Archive for June, 2009

Oxbow Homes For Sale!

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

There are still a few brand new homes for sale in Oxbow, Saskatchewan. These homes are located in the exclusive subdivision on Spruce Drive. There are architectural controls in this area therefore there will not be any trailers or low end homes.

Each lot is 100 feet wide by 150 feet deep (the lots on the North side of the street have the option of accessing even more square footage in depth)

All of these custom homes feature 3 bedrooms, maple cabinets, vaulted ceilings, main floor laundry, high eff. furnace, central air, 9 ft. basement, architectural shingles and much more!

The 3 remaining properties are:

110 Spruce Dr. – 1540 sq. ft.
North side – 2.5 baths, huge double attached garage with 8×10 overhead doors

113 Spruce Dr. – 1515 sq. ft.
South side – 2.5 baths, unique ensuite off master with attractive double sliding doors

122 Spruce Dr. – 1344 sq. ft.
MLS #334351 – North side – huge double attached garage with 8×10 overhead doors

Call local Estevan and area Realtor ® Darcy Calder of Carnduff Agencies Inc for your personal showing before they are all sold.

Carnduff Agencies Inc. Box 69 Carnduff, SK S0C 0S0
1-306-461-7728 or 1-306-461-9062

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

On A More Serious Note

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

On a more serious note regarding technology in our daily lives, I chose to write a bit about Neda, Angel of Iran. The recent death video of Neda Agha Soltan has become an Internet symbol of the demonstrations and increased pressure on Iran in its battle with foreign media. Her heartbreaking death was captured on camera and has spread quickly on the internet, making her a symbol of the opposition movement. 

Iran authorities, meanwhile, said they would teach an exemplary lesson to ‘rioters’ held in the worst unrest since the beginning of the Islamic Republic. They also accused Western powers of inciting the violence.
It has been insisted that she was an innocent bystander, stepping out of a car to cool down. The film shows Neda moments after she was hit in the chest by a bullet while watching the protests on Saturday with her father on a Tehran street.

At least 10 protestors were killed on Saturday when violence reached its peak and about 7 more the week before. Many of these deaths have been filmed by fellow demonstrators, posted on the internet, and viewed hundreds of thousands of times by people around the world.

Iran has accused protesters of being backed by the West, the US, and Britain and have paraded young demonstrators who have been arrested on state television, apparently confessing to being incited by foreign news broadcasts.

Hundreds of riot police and Basij militiamen on Tehran’s main squares appear to have put an end to the mass protests against the June 12th election. Reformists believe that the election was rigged in favour of hardline president Mahmoud Ahmandinejad.

There are groups on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc all in respect and mourning of Neda, Angel of Iran.

My respectful condolences to Neda’s loved ones. She will be forever marked in our memories with great sadness.

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

Dying To Twitter

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

I am a Saskatoon realtor ® who is all for technology and utilizing the latest tools with technology. I recently signed up for a Twitter account. I am still not quite sure how I plan to use my Twitter account to better my Saskatoon Real Estate career…perhaps updates on new listings, recent sales, etc.

I do know that I do not plan to use my Twitter while sitting in a bathtub full of water while my laptop is plugged into the wall. Unfortunately, there are those out there who do Twitter whilst tubbing…which is definitely odd no matter what, but definitely not a good idea while your laptop is not running just on battery power.

Recently, in Romania a 17 year old girl had something of a marathon Tweet session while in the tub. Her battery died so she proceeded to plug her laptop into the wall. Unfortunately, GFI plugs must not be mandatory there like they are in North America, as she was discovered dead this past weekend, after dropping her laptop in the tub. Whether she had wet hands when she plugged it in or it slipped while she was in the tub is unclear, but what is clear is that bathtubs and laptops don’t mix.

It is unfortunate that such a death occurred, although I have a feeling we will be reading about this one in the popular bathroom series, best selling The Darwin Awards…which is safe to read in the tub as long as it is in paperback or hardcover, not online.

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

Saskjobs Website Breaking Records!

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

With not even half of 2009 behind us Saskjobs.ca has already had more than 3 million people visit, looking for jobs in Saskatchewan. In 2008 the website saw 3 million visitors at the 267 day mark, whereas in 2009 it has hit 3 million users in just 158 days.

Jobs in Saskatchewan seem to have everyone interested across the country. Visits from Ontario are up an impressive 262%, BC up 198%, and Alberta up 101%. From outside of Canada visits are up by 87%.

Saskatchewan jobs are enticing people from all over the world and more people are looking to the province as a place of opportunity, especially with the global economy as it is. Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris has commented on Saskatchewan having recorded its highest employment levels and its 38th consecutive month of employment growth in May of 2009.

I have spoken with business owners in Saskatoon and also people who work in HR for some of the larger Saskatoon based companies and they have also mentioned the increase in applications from other provinces.

Saskatchewan also has the highest levels of optimism among small to medium sized businesses in Canada.

As a Saskatoon Realtor ® I also get random calls from people from all over the country and also in the US looking for houses for sale in Saskatoon and looking for jobs in Saskatoon. Driving around I see many more Ontario license plates out front of houses for sale in Saskatoon as myself and other Saskatoon realtors are helping out of province people buy houses for sale in Saskatoon.

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

Saskatoon Population Rises Again

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

Statistics Canada released figures today that show that our population in Saskatchewan continues to grow and is the highest it has been in 20 years. In the first quarter of 2009, Saskatchewan grew by 3282 people which brings our province up to 1,027,092 people which is the highest since July 1, 1988. In the past year (from April to April) our province has grown by 15048 people. We notice this in the Saskatoon real estate market as the amount of homes for sale in Saskatoon has been staying quite steady with speculators now out but personal use home buyers taking over.

These numbers reflect that our province is still a place where people look for opportunity and it also shows that Saskatchewan’s economy is resilient and strong. We lead the country in employment growth which means more people moving to Saskatchewan but also more people staying in Saskatchewan to work and raise their families.

Our largest supplier of in-migrration this year was from Ontario as there was a net migration from Ontario to Saskatchewan of 889 people. Alberta led the in-migration for the country with Saskatchewan coming in second.

The Saskatoon real estate market reflects this in-migration as does the amount of Ontario license plates to be seen in our city. While in 2006-2008 we saw a lot of Alberta plates, this year Ontario is outnumbering them.

If you are looking to buy a house for sale in Saskatoon or want to speak to a Realtor ® in Saskatoon, give me a call or send me an email. I am an efficient Saskatoon realtor ® and put my buyers first.

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

No More Brain Drain Here Anymore

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

As opposed to in the past when brain drain was a very common occurrence with nurses in Saskatchewan, recent studies of graduates are now showing that degree-earning nurses in Saskatchewan are getting jobs that they are happy with and staying in Saskatchewan. Lorna Butler, Dean of the College of Nursing at the U of S states that “We are graduating nurses who are loyal to the province and happy to serve the people of Saskatchewan” in a news release on Tuesday.

The Nursing Education Program of Saskatchewan (NEPS) is a program that gathers information from former students each year as well as those who graduated 2 and 5 years ago. The survey shows that 98.5% of graduates are employed 5 years after graduating and 85% receive job offers right before or right after graduating and 93.1% of 4-year degree students and 83.8% of accelerated degree grads stay in Saskatchewan after graduation from nursing college. Saskatchewan nursing graduates expressed 90.8%satisfaction with both their education and nursing as a career.

Even with all of the locally educated nurses staying in the province Saskatchewan still requires nurses from other countries such as the Phillipines. I have been lucky enough to help a couple of nurses from the Phillipines buy a house for sale in Saskatoon and hope to help more nurses from the Phillipines buy houses for sale in Saskatoon.

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

BEWARE – High Pressure Alarm Sales in Saskatoon

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

By June 11th, 2009 the Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan had already received hundreds of calls from concerned consumers about high pressure salespeople coming to their homes. I received an email from the owner of Reed Security in Saskatoon on Monday asking the recipients to warn any of their clients, friends, and family with alarm systems to beware. One of his clients was approached by a salesperson who worked for “Reed Security” while his client knew that this young man did not, he saw the sticker on his front door and lied. The salesperson was trying to get him to take the “Free Upgraded Alarm System” which would actually cost $45/month and it wasn’t even through the current supplier.

There are 3 company names being used, at least, but it is actually just 1 company out of the United States. In some cases they are even saying that they are members of the Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan. These pitches have been going on for a few weeks and if a person says yes to the install, often times the systems are in within a couple of hours. The salespeople are very aggressive and can often be obnoxious and nasty by some accounts.

It is advisable to always get 3 quotes when it comes to anything in your home; from painting to carpet cleaning to alarm systems. Also be sure to check with the BBB before signing anything with any company to make sure that the company is registered in Saskatchewan or your local province.

I personally recommend locally owned alarm companies like Reed Security and when a client buys a house for sale in Saskatoon I give them a Reed Security brochure. So watch out for these high pressure sales people and trust who your friends and family and neighbours trust…don’t listen to these sales tactics if they tell you your neighbour “Frank” signed up…ask Frank first, don’t take the sales people’s words.

To read more on this visit this article.

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

Average House Price In Saskatchewan Up 4%

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Average house prices in Saskatchewan were up 4% in May thanks to increases in 4 Saskatchewan cities. The average house price in Sask is now $242,829. While the average home price in Saskatoon is down 7% from last May to $279, 477 this year, the average price of a house for sale in Regina is up 12% to $263, 424.

The other 3 Saskatchewan communities that are posting record average prices are Yorkton, Swift Current, and Prince Albert.

The Saskatoon real estate market has seen stabilizing prices with listings down and sales up and it is expected that sales will remain steady.

President of CREA, Regina broker Dale Ripplinger, says that sales activity is closer to the pre-recession peak than the trough hit in January. Several things are helping buyers purchase houses for sale in Saskatoon such as improved consumer confidence, low interest rates, and better affordability.

If you are looking to buy a house for sale in Saskatoon call your local Saskatoon realtor ® Kari Calder as I can help you with purchasing any house for sale in Saskatoon, whether it be a private sale or a Saskatoon MLS property.

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

Vacancy Rates Have Dropped In Regina

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

Finding a place to rent in Regina is even more difficult this year than it was last year. Privately owned apartment vacancy has dropped in half from 2008 to 2009 according to the CMHC and is down to 0.7%. Rental rates in Regina have also increased from $718/month on average for a 2 bedroom condo in Regina in 2008 to $786/month this year for the average 2 bedroom apartment.

One of the main reasons for the rental increase and the tightening of Regina’s rental market is due to the strong employment growth. This has brought more people to Regina and means a tighter supply of rentals in Regina.

Elsewhere in the province apartment vacancies have increased to 1.7% from 1.2% last year and some of that increase has to do with the ability for people to buy houses for sale in Saskatchewan.

Rents for all types of apartments are on the rise in Regina from 2008.

In contrast, in Saskatoon our rental market is easier to get into this year which also has to do with the ability for first time home buyers in Saskatoon to purchase houses for sale in Saskatoon. Houses for sale in Saskatoon are at a high right now and it is still, generally speaking, a buyer’s market in Saskatoon.

If you are interested in buying a house for sale in Saskatoon or buying a house for sale in Regina or any of the surrounding areas, do not hesitate to contact me. I deal with Saskatoon real estate however I can recommend great realtors in Regina for you to work with there.

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

New Saskatchean Immigration Program to Create 900 More Jobs

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

On Monday, June 15, the provincial government announced new business immigration streams that will help grow the Saskatchewan economy and create jobs in Saskatchewan. Over the next 2 years 250 immigrants will be nominated under the entrepreneurship category which will lead to the creation of 900 new jobs. Later this week it is expected that more information on the subject will be given as the details have only been partly released.
This is great news for Saskatoon and it is just one of the many streams of new jobs in Saskatoon that we have been seeing and hearing about that are affecting our Saskatoon economy.

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