New Row House Construction with wood sheathing and asphalt roof
There’s been a big announcement this week from the Province of Ontario, and it’s one that could have a meaningful impact on buyers—especially those considering new construction.
In partnership with the federal government, Ontario is expanding the HST rebate on new homes for a limited time, with the goal of improving affordability and encouraging more housing development.
More specifically, the province is planning to temporarily remove the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on new homes for qualifying buyers. The full 13% tax would be eliminated on homes valued up to $1 million from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
For homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million, buyers would still qualify for the maximum rebate of up to $130,000, with the rebate gradually decreasing for higher-priced homes—down to approximately $24,000 for homes valued at $1.85 million.
Let’s break down what this actually means.
What changed? Under this new program, the province is temporarily expanding the rebate structure so that significantly more buyers—and a wider range of home prices—can benefit over a one-year period.
Why this matters From a real estate perspective, this is a pretty strategic move.
New construction has been one of the biggest pressure points in Ontario’s housing supply. Between rising construction costs, interest rates, and slower buyer activity, many builders have pulled back or delayed projects.
This rebate is designed to do two things:
Stimulate demand by lowering the effective purchase price for buyers
Encourage builders to move forward with projects
And in a market like Ottawa—where we rely heavily on a steady pipeline of new housing—this could help bring more inventory online.
What it means for buyers If you’re considering a new build, this is where things get interesting.
A rebate of this size can:
Reduce your upfront cost significantly
Improve affordability on higher price points
Potentially allow buyers to stretch into a better product or location
That said, timing will matter. This is a temporary program, and we’ll likely see increased competition in the new construction space as buyers start to take advantage of it.
The bigger picture This announcement is really about one thing: supply.
Governments at both levels are trying to unlock more housing by making projects more viable and encouraging buyers back into the market.
Will it solve everything? No. But it’s a meaningful step—and one that could create opportunities for buyers who understand how to position themselves.
Final thoughts If you’re thinking about buying a new build this year, this is worth paying close attention to.
There may be a window here where:
Pricing is still relatively stable
Incentives are strong
Inventory is improving
And those three things don’t always line up.
As always, the key is understanding how this fits into your overall plan—whether that’s buying your next home, relocating, or investing.
If you want to walk through how this impacts your specific situation, happy to chat.
Here’s the latest update in our Suburban Statistics Series, featuring insights on the five largest urban neighborhoods in Ottawa. With Ottawa’s spread-out layout, it’s always fascinating to see how each area’s market trends vary. These stats compare MLS OREB sales from January 1 to February 28, 2026, with the same period in 2025.
Here’s the latest update in our Suburban Statistics Series, featuring insights on the five largest urban neighborhoods in Ottawa. With Ottawa’s spread-out layout, it’s always fascinating to see how each area’s market trends vary. These stats compare MLS OREB sales from January 1 to January 31, 2026, with the same period in 2025.
Here’s the latest update in our Suburban Statistics Series, featuring insights on the five largest urban neighborhoods in Ottawa. With Ottawa’s spread-out layout, it’s always fascinating to see how each area’s market trends vary. These stats compare MLS OREB sales from January 1 to December 31, 2025, with the same period in 2024.
The shift has been slow and steady, but November really highlighted where things are heading. Ottawa is still technically sitting in a balanced market, yet different segments are starting to move in very different directions — and some are shifting quickly.
Condo apartments, for example, have climbed to seven months of inventory, a notable jump that firmly places that segment in buyer’s-market territory. (For context, months of inventory measures how long it would take for all current listings to sell if no new ones came on the market.) Seven months means buyers have leverage and plenty of choice.
By contrast, single-family homes are holding steady at roughly four months of inventory, and townhomes are even tighter at around three months — both still within balanced-market conditions. But as always, Ottawa is really a collection of micro-stories. For example, if you’re buying or selling in Westboro, The Glebe, or downtown under $1M, you’re seeing something completely different from the citywide averages. Inventory in these pockets is incredibly tight, competition is high, and well-priced homes are moving fast. So even though the overall market reads “balanced,” your lived experience may feel far more competitive.
Layered on top of all this is the Bank of Canada’s latest decision to hold interest rates steady. This means we’re heading into the new year with what I’d call a neutral rate environment — rates aren’t pushing the market forward, but they’re not pulling it back either. A rate cut would certainly help unlock more momentum (and yes, selfishly, I’d love to see that), especially as inventory builds in certain segments.
If you’re curious about what’s happening in your specific neighbourhood or want a breakdown of recent sales around your home, feel free to reach out anytime. Every pocket of the city is behaving differently right now, and we’re always happy to walk you through it.
We’ll also be sharing a more detailed 2026 market forecast in the next blog post. There’s a lot to unpack, and I’m looking forward to diving deeper with you!
It’s incredibly disappointing to see Clublink move forward with closing the Kanata Golf & Country Club in favour of development. For decades, this course has been a defining part of the Kanata Lakes community — not just a patch of green space, but a promise. A promise that helped shape home values, neighbourhood identity, and the very reason many families chose to live there in the first place.
It is also close to home as my boys enjoyed playing there this year with their Grandpa. It was some of our most memorable moments from the past summer.
What breaks my heart most is thinking about the homeowners who bought with the understanding — and yes, expectation — that they would have golf course views for the lifetime of their homes. Many paid large premiums. Many built their lives around that open space, that privacy, that sense of calm. To have that taken away is more than frustrating — it feels like a betrayal.
What’s even harder to wrap my head around is how a development with essentially zero public support — not from the local councillor, not from the MP, and certainly not from the mayor — could still push ahead and get approved. The community has been loud, organized, and united. Petitions, town halls, planning meetings — the message has been consistent: we don’t want this. Yet somehow, the desires of the residents who actually live here and elsewhere in Ottawa were outweighed.
It’s astounding, and frankly, unacceptable.
Clublink had an opportunity to stand by the community that supported them for decades. Instead, they chose to sell out. I understand business decisions, but there is a difference between business and values. This decision lacks the latter.
I truly hope that builders across Ottawa recognize the weight of this. Land comes with history — and reputation. I would be proud to see some of the city’s more respected builders take a stand and decline involvement in developing here. Not because they can’t build well, but because we need a message that communities matter. Commitments matter. Neighbourhood identity matters.
Will a boycott happen? Probably not. But it would be powerful to see people hit pause and ask: At what cost? What kind of city do we want to be? One that honours long-standing neighbourhood character and resident trust — or one that allows corporate interests to override community voice?
September’s numbers tell an interesting story — we actually saw more sales than last year, which might surprise some people given the headlines. But what really stood out was the jump in new listings, up about 20% year-over-year. That surge has pushed our inventory levels to around four months of supply, the highest we’ve seen in quite some time.
What does that mean? We’re still in balanced market conditions, but if this pace of new listings continues, we could see five or even six months of inventory by winter. As a result, sellers have been making more price adjustments lately. Many are realizing that pricing based on where the market was, not where it is now, can lead to listings sitting longer — and often selling for less once buyers move on.
Much like the stock market, timing matters. It’s tough to let go of yesterday’s high, but success today comes down to smart pricing, strong marketing, and top-notch presentation.
That’s where our team comes in. With shifting conditions, having the right representation is more important than ever. Fun fact: one in two Ottawa transactions involves a Royal LePage agent — a great reminder that experience and strategy matter in this market.
If you’re curious about what’s happening in your neighbourhood or where your home might stand in today’s market, reach out anytime — we’re always happy to help.
One of the best things about living in Ottawa is how quickly you can escape into nature. In less than an hour, you can swap the city for cliffside lookouts, peaceful forest trails, and even some pretty incredible ruins. Two of my go-to hikes are the Eagle’s Nest Lookout in Calabogie and the Carbide Willson Ruins in Gatineau Park. They’re totally different experiences; one gives you a jaw-dropping view over the Madawaska Highlands, and the other takes you through the woods to waterfalls and historic stone walls. Both are worth adding to your list if you love exploring the outdoors.
A couple of weekends ago, my wife and I packed up the boys and headed to the Carbide Willson Ruins in Gatineau Park. It’s a short hike—just over a kilometre each way—which makes it a great choice for families. The trail winds through the forest before opening up to the ruins of an old stone mill tucked beside a small waterfall.
What I really like about this hike is how much you get for so little effort. You don’t have to be an avid hiker to enjoy it! The trail is wide, shaded, and manageable for all ages. Plus, since it starts right near O’Brien Beach at Meech Lake, you can easily pair the hike with a picnic or even a swim on a warm day.
Another hike we often enjoy is Eagle’s Nest Lookout in Calabogie. This one’s a bit more of a climb than Carbide Willson, but still very doable even with kids in tow. What’s great about Eagle’s Nest is that you have options. There’s a shorter trail that is about 20 minutes from the parking area. This trail takes you straight up to the lookout. Or, if you’re looking for more of a workout, you can tackle the Manitou Mountain Trail, a 9 km route that winds through the forest and passes by a couple of other lookouts before leading you to the main one.
No matter which route you choose, the payoff is the same: a jaw-dropping panorama over the Madawaska Highlands. It’s the kind of view that makes you stop, take a deep breath, and just take it all in. One thing I always tell people about Eagle’s Nest is to plan ahead for parking and timing—it’s a popular spot, especially on nice weekends. If you can head out early in the day, you’ll beat the crowds and really get to enjoy the lookout at its best.
Both of these hikes show just how lucky we are to have so much variety so close to Ottawa. The Carbide Willson Ruins is perfect when you want something short, family-friendly, and a little different with its waterfalls and history. Eagle’s Nest, on the other hand, gives you that classic “wow” moment at the top of a cliffside lookout, whether you take the quick route or make a day of it on the longer trail.
If you’re looking for a way to spend a weekend outdoors, you really can’t go wrong with either one. Pack some snacks, head out early, and enjoy what makes our area such a great place to live!
Hey everyone, Chris here with a quick update on the Ottawa real estate market! The past few weeks have been eventful, with interest rates dropping, including a significant half-point cut by the Bank of Canada. This shift is already impacting the market—buyers are coming back, multiple offers are returning, and momentum is building.
Here’s what I’m seeing:
Buyer activity is picking up as affordability improves.
Low inventory remains a challenge, with fewer new builds and limited resale options.
Market predictions: A potential shift to a seller’s market in early 2024, with home prices projected to rise by 5-6%.
Every neighborhood is different, so if you’re curious about what’s happening in your area, reach out to my team. Let’s chat about how these changes might impact your real estate goals.
