Archive for April, 2008

Tap Water Vs Bottled Water

Friday, April 25th, 2008

After the weird Saskatoon weather we have been getting, I think we all notice how global warming is impacting our country and planet.

One of the things I like to do for my Saskatoon real estate clients if give them the information on how to sign up for a recycling program here called Saskatoon Curbside Recycling. I use it myself and love it, so I like to introduce 

I just listened to an interesting story about how plastic water bottles are impacting our environment. Did you know that 90% of these end up in the landfills!

By getting a water filter on your tap a person will keep approx 300 bottles out of the landfills each year.

Most people can’t distinguish the difference during taste tests, the taste tests actually had very surprising results, many people preferred tap water!

Get an under counter system and a reusable bottle each day

Save money and help the environment!

Check out this websitewhich was made by Brita and Nalgene

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

Mexico Real Estate Invesment – Serena Marina & Golf Residences

Friday, April 25th, 2008

For anyone looking to invest in Mexico real estate and possibly retire in Mexico, we have a great project that we are promoting called Serena Marina & Golf Residences. I have personally been to the project as I will not work with a company without having checked them and their development out, and I found this to be a very well run project with honest sales people (yes, those do exist!).

My partners and I had looked into getting into different Mexican projects and chose Serena for several reasons.

  • They are honest and ethical in their business dealings.
  • They have done this type of development before, so they have a good reputation.
  • They are not a ‘fly by night’ developer as they are local to the area and known throughout Mazatlan and Mexico.
  • They only require a 10% deposit to start and then the rest upon completion, so they are well funded and don’t need a draw mortgage (a draw mortgage means that the developer does not have enough money to fund the entire project therefore you and everyone else buying into it are actually paying to have the work completed)
  • The project itself is very unique. It is the only project in the Mazatlan Marina that is both on the marina and the golf course. Your views are great, it is a prestigious place to be, and the quality and workmanship is unlike any I have seen before. No, it is not ocean front, but that isn’t a bad thing as ocean front properties don’t have as good of lifespan due to the saltwater, believe it or not you do get tired of the view, and it is a lot windier.
  • The condos are affordable and they offer a rental program when you are not there and will look out for it for a percentage, so this helps you pay your mortgage when you are not using it yourself!

There are many other reasons we chose to represent this project, but those are the key points.  If you are interested in this project or other real estate investment opportunities be sure to contact me soon as they are selling quickly!

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

Spring Time Equals Water In Basements For Some Home Owners

Friday, April 25th, 2008

With this odd weather we are having and our already full water table, I wanted to write a blog about the water in basements in Saskatoon. It is unfortunate, but it seems that houses in Saskatoon are often getting moisture where they may have never had that problem in the past.

With the rain in Saskatoon that we are experiencing right now I have spoken with people who are getting moisture in the basement of their homes. Unfortunately as a Saskatoon real estate agent there is not much I can do about this but try and educate people and point them to people that can assist them. It appears that in certain areas, moisture is a fact of life. 

There are things you can do though, and the biggest thing to look at is what is happening externally. The quickest thing is usually the culprit, and that is lack of proper down-spouting from the eaves-troughs. Many people put the arm up as it is in the way or unsightly, but forget to put it back down. This causes water to pool near the base of the house, which overwhelms the weeping tile (if there is any) which then causes moisture to occur. The other thing is commonly the eaves themselves. They may be clogged with leaves or just past their life span, so invest in new ones or cleaning out your existing eaves as it is cheaper to do maintenance than it is to fix foundations.

The other thing to look at is how your property is graded. Due to time and shifting of the ground, your once level grass may now point the water towards your house. Get some extra dirt in and make sure that the yard slopes away from your house.  It is always best to consult with a professional though.  They will have the best idea of how to correct any flooding that is occurring in your home.

Be sure to visit the city of Saskatoon flood prevention website to find out additional tips that can assist you.  Remember to do your yearly maintenance on your house in Saskatoon as prevention is the best cure!

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

Having Problems Getting A Mortgage

Friday, April 25th, 2008

I recently had the not so pleasant experience of working with a mortgage to go company that failed to meet my and my client’s expectations, so I wanted to put out the good news for anyone who is looking to buy real estate in Saskatoon who is having problems getting answers from their lenders.  I have a couple of really great guys who can get the job done!

There are many options for new home buyers in Saskatoon to get a mortgage. Some people use their bank, which is generally fine, however I advise shopping around. Don’t just take the first mortgage that you are offered as sometimes other branches or mobile mortgage specialists can beat a bank’s mortgage rate.  At the end of the day we all want to save as much money as we can so be sure to shop around.

Some of these ‘mortgages to go’ companies who claim they can get a mortgage for people with difficult credit do not have the most qualified people working for them. In this particular experience we had, the company finally ordered an appraisal 3 days after we were originally supposed to remove conditions. So, after a week of not getting answers and running into the issue of people who stop work at 4:30 pm and then don’t respond until 3 pm the next day, I sent my client to a Saskatoon mobile mortgage specialist in my referral network. After having the file for a mere 36 hours from start to finish, my Saskatoon mobile mortgage specialist had the mortgage approved and conditions removed.  Meanwhile the mortgage to go company was still trying to get an appraiser in.  I have developed a great referral networkfor anyone I work with that is buying or selling a home in Saskatoon.  These individuals are some of the top in their respective industries and come personally recommended.   Please don’t hesitate to ask me who I recommend for getting a mortgage in Saskatoon as I have several really great contacts!

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

Saskatchewan Minimum Wage Increasing May 1

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

On May 1, 2008 the minimum wage in the province of Saskatchewan will increase from $8.25 an hour to $8.60.  This is only the second stage of a plan to increase minimum wage to $9.25 by 2009.  The recent increases in our minimum wage are starting to bring us at par with other provinces in Canada.  This is vital to continue the growth of our economy.  With the recent rise in Saskatchewan real estate prices it is important that wages increase with it.  It will be some time until salaries and wages across the province catch up to the huge growth we have seen in our real estate market but all the indications are there that they will.  Our province is in the best shape it has ever been financially and there is an endless amount of opportunities here for people.  Over the past year we have seen a large amount of people relocating to Saskatchewan from Alberta and other provinces.  This has had a direct impact on our province and the Saskatoon real estate market.  By 2009 we will reach over $9.00 per hour which is incredible.  I still remember getting my first job and thinking that $5.00 an hour was incredible money.  If you are one of the many people looking to relocate to Saskatchewan or are interested in getting involved in the Saskatchewan real estate market be sure to contact me and I would be happy to assist you.

To find out more visit the Star Phoenix article.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

Saskatoon Real Estate Still Affordable

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

In a recent article by the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, the Saskatoon real estate market is still affordable.  This is very true but people looking to buy in the Saskatoon real estate market may need to look a bit harder and be patient.  People that are looking to spend under $200,000 can’t have the same expectations as they did a few years ago.  The reality is that the Saskatoon real estate market has boomed resulting in a big increase of home prices across the city.  However there are still homes available at affordable prices.  In the article it mentions of a home being sold for $80,000 this year.  This in fact did happen in 2008.  Buyers that are looking to spend under $200,000 have to come to an understanding that they may have to be flexible as there as less options under this price mark in Saskatoon.  

There is a large demand for cheaper housing in Saskatoon so it is critical if you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Saskatoon that you work with a qualified Saskatoon real estate agent.  When working with an agent when buying a home, they can provide you access to new listings before they are available to the general public, as well they can provide you in depth information on the history of a property.  When working a hot real estate market such as this, time is of importance when dealing with homes that are highly sought after.  When selling your home you don’t want to leave money on the table.  By working with a Saskatoon Realtor, they should be able to provide you in depth information on pricing your home ensuring you get the most for your home.  A lot of people that sell their properties privately either price their home too high resulting in it not selling or pricing it too low and losing money.  If you are interested in either buying or selling a home in the Saskatoon real estate market be sure to contact me and I will be very happy to assist you.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

Century 21 Canada Website Frankie Finalist

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

Century 21 Canada recently released a new website that has been getting a lot of attention.  This website provides a source for advertising and information for Saskatoon Century 21 Realtors.  Most recently the website has been chosen as a finalist for the Frankie award, which is a annual award presented through the Canadian Franchise Association for the best creative work in Canadian franchising.  This is just one more way that Century 21 provides its Saskatoon real estate agents a competitive advantage.  With the Saskatoon real estate market being so busy this year it is critical that Saskatoon Realtors provide their clients as many ways to advertise as possible.  I currently maintain several websites including my Century 21 website to maximize the exposure for all listings I am working with.  Besides the Frankie award, the Century 21 website has been getting a lot of attention from other web professionals.  Be sure to visit the website to see what the buzz is about!

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

Saskatoon Public Golf Courses Open For 2008

Monday, April 21st, 2008

With the recent warm spring weather, the city of Saskatoon has announced they will be opening the public golf courses.  The city of Saskatoon has 3 public golf courses throughout the city.  They were developed to be close to Saskatoon neighborhoods for easy access.  The golf courses include: Holiday Park Golf Course, Silverwood Golf Course and Wildwood Golf Course.  The schedule is as follows for the golf course openings:

Holiday Park

  • Driving range is open 9am – 6pm

  • April 11 – Executive 9 holes

  • April 18 – 18 hole course with weather permitting

Silverwood

  • Driving range is open 9am – 6pm

  • April 18 – 18 hole course with weather permitting

Wildwood

  • Currently open and accepting reservations

If you have never golfed before or interested in playing some local courses be sure to check out the Saskatoon golf courses.  It is a great way to spend an afternoon in Saskatoon.

 

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

City Reminds Saskatoon Reisdents To Stay Off Ice

Monday, April 21st, 2008

With spring in full effect in the city of Saskatoon we are seeing the majority of the snow and ice starting to melt.  This is great as it means summer is around the corner but it is also a time where unfortunately accidents can happen.  The Saskatoon Fire department has issued a news release reminding everyone (specifically children) to stay off of the river, ponds and lakes throughout the city.  With the warmer temperatures this time of year, the ice is unstable which means people could fall through.  Saskatoon residents are urged to keep off the ice for their own safety.  Visit the city website to read more about this news release.

As Saskatoon home owners, be sure to keep an eye out for children playing around ponds in your Saskatoon neighborhoods.  If you see children playing on the ponds be sure to tell them it is unsafe.  The riverbank is another area that is unsafe for children to be playing on especially during this time of year.  If you do happen to see an accident be sure to call 911 immediately.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

Winter Not Over In Saskatoon

Saturday, April 19th, 2008

It appears that winter is not quite ready to give up in the city of Saskatoon.  It is expected that a spring blizzard will be rolling into Saskatoon starting Saturday evening with the potential of reaching up to 50cm of snow.  Environment Canada issued a special weather statement on Thursday warning people of the potential storm.  It is recommended that people do as little travelling as possible during the storm.  For those of you who are currently active in the Saskatoon real estate market, it may mean that you need to put your open house visits on hold until next weekend.  I for one am hoping that the storm will miss us but we have already seen the temperature start to dip quite a bit.  Weather reports from Alberta indicate the storm is on its way so bundle up this weekend and be safe.  Be sure to check the weather network for the latest weather updates.  For more information on the upcoming blizzard check out this article.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.