25. April 2008 by Kari Calder.

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.

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25. April 2008 by Kari Calder.

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.

Posted in News, International Real Estate | No Comments »

25. April 2008 by Kari Calder.

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.

Posted in Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »

25. April 2008 by Kari Calder.

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.

Posted in Buyers, Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »