**Sean pictured here on vacation with his son Emmett (foreground) and daughter Tokyo (background) on the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver.** 

My son, Emmett, was recently accepted into the Fine Arts program at Concordia University, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for him. We are particularly proud of this accomplishment because he faced some obstacles and bumps in 2022 that had a ripple effect into 2023, causing a drop in his typical Honour Roll status, and creating uncertainty about his future.

With his grace and perseverance, Emmett showed both courage and vulnerability, and found the resources he needed to emerge from this challenging period with more depth, self-awareness, and conviction than ever before. It’s funny how hard things can be such gifts in the end.

Similarly, the latter half of 2022 brought quite a few challenges to the Ottawa real estate market. Those who bought in the early spring of 2022 faced a temporary erosion in equity, and those who took advantage of historically low variable-rate mortgages found themselves learning new terms like trigger rates and fixed vs. variable payment mortgages. Realtors watched as their clients sat on the sidelines, wondering where all of this was going; while the media told tales of bubbles and nightmares that could shake the confidence of even the most savvy real estate moguls.

As Emmett emerges with early acceptance to Concordia and a road full of possibility ahead, so too has the Ottawa real estate market emerged from the catastrophic predictions to a market that once again feels like a seller’s dream. Not surprisingly, the narrative has shifted. Emmett and I are talking about Montreal neighbourhoods and the characteristics of a good roommate, while the Ottawa market is talking about our kids never having a crack at homeownership.

I would like to offer an alternate perspective. Perhaps the Ottawa real estate market, much like Emmett’s story, is one of a journey rather than a destination. A useful analogy for those intrepid souls who wish to break into the real estate market might be that of a ladder. We simply can’t start with our dream home or perfect investment property, but we can start with the first rung on the climb. As we climb, we face challenges and obstacles, but we also gain new perspectives and skills. With each rung, we move closer to our goals and aspirations. But, when we reach the top, we often realize that the journey itself was the most meaningful part. The climb is worth the vistas.

There is no doubt that affordability feels challenging, but sitting on the sidelines as the horizon gets further from reach is not the solution. The solution is to start, gain lessons and perspective, and equity from those first few rungs. Start with your starter home, first investment, or a piece of land for your dream cottage, and then climb towards your vision. I promise it won’t feel so overwhelming and hopeless, and who knows, perhaps the joy and experience of the journey will lead to a new destination.

As for Emmett, he has added head of the Canterbury annual fashion show and yogi extraordinaire to his portfolio, thanks to the rungs he climbed through his difficult narrative. And I can tell you that his vistas have never been so technicolor and bright.