Archive for June, 2009

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Rent in Saskatoon Up $100/Month In the Past Year

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

Although the Vacancy Rate in Saskatoon has went from 0.9% in April of 2008 to 1.9% in April of 2009, the average price for a rental property in Saskatoon has also gone up by approximately $100/month. The average price for an apartment for rent in Saskatoon last year was $689 while in 2009 the average price is now $790. So, although rental accommodation in Saskatoon is slightly easier to find, it is also harder on the pocket book.

With the increase in the rent prices in Saskatoon some have been forced to double up to reduce costs, move in with friends, etc.

This rent increase, however, is making buying a house for sale in Saskatoon much more appealing. Houses for sale in Saskatoon are still very easy to find, combined with a low interest rate and a decreased marketing, buying a house for sale in Saskatoon is much easier to do than it was a year ago.

Not everyone is in a situation where they can afford to buy a house for sale in Saskatoon nor is everyone in a situation where they have good enough credit to buy one of the many houses for sale in Saskatoon, but there are ways to improve your credit and to improve your financial situation so that you can eventually buy a house in Saskatoon.

Sometimes a poor decision with your finances a few years ago is preventing you from being able to buy your own house in Saskatoon. Sometimes a life situation (divorce, separation, etc) forces you to have to rent, but with the high prices of rent combined with the (sometimes) low prices of houses for sale in Saskatoon, it isn’t impossible out unattainable by many people who think it hopeless.

It is important to speak to a really good Saskatoon mortgage broker to see what steps you need to take to get into a situation where you can eventually buy a house for sale in Saskatoon. Even if it takes a year to clean up your credit and you have to buckle down and make some life and lifestyle changes, that could be a lifetime of building equity in your house in Saskatoon instead of paying someone else’s mortgage.

I have dealt with many clients who had some credit problems in the past, but with the right people to talk to and to provide some direction, many of these clients are now home owners in Saskatoon. With all of the houses for sale in Saskatoon there is still time to buy your own.

I am always happy to visit with people on the process of buying a house in Saskatoon and surrounding area and to provide the names of some great mortgage brokers who may help you achieve your dream of owning a home in Saskatoon.

Call me or email me,  I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully helping you achieve your dream of owning a house in Saskatoon.

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

Posted in Canda Real Estate News, Current Market, News, Saskatchewan News, Saskatchewan Real Estate, Saskatoon, Saskatoon News, Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »

3rd Annual Bridge City Boogie-Huge Success

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

The Bridge City Boogie in Saskatoon started in 2007 with 831 people taking part. By 2008 there were almost 1700 people in Saskatoon who took part in this event. This year had an overwhelming 4415 participating with another 545 volunteers to make sure the event went off without a hitch. This means just under 5000 people helped make this Saskatoon event possible and successful, almost at the 5000 goal that organizers had hoped for after 5 years…and it is only year 3!

The Saskatoon Bridge City Boogie saw more than 4400 people of all ages and abilities running, walking, wheeling or being wheeled this year. Ages ranged from toddlers to the elderly and entire families participated in this Saskatoon Star Phoenix sponsored event. The rising number of participants means that people in our area are doing what it takes to live a healthy lifestyle while promoting community involvement. This is an event that makes it possible for everyone to participate, not like marathons and running events, so the turnout should increase each year. There were many healthy role models at this Saskatoon event for our youth to look up to, including some people who completed the 2, 5 and 10 kilometre events in their wheelchairs. Other role models are the parents and grandparents who are physically active and who are active with their children and grandchildren.

Not only is this Saskatoon event fun, it is also a non-profit event that raised close to $40,000 this year for 3 Saskatoon Charities; The Saskatoon Crisis Nursery, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Saskatoon, and Can-West Raise a Reader, which funds local literacy groups.

Out of the participants, 70% were female and 30% male so next year hopefully we see more men out there taking part in the Saskatoon Bridge City Boogie! The largest team was the Holy Cross Crusaders with 153 participants. Saskatoon Century 21 Conexus also had a team, but I am sad to say that I was not part of the Century 21 Conexus Bridge City Boogie team this year as I was busy with my Saskatoon open houses and selling houses for sale in Saskatoon…2009 I hope to help add to those numbers!

Saskatoon is a great community minded city and I am proud to be a part of such a great city.

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

Posted in Saskatchewan News, Saskatoon, Saskatoon Events, Saskatoon News | No Comments »

World Wide Shortage of Isotopes Affects Saskatoon Health Region

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

The Saskatoon Health Region was forced to cancel 91 tests this week with a total of 167 patient scans cancelled thus far. As the world’s supply of radioisotopes is continuing to face a shortage, so will our health region. The shutdown of the Chalk River, Ontario reactor is the cause of the shortage. The shutdown is expected to last another 3 months at least and up to an entire year.

The Saskatoon Health Region received only 4 generators of radioactive isotopes this week, which is a small fraction compared to the usual 17.5 generators per week.

This shortage is forcing Canada to seek out deals with other isotope suppliers in South Africa and Australia. Luckily, Canada stepped up to the plate when the Petten reactor in the Netherlands was down and provided a significant amount of additional isotopes. There are isotope producing reactors in Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa, Argentina and Australia.

The nuclear reactor in Chalk River was shut down earlier this week after it started leaking radioactive heavy water. This particular reactor produces 80% of the isotopes for Canada’s needs and 40% of the world’s need for isotopes comes from Chalk River.

Isotopes produced here help 20 million people in 80 countries each year, but it is 52 years old and it is showing its age being the oldest reactor in the world.

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

Posted in News, Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan News, Saskatoon News | No Comments »

Saskatoon Affordable Housing

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

On May 19th the Saskatchewan provincial and Canadian federal governments announced they were going to pour millions of dollars into affordable housing in Saskatchewan. The announcement came on the same day as the opening of the new affordable housing in Saskatoon project that is located in the King George neighbourhood. This Saskatoon affordable housing complex has 18 2 and 3 bedroom townhouses and 37 apartments. This project, Monarch Yards, cost $11.8 million and it is located on 20th Street and Avenue L. The governments announced that they were putting more than $161 million into more affordable housing in Saskatoon over the next 2 years and these projects are there to help the most vulnerable people, including seniors and people with disabilities.

This is great for residents in Saskatoon as houses for sale in Saskatoon are still out of reach for many.

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

Posted in Canada Real Estate, Saskatchewan Real Estate, Saskatoon News, Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »

Moose Loose In Saskatoon

Monday, June 15th, 2009

This past Saturday morning a wandering moose found its way into Saskatoon. The moose was first reported in the Buena Vista area, which is on the East side of Saskatoon, around 7:30 am. It was believed that the moose was female so officers herded it to the river bank, hoping to reunite it with another moose calf spotted on the west side of the city. The move took a few hours and the moose was helped along by conservation officers and a rower, but the 800 pound calf was eventually tranquilized and moved south of the city, near Pike Lake, which is home to a small moose herd.

Conservation officers have had to deal with several moose in the past few weeks and that wildlife is intruding on the city with increasing frequency, but this thought leads to controversy as it is actually us humans who are intruding on the wildlife.

It is not surprising, with the urban sprawl that happens in every city but specifically with the new neighbourhoods in Saskatoon being developed at the speed they are, that animals are confused. The steady growth in new houses for sale in Saskatoon has been spreading out in almost every direction of the city which means that wildlife must move away from their natural habitat.

New housing developments in Saskatoon must go on, but we have to continue to show tolerance to animals that get confused as long as they are not putting Saskatoon residents at risk.

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

Posted in Saskatchewan News, Saskatoon News | No Comments »

Annual Pride Parade – City of Saskatoon’s Largest Yet

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

Saturday June 13, 2009 saw the best turn out for Saskatoon’s Pride Parade. The 2 city block long train of rainbow flag carriers and Saskatoon GLBT crowd at the parade was the most attended of the week long pride festivities. Pride week is showing that Saskatoon is a tolerant and accepting community of all individuals, lifestyles and sexual orientations. Amongst the booths during pride week you could find the City of Saskatoon Police service as well as some church groups who were there to show their support of the Saskatoon GLBT community.

Despite the support of the local Saskatoon GLBT crowd, we are missing support from the average citizen. I do believe that the city of Saskatoon is GLBT friendly overall, but the general public needs to do more to support this vibrant community as it is just one of the many groups who help form our city and who help make Saskatoon what it is.

I am happy to say that I am a GLBT friendly realtor in Saskatoon and I invite individuals from the GLBT community in Saskatoon who are looking to buy or sell to speak to me about the process. I am always open to working with individuals from all walks of life and am a GLBT friendly realtor in Saskatoon.

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

Posted in Saskatchewan Events, Saskatchewan News, Saskatoon, Saskatoon Events, Saskatoon News | No Comments »

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