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Saskatoon’s Farmer’s Market-New Local Kitchen
A new local kitchen in Saskatoon! One more reason to head out to the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market, the Agrium Market Kitchen opened up in December, 2011. Given its name as the Agrium Vanscoy Potash mine donated $25,000 to the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market which was used to construct this new commercial kitchen and outdoor patio. The aim is to create a buzz around eating local in the province as they will be using products sourced from the Farmer’s Market vendors. Chef Eli Sawatzky put on the first event where he prepared a variety of appetizers with local vendors products. He encouraged patrons to pick up the ingredients and try his menu at home.
Local Saskatoon chefs and vendors will be offering cooking classes and the kitchen is also available for rent for any type of functions where a licensed kitchen is needed. Sounds like a great place to have a birthday or a stagette!
On the third Thursday of every month there will be a new event which is the Executive Chef Event which is an intimate chef event. The first event was sold out and diners mingled with wine and imaginative food. As the kitchen is completely open the chef is in the spotlight and can be very interactive.
As someone who is looking forward to being able to grow my own veggies next year, I even have garden boxes started as I live in Willowgrove and the ground has too much clay for growing in the soil, I am quite pleased to hear that they are doing events like this and further promoting Saskatchewan grown food shopping and cooking. In the future months we will see more chef’s events with chefs from the Bessborough, Radisson and Prairie Harvest Cafe.
This is very exciting for our city!
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
Current Exhibits at Mendel Art Gallery – Until March 18
We have 5 new winter exhibits at the Mendel Art Gallery located at 950 Spadina Crescent East until March 18. Among the featured artists are Jamelie Hassan and Kai Chan, both from Ontario. Hassan’s exhibit, “At the Far Edge of Words” includes more than 24 paintings, photographs, drawings and multi-media installations as well as a specially commissioned outdoor billboard. The award winning artist’s work for more than 30 years engages cultural history and issues of exclusion, human rights and justice.
Kai Chan’s exhibit called “A Spider’s Logic” has more than a dozen major works. Chan uses materials such as twigs, thread, toothpicks and buttons to create work that is described by the Mendel as “beautiful and unexpected”.
Another one of the exhibits is called “They Symbolist Muse: A Selection of Prints from the National Gallery of Canada” and it features more than 50 pints by renowned artists such as Picasso, Munch, and Redon. This Gallery will offer the people of Saskatoon a rare opportunity to view the 19th century prints.
The fourth exhibit, “Good Vibrations”, is part of the Artists by Artists Mentorship program. Featuring the work of Stacia Verigin and Benjamin Hettinga-Hettinga creates hand-cut paper compositions with his mentor, Verigin. Verigin holds a Masters Degree in Sculpture from the U of S.
The final exhibit, “Brayers & Blisters”, is an exhibition featuring the various tools and supplies used by printmakers and includes demos and workshops so visitors can learn more about the printmaking process.
This should appeal to Saskatoon’s art community and beyond. Check it out while it is here for this limited time.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
Saskatoon Real Estate Market Update – January 2012
January was a very busy month in the Saskatoon real estate market with a decrease of 4% for number of houses listed for sale in Saskatoon from this time last year but an increase of 20% for actual sales. We had 805 listings for sale in January 2012 and 301 home sales in the same month.
We are sitting at under 1000 active houses and/or condos for sale in Saskatoon which is also down from last January.
The busiest price range of houses for sale in Saskatoon continues to be the $300,000-$350,000 range and in January we saw the sale of 68 units which is up from 45 units the year before.
The average price of a house for sale in Saskatoon was up to almost $319,000 in January but the busy price range being over $300,000 will influence the average house price in Saskatoon and help elevate this number.
The listing activity outside of Saskatoon is slower than in 2011 with only 185 properties for sale as opposed to 213 last year which is a decrease of 13% from 2011. The numbers of houses for sale outside of Saskatoon that actually sold was also down 26% with 42 units this year from 57 the year before. This doesn’t stop the prices from going up outside of the city though as the average sale price was up 3% from the year before at just over $279,000. Part of the reason for the decrease in listings and sales may have something to do with our gas prices in Saskatoon as those haven’t gotten much better in the past year so people are definitely considering the cost of gas when weighing the pros and cons of living in Saskatoon vs living in a surrounding community.
Our average days on market still continues to be around 45 days in the city and 75 outside of the city with the north end seeing the fastest turnover on average (33 days).
As long as the demand keeps outweighing the supply of houses for sale in Saskatoon we will likely continue to see a balanced to a seller’s market. January saw many competing offers in busy price ranges so don’t keep waiting as the less houses for sale in Saskatoon and the more demand means potentially further price increases. If you are looking to sell the market is still very price sensitive so don’t be fooled into thinking that you can get more for your house than is realistic. While some house prices have gone up there are some markets that still have not rebounded from the height of the market (older apartment style condos is one of these).
If you would like more information or are looking to buy or sell in Saskatoon give me a shout!
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
2011 Century 21 Fusion Saskatoon Real Estate Awards
I am proud to say that Century 21 Saskatoon was the #10 firm in all of Canada for production in 2011 and #4 in Canada for units sold. We were also in the top 5 companies across Canada for Easter Seals Fundraising and #13 internationally.
We had 4 Century 21 agents in Saskatoon who achieved Masters Diamond status, 5 agents with Masters Emerald, 7 with Masters Ruby, and 8 agents with Masters Silver.
We had 7 Saskatoon real estate agents with Century 21 receive the Centurion award this year and I am proud to say that in 2011 I was 1 of 2 Century 21 Saskatoon real estate agents and 1 of 52 agents across Canada to be awarded Double Centurion status. This is the 2nd highest distinction that can be awarded to a Century 21 REALTOR® or team of REALTORS® . In the previous 3 years I have been awarded the Centurion Award so this is a step up from the past 3 years. Overall I was ranked #70 across Canada for production which is a great achievement given how many agents we have across the country.
I am proud of all of my Century 21 Saskatoon colleagues and wish them all the best again for 2012!
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
Target Opening Saskatoon Store in 2013
The massive US retail store giant Target, will be opening it’s first store in Saskatoon 2013. The Mall at Lawson Heights will be the first Target location in Saskatchewan. In 2011 Target announced that it had purchased the lease rights of over 200 Zeller stores across Canada. Overall Target will be spending 1.8 billion to move into the Canadian retail space.
In Saskatoon alone there are projected to be at least 2 more additional Targets added within the next few years at the Market Mall and Centre Mall. The first Target at Lawson Heights is scheduled to be opened in the summer of 2013. This is great for Saskatoon as it brings a new brand and ultimately competitive prices to Saskatoon residents.
As the city of Saskatoon continues to grow and expand more large scale retail outlets such as Target will continue to move into Saskatoon. This growth is directly impacted the Saskatoon real estate market and it is showing no signs of slowing down.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
2012 Saskatoon Corporate Challenge
For anyone that owns or works for a company in Saskatoon, you have to check out Saskatoon’s next big event for the business community. The Saskatoon Corporate Challenge is a week long event taking place in September focused on friendly competition within the business community while raising money for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. The Corporate Challenge is being put on by a new premiere event marketing company named Thirty6 Events.
This looks to be a great event and an even better cause. Over the course of the week companies will compete against each other in different events with the ultimate winner being named at the end of the week. There is a wide range of events that will accommodate both the atheletic, artist, and intelligent crowds. The goal of the 2012 Saskatoon Corporate Challenge is to raise a minimum of $20,000 for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan.
Personally I will be getting involved in this great cause and am encouraging Century 21 Fusion to be involved. As a Saskatoon real estate agent, this is a great opportunity to meet new business professionals across the city while having fun and helping out a great cause. Be sure to check out the website and spread the word.
Website: www.saskatooncorporatechallenge.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/saskatooncorporatechallenge
Twitter: http://twitter.com/skcorpchallenge
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
Century 21 Fusion December Top Producer
Since September I have actually been in the top 10 three times which is great for a fall market for me. In October I was the #9 Top Producing real estate agent in Century 21, November I was #10 and in December I was the #1 Top Producing Agent in Century 21 Saskatoon which was a great achievement.
Fall to winter is often more quiet in the Saskatoon real estate market but the lovely fall and winter weather we had I am sure is part of the reason for the busy market. As we went away for Christmas in December I had a few deals and clients that we pushed hard on to get closed before I left and this is part of my success. The market in general was quite busy but it was nice to see that things slowed down a bit over Christmas so that people could enjoy their families. December saw an increase in listings from the year before of only 2% but an increase in sales by 30%. Despite some Saskatoon real estate agent’s reports the total amount of active listings in and around Saskatoon was actually only down 1% in December compared to the year before with an actual increase by 4% of houses for sale in Saskatoon.
Since coming back I have a few more listings coming up in the next week or two and I am hopeful that they don’t take too long to sell. I just listed a great little house for sale in Saskatoon the first day back from our month vacation abroad and it sold within three days as it was priced right and a somewhat rare find at the moment. As I have been speaking with a few of my clients for a couple of months and waiting to list for when the time is right in the market but also for them I am hopeful the timing will work best for their pockets as well as for their families so that they don’t have to keep their Saskatoon home for sale in show home condition 24/7.
Let me know if you are thinking about selling your house in Saskatoon as I would be happy to discuss my marketing plan as well as how I can be of service.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
Saskatoon Planning for 500,000 Population
It is not news to anyone living in Saskatoon that our city is growing but it may surprise people how fast it is growing. The city of Saskatoon has already started planning to accommodate for a population of over 500,000 people within the next 30 years. Some people are thinking this could even happen within 20 years based on recent projected growth numbers.
The city of Saskatoon released a 40 page report for a 10 year blueprint for the city to help control urban sprawl. The purpose of this is to consider the long term impact if Saskatoon’s population doubles. Saskatoon is trying to learn from other cities such as Calgary that had explosive growth and had to deal with all of the issues including infrastructure, transportation, waste, etc.
As a Saskatoon real estate agent I am constantly working with new clients moving to Saskatoon from out of the city, province, and even country. A lot of people are moving to Saskatoon because there is so much to offer. The Saskatoon real estate market continues to be very strong and many people are speculating we will be seeing a big shortage of new housing in the next few years. The city of Saskatoon is continuing to plan for new residential neighbourhoods but you may see more focus on re-vitalizing older areas and encouraging more densley populated areas that would be facilitated by condos.
It is a great time to buy a home for sale in Saskatoon whether you are a first time buyer, looking to upgrade or relocated back to our great city. For all of your home buying needs be sure to contact me!
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
Real Estate Safety
Violence is a problem in the field of real estate, even in Saskatoon real estate market. As Saskatoon REALTORS® we make our living by meeting strangers and sometimes in empty homes. It can be scary for a woman but even for a man as some of the crimes are against men. About 42 percent of female REALTORS® and 18 percent of male agents have said they have occasionally felt unsafe. I think that stat is low.
Below are 6 crimes against real estate agents in the US, I will follow up with Canada.
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- Ohio – Andrew VonStein was shot dead by a disgruntled client. He was lured by a client who was upset about a sour deal that resulted in his wife losing her home.
- Ohio – Vivian Martin was found dead in a home that was lit on fire. She was robbed $56 and strangled by men claiming to be home buyers.
- Texas – Sarah Anne Walker was hosting an open house when she was stabbed 27 times by a felon on parole.
- Tennessee – Brenda Wilburn was found bound inside the closet of her own home. Murdered and robbed. Likely followed home.
- Orange County – an agent was raped and bludgeoned by a man claiming to be a buyer. He found her photo online. She survived by pretending to be dead.
- Other – Anne Nelson was 71 years old and was robbed, strangled and beaten with a fireplace poker while showing a home to a prospective buyer.
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Here are some things that make it easier to be attacked:
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- Advertising your open house online. Social media is increasingly becoming a tool for criminals to track their prey as we are all guilty of leaving a Web trail on places like Facebook and Twitter
- Putting your face on your open house signs as that is an open invitation to a stalker
- Putting your name on your open house signs as a creep may be driving around and see a woman’s name on the open house and decide to pay her a visit
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Here are some things you can do to protect yourself:
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- Trust your instincts
- Call 911 if your instincts speak to you, police officers would rather come to a false call than a crime scene
- Bring a friend or colleague to your open houses
- Meet ‘prospective buyers’ at the office, criminals don’t want witnesses
- Ask for ID and send their information to a friend or colleague along with the address of the house you are showing
- When advertising open houses advertise as a team of agents or don’t put who will be hosting it
- Take a self defence course-or 10! There is never too much training for self defence
- Carry a weapon if it is legal to do so
- Carry pepper spray if it is legal to do so
- Always keep your cell phone on your body
- Always keep your car keys on your body
- Upon entering a home quickly scope out an exit plan
- NEVER let your client follow you into a home or down stairs, always make them go first even if it is a female as sometimes they work in pairs
- Keep your client in your eyesight at all times
- Have a code with a colleague if you are in a potentially unsafe situation like calling them and mentioning the ‘red file’ or something less obvious
- Always tell someone where you are going, leave a list of homes you are showing with someone or on your desk
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Those are just some of the things you can do. I know there are more. Please comment if you have any additional points to add!
New Saskatoon Businesses – Griffen Takeway – Lube Shop – Serenity Apparel
It was nice to see in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix that we have a few new businesses up and running in the city and they have unique things to offer people. As our city grows it is good to see that businesses are growing with it. The first new business in Saskatoon that caught my eye is The Griffin Takeaway which caters to celiac people with their gluten free products as well as vegans, vegetarians but also a regular menu of light lunches and desserts. They are very careful not to cross-contaminate anything which is more important than most people realize. I have a sister with Celiacs and I know how she struggles to find anything for take-out that she knows is safe. She is molecule sensitive so if a bread crumb even touches her food she is sick for days. Most people aren’t aware of how sensitive some people are with allergies but the world seems to be becoming more educated and understanding of these diseases.
They offer salads, soups, sandwiches and all kinds of desserts like custards, puddings, cookies, cupcakes, cheesecakes, etc. They offer gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and meat so they have something for everyone. They are located where Cupcake Corner used to be in the strip mall on 8th Street near Jysk and J&H Builders. I will definitely be in to check them out soon and look forward to having somewhere safe I can take my sister for lunch when she visits where we don’t have to go into a long explanation of the disease and severity of it. At times I also have Saskatoon real estate clients who are looking for speciality shops for their dietary needs so I am happy to have a gluten-free option that I can tell them about.
Another new business to note is The Lube Shop on Idylwyld which is a warranty-approved one stop shop for all of your vehicles lubricants such as oil, transmission fluid, power steering, coolant, brake, etc and can also replace filters but the thing that makes them unique is they are one of the first shops of this kind to also offer tire rotations. As a real estate agent in Saskatoon I can appreciate the one stop shop benefit but more than that, as a Realtor in Saskatoon I can also appreciate the ability to stop in without an appointment when it comes time to change my oil. We tend to drive a lot and sometimes our kilometers get up on us so not having to wait a week or two is very important. There are several businesses such as Great Canadian Oil Change that offer an appointment free environment but this one has just that one extra feature that some drivers may find handy.
Another business that isn’t new but that has expanded and moved permanently to The Centre Mall is Serenity Apparel. It has been open for about two years and they have done well so they have moved to a larger location that offers free parking and ease of access. This store offers similar clothing to LuLu Lemon but at more affordable prices and they are environmentally conscious. Having boycotted LuLu myself after I found out that our “Canadian Company” is outsourcing their clothing to Thailand and other cheap labour companies I have seen the quality go down and the prices still keep going up even though the clothing is being made at a fraction of the cost. At Serenity Apparel Eco-friendly products such as cotton, soy and bamboo are a large part of their business. Their newest line is called Dedicated Clothing and it is 100% Canadian made if that is important to you as a consumer. As a Saskatoon real estate agent and a business person I like to find Canadian made products and turn other people on to them as well.
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net
