Archive for the ‘Saskatoon Real Estate’ Category

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Saskatoon Real Estate Market Update – May 12, 2008

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

Our Saskatoon Real Estate market has seen a great increase in listings over the past month. We have at least 500 single family dwellings actively for sale on Saskatoon MLS and 218 active condos in Saskatoon. In small towns outside of Saskatoon there are at least 500 listings on the market as well.

People are wondering if this means that prices will drop in Saskatoon. While we are seeing people reducing the prices on their homes for sale in Saskatoon, the market is not going down in Saskatoon. Our economy in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan is very strong and the forecast in the next 10 years looks outstanding, but many people were expecting spring to be as crazy as it was last year so too many sellers held off listing until now and it appears to have backfired on them.

It is just a matter of time before some of these listings get cleaned up, but for now it means that we have a balanced real estate market in Saskatoon once again and that is hard for sellers to understand and cope with. While some people are willing to move on the price, many sellers are still not motivated to negotiate on the prices… especially builders in Saskatoon. So that being said, it is a great time to buy a house in Saskatoon as you can get what you want and you may be able to get it for a bit less than list price. If you are interested in buying real estate in Saskatoon, be sure to contact me and I would be eager to assist you any way I can!

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

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

What Saskatoon Real Estate Zoning Means

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

The Saskatoon real estate market can be confusing at the best of times, but then there are all the codes that come along to confuse you further. These codes reflect Saskatoon residential real estate, commercial real estate in Saskatoon has other codes that you can ask me about.

In Saskatoon Real Estate, here are some of the most common Zoning Codes that you will see:

  • R1-large lot for one unit dwelling
  • R1A-normal lot for one unit dwelling
  • R1B-small lot for one unit dwelling
  • R2-one and two unit dwellings
  • RMHC-mobile home court district
  • RMHL-mobile homes on individual sites
  • R2A-low density residential infill district for one and two unit dwellings
  • RMTN-townhouse residential district
  • RM1-low density (1-4 units) multiple unit dwellings
  • RM2-low/medium density multiple unit dwellings
  • RM3-medium density multiple unit dwelling
  • RM4-medium/high density multiple unit dwelling
  • RM5-high density multiple unit dwelling

When looking at purchasing real estate in Saskatoon zoning can be important depending on what your future plans are for the lot and depending on what is currently in the house. If you are in a Saskatoon neighbourhood that is zoned R1 and you have 3 suites, the city of Saskatoon can enforce the zoning laws if they find out you have 3 suites. They can enforce you to take the suites out (which is generally removing the kitchens in them).

So this should make the zoning in Saskatoon a bit more clear, but you can always look at the City of Saskatoon’s website for a more in depth look before purchasing real estate in Saskatoon.

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

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

Mexico Real Estate Investment Seminar POSTPONED!

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

Please note that the Mexico real estate investment seminar scheduled for May 15th has been postponed due to a scheduling conflict.  We will be rescheduling this for June so keep checking back for updates.  If you are looking for information on Mexico real estate investment prior to our seminar please feel free to contact me at my Saskatoon real estate website.  I have a section for investors there and have information about the Serena Marina & Golf Luxury Residences that are located in Mazatlan, Mexico.  For this and any other real estate questions, please feel free to contact me anytime.

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

Posted in Buyers, International Real Estate | No Comments »

Mexico Luxury Real Estate Investment Seminar!

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

Serena Marina & GolfI want to invite anyone interested in real estate investing to attend a seminar that will be happening on Thursday, May 15th at 7pm.  Ed Machart and I will be putting on this great event with a focus on a new luxury Mexico real estate investment project we are currently working on.  The project is called the Serena Marina & Golf Residences and is located in beautiful Mazatlan, Mexico.  This is one of the most prestigous developments in Mexico and has the unique feature of being located on a brand new golf course designed by a world famous designer as well right on its own exclusive marina.  If you are an avid fisherman or golfer this high end luxury property is definitely something you will want to check out.  We have had the opportunity to visit the project in person and meet the developer and were extremely impressed.  When attending this event you will also have the unique opportunity to meet the sales manager from Mazatlan yourself.  To find out more information about the Serena Marina & Golf Residence project be sure to visit the Mexico Investment Real Estate section of my website.

Date: May 15, 2008
Time: 7:00pm (doors and sign in will commence at 6:30)
Location: Heritage Inn, Saskatoon (See Map)

E-mail kari@hotspotinvestments.ca to register for this event or for additional details.  We look forward to seeing you there!

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

Posted in International Real Estate, News, Saskatoon Events | 1 Comment »

Baby Boomers Creating New Real Estate Trend

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

The baby boomer generation is leading the pack in a new real estate trend across both Canada and the United States.  Baby boomers are people born between 1946 and 1965.  This age group essentially makes up one third of Canada’s population.  It appears that with many baby boomer children moving away from home or buying their own homes, that many of them are downsizing their current homes.  In the Saskatoon real estate market we have seen a large increase of both the baby boomer and older generations downsizing their homes.  Without children in the house the demand for space has decreased dramatically.  Less space in a house means less work and therefore frees up your time to take on other interests.  There has been a huge increase of people moving into townhouse complexes as well as condos as yard work, snow removal and other tasks are taken care of you by your condo board.

Another trend that is happening is that many baby boomers upon retiring are selling their homes and relocating else where.  Many are relocating to warmer climates or else purchasing a seasonal home else where in the world and spending only summers in Saskatoon.  This provides people the best of both worlds.  This trend will continue as the baby boomer generation continues to retire.  If you are interested in selling your existing home or downsizing, or even interested in seasonal international real estate be sure to contact me and I will be happy to help you!

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

Posted in Canda Real Estate News, International Real Estate, News | No Comments »

Hampton Village Teen Care Home Under Protest

Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Awhile ago I wrote a blog about a teen care home in Hampton Village.  Recently a group of homeowners in the Hampton Village neighbourhood came forward to protest the teen care home saying their children would be endangered by the presence of two teen care homes.  Many of the neighbours are coming together and putting together a formal campaign.  Already west-side city councillors have been going door to door to residents in Hampton Village getting signatures for a petition against the teen care homes.  Last reported they already had approximately 100 signatures.  Among some of the complaints people are stating are the safety for their children and also the potential affect on their Saskatoon property value.  This would be the 5th and 6th home in Saskatoon as part of this program.  The city of Saskatoon stated that it has not received any complaints about the existing 3rd and 4th home in the city.  One of these are already located in Hampton Village and the other is located in Dundonald. 

To read more about this story be sure to visit the Star Phoenix article.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Saskatoon

Posted in News, Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »

Spring Time Equals Water In Basements For Some Home Owners

Friday, April 25th, 2008

With this odd weather we are having and our already full water table, I wanted to write a blog about the water in basements in Saskatoon. It is unfortunate, but it seems that houses in Saskatoon are often getting moisture where they may have never had that problem in the past.

With the rain in Saskatoon that we are experiencing right now I have spoken with people who are getting moisture in the basement of their homes. Unfortunately as a Saskatoon real estate agent there is not much I can do about this but try and educate people and point them to people that can assist them. It appears that in certain areas, moisture is a fact of life. 

There are things you can do though, and the biggest thing to look at is what is happening externally. The quickest thing is usually the culprit, and that is lack of proper down-spouting from the eaves-troughs. Many people put the arm up as it is in the way or unsightly, but forget to put it back down. This causes water to pool near the base of the house, which overwhelms the weeping tile (if there is any) which then causes moisture to occur. The other thing is commonly the eaves themselves. They may be clogged with leaves or just past their life span, so invest in new ones or cleaning out your existing eaves as it is cheaper to do maintenance than it is to fix foundations.

The other thing to look at is how your property is graded. Due to time and shifting of the ground, your once level grass may now point the water towards your house. Get some extra dirt in and make sure that the yard slopes away from your house.  It is always best to consult with a professional though.  They will have the best idea of how to correct any flooding that is occurring in your home.

Be sure to visit the city of Saskatoon flood prevention website to find out additional tips that can assist you.  Remember to do your yearly maintenance on your house in Saskatoon as prevention is the best cure!

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

Posted in Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »

Having Problems Getting A Mortgage

Friday, April 25th, 2008

I recently had the not so pleasant experience of working with a mortgage to go company that failed to meet my and my client’s expectations, so I wanted to put out the good news for anyone who is looking to buy real estate in Saskatoon who is having problems getting answers from their lenders.  I have a couple of really great guys who can get the job done!

There are many options for new home buyers in Saskatoon to get a mortgage. Some people use their bank, which is generally fine, however I advise shopping around. Don’t just take the first mortgage that you are offered as sometimes other branches or mobile mortgage specialists can beat a bank’s mortgage rate.  At the end of the day we all want to save as much money as we can so be sure to shop around.

Some of these ‘mortgages to go’ companies who claim they can get a mortgage for people with difficult credit do not have the most qualified people working for them. In this particular experience we had, the company finally ordered an appraisal 3 days after we were originally supposed to remove conditions. So, after a week of not getting answers and running into the issue of people who stop work at 4:30 pm and then don’t respond until 3 pm the next day, I sent my client to a Saskatoon mobile mortgage specialist in my referral network. After having the file for a mere 36 hours from start to finish, my Saskatoon mobile mortgage specialist had the mortgage approved and conditions removed.  Meanwhile the mortgage to go company was still trying to get an appraiser in.  I have developed a great referral networkfor anyone I work with that is buying or selling a home in Saskatoon.  These individuals are some of the top in their respective industries and come personally recommended.   Please don’t hesitate to ask me who I recommend for getting a mortgage in Saskatoon as I have several really great contacts!

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

Posted in Buyers, Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »

Saskatoon Real Estate Still Affordable

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

In a recent article by the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, the Saskatoon real estate market is still affordable.  This is very true but people looking to buy in the Saskatoon real estate market may need to look a bit harder and be patient.  People that are looking to spend under $200,000 can’t have the same expectations as they did a few years ago.  The reality is that the Saskatoon real estate market has boomed resulting in a big increase of home prices across the city.  However there are still homes available at affordable prices.  In the article it mentions of a home being sold for $80,000 this year.  This in fact did happen in 2008.  Buyers that are looking to spend under $200,000 have to come to an understanding that they may have to be flexible as there as less options under this price mark in Saskatoon.  

There is a large demand for cheaper housing in Saskatoon so it is critical if you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Saskatoon that you work with a qualified Saskatoon real estate agent.  When working with an agent when buying a home, they can provide you access to new listings before they are available to the general public, as well they can provide you in depth information on the history of a property.  When working a hot real estate market such as this, time is of importance when dealing with homes that are highly sought after.  When selling your home you don’t want to leave money on the table.  By working with a Saskatoon Realtor, they should be able to provide you in depth information on pricing your home ensuring you get the most for your home.  A lot of people that sell their properties privately either price their home too high resulting in it not selling or pricing it too low and losing money.  If you are interested in either buying or selling a home in the Saskatoon real estate market be sure to contact me and I will be very happy to assist you.

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

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

Condo Conversions On Hold In Saskatoon

Thursday, April 17th, 2008

The topic of condo conversions in Saskatoon has been a hot topic for the past year.  Many Saskatoon renters have been demanding the city of Saskatoon do something to address the extremely low vacancy rate for rental property in the city.  Many apartment building owners over the past two years have been taking advantage of the extremely hot Saskatoon real estate market and selling off their properties or converting them to condos themselves.

On Monday, April 14th after 5 hours in what the Saskatoon Star Phonenix described as a heated debate, a majority of city council voted to change civic policy so that apartment buildings will no longer be allowed to be converted into condos while the Saskatoon vacancy rate remains below 1.5%.  This could potentially be a big victory for Saskatoon renters but also could help to increase Saskatoon condo real estate prices in our city.  With less condos available on the market the average price will rise as the demand increases.

This new policy has not been officially passed and is still subject to another vote at council’s next regular meeting on April 21st.  If the policy is approved there are 14 existing buildings that filed for approval to be converted in 2007 that will not be subject to the new policy.  However any projects that were not submitted before the policy was passed will have to now wait until the Saskatoon vacancy rate rises above 1.5%.  It is expected though that the policy will provide special loop holes so that the city may still approve special projects such as buildings that have previously been condemned or else existing vacant buildings.

If you are currently interested in buying a condo in Saskatoon it may be a good time to start looking.  If the new policy is passed it will have an impact on Saskatoon condo prices.  Whether you are looking at buying or selling a condo in the Saskatoon real estate market be sure to contact me!

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

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

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