9. March 2010 by Kari Calder.

Just a heads up that I will be listing a few new properties for sale in Saskatoon that are worth a mention. I have 2 condos for sale in Saskatoon coming up in the next week and 1 house for sale in Saskatoon coming up in about 2 weeks. If you are looking to buy a house in Saskatoon or a condo in Saskatoon give me a call!

Details to follow but as a preview:

2 bedroom apartment style condo for sale in Saskatoon in Lakewood (built in 2006) with 2 parking stalls coming up this week at $224,900.

3 bedroom 3 bathroom townhouse for sale in Arbor Creek (developed basement) with 2 parking stalls around $260,000

House built in 2008 in Stonebridge Saskatoon, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, fully developed yard,deck,fence,driveway, walkway etc for under $400,000.

Stay tuned! Real estate in Saskatoon is moving so if you are looking to list your house for sale in Saskatoon call me! It is all about getting the best price in the least amount of time to prevent market damage and I am a very active Saskatoon realtor (r) so I am happy to work for you! Don’t leave money on the table or deal with tire kickers, Saskatoon real estate agents bring qualified buyers to your property for sale in Saskatoon so that we aren’t wasting your time.

Kari Calder
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd Saskatoon
www.karicalder.com

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

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 »

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 »

26. January 2010 by Kari Calder.

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

21. January 2010 by Kari Calder.

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

18. December 2009 by Kari Calder.

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

19. November 2009 by Kari Calder.

Despite MSN news that says Saskatoon is one of the slower real estate markets, I think Saskatoon real estate agents would disagree.

The MLS in Saskatoon stats show that we had 95 new listings, down from 114 the week before. Our solds were also down a bit, but in relation to listings we are still going strong. We had 73 solds last week with 16 more the week before.

Total active houses for sale in Saskatoon are down to 879 from 907 just 2 weeks ago. Out of that 516 are single family homes for sale in Saskatoon, down from 540 2 weeks ago.

Out of town listings are also coming down. We are now sitting at 948 houses for sale outside of Saskatoon, down from 984 just 2 weeks ago.

So if you are looking to sell your house in Saskatoon, don’t go it alone. Hire a professional who will price your home appropriately and who will ensure only pre-qualified buyers view your house for sale in Saskatoon. As a home seller in Saskatoon, this will save you a lot of time and potentially heart ache and ensure you are getting top dollar for your house for sale in Saskatoon.

If you are a first time buyer in Saskatoon looking to get into the Saskatoon real estate market you should contact me. You don’t pay anything when you are buying a MLS listed house which is why the majority of home buyers in Saskatoon use our services. We protect your best interests and ensure you are getting a fair price and the best terms possible in your purchase. Some people who have their house for sale privately in Saskatoon are hiding things and they do not have the same requirements as sellers going through an agent, so be wary!

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

Posted in Saskatchewan Real Estate, Sellers, Buyers, Current Market, Saskatoon Real Estate | 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.

I learned something new today after discovering last week that my paint cans, after having been sitting on the concrete floor in the basement of my house in Saskatoon , started to leak. I noticed the leaking paint cans about a week ago and couldn’t figure out which ones were actually leaking. I moved a few of them onto a plastic bag and it seemed to just get messier. Just a gooey orangey brown mess! Of course, the only can of paint that I needed to use was one of the few that was the culprit. I have my house for sale in Saskatoon and I wanted to do a bit of touch up work to help sell the house in Saskatoon, but of course the only one that I absolutely had to have was one of the bad ones.

I took my paint colour, thankfully I still kept the leaking can, to Benjamin Moore paint in Saskatoon and told them what happened. The girl just smiled and said “where were you storing your paint” and I thought she was assuming I was silly enough to store it in my garage and, as we all know in Saskatoon, our garages freeze in the winter so we must store our paint indoors. I told her I kept it in the basement, so I was happy I wasn’t one of those sillies who thinks paint is okay in the cold garage. She asked about the flooring and I said it was concrete…then she asked if I had anything under the cans and I confirmed that I did not. That was the problem! She told me that concrete and paint cans don’t mix and that in some new houses the paint cans can be eaten away in as little as a week. I was amazed! I had no idea! I am relieved that I can clean up the mess and prevent any further issues but storing my paint on something other than concrete. Even a small buffer like a plastic bag should prevent the corrosion. As I have one of the many houses for sale in Saskatoon I know how important it is to have everything in good shape and any nicks in the walls fixed, but also to ensure that buyers don’t look at the staining on the concrete and mistake the leaky paint cans for water issues. As a Realtor in Saskatoon I was told by other Saskatoon real estate agents when I first started to be careful of signals like staining on the floor and rust from paint cans as that may indicate a leaky basement…but now I know that marks on the floor from paint cans don’t always mean that the house has had water issues…maybe they just had improper storage of their paint like I did! I will be telling all other new Saskatoon realtors that I speak to about my experience as this does affect houses for sale in Saskatoon and it does affect people’s perception of homes for sale in Saskatoon as it can scare someone away.

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

Posted in Sellers, Buyers, Personal, Saskatoon | No Comments »

4. April 2009 by Kari Calder.

Spring has sprung in Saskatoon believe it or not (the snow lately would make us believe otherwise!) which means that Home Depot and Rona in Saskatoon are busier than ever with people getting the itch to renovate their homes in Saskatoon. With the current global economic slowdown another area that has been suffering is home renovations in Saskatoon and across the world. The Government has recognized that this area is also suffering so they are assisting this industry. For all home renovations between January 27, 2009 and February 1st, 2010 the government is offering a 15% rebate.

This helps with the houses for sale in Saskatoon and keep in mind that home renovations aren’t just to make your house look pretty; renovating your houses in Saskatoon also may save you money in the long run with more energy efficient and eco friendly houses in Saskatoon. Some products that are available and that make sense to put into your Saskatoon home are: dual flush toilets/low-water consumption toilets, new windows, proper/additional insulation, high efficient furnaces, and programmable thermostats.

As with all rebate programs there are certain rules you have to follow therefore it is important to read these guidelines and confirm that your project will be subsidized. For example, furniture and accessories are not items covered in the rebate, nor are new appliances for your kitchen.

Some of the projects that will be covered are replacing old windows, any type of kitchen/bathroom renovation, and basement renovations. Even if you can do the work yourself you can claim for products, materials, and even equipment rental.

Don’t forget that the City of Saskatoon needs money too therefore building permits are required and mandatory with any type of renovation to your Saskatoon home. Not having a permit can cause delays and hefty fines. Most people prefer not to pull permits but from a real estate in Saskatoon perspective when you put your house for sale in Saskatoon you are much better off if you can prove that you have pulled permits to do your renovations. These permits are also eligible for the 15% rebate.

You can claim a minimum of $1000 and a maximum of $10,000 and you claim it when filing your income tax return. For specifics you should contact the Department of Finance Canada and ask about your eligibility for HRTC at 1-800-O-Canada

If you need some help with your home renovations in Saskatoon I know a few people who are great so feel free to contact me for a referral!

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty

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