Archive for the ‘Saskatoon Real Estate’ Category

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$150M Refinery Planned for Langham

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

The government of Saskatchewan has good reason to be happy with their efforts to attract Fortune Minerals Ltd. Edmonton and Winnipeg were also in the running to host the facility, but the interest expressed by Saskatoon and Saskatchewan was what tipped the scales and convinced the Ontario based company to base its gold, cobalt, bismuth and copper refinery here.

The proposed site is just east of Langham, which is about 30 kms from Saskatoon. It is near the main Canadian National line and is close to a major national highway and services such as power, water, and natural gas.

This refinery will process ore from Fortune’s NICO project in the NWT. They expect the project will be completed and up and running in 2012.

What this means for employment in Saskatoon is 85 highly skilled positions such as chemical and metallurgical engineers during NICO’s projected 15-20 year life. Why those chose Langham area: they wanted to be close to a city but far enough away as it is an industrial site. It is an easy commute from Saskatoon to Langham if workers prefer a larger city.

This is just another example of our booming province and it reinforces the strength that Saskatchewan continues to show.

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

Posted in Environment, Saskatchewan News, Saskatoon News, Saskatoon Real Estate | 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 don’t 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 »

H1N1 Prevention in Saskatoon

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

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 News, Personal, Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan News, Saskatoon, Saskatoon News | 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 Canada’s 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 don’t 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 »

I Have Been Away, But I’m BACK!

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

Hello to all of my blog subsribers! I must apologize for being out of the loop for a few months it seems. We had quite the summer here in Saskatoon. We sold our house in Arbor Creek, had to move in about 10 days after completion, and had to prepare our other house in Stonebridge.

With having a big dog and a cat as our children, it was necessary to get our new house in Stonebridge prepared by building a deck, fence, and landscaping. All in a matter of about 2 weeks. So, along with moving (and thankfully using a great local moving company, Geransky’s) and cleaning the house in Stonebridge after the tenants left a mess, we had plenty to keep us busy with the yard. Luckily we were able to hire a friend of mine from Estevan to help with the landscaping as he has a business here, Blue Collar Irrigation. They did such a good job even some of the new home builders in Saskatoon have started to use them.

We are slowly but surely getting settled, but it never ends! We are also in the process of building another new home in Saskatoon with Sanoma Homes. Our new home in Saskatoon will be located in Willowgrove.

In September we were away for almost 2 weeks to go to Boston to visit friends and take in a U2 Concert (life long dream!), then to New York City for sightseeing, and finally to Vancouver for the Century 21 National Conference and Awards Banquet where I received my Centurion Award for the 2nd time this year. At this conference they recognize Centurion Award Winners across Canada from 2008. It was great to meet so many new Century 21 Real Estate Agents from across the country.

The Saskatoon real estate market was extremely busy while I was away and the poor guy who I had watching my Saskatoon houses for sale had his hands full!

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

Saskatchewan Medical Isotopes

Monday, July 27th, 2009

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 News, Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan News, Saskatoon, Saskatoon News | 1 Comment »

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 year’s 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.

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 News, Saskatoon Real Estate | No Comments »

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