Real Estate – Page 2 – The Evans Real Estate Group Blog

Why Time in the Market Matters More than Timing the Market

The primary financial advantage of owning real estate is the equity you build as your mortgage is paid down. The longer you wait, the more time you lose to grow that equity. Even if rates drop, higher prices can erase any savings on interest. In many cases, those who wait to buy end up with less equity and fewer financial gains in the long run.

The Numbers: Buying Now vs. Waiting for Lower Rates

Let’s compare two scenarios:

Scenario 1: Buying Now

Home price: $700,000
Down payment: 20% ($140,000)
Mortgage amount: $560,000
Interest rate: 3.25%
Amortization: 25 years

Using these terms, the monthly mortgage payment is approximately $2,730. Here’s how much principal is paid down and equity is built over the first 30 months:

Month	Equity Built
6	$8,300
12	$17,000
18	$26,000
24	$35,400
30	$45,000

By month 30, you will have built $45,000 in equity, just from principal paydown. This doesn’t include any potential home appreciation, which could further increase your total equity.

Scenario 2: Waiting for 6 Months for Rates to Drop

Home price (after 6 months): $730,000 (a 4.3% price increase)
Down payment: 20% ($146,000)
Mortgage amount: $584,000
Interest rate: 2.75%
Amortization: 25 years

At the lower rate, your monthly payment would be about $2,686. However, because you waited 6 months, you only have 24 months left in this comparison. Here’s the equity built over the next 24 months:

Month	Equity Built
6	$7,800
12	$16,200
18	$25,100
24	$34,800

By month 30, you’ll have built $34,800 in equity, which is $10,200 less than if you had bought earlier at a higher rate. Even with a slightly lower monthly payment, the missed time for equity-building results in a smaller total gain.

Key Takeaways

Delaying your purchase means losing equity-building time. Even with a lower rate, the missed opportunity for principal paydown can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in equity over a short period.
When rates drop, prices typically rise. Ottawa’s real estate market tends to experience price surges when borrowing becomes cheaper, meaning any savings on interest are often offset by higher home prices.
Wealth in real estate comes from holding property long-term. The longer you own your home, the more equity you build through both principal paydown and potential price appreciation.

Final Thoughts

If you’re waiting for lower rates before buying your home in Ottawa, think carefully about the true cost of waiting. The sooner you start building equity, the better your long-term financial position will be. With the right strategy—and a trusted real estate advisor—you can navigate today’s market confidently and make a smart investment in your future.

If you have questions about whether now is the right time to buy or sell, contact us at Evans Real Estate Group. We’re here to help you make informed decisions that build lasting wealth.

Real Estate Sales

How to Sell Your Home in the Winter (and Win the Market)

Winter in Ottawa may seem like an unlikely time to sell, but it’s actually full of opportunities. With fewer listings, less competition, and motivated buyers braving the cold, you can position your home to stand out and shine.

Here’s how to make your winter sale a success:

1. Maximize Your Curb Appeal (Even in the Snow)

Snow and ice can hide your home’s best features. Keep pathways shoveled and salted, light up your entryway, and add evergreen wreaths or winter planters for a warm touch. Buyers should see your home as inviting, not frozen over.

2. Light is Your Best Friend

Winter days are short, and natural light is limited. Inside, open blinds, turn on all lights, and use warm-toned bulbs for a cozy glow. Outside, add pathway lights or soft spotlights to create a welcoming evening appeal.

3. Highlight Energy Efficiency

Ottawa winters remind buyers of heating bills. Showcase energy-efficient features like new windows, upgraded insulation, or a smart thermostat. These upgrades make a strong selling point in winter months.

4. Create a Cozy Atmosphere

Make buyers feel right at home.

Turn up the heat (comfort matters).
Use seasonal décor—like a throw blanket or candles.
Offer warm touches during showings, like freshly baked cookies or hot drinks.

5. Work With a Market Expert

The winter market has fewer listings, but buyers are serious and ready to act. Having the right agent ensures you market your home effectively to attract motivated buyers and close on your terms.

Final Thoughts

Selling in winter doesn’t have to be a challenge. With the right preparation and strategy, your home can stand out and sell for top dollar—even when the snow is falling.

📞 Contact me today to discover how we can make your winter sale a success!

Real Estate Sales

What Buyers Really Want: Energy-Efficient Homes

Did you know that energy-efficient homes are now topping the wish list for today’s buyers? With rising energy costs and growing environmental awareness, buyers are prioritizing efficiency—and sellers who adapt stand to gain big.

Why Buyers Care About Energy Efficiency

Rising energy costs make efficient homes more affordable immediately and over the long term. Lower monthly bills are a big selling point for buyers watching their budgets.
Environmental awareness is driving demand for greener living. More buyers want homes that reduce their carbon footprint.
Smart buyers see energy-efficient upgrades as an investment, not just a feature. For them, it’s about saving money, adding comfort, and protecting the planet—all at once.

Easy Energy-Efficient Upgrades for Sellers

If you’re planning to sell, you don’t have to break the bank to make your home more energy-efficient. Here are a few simple upgrades that buyers love:

LED Lighting: Replace outdated bulbs with energy-saving LEDs. They last longer and cut utility costs.
Improved Insulation: Focus on attics, basements, and walls—key areas where heat escapes.
Energy-Efficient Windows: Double or triple-pane windows reduce drafts and lower heating/cooling bills.
Smart Thermostats: These allow buyers to optimize energy usage and lower monthly costs with ease.
Major Upgrades: Solar panels, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and tankless water heaters are investments that truly stand out.

The Financial Impact

Energy efficiency isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a selling point. Here’s why:

Homes with energy-efficient features often sell faster and for more money because buyers see the immediate and long-term value.
Buyers are willing to pay a premium for homes that promise lower utility bills and a smaller environmental footprint.

Why This Matters for Sellers

For homeowners looking to sell, energy-efficient upgrades aren’t just “nice to have”—they’re what buyers are actively searching for. Even small changes can make a big difference in attracting offers and increasing your home’s appeal.

Want to know how energy-efficient upgrades can boost your home’s value? Send me a message—I’d love to chat!

Real Estate Investment

Buying Your First Investment Property

YES, it is true, Real Estate investing produces more millionaires than any other industry. But that doesn’t mean it’s dummy proof.

And YES, it is true, it’s hard to lose when it comes to Real Estate investing over the long term. But that doesn’t mean you CAN’T lose, or at least that some strategies are better than others.

So where do you start?

Well – here are some questions you need to consider.

How much money do you have?

How risky do you want to be?

Are you more interested in short term CASH or long term equity?

Do you want something turn key, or something that needs work?

How handy are you?

How much time do you have to put into this?

How big of a project are you comfortable taking on?

When you take the time to answer those questions you can really start to determine what works best for you.

For example. Lots of money, time and skills, willing to take on risk and looking for short term cash? Maybe we buy a house on a main street on a big lot where prices aren’t yet too crazy but rents are still high – and we build a wicked multi unit, rent it out, and flip it as a cash cow.

Little money, time and skills? Want as little risk as possible and ok with long term equity? Let’s buy a brand new apartment in the most steady location we can find and rent it out for 10 years.

Both could be your first investment – and one is SUPER ambitious and the other is pretty tame. Both are good.

Rather than list all the options, just answer all those questions and feel free to send me the answers for recommendations on investments that match your answers.

What’s the most popular 1st time investment in my experience you ask?

I’d say a purpose build duplex that could use some lipstick and that would fetch some great rents. That’s a pretty decent first step that gives you some low(ish) risk that will probably get you a little positive cash flow but will absolutely get you some nice equity over the long term.

The MOST IMPORTANT part to Real Estate Investing? START.

Honestly, that’s it. Even slightly sub par investment will pay off big time if you hold it long enough, but what’s undeniable is that when you own Real Estate you have more options. If you have a property that builds some decent equity, once that mortgage is due you can refinance it and pull out some money to invest in more Real Estate – and it snowballs from there.

If you want to have a talk about how to get in the game, send me a message and I’ll be happy to talk 🙂

Market Update, Real Estate Financing

Lower Rates = More Money in Your Pocket

As we move into late October, there is growing optimism in the financial world regarding interest rates. Many forecasters are eyeing a potential decrease of 0.25% to 0.5% in variable mortgage rates, creating a buzz about what this could mean for home buyers and sellers here in Ottawa.

For potential home buyers, lower mortgage rates represent a golden opportunity. A decrease in rates can reduce monthly payments significantly, allowing you to stretch your budget and potentially afford a more comfortable home. For example, on a $100,000 mortgage, a drop to 4.75% could save you around $15 a month compared to the current 5.0% rate. If rates fall to 4.5%, that savings could reach nearly $30 per month! This could be the deciding factor that helps you move from window shopping to actually closing on your dream home.

Sellers, too, should take note of these potential changes. Lower rates might attract more buyers to the market, as affordability increases. More buyers often mean a faster sale and potentially greater interest in your property, leading to better offers. With a competitive environment, carefully staging your home and pricing it right can leverage these favorable conditions to your advantage.

In conclusion, as we await the next Bank of Canada announcement, keep a close eye on interest rates. Whether buying or selling, now is a great time to strategize and prepare for a market that could become more favorable with a potential rate drop. The landscape is shifting, and there’s no time like the present to take action in the Ottawa real estate market!

Real Estate Sales, Suburb Series

What Makes a Good Location?

For our Suburban Buyers, finding a good location can often be tricky. It isn’t enough to be in a ‘good’ suburb – you ideally want to be in the most favourable part of it. So what exactly makes one part of a suburb more favourable than others? Here I’ll give you a few great examples to look out for.

First of all, we need to acknowledge that a suburban buyer often has a family that needs and values certain things. Safety being the most important, then proximity to recreation being second, and finally proximity to amenities and transportation being third. Let’s go through those one by one.

First – Safety. One aspect that makes a good, SAFE location for a Suburban Buyer is one that has little to no traffic so that their kids can play or even wander in the street without panic. Every parent wants their kids to be able to play street hockey, ride their bikes, or throw a ball in the street and feel safe doing so. The peace of mind that a location like a base of a crescent provides makes a very particular lot even more desirable. Suburban Buyers would also like to be on a street or block where the other homes are at least as nice and as big as theirs. When neighbouring homes are of a poorer quality (build, look or upkeep) there are generally poorer standards in the area – which can make them feel unsafe.

Second – Proximity to Recreation. Being right next to a park or a sports field gives Suburban Buyers a place to get some space and exercise, and to feel safe with their kids while they do the same. As long as these places are well kept and attract other similar people – this is a massive bonus that makes a home worth even more.

Finally – Proximity to Amenities and Transportation. The trick here is to think of these like your in-laws. You want them close – just not next door. Around the block, a few streets away is perfect lol. Suburban Buyers want the convenience of being able to run out and get some food or whatnot, and don’t want to have to be stuck in traffic for 15 minutes just to go 1 mile down the road doing it. Many suburbs get so developed that getting to the highways or rapid transit stops are easily 25-30 minutes on average. God forbid someone has to take a bus or two just to get OUT of the suburb – time adds up quick.

So if you are a Suburban Buyer thinking of WHERE you want to be in your preferred suburb, I would strongly consider these three items I’ve mentioned above, or at least be very clear about what it is you are looking for.

Too often I’ve seen buyers more focused on a few thousand dollars as their main driver when it comes to finding a home, and I would hate for you to be lured into thinking that would be the most important thing in the home where you’ll be spending the next chapter of your life.

Real Estate Sales

How to Prepare Your Home For Sale

Likely the largest hurdle for our Sellers – HOW to get the home ‘show ready’. Seems like a daunting task for sure, however there are a few good rules of thumb to follow to get you going in the right direction.

For starters – good home maintenance is a must. We want Buyers to come in to your home and feel like the home has been cared for. After all, pride of ownership says a lot about BOTH the sellers and the home. Seasonal maintenance, regular maintenance on appliances and utilities, as well as maintenance on any property damage are all a must. Our most successful sellers are on top of ALL the required maintenance of their homes and keep detailed logs so they can show prospective Buyers.

Second- declutter and clean. We’ve all heard this before, however there is more to this than you might thing. Regarding cleaning – give your home a DEEP clean right before you list. That means dust all those hard to reach places, clean the stove and fridge, and wipe the baseboards. When it comes to decluttering, what you want to do is ideally have a large number of the EXACT same type of cardboard boxes or plastic bins, get some labels, and sort out a proper, clean and well lit place to place all your storage. Why go through all this trouble? Because EVERY house will have 1 or 2 rooms with storage, but most will look like … well… a garbage dump. I’ve seen garages packed the ceiling with what seems like a variety of items just thrown right as far and as high as they’ll go. YOUR storage on the other hand will reflect well on you. It will be clean, organized, and neat. This is an excellent opportunity to stand out from the competition and to give the next Buyers the impression that when THEY move in, they’ll be organized too!

Third – paint your home. Consult with a stager to see what the latest and greatest colours and matches for your specific property, and if you can’t paint like a pro – hire one. This is one of the best ways to freshen up your home, give it a ‘new home smell’, and is also an excellent return on investment. Paint is a few hundred dollars in the cans, but 10-15K worth of value on the walls (if done right).

These are just the basics, and there are many more strategies to get into if the resources exist. Depending on the levels of time, money and energy available, preparing a property can go from the simple rules of thumb above, to a complete transformation.

Any questions? Ask 🙂

Uncategorized

How New Home Builders can increase client satisfaction, retention and referrals.. and make MORE money doing it.

I’ve brought buyers to every large builder in the City, and quite a few people the small ones as well, and the feedback is generally is generally same every single time- so how do so many of them keep getting the same things wrong?

Surely not everyone can be pleased, but it doesn’t take a genius to identify patterns in complaints, and opportunities for improvement.

A few years ago I actually conducted my very own meta study (study of studies), and compiled notes on this very subject. The mistake I made was that I named the builders by name – with backlash that was incredibly blown out of proportion by both those who lost AND those who felt they didn’t win by enough lol.

Another thing that I learned was that my own experiences and those of my clients were exactly in line with the majority of the public.

So without naming names, here are the TWO major issues across the board, as well as a simple solution that could cure all:

1)Not a single chance to review the construction before the home is complete. This has caused an incredible amount of issues down the road for everyone involved. From a long list of mistakes made during construction, but most notably the major issues that could have been identified and solved before they developed into something larger. While this may seem like a major pain for builders, it is my sincere belief this is the BIGGEST mistake they make. I will explain after.

2) After Sales Service. Described as non-existent by most buyers, this is where many people the mistakes that could have been avoided earlier come to haunt everyone. Leaving a sour taste in the buyers mouths, builders are notorious for skipping the bill at this massive juncture.

The solution?

A simple, yet effective (hear: GENIUS) principle called the Jidoka principle. In essence, this is a concept that empowers operators to detect abnormal conditions and immediately stop work. Made famous by Toyota in the early 1900’s, this principle helped them re-write the record books on production quality and capacity.

In action, Toyota believed that their employees had an OBLIGATION to halt assembly immediately (by pulling a cord known as the Andon Cord) to address any inefficiencies or deficiencies they found. By doing this, they identified that while production slowed down temporarily in the present moment, a much more significant amount of time and money was saved later on by going back and fixing those errors elsewhere. This, as well as a few other core principles formed what became famously known as the “Toyota Production System (TPS)”, and has been hailed as a revolutionary quality control breakthrough with respect to production and manufacturing by Six Sigma (Global Institute of Quality Control).

Another little company you may have heard of that employs this principle is Amazon. There, if a customer calls with a report of a defect, any employee can pull the cord and remove the item from assembly, which has saved Amazon from countless amounts of customer service issues and likely an incredibly large fortune. Which a focus on customer satisfaction by using this principle, Amazon’s success and testament to the Jidoka principle speaks for itself.

So how can a builder use the Jidoka principle?

My belief is that by at least involving the client and a 3rd party quality control specialist in ONE tour of the home during construction, potential issues can be identified and addressed before they turn into much, much larger issues for everyone. This is an opportunity to correct medium sized issues before they become monstrous, not to mention will provide everyone with a clearer understanding and appreciation of the product, the timelines, and the company as a whole.

Not to mention that builders are COMPLETELY missing out on the fact that buyers are excited about this process, and giving them even 1 hour to tour the home will do wonders for their experience, satisfaction and likelihood of positive word of mouth! Have them “check in” on social media for an upgrade (even worth $100 to the builder) to give social proof and spread a positive spin on the builder, and you’ve now turned a production/profit improvement into a grass roots PR movement as well.

Oh… and that After Sales Service issue? Much like Amazon.com, watch those issues dissappear since thre majority of the big issues will have already been addressed long ago.

Now I know builders. Many of them think “this would be a nightmare/pain in the…/ never ending/ don’t have time/ not worth it”, to which I would respond, “Tell me more about how you know better than Toyota (worth 236 Billion) and Amazon (worth 1.7 TRILLION)?”

Do you really think you have nothing to learn from these revolutionaries?

Or do you want to be the next one in the housing industry?

There is an opportunity here for a builder to have the first mover advantage, and I believe the first one to build out, implement and advertise the Jidoka principle will see their client satisfaction, retention, referrals, profit and overall business growth EXPLODE.

Market Update, Suburb Series, Video

Market Update – Orleans

Hey Everyone,

In this segment I’m going to go through the beginning of the Suburb Series, which means this week I’m going to go through the stats year over year for Orleans, and in the coming weeks you’ll see me and my team go through Barrhaven, Kanata, Stittsville, Nepean etc.

Here goes for Orleans:

Year over year, prices were DOWN 2% on average.

For the same time period, days on market were UP 46% on average.

Here are the stats:

April 2015

Detached 113 @ 443K in 31

Towns 54 @ 311K in 26

Condos 41 @ 311K in 47

April 2016

Detached 125 @437K in 41

Towns 55 @ 309K in 33

Condos 34 @ 219K in 51

What does this mean? If you are thinking of selling, you need to invest in a GOOD agent who can do some damage control and make sure you are getting as much money as possible. If you are looking to Buy, it’s a GREAT time to buy as prices are down on average and sellers are hurting a bit.

If you want some specific information on any type of home in any type of area – please call me at (613)739-5959 or email at Mevans@evanselattar.com

See you soon!

Uncategorized

How to: Increase net worth by $700/month w/bonus cash of $600/month for 5 years with a few thousand dollars start up.

Let’s say you are renting a townhouse. In Ottawa a nice townhouse can fetch 1450-1600 a month rent, so let’s just say $1500 for arguments sake.

That same townhouse is likely going to be about 305-325 to purchase, so let’s go with $315,000.

5% down is 15, 750. Budget a few thousand for closing costs as well.

On a 5 year, 30 year ammo, 3.5% your payment is $1343 – CHEAPER than rent.

It get’s better.

Remember that rent you were wasting? All $1500 of it? Well when you are paying a mortgage – this one specifically – $480 of the payment is going towards the loan itself, and the only the balance of $1020 is being wasted away! With a scenario like this you are saving about $500 a month when compared to renting. The money being paid against the loan is similar to being put in a bank account called “equity”. Think of it as a bank account in the walls of your home, and you get to cash it out when you sell. Now if you only put 5% down you will have to pay CMHC Insurance, which will get added to the mortgage and cost you about $30-$40 extra per month. Property Taxes and Insurance will also cost you about $300 a month as well. So you’re extra $480 per month becomes about $150 per month of a net savings.

It get’s better.

Some banks are offering Cash Back incentives of up to 5% of the purchase price of the home you buy, so while you are spending 5% plus closing costs to GET the house, you are getting back 5% cashed back, meaning you are only out of pocket a few thousand bucks!

Not too bad!

It gets better.

Let’s say that townhouse appreciates at a conservative 2% per year, and you hold onto it for 5 years. That’s about $6600 per year in appreciation, or $550/month NET (since you can realize this amount in a lump sum when you sell, tax free as long as CRA determines it was your principle residence).

Summary:

TOTAL CASH OUTFLOW of owning this townhouse of ($1343 mortgage plus $330 taxes and insurance = ) $1637 per month.

Net Worth Increase of ($150 paid against loan + $550 gain in appreciation = ) $700 per month.

Do you see how people make some good money by buying a home and selling it after (about) 5 years? That’s 60 months of increasing net worth by $700 which is $42,000!! MONEY YOU WOULDN’T GET RENTING!

BONUS: Rent out a room to a good friend for $600/month and put that money directly against your mortgage and realize ANOTHER $40,000 of equity from paying down that loan faster. That’s up to $82,000 of a gain in 5 years!

As I always say – don’t go running amok spending your money on a townhouse now… consult with your trusted sales and lending professionals to make sure this scenario is right for you, and to go over all the intricate details and risks. Email me at mevans@evanselattar.com to look into it if you would like.