I have recently returned from a trip to Ottawa, Montréal and Quebec City and wanted to share my experiences. I had never been to these cities before and the impressions that these places made on me were indelible. My annual appraisal convention took me to Ottawa and I was so impressed with the city. Having never been before I did not know what to expect. My expectations were low for some reason, but was I ever wrong to think the city might disappoint. The Rideau Canal that snakes through the city is so beautiful and interesting with it’s forty-five locks, the canal still operates today! The city has such a chill vibe for a being the Capital of our nation. Parliament Hill is fascinating, and Byword Market with its many restaurants and shops is a fun shopping destination. The neighbourhoods in Ottawa are diverse and thriving, growing quickly due to the many job opportunities that Ottawa offers. Reportedly the average home price in Ottawa as of August 2023 was reportedly $640,220, increasing .7% year-over-year. Like Victoria, property values appreciate over time, although property values may fluctuate and may see a decease in the shot term.
Historically real estate prices have increased in the long-term making real estate a good investment in Ottawa. After my convention my hubby, Tony, met me in Ottawa and we took the Via Rail Train to Montreal. What a way to travel! The train is so much better then driving, now instead of road rage, disagreements about which way to go, and GPS malfunctions, we are sipping drinks, enjoy our train snacks, all while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Montréal was so fun! We stayed at the Birks Hotel Montreal, which is a beautiful hotel across from Philips Square and walking distance to Old Montreal and Old Port of Montreal. We walked everywhere and covered a lot of ground in the very short amount of time we had. We went to dinner at Modavie which is a fun spot with live music and great food and took in the Aura Experience at the Notre Dame which is a light and music show held in the evening. We also had a delicious breakfast at Nellie in the Nelligan Hotel in Old Montreal and we walked and walked, we definitely got our exercise! There are many diverse communities within Montreal from Old Town to newly developed areas all with their unique vibe and appeal. The increase in interest rates has caused somewhat of a slowdown in sales in Montreal (like most provinces in Canada), however real estate prices in Montreal appear to be increasing. Reportedly the current average home price in Montreal is $561,000 which is up 6.1% over the past 12 months. After our whirlwind trip to Montreal, we got back on the Via Rail Train to Quebec City.
Quebec City is amazing! Sitting at the mouth of the mighty Saint Lawrence River, the city is absolutely beautiful and full of rich history. Needless to say, we were blown away! We stayed at the historic Chateau Frontenac which sits high up on a hill and is so impressive! The hotel is gorgeous with comfortable rooms, a super nice indoor pool and spa, gorgeous outside patio and many restaurants including a Starbucks! We walked to the Planes of Abraham, which is a historic park consisting of 103 hectares. It was gorgeous and full of history. We also did a walking tour of Old Quebec which was fascinating, if not exhausting, as Old Quebec is very hilly. We had amazing meals and enjoyed all the shops and boutiques. While we spent our time in Old Quebec, Quebec City has many inviting neighbourhoods and communities all with their own unique charm. The median house price for single family home in August 2023 was $355,000 up 7% from the same period last year. Quebec seems affordable compared to what we see in Victoria and Vancouver, however mortgages are still difficult to quality for due to the mortgage stress test. All in all, we had an amazing time visiting these stunning cities for our first time. We will definitely try to get back to these amazing Canadian cities and, in the meantime, I will be brushing up on my French and eating as much poutine as I can manage.
