How to: Relocating to Ottawa

Published on 29 March 2019 in Moving Ottawa Ottawa Real Estate by Jenn Chamberlain

Last updated on May 11th, 2021 at 12:56 pm

Are you thinking about relocating to Ottawa? Not sure how to plan out the process? Take these steps into account to ensure that your move to Ottawa goes smoothly.

Find An Agent

First things first, it’s important to find an agent who is specialized in the Ottawa area. They’ll be able to provide you with accurate information about all the neighbourhoods as well as recent sales data and market trends. It’s an agent’s job to present you with available resale and new homes in your budget, and also act as your representative in negotiations with the seller. They will explain the entire home buying process to you and offer support at every step along the way.

Decide on A Neighbourhood

Once you have an agent, it’s now time to decide on a particular neighbourhood. Ottawa has over 23 areas to explore and so many great neighbourhoods to choose from! Whether you prefer a city feel, suburban home, or rural lot, there’s something for every homeowner here. In fact, Ottawa has been described as one of the most beautiful cities to live in with all the attributes of a major metropolis but with a small town feel. Your agent will help you short-list a few potential districts that are best suited to your lifestyle and budget needs.

Find Your Dream Home

As soon as you have decided on a particular neighbourhood, the agent will then pull the available listings (on and off the market) for you to review. If there’s anything that peaks your interest, your agent will help to arrange a tour of the property. You should also take some quality time to explore the area around the home to see if it has all the services and amenities that you desire.

Get A Mortgage And A Lawyer

Your real estate agent should also be able to help you with setting up a mortgage, obtaining legal services, and professional inspection services if necessary. They will help you determine all the closing costs before you make a commitment and help ensure that your mortgage timing and transaction process goes as smoothly as possible.

Find A Job

Ottawa has a low unemployment rate and one of the highest incomes of all major Canadian cities. They have a booming tech industry as well as large government and healthcare sectors. Kanata Research Park in the western part of the city has even been nicknamed ‘Silicon Valley North’ with over 1800 companies there, including large tech firms like Adobe. With so many services available in the city, it’s also easy to find a job in the real estate and finance industry, along with the restaurant hub, professional sports industry, boutiques, museums, theatres, and galleries.

Book Your Move

Don’t forget to book your move as soon as you know your closing date. Ottawa has become a popular place to relocate to, so you want to ensure that you book far enough in advance to lock in a date and time. When you’re ready to relocate to Ottawa, send us your information, and we’ll put our expertise to work for you. At Jenn and Steve, our team will work with you from the beginning of the home buying process to even after you move in your belongings. We are specialized in real estate in Ottawa, including Nepean, Kanata, Stittsville, Osgoode, Orleans, Manotick, Barrhaven and Gloucester. Call us today!