Editor's note, October 6, 2026: this article was reviewed and rewritten in our accuracy check. An earlier version contained neighbourhood price levels, rent tables and market statistics we could not trace to a published source; they have been removed or replaced with figures from the sources listed at the end of the article.
Ottawa is Canada's capital and Ontario's second-largest city, with 1,017,449 people in the 2021 Census. The federal government is the largest employer, alongside technology, health care and the universities. The city stretches from the urban core along the Ottawa River to suburbs such as Kanata, Barrhaven and Orléans and a large rural area.
The market: OREB's May 2026 figures
The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) reported for May 2026:
- Sales: 1,616, down 10.6% from May 2025
- Average price: $721,270, down 0.9%; median $660,000
- Benchmarks: single-family $723,800 (up 0.3% year over year), townhome $557,500 (down 3.2%), apartment $385,500 (down 6.7%)
- Supply: 3,351 new listings and 4,917 active listings, about 3.0 months of inventory
OREB publishes each month's figures in early the following month; check its newsroom for the latest.
Areas to know
- Central neighbourhoods such as the Glebe, Westboro, Hintonburg and Old Ottawa South have older homes, main-street shopping and short commutes downtown.
- Suburbs such as Kanata, Barrhaven and Orléans have newer detached homes and townhouses.
- Condos concentrate downtown, in Centretown and near O-Train stations.
Getting around
The O-Train light rail system (Line 1, the Confederation Line, east–west through downtown, and Line 2 north–south) is the backbone of OC Transpo's network, with buses serving the suburbs.
What to check
- Ottawa has a vacant unit tax, with owners required to declare occupancy each year; check the City's page for the current rate and deadline.
- Older homes in the core: wiring, foundations and any heritage designation.
Outside the City of Toronto there's no municipal land transfer tax, so on a $700,000 purchase you pay Ontario's tax only: $10,475 (an eligible first-time buyer gets up to $4,000 of it refunded). In Toronto the same purchase costs $20,950 with both taxes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay Toronto's land transfer tax if I buy in Ottawa?
No. Toronto's municipal land transfer tax applies only to property in the City of Toronto. In Ottawa you pay Ontario's land transfer tax, and an eligible first-time buyer can get up to $4,000 of it refunded.
How is my property tax worked out?
Your bill is your property's assessed value, set by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), multiplied by the total tax rate. Ontario has postponed province-wide reassessment, so 2026 property taxes are still based on assessed values as of January 1, 2016. A recent buyer's bill therefore reflects that 2016 value, not the price paid.
Can I add a second or third unit?
Since Ontario's More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, most residential lots with full municipal water and sewer services can have up to three units as of right (for example a basement apartment and a garden or garage suite), subject to the municipality's zoning and the Building Code. Check Ottawa's zoning by-law and get permits before you count on rental income from a new unit.
Is there a vacant home or vacant unit tax in Ottawa?
Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton have one; most other Ontario municipalities don't. If you're buying a second property or a home you may leave empty, check Ottawa's own rules.
Which school boards serve Ottawa?
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board run the English-language public and Catholic schools, and Ottawa has two French-language boards. French-language boards also operate. Catchments go by address, so check each board's school locator for the homes you're considering.
Thinking about buying here? Search current listings and recent sales on Summitly, talk to a licensed Summitly agent who works the area, or ask Zara, Summitly's AI virtual agent, for a neighbourhood briefing.
