Ryan Cole and Donna Cole (www.coleconnection.ca) : Blog

Ottawa's Top 10 Restaurants

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:58:05 -0400

Ottawa’s Top 10 Restaurants

Dining has moved into a new era where respect for culinary tradition and home cooking collides with vanguard ideas. This season, the best meals are coming out of kitchens where the chefs excel at experimenting while keeping it real. Food editor Shawna Wagman’s Top 10 Restaurants List.

Photography by photoluxstudio.com/Christian Lalonde

What do ideas taste like? We eat them all the time, though we may not be aware of it. And it is the city’s chefs who are the ambassadors of these new food ideas. Consider how many dots, foams, farms, towers, and trios made it to the plate the last time you ate out. The kitchen-as-laboratory movement — a maelstrom of ideas — continues to fire the imaginations of cooks and eaters across the globe. When elBulli, Spain’s temple of the edible avant-garde, served its final meal in July, chefs Marc Lepine of Atelier and René Rodriguez of Navarra took note and replicated its recipes a month later via multi-course tribute dinners. Who would have guessed 10 years ago that Ottawa would be plating on par with the most cutting-edge kitchens on the planet? Forget predictable French gastronomy. Dining has moved into a new era where respect for culinary tradition and home cooking collides with vanguard ideas. The only rules now are that there are no rules. It seems to me that the very idea of food is up for interpretation — and reinterpretation.

THE TOP 10 LIST

#1. BLACK CAT BISTRO When Vardy left, a young and inexperienced cook, Patricia Larkin, was promoted to executive chef. The boss, Richard Urquhart, turned over the reins, leaving Larkin free to develop her own menu. Unlike many of her peers, she is no copycat.

#2. NAVARRA BY RENE RODRIGUEZ I fell under the spell of live flamenco music and the “bullfighter dinner,” a giant sweet and tangy beef rib, its fall-off-the-bone goodness infused with anise and apple, complemented by a chili-dipped hard-boiled egg and a plucky green sauce made with grainy dijon and cornichons.

#3. TOWN This is eager-to-please food that reaches out and hugs you. You’ll find things here you never even knew you were craving.

#4. OZ KAFE Simple, fresh, and unpretentious but also a little bit bad-ass and freakin’ delicious — that’s an Oz dish.

#5. CANVAS RESTO-BAR-ETC. As menus go, it’s not terribly inventive. I guess you could say it lacks edge. But I have come to appreciate the fact that Canvas knows its limits and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

#6. FRASER CAFÉ The Fraser brothers came along at precisely the right moment for Ottawa. We were craving something different, something that felt more personal and less fussy and made us excited about going out for dinner — or lunch or brunch. And we still do.

#7. RESTAURANT E18HTEEN This is a meal that teases and tantalizes; it is sensual food — voluptuous, creamy, silky, and moist. It is served in a timeless, cultureless, placeless space — looking around, you could be anywhere.

#8. THE WHALESBONE OYSTER HOUSE When I think of The Whalesbone, I think organic. But not in the sense of chemical-free certification that, say, government agencies or veggie buffet restaurants wish us to define it. It’s easy to forget that organic also refers to that gritty, primal, sometimes messy stuff that goes on below the surface of life.

#9. MURRAY STREET KITCHEN WINE CHARCUTERIE No one else has embraced the locavore and snout-to-tail cooking crazes as seriously as chef Steve Mitton. If you’re thinking you want to gather up a bunch of mates to feast on parts of a pig once reserved for the compost, Mitton is your man.

#10. SIDEDOOR At the helm is chef Matthew Carmichael and his former sous-chef from E18hteen, Jonathan Korecki, the talent now charged with running this kitchen. Sidedoor has all the ingredients for greatness. Here’s hoping it is ready to shine.

Consider the case of Next. That’s the name of the new Chicago restaurant from Grant Achatz, one of the most progressive chefs in the United States. It opened in April with a single no-choice menu based on modern French cuisine circa 1906. Reservations are made online in the form of tickets, which are paid in advance, for a limited 90-day run. Next then closes and reopens a week later as a completely different restaurant: a new concept (Thai Street Food and Childhood have been themes so far) every three months. Next. Get the idea? The New York Times predicted that Achatz had perhaps created for himself “the most difficult, ephemeral, and stressful restaurant in culinary history.” By all accounts, it is also an exhilarating and extraordinarily delicious one. And isn’t that what drives us to dine out?

Our city’s food scene has transformed radically in recent years. There are bound to be growing pains. Last year in this issue, we celebrated the burgeoning casual fine-dining scene — young chefs striking out on their own while eaters became more invested in the overall experience. This year we’re salivating over lower-key spots showcasing an influx of new flavours and cuisines: traditional Neapolitan pizza, real southern barbecue, and trendy fusion tacos. Even more conspicuous, perhaps, were the restaurant closings — first Benitz Bistro and b/SIDE, then Sweetgrass and, after a 24-year run, Savana Café.

In a city like ours, eager to shed its reputation as a dull dining town, aspiration drives the food scene on both sides of the table. Food is an expression of who we want to be. A restaurant such as Next reminds us that unlike eating at home, dining out is an exchange: it shouldn’t be about having everything exactly the way we usually have it. Aren’t chefs in the best position to show us how much more succulent a steak is when cooked to medium rare or the necessary abandon that comes from a perfectly oozy egg yolk or freshly shucked oyster? This explains the growing popularity of tasting menus and surprise dishes across Ottawa. Maybe we don’t need all those choices after all.

But living in an age of culinary lawlessness can be a double-edged knife. As I set off on this year’s quest to recommend 10 great places to eat right now, I battled against idea fatigue. Many dishes seemed unnecessarily complex or too precious; some of the better meals were outrageously priced, insanely rich, or just not delicious enough. Restaurants that claimed to cook with the seasons and support local farms (no doubt feeling obliged to do so) served industrial strawberries at the height of our growing season. The tendency for even the more eclectic food ideas in town to fall into line made me wonder if the new chef cliquedom might be having a homogenizing effect (after a while, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry as I encountered yet another menu featuring gnudi or a clever riff on a s’mores dessert). There were times when I wondered if this was the year that there might not be a Where to Eat Now list.

What became clear is that the very idea of where to find great food continues to shift. Some of the most delicious things I ate over the past year came from some of the most unexpected places: fresh doughnuts at the Lansdowne farmers’ market, barbecue chicken from an Ivorian chicken joint on McArthur Avenue, a terrific gourmet lunch counter on a residential street in Old Hull, and two feisty new post-poutine food trucks. Then there’s the most buzzed-about foodie sensation of all: Art-is-in Bakery, which abandoned its tiny wholesale digs in favour of a bread factory café in an off-the-beaten-track warehouse packed with French pastries, picnic tables, and long lunchtime lineups.

If this keeps up, we’ll have to investigate why restaurants are no longer places where great food flourishes. My feeling is that much of the popularity of pop-up, mobile, and underground food can be attributed to the face-to-face exchange between cooks and eaters. If we start to see restaurant-going as less of a transaction and more of a conversation, perhaps instead of wondering why so much dining out in Ottawa is disappointing, we might better ask why we aren’t inspiring our chefs to make better food.

The restaurants on this year’s list are the ones that are working to bridge the gap — making food based on ideas that are focused less on bragging rights and more on connecting eaters to the pleasures of eating. These are the chefs who are using whatever tricks and tools they choose to bring us back to our senses. And we should expect nothing less.

Source: Ottawa Magazine

Registration opens for HOPE Volleyball SummerFest

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:01:35 -0400

It's an opportunity to bask under the summer sun and feel the sand between your toes, all while contributing to a good cause.

Registration for the 30th edition of a charity beach volleyball tourney at Mooney's Bay begins Friday
May 4.

The one-day HOPE Volleyball SummerFest will be held on July 14 with live performances by Canadian artists, such as Treble Charger and Mother Mother.

HOPE, which stand for helping other people everywhere, is a not-for-profit and volunteer driven organization established in Ottawa in 1981 to support local charities. The Volleyball tournament, which attracts more than 25,000 spectators and participants each year, is the organizations flagship event.

This year, money raised will support children at Risk, Canadian Diabetes Association, Children's Wish Foundation, Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation, Big Bothers Big Sisters, Dreams Take Flight and Kidney Foundation of Canada. The tournament has four divisions ranging from recreational to competitive. The deadline to register is May 31.

For more information visit www.hopehelps.com or call 1-866-353-HOPE. Since its inception, HOPE has donated $3.4 million in support of more than 110 charities.

Article by: Chloé Fedio
Source: The Ottawa Citizen

2012 May ColeConnection.ca Team Newsletter

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:13:09 -0400

Do you know the basics of home security?

Most people feel confident about the basics of home security. For example: Keep

all doors locked. Have a light on in the house while away. Never hide a key outside
in an obvious place, like under the mat. Yet, almost a million and a half properties

get burglarized in North America each year. So how can you prevent that from

happening to your home? Here are a few less known home security basics:

• Actually, never hide a key outside. Thieves know all the hiding places. Instead,

make sure all family members have a key.

• Two-thirds of home burglaries occur during the day. So be extra vigilant about

making sure doors and windows are locked while you’re away during the day.

• Surprisingly, most thieves are not daring. They are 2.7 times more likely to target
a home without an alarm system.

• Thieves will attempt to force entry through sliding-style doors and windows first.

So make sure these have a locking bar or extra bolt lock.

• Surprising, 40% of household burglaries do not involve forced entry. The thief is

able to slip in through an unlocked window or door.

• Don’t show off possessions! An imported racing bike parked next to the garage,

or expensive audio equipment clearly seen through a window, is an invitation to

burglars.

• Take a look at the lighting and landscaping around your property. Are there spots

where a thief could easily hide? If so, make some changes.

• When planning a trip, have a trusted neighbour pick up newspapers, flyers

and anything else that may accumulate at your door.

Your local police department may have more tips and special programs for keeping

your home secure. Give them a call.

Eliminating the home selling (and buying) jitters

Selling your property and buying a new home can be a potentially intimidating

experience... so much so that these jitters may even prevent some people from

making a move! It doesn’t have to be that way. A big part of the stress of selling

and buying comes from not understanding the process or having unanswered

questions. You might worry about how the state of the market will affect

the value of your purchase over the long term or what you would do if you found

your dream home before receiving any offers on your current property.

Morrisonontheweb.com informed home buyer/seller newsletter

April sales sailing along through spring

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:08:17 -0400

Ottawa, May 3, 2012 -Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,568 residential properties in April through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,530 in April 2011, an increase of 2.5 per cent.

April’s sales included 300 in the condominium property class, and 1,268 in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.), which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

“Sales in April indicate a steady Ottawa market as we sail through spring,” remarks Ansel Clarke, President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. “Re-sale housing inventory is up by 6.9 per cent since last year, and interest rates continue to be low, indicating that Ottawa remains in a healthy, stable market.”

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in April in the Ottawa area was $364,077, an increase of 3.7 per cent over April 2011. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $272,851, an increase of 6.7 per cent over April 2011. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $385,660, an increase of 2.6 per cent over April 2011. The Board cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.

Source: Oreb.ca

704 134 York St, Ottawa, ON

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:23:32 -0400

I just sold this Condominium at 704 134 York St, Ottawa, ON The Market.

View this recently sold Condominium or see all my home sales

20 Years Later

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:45:21 -0400

Homes and condos: What's changed and what hasn't

Twenty years ago, when The Citizen launched its home section, the Ottawa housing market was a very different beast from what it is today. It was also remarkably similar in many ways. To make the milestone, we've combined the newspaper archives for a look at then and now and peeked at some of the developments in the intervening two decades.

THEN                                                                                         NOW

$143,868                       Average home price                                 $343,701
5,830                          Number of homes built                               5,794
42.2                      Percentage of new single homes                       36.8
1.4                   Percentage of new semi-detached homes               6.2
29.4                Percentage of new homes that were condos             25.4
26.9 Percentage of new homes that were townhomes or rowhouses 31.5
75                Percentage of homes built outside the greenbelt         75
2,500                    Average square footage of homes *                  2,200
50                             Average lot width in feet*                            38
29                           Highest condo in sales (storeys)                     28
43                               Number of active builders                          40
3                             Average number of bedrooms*                       3

                                - Compiled by Mariana Ionova

*PMA Brethour Realty Group estimates based on analysis of PMA New Home Market report
Sources:Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., Ottawa Real Estate Board, PMA Brethour Realty Group

Article by: Patrick Langston - The Ottawa Citizen

PayByPhone Now Live in Ottawa: Pay Parking Via your iphone

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:00:45 -0400

PayByPhone is by far one of my favourite apps as it allows me to securely pay for parking via my iPhone. Verrus first introduced their service as mobile site last April, but then soon released an iPhone app months later. Enter in your meter number, the amount of time you want to park for, and boom–your credit card is charged and a receipt emailed to you. You can also renew parking, setup text alerts and more.

The PayByPhone service is now live in Ottawa, to go along with existing Canadian service in Burnaby, Calgary, Edmonton, London, Nanaimo, Regina, Richmond, Saskatoon, Whistler, Winnipeg, Vancouver & Lower Mainland and Victoria.

Source: iPhoneinCanada.ca

Spring has sprung an increase in residential sales

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:39:33 -0400

Ottawa, April 4, 2012 - Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,396 residential properties in March through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,240 in March 2011, an increase of 12.6 per cent. The five-year average for March sales is 1,276.

March’s sales included 277 in the condominium property class, and 1,119 in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.), which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

“Along with the increasing temperatures and the arrival of spring, March saw a substantial increase in residential sales,” notes Ansel Clarke, President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. “With interest rates continuing to be low, it is no surprise that the market remains healthy and balanced.”

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in March in the Ottawa area was $353,684, an increase of 2.1 per cent over March 2011. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $267,308, an increase of 5.7 per cent over March 2011. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $375,065, a slight decrease of 0.2 per cent over March 2011. The Board cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.

Source: Oreb.ca

808 Bronson Ave, Ottawa, ON

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:46:23 -0400

I just sold this Condominium at 808 Bronson Ave, Ottawa, ON Glebe.

View this recently sold Condominium or see all my home sales

300 Lisgar, Ottawa, ON

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:23:39 -0400

I just sold this Condominium at 300 Lisgar, Ottawa, ON Downtown.

View this recently sold Condominium or see all my home sales

131 Holland, Ottawa, ON

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:07:00 -0400

I just sold this Condominium at 131 Holland, Ottawa, ON Westboro Village.

View this recently sold Condominium or see all my home sales

106 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:28:33 -0400

I just sold this Condominium at 106 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON Downtown.

View this recently sold Condominium or see all my home sales

101 Richmond Road, Ottawa, ON

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:55:48 -0400

I just sold this Apartment at 101 Richmond Road, Ottawa, ON Westboro Village.

View this recently sold Apartment or see all my home sales

2012 April ColeConnection.ca Team Newsletter

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:21:07 -0400

How to decide if you should replace your windows

One of the most prominent features of any home is the windows. When they

are well maintained they have a positive impact on the impression people

(such as potential buyers) will have of your property. The opposite occurs, of

course, when your windows look old and worn. So does that mean you should

replace your windows? That depends on a number of factors. Window replacement

can be an expensive renovation. Here are a few things to consider before making

your decision.

• Do your windows get frost or condensation build-up on the interior side? This

could be a sign that the windows are not keeping out the cold as well as they

should.

• Do you see water infiltration or mildew on the interior sides of any of the window

sills? This means that moisture is creeping in from the outside, and you need to

get those windows repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

• If your windows are double-paned – (two panes of glass) – check for any signs of

moisture in between the glass panes. Moisture indicates that the thermal seal is

broken and at a minimum, the glass will need to be replaced.

• Take a look at your windows from the outside. Is the trim rotted or cracked

anywhere? Are there dark spots or any signs of rotting on the wood frames?

Repairs or replacement may be required.

• Check the operation of your windows. Do they open and close easily? This is

important because some windows, such as those in bedrooms, are often designed

to be big enough to use as an exit in case of a fire.

• Finally, are you happy with how your windows look? Do you feel that your

property will look significantly better with new windows? Although they are

expensive, replacing windows has a lot of advantages. Depending on the

efficiency of your current windows, replacing them could cut your energy costs by

10-20%. In addition, new windows block out more exterior noise, making your

home quieter.

When is the best time to sell you home?

If you've been thinking about selling your home, you might be waiting until the

"market is right". After all, if the local market suddenly booms, your property will

likely sell for a higher price. That may be true. However, there are other factors to

consider in your decision to list. For example, will you be buying a new home

as well? If so, then the higher selling price will probably be offset by the higher

cost of the new property. In addition, there may be characteristics of your home

that will help sell it quickly and for a good price – today – regardless of the

market conditions.

Morrisonontheweb.com informed home buyer/seller newsletter

Best Time To Sell Your House In Ottawa?

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:36:42 -0400

Hello Ottawa,

In the course of working with buyers and sellers here in Ottawa, questions that come up frequently are: "When is the best time to sell my house?" and "When is the best time to buy a house". The answer of course is not usually as simple as looking at statistics.

Generally my answer for buyers depends on what type of house they are looking for, what the mortgage rate trends are, what the pricing trends are, and most importantly what’s going on in their life. If you’re living with your in-laws on a cot in their unfinished basement, does it really matter which time of the year will save you $1000? Seriously though, your circumstances and motivations are really the most important factor in determining the best time to buy. Nobody can predict the future so any advice on future pricing, mortgage rates, etc is all based on historical trends and has no guarantees. Looking at the numbers though… If mortgage rates are expected to rise, then it rarely makes sense to delay your purchase significantly since interest rates have such a large effect on your monthly payments. This is assuming prices are steady or rising. Again assuming prices are rising, it often can hurt you to delay rather than waiting for the cheapest month of the year to purchase. If prices are falling then the game becomes deciding when they have hit bottom. The other major factor which will determine when you should buy is based on the type of property you're looking for. If you're just looking for any 600 sq/ft condo in the Byward Market then you have nothing to worry about. If you're looking for a Minto Raleigh on Hunter's Run in Chapel Hill with a pool and a pie shaped lot, then you have a better chance in the spring when there is more inventory. All this being said, go ahead and take a look at the graph which does show the general pricing trend in Ottawa over the course of a year.

"When is the best time to sell my house in Ottawa? Similarly to buying, your timeframe will depend largely on your motivation and objectives when considering selling. The answer again is not always so straight forward even when looking at the numbers. The other factors that need to be considered are; the competition, landscaping, type of property, and neighbourhood. Is a cold, miserable January always a bad time to sell? Not necessarily since at the time you may be the only listing around, compared to the spring where you might have 5 identical homes in the neighbourhood to compete with. This can be a huge advantage for the speed of the sale and the price. On the flip side, if you have an acre lot and $175, 000 worth of landscaping, chances are this is not going to be appreciated very much covered in snow, and therefore may not be the best time to sell. All other factors being out of the equation, and just looking at the averages there does appear to be an advantage to the speed of the sale and the price when selling in the spring. Take a look at the graph for details.

If you would like to discuss in specific the best time to sell your Ottawa home, then get in touch and we will be happy to provide you with a full pricing and selling timeframe report.

Ryan Cole

Ryan@ColeConnection.ca

613-841-2255

6 50 Briargate, Ottawa, ON

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:50:31 -0400

I just sold this Condominium at 6 50 Briargate, Ottawa, ON Avalon.

View this recently sold Condominium or see all my home sales

Introducing SoBa by Lamb Developments

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:52:56 -0400

One condo project I've been highly anticipating is the SoBa (South on Bank) by Lamb Developments and Fortress Real Capital, the same team bringing the Gotham to Centretown. I've been going to the Fortress website about every other day to see if there was any news or renderings for this project. More than anything I was interested to see the calibre of design of the project and how it would add to the urban identity of the city.

To my surprise this morning on the Skyscraper forum a thread was finally opened for the project and I have to say the design is beautiful, actually sexy. Ottawa? Sexy? Yes.

Lamb and Fortress are proposing a 19-storey condo at 203 Catherine Street in an area they are coining SoBa (South on Bank). What's most exciting about this project is its location next to Highway 417.

As we all know, when driving into the city from the west end the views of downtown leave much to be desired. Personally I think they're flat out gross and unappealing. Unlike some cities, our city's main landmark, Parliament Hill, isn't visible from a major highway to provide visitors with an introduction to the city before they settle down.

I like what this building would communicate to visitors to the city coming in from the 417. It says, "Vibrant, urban, edgy"- words many people wouldn't associate with Ottawa at the moment.

The location is also appealing because of its proximity to the Ottawa Bus Station which may also be developed if Greyhound leaves the station for greener pastures. If it's built that project would include an urban village with 23 and 19-storey condos, townhomes, and retail and office space. Together these two projects would bring even more life to the area.

Brad Lamb and other Toronto developers coming into the Ottawa market is controversial but I actually see it as a good thing. Some of the best building designs that have been proposed over the past year have come from Toronto developers like Mastercraft Starwood and Urban Capital.

While I hope these developers go about things the right way, I also hope they stimulate competition and challenge developers in this market to design better buildings and use better building materials.

Click here to see the powerpoint presentation of the project.

Article by:

Kevin Bourne

reinventingottawa.blogspot.com

Builders nervous about Flaherty’s budget

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:50:02 -0400

Public servants will not be alone in eyeing Finance Minister Jim Flaherty with a mixture of dread and anticipation as he tables the federal budget Thursday.

Ottawa realtors and home builders hope Flaherty will take a gentle approach.

“The big question is just how bad is it really going to be?” said John Herbert, executive director of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association.

A recent report released by the Conference Board of Canada shows new home construction dropped by 10% in 2011 and the board forecasts a continuing decline.

“We’re deeply concerned,” Herbert said.

Belt-tightening budgets reduce demand for new homes, putting a damper on an industry that Herbert said employs 35,000 people in Ottawa and generates $3.5 billion in economic activity.

When the Liberals cut deep in 1995, Herbert said new home construction fell off by about three-quarters, leading to bankruptcy for some building firms and a three-year recovery period.

“The degree of impact will determine just how quickly things bounce back,” he said.

“The feeling I get right now is that it’s not going to be as quick as we might all like.”

Shore-Tanner and Associates analyst Barry Nabatian said construction is a key economic indicator because about three people have to work to create one full-time construction job.

“So therefore housing represents a great deal of jobs and of course a great deal of investment,” Nabatian said.

A lot will depend on how public service cuts are implemented.

If jobs are reduced mainly through attrition, “I don’t think it will change our economy that much,” he said.

Remax realtor John Donald is less worried about the budget, thanks mainly to low interest rates that have kept the Ottawa real estate market humming.

“Since 2008, prices have continued to rise,” he said. “So even worldwide global economic stuff does not affect this market per say.

“But a budget that lays off federal workers will.”

It took about three years for the real estate market to rebound after the 1995 bloodletting; this time Donald foresees a quicker recovery of about a year “just while things sort themselves out.”

His optimism is shared by Ansel Clarke, president of the Ottawa Real Estate Board, who noted that sales and housing prices were up last year despite talk of austerity.

“The demand for housing is still there,” he said.

“As long as (the government is) not too harsh on housing, I think the market will continue along at a reasonable pace.”

Source: Ottawasun.com

Ottawa ranked best place to live in Canada, again!

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:35:47 -0400

OTTAWA — For the third year in a row, Ottawa was named the best place to live in MoneySense magazine’s annual ranking of Canadian cities.

The magazine ranks 190 cities and towns based on 22 categories. Ottawa’s spot at the top of the list can be attributed to high scores in such categories as culture, household income, population growth, low crime rates, transit and doctors per capita.

“It doesn’t get super awesome scores in any single category, but what Ottawa does well is score better than average in every category,” said Sarah Efron, managing editor of MoneySense.

Efron said housing affordability, unemployment rates, population growth and household income are the factors that carry the most weight in the overall ranking, but no single category makes or breaks a city’s score.

One of the city’s weaknesses is the price of housing, where it ranked 139th in Canada.

Seeing Ottawa at the top of the list for the third consecutive year didn’t surprise Mayor Jim Watson.

“When I see the MoneySense report, it doesn’t come as a surprise because we know — those of us who have the honour and privilege of living right here in Ottawa — know basically for decades, that this is the best place to live or raise a family,” Watson said Tuesday.

Jo-Anne and Michel Gosset have lived in Ottawa all their lives and, to them, the ranking is well deserved. For the couple, the marriage between urban development and natural landscape is what makes Ottawa the best place to call home.

“You’ve got everything you need here,” said Jo-Anne, 48. “There are a lot of parks, you can go to the beach yet you’re still in the city.”

“You don’t get that in most places.”

The Gossets live near a bicycle path and they believe that kind of infrastructure is an essential part of the city.

“We bike all the time,” said Michel, 52. “There are paths all over the city. You can get anywhere.”

For Robert Rooney, 61, the city’s cultural diversity and relaxed atmosphere are what make it so livable.

“It’s a very laissez-faire city,” said Rooney, who has been living in the region for 17 years.

Ottawa’s size could be partially behind its high score as a livable city. Efron said medium-sized cities do best in these types of rankings because they generally have relatively high household incomes while boasting lower crime rates and housing prices compared with larger cities. “The biggest cities tend not to do too well.”

(Toronto ranked 47th. Montreal is in 149th place.)

The worst place to live, according to the magazine, is Hawkesbury, about an hour and a half east of Ottawa. Efron said the city’s negative population growth and its household income — the lowest in the country — made it the least livable city in Canada.

Efron also noted that another trend has emerged, as a number of cities in Alberta and Saskatchewan have gained momentum in the ranking.

“That’s mainly due to the fact that the economy is hot, unemployment is low and the prices are still much lower than in bigger centres.”

Western cities in the top 10 include Regina and Brandon (5th and 6th) and Red Deer and Winnipeg (9th and 10th).

The list ranks all cities with a population over 10,000 using numbers compiled by Statistics Canada, Real Estate Boards and other agencies providing census data. This year, the ranking added 10 new cities to the list and broke up larger metropolitan areas like Ottawa-Gatineau and the Greater Toronto Area into separate components. Gatineau came in at No. 28.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Ottawa+ranked+best+place+live+Canada+again/6330543/story.html#ixzz1qbhNFHly

Source: OttawaCitizen.com

704 134 York St, Ottawa, ON

Ryan Cole and Donna Cole — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:58:52 -0400

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