Young Moguls - Condos & Cocktails

Do you find the new home development market too overwhelming? Let us take the guess work out of buying a new home. Even if you aren't currently in the market for a new home, come out, enjoy a cocktail, and get up to date on all current and upcoming new development projects.


Date: Thursday, December 8th
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Location: TBD


Call me or email me today to register

IKEA in Ottawa

After 18 months of construction, the country's largest Ikea will open its doors on Dec. 7. This will attract locals and tourists by the thousands to Canada's biggest IKEA.

The 427,000-square-foot facility is one of the largest retail stores in the city. Thus bringing more traffic to nearby businesses, as well as increasing surrounding property values and sparking new developments including our new development called Westpines where prices start at $189,900.

For more information Click Here

CMHC Outlook for Ottawa

"Construction activity for new condo apartment units is ... expected to remain historically high by the end of this year and next, but still below the all-time record posted in 2010. Healthy demand for smaller but trendier condos closer to the core is coming from affluent young professionals and empty-nesters looking for an active and convenient urban lifestyle.

"This in turn constitutes evidence suggesting that builders continue to operate largely in tune with demand fundamentals and have so far refrained from speculative overbuilding in a market segment that is drawing in growing investor presence ... With only few plans on the drawing boards, rental apartment construction is expected to remain subdued, opening the door to continued investor activity."

Nothing wrong with Fall...

1,062 properties  were sold in the Ottawa Real Estate Board in October, a rise of 2.3 per cent from last year.

The sales were slightly below the five-year average for October, at 1,071. OREB said 253 of October's sales were in condos - up nearly 15 per cent from the same month last year - and 809 in residential properties.

While noting that condos were the main driver of resales that month, the average sale price of residential properties was $337,797, up two per cent from last year.

Distillery Warehouse Lofts

Distillery Warehouse Lofts site. Under construction. Msg me for details on how to purchase at this amazing location. Condos will be ready this time next year! Get pre construction prices while construction is going on! Ask me how!

Be a home owner today in Orleans.

Did you know that there is over 15 condos in Orleans listed under 200k right now. You could own your every own 2 bed, 2 bath condo for around 1000$ a month (mortgage payment, condo fees and taxes) with 5% down. Ask me today!

Be careful when buying a new home or condo!!!

There is nothing more exciting than shopping for a new home or condo. Floor plan selections, color selections and personalizing your unit is all apart of the experience of buying pre-construction. Sometimes it can be a daunting task and seem a bit overwhelming especially if your doing this for the first time.

Something to remember when visiting these lavish show homes is that most of these places are usually fully upgraded and sometimes cost more than $50,000 than the indicated price on the price list in the luxurious package given to you. It is important to ask the sales person what is standard and upgraded in the model that you are viewing.

When you get into that affordable luxury [segment], people don’t want death by 1,000 cuts,” says David McComb, president of Edenshaw Homes “They don’t want to walk in and see a beautiful display suite, only to find out in order to get to that level they have to spend another $150,000. We try to show exactly what they’re getting [so they] know when they look at the sticker price that value is in the number.”

Our new projects are now offering fully upgraded units for a very low price with specifications that include granite or quartz counter tops, hardwood throughout, 39'-42' inch kitchen cabinets as well as integrated appliances of up to a value of $18,000.

These are substantial savings because you want all these upgrades done before moving in so it saves you from doing renovations, which could add additional costs such as labour and taxes.
Call me today to find out which projects are available with all these great upgrades already included in the purchase price.

Best Worldwide

Ottawa real estate broker Marnie Bennett has been named the top broker worldwide for Keller Williams Realty International (KWRI) for 2010.

Bennett and her team of 31 agents and support staff surpassed all other KWRI agencies, selling more than 600 homes in a year that was hampered by the introduction of the HST, changes to mortgage regulations and an unstable economy.

Bennett, 57, is the first Canadian woman to achieve this honour. She credits much her success to embracing social media and building relationships with customers.

She said one of the biggest changes in real estate over her 30-year career is how women have progressed from working real estate on a part-time basis to making it their career.

“It’s an industry now. People now realize the scope of it and how it can be the greatest asset of their life.”

She said condos and townhomes are hot commodities in Ottawa these days, far outselling single-family homes.

“I would say the single market represents about 20% (of sales) and the rest are condos and townhomes.”

The Conservative government’s decision to make it tougher for first-time home buyers to get a mortgage is unnecessary, Bennett argued.

“I don’t think they should be doing that. We have the best banking system in the world. They are very careful how they qualify people.”

That said, there are bigger fish to fry in this province.

“The biggest problem we have in Ontario is the HST.”

scott.taylor@sunmedia.ca

Were number 1

An Ottawa real estate saleswoman has found herself on top of the world, thanks to her focus on marketing.

Marnie Bennett, an agent with Keller Williams, and founder of Bennett Real Estate Professionals, has been named the No. 1 Broker Worldwide for Keller Williams Realty International in 2010.

Bennett, 57, employs a team of 30 employees, including her three children, her husband, and some of her extended family.

Her team sold 627 new and resale homes last year, besting more than 80,000 other Keller Williams agents around the globe.

"Though there were challenges in 2010, we simply remained focused on our customers," says Bennett, who describes herself as "thrilled" with the recognition for her team's achievement.

Bennett, a fixture in Ottawa's real estate industry for 30 years, has developed a reputation as Ottawa's "condo queen," and her success in selling condominiums propelled her to the top of the Keller Williams ladder. She says she is involved in 25 per cent of all new condo sales in the nation's capital. More than 350 of the units she sold in 2010 were new, and a large number of those were condos. Her group helped to sell about 250 resale homes last year.

Her climb to condo royalty started in 2004 when she was contacted to help market Terry Guilbault's $60 million condominium development at 90 George St. on the edge of the ByWard Market. Bennett says it was then she realized Ottawa's condo potential.

The city has high average incomes, affordable real estate and the largest concentration of baby boomers in Canada.

As those people downsized, the market would be ripe for a condominium sales specialist. She hired interior decorators to help stage model homes and condos, filled a warehouse with quality furniture and brought 17 licensed real estate agents on staff to help with sales initiatives.

Demand for her marketing and sales expertise skyrocketed. She has been involved in several condo developments including, most recently, an Ashcroft Homes project on Richmond Road in Westboro, on the property that once housed the Sisters of Visitation Convent.

Barry Nabatian, an analyst with real estate research firm Shore Tanner and Associates, applauded Bennett. "She is really successful. She is very well known in Ottawa," he said.

"That is really impressive. She has really developed a knack for this."

Nabatian said a driving factor in her success has been the strength of the Ottawa real estate market through the economic downturn. While the volume of resale homes dipped between 2009 and 2010, average selling prices have increased by six to seven per cent, said Nabatian. Many other markets, especially those in the United States, have fared far worse.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Queen+condos/4168054/story.html#ixzz1C9Ln3rks

Can't beat these testimonials!

Good morning everyone, we at the Bennett Pros take our jobs very seriously, and today we received some great testimonials from some of the members at Keller Williams.


“Keller Williams systems and models have been positively changing local markets and the transformation is evidenced by the incredible talent and leadership of Agents such as Marnie Bennett and the Bennett Real Estate Professionals.”
John Furber - Regional Director of Keller Williams Realty Canada


"It was our great pleasure to feature your exciting story in the May/June ‘”Out-front” Magazine Issue. Many thanks for sharing your experience-based wisdom, creativity, and positive energy with everyone!
Each paragraph of your article brought more “wows” as you dedication to five-star customer service shone through in extraordinary and inspiring innovative ways!
We love having you in our Keller Williams family and wish you the perfect blending of continued professional success with personal fulfillment!"
Mo Anderson - Vice Chairman, Keller Williams International Realty Inc


Marnie! I've thought about you a lot since meeting you. I was wowed by your real estate practice. You definitely have built one of the most impressive real estate businesses I've ever seen. Congratulations on that! I'd love to see your office sometime. Can't begin to express adequate kudos for all of your success!
Please stay in touch and let me know if there's ever anything I can do to help or support you!”
Mark Willis – CEO Keller Williams International Realty, Inc


Wow Marnie! Such a wonderful story! I cannot tell you how amazing this is and how much we all truly respect what you’ve accomplished. It’s a real honour to be in business with you! Onward....”
Gary Keller – Co-founder and Chairman of the Board – Keller Williams International Realty, Inc.


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Have a great weekend everyone!

5 Mistakes Most First Time Home Buyers Make!

When it comes to purchasing your first home, everyone has an opinion on what you should or shouldn't do. Most first time home buyers make the same mistakes and learn from them very quickly after they close on their property. Don't forget these important things to consider when buying your next home or condo. 


1. The don’t ask enough questions of their lender and end up missing out on the best deal.

2. They don’t act quickly enough to make a decision and someone else buys the house or enter into multiple offer situation and end up over paying.

3. They don’t find the right agent who’s willing to help them through the homebuying process.

4. They don’t do enough to make their offer look appealing to a seller.

5. They don’t think about resale before they buy. The average first-time buyer only stays in a home for four years.


Contact me today and I'll make sure you don't make the same mistakes thousands have done before you.