Saskatoon Real Estate

A recent article published in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix indicates that Saskatchewan lead the nation in income growth between November 2006 and November 2007.  The article indicates employment earnings increased an average of 6.9 per cent.  This number is significantly higher than our neighbors with Alberta sitting at 5.6 per cent and Manitoba at 5.8 per cent.  This is extremely important news for Saskatchewan residents and especially for those looking to purchase real estate.  One of the major concerns that is being echoed throughout our province is that with the dramatic increase in real estate no one will be to afford a home with Saskatchewan salaries.  With the Saskatoon real estate market leading the charge and with growth of over 52% last year alone people have expressed concern.  There is an indication that salaries are increasing in our province though which is important to balance the increasing costs of living.  Our economy is helping drive the increase of real estate.  We just need to hope that salary increases keep up fast enough to the increasing costs of living.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

For those of you who keep up with the local Saskatchewan news I am sure you have heard all about the recent developments with Premier Brad Wall.  On Tuesday the Premier made an unscripted comment stating that he has previously taken his 14 year old daughter out on Saskatchewan roads and gave her a driving lesson.  This was immediately acted upon as the legal age that someone can receive a learners driver permit is 15.  Within the same day this story was in several news papers and then on Wednesday the NDP raised the matter in the legislature starting the premier should offer an apology for breaking the law and then joking about it.
For curiosity sake I took a poll of my friends and family and asked most people when the first time they drove in Saskatchewan was.  For those of us from Saskatchewan the majority of us had all driven a vehicle before we were 14 with permission from our parents or with them in the vehicle.  I definitely believe that having a legal driving age is an important and yes what the premier did was wrong but is this small mistake which he has apologize for worthy of all of the media coverage.  The fact that the NDP took time out of the legislature to bring this up and discuss it is frustrating.  There are much bigger matters to discuss and things to decide on when running our province instead of bringing up something like this.  I am definitely not alone on my thoughts on this as published in a recent article in the Star Phoenix; many Saskatchewan residents have offered private property to teach his daughter how to drive.

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

It always great to see someone from Saskatchewan make national news.  Darwin Head of Prince Albert was the lucky individual chosen by TSN to participate in a chance to win 1 million dollars in Vancouver at a Canucks game.  He was chosen from a total on 8.6 million online entries to compete in the Chevrolet Malibu Million Dollar Shootout.  His challenge was to score 15 goals in a mere 24 seconds from the blue line.  On Darwin’s last shot just before the time expired he clenched the 15th goal making him Canada’s newest millionaire.

Earlier in the day Darwin had the opportunity to practice with hockey legend Bobby Orr who was also on the ice with Darwin during the shootout.  During the competition he took Orr’s advice and blocked out and the crowd and focused on the task at hand.  Head walked away with 1 million dollars as well as a Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid for himself and two friends as well as one person from the audience.

After the shootout Darwin said he would use the money to look after his wife and three children, pay off their Saskatchewan home and put some aside for retirement.

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