Homes for Sale in Ottawa: Prices, Areas and Buying Rules

Ottawa straddles the Ottawa River, facing Gatineau, Quebec, on the north bank. Within the city:

• The Glebe, Old Ottawa South and Westboro are established, walkable areas with a premium for older character homes.
• Centretown and the ByWard Market are condo-heavy and close to Parliament Hill.
• Kanata has a technology cluster and newer homes.
• Barrhaven and Orleans are suburban, with newer family housing at lower prices.

The O-Train Confederation Line runs east-west through the core, and bus rapid transit serves the suburbs. Winters are cold, so check heating costs and insulation.

Canada has restricted purchases of residential property by non-Canadians through federal legislation introduced in 2023 and extended, with exemptions for certain permit holders and others. Ontario also levies a Non-Resident Speculation Tax on certain buyers, and a land transfer tax applies to everyone. Ottawa does not currently have a municipal land transfer tax like Toronto's. Rules change, so confirm everything with an Ontario real estate lawyer.

For a step-by-step overview, read our Canada property buying guide. Mortgage questions are answered in the Canada financing guide, and the Canada analysis page provides market context.

Plan for a land transfer tax in Ontario, legal fees, title insurance and a home inspection, plus a deposit that is usually paid when your offer is accepted. Offers often include conditions such as financing and inspection, which protect you for a few days. Most Ottawa purchases go through a realtor and a lawyer who handles the title search and closing.

Condominium purchases add a status certificate review, which tells you about reserve funds, special assessments and monthly fees. In older buildings these documents deserve careful reading. Our property valuation tool is a quick way to see whether an asking price is in line with the local range.

Ottawa's price per m² of €3,255 compares well with Toronto and Vancouver-area cities such as Surrey. Public sector employment makes the economy less cyclical than resource-driven cities, though federal hiring policy can influence demand. Rental demand is steady from students at Carleton and the University of Ottawa, and civil servants.

Compare with Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Hamilton. Use the mortgage calculator to test affordability, or return to the Canada hub.