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Saskatoon tops another list!
Saskatoon has done it again, we’ve topped another list of best places to live (well second place actually). This time though, its a list of best places in Canada to be a woman. The best (and worst) cities in Canada were determined by a study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Based out of Ottawa, this group compared how women expect to fare in certain areas. They looked at all areas including economic security, leadership, health, personal security, and education.
The report highlighted that overall, cities in Quebec scored higher than the rest of the Canada with Quebec City ranking number 1 and Montreal and Sherbrooke placing in the top 10. Alberta had the most inequality with both Calgary and Edmonton scoring the lowest out of 20 cities. Women in Ottawa-Gatineau earn the most, while women in Calgary earned the least. Ontario cities of Kitchener-Waterloo and Oshawa reported the highest levels of stress. Oshawa doubling the level of men. Health and life expectancy often surpassed men generally speaking throughout Canada.
The smallest gender gaps came from the education category with women just slightly more likely to finish secondary and post secondary schooling except in the trades where men are twice as likely to complete vocational training. The largest gaps were not surprisingly found in the employment rate and wages. The cities that fared the best in this category had high levels of public sector workers with stronger pay equality rules such as Ottawa-Gatineau and Quebec City. Calgary and Edmonton were on the bottom of this category mainly due to the concentration of higher paying, male dominated industries.
The data for the various indicators from this study was mostly derived from Statistics Canada surveys and reports and the ranking for the study is as follows:
- Québec City
- Saskatoon
- St. John’s
- Montreal
- Victoria
- Toronto
- Ottawa-Gatineau
- Sherbrooke
- Halifax
- Hamilton
- Regina
- Winnipeg
- Vancouver
- St. Catharines
- London
- Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo
- Calgary
- Windsor
- Oshawa
- Edmonton
Way to go Saskatoon for scoring number 2 on such an important list. Gender equality is an important issue worldwide and it makes me even prouder that Saskatoon fared so well. Another great reason why Saskatoon is a great place to call home.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon real estate agent
Century 21 Fusion
A move towards Realtor® transparency
The Association of Saskatchewan Realtors® (ASR) has decided to move forward with a new Rate-your-Realtor® system. The site, Realsatisfied.ca, is controversial and was not successful at a national level but in the months following the defeat of the project, members of the Saskatchewan real estate industry expressed a desire to look into it further. A task force made up of experienced Realtors®, both on the ASR board and within the general membership, were tasked to investigate the system and evaluate it’s advantages and disadvantages.
The ASR recently gave it’s approval to the company based out of Australia. Real Satisfied allows members to decide themselves if they wish to participate and also allows control of other aspects of their profile such as making comments public and connecting to other social media sites.
The ASR believes that the most significant aspect of this site is the validity of the comments. Ratings and comments received are guaranteed to come directly from actual clients and not just anyone out in the interwebs. This benefits the Realtor®, the public searching for a Realtor® in Saskatoon, and the real estate industry as a whole.
The ASR is planning on working out a few technical details before launching it to it’s members first, and then to the general public. The system is at no additional cost however a member may choose to upgrade their account to access more features.
I think transparency is necessary for our industry to survive. My business is based on word of mouth referrals and entrusting me with such a large financial transaction is wonderful. But then turning around and referring me to their friends and family to do the same, words can’t express. I’m grateful and appreciative for all of my clients and continually strive to ensure that client satisfaction is a top priority.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon real estate agent
Century 21 Fusion
Saskatoon real estate market update for March 2014
The March 2014 Saskatoon real estate market improved slightly from 2013 where 344 houses for sale in Saskatoon sold. This year we saw the market increase it’s sales with 382 houses in Saskatoon selling for the month of March.
The average home price in Saskatoon didn’t see significant changes with the average house price at $353,973 for 2014. This is up 5.8% from last year’s $336,068 in March.
Currently, the average time to sell a house in Saskatoon has increased from 43 to 44 days.
By the end of March, homebuyers in Saskatoon had 1,275 homes to choose from with 433 of those being condos for sale in Saskatoon.
Listing inventory in Saskatoon has increased with 759 new house listings in Saskatoon in 2014 while in 2013 we saw 613 new units placed on the market, signifying a huge change of 23.8%.
If you are looking for a qualified and experienced Saskatoon real estate agent, contact me for more information or to set up a meeting to discuss the current market and all your real estate needs.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
Growing pains
Saskatoon is a city that keeps growing. With a population of over 250,000 people now, Saskatoon needs to rethink its long term strategies. Expansion is enivitable but for the past 30-40 years the city has grown out and more space has been acquired.
One expert in the field, Avi Akkerman -a professor of urban planning at the University of Saskatchewan, feels that Saskatoon’s growth needs to happen vertically rather than horizontally. His concern is the long term impact that boundary expansion will have on the city.
The City realizes that density is a growing concern and is working on strategies however careful consideration must occur before it can happen. Strategically, it needs to be placed in areas that will see the greatest benefit while also considering things like transportation needs etc.
The City has hired a consultant to help shape Saskatoon and it’s expansion policies and is trying to improve the city’s balance. Only 17 per cent of growth is happening in the city centre or established neighbourhoods meaning 83 per cent is occurring on the perimeter of the city. The City is is aiming for 30 per cent of the new growth to come from the city centre which would mean a difference of 70,000 people in the population.
A concern with expanding outwards is the increase in the cost of housing. When land becomes scarce, it becomes more valuable, driving the price up which in turn also drives the price of Saskatoon real estate up. Another concern is that if people or companies want to relocate to the city but can’t find the space to do that, they will start to look at areas outside the city instead. There will be no downtown core, only a city made up of suburbs.
Time will only tell if a better balance is established in Saskatoon instead of focusing on perimeter growth in new areas such as Evergreen, Kensington, Rosewood, Blairmore. If you have questions about any of the new areas in Saskatoon or wanting information about infill lots in established neighbourhoods, contact me today.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon real estate agent
Century 21 Fusion
A solution to the problem- Chaparral Ridge
A recent article in the Star Phoenix shone a spotlight on affordability and the rental markets in Warman and Martensville. These two recent cities are expanding and growing but a number of concerned business owners are concerned.
Both Warman and Martensville were among the fastest growing cities in Canada as of the last census. They both more than doubled in size. However with all that growth, neither city saw the addition of a single apartment building.
With all the growth, residentially and commercially, the need has arisen for affordable housing to support the growing number of employees in these communities. If employees have to commute, why wouldn’t they just find somewhere to work closer to home?
Martensville has construction underway for a 8,500 sq ft strip mall while Warman has a 250,000 sq ft mall under construction. Even commercial developers have raised concerns about employees finding a place to live.
Homeowners have more recently taken advantage of the second suite program, turning their basements into rentable spaces. The demand is growing for rentals and yet not one apartment building exists in Martensville.
A new subdivision in Martensville called Lake Vista may see the addition of rentable units. It’s currently zoned to allow for condos but may also allow for apartment buildings. Construction hasn’t started in this area, so it likely will be years down the road.
There is one solution to the problem; the Chaparral Ridge development offers entry level housing at an affordable starting price of $199,900 + GST. Investors are also taking note and have been purchasing the condos solely to put back into the rental market. Even some local business owners have purchased a unit specifically to rent back to their employees.
Contact me for more information about the condos for sale at Chaparral Ridge and it’s affordability and rental potential in Martensville.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon real estate agent
Century 21 Fusion
First time home buyers tax credit
Tis the season for tax time. Owning a home is a major financial decision but did you know that as a first time home buyer you can receive a credit on the purchase of a home? Canada’s Economic Action plan assists first time buyers with the costs associated with the purchase of a home such as legal fees, disbursements, and land transfer tax.
The $5,000 non-refundable tax credit applies to qualifying homes (must be primary residence) and provides up to $750 in federal tax relief for first time buyers (in case of a couple, both parties must be first time buyers).
Watch the video below for further explanation.
If you are interested in buying a home in Saskatoon or have questions about ways to save money as a first time buyer, please contact me and I’d be more than happy to help!
Kari Calder
Saskatoon real estate agent
Century 21 Fusion
Welcome to the spring market!
It’s been a busy week for real estate in Saskatoon and area. Older, stagnant listings have been selling and new listings are selling like hotcakes! Price is key.
I listed 3 houses this past week and already have a conditional sale on one of them!
First; I listed a beautiful raised two-storey in Willowgrove.
810 Wilkins Court is 1,682 sq ft and has 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms. Great location with sunny south facing oversized back yard. This home is bright throughout. Custom built by a local reputable builder this home has many unique & well thought out features. Stairs at entry brings the basement up & allows for large basement windows(30″). Hardwood floors, gas FP in living room w/granite accents & 9′ ceilings. Bright open kitchen/dining features ceiling height cabinets, large island w/eating bar, pot/pan drawers, under cabinet lighting, 2 pantries & Congoleum tile flooring (softer than regular tile). Main floor also has a 2 piece bathroom with extra storage&a good sized laundry room with ample storage. Second floor has high quality embossed laminate throughout. Master bedroom with walk-in closet, 3 piece ensuite(5’shower) & south exposure. Two more large bedrooms plus 4 piece bathroom. Many unseen upgrades! Triple pane PVC windows (low E argon+Sunstop keeps the house cool in summer & warm in winter) basement has in-floor heat (min. $10,000 value), LIFEBREATH HRV, 30 year shingles. Energy Star Certified. Low bills. Basement exterior walls have been steel studded, insulated & drywalled. R.I.P. for future bathroom. Room for a large family room, bedroom & storage.
I also just listed a beautiful infill home in Mayfair which is now conditionally sold!
1531 Ave E N is close to parks/schools on a quiet family oriented street. This 1302/2 square foot home is well laid out with a large tiled foyer, laminate flooring in living room, dining room and kitchen. Kitchen features maple cabinets, island and pantry and comes with upgraded stainless steel appliances including over the range microwave. Main floor powder room and laundry. The second floor features a big master bedroom with walk-in closet and 3 piece bathroom with great tile work. Two more good sized bedrooms and a 4 piece bathroom complete the 2nd floor. 6 appliances, central air, central vac and window treatments all included in the purchase price. Fully landscaped yard has plenty of room for a future garage. Triple pane windows, High Efficient water heater and furnace, HRV system and sump pump are a few of the extra features.
And lastly I listed a great condo in the London Flats building in Lakewood S.C.
112-230 Slimmon Road is a fantastic 2 bedroom/2 bath, pet friendly condo on Saskatoon’s east side. Great layout with bedrooms on opposite sides of the condo, this unit comes with 2 electrified parking stalls and all appliances. High end stainless steel kitchen appliances; Meile master chef oven (also acts as microwave), induction stovetop, Fischer Paykel dishwasher. In suite laundry. Wood floors, quartz countertops and great light fixtures all add to this condo for sale in Saskatoon. Natural gas BBQ hook up on patio.
If you are interested in viewing any of these properties for sale in Saskatoon, or are interested in more information about what I can do to help you sell your home, contact me for more details.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon real estate agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
CMHC insurance price increase
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. is raising the mortgage insurance premiums for the first time since 1990’s and suggested that even more hikes could be on the way.
The increase will apply to policies obtained May 1 and later. Genworth, the private mortgage insurer in Canada, also quickly followed suit. Mortgage insurance is required by lenders when the borrower has less than 20% down payment.
The impact of the increase will be trivial for those in the 80-85 per cent loan to value ratio (between 15-20% down), and will most affect those with only a 5% down payment. Even still, with current interest rates and based on a 25 year amortization, the increase would be about $5/month for a $350,000 mortgage. The premiums can be amortized over the length of the mortgage rather than being paid up front at closing if you so choose.
To avoid the increase in mortgage insurance premiums, an offer must be accepted and a mortgage application filed before the May 1 deadline.
If you are thinking about buying a home in Saskatoon, or have questions about mortgages-including if you qualify for a loan, I’d be happy to refer you to some quality mortgage brokers in Saskatoon.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon real estate agent
Century 21 Fusion
Saskatoon real estate market update for February 2014
The February 2014 Saskatoon real estate market improved slightly from 2013 where 263 houses for sale in Saskatoon sold. This year we saw the market increase it’s sales with 300 houses in Saskatoon selling for the month of February.
The average home price in Saskatoon didn’t see significant changes with the average house price at $349,092 for 2014. This is up a whopping 6.5% from last year’s $327,636 in February.
Currently, the average time to sell a house in Saskatoon has increased from 41 to 43 days.
By the end of February, homebuyers in Saskatoon had 1,188 homes to choose from with 378 of those being condos for sale in Saskatoon.
Listing inventory in Saskatoon has increased with 576 new house listings in Saskatoon in 2014 while in 2013 we saw 480 new units placed on the market, signifying a large change of 20.0%.
If you are looking for a qualified and experienced Saskatoon real estate agent, contact me for more information or to set up a meeting to discuss the current market and all your real estate needs.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
New SIAST facility in Saskatoon
With a growing economy comes a growing demand for trades as the city expands. Specifically, the demand for plumbers and pipefitters in Saskatchewan has prompted SIAST to open a new training facility.
The 3 classroom, 3050 sq ft space offers a large shop space and is close to the existing main campus.
This new centre allows over 200 new students to enrol in plumbing and pipefitting programs and will be able to accommodate 1,120 new plumbing apprentices annually.
More trained and skilled workers localized in one central area will allow more quality workers entering the workforce and see that shortages will significantly be reduced.
If you are considering a move to Saskatoon to take part in one of the many educational programs our city has to offer, contact me for information related to the housing market in the area or information about housing with rental potential to help offset your educational costs.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon real estate agent
Century 21 Fusion
