4. February 2010 by Kari Calder.

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

4. February 2010 by Kari Calder.

I work with a lot of people who move to Canada and buy a house in Saskatoon or anywhere else and some of these Saskatoon home buyers are enamoured with our “free health care” as where they come from nothing is for free. I think the idea of it is wonderful, but in reality we have a lot of problems with it.

There was just an article in the Star Phoenix commented on finding efficiences in the Saskatchewan Health Region. They are scared that the level of service will go further down and that frightens me. Another Star Phoenix article today was all about safe patient care in Saskatchewan based on the fact that a doctor in my home town of Estevan is getting called into EMERGENCY to fill prescriptions because people can’t get into the doctors offices during the day. How ridiculous is that? These doctors are running low on sleep and energy and well being in general and then our lives are in their hands and it is dangerous and it is OUR fault for visiting the doctors for silly reasons because it is free. Even though Saskatoon has a lot more doctors I am sure it is still difficult for many of them.

The cost of free healthcare often costs people their lives in this province. As much as I appreciate and value our free healthcare policies, I do think something needs to change. Trimming the fat at the top does make some sense, but with the abuse of the system each doctor and emergency care worker sees I think there should be a ‘user fee’. Why not implement a small fee for each visit to the doctor (even $15 for non emergency visits, emergency visits would depend on the severity as people would then start to abuse the $15 policy, but obviously if someone is coming in with a broken arm or after a car accident no fee would apply as that IS an emergency-a cough is not!) I suggested this to an employee of the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada but do you think it was considered? No, because there are too many ‘administrative concerns’. I don’t know, how hard is it to take $15 at the doctors office upon checking in? We do it at every other health practioner, I am pretty confident the general public could be retrained.
If someone is in such bad financial woes then reimbursement should be a possibility, provided they aren’t spending that $15 on cigarettes and alcohol.
Buck up Saskatchewan and Canada in general! I’d rather pay $15 each time than have to wait a month for a crucial exam and possibly dying while I wait! I’m a self employed real estate agent in Saskatoon so I don’t have a health plan through Century 21 in Saskatoon (I could but I have a separate one) per se, but I wouldn’t mind paying.

What are your thoughts? Am I unreasonable?

Kari Calder
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
Saskatoon, Sk
karicalder@sasktel.net

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28. January 2010 by Kari Calder.

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

21. January 2010 by Kari Calder.

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 »

14. December 2009 by Kari Calder.

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

11. November 2009 by Kari Calder.

Officials say that Saskatoon will finally have a mandatory recycling program. At the rate Saskatoon is growing and producing waste, we will need a new landfill in 12 years at the cost of $75 Million.

Almost half of all waste going to the landfill in Saskatoon right now is organic material (43.5%). This is compostable waste that could be processed into fertilizer. A new organics facility in in the pre-design phase and is estimated to cost $7.2 Million. If all of this waste was diverted we would get an additional six to nine years of life out of the current landfill.

I am very supportive of the PRIVATE “Curbside Recycling Program” but it is a bit disappointing that this is a private program. Saskatoon is far behind so many other cities and the lack of mandatory recycling is unfortunate. Even cities like Prince Albert have 2 bins; one for household waste and one for recycling material. While it is not ‘mandatory’ per se, it is at least accessible for all households and easy to use. In other cities around the country and around the world they use clear plastic bags and each household is only allowed so much waste. By using the clear plastic bags, it can be monitored to show what people are throwing out and, if someone throws a cardboard box in the clear plastic bag, there are cities that will refuse to pick up the garbage that day. Saskatoon does have a long term waste diversion plan which would involve ‘user fees’  based on the amount of waste generated by each home and include this on a utility bill instead of in your taxes.

As a real estate agent in Saskatoon, one of the things I include in my ‘buyer’s pack’ upon possession (when a client gets possession of their new house in Saskatoon and area) is a flyer for Saskatoon Curbside Recycling. The other thing that I do to help the environment is I do not send out unsolicited flyers in the mail or contribute to junk mail.

I have tenants who moved from Ottawa to Saskatoon and one of their first questions was how to handle household waste. They were very accustomed to ‘green bins’ and they explained their city’s program to me. We could learn a lot from Ottawa and other municipalities that are doing such a good job of diverting garbage from the landfills. Lets hope that Saskatoon gets on board sooner than later and that the Saskatoon home owners cooperate to make our city a cleaner and greener city which is more attractive to people looking to move to Saskatoon.

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

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

3. November 2009 by Kari Calder.

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

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1. November 2009 by Kari Calder.

Until recently, I was skeptical of the H1N1 virus that has been getting all sorts of hype in the media.

The story of the La Ronge girl who has battled with various health issues in her short 6 ½ years and was never able to speak, walk, or eat without being tube fed caught my attention. She contracted and died of H1N1 in the Saskatoon Health Care System. Her family is not blaming anyone or pointing fingers, but they are advocates for increased awareness and for setting an example of prevention efforts.

Her father, the general manager of a busy La Ronge Hotel, has come up with many ways to help prevent the spread of H1N1 in Saskatchewan. Between him and his staff, they came up with at least 30 ways to help prevent the spread of H1N1.

We all need to step up if we see people coughing, sneezing etc without covering their mouths at all or not properly covering their mouths (with their sleeve, shoulder, anything BUT their hands as that is one of the ways any air born disease can spread).

Walk away, in the opposite direction, from someone who doesn’t cover their mouth.

Speak up! If you are in the bathroom and see people not washing their hands or washing them properly, don’t care how you look but tell them! It is only education that can help prevent the spread of diseases in general.

Carry disinfectant on you and use it often.

Spray door handles in your home, office, anywhere you can!

At one Saskatoon open house an agent from Century 21 in Saskatoon told us about his experience with his clients. The people, whose house for sale in Saskatoon, actually put a chair at the front door with hand sanitizer and a note reading “If you wish to view our home, you must sanitize your hands before entering”. I thought this was very smart as, being a realtor in Saskatoon, there are so many times we are in and out of 10 houses or more in a day and constantly being bombarded with germs. I carry hand sanitizer in my car and use it often; also use it to wipe down my car steering wheel, handles, gear shift, radio buttons, etc. As a real estate agent in Saskatoon we are constantly in contact with people and shaking hands, it is a part of business.

I often offer hand disinfectant to my clients who are buying houses for sale in Saskatoon as it is generally in my car and some houses are not that clean! Some houses for sale in Saskatoon appear clean, but you can’t see those germs until it is too late.

So, the lesson is: don’t aid in the spread of H1N1 or any other disease, take care to wash your hands, cover your mouth properly, and disinfect yourself and family members and any physical locations you can.

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

Posted in Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan News, Saskatoon News, Personal, News, Saskatoon | 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.

Saskatchewan is formally going to bid to produce medical isotopes. This was confirmed on Wednesday but Premiere Brad Wall. The proposal, currently being worked on by U of S and government officials, is to be completed by the end of July.

The federal government is dealing with the current shortage of medical isotopes and they are seeking input in how to rectify the situation.

Medical isotopes are radioactive material used in diagnostic tests such as MRI’s and Saskatoon, among the rest of the world, has been having to cancel them due to the shortage caused by the shut down of Chalk River in Ontario. The Chalk River reactor was supplying approximately 1/3 of the world’s medical isotopes and it will now be shut down until the end of the year.

Brad Wall has been campaigning to add some value to uranium that is mined in Saskatchewan. He is taking this process and consultation process seriously. While we are not spending any money yet, Wall says that we are just seeing if we can get the federal government to consider Saskatchewan as a place that could supply these very important isotopes.

The cost of building a reactor would have to be paid for by the federal government and partners from the private sector.

Wall believes there is an opportunity for Saskatchewan to take a leading role in nuclear medicine and that we should be exploring this opportunity.

It was here in Saskatchewan in 1949 that the first ‘cobalt-60 treatment’ was tried. This saved a woman who was battling cervical cancer.

Promoters of Canada’s nuclear industry made a direct pitch to Saskatoon business people last week. Their aim was to show that a nuclear power plant in Saskatchewan would create jobs and generate other economic benefits. Neil Alexander, president of the Organization of CANDU Industries, told a lunch time audience at the Chamber of Commerce that the promoters of nuclear power also need to address the concerns of safety. He states that so far, in Canada, no member of the public has been harmed in any way by 40 years of used fuel storage. With the medical isotope shortage crisis he brings a good point; “If radioactivity is so unsafe — which, you know, people have been telling us for years and years and years — why is it, now that we don’t have enough for them to inject in their veins, that they are complaining?”

Of course there are people who are emphatically against nuclear anything, but when it comes down to saving their life or a loved one’s life, I think they would be less opinionated.

The Saskatoon real estate market, of course, would benefit from this. The economy in Saskatchewan would be further ahead as well.

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

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