WESTBORO REAL ESTATE
Westboro Real Estate: Buying and Selling Guide
By Jason Polonski, REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty · Last updated: October 2026
Westboro real estate covers four quite different markets in one neighbourhood: century and post-war character homes, modern infill semis and rebuilds, condos along Richmond Road, and a growing number of small multi-unit buildings. Prices sit well above the Ottawa average, inventory is limited, and the right buying or selling strategy depends heavily on which of those four markets a home belongs to.
This page is the starting point for anyone buying, selling or investing in Westboro. It explains how the market works today, what to check before you buy, how to price and sell, and links to every detailed guide in this series. If you want to know what it is like to live here first, read the Westboro neighbourhood guide.
Related guides: Living Near the O-Train West Extension.
Westboro Real Estate at a Glance: The Four Markets
Most mistakes in Westboro come from comparing the wrong homes. A 1940s bungalow, a three-storey infill semi and a condo on Richmond Road can sit on the same block and sell on completely different logic.
| Home type | Typical buyer | What drives value | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character homes (1900 to 1960) | Families, renovators, builders | Lot, condition of wiring, plumbing and foundation, location | Character homes |
| Infill semis and rebuilds | Move-up buyers, professionals | Build quality, layout, warranty status | Infill homes |
| Condos | First-time buyers, downsizers, investors | Fees, parking, reserve fund, transit access | Condos |
| Small multi-unit buildings | Investors, multigenerational families | Zoning, rents, construction quality | See investing below |
Location inside Westboro matters as much as type. Highland Park, McKellar Park, Westboro Beach, Champlain Park and Hampton Iona each have their own character and price pattern; our guide to Westboro’s neighbourhoods explains the differences street by street.
The Westboro Real Estate Market in Fall 2026
The Ottawa Real Estate Board’s September 2026 report, released on October 5, shows a balanced, slower market across the city:
- 1,010 homes sold city-wide, down 6.6% from September 2025.
- 4.8 months of inventory, up from 4.5 in August.
- Homes sold for an average of 97.5% of list price, with a median of 27 days on market.
- The MLS® Home Price Index benchmark was $705,100 for single-family homes, $546,500 for townhouses and $380,800 for apartments, with apartment prices down 6.1% year over year.
Central Ottawa is softer than the suburbs. OREB’s Ottawa Centre submarket had 6.8 months of inventory and a 27.6% sales-to-new-listings ratio, compared with 3.7 months in the west suburbs. Condo apartments are the weakest segment, with 7.3 months of inventory city-wide.
What this means in Westboro
These are city-wide and submarket figures. OREB does not publish neighbourhood-level prices, so be wary of any source that quotes a precise “Westboro average.” In practice, the numbers point to more negotiating room for condo buyers and for homes that are overpriced or need work, while well-located, well-presented houses still attract strong interest. For pricing on a specific home, use recent comparable sales, and follow the monthly Ottawa real estate market update for the latest figures.
Three changes that will shape Westboro values
- Transit: the O-Train Line 1 western extension adds Westboro and Kichi Zībī stations. City officials have targeted early 2027 for service, as reported by Capital Current.
- Zoning: Ottawa’s new Zoning By-law 2026-50 allows more homes on many residential lots, which adds value to some lots and changes what can be built next door.
- Schools: the OCDSB’s West Central Boundary Review realigns school boundaries in September 2027. See Westboro schools.
Sell Your Ottawa Home for Just 1% Listing Commission
Why pay 2.5% listing commission to sell your home when you don't have to? Jason Polonski lists Ottawa homes for a simple 1% listing commission. Full MLS® and REALTOR.ca exposure, professional photography, powerful online marketing, expert pricing, and a skilled negotiator fighting for every dollar of your sale price. Top-tier service — you just keep thousands more when your home sells. Smart sellers are already making the switch. Your home deserves the best, and your wallet deserves a break.
Buying Real Estate in Westboro
Buying well in Westboro comes down to preparation and knowing what to inspect. These are the steps that matter most here.
1. Set your budget around the type of home
Get a mortgage pre-approval before you start viewing, and remember that condo fees reduce your borrowing power. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada explains the qualification rules. Budget for closing costs, including land transfer tax; our land transfer tax calculator gives you the figure for any price.
2. Choose the pocket and the school catchment
Decide which part of Westboro fits your daily life before you fall for a house. If you have children, confirm the school assignment for the exact address, including the 2027 changes.
3. Inspect for the right issues
On older homes, the costly surprises are knob-and-tube or undersized electrical service, lead water services, sewer laterals and foundations. On infill, check grading, drainage, basement waterproofing and builder warranty status. On condos, read the status certificate and reserve fund study. Our guides to home inspections in Ottawa and status certificates explain what to look for.
4. Write a competitive but protected offer
Even in a balanced market, the best Westboro homes can draw multiple offers on an offer date. If you cannot include an inspection condition, inspect before the offer date. Read how to make an offer on a house in Ontario, and for the full process, buying a house in Westboro.
You can see what is available today on Westboro homes for sale.
Get Cash Back When You Buy a Home in Ottawa
Can you get cash back when buying a home in Ottawa? Yes. Jason Polonski, a Chairman's Club REALTOR® serving Ottawa and Kanata, shares part of his commission with buyers — up to $3,000 cash back at closing.* You still get full-service, award-winning representation: expert pricing, sharp negotiation, and hands-on guidance from first showing to keys in hand. No cut corners and no rebate-only shortcuts — just real money back in your pocket when you buy your Ottawa or Kanata home.
Selling Real Estate in Westboro
Selling in Westboro is about matching your home to the right buyer pool and pricing it against the right comparables.
Know which buyers your home attracts
Many Westboro homes appeal to both families and builders. A family pays for the house, the layout and the school catchment. A builder pays for the land: frontage, depth, zoning and trees. For an older home on a good lot, land value can set the floor on your price. Our guide to what your Westboro home is worth explains how to market to both.
Price against genuine comparables
A comparative market analysis should use recent sales of the same home type on similar streets, adjusted for lot, condition and updates. Online estimates and MPAC assessments often miss by a wide margin in a neighbourhood this varied. With more listings on the market this fall, overpricing is costlier than it was a year ago.
Prepare the house, not just the photos
A pre-listing inspection on an older home tells you what buyers will find. Fixing safety and system issues usually pays back more than cosmetic renovations, and good staging and photography matter to Westboro’s design-conscious buyers. For the step-by-step process, read selling your home in Westboro.
Keep more of your sale price
Jason offers a 1% Listing Commission, charged on the final sold price, with buyer brokerage commission handled separately. Use the net proceeds calculator to see what you would walk away with. The Real Estate Council of Ontario explains your rights under a listing agreement.
Moving Up, Downsizing or Investing in Westboro
Buying and selling at the same time
Many Westboro clients are moving within the neighbourhood or into it from a larger suburban home. The main risk is timing: carrying two properties or moving twice. Read selling and buying a home at the same time and bridge financing in Ottawa.
Downsizing
Westboro is one of Ottawa’s most popular places to downsize because daily life is walkable. Elevator condos and bungalows are the usual choices. See downsizing in Westboro.
Investing
Rental demand in Westboro is supported by its location, transit and nearby employers such as the federal campus at Tunney’s Pasture. Condos are the simplest entry, but check each building’s rules on rentals; the City’s short-term rental rules are strict. The new zoning by-law also opens opportunities for small multi-unit buildings on suitable lots, which need careful planning, budgeting and a licensed builder. CMHC publishes rental market data for Ottawa, and our guide to real estate investing in Ottawa covers the fundamentals.
Westboro Compared With Nearby Markets
Buyers who consider Westboro usually compare it with a few other inner or west-end neighbourhoods. Westboro vs Hintonburg covers a closer-to-downtown, more artistic alternative. Westboro vs The Glebe compares two of Ottawa’s premium inner neighbourhoods. Nepean vs Westboro weighs more space for your money against walkability.
All Westboro Real Estate Guides
Buying: Buying a House in Westboro · Buying a Character Home · Infill Homes and New Builds · Westboro Condos · Reasons to Buy a Home in Westboro · Westboro Homes for Sale
Selling: Selling Your Home in Westboro · What’s My Westboro Home Worth? · Downsizing in Westboro
Living in Westboro: Westboro Neighbourhood Guide · Westboro Neighbourhoods · Westboro Schools · Cost of Living in Westboro · Things to Do in Westboro
Comparisons: Westboro vs Hintonburg · Westboro vs The Glebe · Nepean vs Westboro
For more neighbourhoods across the city, see the Ottawa neighbourhoods guide.
Buy or Sell in Westboro With Jason Polonski
Jason Polonski has spent more than 15 years helping hundreds of buyers and sellers across Ottawa, with a background that most agents do not have: construction and the electrical trades, plus a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Finance from Concordia University. In Westboro, where homes range from 1920s houses with original wiring to brand-new infill, that means he can assess condition and real repair costs, not just finishes and square footage.
His approach starts with your timing and priorities before any property is discussed: avoid a timing mistake first, then optimize price. Whether you are buying your first condo, moving up to a family home, selling a long-time property or doing both at once, he builds a clear plan and coordinates every step. He is available seven days a week.
Learn more about Jason, read client reviews on his Google Business Profile, or see how he works with Westboro clients on his Westboro REALTOR® page. Call or text (613) 601-9333 to start with a conversation about your plans.
Westboro Real Estate FAQs
Westboro benefits from limited land, walkability, river access, strong schools and the coming O-Train stations, which support long-term demand. Returns depend on the specific home, its condition and the price you pay.
OREB’s September 2026 report showed a balanced city-wide market with 4.8 months of inventory, and central Ottawa was softer at 6.8 months. Condo buyers currently have more negotiating room than buyers of well-located houses.
Westboro has character homes built mostly between 1900 and 1960, modern infill semis and rebuilds, condos along Richmond Road, and a growing number of small multi-unit buildings.
OREB does not publish neighbourhood-level prices, and Westboro’s mix of home types makes a single average misleading. Recent sales of comparable homes on similar streets are the reliable guide.
For older homes, check wiring, lead water services, the sewer lateral and the foundation. For infill, check drainage, waterproofing and warranty status. For condos, review the status certificate and reserve fund.
Zoning By-law 2026-50 allows more homes on many residential lots. That can add value to lots with development potential and means more small multi-unit buildings may appear on Westboro streets.
Yes, with planning. Aligning closing dates, using bridge financing or negotiating a longer closing on your sale can prevent carrying two homes.
Costs include commission, legal fees, any mortgage penalty and moving. Jason offers a 1% Listing Commission charged on the final sold price, with buyer brokerage commission handled separately.
