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 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.


Would you want us representing you?


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.

Q West - A huge success!

Another successful evening for the Bennett Pros last night! With line-ups starting at 9am, excitement and anticipating built throughout the day! The night ended with 30 condos being sold in only 2hrs! With prices starting in the low $200', even a first time home buyer could afford to purchase a full upgraded unit in this lifestyle oriented condominium, offering all the amenities you except and even more. 


We still have a few fantastic units remaining and I invite to contact myself to receive more details on the hottest condominium in Westboro. 


Thanks to all that came out.


Stay tuned for more exciting launches to come in 2011!


Here is an article that appeared in the Ottawa Citizen this morning:


Condos sell fast at site of former convent
Thursday, December 9, 2010

By Sneh Duggal, Ottawa Citizen


OTTAWA -- More than 30 apartments were sold Wednesday night after the release of a condominium that is to be part of the controversial development at a former convent site.

At least a couple of hundred investors and home buyers turned up to inquire or get a stake in the 42 units that were part of the initial release of the condominium Ashcroft Homes plans to build at 108 Richmond Rd. The building is expected to be ready for occupancy by 2013.

"We've had a year of very intense public consultations. It's great when you finally launch the project and you get such a big reception," said David Choo, president of Ashcroft Homes. "We're launching it on a very cold December night in Ottawa and yet still we have such a large reception for the project. That's encouraging."

The condo will be part of the proposed Q West development near Richmond Road and Island Park Drive. Ashcroft bought the 2.2-hectare site from Les Soeurs de la Visitation, who were unable to maintain the aging building.

Ashcroft plans to build more than 600 units on the surrounding grounds.

Individuals wanting to purchase a suite in the building were required to put down a $1,000 deposit Wednesday evening.

About 60 per cent were first-time home buyers, 30 per cent were investors and 10 per cent were individuals wanting to downsize from their current residences, said Ashcroft consultant Marnie Bennett, of Bennett Real Estate Professionals. Some of the units are being sold fully furnished.

Bennett said about 28 people are still on the waiting list. She said she noticed a lot of young people at the launch and thinks it is because of the pricing.

The cheapest units were listed at about $217,000 and go up to about $500,000.

"It's really price-driven; in Westboro, that's incredible," she said.

Yan Li, 25, was looking to purchase his second property. While his first, a condo at Centrepointe, was bought as an investment, Li said he is undecided about whether he would do the same with one of the Ashcroft units.

"This one really appeals to me - if I do go through with it, it will be a toss up as to if it's a rental or whether I (move in)," he said.

Johanne Belisle, 53, and her husband John Martin, 64, put down a deposit for a two-bedroom apartment. They are buying the unit as an investment, but said they might eventually move in

.

"My husband is retired - eventually we'll probably look to downsize," Belisle said.

Bennett said the development is going to provide residents with a community-living experience, especially with a central courtyard. She said there is a plan to have an arts theatre, a restaurant and a spa in the former convent.

"We have a lot of green space, a heritage building - it's going to be very festive here," Bennett said. "It's a lifestyle that you're buying, it's not just a floor plan."

Ashcroft plans to release more of its units in January.

In recent months, some community members have voiced opposition to the development, stating that the proposed buildings are too high and that neighbours do not want a road to cut through the Byron Avenue linear park.

Li said he thinks Ottawa needs to build up, not out.

"I'm in support of the project, provided that no heritage site is demolished," he said.

Bennett said while change is often difficult for people to accept, she thinks more people will be on board with the project once they start to see it unfold.

The community went before the city's planning and environment committee on Nov. 16 to voice their concerns.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Source: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/mobile/story.html?id=3948853