provides a luxury that is impossible to match in a residential house at the same price point. Underground heated parking, an elevator, a concierge, gym, party room, no landscaping such as snow removal or lawn cutting, and no taking out the trash - just send it down a chute. 

Have a question about condo living or buying a condo? Let's chat.

Where Does My Condo Start? What do I own?

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A common question is regarding the boundaries of the condo, where exactly does it start? What exactly do you own, versus what is a common element? The answer is simple - check your status certificate. The main reason is that every single building is different and each building will have a different definition.

That said let's give you a better answer - let's take a closer look at the status certificate for The Galleria Phase 2 (238 Besserer) which will be fairly similar for those in a recently built highrise. Again, don't assume this is what is used by your building, check your own status certificate.

For the residential condo, the status describes the
- horizontal lower (floor) boundary as the upper unfinished surface of the concrete floor slab,
- horizontal upper (ceiling) boundary as the lower unfinished surface of the concrete slab above the unit.
It is explained using the concrete (rather than the drywall) since many buildings don't have finished ceilings!

Now for the vertical boundaries, 
- The backside surface of the drywall on the exterior walls of each unit,
- In the vicinity of the structural walls and columns, (which shall not form part of the unit), the backside surface of the drywall that surrounds such walls and columns,
- In the vicinity of pipe and duct chases, (which shall not form part of the unit), the backside surface of the drywall surrounding such chases,

What about windows and exterior doors??
- In the vicinity of the windows and exterior doors, the unfinished interior surface of the windows and doors in closed position, the inner or unit side surface of the glass contained therein, and the unfinished interior surface of the window and door frames. 

Fireplace?
- the portion of the fireplace and flue lying within the unit boundaries described above shall form part of the unit.

To sum it up, in 238 Besserer and in many similar buildings you own the drywall and in. BUT always check your own status certificate!

Questions about your condo? Let's chat!

Top Condo Renovations for Maximum Return

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A common question that I am asked is regarding which renovations will bring the best return when looking to sell an Ottawa condo or loft. Typically my answer can be very specific to the unit, however, there are some general ideas that you should start with.

1. Painting. Without a question, one of the most common things that is suggested to a client is a fresh coat of paint on the walls and trim work. Sometimes there are hairline cracks in the ceiling or scuff marks on the trim, and for the cost, it is the typically the best thing you can do to prep the condo for sale. A nice light grey goes a LONG way!

2. Kitchen. While not usually the cheapest option, more units around the city are starting to have slightly dated cabinets and counters. While replacing the counters is (essentially) an easy task, replacing the cabinets is a serious overhaul and a lot of work. However, depending on the unit and the cost it can make a HUGE difference in the unit. Remeber that a condo doesn't have numerous rooms or places to spend money - so having the main room look its best does a lot for sale price.

2.5 Parts of the kitchen. Even replacing the handles or painting the cabinets will give a fresh and serious change to the space. You don't always need to spend a boatload of cash to get results. 

3. Flooring. One of the first things most buyers notice when they walk into a unit is the quality of the flooring and the shape that it is in. Do you have carpet? Has the dog put deep scratches all over? Shoe or furniture imprints throughout the unit? These are a huge turn off for most buyers. Resist the urge to throw down low-cost laminate flooring, as it doesn't last. However every unit and budget is different.

4. Bathroom. Similar to the kitchen, there are not many rooms to spend money in a small condo. However, a new cabinet, mirror, or sometimes even just a shower curtain will go a long way in revamping the feel of the en-suite bathroom and can cost a lot less then in the kitchen. Some "modern" buildings from the 2003-2005 era have a very "interesting" yellow mustard tile - again, a huge turnoff for buyers.

5. Closet System. One of the first things we did in our condo was to remove the current standard "builder" closet and replace it with a closet system. This allowed us to fit two to almost three times the amount in the same space. It completely changed the way we were able to use the space and in a condo, every inch counts. There are numerous options available from DIY at Homedepot or Lowes, to custom built options! 

6. CLEAN. Yes, it isn't exactly a renovation, but you would be surprised by the number of people who don't DEEP clean, or even just clean period before putting their unit up on the market. A buyer wants to feel like they can live there and they want to feel that YOU love living there. If you don't take care of the space it subconsciously tells them that you don't like it and that they won't either. Go crazy with the cleaning - it will pay for itself!

While every unit is different, these are typically what I seem to mention when a client is asking what the can do in order to increase the value for selling. Want to chat about your unit specifically or just get more information about selling your condo? I would love to chat and answer any questions that you have.

Ottawa Senators at LeBreton Flats - What does it mean for you and Ottawa Real Estate?

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Last week the National Capital Commission announced that it signed an "agreement in principle" with RendezVous LeBreton to redevelop the 21-hectare area located in LeBreton Flats. RendezVous LeBreton is the winning bid to develop the land which is focused around a new NHL arena, 4,000 units of housing, schools, and public space. This agreement is another step in order for things to move forward however, there is still a very long way to go. 

Mayor Jim Watson, who is an NCC board member said “I have lots of ideas on how this thing can be derailed but I don’t want to share them because I want the thing to succeed. We’ve waited 50 to 60 years to get something on that site.” 

The largest hurdle being that both sides must still negotiate a final agreement, including proof that the developers have the financing that is required. At the same time, the federal government will also be asked to approve the undisclosed price for the cleanup, which is being deducted from the sale price of the land. While the City of Ottawa will also be required to approve any zoning amendments. 

In terms of timelines, the NCC said that the goal for construction is to begin in 2019-2020, or in 12 to 24 months. However, keep in mind that it took nearly two full years (April 2016) to get to where we are now. The NCC said it held 40 meetings and 120 hours of talks..... over two years!

IF... IF this moves ahead, will it be a positive for the area? Certainly without question. Aside from the fact that homes/condos in the immediate area are only steps to a LRT stop etc. The demand and then prices will certainly see a boom. There are over a dozen condo high rise buildings within a short walk - Cathedral Hill, The Gardens, the numerous buildings on Laurier, Claridge condos on Lebreton Flats, Zibi buildings, etc.  Especially since as of today some of these buildings are at a steal compared to similar units only minutes away.  These 

There is no question, that these values will rise if the Senators move downtown. Add in the LRT and it is a no-brainer. The question now is will it happen and when. How late can you wait before prices start creeping up? How much will values rise? 

Depending on your level of risk, LeBreton flats might be an area that pays off.

Want to chat about Ottawa real estate? Fill out the form below!

ArtHaus - Sales and Construction Update Jan 2018

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Construction is well underway at Arhaus Condos, located at 20 Daly Ave. There are approximately only ten units left. Mostly two beds, with one 1 bedroom (a Milne floor plan, corner unit 569sqft) and there is also One large 1 bedroom plus den (a fitzgerald floorplan, corner unit 978sqft). Prices for these units are starting from around $350,000.

At this time there is occupancy for the units (lowest floor first) expected for March 18th, 2018. 

Any questions or would like to know more? Fill out the form below.

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For more information about pre-construction condos in Ottawa, fill out the form below.

Should I Sell My Condo With A Tenant?

Selling Tenanted Condo In Ottawa

This is a pretty common scenario that I am seeing right now here in Ottawa. An owner wants to sell their condo, but has a tenant inside that has a number of months left on the lease. The owner is trying to figure out the best thing to do. Keep in mind I am going to answer this quite generally - every scenario and property is different (things like how the unit shows, the tenant, list price, area, etc will all come into play).

First thing I would ask is - Who is the potential buyer for the condo? Owner, Investor, etc? Most likely it is going to be an owner looking to occupy the unit. Depending on the price/unit, the majority of buyers we are seeing are not investors looking to rent out the unit, but owners looking to move into the unit. That being said, most people are not willing or able to buy a place, pay the mortgage (the costs will not cover the rent) and pay to live somewhere else, until the place is vacant. As a buyer, the risk you are taking with the tenant is quite high (yes, you can vet the tenant and verify everything, but the risk is still there). 

Why not an investor? Well, there is nothing certain in real estate, so knowing my luck the next buyer will be an investor - BUT generally at these prices, resale units do not cash flow under standard financing terms. I have units that cash flow (after ALL expenses) $600 month, on a $250,000-$260,000 purchase price - so compare to the one beds that list around the same price, you would be loosing money every month.

Back to the original question... Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer and ask yourself - Would I rather be provided vacant occupancy on closing, or have to worry about kicking out (or waiting for the lease to end) some tenant? Especially when there are other options to buy that could be currently vacant. 

Most downtown Ottawa condo buyers are looking for 30-60 day closing periods. So typically once the tenant gives the 60 days notice, then it starts to make sense to list the condo for sale. Since you will be able to give a reasonable time for the tenant to have vacated. More than two months notice and 

Tenant just gave me her 60 day notice to leave! Now what?

This is when I get to work - how does it show? If it shows badly would it make sense to wait until they leave, paint, stage, and list it, or sell right now? Is the tenant cooperative? I value communication as one of the most important aspects of my job. Communication with the owner, communication with the other agent, and obviously communication with the tenant. If the tenant is unhappy, they won't give two shits about how the unit looks for a showing, and will ensure that 24 hours notice for every showing. When you are selling with a tenant, you want the tenant to be part of the team and on good terms. Right from the start, we make sure that the interactions with the tenant are positive, honest, and open. We need their help to sell!

There is more than two months left, what are my options?

If you still have more than two months remaining on the lease, obviously you can still list the unit for sale, but finding an interested buyer will become much harder. Keep in mind there is always negotiations with the tenant. While you can't kick a tenant out during a lease, they are not able to leave early - UNLESS you both agree. What is $1,000, the cost of movers, or sometimes even just a case of beer in the grand scheme of things? While you need to make sure that the timing is right - last thing you want is to let the tenant out of the lease, and then the deal falls apart and you have a vacant unit and no buyer. Sometimes buyers love a certain building and would consider moving to another unit within! This is all part of that communication with the tenant, and seeing what options you have as the landlord.

Thinking of selling your investment condo in Ottawa? I would love to chat more. You can reach me at matt@mattrichling.com or fill out the form below.