Located in southeastern Ontario, Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
The city is famous for its high standard of living, impressive cultural scene, and top-notch education. Ottawa has a population of about
952,000 people and spans 2,779 square kilometres of land, bordering the province of Quebec via the small city of Gatineau.
With over half of the population possessing post-secondary qualifications, Ottawa provides a very competitive real estate market for its high-income residents.
The most interesting aspect of Ottawa’s real estate market is how things radically change depending on the neighbourhood that is being looked at.
New homebuyers in Ottawa will be surprised to see how things can change between neighbourhoods that are adjacent to one another.
For example, the Lebreton Flats neighbourhood of Central Ottawa is home to rapid development of low-rise and high-rise condos that have garnered significant interest from prospective homebuyers.
The modern design of these condos is particularly enticing to younger populations entering the workforce. On the other hand, Sandy Hill is located right beside the University of Ottawa and is home to many of its students.
The community consists of several detached homes where students can live together in order to save money on the monthly rent costs.
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Ottawa is home to several attractions and spectacles that will keep tourists busy for days to come.
For example, Ottawa is home to several museums that span many industries including nature, war, science & technology, space & aviation,
and finance. The most popular museum is the National Art of Gallery, which is home to many famous art pieces and seasonal exhibits that revolve
around an artistic theme.
Ottawa also boasts a fairly large music scene. Located in the downtown area is the National Arts Centre, home to some of the best musicians and performers in the world.
They host numerous events on a daily basis for affordable prices and continue to attract top-tier talent on an international level.
Last but not least, the downtown area is home to all of the federal government buildings that many Canadians will know by heart.
The most popular tour revolves around Parliament Hill, home of Canada’s legislature. Tourists can purchase a tour that will cover the history of Canada, how Ottawa came to
be a city in 1826 and the roles that each sector government plays in keeping Canada a prosperous nation.
Neighbourhoods
The city of Ottawa can generally be divided into 4 different sections: Central Ottawa, East End, West End, and South End.
Each of these sections contains at least 12 different districts and neighbourhoods.
For example, the Lebreton Flats neighbourhood of Central Ottawa is home to rapid development of low-rise and high-rise condos that have
garnered significant
interest from prospective homebuyers. The modern design of these condos is particularly enticing to younger populations entering the workforce.
On the other
hand, Sandy Hill is located right beside the University of Ottawa and is home to many of its students.
The community consists of several detached homes where
students can live together in order to save money on the monthly rent costs.
The East End, as previously mentioned, is home to some of the most expensive properties in the city. In particular, Rockliffe Park and
New Edinburgh contain a majority of said properties. It is no surprise to see that high-profile ambassadors, scientists, and wealthy
business owners tend to occupy these homes. All of the homes are detached, with each holding multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. It is not
uncommon to see amenities such as tennis courts and pools being a part of these homes due to the thousands of square feet that these properties
occupy.
The West End is primarily composed of suburban communities that are extremely dense in the number of homes that are available.
These are primarily townhomes that are aggregated within a few feet of each other, mixed with a few detached properties that are larger in size.
With nearby access to major roads, residents can commute to their workplace without any problems. These neighbourhoods only contain a few chain
retail stores due to the high population density.
The South End contains the least amount of real estate development, yet contains one of the most difficult real estate markets to break into.
One of its most notable neighbourhoods is the Alta Vista area. Due to the old age of these properties – at least half a century – and the
convenient location that provides nearby access to all of the city’s main services, residents will very rarely put their homes up for sales and
they are bought just as quickly as they are advertised. Homes here include detached homes, semi-detached homes, bungalows, and apartments.
The properties here contain a large amount of free space and vegetation in relation to the size of the home.
The East End, as previously mentioned, is home to some of the most expensive properties in the city. In particular, Rockliffe Park and New Edinburgh contain a majority of said
properties. It is no surprise to see that high-profile ambassadors, scientists, and wealthy business owners tend to occupy these homes. All of the homes are detached, with
each holding multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. It is not uncommon to see amenities such as tennis courts and pools being a part of these homes due to the thousands of square feet
that these properties occupy.
The West End is primarily composed of suburban communities that are extremely dense in the number of homes that are available. These are primarily townhomes that are aggregated
within a few feet of each other, mixed with a few detached properties that are larger in size. With nearby access to major roads, residents can commute to their workplace without
any problems. These neighbourhoods only contain a few chain retail stores due to the high population density.
The South End contains the least amount of real estate development, yet contains one of the most difficult real estate markets to break into. One of its most notable
neighbourhoods is the Alta Vista area. Due to the old age of these properties – at least half a century – and the convenient location that provides nearby access to all
of the city’s main services, residents will very rarely put their homes up for sales and they are bought just as quickly as they are advertised. Homes here include detached
homes, semi-detached homes, bungalows, and apartments. The properties here contain a large amount of free space and vegetation in relation to the size of the home.
Average Home Price: $561,000
Average Rent Price: $1,244
Average Condo Price: $383,300
Average Detached Home Price: $618,400
Home Style
Average Price
2 storey
$652,200
Bungalow
$539,500
Data source: The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMCH) report for 2020/2021.
Education
As one of the most educated cities in Ottawa, it is no stranger to offering education at the highest level.
There is0.
a wide range of universities and colleges that each offers their own specialities. For example, the University of Ottawa places
a heavy focus on innovative scientific research. Algonquin College, on the other hand, excels in the fields of
contemporary arts and trade work.
When it comes to elementary schools in the K-8 range, Ottawa has an impressive 220 public schools and 75 private schools that provide children with a very high level of education.
Amongst the highest-ranked in reading, writing and math include Edouard-Bond, Elmdale, Mutchmor, and Hopewell Avenue. Many of these schools are home to international academic
competitions and initiatives that provide students with opportunities to advance their knowledge and skills beyond what is taught in the classroom.
Economic Overview & Outlook
Boasting the lowest unemployment rates and highest standard of living in the country - along with being one of the most educated cities in the
country - Ottawa is in no short supply of economic success. It is considered to be an impressive hub for locating jobs in the science, technology, health,
and federal government sectors. Job growth continues to rise, with tens of thousands of new workers employed every year.