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Former Competition Bureau Head Against Organized Real Estate Goes Against Her Own Advice?
As a real estate agent in Saskatoon I get a lot of information about non-relevant (to me)real estate matters across Canada but this one made me take time to read about it. Melanie Aitken is a well known name in real estate in Canada and not for a positive reason. She is the one many real estate agents have loved to hate over the past few years so I think there are a lot of agents who are happy to read about the latest news. I know it put a smile on my face!
During our Century 21 Saskatoon real estate agent meetings we have discussed her many times. She is the former leader of the Competition Bureau and she did not follow her own advice and chose instead to list her home with a full service real estate broker. Is this a case of ‘do as I say not as I do’? She fought hard, for years, for minimum service brokerages. So why did she choose a full service real estate brokerage? She is a lawyer who has been challenging organized real estate practices so one would think she would be fully capable of selling her own home or, at the very least, using one of those minimum service brokerages and saving herself the commission fees. She did not and she apparently got over list price on a house that was listed at close to $2Million! Wait a minute…what?! Her house was how much!? Hmmmm….no comment!
One of her most notable fights against the real estate industry in Canada was to eliminate ‘uncompetitive practices’ in our listing services. Keep in mind our MLS system is owned and paid for by members of the real estate association therefore no, it is not open to the public. As a REALTOR in Saskatoon I pay fees which cover the costs of running realtor.ca and the technology associated with this and other REALTOR owned websites. I’m sorry that we aren’t willing to share something that we paid for with any home seller who doesn’t have a real estate license or pay any monthly or annual dues. I should ask my car salesman if I can advertise my used car on his dealerships website for them to do the work and pay them $1 to do so? Ya right.
Here is an interesting stat for Toronto-out of over 20,000 homes listed for sale in the Toronto MLS system less than one tenth of one percent of home sellers opted to hire one of these minimum service brokers. Melanie Aitken included! She no longer works for the competition bureau and apparently she is going to use her ‘insiders knowledge’ to help companies avoid running into competition law issues. She is now rejoining Bennett Jones after she left the Competition Bureau for ‘personal reasons’. I love the fact that she listed her house with a full service real estate company AND apparently it sold in 6 days for over list price. So Melanie, I guess you do get what you pay for?
As a trusted and reliable real estate agent in Saskatoon I do not offer discount services. I am a full service Saskatoon REALTOR and my Saskatoon home sellers get full service. I do not take on more listings than I can properly service. Call me if you want to look at listing your home for sale in Saskatoon or if you are buying a house or condo in Saskatoon.
Kari Calder
Century 21 Fusion
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
April Saskatoon Real Estate Market Update
Due to an extremely cold and terrible winter in Saskatoon we had a bit of a slower start this year but an increase in the Saskatoon real estate market activity in April helps make up for some of that lost ground. Listing activity was up only 3% from 2012 but the sales activity was up 8% from the year before.
The average home price in Saskatoon is up 4% from the beginning of the year and sits at $340,500 and this has been the norm for the past few years. We are still in a balanced real estate market in Saskatoon so this means it is neither a buyers market or a sellers market but some price ranges are hotter than others.
At the end of April we had 1182 houses for sale in Saskatoon (or condos) and we had 439 sales in April, up from 206 in April 2012. The real estate market around Saskatoon is quite the opposite with 917 active listings and only 117 sales in April which means almost 8 months of inventory. Despite this excess the average sale price in this market still increased 9% to $327,000. There may have been more expensive homes sell that month than previous brining that average up.
Houses for sale in Saskatoon between $300,000-$400,000 actually had less activity in April compared to April of last year but yeaer over year the upper range of homes continues to be selling better with a 35% increase on houses for sale in Saskatoon that were over $500,000. There are about 255 houses for sale in Saskatoon in this price range compared to 189 last year.
So far in 2013 we have seen 6 homes for sale in Saskatoon sell for over one million. Considering it is only May this is quite impressive that luxury homes in Saskatoon are selling. Our economy keeps thriving so confidence in the market is easy.
We now have more than 600 REALTORS in Saskatoon. If you would like to work with an experienced Saskatoon REALTOR then contact me as I am 1 of only 3 REALTORS in Saskatoon to be part of Trusted Saskatoon based on my commitment to quality service, integrity and customer satisfaction.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
Willowgrove News-Spring 2013
As a Saskatoon real estate agent I am always being asked about what is happening in the different neighbourhoods in Saskatoon. I am a resident of Willowgrove and have been for 3 years, prior to that it was Arbor Creek and Silverspring. I am always excited to see new businesses popping up in our area and am impressed at the variety we have. There are lots of little boutique shops such as Frakas, Tryst, Jules and Lace, Argyle, etc and it is so nice to be able to shop in these locally owned and operated boutiques than having to drive downtown.
The neighbourhood of Willowgrove continues to grow but there aren’t anymore lots for sale in Willowgrove. This is unfortunate as I would love to build again and in this area. The most notable construction at the moment is of the schools as it seems to be getting bigger and bigger each day. Everything seems to be on track for a Fall 2014 opening of the new schools in Willowgrove. Across from the schools there is also some construction for the buildings that will surround the town square. I don’t know what businesses are going there yet but am looking forward to hearing hopefully soon.
Another big question that everyone is asking is what is the large construction site on the corner of McOrmand and Attridge? We have seen them digging for months and not many people actually know what is going on there. It is actually part of a tunneling project to install new storm sewer and sanitary sewer along McOrmand Drive from Attridge Drive to south of Highway 5. An access shaft is required here to tie in the sewers to the existing sewer network and allow removal of the tunneling equipment when the tunnel is finished. The shaft will remain in place while the project is underway but once it is fully done there will be less activity here.
Well that is your quick update from your trusted Saskatoon real estate agent! If you are looking to sell your house in Saskatoon and would like to discuss my services I would be happy to meet with you as this is a great time to sell your house or condo. The market is steady right now. It is also a great time to buy as we are in a balanced real estate market in Saskatoon.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
A Great Week For Saskatchewan!
This month we have had some incredible talent in our province! I had the pleasure of attending Oprah in Saskatoon with some of my Century 21 Saskatoon real estate agent colleauges. It was a fantastic event! Her impact on the world is incredible and her messages are of inspiration. The show was sold out and the audience predominantly women and a few brave men. She had grown women cheering like teenaged girls.
As usual getting in and out of the event at Credit Union Centre was a challenge but it was well worth it. Luckily with a car load of Saskatoon REALTORS(r) we knew some tricks to get into the area quicker than most and we arrived in good time to settle in before Oprah began her motivational speaking. She is charismatic and glamourous but comfortable and charming, likely as she has been entertaining and speaking to us for decades in our living rooms. I am definitely glad I took advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to see Oprah in Saskatoon.
Just one week later I was lucky enough to attend the Junos in Regina. This was again another once in a lifetime moment for me as I was invited to sit in the SaskTel box with my husband and we had a fabulous view! I even met a Regina Century 21 real estate agent who I have never had the pleasure of meeting before. It was amazing to see the production part of a show like the Junos and how many people it takes to make a show like this go off as seamless as it did. I was a bit envious of the people on the floor as it looked like a fun place to be as the artists walked by to receive or present their awards. We have some great talent in Canada! Michael Buble was a great host and made the event enjoyable and had the audience laughing.
Overall it was a great week for Saskatchewan and a great week for me to do some unique things! As a real estate agent in Saskatoon I tend to work a lot more than I play so this was a great time to slow down and take advantage of what Saskatchewan had to offer. I feel really lucky to have these opportunities and, as Oprah says, be grateful for at least 10 things in your day. I am still grateful to have been able to see her speak so that is just one of the things I am grateful for today.
If you are looking for a real estate agent in Saskatoon consider me to help you with either the sale of your home or the purchase of a home. Have a great day!
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
Kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
This Just In-Saskatoon’s Population Expected To Boom!
The title of this blog was a bit of a poke at the Star Phoenix as I don’t think it is new news that our population is expected to boom. I am always faced with the question “Why?” when people are talking about our population growth. Many people in Saskatchewan don’t understand how strong our economy truely is and that it is not strong from one resource or another. It is the great multitude of resources we have here that keeps bringing people in from around the world but it is also that our government is on board with the growth and encourages net-migration from other countries.
The projection is that Saskatoon will grow to 400,000 people in the next 20 years. That is very exciting for the Saskatoon real estate market and construction in general as this means that we will have 15 new neighbourhoods and 60,000 new homes in Saskatoon to be built!
Most of these neighbourhoods will be on the perimeter of the city however the city wants to see at least 10,000 people living in downtown Saskatoon so this means more condos for sale in downtown Saskatoon.
This also means that our already stained infrastructure needs to keep up and we need to be on top of it. We will need yet another bridge according to Allan Wallace, our manager of planning and development. While almost a year behind schedule our Circle Drive South bridge is set to be opened the summer which will help ease congestion but the city also has plans for an $86 million north commuter bridge to help ease congestion in our rapidly growing northeast corner of Saskatoon.
By 2017 it is expected that we will have an additional 35,000 people and the majority of this is from immigration. People from all over the world are looking at our economy and flocking here. Saskatchewan in general is seeing a huge influx of internation migration and many of those people like to come to cities such as Saskatoon and Regina. I am seeing this with the number of Saskatoon home buyers who contact me from other countries.
So what will hurt the growth of Saskatoon in years to come? Affordability. The price of houses for sale in Saskatoon continues to grow due to supply and demand. I love how the city is worried about this yet keeps on increasing the cost of their dirt. To purchase a lot for sale in Saskatoon is extremely difficult and very costly. From the time I purchased a lot in Saskatoon 4 years ago to the price for a similar lot today the price has gone up at least 50%…from the city! For dirt! So what does this mean? More expensive new homes for sale in Saskatoon as the builders have their bottom line. I know that the price of dirt helps pay for the new roads and bridges we need but it seems a bit of a funny statement that they worry about affordability yet the city also directly affects affordability.
If you are considering buying a house or condo for sale in Saskatoon allow me to help you! If you are thinking about selling your house in Saskatoon (or condo) I would love to help as well. This is a great time to sell. I am a trusted Saskatoon REALTOR (r) who you can count on to take care of your housing needs.
Kari Calder
Century 21 Fusion
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
March Saskatoon Real Estate Market Update
The Saskatoon real estate market was busy in the month of March. We saw an increase in listings of houses or condos for sale in Saskatoon by 21% and a 35% increase in sales. Spring tends to be the most active real estate market in Saskatoon. With the winter being as long as it was this year and March not letting up much weather wise I believe we still had a very good month.
We currently have 2430 total active properties for sale in Saskatoon and with 1081 of those being residential in the city. We have seen 934 new listings of houses for sale in Saskatoon and area, down 7% from the year before and a total of 480 sales which was also down only 2% from 2012.
The average house price in Saskatoon also went up by 3% to $336,100. Last year at this time the average house price in Saskatoon was $326,800 but remember, averages can be misleading. The numbers can be easily skewed by the number of high or low priced houses selling.
No matter what, the market is appearing healthy and there is still a strong demand for houses for sale in Saskatoon in the $250,000-$400,000 price range. Activity in this range would appear to be down but this is largely due to an overall shortage of product in this price range. The biggest price range activity jump was in the $450,000-$500,000 price range which saw an increase in 43% so far this year.
In the Saskatoon commercial real estate market we continue to see a low vacany rate of 5.65% for the first quarter of 2013. Despite adding almost 900,000 square feet of new industrial space our vacany rate continues to be low. About 85% of the new construction has been built on speculation, which is risky, but it has been largely successful so far. Hopefully we don’t end up with too much supply and not enough demand for commercial space in Saskatoon but it doesn’t seem to be an issue thus far.
The total number of Saskatoon real estate agents continues to grow and we are currently at 614 licensees, up 7% from 2012. There are only 3 Trusted Saskatoon REALTORS (r) though who have been nominated and thoroughly checked out to uphold the Trusted Saskatoon 5 Trusted Guarantees so make sure you know who you are working with.
If you are thinking of putting your house for sale in Saskatoon or area get in touch with me to see how we can work together to get you the best price with the least amount of hassle.
If you are buying a house for sale in Saskatoon, or a condo, then call or email me so that I can help you through the process. I look forward to hearing from you!
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
306-717-1277
Despite The Weather Saskatoon Has Moved Up To #5 Best Places To Live
The first day of spring was yesterday. We were welcomed into spring with more snow and wind and white out conditions across Saskatchewan. Cars were being abandoned in the City of Saskatoon. Some highways were closed due to drifting snow and reduced visibility. Travel is still not recommended on many of the highways. Regina has received almost double the snow this year than they did the year before and this is breaking records. Not the kind we want to break!
Despite the cold and long winter that we have been experiencing in Saskatchewan, Saskatoon has moved up in the ranks for mid-sized cities in Canada and we are now the #5 best places to live in Canada for smaller cities. Out of the 200 largest cities in Canada we are ranked 12th. In the Saskatoon Star Phoenix article we see that in overall rankings for large cities, Calgary took the number 1 spot from Ottawa. Following Calgary, Ottawa is #2, then Edmonton, London, Winnipeg, Halifax, Toronto, Mississauga, Quebec City and Vancouver pulling into last. Calgary jumped from #14 last year to #1 this year which is likely due to high incomes and an abundance of jobs fuelled by the boom in the energy sector again. A friend of mine, who was a REALTOR in Saskatoon, is now an agent in Calgary and she has confirmed that sales are up and their economy is stronger.
For mid-sized cities Burlington, Ontario took top spot followed by Oakville, Saanich, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Regina, Kingston, Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Levis. I have to admit, I haven’t even heard of Levis! Well, the jeans yes, but not the city?! Must be french but I can’t get an accent on my e.
Calgary is really impressing this year as it is also the #1 best place to raise kids. I think that my friends who live there and have to drive their kids around the city for sport may have something to say about that but overall it is ranked #1. Best place to retire? Victoria and Saanich in 2nd. With the amount of snow we have gotten in the prairies and the storms out east this does not surprise me.
So what is hurting our rankings in Saskatoon? Crime stats for one as we had one of the higher per-capita crime rates among the top rated cities but it is important to look at the type of crime to be fair. Much of our crime in Saskatoon is in certain neighbourhoods and a lot of crime is of the domestic nature. We did score very well when it came to the number of doctors in Saskatoon which I can support.
I have helped several doctors buy houses for sale in Saskatoon this year with another new Saskatoon home buyer coming back to Canada. He is also in the medical field. We will have a couple of days for the house hunting trip in Saskatoon. As I work with a lot of home buyers relocating to Saskatoon I am very organized when their trip comes as we are often on limited time.
If you are relocating to Saskatoon and need an experienced and trusted Saskatoon REALTOR get in touch with me for all of your home buying needs. I work with great mortgage brokers, home inspectors, lawyers and any other type of profession you are looking for.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
February Saskatoon Real Estate Market Update
The real estate market in Saskatoon in February was considerably slower in 2013 than 2012 but that may have had something to do with the weather we were experiencing! The first bit of March and the warmer weather seem to be affecting the Saskatoon real estate market in a good way. Saskatoon home listings were down 4% from the year before while sales were down 12%.
Even though there was a slowdown in February the average house price in Saskatoon continued to go up with it now sitting at $332,269 compared to $314,083 in February 2012. One reason for the increase may have been that property under $350,000 for sale in Saskatoon decreased while the prices above $350,000 was higher than last February. Residential real estate in Saskatoon didn’t see as much of a decrease as did commercial real estate in Saskatoon and farm activity with those being down 33% and 64% respectively.
The number of new houses or condos for sale in Saskatoon is down 16% from 2012 with 480 new listings and a total of 1051 houses or condos for sale in Saskatoon. The total number of properties for sale in and around Saskatoon is 2331 which is almost the same as in 2012. This includes Saskatoon residential, around Saskatoon, and all other areas. In February we saw 209 new listings in communities around Saskatoon which was down 7% from the year before. The average sale price for houses for sale in Saskatoon’s surrounding communities is up 5% from 2012 at $268,561.
The $300,000-$400,000 price range saw 215 unit sale which was about 30% of the unit sales while one of the busiest price ranges to date this year is the $450,000-$500,000 which went from 20 units in 2012 to 32 houses selling in Saskatoon in that range in 2013.
The number of REALTORS in Saskatoon continues to increase with the total now at 607 but in 2012 we had 561, so that is an 8% increase. If you are looking for a trusted Saskatoon real estate agent to handle your purchase and/or sale then you should consider me. I have almost 6 years of experience selling houses for sale in and around Saskatoon, over 350 successful transactions but I am also one of only three REALTORS in Saskatoon to be given the Thumbs Up by Trusted Saskatoon.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
Tips to Homeowners For Preparing For Spring Melt
I am a homeowner in Saskatoon and I am concerned about the upcoming spring melt. I know that city crews are hoping for a slow snow melt and the City of Saskatoon is preparing for all of the snow to melt, but as a homeowner are you? I have some reminders and tips below to help prepare you.
It is said in a recent article in the Star Phoenix that snowfall in Saskatoon was about average this year but the mountain of snow on the street outside of my house in Willowgrove tells a different story. If we have a flash melt in our neighbourhood we are all in for an interesting spring.
I have already seen city crews removing snow from some of the key drainage ditches and storm channels in preparation for spring melt but are homeowners also doing what they need to do? I have a feeling on some of the future property condition disclosure statements on houses for sale in Saskatoon we may see reference to water intrusion in the spring of 2013.
One of the first things that you should ensure, in your neighbourhood, is that the storm drains/curbside drains are clear from debris…if you can even find them! That is the first issue, with all of the snow and ice on the streets it may be nearly impossible to find the gutters in the street so hopefully the owner who is closest to it and knows where it is will be out there ensuring the water can freely flow into it.
On your own home you may want to do some preventative things like shoveling snow away from your basement windows. . Water will find its way in any place it can so don’t invite a problem when you can prevent it by grabbing a shovel and moving it away. Also, whether you have weeping tile or a sump pump or not it is a good idea to move as much snow as you can away from your foundation.
Newer homes all have sump pumps but do you know if yours is in working order? I have had one motor burn out on me after 2 years so it is best practice to ensure your sump pump is actually going to work when we do get that melt. The first thing to ensure is that it is plugged in. I know that sounds a bit simple but it never ceases to amaze me to hear stories of someone unplugging their sump pump as they needed the outlet for a vacuum or some other thing and forgetting to plug it back in…insurance doesn’t cover absentmindedness! As a trusted realtor in Saskatoon with experience in home ownership I like to remind people of the importance of their sump pump.
Sump pumps are great to have but many people don’t have the discharge spouts extended far enough from their foundations so this means the water will just recycle back in and often cause the pump to burn out. The key is to get it extended and running away from your house. One way that I test my sump pump motor now is to pour water in from the top and the float will rise and kick the motor in. Gives me some peace of mind before things start melting.
I have never seen this before but this year I have seen it many times and that is people shovelling off their roofs. The snow on our roofs tends to be very heavy and when that starts melting some people, especially in older homes, are getting leaks into their attic. Be careful up there though or hire someone to do it for you.
So to recap:
Curbside drains/storm drains-make sure they are ready for the melt and clear of debris
Snow around your foundation-move it away especially if you don’t have weeping tile or a sump pump
Snow around your windows-get rid of it
Eavestroughs-ensure they are working correctly
Downspouts on your house-ensure they are extended at least 6-8 feet away from your house
Sump pumps-make sure they are working and discharging as far away from your foundation as possible
If you are thinking about buying a house for sale in Saskatoon but all of this sounds like too much stress, maybe you want to consider a condo as it is much easier living. Contact me for any of your Saskatoon real estate needs and I would be happy to help answer all questions about ownership.
Good luck!
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
