31. October 2009 by Kari Calder.

I think we have all seen evidence of this, but economists are saying that we are officially out of the recession. The sign of a recession is 3 out of the 4 quarters in a decline. We are now in our third quarter of increase in a row which means that it is pretty safe to say the recession of 2009 is over. Economists are predicting a 2.6% growth in 2010 and Canada’s confidence is the highest it has been since 2007. Overall, the average price of homes across Canada is estimated to see an increase of 2.1% in 2010 which is a great prediction.

Canada’s recession is over and the country will lead all G-7 peers in economic growth next year, paced by Alberta’s strong energy sector, said Benjamin Tal, senior economist with CIBC World Markets Inc.

Canada can expect to see two per cent economic growth in 2010 and 3.8 per cent in 2011 with Alberta’s economy growing by 2.5 per cent next year followed by four per cent growth in 2011, he said.

“We had a terrible recession. A year ago people thought it’s the end of the world. . . . There’s no question about the fact that, a year ago, comparing the situation to 1929 and the Great Depression was not only wrong, but also irresponsible,” said Tal, who was in Calgary Friday speaking at the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association’s annual conference.

“Clearly it was a severe financial crisis, but it was not 1929. I think that’s very important to remember. This recession came to an end relatively quickly in Canada largely because of the fact this was not a made-in-Canada recession. This was a made-in-the-U. S. recession.”

So on that note, now is the best time for buyers to start buying houses for sale in Saskatoon before the prices go back up! Contact your Saskatoon realtor or if you don’t have a real estate agent in Saskatoon contact Kari Calder with Century 21 in Saskatoon.

 Kari Calder

Saskatoon Real Estate Specialist

Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd. Saskatoon
 

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

25. October 2009 by Kari Calder.

Can’t get tickets to see KISS on November 10th? Feeling a bit too old to rock out anyways? You can see him speak at the Saskatchewan Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs luncheon on November 11th, the day after the Kiss concert in Saskatoon.

With great thanks to a friend of mine, Janea Bellay (who is also a great life and health insurance and mutual funds advisor in Saskatoon), SYPE has landed Gene Simmons to speak as he knows about business, marketing and he is also a great entrepreneur.

Way to go Janea!

For more information or tickets to this Saskatoon event, see below:

The business luncheon runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. at TCU Place, with doors opening at 11:30 p.m. The event includes a question-and-answer session with Simmons. Tickets cost $75 plus GST. They can be purchased at www.sype.ca/Saskatoon/home.html

Maybe I should go and see if Gene Simmons wants to buy a house for sale in Saskatoon . After all, his long time partner, Shannon Tweed, is from Saskatoon.

Kari Calder

Saskatoon Residential Real Estate Specialist

Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

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

24. October 2009 by Kari Calder.

Hello to all of my blog subsribers! I must apologize for being out of the loop for a few months it seems. We had quite the summer here in Saskatoon. We sold our house in Arbor Creek, had to move in about 10 days after completion, and had to prepare our other house in Stonebridge.

With having a big dog and a cat as our children, it was necessary to get our new house in Stonebridge prepared by building a deck, fence, and landscaping. All in a matter of about 2 weeks. So, along with moving (and thankfully using a great local moving company, Geransky’s) and cleaning the house in Stonebridge after the tenants left a mess, we had plenty to keep us busy with the yard. Luckily we were able to hire a friend of mine from Estevan to help with the landscaping as he has a business here, Blue Collar Irrigation. They did such a good job even some of the new home builders in Saskatoon have started to use them.

We are slowly but surely getting settled, but it never ends! We are also in the process of building another new home in Saskatoon with Sanoma Homes. Our new home in Saskatoon will be located in Willowgrove.

In September we were away for almost 2 weeks to go to Boston to visit friends and take in a U2 Concert (life long dream!), then to New York City for sightseeing, and finally to Vancouver for the Century 21 National Conference and Awards Banquet where I received my Centurion Award for the 2nd time this year. At this conference they recognize Centurion Award Winners across Canada from 2008. It was great to meet so many new Century 21 Real Estate Agents from across the country.

The Saskatoon real estate market was extremely busy while I was away and the poor guy who I had watching my Saskatoon houses for sale had his hands full!

Posted in Personal, Current Market, Saskatoon, Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »