If you’re wondering how to start investing in Ottawa real estate– then you’ve come to the right place! Ottawa’s housing market continues to yield strong results and opportunities for long-term growth, cash flow and equity building investment properties.

Whether you’re a first-time investor or new to the Ottawa real estate market, this guide will walk you through how to start your real estate investment journey in Ottawa, from budgeting, to choosing the right neighbourhood and property for your goals. 

Let’s get you one step closer to owning a profitable investment property in Ottawa.

Why Invest In Ottawa (2025 Update)

Ottawa has one of the most stable and reliable real estate markets in Ontario. Our unique blend of high levels of employment, immigration and overall housing demand has created a stable investors market.

Ottawa has been able to fly under the radar when compared to other popular investor markets, like Toronto and Vancouver, which has kept pricing at bay. In Ottawa, there are amazing opportunities for first-time investors testing the waters and seasoned investors looking to diversify their portfolio.

Here’s what makes the Ottawa real estate market stand out to investors:

• Ottawa has a stable job market with a 5.6% unemployment rate vs. Ontario’s 7.9% unemployment rate (May 2025)
• Ottawa has a low vacancy rate (the percentage of vacant rental units in an area) of only 2.4%
• Ottawa has strong population growth including students attending Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, immigration and professionals in government and tech sectors
• Ottawa has strong long-term value appreciation, even through turbulent economic periods.

Financing Your Real Estate Investment Property In Ottawa

Here are the basics of financing your first investment property:

• Any property that is not your primary residence, typically requires a minimum 20% down payment;
• You can also expect closing costs which will account for approximately 3-5% of the purchase price;
• And don’t forget, properties may require additional budget for renovations, maintenance and property-management.

A realistic entry-point for Ottawa real estate investing, in terms of liquid capital, is about $100,000 – $150,000, depending on the property type and location. This would include the 20% down payment needed, plus closing costs and potential touch-ups/repairs.

For example, investors entering the market at a purchase price of about $400,000 (which is on the low end but is realistic for the Ottawa market) they can expect to pay about $80,000 for the 20% downpayment, plus approximately $10,000 in closing costs which requires a total minimum capital of $100,000.

If you currently own a home or have equity in other properties or investments you can look at loans like a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or other secured lines of credit which allow you to use that built equity toward your property.

Book your 1-on-1 call with us and we’ll give you personalized investment options based on your budget and goals!

How To Define Your Real Estate Investment Goals

Before diving in, make sure you have a clear picture of your goals. If you’re a first time investor, you’re probably overwhelmed by the various terms being thrown at you from Cash Flow, to Cap Rate to ROI.

But here’s all you really need to know– What’s your why?

Oftentimes, our team can get a better sense of what you need when we have a human-to-human conversation about what you want your life to look like in 5, 10, 15 years.

Here are some examples of what you might be looking for in a rental property:

If you’re not sure what you need, that’s okay (and very normal)! As long as you have an idea of what you want the future to look like, we can help you get there with real estate investing.

The Most Common Real Estate Investment Strategies:

Some strategies are more straight-forward and beginner friendly than others but all have their pros and cons.

Aside from looking at your budget and goals to determine your investment strategy, you also need to carefully consider the current real estate market in the area you’re interested in to determine if your strategy will yield positive results.

For example, short-term rentals in Ottawa don’t typically perform as well as short-term rentals in other popular destinations like Montreal, Toronto or even cottage-country like Muskoka. In Ottawa we see the best opportunities in long-term equity growth, particularly in areas with high rental demand from students and families.

Final Thoughts + Next Steps on Your Real Estate Investment Journey

Learning the ins and outs of real estate investing may take some time but you’re already doing the work! We like to remind our clients that no one can become an expert in something without actually jumping in and doing it! 

If you think investing in real estate might get you closer to the future you want, dive in!

With the right guidance, smart-planning and mindset–you can get a lot out of Ottawa’s uniquely accessible and stable real estate market!

Ready To Start Your Real Estate Investment Journey?

Let’s kick things off with a 1-on-1 call with one of our expert team members. No commitment. No pressure–just a chat about your goals and how you can reach them with our help.

📧 [email protected]

P.S. if you’re not quite ready to jump on a call we have an exclusive Investors email list with tips, market updates and potential properties! Sign up now and get access to our Downloadable e-book, Unlocking Profitable Properties: A Guide to Ottawa Real Estate Investing.