Saskatoon Real Estate Agent - Joshua Boettcher : Blog : Latest Blog Posts

Canada's Housing Market Is About to Get Rocked — and Most Canadians Are Sleepwalking Into It! 💥😴

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 20:19:08 GMT

The 2025 federal election didn’t just shift political leadership — it detonated the entire economic foundation under our feet.
With Mark Carney now at the helm — a man better suited to banking boardrooms than the brutal realities of Main Street — Canada's housing market is teetering at the edge of a cliff.

And most Canadians?

They’re marching toward it blindfolded, smiling, and oblivious.

Here's what's coming — and why Saskatoon and the West are about to become ground zero for either life-changing opportunity or devastating loss, depending on how you move.

1. National Home Sales Are Collapsing — and Confidence Is Shattered

National home sales fell 4.8% month-over-month in March 2025 and are down over 20% from the late-2024 peak.
Inventory is swelling in major urban centers like Toronto and Vancouver.
Buyers — rattled by interest rate whiplash and trade war headlines — are pulling back hard.

The Bank of Canada is signalling potential rate cuts — but don't be fooled.

In real estate, perception IS reality.
And right now, consumer confidence is broken — meaning sellers will get desperate and values could correct sharply in many markets.

2. Trump's Trade War: The Economic Torpedo No One's Ready For

Trump's renewed tariffs on Canadian agriculture, energy, and lumber are more than political posturing — they're an economic torpedo aimed at Canada's backbone industries.

The result?

📉 Rising unemployment in resource-driven provinces
📉 Shrinking household incomes
📉 Tighter credit markets and lending restrictions

This isn’t just a headwind — it's a hurricane forming offshore.
And it will smash rural and suburban real estate markets first — pulling prices down in towns heavily reliant on exports.

3. Saskatoon: Canada's Best-Kept Secret — But Not for Long

While most of the country braces for impact, Saskatoon is quietly flexing its muscles and setting new records.

In March 2025:

🏡 Benchmark price hit $415,900 (all-time high)
🔥 Sales were up 11% year-over-year
📉 Inventory is down almost 20% from 2024

Saskatoon — powered by agriculture, tech, healthcare, and education — is increasingly seen as a safe haven in a volatile national landscape.

Investors and smart buyers are flooding in because they know:
Saskatoon is still grossly underpriced relative to income, lifestyle, and future growth.

By the time national media starts telling you it's smart to buy here — it'll be too late.

🚨 What Happens Next: Two Brutal Scenarios

➡️ Scenario 1: Carney Sticks the Landing

A modest national slowdown.
Saskatoon evolves into a Tier-2 investment boomtown.
✅ Action: Buy now. Move aggressively. Own premium assets before the media catches on.

➡️ Scenario 2: Carney Fumbles + Trump Ramps Up

A full-blown national recession.
Saskatoon still attracts buyers fleeing overvalued major cities.
✅ Action: Still buy now — but be ready to hold for 12-24 months before explosive returns hit.

Either way — waiting is the losing play.

🏡 Bottom Line: Move Smart — Or Get Left Behind

We are not entering a normal correction.
We are entering the biggest real estate realignment Canada has seen in 30 years.

The winners?
They'll see the storm, move early, and build generational wealth while others argue politics on Facebook.

The losers?
They’ll cling to old models, paralyzed — and pay a brutal price.

👉 If you're serious about winning, you act now.
👉 If you're serious about building wealth while others shrink, you buy smart — right now.

The window is closing. Opportunity doesn’t send a second invitation.

📩 Contact me today. Let’s position you to WIN.

Sources:

CREA March 2025 Market Update
Saskatoon Regional Association of Realtors (SRAR) March 2025 Stats
Time Magazine: How Mark Carney Won Canada's Pivotal Election
Financial Times: The Improbable Triumph of Canada's Mark Carney

Disclaimer:
I am a licensed REALTOR® in Saskatchewan. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and reflects my personal views based on current market conditions and publicly available data as of the date of publication. It does not constitute specific real estate advice, financial advice, investment advice, or legal advice. Readers should not rely solely on this information when making real estate decisions. You are strongly encouraged to consult directly with a qualified real estate professional, financial advisor, and/or legal counsel before making any real estate investments or transactions.

All views expressed are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my brokerage.

FEBRUARY SALES EASE OVER RECORD LEVELS

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 15:11:59 GMT

Saskatoon

For the second month in a row, sales activity eased over last year’s record levels. Despite the decline, levels continue to remain well above longer term trends. Some of the pullback in sales can be in part due to some of the supply challenges in the market. Year-to-date there have been 942 new listings, far lower than the over 1,100 new listings that we typically see at the start of the year. Inventory levels also remain low with 985 units available at the end of February, over 30 per cent below the 10-year average.

The pullback in sales combined with a pullback in inventory has done little to provide more balance in the market. In fact, with just over three months of supply in February, conditions are like last year and at levels not seen since 2012.

Persistently tight market conditions have contributed to further price gains. The residential benchmark price reached $330,600 in February, higher than levels recorded over the past several months. However, there are some signs that the pace of benchmark price growth is easing. After the first two months of the year, the benchmark price increased by over five per cent; far lower than the annual gain of over eight per cent recorded in 2021.

Saskatchewan

February sales in the province reached 1,059, an eight per cent decline relative to last year. While the year is starting out with sales that have slowed compared to last year, it is important to note that housing demand continues to remain strong as levels are over 22 per cent higher than what we typically see at the start of the year and nearly 40 per cent higher than average levels recorded throughout the 2015–2020-time frame.

While there have been some signs of improving new listings relative to sales, inventory levels remained lower than levels we traditionally see in the market and the months of supply averaged just over five months. The five months of supply in February is slightly lower than levels expected at this time of year.

“There is a significant amount of uncertainty weighing on the economy. While this could have some impact on demand, supply levels are still low providing some cushion should demand taper further. Conditions also vary significantly based on location, property type and price range because real estate is very local,” said Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association CEO Chris Guérette.

Most of the decline in sales was driven by pullback in the detached sector. However, some of this could be related to the lower inventory levels. Detached inventories in February were 3,643 across the province 30 per cent below 10-year averages and the lowest the market has seen since 2010.

“Last month we started to raise an alarm bell about inventory levels in Saskatchewan,” said Guérette. “Now that we’re two months into the market, that dip in inventory levels being the lowest we’ve seen since 2010 is concerning. That’s why we’re working harder than ever to build a fuller picture of Saskatchewan’s housing continuum so we can identify where the gaps are and build smartly and collaboratively for growth.”

Benchmark prices in the province have remained stable over the past several months, but on a year-to-date basis remain over five per cent higher than last year’s levels. If the inventory can better meet demand as we move through the spring, it should support more stability in prices this year.

The Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association (SRA) provides leadership and services that support 1,500 Realtors in Saskatchewan through technology, education, and advocacy. SRA is also the provincial trusted voice invested in bringing expert insight to public policy makers on matters that affect growth, housing, real estate, and the creation of wealth in our communities. For more information, visit: www.saskatchewanrealtorsassociation.ca and www.realtor.ca.

COVID-19 Update

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 20:27:43 GMT

Mandatory masking, proof of vaccination or a negative test and self-isolation orders will stay in place until February 28^th.

The public health orders will be reassessed at the end of February.

One other change to note is that if someone is experiencing mild cold-like symptoms including cough, sore throat, sneezing

without fever, the government recommendation is to stay home, use rapid antigen testing and self-isolate based on those

results.

For a refresher on the SRAs current COVID-19 policies and procedures and a full list of FAQs, please review them here:

https://mlssask.ca/covid-19-frequently-asked-questions/

Thank you for constant diligence, adherence to public health orders and respect of the public and one another.

You continue to ensure that the real estate profession in Saskatchewan can operate successfully and without significant limitations.

RECORD HIGH SALES IN 2021 FOR SASKATCHEWAN

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 20:21:53 GMT

Saskatchewan set a housing sales record with 17,387 sales in 2021, a new high which surpassed the previous record in 2007 by 17 per cent. While the pandemic has triggered vast disruptions and challenges for some sectors of the economy, housing boomed. “Improved savings from those not financially impacted by COVID-19, combined with low lending rates has supported the strong sales environment we saw throughout 2021.

For Saskatchewan, this shift was welcome news as the economic landscape pre-pandemic caused challenges in the housing market,” said SRA CEO Chris Guerette. While new listings did improve this year, inventory levels still trended down throughout most of the year. 2021 inventory levels in the province were 16 per cent below long-term trends, a significant shift from a few years ago where supply levels hit record highs. Reductions in inventory and strong demand ensured the market favored the seller throughout most of the year. This resulted in an annual benchmark price gain of over seven per cent. While the price gains were significant, it was not enough to erase the losses recorded throughout 2015- 2019 and prices remain three per cent below the 2014 high. There is also significant variation depending on property type and location. In Saskatchewan, single family home prices are only one per cent below previous highs, whereas condominium properties remain 17 per cent below the 2014 high.

“Housing is an important component to the overall economy and the availability of affordable ownership options can help attract people to a city. Creating a robust system of affordability metrics that considers supply, average salaries and housing prices is something policy makers should be incorporating into their analysis,” said Guerette. Despite recent economic uncertainty caused by the Omicron variant, inflationary pressure is expected to persist, and lending rates are expected to rise. This will weigh on housing sales in 2022. However, we are entering the New Year with low levels of inventory indicating it will take some time for the market to shift toward more balanced conditions. With tight conditions expected to persist throughout the earlier part of the year, we could continue to see some price growth in 2022 albeit at a much slower pace than was experienced in 2021.

With 5,403 sales in 2021, Saskatoon not only reached record highs but was 19 per cent higher than the previous record set in 2014. While new listings also improved this year it was not enough to prevent inventory levels from declining. On average inventory levels in saskatoon this year were 19 per cent lower than the 10-year average. Strong sales and falling supply levels caused the months of supply to average under three months this year. It has not been that low on an annual basis since 2006. The tighter market conditions help support the significant price gains recorded this year. While the pace of growth has slowed from earlier in the year on an annual basis prices improved by over eight per cent. Thanks to gains in the single-family market prices have recovered from the highs set back in 2014. However, this is not the case in the condominium market where prices remain well below previous highs.

“Improved savings from those not financially impacted by COVID-19, combined with low lending rates has supported the strong sales environment we saw throughout 2021. For Saskatchewan, this shift was welcome news as the economic landscape pre-pandemic caused challenges in the housing market,” said SRA CEO, Chris Guérette.

While new listings did improve this year, inventory levels still trended down throughout most of the year. 2021 inventory levels in the province were 16 per cent below long-term trends, a significant shift from a few years ago where supply levels hit record highs.

Reductions in inventory and strong demand ensured the market favored the seller throughout most of the year. This resulted in an annual benchmark price gain of over seven per cent. While the price gains were significant, it was not enough to erase the losses recorded throughout 2015- 2019 and prices remain three per cent below the 2014 high.

There is also significant variation depending on property type and location. In Saskatchewan, single family home prices are only one per cent below previous highs, whereas condominium properties remain 17 per cent below the 2014 high.

Despite recent economic uncertainty caused by the Omicron variant, inflationary pressure is expected to persist, and lending rates are expected to rise. This will weigh on housing sales in 2022.

However, we are entering the New Year with low levels of inventory indicating it will take some time for the market to shift toward more balanced conditions.

With tight conditions expected to persist throughout the earlier part of the year, we could continue to see some price growth in 2022 albeit at a much slower pace than was experienced in 2021.

The Saskatchewan Realtors® Association (SRA) provides leadership and services that support 1,500 Realtors in Saskatchewan through technology, education, and advocacy. SRA is also the provincial trusted voice invested in bringing expert insight to public policy makers on matters that affect growth, housing, real estate, and the creation of wealth in our communities. For more information, visit: www.saskatchewanrealtorsassociation.ca and www.realtors.ca.

COVID-19 Update: New Public Health Measures

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 16:06:43 GMT

The provincial mask policy will apply to all public indoor spaces, effective Friday, September 17, 2021. Therefore, all members and clients will be required to wear masks during showings and open houses. Proof of vaccination will begin October 1, 2021 and will apply to specific establishments, businesses and event venues.

New public health measures on mandatory masking (on indoor public spaces) and proof of vaccination can be found here.

As of Thursday, Saskatchewan had the highest case rates per capita over a seven-day period and the second-lowest vaccination rates among provinces. In the last three weeks, COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions have doubled in Saskatchewan and active cases have increased by two and a half times.

“Our system is on the brink right now. Literally no ICU beds in the entire province,” said Regina’s Dr. Alex Wong on Wednesday. – https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-covid-update-moe-1.6178096

At this time, Open Houses will continue to be permitted, with mandatory masking measures in place. Real Estate is a professional service and a proof of vaccination policy is not required.

The SRA continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide more information as it becomes available. These recommendations are subject to change as we follow the lead of the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Shahab.

SRA has compiled a list of recommended best practices based on the SHA guidelines, to facilitate safe and successful property showings below:

Turn on all the lights and open all doors to prevent visitors from touching the switches and handles.
Encourage sellers to provide hand sanitizer or a wash station with soap, water, paper towels and a dedicated garbage disposal.
Instruct visitors to ask for assistance to open closets, cupboards, or anything else that requires touch – this will minimize who has contacted a surface in the home.
Ask visitors to refrain from using washrooms.
Allow only two people at a time to enter and view the property. Ideally, this should be limited to decision makers, but if there is a group, stick to two at a time.
Request that sellers notify you if they become ill.
Practice proper cough and sneezing etiquette (into a tissue or the bend of your elbow).
Frequent hand washing & physical distancing are very effective ways in reducing transmission.

Read more on how to protect yourself and your community here.

SRA recognizes that many are struggling to cope during the pandemic, and we want to remind you that as a REALTOR®, you have access to Homewood Health, an employee assistance program that provides access to personalized health and wellness tools, resources, and support, when you want it – anywhere, anytime. Visit www.homeweb.ca to sign up.

Thank you for doing your part to limit the spread of COVID-19 in your communities.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is offering self-testing through the Test to Protect program. With more contagious variants showing up in more areas across our province, having access to rapid testing can detect COVID-19 to protect individuals and stop the spread to others. Rapid Testing kits are available to REALTORS® here.

SHIFT TO MORE BALANCED CONDITIONS WILL HELP SUPPORT MORE STABILITY IN PRICES

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 16:04:18 GMT

For the second month in a row, sales in the province slowed relative to activity recorded earlier in the year and sales last August. While sales declined by nearly 12 per cent compared to last August, levels remain above long-term trends.

“Last year, August sales hit a new record high for the month, so while the year-over-year decline this month seems significant, it is important to note that sales are still at levels that are far better then what were seen in August prior to the pandemic. Sales have been far stronger than anyone expected throughout the pandemic, and recent shifts are likely a reflection of the market returning to more normal levels as the rest of the economy starts to recover,” Comments Chris Guérette, Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association CEO.

While there have been some signs of shifting conditions over the past several months, it has not erased the gains that were seen throughout the year. Thanks to gains across all property types on a year-to-date basis, sales in the province are currently sitting at a new record high.

Easing sales in August were also met with a reduction in new listings. This helped prevent any significant changes to inventory levels which at 9,461 units is far lower than levels recorded since 2014. Nonetheless, slower sales relative to the inventory in the market caused the months of supply to increase to just below 7 months in August. This is the first time since February that levels have risen this high.

The shift to more balanced conditions will help support more stability in prices. As of August, the benchmark price across Saskatchewan was $287,900, similar to levels reported last month but nearly seven per cent higher than levels reported last year. Prices gains in the detached sector of the market have narrowed the gap nearly recovering from previous highs.

“Activity can vary significantly depending on the location and property type. For instance, when considering the two largest cities in the province, home prices have recovered in Saskatoon while there remains a significant spread from 2012 levels in Regina. For both buyers and sellers in this market, it is important to understand the local conditions,” Comments Guérette.

PACE OF PRICE GROWTH SLOWS WITH A SHIFT TO MORE BALANCED CONDITION

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 21:15:54 GMT

Sales were down 11% in Saskatoon (going from 539 to 480), up 67% in Martensville (going from 15 to 25), and down 42% in Warman (going from 43 to 25). In Humboldt, sales were down 37% (going from 19 to 12), while in the larger region, sales were down 14% (going from 756 to 653). Sales in Saskatoon were 23% above the 5-year average (and 18% above the 10-year average), 76% above the 5-year average (and 32% above the 10-year average) in Martensville, and 3% below the 5-year average (and 6% below the 10-year average) in Warman. In Humboldt, sales were 20% above the 5-year average (and 7% above the 10-year average), while in the larger region, sales were 21% above the 5-year average (and 17% above the 10-year average). Year-to-Date (YTD) sales in Saskatoon rose 47% over last year (increasing from 2,317 to 3,407), rose 56% in Martensville (increasing from 106 to 165), and rose 48% in Warman (increasing from 143 to 211). Year-to-Date (YTD) sales in Humboldt rose 53% over last year (increasing from 19 to 12), while YTD sales in the larger region rose 46% (going from 3,208 to 4,686).

Sales volume was down 10% in the Saskatoon, going from $191.5M to $172.5M in 2021 (27% above the 5-year average, and 23% above the 10-year average). In Martensville, sales volume was up 86%, going from $4.8M to $8.9M (94% above the 5-year average, and 47% above the 10-year average) and in Warman, sales volume was down 44%, going from $17.1M to $8.9M (7% below the 5-year average, and 7% below the 10-year average). Sales volume was down 33% in Humboldt, going from $3.9M to $2.6M (14% above the 5-year average, and 6% above the 10-year average), while in the region, sales volume was down 13%, going from $258.4M to $225.6M (28% above the 5-year average, and 24% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume in Saskatoon was $1,247.6M (an increase of 57% from last year), $56.2M in Martensville (an increase of 94% from last year), and $54.0M in Warman (an increase of 52% from last year). YTD sales volume in Humboldt was $20.9M (an increase of 60% from last year), while in the region, YTD sales volume was $1,638.5M (an increase of 57% from last year).

In Saskatoon, the number of new listings in July 2021 fell 7.5%, going from 819 to 758 (2.7% below the 5-year average and 4.5% below the 10-year average). The number of new listings fell 20.7% in Martensville, going from 29 to 23 (39.7% below the 5-year average and 40.1% below the 10-year average) and fell 29.7% in Warman, going from 37 to 23 (48.2% below the 5-year average and 49.8% below the 10-year average). In Humboldt, the number of new listings fell 42.4%, going from 33 to 19 (20.8% below the 5-year average and 15.6% below the 10-year average), while in the region, new listings fell 13.9%, going from 1,206 last year to 1,039 this year (9.1% below the 5-year average and 10.1% below the 10-year average). YTD new listings in Saskatoon rose 23.2% (going from 4,541 to 5,596), rose 29.0% in Martensville (going from 179 to 231), and rose 8.6% in Warman (going from 256 to 278). In Humboldt, YTD new listings fell 25.3% (going from 162 to 121), while in the larger region, the number of new listings to date rose 14.9%, going from 6,621 to 7,608. Active listings fell 0.1% in Saskatoon (down from 2,387 to 2,385), fell 11.8% in Martensville (down from 110 to 97), fell 19.6% in Warman (down from 138 to 97), fell 28.6% in Humboldt (down from 112 to 80), and fell 8.9% in the region (down from 3,947 to 3,595).

Months of supply in Saskatoon stood at 5.0 months (which is 12.2% above the level last year and 34.3% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 63.3%, suggesting that market conditions are balanced. Months of supply in Martensville stood at 3.9 months (which is 47.1% below the level last year and 64.7% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 108.7%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Months of supply in Warman stood at 3.9 months (which is 38.4% above the level last year and 51.5% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 108.7%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Months of supply in Humboldt stood at 6.7 months (which is 13.1% above the level last year and 55.1% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 63.2%, suggesting that market conditions are balanced. Months of supply in the larger region stood at 5.5 months (which is 5.5% above the level last year and 38.3% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 62.9%, suggesting that market conditions are balanced.

Homes in Saskatoon stayed on the market an average of 41 days in July, down 3.2% from 42 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 49 days and below the 10-year average of 43 days). Homes in Martensville stayed on the market an average of 45 days, down 54.1% from 99 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 77 days and below the 10-year average of 65 days) while homes in Warman stayed on the market an average of 45 days, down 33.8% from 68 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 56 days and below the 10-year average of 57 days). Humboldt saw Homes stay on the market an average of 123 days, up 82.8% from 67 days last year (and above the 5-year average of 85 days and above the 10-year average of 84 days), and homes in the region were on the market an average of 47 days, also down from an average of 54 days last year (and 19.9% below the 5-year average).

The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI)—a more accurate measure of house price trends—varied across different centres in the region. Saskatoon saw the residential benchmark price rise 8.6% year-over-year, going from $305,100 to $331,400. The residential benchmark price in Martensville rose 11.4% (going from $359,400 to $400,400) and rose by 11.8% in Warman (going from $371,100 to $400,400). The residential benchmark price in Humboldt rose 8.4% (going from $193,800 in 2020 to $210,000 this year).

SASKATCHEWAN REAL ESTATE MARKET IS STEADY AND STRONG

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 16:16:06 GMT

July 08, 2021

The Saskatchewan real estate market remains strong. Across the province, there were 1,914 homes sold (up over almost 12% from last June and up 65.7% year-to-date, going from 5,690 to 9,427), new listings were down 2.6% (but up 20.0% year-to-date, going from 2,174 to 2,608) and the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) composite was up 9.8% (up 8.9% year-to-date, going from $262,700 to $288,500). Inventories—a measure of how many months until there are no active listings given current sales levels— were also down in 23 of the 24 markets that the SRA tracks.

“The market continues to level off from the highs seen earlier this year,” said Chris Guérette, SRA’s CEO. This month-over-month leveling off in activity is expected and is being seen across the country. “As more people get their COVID vaccines and the economy continues to open up, people’s spending decisions are going to include things other than housing,” said Guérette, “and that’s going to temper demand somewhat. But so far, market activity remains positive.”

Some policy makers had hoped that the new mortgage rules that came into effect June 1 would help to moderate demand; “It’s still too early to tell what the full impact of the tighter mortgage rules will be, but they don’t seem to have had any real impact on Saskatchewan markets,” said Guérette. Across the province, sales were still up nearly 18% and prices were up almost 10%, while the changes introduced in 2018 saw both sales and prices fall. According to Guérette, ”the jump in sales and drop in inventory despite efforts to cool the market suggests that the market is still quite strong and that if we want to see prices moderate, policy efforts should be aimed at increasing supply rather than trying stifle demand.”

Saskatoon and Region (including Martensville, Warman, and Humboldt)

Sales were up 18.3% in Saskatoon (going from 513 to 607), up 36.0% in Martensville (going from 25 to 34), and up 23.5% in Warman (going from 34 to 42). In Humboldt, sales were up 16.7% (going from 12 to 14), while in the larger region, sales were up 15.8% (going from 716 to 829). Sales in Saskatoon were 35.8% above the 5-year average (and 33.3% above the 10-year average), 47.8% above the 5-year average (and 61.1% above the 10-year average) in Martensville, and 62.8% above the 5-year average (and 50.5% above the 10-year average) in Warman. In Humboldt, sales were 34.6% above the 5-year average (and 38.6% above the 10-year average), while in the larger region, sales were 35.1% above the 5-year average (and 34.2% above the 10-year average). Year-to-Date (YTD) sales in Saskatoon rose 65.3% over last year (increasing from 1,774 to 2,933), rose 51.1% in Martensville (increasing from 92 to 139), and rose 91.8% in Warman (increasing from 98 to 188). Year-to-Date (YTD) sales in Humboldt rose 97.5% over last year (increasing from 40 to 79), while YTD sales in the larger region rose 64.6%
(going from 2,453 to 4,038).

Sales volume was up 28.8% in the Saskatoon, going from $171.8M to $221.3M in 2021 (42.9% above the 5-year average, and 39.5% above the 10-year average). In Martensville, sales volume was up 48.6%, going from $7.3M to $10.9M (50.4% above the 5-year average, and 62.0% above the 10-year average) and in Warman, sales volume was up 29.9%, going from $12.4M to $16.1M (67.2% above the 5-year average, and 57.2% above the 10-year average). Sales volume was down 22.4% in Humboldt, going from $3.1M to $2.4M (9.0% above the 5-year average, and 1.0% below the 10-year average), while in the region, sales volume was up 26.2%, going from $231.1M to $291.7M (43.6% above the 5-year average, and 42.2% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume in Saskatoon was $1,076.7M (an increase of 79.3% from last year), $46.9M in Martensville (an increase of 70.7% from last year), and $73.3M in Warman (an increase of 102.4% from last year). YTD sales volume in Humboldt was $18.0M (an increase of 103.6% from last year), while in the region, YTD sales volume was $1,413.0M (an increase of 79.7% from last year).

In Saskatoon, the number of new listings in June 2021 fell 0.5%, going from 829 to 825 (3.3% below the 5-year average and 4.1% below the 10-year average). The number of new listings rose 60.9% in Martensville, going from 23 to 37 (3.4% above the 5-year average and 4.1% below the 10-year average) and rose 0.0% in Warman, going from 45 to 45 (3.0% below the 5-year average and 8.2% below the 10-year average). In Humboldt, the number of new listings fell 10.5%, going from 19 to 17 (18.3% below the 5-year average and 18.3% below the 10-year average) , while in the region, new listings fell 8.1%, going from 1,228 last year to 1,128 this year (8.7% below the 5-year average and 9.8% below the 10-year average). YTD new listings in Saskatoon rose 29.9% (going from 619 to 804), rose 38.7% in Martensville (going from 25 to 35), and rose 15.1% in Warman (going from 36 to 42). In Humboldt, YTD new listings fell 20.9%

(going from 22 to 17), while in the larger region, the number of new listings to date rose 21.2%, going from 901 to 1,092. Active listings fell 1.6% in Saskatoon (down from 1,573 to 1,548), fell 10.1% in Martensville (down from 69 to 62), fell 40.9% in Warman (down from 115 to 68), fell 30.9% in Humboldt (down from 97 to 67), and fell 14.1% in the region (down from 2,842 to 2,442).

Inventory in Saskatoon stood at 2.6 months (which is 16.8% below the level last year and 39.9% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 73.6%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in Martensville stood at 1.8 months (which is 33.9% below the level last year and 59.0% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 91.9%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in Warman stood at 1.6 months (which is 52.1% below the level last year and 66.0% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 93.3%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in Humboldt stood at 4.8 months (which is 40.8% below the level last year and 50.3% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 82.4%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in the larger region stood at 2.9 months (which is 25.8% below the level last year and 45.1% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 73.5%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers.

Homes in Saskatoon stayed on the market an average of 37 days in June, down 11.9% from 42 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 44 days and below the 10-year average of 41 days). Homes in Martensville stayed on the market an average of 51 days, down 13.6% from 59 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 59 days and above the 10-year average of 51 days) while homes in Warman stayed on the market an average of 34 days, down 52.8% from 72 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 52 days and below the 10-year average of 52 days). Humboldt saw Homes stay on the market an average of 100 days, up 53.8% from 65 days last year (and above the 5-year average of 85 days and above the 10-year average of 74 days), and homes in the region were on the market an average of 44 days, also down from an average of 54 days last year (and 15.1% below the 5-year average).

The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI)—a more accurate measure of house price trends—varied across different centres in the region. Saskatoon saw the price of the benchmark single family home rise 12.9% year-over-year, going from $293,700 to $331,500. The price of the benchmark single family home in Martensville rose 9.0% (going from $365,500 to $398,500) and also rose by 10.8% in Warman (going from $372,000 to $412,300). The price of the benchmark single family home in Humboldt rose 17.2% (going from $177,500 in 2020 to $208,000 this year).

April 2021 Media Release

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 21:32:30 GMT

SASKATCHEWAN REAL ESTATE SETS MARCH SALES RECORD

Saskatoon and Region (including Martensville, Warman, and Humboldt)

Sales were up 108.8% in Saskatoon (going from 273 to 570), up 113.3% in Martensville (going from 15 to 32), and up 115.4% in Warman (going from 13 to 28). In Humboldt, sales were up 240.0% (going from 5 to 17), while in the larger region, sales were up 102.1% (going from 380 to 768). Sales in Saskatoon were 72.9% above the 5-year average (and 66.4% above the 10-year average), 102.5% above the 5-year average (and 82.9% above the 10-year average) in Martensville, and 35.9% above the 5-year average (and 15.7% above the 10-year average) in Warman. In Humboldt, sales were 107.3% above the 5-year average (and 136.1% above the 10-year average), while in the larger region, sales were 70.7% above the 5-year average (and 65.2% above the 10-year average). Year-to-Date (YTD) sales in Saskatoon rose 66.2% over last year (increasing from 722 to 1,200), rose 47.4% in Martensville (increasing from 38 to 56), and rose 91.7% in Warman (increasing from 36 to 69). Year-to-Date (YTD) sales in Humboldt rose 130.8% over last year (increasing from 13 to 30), while YTD sales in the larger region rose 66.1% (going from 984 to 1,634).

Sales volume was up 118.0% in the Saskatoon, going from $94.7M to $206.5M in 2021 (82.4% above the 5-year average, and 76.7% above the 10-year average). In Martensville, sales volume was up 113.1%, going from $4.8M to $10.2M (103.9% above the 5-year average, and 80.6% above the 10-year average) and in Warman, sales volume was up 122.3%, going from $5.1M to $11.4M (46.9% above the 5-year average, and 27.3% above the 10-year average). Sales volume was up 307.0% in Humboldt, going from $1.1M to $4.3M (118.4% above the 5-year average, and 150.0% above the 10-year average), while in the region, sales volume was up 114.4%, going from $124.9M to $267.8M (80.3% above the 5-year average, and 75.4% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume in Saskatoon was $427.8M (an increase of 78.4% from last year), $18.5M in Martensville (an increase of 54.3% from last year), and $27.1M in Warman (an increase of 105.2% from last year). YTD sales volume in Humboldt was $7.3M (an increase of 180.9% from last year), while in the region, YTD sales volume was $556.9M (an increase of 80.5% from last year).

In Saskatoon, the number of new listings in March 2021 rose 53.8%, going from 602 to 926 (23.3% above the 5-year average and 24.0% above the 10-year average). The number of new listings rose 94.1% in Martensville, going from 17 to 33 (1.8% below the 5-year average and 12.2% below the 10-year average) and rose 37.1% in Warman, going from 35 to 48 (5.7% above the 5-year average and 10.4% below the 10-year average). In Humboldt, the number of new listings rose 73.3%, going from 15 to 26 (26.2% above the 5-year average and 33.3% above the 10-year average) , while in the region, new listings rose 47.1%, going from 855 last year to 1,258 this year (16.7% above the 5-year average and 16.3% above the 10-year average). YTD new listings in Saskatoon rose 23.4% (going from 547 to 675), rose 6.3% in Martensville (going from 26 to 28), and rose 4.7% in Warman (going from 36 to 37). In Humboldt, YTD new listings rose 31.6% (going from 13 to 17), while in the larger region, the number of new listings to date rose 17.5%, going from 784 to 921. Active listings fell 12.0% in Saskatoon (down from 1,454 to 1,279), fell 34.1% in Martensville (down from 85 to 56), fell 41.7% in Warman (down from 120 to 70), fell 8.8% in Humboldt (down from 91 to 83), and fell 21.2% in the region (down from 2,715 to 2,140).

Inventory in Saskatoon stood at 2.2 months (which is 57.9% below the level last year and 53.5% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 61.6%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in Martensville stood at 1.8 months (which is 69.1% below the level last year and 71.0% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 97.0%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in Warman stood at 2.5 months (which is 72.9% below the level last year and 55.3% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 58.3%, suggesting balanced market conditions. Inventory in Humboldt stood at 4.9 months (which is 73.2% below the level last year and 58.6% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 65.4%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in the larger region stood at 2.8 months (which is 61.0% below the level last year and 55.2% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 61.0%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers.

Homes in Saskatoon stayed on the market an average of 36 days in March, down 34.5% from 55 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 52 days and below the 10-year average of 47 days). Homes in Martensville stayed on the market an average of 40 days, down 39.4% from 66 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 57 days and below the 10-year average of 53 days) while homes in Warman stayed on the market an average of 60 days, up 200.0% from 20 days last year (and above the 5-year average of 52 days and above the 10-year average of 53 days). Humboldt saw Homes stay on the market an average of 107 days, down 51.8% from 222 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 145 days and below the 10-year average of 110 days), and homes in the region were on the market an average of 47 days, also down from an average of 66 days last year (and 24.4% below the 5-year average).

The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI)—a more accurate measure of house price trends—varied across different centres in the region. Saskatoon saw the price of the benchmark composite home rise 8.2% year-over-year, going from $290,500 to $314,300. The price of the benchmark composite home in Martensville rose 15.1% (going from $353,800 to $407,100) and also rose by 15.0% in Warman (going from $359,700 to $413,500). The price of the benchmark composite home in Humboldt rose 8.5% (going from $177,800 in 2020 to $192,900 this year).

Samantha Krahn

Director of External & Government Relations

Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association

Size Matters: Finding the Perfect Size Home for You

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 21:58:20 GMT

If you’re house shopping, there’s probably one question that’s been on your mind often: “What size home should I buy?” At a glance, the answer seems obvious: as big as you can afford! But that’s only a small piece of the puzzle. Home size matters on many levels from personal preference to resale value, future plans, your budget, and more.

How do you find the ideal home size for you and your family? Here are three things you need to consider:

The Truth About Square Footage

A foot is a foot, right? When it comes to the square footage of your future home that may not be the case. Measuring the size of a house isn’t incredibly precise. More often than not, the size will change depending on which appraiser is measuring and what mechanism they’re using to determine the square footage: measuring tape, laser measure, or eyeball. The reality is that there are no universal standards when it comes to measuring your home size.
What does this mean for you? You need to choose your home size not by the numbers but by the feel. Don’t put too much stock in the listing size on paper, but instead find out in person if each room, bathroom, and living area is large enough for your needs. It’s not about how other individuals answer the question, “What is a good sized house?” It’s about you, your family, and how big a place feels in person.

Your Budget
While your budget isn’t the only thing you should consider, it needs to be one of the critical factors in determining your ideal home size. And that may be little more complicated than you think. What matters when it comes to your budget?

 Loan Size: The larger the house, the more expensive—most of the time. Make sure the average house size of your real estate listings fits with your pre-approved loan budget.

 Monthly Budget: Large houses are expensive to keep up. As you increase your square footage expect to pay more in electricity, water, gas, cleaning, and more. If you have a tight allocation for monthly expenses, don’t go overboard on a large house without factoring in these other costs.

 Your Future: Are you planning to have more kids? Do you need a new car? Are you counting on getting a raise at work? If you’re expecting your financial situation to change, make sure your home budget fits the modifications.
Your Preferences and Needs

Your Preferences and Needs
Your particular wants and needs should have the most significant impact on the home you choose. Make sure you’re truthful and honest with yourself about your expectations and needs. For example, if you eat out regularly and hate cooking, there’s no need to spend on a gourmet kitchen! You’d be better served looking for a home with a smaller kitchen and a bigger living room.

To help you determine your preferences, here are ten questions you should ask yourself:

1. Do you like small and cozy or do you need room to spread out?
2. How many people are in your family and how much space does each person need?
3. Do you have any hobbies or jobs that require extra space? (If you work from home, you’ll need an office. If cars are a passion, you’ll want a more substantial garage)
4. How often do you have visitors over? (If you have parties every few weeks and relatives visit a few times a year, you might want more space for guests)
5. Are you planning to have more kids or have an elderly relative move in with you?
6. What size of house have you been excited about in the past?
7. How much storage do you need? (Closet space and built-ins can be a big space saver)
8. How large is your furniture, and how much do you have? (If you have a king-sized bed, you want a big master bedroom)
9. What’s your five-year plan? (Upgrading your home to a larger size can be difficult; make sure the home you choose can last for years)
10. How much outdoor space do I want?

The key to purchasing the right-sized home for you

you is being realistic. Make sure you really sit down with your family to discuss what you need, want, and can afford.

Source: Coldwell Banker Blue Matter

SASKATOON REAL ESTATE REMAINS STRONG

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 15:32:27 GMT

Sales in Saskatoon were up 53.0%, going from 230 in February 2020 to 352 in February 2021, and up 59.9% in the overall region, going from 314 to 502. In Saskatoon, sales were 42.7% above the 5-year average (and 35.1% above the 10-year average), while in the larger region, sales were 50% above the 5-year average (and 43.1% above the 10-year average). Year-to-Date (YTD) sales in Saskatoon rose 40.3% over last year, increasing from 449 to 630, while YTD sales in the larger region rose 43.4%, going from 604 to 866.

Sales volume was up 69.0% in the city, going from $73.7M to $124.4M in 2021 (49.6% above the 5-year average, and 42.2% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume in the city was $221.3M, an increase of 52.5% from last year. In the region, sales volume was up 57.4%, going from $183.7M to $289.1M (57.9% above the 5-year average and 51.3% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume increased 57.4% in the region, rising from $183.7M in 2020 to $289.1M in 2021.

In Saskatoon, the number of new listings in February 2021 rose 15.8%, going from 468 to 542 (3.3% above the 5-year average and 5.0% below the 10-year average), while in the region, new listings rose 6.1% from 685 last year to 727 this year (3.5% below the 5-year average and 10.4% below the 10-year average). YTD new listings in the city rose 5.8%, going from 1,039 to 1,099, while in the larger region, the number of new listings to date rose 0.5%, going from 1,496 to 1,504. Active listings fell 21.6% in Saskatoon (down from 1,392 to 1,091) and fell 28.7% in the region (down from 2,618 to 1,867).

Inventory in Saskatoon stood at 3.1 months (which is 48.8% below the level last year and 50.8% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 64.9%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in the larger region stood at 3.7 months (which is 55.4% below the level last year and 55.6% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 69.1%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers.

Homes in Saskatoon stayed on the market an average of 43 days in February—down 40.3% from 72 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 56 days and below the 10-year average of 51 days). Homes in the region stayed on the market longer than homes in the city at 53 days on average in 2021, but also down from an average of 81 days last year (and 18.2% below the 5-year average).

In Saskatoon, the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI)—a more accurate measure of house price trends—was up 10.1%, going from $299,800 to $330,100.

Supplies by Chris Gbekorbu, Economic Analyst, Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association

Take Pride in the Products Being Made in Canada!

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 15:14:43 GMT

Some interesting facts…

1. Did You Know Most of the World's French Fries Come from New Brunswick?
New Brunswick-based McCain Foods makes one-third of all the frozen French fries produced in the world, and many come from a $65-million state-of-the art potato processing plant that's in Florenceville-Bristol. The small town in western New Brunswick has taken on the moniker "The French Fry Capital of the World." Not surprisingly, this is the location of the Potato World museum, and the heart of the mid-July National French Fry Day celebrations.

2. Did You Know Carleton Place Makes the World's Best Baseball Bats?
In 2012, more than 100 Major League Baseball players chose to swing Canadian maple wood bats - better known as the "Sam Bat". Sam Holman, founder of the The Original Maple Bat Corporation, invented the bat by choosing maple wood, a harder wood than the traditionally used ash. So, if you see a professional player with a little logo on their baseball bat, that's one of the 18,000 sluggers produced each year in Carleton Place, a half-hour from Ottawa.

3. Did You Know Saskatchewan Makes Most of the World's Lentils? Mmmm, Lentils! Whether home or travelling abroad, order some lentil soup and odds are you're getting a little taste of home. Canada is the largest exporter of green lentils in the world - about 1.5 million metric tonnes annually, with 95% of it coming from Saskatchewan.

4. Did You Know Scarborough Makes Most of the World's Halls? If you pick up a pack of Halls you'll be getting another little taste of home since they are made in Scarborough, Ontario. The plant at Bertrand produced more than 6 billion pieces of "medicine" for the U.S. Last year – enough that if you lined them side-by-side they would circle the earth at the equator approximately 3.4 times.

5. Did You Know Winnipeg Mints Coins for Over 60 Countries? Canada produces currency for more countries than you can imagine! The Royal Winnipeg Mint produces coins for 60 different countries including Centavos for Cuba , kroner for Norway , and pesos for Colombia. Currently the mint can produce over 20 million coins a day.

6. Did You Know Hamilton Makes the World's Swedish Fish? Those chewy Swedish Fish sure weren't made in Sweden! More than 5 billion of the colourful little candies are produced in Hamilton, Ontario every year – that's all of the Swedish Fish consumed in North America. Every day about 13 million of the little fish are produced at a factory in Hamilton, which also makes all Maynards Candy for Canada, and key brands for the U.S , including Sour Patch Kids.

7. Did You Know Toronto Makes the World's Best Racing Bikes? Using the same tools and techniques as Formula One teams, Toronto-based Cervélo builds what have been called the world's fastest and lightest bikes. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, athletes riding Cervélo bikes won 10 medals, while in 2008 Carl OS Sastre rode a Cervélo bike to win Le Tour de France.

8. Did you Know Winnipeg Makes Most of the World's Scratch Cards? Walk into almost any corner store in the world for an instant win lottery ticket, and there's a good chance your scratch card was printed by Winnipeg company Pollard Banknote. Founded in 1907, Pollard now has facilities throughout North America, however, a significant amount of its lottery scratch cards are still made in Canada.

9. Did You Know the World's Best Cymbals come from New Brunswick ? Where do the cymbals used by Rush, Keith Harris of the Black Eyed Peas, the Philadelphia Orchestra and marching bands around the world come from? The small village of Meductic (population 300), located along the Saint John River in southern New Brunswick. SABIAN cymbals are sold in 120 countries around the world.

10. Did You Know Trenton Makes Tons of Dinos? No, they don't make dinosaurs like in Jurassic Park , but close. Research Casting International, the leading company for constructing dinosaur remains (casting, restoring, mounting, repairing), is located in a 45,000 sq.ft. Airplane-hanger-sized building in Trenton, Ontario. The company has created more than 750 of the mighty beasts for museums around the world.

11. Did You Know Kelowna Makes Most of the World's Water Slides? When you slip down one of those clear tube water slides on a Disney Cruise, you're likely using Canadian design and technology. Canada's Whitewater West Industries Ltd. Is the largest water parks attraction company in the world. Their Kelowna, B.C. Facility, FormaShape, makes thousands of water slides each year.

12. Did You Know Peterborough is the Custom Aircraft Capital of Canada? Flying Colours Corps. of Peterborough, Ontario doesn't make airplanes, but they sure make them special. Entertainment systems, corporate logos, iPad-holders, custom exterior paint, upholstery, and they've even added a permanent bed in an aft cabin. Everything is custom made in-house, from the leather seats and wood trim to the side walls – for customers from across the globe,including much of Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Asia, and India.

13. Did you know B.C. Makes Tons of Submarines?
Atlantis Submarines, of British Columbia, actually owns more submarines than many countries –

but these ones are used for tourism.

The Canadian company initiated the world's first commercial tourist submarine in the Cayman Islands in 1986.

More than 10 million people have since experienced underwater adventures

in their 48 and 64 passenger submarines in the Caribbean and Pacific.

The subs they operate in Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Aruba, St. Martin, Cozumel, Curacao & Guam were all made in Canada.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SASKATOON'S OCTOBER REAL ESTATE STATS?

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 16:10:18 GMT

Sales in Saskatoon were up 40.5%, going from 306 in October 2019 to 430 in October 2020, and up 42.6% in the overall region, going from 411 to 586. In Saskatoon, sales were 32.5% above the 5-year average (and 30.5% above the 10-year average), while in the larger region, sales were 29.8% above the 5-year average (and 26.6% above the 10-year average). Year-to-Date (YTD) sales in Saskatoon rose 14.9% over last year, increasing from 3,168 to 3,641, while YTD sales in the larger region rose 20.1%, going from 4,258 to 5,114.

Sales volume was up 56.4% in the city, going from $96.7M to $151.2M in 2020 (38.9% above the 5-year average, and 33.5% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume in the city was $1,260.3M, an increase of 20.1% from last year. In the region, sales volume was up 26.2%, going from $1,338.0M to $1,688.0M (38.1% above the 5-year average and 34.0% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume increased 26.2% in the region, rising from $1,338.0M in 2019 to $1,688.0M in 2020.

In Saskatoon, the number of new listings in October 2020 rose 4.0%, going from 599 to 623 (5.1% below the 5-year average and 6.9% below the 10-year average), while in the region, new listings fell 2.5% from 857 last year to 836 this year (9.8% below the 5-year average and 11.7% below the 10-year average). YTD new listings in the city fell 3.5%, going from 6,992 to 6,744, while in the larger region, the number of new listings to date fell 6.2%, going from 10,245 to 9,610. Active listings fell 20.6% in Saskatoon (down from 1,729 to 1,372) and fell 25.6% in the region (down from 3,145 to 2,341).

Inventory in Saskatoon stood at 3.2 months (which is 43.5% below the level last year and 43.5% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 69.0%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in the larger region stood at 4.0 months (which is 47.8% below the level last year and 43.4% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 70.1%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers.

Homes in Saskatoon stayed on the market an average of 42 days in October—down 20.8% from 53 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 51 days and below the 10-year average of 46 days). Homes in the region stayed on the market longer than homes in the city at 50 days on average in 2020, but also down from an average of 63 days last year (and 16.4% below the 5-year average).

Median home prices in Saskatoon went from $302,500 to $330,000 (an increase of 9.1%) and were approximately 2.5% above the 5-year and 0.9% above the 10-year average median price. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI)—a more accurate measure of house price trends—is up 0.3% from $322,700 to $323,600. Year-to-date, the median home price in Saskatoon was $331,065 which is 3.7% above the $319,300 price from the same time last year. Median home prices in the region went from $287,500 to $320,000 (an increase of 11.3%) and were approximately 4.8% above the 5-year and 3.4% above the 10-year average median price. Year-to-date, the median home price in the region was $314,252 which is 4.7% above the $300,110 price from the same time last year.

If you are wondering about the value of your property, don't hesitate to reach out to me for that conversation. I would love the opportunity to "catch up" and provide you with current information.

* Above stats provided by Chris Gbekorbu, Economic Analyst, Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association

Saskatoon No. 16 on list of ‘best places to travel’ in Canada for 2020

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:25:01 GMT

Saskatoon was the lone destination from the province to grace Vacay.ca’s top-20 list of “best places to travel” in Canada for 2020.

The digital magazine released its list on Wednesday with the Bridge City in the No. 16 spot.

Vacay.ca said it highlighted Canadian destinations that are at the forefront of environmental progress while remaining exciting places to visit.

“The travel industry is increasingly affected by consumers’ attachment to climate health and we believe consideration for the planet will significantly influence vacation choices in 2020 and beyond,” Vacay.ca founder and managing editor Adrian Brijbassi said in a press release.

“Our rankings spotlight locations that have become even more dynamic to visit because of their approach to confronting climate change.”

The report recommended visiting Saskatoon’s Remai Modern art gallery as well as the Broadway, Downtown and Riversdale neighbourhoods.

The city also offers more than 65 annual events and 200 parks.

“Saskatoon has so much more going on than meets the eye,” Vacay.ca managing editor Adrian Brijbassi wrote.

“Besides being a city teeming with parks, rivers, bike trails, and green areas, Saskatoon is also a historical gem and a culinary heavyweight with some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.”

The publication ranked Banff, Alta., at the top, noting the national park’s increased focus on sustainability and wildlife care. British Columbian locations appeared the most with seven on the list.

The rankings took two years to compile, according to the digital magazine.

Vacay.ca’s “best places to travel” in Canada for 2020:

Banff, Alta.
Victoria, B.C.
Haida Gwaii, B.C.
Toronto
Havre-Aubert, Que.
Fogo Island, N.L.
Vancouver
Penticton, B.C.
Montreal
Saint John, N.B.
Haines Junction, Yukon
Tofino, B.C.
Niagara region, Ont.
Quebec City
Oliver & Osoyoos, B.C.
Saskatoon
Cape Breton Highlands National Park, N.S.
Galiano Island, B.C.
Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alta.

Visit: https://globalnews.ca/news/6383166/saskatoon-no-16-on-list-of-best-places-to-travel-in-canada-for-2020/

November Brings Fewer Listings, More Sales to Housing Market

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:11:43 GMT

Saskatoon & Region

The Saskatoon housing market continued its 2019 trend toward balance last month, as REALTORS® listed fewer but sold more homes than in the previous November, reported the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR) Wednesday.

City listings fell 16 per cent to 451 from 534, as sales jumped 20 per cent to 243 from 203. Although the average price was down three per cent, to $333,295 from $343,361, dollar volume rose 16 per cent to $81 million, up from $69.7 million.

Including the surrounding region, new listings were down 12 per cent to 694 from 791, while sales rose eight per cent to 317 from 294 for a dollar volume of $102.3 million, up one per cent from $101.7 million.

In the region alone, including communities such as Warman, Martensville and Dalmeny, new listings fell 11 per cent to 159 from 179, and sales were down nine per cent to 58 from 64. However, the average sales price rose four per cent to $314,650, up from $301,490, for a dollar volume drop of five per cent to $18.2 million.

“It’s encouraging to see strength in sales and a slight decline in listings coming to the market, to keep it balanced,” said Jason Yochim, CEO of the Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association (SRA.) All Saskatchewan REALTORS® associations will amalgamate under the SRA banner in January, 2020.

Year-to-date numbers reflect similar trends. So far this year, and with only one month to go, Saskatoon agents have listed 7,443 homes to the MLS®, down three per cent from 2018’s 7,646, and sold 3,401, up seven per cent from 3,167. Sales are also up from 2017’s 3,286.

The average sales price of $331,457 is statistically the same as last year’s, bringing the dollar volume up seven per cent to $1.1 billion, up from just over $1 billion.

In the region, 900 homes have sold so far in 2019, down five per cent from last year’s 943, and listings have fallen three per cent to 2,789 from 2,874. Dollar volume is down eight per cent to $265.5 million from $289.8 million. The average price dropped four per cent to $295,141 from $307,352.

At the end of the month, Saskatoon had 1,534 homes on the market, down 11 per cent from 1,716 at the same time last year, while the region had 947 homes, down eight per cent from 1,032.

“It’s healthy for the market to see the number of active listings continue to shrink slightly,” said Yochim. “Two years ago, we were tipping over 2,100 at the high-water mark, so 1,500 is certainly good.”

* statistics received from SRAR, Jason Yochim, CEO of SRA

Housing Market Stays Warm Despite Chilly October

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:38:01 GMT

As the weather cooled in October, residential sales in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and the Battlefords warmed over last year, the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR) reported today.

In the city of Saskatoon, sales rose seven per cent to 306, up from last October’s 285, helping to drive the dollar volume up five per cent to $97.5 million from $92.6 million. Listings also rose marginally to 599, up one per cent from 591. The average selling price fell two per cent to $318,450, down from $325,016.

Trevor Schmidt, interim CEO of SRAR, noted that the average five-year median sales price — $333,154 has not changed much over the past several years.

“This year, we’re tracking at the same level as the five-year average,” he said. “The market is neither high nor low; it has stabilized.

Another indication of stability in the Saskatoon market is the average length of time it takes to sell a home. Both in October and year-to-date, that average was 54 days.

“The five-year average is 55,” noted Schmidt. “Things have been quite stable considering what’s happened with the economy.”

“It shows the importance of using a REALTOR® to price properties according to what’s happening in the market, which helps foster a quicker sale.”

Year-to-date, 6,992 homes have been listed to the Multiple Listing Service® System (MLS®), down two per cent from 7,111 in 2018. Of those, 3,160 have sold, up seven per cent from 2,962, at an average price of $331,349 — statistically stable with last year’s $332,012. The dollar volume broke through the billion-dollar mark to $1.05 billion, up six per cent from $983.4 million last year.

In Saskatoon and area, which includes such communities as Dalmeny, Warman and Martensville, sales rose five per cent to 414, up from 393, in October. Year-to-date sales are up three per cent to 4,213 from 4,072, and also up from 4,099 in 2017.

Unit listings in the city and region fell two per cent to 889 from 904 last month, and also dropped two per cent year-to-date, ending October at 10,710, down from 10,895 in 2018. While the dollar volume was down two per cent in October, to $129.2 million from $132.4 million, the year-to-date volume is up two per cent to $1.365 billion from $1.342 billion.

The region alone saw a six per cent drop in listings, to 208 from 222, in October, and a seven per cent hike in sales to 88, up from 82 last year. Dollar volume in the region fell 13 per cent to $24.7 million from $28.5 million. The average selling price came in at $281,534, down 19 per cent from $348,038.

Active listings ended October down four per cent to 3,442 in Saskatoon and area, from 3,584 in 2018 and also down from 3,725 at this time in 2017. In the city, 1,712 listings were available, down five per cent from 1,808, and 1,020 homes were on the market in the region, down seven per cent from last year’s 1,095.

* statistics received from SRAR, Trevor Schmidt, Interim CEO of SRAR

September Brings Increases In Saskatoon Home Sales, Listings And Prices

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 17:24:09 GMT

The first month of autumn had spring in its step as Saskatoon’s residential housing market saw increases in listings, sales and the average price, according to statistics from the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR).

Sales rose 14 per cent to 305, up from last September’s 267 and 260 the year before, while the average price was up 10 per cent to $351,741 from $319,534.

Those factors contributed to a 26 per cent jump in the dollar volume of sales, which came in at $107.3 million — well up from $85.3 million last September and $89.5 million in 2017.

More homeowners decided to put their properties on the market, as well, listing 717 homes, up 11 per cent from 647 last year.

“The market is really balanced right now,” said Trevor Schmidt, interim CEO of SRAR. “With the sales to listing ratio being at 43 per cent, it indicates both sellers and buyers are able to come together and get deals done. It’s a good situation for both seller and buyer.“

"If you go back six months, the market has been trending toward balance.”

Year-to-date, sales in the city are up seven per cent to 2,855 from 2,677, while listings have fallen two per cent to 6,393 from 6,520. The average price of $332,762 is practically unchanged from last year’s $332,757.

In the region surrounding Saskatoon, including the cities of Warman and Martensville, sales were down 11 per cent to 76 from 85 in September while listings rose 14 per cent to 227 from 199. The average selling price, however, was up three per cent to $302,502. Dollar volume came in at $22.9 million, down eight per cent from last year’s $25 million.

Regional year-to-date sales are down five per cent to 755 from 797, and listings are down one per cent to 2,422 from 2,454. The average price so far this year is down three per cent to $295,187 from $303,636, and dollar volume has fallen eight per cent to $222.8 million from $242 million.

At the end of September, active residential listings in the city were down two per cent to 1,896 from last year’s 1,944. Listings in the region were also down two per cent to 1,143 from 1,161.

* statistics received from SRAR, Trevor Schmidt, Interim CEO of SRAR

Hot July Slightly Cools Saskatoon and Region Housing Market

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 15:57:08 GMT

Saskatoon — Hot weather and summer holidays brought a slight cooling to Saskatoon
and region’s housing market, as sales and total dollar volume fell by 9.8 and 9.4 per cent
respectively from last July.

Multiple Listing Service® (MLS) sales totaled 481, down from 533, while listings rose a
marginal 0.4 per cent to 1,140. Dollar volume fell to $154.7 million from last year’s $170.7
million, reported the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR).

“Typically, people think summer will always be busy, but spring is the busiest market,” said
SRAR CEO Jason Yochim. “It tapers off a bit in summer. Winter weather can be brutal, and
people take advantage of summer when it’s here.”

Still, year-to-date numbers remain up over 2018. Sales rose 4.4 per cent to 2,968 from
2,843, while dollar volume is up 2.8 per cent to $964.7 million from $938.7 million. Listings
so far this year are down 2.2 per cent, to 7,724 from 7,900; and well down from 2017’s
8,692.

In the city of Saskatoon, July sales were exactly on par with last year’s 390 transactions
and well up from 310 in 2017. Dollar volume fell 1.7 per cent to $129.4 million, while
listings rose 5.5 per cent to 748 from 709.

Year-to-date, and largely due to a strong spring market, the city’s dollar volume is up six
per cent to $739 million from $696.4 million last year. Sales increased seven per cent to
2,228 from 2,081 and listings fell three per cent to 4,952 from 5,116.

Active listings in Saskatoon are down 5.7 per cent to 1,932 from 2,048 last year, while the
region’s listings are down 0.7 per cent to 1,213 from 1,221.

In July, the city’s sales-to-listings ratio reached 52 per cent, which is considered a balanced
market.

“Inventory levels are still declining, and that’s a good sign,” Yochim said. “The slight
decline over the last three years helps us maintain a balanced market.”

The city’s average price slipped 1.7 per cent to $331,780 in July. Year-to-date the price has
fallen one per cent to $331,649.

“It’s good to see in the city that while the average price dropped in 2017 and 2018, we’re
very close to those values, so it’s levelled a bit,” Yochim said. “Overall, it’s positive; it’s
stable. We’ve seen some good growth in Saskatoon in the last quarter. Our sales numbers
year-to-date are the highest in three years.”

The surrounding region saw less-robust interest from buyers. July sales dropped
nearly 40 per cent to 69 sales from last year’s 114, and dollar volume fell 35 per cent
to $21.5 million from $33 million. Listings were down 3.3 per cent to 291 from 301.

However, the region’s average sales price rose 7.5 per cent to $311,998 in July, up
from last year’s $290,322. To date, the price is down 5.2 per cent to $294,389.

Prince Albert and region saw a burst of activity in July, posting 75 sales for an increase
of 74.4 per cent from last year’s 43. That brings year-to-date sales to 345, up 5.8 per
cent from 326.

Dollar volume jumped accordingly by almost 49 per cent to $16 million, up from $10.8 million last year.

Listings were also up by 4.8 per cent in July to 152, but down by one to 1,052

year-to-date.

Average prices fell in both Prince Albert and region, by 12 per cent to $217,111 in the
city proper and 26.3 per cent to $190,991 in the region.

“A little pent-up demand finally kicked in, which is good. Buyers are seeing the
inventory they’re looking for to purchase,” Yochim said. “As you have lower sales, if it
starts to grow the inventory, you’re going to have more selection.”

The Battlefords region also saw an increase in sales, which rose 8.3 per cent to 39
in July and 2.7 per cent to 225 year-to-date. Dollar volume fell 19 per cent to $7.3
million from last July’s $9 million, and 14.4 per cent to $43.4 million year-to-date.

However, listings fell 12.6 per cent to 111 in July, and are down 10 per cent to 786
year-to-date. The average sales price is down seven per cent this year to $201,053.

Active listings are also down in The Battlefords by 11 per cent to 207, and “sales are
up over last year, so that’s a positive sign,” Yochim said.

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for May, 2019

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 17:35:39 GMT

Sales rise 16 per cent from same month of last year

Saskatoon — A hot, dry May brought a warmer market for Saskatoon home sellers, as sales rose 16 per cent over the same month of 2018.

City sales came in at 422 units, up from 363 last May and 420 the year before, the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR) reported Monday. Sales are also up 10 per cent year-to-date at 1,469, up from 1,342 and 1,450 in the last two years.

“Sales have rebounded significantly this year, in large part due to an increase in condosales,” said Jason Yochim, CEO of SRAR. “Condo sales are up almost 21 per cent over
a year ago. Prices have been coming down, and they are very affordable compared to most housing types.”

Year-to-date, 449 condos have sold, as compared to 372 last year. Over the same period, single family home sales rose six per cent to 1,292, up from 1,215 last year. In May, single family home sales were up 13 per cent from last May.

As sales rose, unit listings fell three per cent to 911 in May, down from 942 in 2018 and 1,031 the previous year. Year-to-date listings are also down three per cent; so far, 3,422 homes have been listed to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as compared to 3,536 last year and 4,055 in 2017.

The higher sales resulted in a 17 per cent dollar volume increase over last May to $140.7 million, up from $120.5 million. That’s despite a two per cent drop in the aver- age selling price, which fell to $329,595 from $334,651.

“I suspect first-time home buyers have been very active this spring based on the con- do sales,” Yochim said. “When lower-priced homes sell, it has a downward effect on the average price.”

In Saskatoon and region, including communities such as Warman, Martensville and Dalmeny, sales rose 14 per cent in May to a three-year high of 561 units. Listings fell seven per cent to 1,386, down from 1,485 and 1,553 in the previous two years. Dollar volume rose 12 per cent to $181.3 million from $162.3 million last year. Yochim said, “The sales to listing ratio was 46 per cent in May, which is approaching a balanced market.”

In the surrounding region excluding the city, dollar volume was down 13 per cent to $31.5 million from $36.3 million. Listings fell 20 per cent to 317, after two years at about 390, and sales rose eight per cent to 113, up from 105 last May. The average selling price fell 19 per cent, however, to $279,095, after posting $346,130 last May.

Year-to-date, the surrounding region has seen a three per cent decrease in dollar vol- ume at $120 million; a three per cent drop in listings, to 1,344; and unit sales of 421, up nine per cent from last year.

As of the end of May, buyers had 3,164 listings to choose from in Saskatoon and area, unchanged from last year. Of those, 1,938 are in the city proper (down from 2,001 last May) and 1,126 are in surrounding towns and regions (down from last year’s 1,164).“We’re finally seeing some stabilization in the housing market, which has been in buyers’ market territory for some time due to oversupply and lower consumer confidence,”

Jazz Festival! June 21-30, 2019

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 21:48:00 GMT

Tickets are available now! Make sure to check out the below website and purchase your tickets for the Saskatoon Jazz Festival that is happening from June 21st - 30th. Below is the Line Up!

https://www.saskjazz.com/

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for April, 2019

Wed, 01 May 2019 16:18:00 GMT

April house sales jump 18 per cent in Saskatoon regio

April housing demand in the Saskatoon region was the strongest in three years, as sales jumped 18 per cent over the same month of 2018.

The Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR) reported 513 sales on the MLS® system, up from 433 last April and 414 in 2017. Those sales generated a dollar volume of $169.6 million, up 12 per cent from last year’s $152 million and 14 per cent from $147 million in 2017.

Year-to-date, sales are up seven per cent to 1,440, as compared to 1,342 in 2018 and 1,368 in 2017. Dollar volume is up three per cent to $460.2 million from last year’s $447.8 million. The spring market usually brings an increase in listings, and April followed that tradition. Listings rose four per cent to 1,295, although year-to-date listings are down slightly to 3,971 from 3,989.

Compared to the 4,475 properties posted in the first four months of 2017, however, listings are down significantly.

“People came out of hibernation and said, it’s time,” said Jason Yochim, CEO of SRAR. “We’re seeing the beginning of a spring market, which is nice.”

Other factors potentially influencing the market include stable interest rates and lower prices, he added.

“There’s less inventory and people are buying what they’re finding on the market,” Yochim said. “It’s feeling more like it’s time to make that move.”

In the city of Saskatoon, the number of properties brought to market actually fell two per cent in April to 774, down from 787 last year and significantly down from the 842 listed in April, 2017.

Year-to-date, 2,511 homes have been listed, down three per cent from 2,594 in the same period of 2018. Listings in 2017 were considerably higher, at 3,024.

April sales in the city proper came in at 380, up 14 per cent from last year’s 333 and generating a 16 per cent increase in the dollar volume, to $130.4 million. That figure is up from both 2018 and 2017, when $112.7 million and $113.6 million in sales were recorded, respectively.

So far this year, Saskatoon sales are up seven per cent to 1,047, up from 978 in 2018.

The average selling price in the city increased one per cent to $343,121 in April, up from $338,438 last year. Year-to-date, the price remains down by two per cent at $327,995.

The region surrounding Saskatoon, including towns and cities such as Warman, Martensville and Dalmeny, saw a whopping 25 per cent increase in dollar volume to $31 million on 105 sales, up 36 per cent from 77 last year. The average price was down eight per cent to $295,780.

Active listings in Saskatoon as of April 30 were down three per cent to 1,778 from 1,834 last year, and up four per cent in the region, to 1,083.

Stronger sales activity was reflected in Saskatoon’s sales to listing ratio, which at 49 per cent is considered a balanced market.

“It’s an encouraging sign,” said Yochim. “A balanced market offers a good equilibrium, with a good balance of buyers and product from sellers. Depending on how long it lasts, it helps slow the decline in pricing.”

New housing starts are down considerably, which is also affecting the market. March, for example, saw a 33 per cent drop in single family home starts and a 70 per cent fall in multiple units. It will take some time before the rising demand spurs more building, because there is always a lag between an improvement in sales and starts, Yochim said.

Prince Albert and region also recorded improved home sales, which rose 25 per cent to 60 units, up from 48 last year. Dollar volume jumped 26 per cent to $12.2 million from $9.7 million last April. Listings were up a marginal two per cent, to 168 from 165. In the city itself, sales were up 41 per cent to 38.

“That’s encouraging for P.A., because the market was quite depressed for a number of months,” Yochim said.

Activity was less robust in the Battlefords region. Sales rose 17 per cent in April to 35, up from 30 last April, but dollar volume dropped 35 per cent to $5 million from $8 million. Listings, however, fell seven per cent to 138.

Every market, including the strengthening Saskatoon market, comes with its own challenges for buyers and sellers, noted Yochim.

“If you want to know how the recent changes in the market affect your individual home and needs, it’s best to contact a SRAR member. They have the knowledge, experience and objectivity to help you make good decisions about your personal circumstances.”

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for March, 2019

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:38:58 GMT

Month of March - Springing Up

After a fairly strong February, the city of Saskatoon’s March housing market had spring in its step as both new listings and sales rose over last year, by five and 11 per cent respectively.

The Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR) reported 702 listings were posted to the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), up from 668 last March, but significantly down from 850 in 2017.

Sales jumped 11 per cent to 258, up from 233 last year but down from 308 in March 2017. At the same time, the average selling price dropped four per cent to $316,445, down from just over $328,000 a year earlier, partly due to a higher proportion of entry-level home sales below $400,000. There was also a significant decrease in the number of sales recorded between $400,000 and $450,000. Even so, the dollar volume of homes sold increased seven per cent to just over $81.6 million, up from $76.5 million a year earlier.

“We’re coming into the spring market, and the degradation of prices over the last three year has made it a little more attractive out there. People do get a little bit more optimistic in the spring,” said Jason Yochim, CEO of SRAR.

“Some of that optimism may have sprung from the federal government’s recent policy announcement regarding changes to home buyers’ plan, which provides a five per cent interest-free loan on existing homes, and 10 per cent on new homes, to first-time buyers. Our industry has been lobbying for changes such as this for a long time.”

The Saskatoon Region, which includes smaller communities in the Census Metropolitan Area, saw a five per cent increase in listings, to 1,084 (up from 1,034 in 2017) and a four per cent increase in monthly sales, to 359 (up from 345). Listings generally begin to trend upward as March, and spring, approach.

Excluding Saskatoon, regional listings were flat with last March and sales fell nine per cent to 77, down from 85. The selling price dropped 12 per cent to $275,000. In 2019 so far, Saskatoon and region listings, taken together, are down two per cent to 2,675, 1,736 of those in the city proper. Sales are up two per cent to 929, up from 909 in 2018, and dollar volume has fallen one per cent to $213 million, down from $215.5 million. Active listings sat at 3,184 at the end of March, down one per cent, with 1,611 of those in Saskatoon, down four per cent.

While the 2019 market has been kinder to home sellers than in the last three years, it remains important to price properties appropriately to present conditions, said Yochim. The sales to listings ratio was 37 per cent in March, which still signifies a buyers’ market.

“Home sellers, not to mention buyers, can benefit from the knowledge a REALTOR® brings to a housing transaction. REALTORS® know how to help a seller arrive at a realistic price, and they are also professionals who subscribe to a strict code of ethics. They can guide sellers, and buyers, through the process, and help them make the best decisions.”

OTHER REGIONS

The spring market has had a slower start in Prince Albert and region, where listings rose four per cent to 128 (from 123 last March) and sales fell 10 per cent to 38, down from 42. Dollar volume was down 29 per cent to $6.7 million, from $9.5 million in the same month of 2018. However, the statistics tend to appear more dramatic to the smaller size of the market.

It was a similar story in The Battlefords region, where listings rose five per cent to 120 units, up from 114 a year ago, and sales fell three per cent to 32. However, that was a drop of just one unit from last year’s 33 sales. Dollar volume fell 37 per cent to $4.5 million from just over $7 million. The region did, however, see an increase in the average price of four per cent to $188,000. Dollar volume was down 22 per cent to $4.5 million.

“The market is considerably more challenged in smaller cities. Saskatoon hasn’t been affected as much on sales activity because of our diversified economy.”

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for February, 2019

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 15:36:00 GMT

February listings drop, sales rise in Saskatoon region

Despite the very cold temperatures in February, Saskatoon and region home sellers found a little warmth as new listings dropped seven per cent and sales rose six per cent. The Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR) reported 731 homes were listed, down from 783 in the same month of last year, while sales rose to 296 from 280. The dollar volume of homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) rose four per cent, to $95.8 million from $92.4 million. Year to date, listings dropped seven per cent to 1,591, sales were up one per cent to 570, and the dollar volume was down a marginal one per cent to $180.8 million.

Excluding the region, new Saskatoon listings were down 8.6 per cent in February to 478 — the fewest since 2013 — while sales held steady with last year, rising by one to 211. Months of inventory dropped to 6.7 from 7.5 last February. City homes listed to date in 2019, at 1,033, are at their lowest level in nine years. February statistics indicate a change in a market that has been declining for four years. “Sales have stabilized somewhat, and inventory levels are coming down,” said Jason Yochim, CEO of SRAR. “As an optimist, I believe and hope it will continue. However, people have to be confident that the economy is improving before committing to the purchase of a home.”

He noted that while some sectors of the economy, such as potash mining, are doing well, others are less robust.

“It’s not that people aren’t working; they are. But they won’t upgrade unless they have confidence in their situations.”

The average price in Saskatoon also recovered slightly to $338,268, up 2.3 per cent from last February. Yochim cautioned that average prices can be misleading, because the basket of sales in any given month can be very different from another. For example, if two or three high-priced homes sell, that can significantly skew the average.

A better gauge, said Yochim, is the Home Price Index (HPI), which tracks prices over time based on a benchmark determined 15 years ago.

Saskatoon’s overall HPI, including apartment-style condos, was $282,600 last month, down three per cent from last year. The most expensive category, two-storey single-family homes, was down one per cent at $356,000.

Saskatoon remains a buyers’ market, with a sales-to-listing ratio of 44; but the ratio has risen from 34 in January, for a year-to-date ratio of 40. A ratio of 50 is a balanced market, while a ratio of 60 denotes a sellers’ market.

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for December, 2018

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 15:19:31 GMT

YTD Home Sales Down 5%

December residential home sales on the Multiple Listing Service® system (MLS® System) in Saskatoon totaled 164 transactions, 20% fewer than December of 2017 which recorded 205 residential sales. The region surrounding Saskatoon had 43 MLS® sales in December of 2018, only one less than the previous December. The total annual number of residential home sales for 2018 in Saskatoon totaled 3,329 units. This is a 5% decline compared to the total number of home transactions for 2017. This represents the fourth straight year of a decline in annual home sales in Saskatoon. By comparison there were 4,417 MLS® sales in 2014, an overall reduction of almost 25%. There was no change in the total annual sales for the surrounding region with 986 residential MLS® transactions.

The total dollar volume recorded for residential MLS® sales in Saskatoon in December was $55.6 Million, down 20% from December 2017. The total dollar volume for the entire year reached $1.108 Billion, 8% lower than 2017. The combined dollar volume for Saskatoon and region for last year was down 4% from 2017 at $1.524 Billion.

Residential MLS® listing totals for the year continued to be lower than previous years. A total of 7,956 residential listings were recorded for Saskatoon on the MLS® System in 2018. This is an 11% reduction from 2017’s total of 8,969, representing over 1,000 fewer new listings. The five-year average for new listings in a calendar year in Saskatoon is 9,081. “Even though overall sales are down, fewer new listings has helped contribute to fewer properties available to buyers in the Saskatoon market.” comments Jason Yochim, CEO of the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR). The total number of active listings at the end of the year was 1,487, consistent with the five-year average of 1,480 available properties. The highest level of active properties was in July of 2017 when there were 2,210 active listings in the city of Saskatoon “Available properties will vary depending on neighborhood, price range and style.” cautions Yochim “some price ranges with still have a good supply to choose from while others will not. It’s important to remember that REALTORS® have the greatest access to available property” he adds. REALTORS® work in the market every day, subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are dedicated to developing professional standards and continuing education in the real estate profession. This is not the case for those who sell real estate in the province and who are not members of an association of REALTORS®.

When it comes to home price trends, the best indicator of what is happening with home prices is the Home Price Index. The Home Price Index establishes attributes for a typical single-family home with a base value in 2005. From that starting point, changes in value are recorded over time to get a better sense of what is happening to pricing and where prices may be trending. The value for the typical single-family home in January of 2005 was $140,400. This value reached its peak in May of 2015 at $329,500. At the end of December, this value is at $307,000, down from $310,900 in November. This value is virtually unchanged from a year ago, however, it has been trending downward since the middle of 2018. For more information on HPI go to contact a member of the SRAR or visit saskatoonrealtors.ca .

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for November, 2018

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 17:43:00 GMT

Home Sales Soften in November

The total number of residential home sales for the month of November in Saskatoon on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) totaled 203 units. This represents a 22% decline compared to the same month last year. The highest total for sales to the end of November was in 2014 reaching 4,203 transactions. This total has been steadily declining since with year to date sales at the lowest in ten years. At the end of last month there was a total of 3,167 residential MLS® transactions in the city, this is a 25% decline from the high of 2014.

Total new residential MLS® listings has also been declining since 2015 when there were 9,411 by the end of November. The total number of residential MLS® listings for Saskatoon as of November 30thwas 7,646, a 12% decline compared to last year and a 19% decrease from 2015. Total active residential listings at the end of last month was 1,716, comparable to the five-year average and slightly higher than the 10-year average of 1,388. At the current rate of sales, it would take just over 8 months to liquidate the current active listing inventory. “The months of inventory has been steadily increasing from 3.8 months in November of 2012.” comments Jason Yochim, CEO of the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR). “Even though homes in November were selling at 96.2% of the asking price, it still took two months for the average home to sell in Saskatoon” he added. The sales to new listing ratio helps to determine if it is a sellers or buyers’ market. It is considered to be a balanced market when the ratio is at 50%, a lower percentage than this is considered a buyers’ market and above, a sellers’ market. The sales to listing ratio in Saskatoon for November was 38%, favoring buyers.

Typically, when referencing home prices, the focus in real estate is often on the average price. The danger in this is that the average can be misleading and is easily skewed. Case in point, if there are more, higher priced homes that sell in a certain period than another comparable period, the average will be higher. The opposite could occur the following month resulting in a lower average. A better indicator of what is happening with home prices is the Home Price Index. The Home Price Index establishes attributes for a typical single-family home with a base value in 2005. From that starting point, changes in value are recorded over time to get a better sense of what is happening to pricing and where prices may be trending. The value for the typical single-family home in January of 2005 was $140,400. This value reached its peak in May of 2015 at $329,500. Currently this value is at $310,900. Even though this is up 0.8% from a year ago, it has been trending downward in the past 6 months very slightly. For more information on HPI go to contact a member of the SRAR or visit saskatoonrealtors.ca

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for October, 2018

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 15:53:17 GMT

Number of Listings Declining

The total number of new residential listings in Saskatoon on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) year to date totaled 7,111. This represents a 12% decline when compared to the same period last year with 8,065 properties listed. The total number of residential listings for Saskatoon and region year to date is 10,929, a 10% decline from last year. The individual month end totals for new listings in 2018 was down each month as well compared to 2017 totals. This decline in new listings has contributed to lower inventory levels for available properties in Saskatoon. At the end of October there was a total of 1,808 active residential properties for sale in Saskatoon and 1,095 in the regional market surrounding Saskatoon. The five-year average for active listings in Saskatoon is 1,806 while the ten-year average is 1,487. “Since 215, the Saskatoon market has experienced higher inventories of active listings, this puts downward pressure on pricing and often upward pressure on the sales to new listing ratio.” comments Jason Yochim, CEO of the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS®. The median price of a home in Saskatoon has declined as well since 2015 as has the average price. The average residential price was $332,000 at the end of October, down 4% from a year ago and $20,000 from two years ago. Although much focus in real estate is on the average price, the average can be misleading and is easily skewed. A better indicator of what is happening with home prices is the Home Price Index. The Home Price Index establishes attributes for a typical single-family home with a base value in 2005. From that starting point, changes in value are recorded over time to get a better sense of what is happening to pricing and where prices are trending. The value for the typical single-family home in January of 2005 was $140,400. This value reached its peak in May of 2015 at $329,500. Currently this value is at $312,600 virtually unchanged from a month earlier. The Benchmark price for a typical Townhouse style property in Saskatoon was $222,900 last month, for apartment style properties, $180,100 in October. For more information on HPI go to saskatoonrealtors.ca.

Year to date, the total number of residential sales on the MLS® system in Saskatoon was 2,964, down 2% from last year. For Saskatoon and region the total number of sales was 4,074, a 1% decline from 2017. Total MLS® sales of 285 in Saskatoon for October was unchanged from the same month last year and but down 9% from October 2016. “It s encouraging to see home sales at a comparable level to last year in spite of economic challenges and the “stress test” changes to financing earlier this year.” Comments Jason Yochim, CEO with the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS®. “It would seem that sellers are recognizing the importance of expert advice from our REALTOR® members in pricing to the current market.” he adds.

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for September, 2018

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 15:21:00 GMT

Average Home Sale Price Declining

Year to date the average price of $332,700 for a home in Saskatoon represents a decline of 4% from a year ago. By comparison in the past three years, the third quarter average price was $347,165 in 2017 and $352,103 in 2016. Although much focus in real estate is on the average price, the average can be misleading and is easily skewed. A better indicator of what is happening with home prices is the Home Price Index. The Home Price Index establishes attributes for a typical single family home with a base value in 2005. From that starting point, changes in value are recorded over time to get a better sense of what is happening to pricing and where prices are trending. The value for the typical single family home in January of 2005 was $140,400. This value reached its peak in May of 2015 at $329,500. Currently this value is at $312,200 which is the highest level for 2018 and is virtually unchanged from a month earlier. The Benchmark price for a typical Townhouse style property in Saskatoon was $219,700 last month, this is the lowest point since April of 2007 when the value was $205,300. For apartment style properties, the Benchmark value of $176,200 in September was the first increase since December of 2007 when the value was at $190,600. For more information on HPI go to saskatoonrealtors.ca

Active listings in Saskatoon continued to shrink with year over year decline of 7%. In Saskatoon at the end of September there were 1,944 active listings compared to 2,082 a year ago. Active listings are higher in the region surrounding the city which includes the cities of Martensville and Warman. At the end of September there were 1,161 available properties compared to 1,086 for the surrounding area. The decline in available properties is mostly attributable to an overall decline in new listings coming on the market. Year to date, there were 6,521 properties listed in the city of Saskatoon, a decline of 11% compared to 2017. In the month of September, there were 648 new listings in Saskatoon. By comparison in September of 2017 there were 767 new listings and 779 in 2016. “It seems that sellers who are not highly motivated are choosing to wait until conditions are more favourable to sell.” Comments Jason Yochim, CEO with the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS®. “Currently we are in a buyers market with elevated levels of inventory and downward trending prices for most properties.” He adds.

In the month of September there were 268 residential sales on the MLS®. This is similar to September of 2017. The total number of sales for the first three quarters of 2018 was 2,679, a 5% decline from last year. By comparison, in the first three months of 2016, there were 2,935 sales in the city of Saskatoon.

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for August, 2018

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 21:06:14 GMT

Active Listings Continue Decline

For the seventh straight month this year, the number of active listings in the market was down year over year. At the end of August there were 2,019 active residential listings in the city of Saskatoon, a decline of 8% from a year ago. Of the active listings, approximately 1,227 are single family while just over 780 fall under condominium ownership. The decline in active listings is largely due to a decline in homes listed year over year. To date, a total of 5,875 residential properties have been listed in Saskatoon on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), down 11% compared to the end of August last year. “In a slower market, one typically sees fewer speculative sellers than in a hot market” comments Jason Yochim, CEO with the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® “It’s important to bear in mind that homes sell in all markets. If a seller needs to sell then they must be sure to have good advice and price to the current market conditions.” adds Yochim.

In the month of August there were 329 residential sales on the MLS®. This is on par with August of 2018 and just lightly below the five year average of 352 sales for August. Year to date there have been 2,411 residential MLS® sales in Saskatoon, of these 1,751 are single family properties, unchanged compared to the first eight months of last year. On the other hand, there were 648 condominium at the end of last month, 11% fewer than last year.

Year to date residential MLS® sales between $200 - 300,000 totaled 657 transactions, down from 707 a year ago. The number of homes that sold between $350-750,000 on the MLS® year to date was also down by just over 100 sales from 1,036 transactions in 2017. So far in 2018, a total of 41 properties have sold in excess of $750,000 in Saskatoon, on par with last year.

The Home Price Index (HPI) Value for single family residential home sales in Saskatoon increased slightly from July to $312,200. The HPI measures the change in value over time for a typical single family home with a standard set of attributes. This rate of change reports similar to the Consumer Price Index and is the most accurate indicator of home pricing. The HPI value for townhouse style residences declined for the month to $225,200, down from $234,400 in July. Benchmark pricing for apartment Style condominiums continue to decline for the eighth straight month. For more information on HPI go to saskatoonrealtors.ca . Year-to-date, the average sale price was $334,226, a 4% decrease from the same period last year. Average prices can be misleading as outlier sales can skew the average sale value one way or the other over a short period of time. This is why the median price of HPI value is a better indicator of the market.

Last month, the average home in Saskatoon took 52 days to sell in Saskatoon. The five year average for days to sell in the month of July is 50.4 days.

REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are dedicated to developing professional standards and continuing education in the real estate profession. This is not the case for those who sell real estate in the province and who are not members of an association of REALTORS®.

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, August 31st - September 3rd, 2018

Fri, 31 Aug 2018 20:57:59 GMT

Friday, August 31^st, 2018

1^st Annual Oskana Cup Tournament

Dakota Dunes Golf Links – 202 Dakota Dunes Way

Time: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm

Website: dakotadunes.ca

Breathe-911 Ryde

River Landing East – Spadina Cres E

Time: 7:30 pm

Price: Free

Website: lung.sk.ca

SIGA’s 2^nd Annual Charity Pancake Breakfast

Corner of Joseph Okemasis Dr & 105 St E

Time: 7:30 – 9:30 am

Price: $5.00 per plate

Website: siga.sk.ca

Saturday, September 1st, 2018

Mick Poley: 20 Years of Hell

Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave

Time: 8:00 pm

Website: broadwaytheatre.ca

Ongoing

August 31^st – September 1^st, 2018

Nutrien Fireworks Festival

River Landing and Friendship Park

Time: 5:00 – 10:00 pm

Website: nutrienfireworksfestival.ca/

August 18^th – October 28^th, 2018

Corn Maze Fun – Viva Italia!

Saskatoon Italian Cultural & Recreational Centre – Corner of Cedar Villa Road & Hwy 7

Time: 1:00 – 8:00 pm

Website: www.saskatoonicc.com

September 1^st – 7^th, 2018

Le Burger Week Saskatoon

Various Restaurants in Saskatoon

Website: leburgerweek.com

August 16^th – September 20^th, 2018

Sisters United: Women’s Suffrage in Saskatchewan

Western Development Museum – 2610 Lorne Ave

Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Website: wdm.ca/stoon/exhibits_temp.html

August 7^th - September 16^th, 2018

SRHBA Parade of Homes

Time: Mon – Thurs 7 – 9 pm, Sat & Sun 2 – 5pm

Price: Free

Website: paradeofhomesonline.ca

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for July, 2018

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 19:57:41 GMT

Increase in July Home Sales

The month of July saw a significant increase of over 25% in the year-over-year Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) sales activity with a total of 390 unit sales in the month. This compares with 310 transactions in July of 2017. Total MLS® transactions for Saskatoon year to date was down 3.3% with 2,082 home sales compared to 2,152 to the end of July 2017.

“Although one month does not constitute a trend, it is very encouraging to see such a significant increase in activity during a month when many buyers typically leave town on vacation” comments Jason Yochim, CEO with the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS®. Other positive indicators are a decline in the number of new MLS® listings coming on to the market.

A total of 710 new MLS® listings in July represented a decrease of 10% over last year and well below the five year average of 830 listings. Fewer new listings combined with an increase in sales reduced the number of active listings from 2,109 in June to 2,048 at the end of July. The five year average for active MLS® listings is 1,977 units. “Lower inventory levels will help move the market from a buyer’s market towards balance and stabilize home prices.” adds Yochim.

MLS® sales below $200,000 totaled 57 transactions in July, 55% higher than July of 2017, while year to date sales increased by 26% with 307 transactions. Homes that sold between $300-400,000 on the MLS® in July showed an increase of 27% over the previous July while year to date the number of sales in this price range totaled 1,229, a decline of 5%. Home sales in excess of $400,000 totaled 540 transactions year to date, a decline of 12% over the previous year.

The Home Price Index (HPI) Value for single family residential home sales in Saskatoon took a slight decrease in July of 0.1% to $315,400 compared to $315,800 at the end of June. The HPI measures the change in value over time for a typical single family home with a standard set of attributes. This rate of change reports similar to the Consumer Price Index and is the most accurate indicator of home pricing.

The HPI value for townhouse style residences continued on its upward trend, increasing by 1.2% for the month to $234,400. For more information on HPI go to saskatoonrealtors.ca . Year-to-date, the average sale price was $334,676, a 4.1% decrease from the same period last year. Average prices can be misleading as outlier sales can skew the average sale value one way or the other over a short period of time. This is why the median price of HPI value is a better indicator of the market.

Last month, the average home in Saskatoon took 49 days to sell in Saskatoon last month. The five year average for days to sell in the month of July is 48 days.

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, July 20th - 23rd, 2018

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 21:00:29 GMT

Friday, July 20^th 2018

Chester Bennington Memorial

River Landing Amphitheatre 0 414 Spadina Cres E

Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Saturday, July 21^st, 2018

1^st Annual Bunnock Tournament

UMEA Sports Fields (Behind Lawson Heights Mall)

Time: 10:00 am

Price: $100/Team (Mixed Teams of 4)

Website: https://www.picatic.com/event15245223029816

Ongoing

July 17^th – 22^nd, 2018

Taste of Saskatchewan

Kiwanis Park – 601 Spadina Cres E

Website: www.tasteofsaskatchewan.ca

July 21^st – 22^nd, 2018

FIBA 3X3 World Tour Masters

4^th Ave & 21^st St

Time: 12.00 pm

Price: Free

Website: www.fiba.basketball/3x3worldtour/2018

July 19^th – 22^nd, 2018

Ness Creek Music Festival

20 kms North East of Big River, SK

Website: nesscreekmusicfestival.com

July 4^th – August 19^th, 2018

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan

Big White Tents off Spadina Crescent

Website: www.shakespearesask.com/

July 20^th – 22^nd, 2018

2018 Saskatchewan Woodturners Symposium

Persephone Theatre – 100 Spadina Cres E

Website: newsite.hubcityturners.ca/events/turning-symposia-2014-2016/symposium-2018/

July 15^th – 22^nd, 2018

Canadian Rugby Championship

Saskatoon Rugby Fields – 134 English Cres

Time: All Day

Price: $5.00 per day/ $20.00 Full event pass

Website: https://rugby.ca/en/news/2018/04/saskatoon-to-host-2018-senior-women-age-grade-canadian-rugby-championships-in-july

Taste of Saskatchewan - July 17th - 22nd, 2018

Tue, 10 Jul 2018 20:53:31 GMT

Mark your calendar's and get ready to eat! The Taste of Saskatchewan is exactly one week from today! Make sure to come on down to Kiwanis Park in Downtown Saskatoon to enjoy amazing food, drinks and music from noon to night from July 17th - 22nd, 2018.

Click here for the Website.

Click here to check out what is on this years menu.

Click here to jot down what time you need to be there to listen to your favorite music.

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for June, 2018

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 15:51:58 GMT

Residential Dollar Volume Continues to Decline

At the midway point of the year, the total dollar volume for residential MLS® sales in Saskatoon sits at $565,435,958. This is down 12% from last year and represents the lowest volume in ten years. In June of 2007 the total dollar volume for residential MLS® sales was $550,023,364. “This is a reflection of a decrease in sales volume coupled with a decrease in pricing” according to Jason Yochim, CEO with the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS®. Year-to-date residential MLS® sales of 1,693 homes is down 8%. Last month there were 350 MLS® home sales, an 11% decline from last June and the lowest number for June in 10 years. The median home sale price of $316,500 is at its lowest point this year, down from $330,000 in January. The Home Price Index (HPI) Value for single family residential home sales in Saskatoon continued its slow but steady increase from February and was at $315,800 at the end of June. The HPI Value for single family residential reached its highest level in May of 2015 at $331,800. The HPI measures the change in value over time for a typical single family home with a standard set of attributes. This rate of change reports similar to the Consumer Price Index and is the most accurate indicator of home pricing. The HPI value for apartment style residences has been on a steady decline since January but appears to have levelled out at $179,100. HPI value for townhouse style residences has been trending up sharply since March and was at $231,600. For more information on HPI go to saskatoonrealtors.ca .

Year-to-date, the average sale price was $333,985, a 5% decrease from the same period last year. The highest average residential sale price for June was in 2015 at $361,719. Average prices can be misleading as outlier sales can skew the average sale value one way or the other over a short period of time. This is why the median price of HPI value is a better indicator of the market.

Inventory levels continue to be elevated with 2,109 residential properties available on the MLS® in Saskatoon at the end of June. This is just slightly above the five year average for active listings which is 1,990. The sales to listing ratio remained virtually unchanged from a year ago at 40%. The sales to listing ratio is a comparison of the number of sales for a period of time to the number of new listings. This number reflects that four out of every ten homes that hit the market end up selling. In reality this percentage is likely lower as many homeowners that do not sell will cancel their current listing and relist often at a different price. This elevates the true number of listings relative to sales. Last month, the average home in Saskatoon took 47 days to sell in Saskatoon last month, unchanged from May of this year.

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, June 22nd - 25th, 2018

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 20:26:09 GMT

Sunday, June 24^th, 2018

Family Fun Day

German Cultural Centre – 160 Cartwright St E

Time: 2:00 – 4:30 pm

Price: Free

Website: www.saskgermancouncil.org/

Ongoing

June 10^th – 24^th, 2018

Saskatoon Pride Festival

Website: saskatoonpride.ca

June 22 – July 1^st, 2018

Sasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival

Website: www.saskjazz.com

June 16^th – 23^rd, 2018

Saskatoon Opera Presents La Boheme

Persephone Theatre – 100 Spadina Cres E

Time: 7:30 pm

Website: www.saskatoonopera.ca/

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, June 15th - 18th, 2018

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 21:29:41 GMT

Saturday, June 16^th, 2018

80s Party Featuring Wang Chung & The Cutting Crew

Dakota Dunes Casino – 204 Dakota Dunes Way

Time: Doors – 7:00 pm, Show – 8:00 pm

Website: dakotadunescasino.com/entertainment/

Sunday, June 17^th, 2018

Father’s Day Ultimate Brunch

German Cultural Centre – 160 Cartwright St E

Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Website: saskgerman.com

Ongoing

June 10-24th, 2018

Saskatoon Pride Festival

Various Locations

Website: saskatoonpride.ca

June 16^th – 23^rd, 2018

Saskatoon Opera Presents La Boheme

Persephone Theatre – 100 Spadina Cres E

Time: 7:30 pm, Saturday 2:00 pm

Website: www.saskatoonopera.ca/

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for May, 2018

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:12:28 GMT

Home Listings Down Year to Date

Fewer home owners seem ready to put their home on the market this year compared to last. In May, a total of 943 properties were added on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Saskatoon representing a 9% decrease from last May. Year to date there were 13% fewer homes listed year to date in Saskatoon.

The total number of active listings in Saskatoon at the end of May was 2,001, just slightly above the five year average of, 1,945 units. “Typically we see the highest number of active listings between May and September.” comments Jason Yochim, CEO with the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS®, “It’s the most active time in our market largely due to favorable weather.” He adds. Inventory levels for active MLS® listings reached an all-time high in July of last year with 2,210 homes for sale in Saskatoon. At the current rate of sales it would take five and a half months to liquidate the current stock of active listings.

In May there were 364 home sales, a decrease of 13% from last May. Year-to-date sales for Saskatoon are down 7% with a total of 1,345 residential MLS® home sales. Home sales so far this year have declined in every price range with the exception of homes under $200,000 which saw a 30% increase for a total of 203 sales. The price range with the greatest decline in sales were homes priced between $450-500,000 with a year-to-date total of 85 sales, a 17% drop from last year. Homes selling between $750,000 and $1M are on par with last year at 19 sales. Homes in excess of $1M however are off sharply with three MLS® sales year to date. In 2017, there were three home sales in May alone over $1M and nine year to date.

The sales to listing ratio has decreased from 43% in April to 39% in May. The sales to listing ratio is a comparison of the number of sales for a period of time to the number of new listings. “Saskatoon remains a buyer’s market. However, homes that are priced to market and in good condition will still command great interest and in some cases competing offers.” comments Yochim. Last month, the average home in Saskatoon took 47 days to sell in Saskatoon last month, this is the lowest time to sell so far this year.

Year-to-date, the average sale price was $334,449, a 4% decrease from the same period last year. Since averages can be misleading, a better reflection of the market is the median. The median home sale price year to date is $320,000. The five year average for median residential home sale prices in Saskatoon is $341,980.

The Home Price Index Composite Benchmark Price (HPI) continued in an upward trend for most home types (except apartment style) again in May. The HPI is the most accurate indicator of where home prices are trending. For more information on HPI go to saskatoonrealtors.ca .

REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are dedicated to developing professional standards and continuing education in the real estate profession. This is not the case for those who sell real estate in the province and who are not members of an association of REALTORS®.

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, June 1st - 4th, 2018

Thu, 31 May 2018 22:12:48 GMT

Saturday, June 2^nd, 2018

Kevin Hart

SaskTel Centre – 101-3515 Thatcher Ave

Time: Doors – 6:00pm, Show – 7:00 pm

Website: sasktelcentre.com

Pop-Up Restaurant – Global Pot Fusion Cuisine

Saskatoon Farmers Market – 414 Ave B South

Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Price: Free

Website: www.globalpot.org

Saskatoon Public Library – Knowlympics

Saskatoon Public Library – 311-23^rd St E

Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Price: Free

Website: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/Knowlympics

Sunday, June 3^rd, 2018

Beads of Courage Color Festival Fun Run/Walk

Lakeview Park – 175 Whiteshore Crescent

Time: 9:00 am

Price: $45.00 – Early Bird

Website: https://www.colourrunsask.ca/about

Ongoing

June 2^nd – 5^th, 2018

Nutrien Children’s Festival of Saskatchewan

Kiwanis Memorial Park

Website: www.potashcorpchildrensfestival.com/

June 1^st – 3^rd, 2018

International Saskatchewan Salsa & Bachata Congress

TCU Place – 35-22^nd St E

Website: sasksalsacongress.com

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, May 25th - 28th, 2018

Fri, 25 May 2018 19:58:38 GMT

Friday, May 25^th, 2018	Ideas on Tap: Personal Branding Vendasta – 4^th Floor, 220 3^rd Ave S Time: 4:00 – 6:00 pm Price: Free Website: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ideas-on-tap-personal-branding-tickets-45811083183 Nature Needs Half \| Naturecity Festival Presents Harvey Locke Aden Bowman Castle Theatre – 1904 Clarence Ave S Time: 7:00 pm Price: Free Website: wildaboutsaskatoon.org/
Saturday, May 26^th, 2018	#1 Hits of the Opry German Cultural Centre – 160 Cartwright St E Time: 6:00 – 11:00 pm Price: $25.00 Website: saskgerman.com 2^nd Annual Sikh Day Parade Dundonald Park – 130 Hunt Road Time: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm Price: Free Saskatoon Mini Maker Faire 2018 Prairieland Park – 503 Ruth St W Time: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Price: Advance Adult - $12.00, Advance (Age 6-12) - $8.00, Adult - $15.00, Age 6-12 - $10.00 Website: https://saskcraftcouncil.org/ SCRC Kilobots Prairieland Park – 503 Ruth St W Time: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Website: kilobots.com/events/
Sunday, May 27^th, 2018	Saskatchewan Marathon Meewasin Trail Time: All Day Website: saskmarathon.ca/ 2018 Flores De Mayo Fiesta Cathedra of the Holy Family – 123 Nelson Road Time: 12:30 – 2:30 pm Price: Adults - $30.00, Youth (Ages 6-12) - $10.00, Ages 5-0 – Free Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/158467021511102/ Synchronized Swimming Watershow Shaw Centre – 122 Bowlt Crescent Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Website: saskatoonaqualenes.com
Ongoing	May 25^th – 26^th, 2018 Top of the Hops Prairieland Park – 503 Ruth St W Time: 6:30 – 11:00 pm Website: https://www.topofthehops.ca/ May 25^th – 27^th, 2018 Ritornello Festival 10! Remai Modern – 102 Spadina Cres E Price: $20.00 - $80.00 Website: ritornello.ca/

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, May 18th - 21st, 2018

Fri, 18 May 2018 21:09:51 GMT

Saturday, May 20^th, 2018

Mini Avengers Superhero Party

German Cultural Centre – 160 Cartwright St E

Time: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Price: Ages 3-12 - $5.00, Ages 0-3 - $2.00

Website: saskgerman.com

Ongoing

May 16^th – 20^th, 2018

Cirque Du Soleil: Crystal

SaskTel Centre – 101-3515 Thatcher Ave

Website: sasktelcentre.com

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, May 11th - 14th, 2018

Thu, 10 May 2018 17:01:28 GMT

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for April, 2018

Thu, 10 May 2018 16:25:29 GMT

Spring Home Sales Show Positive Increase

Residential home sales in Saskatoon were 6.7% higher than April of last year with 335 units selling last month. This represents a third of home sales in Saskatoon so far this year. Although the year to date sales for the first four months of 2018 is down 4.8% over the same period in 2017, last month’s increase in sales helped to close the gap. The increase in April sales also was a welcome reversal of a two month trend of declining sales for February and March. Unit sales for April showed increases for homes priced under $350,000. Of the 202 sales in April under $350,000, 73 were condominiums. Homes that sold between $400,000 and $450,000 showed a 30% increase in sales in April over the same month last year with 39 sales. Homes that are properly priced in that entry level have been seeing competing offers in many cases.

Also of note, year to date there have only been two residential sales over $1M in Saskatoon compared with six for the first four months in 2017. The number of active residential properties for sale in Saskatoon at the end of April was 1,834 units. This is consistent with the five year average of 1,830. This is largely due to a decrease in the number of new listings brought to the market. The number of new listings for the first third of 2018 was 2,594 compared to 3,024. This represents more than a 14% decline year over year.

The sales to listing ratio increased to 43% from 37% a year ago. The sales to listing ratio is a comparison of the number of sales for a period of time to the number of new listings. Although the sales to listing ratio is moving towards balance, we are still in a buyer’s market. The increase in this ratio in April was largely due to the 6.5% reduction in new listings and the comparative 6.7% increase in sales. Last month, the average home in Saskatoon took 53 days to sell compared with the five year average of 47 days.

The average sale price saw its first increase this year by 1.75% to $318,729 in April. For the first quarter of 2018, the average home sale price in Saskatoon was $333,826. Since averages can be misleading, a better reflection of the market is the median. The median home sale price increased slightly from March to $320,000. The five year average for median residential home sale prices in Saskatoon is $332,650.

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, May 4th - 7th, 2018

Fri, 04 May 2018 17:55:15 GMT

Friday, May 4^th, 2018	An Evening with Patsy Cline Nutana Legion – 3021 Louise Street Time: 7:00 – 9:30 pm Price: $30.00 Website: www.celebrity-imposters.com
Saturday, May 5^th, 2018	Fire in the Kitchen Cook Off Prairieland Park – 503 Ruth St W Time: Doors open at 5:30 pm Price: $700.00 individual/$600.00 table of 8 Website: https://www.picatic.com/spffacookoff2018 Goodnight Moon and the Runaway Bunny Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave Time: 10:00 am and 1:15 pm Website: broadwaytheatre.ca Gord Bamford Dakota Dunes Casino – 204 Dakota Dunes Way Time: Doors 7:00 pm, Showtime 8:00 pm Price: $45.00 Website: dakotadunescasino.com/entertainment/ Little Peanut Craft & Gift Fair Saskatoon Exhibition Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Price: $1.00 Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/132920067425081/ River Safety Day River Landing Time: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm Price: Free Website: www.theprairielily.com SSO Season Finale with Gryphon Trio TCU Place – 35-22^nd St E Time: 7:30 pm Price: $15.00-$80.00 Website: saskatoonsymphony.org/event/masters-6-finale/ The Icons German Cultural Centre – 160 Cartwright St E Time: 6:00 – 11:00 pm Price: $25.00 Website: saskgerman.com
Sunday, May 6^th, 2018	Kyla in the Spring Art Show and Sale German Cultural Centre – 160 Cartwright St E Time: 3:00 – 7:00 pm Price: $15.00 in advance, $20.00 at the door Website: saskgerman.com Mental Health and Addiction Services Fun Run/Walk Diefenbaker Park Time: 9:00 am Website: https://www.mhasfunrun.ca/
Ongoing	May 6^th – 8^th, 2018 Centre for Forensic Behavioral Science and Justice Studies’ Violence and Aggression Symposium University of Saskatchewan – 9 Campus Drive Website: www.usask.ca/cfbsjs/va_symposia/VA2018/ May 7^th – 9^th, 2018 Menopause the Musical Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave Time: 7:30 pm Website: broadwaytheatre.ca May 4^th – 6^th, 2018 Saskatoon Jane’s Walks Various Neighborhoods in Saskatoon Price: Free Website: janeswalksaskatoon.ca

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, April 27th - 30th, 2018

Fri, 27 Apr 2018 19:41:41 GMT

Friday, April 27^th, 2018	Humboldt Broncos Tribute Concert SaskTel Centre – 101-3515 Thatcher Ave Time: 7:30 pm Price: $65.00 Website: sasktelcentre.com Ideas on Tap Presents: Small Business Branding – A Digital Marketing Bootcamp Vendasta - #405-220 3^rd Ave S Time: 4:00 – 7:00 pm Price: Free Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/182432119072975/
Saturday, April 28^th, 2018	Equine Assisted Learning Date Night Lift Farm – Merril School Road Time: 6:00 – 7:30 pm Price: $100.00 per couple Website: https://www.facebook.com/liftfarmEAL/ Free Meditation Retreat for Everybody St. Joseph Parish – 535 8^th St E Time: 8:00 am – 11:00 am Price: Free Website: https://www.mahamevnawasaskatoon.com/ Saskatchewan Rush VS Calgary Roughnecks SaskTel Centre – 101-3515 Thatcher Ave Time: 7:30 pm Price: $25.00-$69.00 Website: www.saskrush.com Saskatoon Speed Dating Singles 34 – 45 Finn’s Irish Pub – Park Town Hotel Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm Website: https://34to45april28.eventbrite.ca The SJO Plays Stans Getz Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave Time: 7:30 pm Price: $30.00/$15.00 Website: broadwaytheatre.ca
Sunday, April 29^th, 2018	Saskatchewan Blue Cross MS Walk Archibald Arena – 1410 Windsor Street Time: 10:00 am Website: mswalks.ca
Monday, April 30^th, 2018	Donovan Woods and the Opposition Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave Time: 7:30 pm Website: broadwaytheatre.ca
Ongoing	April 26^th – 29^th, 2018 The 2018 Saskatoon Gem & Mineral Show German Cultural Centre – 160 Cartwright St E Time: Thursday – Saturday 10:00 am – 8:00pm, Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Price: Free Website: canadagemshows.com

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, April 20th - 23rd, 2018

Fri, 20 Apr 2018 17:44:35 GMT

Saturday, April 21^st, 2018

Shades of Psych II

Amigos Cantina – 806 Dufferin Ave

Time: 10:00 pm

Price: $12.00 at the door, $10.00 in Advance

Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/416294932174761/

SSO 9 and 3/4S – Music of Harry Potter

TCU Place – 35-22^nd St E

Time: 7:30pm

Price: $15.00 - $95.00

Website: saskatoonsymphony.org/event/pops-4-music-of-harry-potter/

Monday, April 23^rd, 2018

Peppa Pig Live!

TCU Place – 35-22^nd St E

Time: 6:00 pm

Website: tcuplace.com

Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival Tour

Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave

Time: 7:00 pm

Website: broadwaytheatre.ca

Ongoing

April 12^th – 21^st, 2018

Home is a Beautiful Word

Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave

Price: $28.00

Website: persephonetheatre.org

April 21^st – 22^nd, 2018

Saskatoon Potters Guild Spring Show and Sale!

Albert Community Centre – 3^rd Floor – 610 Clarence Ave S

Time: Saturday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm, Sunday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Price: Free

Website: www.saskatoonpottersguild.com

April 19^th – 22^nd, 2018

Slow Food in Canada 2018 Summit

Website: slowfood.ca/2018-national-summit-in-saskatoon/

April 20^th – 22^nd, 2018

Your Family History: Finding and Assembling the Pieces

Park Town Hotel – 924 Spadina Cres E

Time: 12:00 pm

Website: genealogysaskatoon.org

Weekend Events in Saskatoon March 30th - April 2nd, 2018

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 17:02:24 GMT

Friday, March 30^th, 2018	Lee Aaron & Harlequin Dakota Dunes Casino – 204 Dakota Dunes Way Time: Doors - $7.00 pm, Showtime - $8.00 Price: $40.00 Website: dakotadunescasino.com
Saturday, March 31^st, 2018	Olate Dogs Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave Time: 7:30 pm Website: broadwaytheatre.ca
Sunday, April 1^st, 2018	Annual Easter Brunch German Cultural Centre – 160 Cartwright St E Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Website: saskgerman.com Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet at the Park Town Hotel Park Town Hotel – 924 Spadina Cres E Time: 9:30 am – 2:00 pm Website: www.parktownhotel.com/blog/page/four-seasons-restaurant Easter Sunday Dinner Buffet at the Park Town Hotel Park Town Hotel – 924 Spadina Cres E Time: 4:40 – 8:00 pm Website: www.parktownhotel.com/blog/page/four-seasons-restaurant
Ongoing	March 30^th – 31^st, 2018 Draggins Rod and Custom Car Show Prairieland Park – 503 Ruth St W Time: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm March 24^th – April 12^th, 2018 Paraph Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery – 813 Broadway Ave Time: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Price: By Donation Website: https://saskcraftcouncil.org/affinity-gallery-exhibitions/current-exhibition/ March 22^nd – 31^st, 2018 Spirit Wrestler by Greg Nelson Greystone Theatre – 118 Science Place Time: 8:00 pm Price: Adults - $22.00, Seniors - $19.00, Students - $17.00 Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/151156728887280/

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, March 16th - 19th, 2018

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 17:49:03 GMT

Friday, March 16^th, 2018	The Dears Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave Time: 8:00 pm Website: broadwaytheatre.ca
Saturday, March 17^th, 2018	Anastasia – Ballet Jorgen TCU Place – 35-22^nd St E Time: 7:30 pm Website: tcuplace.com Saskatoon Blades VS Prince Albert Raiders SaskTel Centre – 101-3515 Thatcher Ave Time: 7:05 pm Price: $19.00 - $31.00 Website: www.saskatoonblades.com
Monday, March 19^th, 2018	Indigenous Inclusion in the Hemp & Cannabis Industry Saskatoon Inn & Conference Centre – 2002 Airport Drive Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Price: $350.00 Website: https://indginclusion.com Movies that Matter: Looking for Mr. Goodbye Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave Time: 7:00 pm Price: Students/Senior - $5.00, General - $7.00 Neighbors Working Together – A Dialogue on Intensification and our Urban Heritage Edwards Family Centre – 333 4^th Ave N Time: 7:30 pm Price: Free Website: www.pcap-sk.org/upcoming-events-workshops/2018-egs-week
Ongoing	March 8^th – 16^th, 2018 Boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb Live Five Time: Thursday to Saturday 8:00pm, Sunday 2:00 pm Price: $21.00 - $25.00 Website: www.livefive.ca/season/boom/ March 16^th – 18^th, 2018 Collector’s Show Prairieland Park Price: Adult - $10.00, Weekend Pass - $15.00 Website: www.saskatooncollectorshow.com/ March 19^th – 23^rd, 2018 Prairie’s Got The Goods Week Online Webinar Series: http://www.pcap-sk.org/upcoming-events-workshops/2018-egs-week Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm Website: www.pcap-sk.org/upcoming-events-workshops/2018-egs-week

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, March 9th - 12th, 2018

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 16:02:42 GMT

Friday, March 9^th, 2018

Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids Saskatoon

Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave

Website: broadwaytheatre.ca

Saskatoon Blades VS Calgary Hitmen

SaskTel Centre – 101-3515 Thatcher Ave

Time: 7:05 pm

Price: $19.00 - $31.00

Website: www.saskatoonblades.com

Saturday, March 10^th, 2018

Rock This Town with the Toon Town Big Band

Broadway Theatre – 715 Broadway Ave

Time: 8:00 pm

Website: broadwaytheatre.ca

Saskatoon Blades VS Brandon Wheat Kings

SaskTel Centre – 101-3515 Thatcher Ave

Time: 7:05 pm

Price: $19.00 - $31.00

Website: www.saskatoonblades.com

The White Buffalo

The Capital – 244 1^st Ave N

Time: 10:00 pm

Website: broadwaytheatre.ca

Ongoing

March 8^th – 11^th, 2018

Homestyles

Prairieland Park – 503 Ruth St W

Time: Thursday 3:00 – 9:00pm, Friday 1:00 – 9:00pm, Saturday 10:00am – 9:00pm, Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm
Price: Adults - $12.50, Seniors - $10.00, Children 12 & Under – Free

Website: homestylesonline.com/

March 8^th – 16^th, 2018

Boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb

Live Five – The Refinery Arts and Spirit Centre

Time: Thursday to Saturday – 8:00pm, Sunday 2:00 pm

Price: $21.00-$25.00

Website: www.livefive.ca/season/boom/

March 9^th – 11^th, 2018

Rock the River Cup Bonspiel

Nutana Curling Club – 2002 Arlington Ave

Time: All Day

Price: Team Registration $350.00

Website: www.prairielilycurling.com

MLS® Monthly Home Price Index for February, 2018

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:19:59 GMT

Home Inventory Levels Declining

A year over year decline in home sales and new listings in February contributed to a declining availability of homes in the Saskatoon market. At the end of last month there was a total of 1,588 active residential listings in Saskatoon. This represented a 4% decline from a year ago when there were 1,659 properties available. Although the number of sale transactions in February, 211, represented a 6% decline from the same month last year, strong sales in January helped the overall sales year to date to remain 1% ahead of last year. Year to date, a total of 413 residential sales have been recorded on the MLS® in the city of Saskatoon. In February, REALTORS® in Saskatoon listed a total of 1,159 residential properties, this is a 14% decline compared to last February’s number of 1,332.

In February of 2016, a total of 1,410 homes were listed for sale. The number of transactions that occurred in Saskatoon was 203 units which represents an 11% increase over January of 2017. The overall dollar volume for home sales in Saskatoon was just under $70 million which is a 6% decline from last February. The year to date total volume of transactions is unchanged from last year at $139 million. Year to date sales in the region surrounding Saskatoon, which includes the cities of Warman and Martensville, totaled 122 units representing a 14% increase. The overall dollar volume for this surrounding market was just under $39.5 million for the first two months of the year, an increase of 12% compared to last year. “For the past couple of years inventory levels have hovered around 2,000 available properties.” Comments Jason Yochim, CEO with the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR) “It is definitely a positive trend to see inventory levels shrinking, this is helpful for slowing price decline.” he adds. The average sale price for a home in Saskatoon slipped 1% in February.

The Home Price Index (HPI) composite benchmark value declined only very slightly in the last 30 days to $292,800. Although this is its lowest point since February of 2012 the decline in the composite price appears to be slowing. With the exception of a couple of months in the spring of last year, the HPI composite value has been in an overall decline since August of 2016 when the value was $317,600.

Weekend Events in Saskatoon, March 2nd - 5th, 2018

Fri, 02 Mar 2018 16:09:24 GMT

Friday, March 2^nd, 2018	Saskatoon Blades VS Lethbridge Hurricanes SaskTel Centre – 101-3515 Thatcher Ave Time: 7:05 pm Price: $19.00 - $31.00 Website: www.saskatoonblades.com
Saturday, March 3^rd, 2018	Saskatchewan Rush VS Vancouver Stealth SaskTel Centre – 101-3515 Thatcher Ave Time: 7:30 pm Price: $25.00-$69.00 Website: www.saskrush.com SSO The Music of Joni Mitchell TCU Place – 35-22^nd St E Time: 7:30 pm Price: $15.00-$110.00 Website: saskatoonsymphony.org/event/pops-3-the-music-of-joni-mitchell/ The Steadies – Free Show: Finn’s Irish Pub 15^th Birthday Presented by District Brewing Finn’s Irish Pub – 924 Spadina Cres E Time: 4:00 pm Price: Free Website: www.parktownhotel.com/blog/page/finns-irish-pub
Monday, March 5^th, 2018	Indigenous Policy at a Cross-Roads University of Saskatchewan – Prairie Room Time: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Website: www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca
Ongoing	To March 4^th, 2018 Saskatoon Blues Festival Presented by Cherry Insurance TCU Place – 35-22^nd St E Website: saskatoonbluessociety.ca March 2^nd – 4^th, 2018 Saskatoon Sports and Leisure Show Prairieland Park – 503 Ruth St W Price: Adults - $12.00, Seniors - $8.00, Juniors - $8.00, Family of 4 - $25.00 Website: www.saskatoonsportsandleisureshow.ca March 3^rd – 4^th, 2018 Mid-Winter Craft Show German Cultural Centre – 160 Cartwright St E Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Price: $2.00 Website: saskgerman.com March 2^nd – 3^rd, 2018 School Garden Summit Elim Church – 419 Slimmon Road Price: $125.00 Early Bird, $150.00 General Website: www.schoolgardensummit.org