25. August 2010 by Kari Calder.

Residents of Saskatoon, be happy with our commuting time even during construction season. As a Saskatoon realtor I get a bit annoyed during construction season as I sometimes get caught up in traffic or can see the Saskatoon house for sale that I want to show my Saskatoon home buyer but I can’t quite get to the house for sale in Saskatoon by car…which is why we have feet! I recently read an article in the Star Phoenix where thousands of vehicles going to Beijing were in a traffic jam-for some up to 9 days!?

The reason for their traffic jam is the same as our traffic slowness, maintenance projects. Trucks that have been carrying more than 8 tonnes of cargo (coal or fruit) are responsible for damaging the roads. The don’t expect the delays to be up until mid-September.

Many of the drivers passed the time sleeping, reading, texting (can this be considered texting while driving? Lets hope for their sanity no!)

But, these traffic jams have been good for some. Hotels have popped up along this stretch of road as it is known to be problematic.

Traffic won’t get any better in Beijing. According to one traffic official the amount of new cars on the road in Beijing increases 1900 per day. The average speed of a car during morning commuting hour is 14.5 mph and by 2015 it is expected to drop to 9 mph. Los Angeles has similar traffic issues but their average speed during the morning commute is 20 mph.

The Chinese are developing what they call a “super bus” which would straddle 2 lanes of traffic and allow cars to drive underneath which would transport as many as 1400 commuters. It is expected to be tested for the first time in coming months. Wouldn’t a train be easier and safer?

SO the next time a Saskatoonian complains about their 20 minute commute be thankful we aren’t in Beijing!

As a Saskatoon realtor I drive a lot showing houses for sale in Saskatoon so I tend to get a bit cranky if I get caught up and am even a few minutes late for an appointment. The next time I am out showing houses for sale in Saskatoon I will be happy that I am a realtor in Saskatoon and not trying to sell real estate in China!

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Realtor (r)
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd

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26. March 2010 by Kari Calder.

The province of Saskatchewan population has hit an all time high in 2010 with 1,038,018 people living in the province. We have seen an increase of 15760 people since the same time in 2009. The largest factor is the net international migration which was 8571 people. This is the highest number of immigration to Saskatchewan from international areas since records were started in 1946. I have been working with several first time home buyers in Saskatoon who have come from areas like Russia and the Ukraine. They are looking for houses for sale in Saskatoon that will accomodate themselves but also their families at a later date. Some of my first time home buyers in Saskatoon from the Ukraine are bringing over their parents in the next few months.

The only 2 provinces that saw a higher increase in growth were British Columbia and Nunavut. PEI was the only province that saw a loss of people (152 people lost).

With the number of houses for sale in Saskatoon that we started with in January 2009 compared to the number of houses for sale in Saskatoon in January 2010 the net migration is evident here.

It seems people are moving out west as the highest rate of growth was in the four Western Provinces which recorded higher than normal growth, obviously including Saskatchewan.

We welcome these new home buyers in Saskatoon and I look forward to helping more people buy houses for sale in Saskatoon in 2010. Unfortunately, as a realtor (r) in Saskatoon I cannot speak Russian or Ukrainian but I do have some previous clients who have purchased a home for sale in Saskatoon through me who would likely help if needed! I enjoy being a real estate agent in Saskatoon and love helping people find their ‘new’ house in Saskatoon.

Kari Calder
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
Saskatoon, Sk
653-8222
www.karicalder.com

Posted in Saskatchewan News, International Real Estate, Canda Real Estate News, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon News, Saskatoon, Current Market, Saskatchewan Real Estate, Saskatoon Real Estate | 1 Comment »

9. November 2009 by Kari Calder.

For the first time since 1976 the Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the best in the West! Mosaic Stadium in Regina saw a sold out crowd of 30945 and hosted the game against the Calgary Stampeders, who we dominated 30-14.

Some fans, my mom and dad from Estevan included, have been waiting 33 years for a victory like this. The Riders still have one more victory to attain before moving on to the Grey Cup in Calgary on November 29, 2009.

It is a big thing for the team, for the city of Regina, for the province of Saskatchewan and for the fans to be the host of the Western final. So now it is between the Stampeders and the Eskimos to see who will be up against the Riders in the Western Final.

If there is one thing about Saskatchewan I can say it is we are all proud to be from Saskatchewan and we have fans right across the country. Yes, it gets stupidly cold here in the winter in Saskatchewan, but besides the weather our province is home to a lot of great things and I think any football player in the CFL will say that Saskatchewan fans are the most loyal! But, my opinion is a bit biased

Go Riders!

Kari Calder
Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd Saskatoon

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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 »

27. July 2009 by Kari Calder.

There is a new petition circling around the Saskatchewan real estate community from a Regina Century 21 agent, but I am wholeheartedly against this petition regarding taking personal information when buying or selling a house in Saskatoon. The realtor in Regina has some good points about the collection and use of confidential information, but as long as the realtor who is taking the information complies with the regulations, the original and only copies will be sent to Ottawa and we, nor our offices, will not have any of the client’s private information on hand.

I have experienced clients attempting to launder money through real estate in Saskatoon and this new legislation has put them off from purchasing a house for sale in Saskatoon, for the time being, until they find a way around it. Even when the market was starting to slow I was getting calls from people who wanted to buy a house in Saskatoon to ‘flip’ but I was suspicious as they were looking for people they could pay cash to fix it up. Chances are, money was being laundered this way as the sellers would turn around and sell it and not necessarily make much (if anything) but their money would have been ‘cleaned’ so to speak.

Unfortunately, this does not prevent criminals from buying a house in Saskatoon privately and then turning around and putting the house for sale in Saskatoon privately, but buyers (and private sellers in Saskatoon) need to be aware that they may be helping aid in terrorism and crime.

I have had to provide my ID when buying RRSP’s, and I certainly wasn’t spending close to what a person spends when buying a house for sale in Saskatoon, or anywhere for that matter!

I am realtor in Saskatoon who is okay with taking photo ID from people who are buying a house in Saskatoon or selling a house in Saskatoon with me as their Saskatoon realtor as I would rather not deal with people who may be aiding in terrorism. Unfortunately, there are realtors in Saskatoon, and every other city, who are less concerned with ethics and more concerned with making money, but even they are forced to comply now and take ID from every client.

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

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

27. July 2009 by Kari Calder.

For the first half of 2009 the housing starts in Saskatoon have fallen by a whopping 78%. We are down to 342 new houses in Saskatoon from 1574 new houses in Saskatoon started in the first 6 months of 2008. Multiple family starts dropped an astounding 93% from 754 to only 53 in the first 6 months this year while single family homes dropped from 820 in 2008 to 289 in 2009.

The decline has to do with many factors, but the overall economic downturn is a big part of that but our slowing of new housing in Saskatoon also has a lot to do with following one of the busiest years in history. Many builders were also trying to get rid of last year’s inventory as well as there are still many vacant new homes in Saskatoon. This helps the existing homes for sale in Saskatoon as the inventory of new homes in Saskatoon is starting to clean up.

Houses for sale in Saskatoon have been reduced in number in June with many more sold signs popping up. June did see more housing starts than in earlier months with 116 single family starts, but still down 28% from last June. Regina has also seen a decrease in new housing while Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, and Yorkton saw increases in houses being built.

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

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

27. June 2009 by Kari Calder.

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.

Posted in Canada Real Estate, International Real Estate, Canda Real Estate News, Saskatchewan Real Estate, Listings, News, Buyers, Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »

27. June 2009 by Kari Calder.

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.

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27. June 2009 by Kari Calder.

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.

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

22. June 2009 by Kari Calder.

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.

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