渥太华市场已经降温——但"降温"不意味着市场失灵。它意味着规则已经改变。而那些理解这些规则的卖家仍然在赢得胜利。

市场告诉我们什么

最近我从渥太华房主那里听到最多的问题很简单：现在是卖房的好时机吗？答案一如既往，取决于您的准备程度——但市场数据为我们提供了清晰的路线图。

渥太华住宅市场以均衡态势进入2026年，库存水平高于近年，买家拥有更多选择，而卖家则继续适应这种奖励精准定价和耐心的市场环境。具体而言，新挂牌房源增至1,522套——同比上涨8.8%——而成交总量下滑至610套，下降5.6%，渥太华全市平均房价为641,436元，较2025年1月下降4.5%。

然而，并非所有市场细分都表现相同。单户住宅仍是最强劲的细分市场，价格保持相对稳定。联排别墅交易活跃，受益于寻求更经济实惠替代选择的买家支撑。公寓和共管公寓价格调整幅度最大，库存月数攀升至6.8个月——该细分市场明显偏向买家。

当前数据最重要的启示是什么？定价过高的房屋不只是挂牌时间更长——它们还会失去议价筹码。买家密切关注降价动态，起价过高的挂牌往往最终成交价反而低于从第一天就正确定价所能获得的价格。

薛睿的观点

关于今天的渥太华市场，我想说实话：这不是一个房子会自己卖出去的市场。而这并不是坏事——这实际上是回归正常。我们在2026年所看到的，更接近2020年前的市场，而非我们近年来经历的任何状况。买家活跃，但有所选择。卖家仍然有机会，但前提是定价和呈现方式合理。

以我的经验，目前挣扎的卖家，是那些仍然执着于2021年预期的人。成功的卖家，是那些带着清晰策略入市的人：从第一天就正确定价，呈现精美，以紧迫感和精准度向合适的买家群体进行营销。

如果您是一位考虑在今年春天出售房产的房主，您现在能做的最重要的一件事，就是获得一份基于当前数据的房屋价值评估——不是它两年前可能值多少，而是一位认真、有资质的买家今天愿意为它支付多少。春季市场即将到来，库存仍然可控，积极的买家绝对存在。但他们不会溢价，也不会追涨。好消息是您也不需要他们这样做——您只需要一个计划。这正是我和我的团队在此帮助您建立的。

关于作者

薛睿是渥太华最知名的房地产领导者之一，也是Keller Williams ICON Realty的创始人。自2014年开启职业生涯以来，薛睿一直致力于提升行业专业水准。她的使命是以专业指导、深刻的市场分析和通过房地产构建持久财富的承诺，赋能客户和经纪人。

资料来源：CTV新闻渥太华：https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ottawa-real-estate-how-to-sell-your-home-in-a-cool-market/

一则重大全国性新闻正在悄然重塑加拿大置业的真实成本。无论您是房主还是正在考虑购房——现在就需要了解这件事。

全国正在发生什么

受极端天气事件频率和严重程度不断上升的驱动，加拿大的房屋保险格局正在经历重大且加速的转变。

加拿大的房屋保险保障网络开始在边缘出现磨损，因为极端天气带来的成本持续攀升。尽管市场竞争依然健康，加拿大目前也尚未出现美国那样的保险覆盖荒漠，但保险公司正在以多种方式削减保单以适应局面——将保费涨幅推至高于通胀率的水平、越来越多地将某些风险排除在保障范围之外、提高免赔额，并减少在高风险地区的承保敞口。

这一转变背后的数据触目惊心。根据加拿大统计局数据，2021年至2025年间，房屋保险费用上涨了31%，是同期15%整体通胀率的两倍有余。触发原因显而易见：2024年加拿大全国保险损失创下94亿元的历史纪录，而灾难性天气事件近年来平均每年发生15次——远高于1980年代的约每年两次。

这种紧缩已经体现在保单的承保方式上。保险公司正在将冰雹等风险的免赔额提高至10,000元以上，减少保障范围，或者干脆对洪水等某些风险不再提供保障。在最坏的情况下，某些风险根本无法获得保险保障。洪水保险尤为参差不齐：加拿大保险局估计，约150万户家庭——大约10%——无法获得洪水保险，而对于那些能够获得的家庭，每年保费可能增加高达15,000元。

专家们认为短期内难以解决。一位行业分析师指出，唯一真正的出路是全社会共同投资于气候韧性建设——因为目前消费者处于被动承受的一端，前路并无简单答案。

薛睿的观点

我想直接告诉渥太华房主和买家，这对我们本地意味着什么。尽管迄今为止保险成本涨幅最为剧烈的是艾伯塔省和不列颠哥伦比亚省，渥太华并非置身事外。我们亲历了2018年的龙卷风、2019年渥太华河沿岸的洪水，以及越来越难以预测的冻融循环对地基和屋顶造成的压力。安大略省的保险市场已承压，而一个始于全国层面的趋势不会长久停留在全国层面——它终将变成您的保险续保通知。

以下是我鼓励我们社区每一位房主和潜在买家现在就采取行动的建议。首先，仔细审查您当前的保单——不要等到续保。检查您是否真正拥有地面洪水保障，天气相关风险的免赔额是多少，以及您的重置成本保障是否反映了当今的建设成本——自2019年以来建设成本已上涨超过60%。其次，如果您正在购房，请将保险成本和可保性纳入尽职调查——而不仅仅是抵押贷款资质审核。靠近洪泛区或屋顶老化的房屋，不再只是维护问题；它已成为一个可保性问题。

这是一个快速演变的议题，保持知情和积极主动的房主，将比那些措手不及的人处于更有利的位置。一如既往，我在此帮助您驾驭市场的这些复杂层面——随时欢迎联系。

关于作者

薛睿是渥太华最知名的房地产领导者之一，也是Keller Williams ICON Realty的创始人。自2014年开启职业生涯以来，薛睿一直致力于提升行业专业水准。她的使命是以专业指导、深刻的市场分析和通过房地产构建持久财富的承诺，赋能客户和经纪人。

资料来源：CTV新闻商业/房地产版块：https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/real-estate/article/home-insurers-raise-prices-rein-in-coverage-as-weather-events-worsen/

加拿大统计局的最新研究揭示了加拿大人搬家的真实动机——其结论对当前渥太华市场中的任何人都有重要启示。

数据显示了什么

加拿大统计局发布了2022年加拿大住房调查的最新洞察，调查结果清晰描绘出驱动加拿大人搬家的动因。

约三分之一的加拿大家庭（33%）在过去五年内有过搬迁经历。在搬迁者中，最常见的原因——由25.3%的搬迁者提及——是渴望升级至更大或质量更好的住所。拥有自有住房的愿望排名第二，其次是与就业相关的搬迁。

这些主要动机在全国各地区保持一致，无论是大西洋省份、魁北克、安大略、草原省份还是不列颠哥伦比亚省，提升住房质量和追求置业均分别排名第一和第二。

在搬迁目的地方面，加拿大人的选择绝大多数是就近搬迁。高达94.4%的搬迁者留在同一省份——通常是同一市镇内——仅有5.6%跨越省界。对于跨省搬迁者而言，动机因年龄段不同而显著差异：超过60%的Z世代搬迁者将求学列为首要驱动因素，而59.1%的千禧一代和51.6%的X世代则因就业而搬迁。近一半的年长加拿大人搬迁的主要原因是为了更靠近家人。

薛睿的观点

这份数据中最令我印象深刻的，是它有力地印证了我每天在与渥太华客户合作中所见到的事实：人们搬家不是一时冲动——而是有目的地搬家。对更大空间、更高品质和置业荣耀感的渴望，是深植于内心的目标。当市场充满挑战时，这些目标不会消失；它们只是被暂时推迟了。而被推迟的愿望，终将变成迫切的需求。

对渥太华而言，这份数据提醒我们，是什么从根本上推动着我们的市场。渥太华是一座拥有高学历、职业流动性强的人口城市——政府雇员、科技工作者、医疗专业人士——其中许多人正处于数据所描述的人生阶段：为职业发展而搬迁的千禧一代和X世代、寻求更大空间的成长家庭，以及准备与挚爱之人更靠近的空巢父母。

如果您一直在场边观望，等待"完美时机"，不妨问问自己：您搬家的理由改变了吗，还是只是您的信心动摇了？因为这么强烈的动机不会永远沉睡。如果您准备好了解在当今渥太华市场中，您的下一步行动实际上会是什么样子，我很乐意与您展开这场对话。

关于作者

薛睿是渥太华最受尊敬的房地产领导者之一，也是Keller Williams ICON Realty的创始人。她从一名充满抱负的国际学生成长为顶尖房地产经纪人的历程，源于她对以清晰思路和专业指导赋能社区的热忱。薛睿的使命是提升行业专业水准，帮助客户和经纪人共同打造有价值的事业与有意义的生活。

资料来源：CTV新闻商业/房地产版块：https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/real-estate/article/from-homeownership-to-work-whats-motivating-canadians-to-move/

加拿大新屋开工数量正在下降——渥太华买家和卖家需要引起重视

来自加拿大抵押贷款和住房公司（CMHC）的最新数据证实了业界长期以来的感受：新屋建设正在失去动力，其影响将在渥太华切实显现。

数据说明了什么

加拿大抵押贷款和住房公司于2月16日发布了2026年1月的新屋开工数据，这一核心数据令人无法忽视。

经季节调整的年化新屋开工率（SAAR）在1月份下降了15%，录得238,049套，而12月为280,668套。尽管月度开工数据可能存在波动，但该机构的六个月移动平均值也显示下降了3.5%，标志着该趋势指标连续第四个月回落。

CMHC副首席经济学家Tania Bourassa-Ochoa指出，该机构预计新建工程将继续呈下降趋势，贸易和地缘政治不确定性、高昂建设成本、需求疲软以及库存上升均制约着开发商的活动——短期内不太可能出现转机。

放缓背后的驱动因素是多层次的：移民数量减少以及美国贸易政策变化带来的经济不确定性，均是造成此次回调的原因。从差距来看，总理马克·卡尼曾以在十年内将住房建设翻倍至每年50万套为竞选承诺——但此前的历史最高纪录仅为1970年代中期的约26万套。

薛睿的观点

残酷的现实是：今天开工数量减少，意味着18至24个月后可供买家选择的房屋将减少。在渥太华这样一个已经面临供应紧张和买家情绪转变的市场中，这一供应管道放缓是一个重大隐忧。如果全国和本地建设放缓，许多买家一直期待的库存缓解可能不会如愿实现——这将对二手房价格形成上行压力，尤其是在需求依然最为强劲的经济适用型和中档房源领域。

对于卖家而言，这是一个值得关注的静默信号：如果您因为觉得市场"不够火热"而一直对挂牌出售举棋不定，那么潜在的供应状况实际上仍在向您倾斜。对于买家，尤其是首次购房者而言，信息不是恐慌——而是充分了解情况，在合适机会出现时随时准备行动。市场奖励有备而来的人。如果您想了解这一全国性趋势究竟如何在渥太华的每一条街道上具体呈现，这正是我愿意与您深入探讨的话题。

关于作者

薛睿是Keller Williams ICON Realty的创始人，也是渥太华最受尊敬的房地产领导者之一。她的旅程始于卡尔顿大学的国际学生岁月，自2014年开启职业生涯以来，她一直致力于提升行业专业水准。薛睿的理念建立在以专业指导、市场洞察和对打造有价值的事业与有意义的生活的承诺，赋能客户和社区的基础之上。

资料来源：CTV新闻商业/房地产版块：https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/real-estate/article/cmhc-reports-january-housing-starts-down-15-per-cent-from-december/

遗产保护与城市密度之间的交汇从来都不简单——欣顿堡的一项新开发提案正将这一矛盾推向台前。

事件经过

渥太华最受喜爱的社区机构之一——位于Armstrong街的卡尔顿酒馆——即将被拆除重建，成为欣顿堡核心地带一项大规模重建提案的一部分。

该申请涵盖由Parkdale街、Armstrong街、Hamilton街和Spencer街围合的完整城市街区，拟建一栋38层混合用途住宅楼，设约465个住宅单元及四层地下停车场，可提供约322个停车位。卡尔顿酒馆的原址被纳入开发范围，计划将这家标志性酒吧"重新构想"融入新开发项目，而非简单地将其拆除。

该地块的历史可追溯至1896年，卡尔顿自1951年起作为酒馆运营——使其成为欣顿堡近一个世纪的社区地标。一场社区信息说明会定于2月24日（周二）晚上7时在欣顿堡社区中心Wellington室举行，届时居民将有机会直接听取申请团队的介绍并提问。

薛睿的观点

这项提案折射出当前定义渥太华房地产的两股力量：我们对增加住房供应的迫切需求，以及我们对保护让社区值得居住之特质的同等迫切需求。在欣顿堡这样步行便利、交通便捷的区域建造一栋拥有465个单元的38层高楼，从密度角度来看完全合理——坦率地说，如果渥太华要让普通买家的住房市场重回平衡，就需要这样的项目。

但我希望该地区的买家、卖家和房主能够理解：像这样的集约化开发项目是一个信号，而不仅仅是一条新闻标题。当开发商将目光投向欣顿堡这样成熟、完善的社区时，这反映了市场对该区域长期价值的真实信心。对附近的现有房主而言，这值得密切关注——数百名新居民的入驻、底层商业用途的引入以及街道景观的改善，通常会随时间推移提升周边房产价值。对于举棋不定的买家来说，这样的时刻提醒我们：渥太华最具人文魅力的社区不会永远默默无闻。社区将于2月24日表达意见——我鼓励任何与这片城市角落有利益关联的人前往参与，成为这场对话的一部分。

关于作者

薛睿于2014年开启房地产职业生涯，迅速成为渥太华最知名、最持续高效的房地产经纪人之一。她的愿景超越了个人成就，促使她创立了Keller Williams ICON Realty——一家致力于提升行业卓越标准的经纪公司。她的使命是以世界一流的培训、成熟的商业体系和协作文化赋能客户与经纪人。

资料来源：CTV新闻渥太华: https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/carleton-tavern-to-be-reimagined-as-part-of-proposed-development-in-ottawas-hintonburg/

以下为符合前文风格与语气的简体中文版本，可直接复制使用：

一项大胆的新提案，计划扩展渥太华西部郊区版图，正在引发真正的讨论，也带来真实的机会。以下是您需要了解的重点，以及应如何理性看待这项变化。

提案内容

渥太华规模最大、最具实力的开发商之一，正迈出重要一步，推动城市西部的进一步发展。

渥太华市政府已收到 Claridge Homes 的申请，要求修订《官方规划》，将 6437 Flewellyn Road 和 6435 Fernbank Road 两块土地纳入城市边界范围。该项目被称为 “Stittsville West 城市扩展区域”，未来可开发约 2,391 套新住宅。

这两块土地总面积约 112 公顷（约 277 英亩），由 Fernbank Road 分隔，北至 Trans Canada Trail，南至 Flewellyn Road。

此次申请之所以成为可能，是因为省政府在 2024 年对规划政策进行了重大调整。过去，城市边界的扩展只能通过每五至十年一次的全市统一审查进行；如今，土地所有者可随时提出申请。公众意见提交截止日期为 2026 年 3 月 11 日。

这一提案已在本地引发明显分歧。Stittsville 市议员 Glen Gower 表示反对，认为该区域可能成为一个交通不便、缺乏学校配套、远离社区商业设施的孤立住宅区。

而开发方则持不同观点。Claridge 首席财务官指出，渥太华预留的可开发土地不足以满足不断增长的市场需求，土地供应紧张已推高房价，使住房更加难以负担。

Ruby 的观点

这项提案将渥太华真正需要的两件事推向了一个关键交汇点：增加住房供应，以及实现更聪明、更可持续的城市增长。双方观点都有合理性，这正是社区在意见征询阶段发声如此重要的原因。

从房地产市场角度来看，这不仅仅是关于 Stittsville 的讨论，更关乎整个渥太华未来住房供应的走向。

当前，我们正处于一个关键时期：开发商与省政府积极推动释放更多土地资源，而市政府与居民则对基础设施、公共服务及社区宜居性提出更高要求。类似提案的最终结果，将直接影响下一代购房者能够在哪些区域落地生根。

对于正在关注市场、寻找机会的买家而言，西部郊区——Stittsville、Kanata、Barrhaven——仍然是未来住房供应增长最为显著的区域。

对于已经在这些成熟社区拥有房产的业主来说，新增供应可能带来担忧。但历史经验表明，只要规划得当，郊区的有序扩张通常有助于社区长期稳定与资产价值提升。

关键在于“规划得当”。

如果您对此提案有想法，建议在 3 月 11 日截止日前表达您的意见。如果您想了解此类增长将如何影响您的房产价值或未来购房决策，我和我的团队将为您提供清晰、专业的分析与建议。

关于作者

薛如冰 Ruby Xue 是渥太华房地产行业的创新领袖，同时也是 Keller Williams ICON Realty 渥太华分公司的创始人。

她最初以国际留学生身份就读于卡尔顿大学，自 2014 年进入房地产行业以来，已成长为渥太华最受尊敬的地产经纪之一。她致力于提升行业标准，通过专业指导、系统培训与协作文化，赋能客户与经纪团队，实现更高层次的成功。

文章来源：CTV News Ottawa
https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/claridge-homes-proposes-expanding-ottawas-urban-boundary-to-build-2300-new-homes/

A bold new proposal to expand Ottawa's western suburbs is generating real debate — and real opportunity. Here's what you need to know and how to think about it.

What's Being Proposed

One of Ottawa's largest and most established homebuilders is making a significant move to grow the city's western edge.

The City of Ottawa has received an application from Claridge Homes to amend the Official Plan to expand the Urban Boundary by including two parcels of land — 6437 Flewellyn Road and 6435 Fernbank Road. The proposed expansion, known as the Stittsville West Urban Expansion Area, would allow for a future development of approximately 2,391 new homes. The two land parcels have a combined area of approximately 112 hectares — about 277 acres — separated by Fernbank Road, and stretch to the Trans Canada Trail in the north and Flewellyn Road in the south.

The proposal is possible because of a significant shift in provincial planning rules. In 2024, the Provincial Government changed the rules for adding land to the urban boundary — previously it could only happen every five to ten years through a city-wide review, but now landowners can apply at any time. The deadline for public comments is March 11, 2026.

The proposal has already drawn a clear line in the sand locally. Stittsville Councillor Glen Gower has stated he does not support the expansion, arguing that homes on this land would be an isolated enclave of suburban homes with poor access to transit, no connections to schools, and far from neighbourhood retail. The industry, however, sees it differently. Claridge's chief financial officer has argued that Ottawa hasn't set aside enough land to meet growing market demand, and that the resulting land shortage has driven up prices and made housing less affordable for buyers.

Ruby's Take

This proposal puts two things that Ottawa genuinely needs on a collision course: more housing supply and smarter, more sustainable growth. Both sides of this debate have merit, and that's exactly why the community's voice in the comment period matters so much.

From a real estate perspective, the broader significance of this story isn't just about Stittsville — it's about what it signals for Ottawa's housing pipeline as a whole. We are in a period where developers and the province are actively pushing to unlock more land, while municipalities and residents are asking hard questions about infrastructure, services, and community liveability. The outcome of proposals like this one will shape where Ottawa's next generation of homebuyers can afford to put down roots. For buyers who are watching the market and wondering where opportunities will emerge, the western suburbs — Stittsville, Kanata, Barrhaven — continue to be the areas where the most significant supply growth is being planned. For existing homeowners in those established communities, new supply nearby can feel like a concern, but history shows that well-planned growth in Ottawa's suburbs has generally supported long-term neighbourhood stability and value. The key word, of course, is well-planned. If you have thoughts on this proposal, I encourage you to make your voice heard before the March 11 deadline — and if you have questions about what growth like this means for your property value or your next purchase, my team is here to help you navigate it with clarity and confidence.

About the Author

Ruby Xue is a visionary real estate leader and the founder of Keller Williams ICON Realty in Ottawa. Her journey began as an international student at Carleton University, and since launching her career in 2014, she has become one of the city's most respected realtors. Driven by a passion to elevate the industry, Ruby's mission is to empower clients and agents with expert guidance, world-class training, and a culture of collaboration.

Sourced from CTV News Ottawa: https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/claridge-homes-proposes-expanding-ottawas-urban-boundary-to-build-2300-new-homes/

A major national story is quietly reshaping the true cost of homeownership in Canada. If you own a home — or are thinking about buying one — this is something you need to understand right now.

What's Happening Across Canada

Canada's home insurance landscape is undergoing a significant and accelerating shift, driven by the rising frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

Canada's home insurance safety net is starting to fray at the edges as the costs of extreme weather continue to rise. While competition is still healthy, and the country has so far avoided the coverage deserts growing in the United States, insurers are paring back policies in a variety of ways to adapt — raising premiums above the rate of inflation, increasingly excluding coverage of some risks, raising deductibles, and reducing their exposure to higher-risk areas.

The numbers behind this shift are stark. Between 2021 and 2025, home insurance costs rose 31 per cent according to Statistics Canada, more than double the overall inflation rate of 15 per cent over the same period. The trigger is no mystery: 2024 set a record $9.4 billion in insured losses across Canada, while the number of catastrophic weather events has averaged 15 per year in recent years — up from around two per year in the 1980s.

The squeeze is already being felt in how policies are written. Insurers are raising deductibles to upwards of $10,000 for perils like hail, reducing coverage, or simply not offering it for some risks such as flooding. In worst-case situations, insurance coverage is simply not available for certain perils at all. Flood coverage is particularly patchy: the Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates that about 1.5 million households — roughly 10 per cent — can't get flood insurance, while for those who can, it can add as much as $15,000 a year to premiums.

Experts see no quick resolution. As one industry analyst put it, the only real way out of this situation is for society as a whole to invest in climate resilience — because right now, consumers are on the receiving end with no easy answers in sight.

Ruby's Take

I want to be direct with Ottawa homeowners and buyers about what this means for us locally. While the most dramatic insurance cost increases have been in Alberta and B.C. to date, Ottawa is not immune. We've lived through the 2018 tornadoes, the 2019 flooding along the Ottawa River, and increasingly unpredictable freeze-thaw cycles that stress foundations and roofs. Ontario's insurance market is already under pressure, and what starts as a national trend doesn't stay national for long — it becomes your renewal notice.

Here's what I encourage every homeowner and prospective buyer in our community to do right now. First, review your current policy carefully — don't wait for your renewal. Check whether you actually have overland flood coverage, what your deductibles are for weather-related perils, and whether your replacement cost coverage reflects today's construction costs, which have risen over 60% since 2019. Second, if you're buying a home, factor insurance cost and insurability into your due diligence — not just mortgage qualification. A home near a floodplain or with an older roof isn't just a maintenance consideration anymore; it's an insurability question. This is a fast-moving issue, and the homeowners who stay informed and proactive will be far better positioned than those who are caught off guard. As always, I'm here to help you navigate these layers of the market — reach out anytime.

About the Author

Ruby Xue is one of Ottawa's most recognized real estate leaders and the founder of Keller Williams ICON Realty. Since launching her career in 2014, Ruby has been dedicated to raising the bar for professionalism in the industry. Her mission is to empower clients and agents with expert guidance, insightful market analysis, and a commitment to building lasting wealth through real estate.

Sourced from CTV News Business/Real Estate: https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/real-estate/article/home-insurers-raise-prices-rein-in-coverage-as-weather-events-worsen/

The Ottawa market has cooled — but "cool" doesn't mean broken. It means the rules have changed. And sellers who understand those rules are still winning.

What the Market Is Telling Us

The question I've been hearing most from Ottawa homeowners lately is simple: Is now a good time to sell? The answer, as always, depends on how well-prepared you are — but the market data gives us a clear roadmap.

Ottawa's residential market entered 2026 on a balanced footing, with inventory levels higher than in recent years, giving buyers more choice, while sellers continue to adjust to conditions that reward accurate pricing and patience. In concrete terms, new listings increased to 1,522 homes — up 8.8% year-over-year — while total homes sold dipped to 610, down 5.6%, and the average home price across Ottawa landed at $641,436, down 4.5% from January 2025.

Not all segments are created equal, however. Single-family homes remain the strongest segment, with prices holding relatively steady. Townhomes stayed active, supported by buyers looking for more affordable alternatives. Apartments and condos saw the largest price adjustments, with months of inventory rising to 6.8 — clearly favouring buyers in that segment.

The biggest lesson from the current data? Overpriced homes don't just sit longer — they lose leverage. Buyers watch price reductions closely, and a listing that starts too high often ends up selling for less than it would have if it had been priced correctly from day one.

Ruby's Take

Here's the honest truth about today's Ottawa market: this is not a market where your home sells itself. And that's not a bad thing — it's actually a return to normal. What we're seeing in 2026 looks much closer to a pre-2020 market than anything we've experienced recently. Buyers are active, but selective. Sellers still have opportunity, but only if pricing and presentation make sense. In my experience, the sellers who struggle right now are the ones still anchored to 2021 expectations. The sellers who succeed are the ones who come in with a clear strategy: properly priced from day one, beautifully presented, and marketed to the right buyer pool with urgency and precision.

If you're a homeowner thinking about selling this spring, the single most important thing you can do right now is get a current, data-driven assessment of your home's value — not what it might have been worth two years ago, but what a serious, qualified buyer will pay for it today. The spring market is coming, inventory is still manageable, and motivated buyers are absolutely out there. But they won't overpay, and they won't chase. The good news is that you don't need them to — you just need a plan. That's exactly what my team and I are here to help you build.

About the Author

Ruby Xue is one of Ottawa's most recognized real estate leaders and the founder of Keller Williams ICON Realty. Since launching her career in 2014, Ruby has been dedicated to raising the bar for professionalism in the industry. Her mission is to empower clients and agents with expert guidance, insightful market analysis, and a commitment to building lasting wealth through real estate.

Sourced from CTV News Ottawa: https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ottawa-real-estate-how-to-sell-your-home-in-a-cool-market/

New findings from Statistics Canada shine a light on the real motivations driving Canadians to pack up and move — and the results hold important lessons for anyone navigating the Ottawa market right now.

What the Data Shows

Statistics Canada has released fresh insights from the 2022 Canadian Housing Survey, and the findings paint a clear picture of what drives Canadians to move.

About one third of Canadian households (33%) moved within the previous five years. Among those who relocated, the most common reason — cited by 25.3% of movers — was the desire to upgrade to a larger or better-quality dwelling. The aspiration to own a home ranked as the second most frequent motivation, followed by employment-related moves.

These top motivations were consistent across every region of the country, with upgrading housing quality and pursuing homeownership ranking first and second in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, and British Columbia alike.

When it comes to where Canadians move, the picture is overwhelmingly local. A full 94.4% of movers stayed within the same province — often within the same municipality — while just 5.6% crossed provincial lines. For those who did relocate interprovincially, motivations shifted significantly based on age: more than 60% of Generation Z movers cited school as their primary driver, while 59.1% of millennials and 51.6% of Generation X moved for employment. Nearly half of older Canadians relocated primarily to be closer to family.

Ruby's Take

What strikes me most about this data is how powerfully it confirms something I see every single day working with clients in Ottawa: people aren't moving on a whim — they're moving with purpose. The desire for more space, better quality, and the pride of ownership are deeply rooted goals. They don't disappear when the market gets challenging; they simply get delayed. And a delayed desire eventually becomes an urgent one.

For Ottawa specifically, this data is a reminder of what fuels our market from the ground up. We are a city with a highly educated, professionally mobile population — government employees, tech workers, healthcare professionals — many of whom are in exactly the life stages this data describes: millennials and Gen X moving for career growth, growing families seeking more space, and empty-nesters preparing to get closer to the people they love. If you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the "perfect moment," ask yourself: has your reason to move changed, or just your confidence? Because motivation this strong doesn't stay dormant forever. If you're ready to understand what your next move could actually look like in today's Ottawa market, I'd love to have that conversation with you.

About the Author

Ruby Xue is one of Ottawa's most respected real estate leaders and the founder of Keller Williams ICON Realty. Her journey from an ambitious international student to a top-performing realtor is driven by a passion for empowering her community with clarity and expert guidance. Ruby's mission is to elevate the standard of professionalism in the industry, helping clients and agents alike build businesses worth owning and lives worth living.

Sourced from CTV News Business/Real Estate: https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/real-estate/article/from-homeownership-to-work-whats-motivating-canadians-to-move/

The latest numbers from CMHC confirm what many in the industry have been sensing: new home construction is losing steam, and the consequences will be felt right here in Ottawa.

What the Numbers Say

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released its January 2026 housing starts data on February 16th, and the headline figure is impossible to ignore.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of housing starts fell 15% in January, coming in at 238,049 units compared to 280,668 units in December. While month-to-month starts data can be volatile, the agency's six-month moving average also showed a 3.5% decline, marking the fourth consecutive monthly drop in that trend measure.

CMHC Deputy Chief Economist Tania Bourassa-Ochoa noted that the agency expects new construction to continue trending lower, with trade and geopolitical uncertainty, high construction costs, weaker demand, and rising inventories all constraining developer activity — and that a near-term turnaround is unlikely.

The drivers behind the slowdown are layered: lower immigration numbers and economic uncertainty over changing U.S. trade policy are both contributing to the pullback. To put the gap in perspective, Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned on doubling housing construction to 500,000 homes a year over a decade — but the previous record high was only around 260,000 in the mid-1970s.

Ruby's Take

Here's the hard truth: fewer housing starts today means fewer homes available to buyers 18 to 24 months from now. In a market like Ottawa, where we're already navigating constrained supply and shifting buyer sentiment, this pipeline slowdown is a significant concern. If construction slows nationally and locally, the inventory relief that many buyers have been waiting for may not materialize in the way they hoped — and that creates upward pressure on prices for resale homes, particularly in the affordable and mid-range segments where demand remains strongest.

For sellers, this is a quiet signal worth noting: if you've been on the fence about listing because you feel the market isn't "hot enough," the underlying supply story actually continues to work in your favour. For buyers, especially first-timers, the message is not to panic — but to get educated and be ready to move when the right opportunity comes. The market rewards those who are prepared. If you'd like to understand exactly how this national trend is playing out street by street in Ottawa, that's exactly the kind of conversation I'm here for.

About the Author

Ruby Xue is the founder of Keller Williams ICON Realty and one of Ottawa's most respected real estate leaders. Her journey began as an international student at Carleton University, and since launching her career in 2014, she has been driven by a mission to elevate the standard of professionalism in the industry. Ruby's approach is built on empowering her clients and community with expert guidance, market insight, and a commitment to building businesses worth owning and lives worth living.

Sourced from CTV News Business/Real Estate: https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/real-estate/article/cmhc-reports-january-housing-starts-down-15-per-cent-from-december/

The intersection of heritage preservation and urban density is never simple — and a new development proposal in Hintonburg is putting that tension front and centre.

What's Happening

One of Ottawa's most beloved neighbourhood institutions — the Carleton Tavern on Armstrong Street — is set to be torn down and rebuilt as part of a sweeping redevelopment proposal in the heart of Hintonburg.

The application covers a full city block bounded by Parkdale, Armstrong, Hamilton, and Spencer streets, and proposes a 38-storey mixed-use residential building with approximately 465 dwelling units and four levels of underground parking containing roughly 322 spaces. The Carleton Tavern's footprint is included in the site, with plans to "reimagine" the iconic pub as part of the new development rather than simply demolish it outright.

The history of the site traces all the way back to 1896, and the Carleton has operated as a tavern since 1951 — making it a nearly century-old community anchor in Hintonburg. A community information session is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24 at the Wellington Room at the Hintonburg Community Centre, starting at 7 p.m., where residents will have the opportunity to hear directly from the applicant team and ask questions.

Ruby's Take

This proposal is a story about the two forces that are defining Ottawa real estate right now: our urgent need for more housing supply, and our equally urgent need to protect what makes our neighbourhoods worth living in. A 38-storey tower with 465 units in a walkable, transit-accessible area like Hintonburg makes complete sense from a density standpoint — and frankly, Ottawa needs projects like this if we're ever going to bring the housing market back into balance for everyday buyers.

But here's what I want buyers, sellers, and homeowners in the area to understand: intensification projects like this one are a signal, not just a headline. When developers set their sights on a mature, established neighbourhood like Hintonburg, it reflects real confidence in that area's long-term value. For current homeowners nearby, this is worth watching closely — the addition of hundreds of new residents, ground-floor commercial uses, and improved streetscapes typically strengthens surrounding property values over time. For buyers on the fence, moments like this are a reminder that Ottawa's most character-rich neighbourhoods don't stay undiscovered forever. The community will have its say on February 24 — I'd encourage anyone with a stake in this corner of the city to show up and be part of that conversation.

About the Author

Ruby Xue launched her real estate career in 2014 and quickly became one of the most recognized and consistently high-performing realtors in Ottawa. Her vision grew beyond individual achievement, leading her to found Keller Williams ICON Realty, a brokerage designed to elevate the standard of excellence in the industry. Her mission is to empower clients and agents alike with world-class training, proven business systems, and a culture of collaboration.

Sourced from CTV News Ottawa: https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/carleton-tavern-to-be-reimagined-as-part-of-proposed-development-in-ottawas-hintonburg/