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70% of Century 21 Saskatoon Agents Receive Awards for 2009 Production

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Every Tuesday morning Century 21 real estate agents in Saskatoon get together for our weekly sales meeting to go over recent sales data, recent trends in Saskatoon real estate and just get caught up to date in general on the happenings in the world of fellow realtors(r) in Saskatoon.

Amongst the data last week were the announcements of the awards for production in 2009. I am proud of my fellow Century 21 Real Estate Agents in Saskatoon as 70% of us have been recognized for sales achievements in 2009.

With the slowing of the global markets, 2009 was slower than 2007 and 2008 so it is great to see so many real estate agents with Century 21 in Saskatoon doing so well.

Awards are broken down into 7 categories; Masters Silver, Masters Ruby, Masters Emerald, Masters Diamond, Centurion, Double Centurion and Grand Centurion. I am excited to say that I was awarded the Century 21 Centurion award for the second year in a row. There are 9 of us from our company who achieved Centurion status. Only 1 agent in the company was awarded the Double Centurion and this year we didn’t have any Grand Centurions, but I am sure 2010 may see someone achieve this.

Century 21 agents are also recognized for their donations to charities such as Easter Seals Canada and our Saskatoon real estate agents in Century 21 have been the most generous in the country with fundraising efforts and personal donations. It is a great company with wonderful values and I am a proud Saskatoon Century 21 Realtor(r). We have a great family of agents, managers and support staff.

If you are looking to buy a house in Saskatoon or to sell your house or condo in Saskatoon contact me!

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

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

Posted in Buyers, Canda Real Estate News, News, Personal, Saskatchewan News, Saskatoon, Saskatoon News, Saskatoon Real Estate, Sellers | No Comments »

Saskatoon Housing Unaffordable?

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

According to the Frontier Centre for Public Policy Saskatoon’s housing market has been deemed seriously unaffordable. We are at a rate of 4.6 (same as 2008) and that rate is on par with Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton and Montreal.

How they figure this out is by taking the median house price in Saskatoon (the exact mid point between the highest and the lowest priced homes that sold in Saskatoon in the third quarter) and dividing it by the median annual gross income. The rate means that, to pay of your home purchase in Saskatoon, it would take 4.6 years of your entire salary to pay off a typical Saskatoon home.

This had definitely changed since the Saskatoon real estate boom of 2007, but it has changed across the country. The rate for paying off your house in Saskatoon was 2.0 in 2006, then in 2007 it went up to 2.6, then 3.5 in 2008 and now 4.6 in 2009.

Buying a house in Regina and Winnipeg are the most affordable markets out of the major markets across Canada. Vancouver is the most expensive market out of the 28 measured in Canada but it is also topping the charts out of 272 metropolitan areas in Ireland, the U.K., New Zealand, Australia, the U.S. and Canada. Victoria was also severely unaffordable at 7.4 but Ottawa is still moderately affordable with a reading of 3.8 up from 3.4 the previous year. I can help put you in touch with a realtor in Regina or any city if you are in need.

Affordability in Alberta homes has improved slightly; Calgary fell from 4.8 to 4.6 this year and Edmonton just slightly from 4.2 to 4.1. On the other side of the country Toronto went from 4.8 to 5.2. So ask yourself, would you rather live in Vancouver, Toronto or Saskatoon as the prices of homes for sale in Saskatoon is still more manageable, as is the commute time and the quality of life. If you are looking to buy a house or condo in Saskatoon contact me. I can set you up with a great Saskatoon mortgage broker or two to get you on your way.

These reports should be taken with a grain of salt however as any statistic should considering they aren’t looking at the entire picture of real estate in Saskatoon or anywhere else. They use limited data with small numbers which can easily be skewed.

Our market is trending towards being more of a sellers market so if you are looking to sell your house in Saskatoon contact me.

Kari Calder
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
306-653-8222
karicalder@sasktel.net

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

Multiple Offers are Baaaaaack

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

If a house for sale in Saskatoon is priced right and within a certain price range, you may have to deal with multiple offers and you may have to offer above list price to get the house you want.

The Saskatoon real estate market has picked up and inventory is low in certain price ranges and areas. I have been told of a recent listing that received several offers within the first day. One of the offers that was $5000 above list price was the lowest of at least 4 offers that he knew of on a Saskatoon house for sale on the east side. If you are thinking of buying a house or condo for sale in Saskatoon you need to have a Saskatoon realtor (R) dedicated to helping you buy a house in Saskatoon and one who can react quickly.

That doesn’t mean we can go back to overpricing homes and hoping for the best…today’s home buyer in Saskatoon is more savvy than even 2 years ago and a lot more cautious, so when selling your house in Saskatoon you still need to be on the mark with your prices and remember that most serious buyers will be using the professional services of a Saskatoon Realtor(r). If you are looking to sell your house in Saskatoon then contact me for more information.

I genuinely hope that we don’t go back to every listing receiving multiple offers, but I believe a lot of that was driven by investors whereas now if a good solid home hits the Saskatoon MLS and it is priced right, there will be enough interest to generate several offers.

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

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

New Listing-Condo for Sale in Downtown Saskatoon

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Yesterday I listed a condo for sale in Saskatoon on 3rd Avenue North in downtown Saskatoon. MLS 359045

This condo is a 1 bedroom 1 bathroom unit in a concrete building. The main advantage of a concrete building is sound, but there are also other benefits such as fire safety and safety in general. The unit is bright and open with neutral colours and features a sun room (not included in square footage). The City Park condo in Saskatoon means a quick walk to the river, U of S, City Hospital, and downtown. The condo for sale in Saskatoon is ideal for students, first time buyers, or older people looking for a condo for sale in a quiet and safe building with elevators and an amenities room. This unit has covered parking in the carport that is secure and features video surveillance.

There are many differences between buying a house for sale in Saskatoon and a condo for sale in Saskatoon. Make sure to speak to your real estate agent in Saskatoon about these differences or use a qualified Realtor, like myself, to help you purchase a condo or a house for sale in Saskatoon.

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
Saskatoon
www.karicalder.com
653-8222

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

Blizzard Leaves Saskatoon in a Rut

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Abandoned cars, low visibility, out of hand snow piles…reminds us us of the infamous blizzard in Saskatoon in January of 2007. From Friday afternoon until Monday morning there was 25 cms of snow dumped on the city.

Living in Stonebridgein Saskatoon has been a challenge as in my particular phase of Stonebridge it is so new and there is a lot of open space that the snow tends to drift right up to my front door! The city of Saskatoon has admitted in an article in the Star Phoenixthat some of the worst hit areas in the city are Stonebridge, Willowgrove and Hampton Village as we don’t have anything to stop the blowing of the snow into huge drifts.

The snow crews are apparently cleaning around the clock, yet it is still nearly impossible to show houses for sale in the residential areas of Saskatoon. Even downtown Saskatoon, which was supposed to be a priority Monday night, looked pretty messy today.

And move your car if youa re parked in a “Snow Route” as your car will be ticketed and then impounded as crews are trying to remove the snow this week. Around residential homes in Saskatoon parking is a challenge.

I have a few first time home buyers in Saskatoon who are anxious to get out and look at houses and condos for sale in Saskatoon but with the road issues right now we have had to wait, even with driving an SUV it is just too questionable if we are going to make it back out! There have been 53 accidents/collisions on the streets in 3 days so we need to slow down.

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

BOC Interest Rates Unchanged

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

In the news on January 19th, 2010 it was stated that the government will keep the lowest practical rate of 0.25% until at least the middle of 2010.

In Saskatoon real estate we are still seeing a 5 year mortgage around that 3.99% mark which has been fluctuating slightly, but that seems to be a common rate with several lending institutions.

This means that you can still get locked into a 5 year mortgage for a very good rate or wait a few months with an open variable mortgage and then lock in before the rates start increasing, but beware that in 5 years your interest rates may change substantially so be careful to only buy a house in Saskatoon that is within your means and not at the very end of your means if you don’t have a job that will be giving you a raise accordingly! It is generally best to see a mortgage broker in Saskatoon to get the best rates.

As a realtor in Saskatoon I work with many buyers who have mortgage approval for much higher than they spend. I do have clients who do max out with their pre-approved amount, but they generally know that they will have a second income paying for the house (spouse, room mate, etc) or they know that their jobs are secure and their wage will increase.

Economic growth across Canada is still lagging a bit, but it is expected to be higher than originally expected in 2011. Our high Canadian dollar against the US dollar is hampering Canada’s recovery as exports are less desirable.

Saskatoon is always a bit different than the rest of Canada and our listing inventory seems to prove that people are buying houses in Saskatoon and the Saskatoon real estate market has been seeing a recovery.

Contact me if you are looking for a mortgage broker in Saskatoon to get you pre-approved to buy a house in Saskatoon. I have a few great mortgage brokers in Saskatoon who I work with who will get you the best rates and the best mortgage for your needs.

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.
306-653-8222
karicalder@sasktel.net

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

Home from Thailand, back to Real Estate!

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

I have been fortunate enough to take a break from real estate in Saskatoon and go see some of the world this year. We went to see my parents, who purchased a condo for sale in Florida about a year ago, for Christmas. From there we went to Thailand for a few weeks and finally Cambodia before going back to Thailand and then home to Saskatoon. For those who know me at all, they know that travel is my passion (of course right up there with real estate!) but I kept tabs on the Saskatoon real estate market while I was away as that is my second passion. Its not a job if you love it, right? Although finding the time to catch up on my blog is a bit challenging!

While I was away the Saskatoon real estate market was a bit slow as it was Christmas holidays and offices were closed, but since the new year things have been steady. It appears that the current market is moving more towards a sellers market than a buyers market in some areas, but it is balanced in other areas. Last week we saw only 115 new listings of houses for sale in Saskatoon while the houses selling in Saskatoon were up to 52 (from 36 the week before). The total active houses for sale in Saskatoon is sitting at 696 with the single family homes for sale in Saskatoon down to 388.

My own personal inventory is down to just 1 listing as I sold all of the houses I had listed before I left for holidays, so I am ready to take on more listings! It is a great time to look at selling your house in Saskatoon.

If you are looking to buy a house in Saskatoon or are a first time home buyer in Saskatoon just starting to understand the process please contact me and I will be more than happy to help you purchase a home. There is no fee to use a buyer’s agent on a Saskatoon MLS listed property. There are many reasons to hire a professional Realtor (r) in Saskatoon to help you buy a home and protect your greatest investment.

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
Saskatoon, Sk
306-653-8222
http://www.karicalder.com/index.html

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

Offer On Newest Listing in Only 3 Days

Friday, December 18th, 2009

I haven’t even had time to get my webmater to update my website to add my newest listing at 39-302 Herold Road and I already have an offer on it and conditions have been removed in less than a week.

If you are considering buying a house for sale in Saskatoon I don’t suggest you wait as the market is heating up. Contact me as I would love the opportunity to help you buy a house for sale in Saskatoon. I have helped over 70 buyers purchase homes in Saskatoon and area this year alone. I am an award winning real estate agent in Saskatoon and love my job!

If you are looking to sell a house in Saskatoon contact me , your Sasktoon Realtor (r) in the new year to see what your house is worth and to discuss marketing your house for sale in Saskatoon so that you get the best exposure to ensure the best price. I have one of the top websites in the city which is key when you are looking to sell your house in Saskatoon.

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

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

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 »

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