Paul Schnittker's Blog Posts

Are you waiting to see what the market is doing this year before you decide to buy or sell? You’re not alone. Many Canadians have been sitting back and keeping an eye on housing prices and

Would you be surprised to hear that the number of residential properties sold last month was 30% lower than December 2021?The statistics for December’s real estate activity in Ottawa might

Good news, buyers: inventory has reached its highest point yet this year!In a month of predictably slow sales activity, the Ottawa Real Estate Board saw a whopping 1,598 new listings added. That

For the past two years, the real estate market in Ottawa has been unpredictable and unstable.Listing inventory has historically been quite low in this area, even compared to other hot markets in the

Taking more time to consider whether now is the right time to move? You’re not the only one.Market activity on the Ottawa Real Estate Board indicates that more buyers are taking a step back to

At the start of 2022, the Ottawa housing market looked like the Wild West of real estate.Listings were being sold faster than new inventory was coming in. Most properties had multiple offers that

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how much living expenses have gone up in every area: gas, groceries, housing costs, etc.People are beginning to spend more cautiously. And, as people

After 2 years of unpredictable and unprecedented market activity, the Ottawa Real Estate Board appears to be returning to more familiar territory.June is typically a month when real estate sales

March is often looked at as an indicator of what the spring housing market will do.(Spring is the peak season for real estate sales, so knowing what is coming can help to prepare buying and selling

If you’ve been keeping a close eye on the Ottawa housing market, you may have noticed some listing prices trending downwards of late.While this seems promising for first-time buyers or those

Buying a home is a journey.There are lots of new and unfamiliar challenges to navigate. Your path may not take you where you expect. There are twists and turns.But your Realtor® is there to be

The number of real estate sales in February reached a new high of 1,421 on the Ottawa Real Estate Board, marking a 3% increase from February 2021.The jump was much bigger, however, when compared to

Real estate activity is holding relatively steady so far in 2022.According to CREA, January saw a 1% increase in market activity over December of last year. This follows a four-month period of

Online shopping has never been as popular as it was over the past 2 years. With physical stores becoming less accessible, e-commerce transactions reached a record high in Canada. Even experiences

“Work from home” has become the new normal. According to Statistics Canada, about 40% of the workforce moved to remote work by the end of March 2020. And, in early 2021, 32% of Canadian

This blog was originally published in March 2021. Some event smentioned in this blog are no longer current. HOWEVER, as we enter 2022, demand is still quite high and inventory is quite low in the

2021 was an unprecedented year in real estate. Sales demand was high, fueled by the continuing pandemic which saw people seeking more space and a safe place to call their own.By the end of the year,

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life.And, unfortunately, it feels like one of the easiest things to do wrong.As a first-time homebuyer, there is so much to

2021 was an unpredictable and unusual year in many ways.That uncertainty was clearly reflected in the instability of numerous markets, including real estate.The Canadian real estate market will

This week marks the start of another school year.Parents everywhere are currently trying to readjust to old routines (especially those who are transitioning back to in-person learning after spending

Have you noticed a bit more of a chill in the air recently?The transition from summer to fall always seems to come faster than we expect. One day we are lounging on the beach, the next we are

You’re probably familiar with the concept of open houses.A home goes on the market, and then the listing agent arranges a chunk of time (usually a few hours on a weekend) during which the

We are so excited that the Fall Street Market is back this year!In-person events like this are a great opportunity for us to get to know you better. And we also love that it helps to promote the

Finding fun (and family-friendly) ways to celebrate Halloween can be a challenge. Especially these days.Remember how much talk there was last year about whether Halloween should even be allowed to

Moving into your new home is always exciting.You’ve probably spent weeks, maybe months, planning for this day and dreaming about what you’ll do in the new house. Maybe you even have

If you are a first-time home buyer, you’ve probably spent some time searching for home buying tips online.In that case, you’ve probably come across the 20% down payment rule.Why a 20

The Most Expensive Homes on the Ottawa Market Right NowDo you like to dream about what kind of house you would have if money wasn’t an issue? So do we.We all have an idea of what our dream

Exclusive Listing: 30 Mill St.Looking for your next project?This commercial property in the heart of historic Almonte could be it.Located on picturesque Mill St., across from the Mississippi River,

It looks like this summer in Ontario probably won’t offer a lot of options for travellers.And, though we miss going away on vacation, we are excited about the opportunity to spend time

Deciding whether to rent or buy is complicated.There are a lot of factors to consider – and a lot of opinions to listen to.In Canada, there is a strong inclination to buy a home rather than

Downsizing (moving into a smaller home, condo, or apartment) is a move that’s usually associated with retirement.But downsizing doesn’t only have to be empty-nesters and those who are no

We’ve all heard nightmare stories about bad moving companies. Items go missing or get broken in transport, possessions are held hostage, or the experience just feels very sketchy.The last

Might things finally be returning to normal?As the weather continues to improve and more people receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, it seems that people are getting excited for the possibility of a

Your Guide to Home AppraisalsHaving an appraisal done on a home is an important step in the buying process. But did you know that the purpose of an appraisal is not to protect buyers from making a

How to Refurbish Your Unfinished Basement Without Breaking the BankUnfinished basements can feel dark and dingy. But finishing a basement is a costly and time-consuming process.Does this sound

Get your yard ready for spring with these easy landscaping DIY ProjectsEvery spring, as the snow melts and the plants start to bloom, our minds shift to thoughts of spending more time outdoors,

Negotiating can be daunting.And whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned veteran, there are a lot of things to consider to make sure you get a good deal on your new house.When it comes

Home selling is not something you have to do very frequently.Unless you buy and flip properties for a living, that is.Most homeowners will have gone through the process of selling their home no more

If you’re reading this blog, you have probably pondered the possibility of selling your home.But maybe you’re uncertain about whether to go through with it.After all, there are a lot of