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Cold Snap in the Prairies-doesn’t stop people from moving here!

Monday, December 14th, 2009

With the big chill set in winter has officially arrived in Saskatoon. Temperatures here today will climb to -26 with a windchill that makes it feel more like -43. Edmonton smashed cold records over the weekend with a low of -46.1 C.

That didn’t stop Saskatoon home buyers from looking to buy houses for sale Saskatoon. I was showing townhouses for sale in Saskatoon to 3 different first time home buyers in Sasktaoon, including 2 individuals who recently moved to Saskatoon from China.

Saskatoon is said to be the fastest growing city in Canada in 2010 and I can see why! All 3 buyers I showed townhouses for sale in Saskatoon with this weekend were relatively new to the city. I will be showing houses for sale in Warman and Martensville to another couple from Vancouver this week.

So if you are looking to buy a house for sale in Saskatoon or surrounding area, contact Kari for more information on the current market and to help make the process an easy one. I work in the warm and the cold!

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd. Saskatoon
www.karicalder.com

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

New Listing-Condo in Lakewood

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Check out my newest listing at 39-302 Herold Road in Lakewood in Saskatoon. This 2 bedroom + flex room condo offers 2 large bedrooms on the 3rd floor as well as a flex room on the main floor (currently used as a bedroom, can be used as an office, den, gym, etc) Nice quality laminate flooring on 2nd floor throughout kitchen, dining room, 2 piece bathroom, and living room. Both bedrooms are generous sizes which makes it a great opportunity for first time home buyers in Saskatoon with a roomie or students. Laundry is located on the same floor as the bedrooms.

Great location for U of S students too as it is close to amenities and bus stops and a short walk to the grocery store and restaurants and pharmacy. This condo for sale in Saskatoon comes with a sought after 2nd owned parking stall that is electrified.

Call your Saskatoon real estate agent or Kari Calder to view! Available for occupancy March 1, 2010 or sellers will rent back this condo for sale in Saskatoon until that time.

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
Saskatoon
http://www.karicalder.com/

Posted in Buyers, Current Market, Listings, Saskatchewan Real Estate, Saskatoon, Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »

Latest MLS Stats-November

Friday, December 4th, 2009

The November Real Estate Market in Saskatoon was up dramatically from 2008 where only 180 houses for sale in Saskatoon sold. This year we saw a 41% increase with 254 houses in Saskatoon selling.

The average home price in Saskatoon is near to the same as 2008 with the average house price in Saskatoon being $278885 for 2009. Homes prices across Canada are expected to increase in 2010.

Currently, the average time to sell a house in Saskatoon is 43 days and has remained almost constant at that for the past 6 months.

By the end of November, home buyers in Saskatoon had 877 homes to choose from with 288 of those being condos for sale in Saskatoon.

Listing inventory in Saskatoon is down 16% with only 356 new house listings in Saskatoon in 2009 while in 2008 we had 425 new units placed on the market.

We are in less of a ‘buyer’s market’ than we were in 2008 as homes are selling at the same rate as being listed which keeps it a competitive market out there. The market is balanced and stable at this time which still means a good time to sell your house in Saskatoon or to buy a house for sale in Saskatoon and area. It is best to use a Saskatoon realtor (r) to help you buy and/or sell as we know the current market data as well as all of the laws associated with buying and selling and make sure that you, the client, are fairly represented.

If you are looking for a qualified Saskatoon real estate agent contact me for more information or to set up a meeting to discuss the market and your needs and wants.

Kari Calder
Residential Sales Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
karicalder@sasktel.net

Posted in Buyers, Current Market, Listings, Saskatchewan Real Estate, Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »

Latest MLS Stats

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Despite MSN news that says Saskatoon is one of the slower real estate markets, I think Saskatoon real estate agents would disagree.

The MLS in Saskatoon stats show that we had 95 new listings, down from 114 the week before. Our solds were also down a bit, but in relation to listings we are still going strong. We had 73 solds last week with 16 more the week before.

Total active houses for sale in Saskatoon are down to 879 from 907 just 2 weeks ago. Out of that 516 are single family homes for sale in Saskatoon, down from 540 2 weeks ago.

Out of town listings are also coming down. We are now sitting at 948 houses for sale outside of Saskatoon, down from 984 just 2 weeks ago.

So if you are looking to sell your house in Saskatoon, don’t go it alone. Hire a professional who will price your home appropriately and who will ensure only pre-qualified buyers view your house for sale in Saskatoon. As a home seller in Saskatoon, this will save you a lot of time and potentially heart ache and ensure you are getting top dollar for your house for sale in Saskatoon.

If you are a first time buyer in Saskatoon looking to get into the Saskatoon real estate market you should contact me. You don’t pay anything when you are buying a MLS listed house which is why the majority of home buyers in Saskatoon use our services. We protect your best interests and ensure you are getting a fair price and the best terms possible in your purchase. Some people who have their house for sale privately in Saskatoon are hiding things and they do not have the same requirements as sellers going through an agent, so be wary!

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.
Saskatoon, Sk

Posted in Buyers, Current Market, Saskatchewan Real Estate, Saskatoon Real Estate, Sellers | No Comments »

October Homes Sales Busier in 2009 than 2008

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Homes sales in Saskatoon continued to rise last month with a total of 311 houses selling at an average of just under $275,000. In the same month in 2008 only 213 houses for sale in Saskatoon sold. The average house price in Saskatoon is down from 2008 with that average being $285,547. Keep in mind that the average house price in Saskatoon does not take into factor how many condos vs single family homes have sold, so there are a lot of variables each month. This year an increase in sales of homes between $250,000 and $275,000 has helped contribute to this ‘decline’.
Other good news for the market, but not for some home buyers in Saskatoon, is the listings have now dipped below 1000 for the first time in more than a year. There were 971 homes for sale in Saskatoon this year compared to last year when there were 1667 houses for sale in Saskatoon.
CMHC’s senior market analyst for Saskatchewan, Paul Caton, believes the slower pace of housing activity in 2009 has allowed for a reduction in inventories, setting the stage for an increase in activity in 2010.
CMHC also predicts an increase from 3700 units selling in 2009 to 3900 units in 2010.
For all of you buyer’s who are contemplating waiting to buy a house in Saskatoon, don’t wait too long! We are already experiencing multiple offers on re-sale homes and, while we hope it doesn’t come to ‘presentation of offers’ again where you may be up against as many as 20 other buyers for the same house, it is a possibility.
For all your Saskatoon residential real estate needs, contact your Saskatoon real estate agent, Kari Calder.

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

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

First Time Home Buyer Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

As a Saskatoon real estate agent, I enjoy working with first time home buyers in Saskatoon. I have a few documents for my first time home buyers in Saskatoon which helps answer questions before they arise and it is always a good thing to come back to when looking to buy a house for sale in Saskatoon and area.
The whole process can feel overwhelming, whether this is the first time you have bought a house for sale in Saskatoon or whether you have bought many homes for sale in Saskatoon. That is why I am here!
One of the first things to consider and think about is your credit rating.
Most people dont know their credit rating and a good credit rating will improve your ability to get a loan. If your credit rating needs improvement, you can do things like making sure you always make at least the minimum payments on your credit cards, loans or utilities and pay them in a timely fashion.

Second is being unrealistic about how much you can spend on your new home in Saskatoon and surrounding area. Most people over-estimate how much they can afford to spend. You can go to my website and check out my online mortgage calculator which will help you visualize payment amounts based on house price, how much you are putting down, and mortgage rate/amortization. Be careful with online mortgage pre-qualification as you may forget about something that has affected your credit or about loans.

Third is not considering mortgage pre-approval. You should always go in and meet with a mortgage professional to determine what you are pre-approved for. Knowing how much you can spend gives you confidence to begin looking at homes within your price range. This rate is guaranteed for 90 days, but if it goes down, which we are seeing, you can guarantee the lower rate for another 90 days.

Next is assuming you won’t qualify for a mortgage. Even if you have been bankrupt, been declined in the past, or had other problems, I can put you in touch with some really good mortgage brokers in Saskatoon whoc can shop around to help you get your dream home in Saskatoon by finding alternative mortgage solutions. It may cost you a bit more initially, but once your credit improves the mortgage broker will help you lower your mortgage cost in the future.

Fifth is not knowing all the down-payment options. There are so many different options depending on how much of a down payment you can afford. A conventional mortgage (25%) down, a high ratio mortgage (5% down minimum) or no down-payment (must have a minimum 1.5% value of the home set aside for closing costs as this has to be done in cash).

Sixth is if you are too focused on the interest rate rather than the overall solution. Your future plans will also determine the type of mortgage you go with, so it is important that your mortgage broker know what your plans are and they will help determine what will best suit you, your budget, and your future plans. This includes fixed rate mortgages, variable rate mortgages, and a combination of fixed and variable to benefit from both.

Next is not choosing your own mortgage payments schedule. If you make payments weekly vs monthly, you save a lot of interest in the long term. If you go with a longer amortization period you may have more room to manage your cash flow (ie: 35 years vs 25 years). If you increase your amortization period though you increase your interest costs. You do not have to stick with a 35 year amortization though after your first 5 years are up (if you lock in). Some companies also offer a ‘double up’ program and various other programs to let you put more cash onto your mortgage.

Finally, many first time home buyers in Saskatoon and area forget about closing costs and other non banking details. I work with a lot of first time home buyers so I ensure to coach them on the costs that will occur before possession can happen and those include the closing costs (lawyer fees, land title transfer fees, taxes, etc) There are also other costs such as paying for a professional home inspection, insurance, moving costs, etc.

Owning your own home is a milestone and it is very exciting to purchase your first home. Let me help you in that experience. I can help you find a qualified mortgage specialist who will get you the best rates and deals as well as help you with other professionals along the way.

For your first time home buying in Saskatoon needs, contact me!

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

Posted in Buyers, Canada Real Estate, Saskatchewan Real Estate, Saskatoon, Saskatoon Real Estate | 1 Comment »

Home Starts Rebounding Right into 2010

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

According to an article in the Financial Post today, housing starts are expected to continue to rebound in the fourth quarter of 2009 and into 2010 as inventories decline and demand increases.
Home contruction is forecase to reach just under 142,000 homes in 2009 and rise to almost 165,000 in 2010, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
CMHC Chief Economist, Bob Dugan, is optimistic and expects the housing market across Canada to continue to strengthen as the economic conditions continue to improve.
Existing home sales are expected to reach over 441,000 in 2009 and up to over 445,000 in 2010. Average house price is also slated to increase from just under $313,000 in 2009 to $324,500 in 2010.
We are already seeing the rebound in Saskatoon Real Estate with the markets having picked up substantially since July, 2009. If you are looking to buy or sell your house in Saskatoon, contact me for all of your Saskatoon Real Estate needs.

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

Canada Out of the Recession

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

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 Canadas 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 dont 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 Canada Real Estate, Canda Real Estate News, Current Market, International Real Estate, Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Real Estate | No Comments »

Fintrac Petition

Monday, July 27th, 2009

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 clients 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 RRSPs, and I certainly wasnt 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 Buyers, Canada Real Estate, Canda Real Estate News, Current Market, International Real Estate, News, News, Saskatchewan Real Estate, Saskatoon Real Estate, Sellers | No Comments »

Housing Starts Down In Saskatoon

Monday, July 27th, 2009

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 years 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.