Moving to Ottawa

The Corporate Resources Group, a Swiss-based management firm, has ranked the Ottawa Region sixth in the world in terms of its quality of life. The ranking is based on many factors, including low crime rates, environmental cleanliness, public services, political stability, and economic and social conditions. In 2004, Chatelaine, one of Canada's largest-circulation monthly magazines, recognized the Ottawa region as the best place to live and work in a cross-Canada survey.

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The Ottawa real estatemarket in the has historically been strong, with an estimated 56 per cent of all units currently owner-occupied. A variety of innovative housing products have been successfully introduced into the market, and more are expected in response to future demographic, economic and environmental changes. Ottawa's residential communities offer a variety of lifestyles, including urban, suburban, and rural. The communities and housing market offers a variety of architecture, prices ranges and locations to suite your needs and taste. The average housing cost in the City of Ottawa for 2005 was $244,531, which was up 3.8% from the previous year; however, the number of housing starts slowed in 2005 in comparison to 2004 activity

The Ottawa Region's population is expected to grow significantly in the future. Downtown Ottawa is experiencing a residential development revival.

Major designated growth areas in the region are Orléans to the east, Barrhaven in the south, Kanata in the west and Riverside South in the South. However, ample vacant residential land remains available in the Ottawa Region for all types of housing, from large luxury single-family homes to high-rise apartments and condominiums.

The Ottawa Region's housing prices steadily increased since 2000. According to a December 2006 survey of Multiple Listing Service residential average prices by the Canadian Real Estate Association, the region's housing compares favourably to other larger Canadian cities.

As with most areas, house prices vary according to neighbourhood. There are also a variety of condominium apartments and townhouses.