Real estate experts in Ottawa

The Ottawa real estate market — Apr 2026

Ottawa offers a steadier, more affordable counterpoint to Toronto. In April 2026 the MLS benchmark price across the OREB region (the National Capital Region) was $629,800, down a modest 2.1% year-over-year, with an average price of $712,184 (source: OREB).

With 3.4 months of inventory, the market is balanced, and homes move briskly — about 21 days on the market, among the fastest of the cities Payotte covers. The composite hides a familiar split: detached homes are tighter (roughly 3.1 months) while condominiums are softer (roughly 5.6 months and a benchmark down 4.4%). The capital's stable, government-anchored economy keeps demand resilient even as prices ease slightly.

Ottawa's government-anchored economy gives it an unusual steadiness: demand rarely spikes or collapses the way it can in more speculative markets. That stability rewards a deliberate approach — buyers have time to inspect properly and compare, while sellers benefit from a dependable, year-round pool of qualified purchasers. The catch is variety: a Glebe century home, a Kanata new-build and an Orléans family house each demand different pricing and inspection expertise.

A measured market still rewards good guidance. Payotte lists one verified professional per sector across Ottawa's 6 covered districts, ranked on Google reviews, experience and an active licence (RECO, FSRA, the Law Society of Ontario, the Appraisal Institute of Canada). One reference per neighbourhood, free, ad-free and commission-free.

How Payotte selects

For every sector, Payotte publishes a single professional per profession — the highest-scoring on its 100-point grid (Google reviews 35, experience 30, active provincial licence 15, local presence 15, bonus 5). No paid placement, no ads, no commissions.