Price
Filters
RSS

Posted on by

There are few things more beautiful than cut flowers in a vase. They instantly brighten any room. That is, of course, until they wilt and die. So how do you make cut flowers last as long as possible? Here are some ideas:

 

• Cut the bottom of the stems before you put the flowers in the vase. An angled cut is best as this will enable the flower to draw in more water.

 

• Add a fertilizer to the water. Most flower shops include a pouch with the order. Follow the directions carefully. Don’t use too much.

 

• Make sure the vase is high enough to support the flowers. Too much strain on the stems will cause the flowers to die sooner.

 

• After a couple of days, re-snip the stems. This will add an additional day or two to the life of the flowers.

 

• Flowers last longer if you put them in the fridge (in water) overnight. That’s why florists store cut flowers in cool rooms.

 

Finally, watch the water level and top off as required. Older cut flowers will die quickly when starved of water — even for just a couple of hours.

Read

Posted on by
The Saskatoon market in February 2016 saw a slight decrease in sales of 1% compared to February of 2015. This represents a drop of only two units from the 306 sales in February of last year. Year to date the total number of unit sales was down 4.3% from 560 units in 2015 to 536 units in 2016. The average sale price of $341,459 was a 6% decline when compared to the same period last year. This was anticipated based on the CREA Home Price Index where the composite value has steadily trended downward from $313,000 last July to $301,600. This represents a 3.8% decline in the index since July and a 2.96% decline over the past twelve months. A significant factor in the average price declining, was a decrease in the number homes selling over $500,000. In 2015, 65 units had sold by the end of February compared to 49 units for the same two month period in 2016.

The housing market in Saskatoon is ideal for those wishing to buy for several reasons. Healthy inventory levels which are up 13% over 2015, provide more choices, especially in the new home market. Interest rates are also low and likely to remain that way for the foreseeable future. Saskatoon has weathered the economic slowdown well with a projected GDP in 2016 of 2.2% which is the envy of many cities in Canada. Lastly, in spite of an average sale price of just over $340,000, Saskatoon is still considered to be one of the most affordable places to buy a home in Canada. "It is really a perfect time for those who are in the market to purchase a home." comments Jason Yochim, CEO with the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS®. The primary reason for purchasing a principle residence should be that it meets the needs of the buyer, the thought of making a tax free profit, although important, should be secondary. "Waiting to buy at the bottom of the market can be a risky strategy." he cautions. "Buy the home because it is what you want, where you want it and fits your budget. When the time comes to sell it may have fluctuated in value several times on paper."

The homes that are moving are selling for 97% of the asking price and average time to sell of 53 days. This is a typical exposure period for this time of year. "Sellers that are realistic about the current market and who price their home accordingly will see similar results." adds Yochim, "Let's face it, we all would like to make a handsome tax free gain on the sale of our home but depending on when one purchased the home, what improvements have or have not been made and where the home is located will have a direct impact on profitability at the time of sale."  -Source: March 2016 SRAR Media Release
 
A good REALTOR® can give sound pricing and timing advice.  Looking for a good REALTOR®?  Call today.
Read

Posted on by

Do you ever wonder how most people find the homes they eventually buy? You might imagine them driving by a “For Sale” sign or seeing a home for sale in the newspaper and then calling to enquire.

 

Of course, many buyers find out about listed properties that way. But, according to research by the National Association of Realtors, there are many other — sometimes surprising — ways buyers find their next dream home.

 

For example:

 

• 88% of buyers find a home with the help of a real estate agent.

 

• 90% of buyers search online as part of the home buying process. (Such as viewing a property’s profile on the agent’s website.)

 

• 69% of buyers searching for a home using Google, use a specific local term, such as “Saskatoon homes for sale”.

 

• 29-46% of buyers attend an Open House as part of their home hunting activities.

 

Overall, the research shows that buyers are using a multitude of ways — combining online and offline methods — to find homes.

 

What does all this mean to you? If means that if you’re preparing your home for sale, you need to ensure your marketing plan takes into account all the ways buyers are finding properties — so you can be sure that they will find yours.

 

Looking for a REALTOR® who knows how to market your home for maximum exposure? Call today.

Read
Powered by myRealPage.com
The Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association (SRA) IDX Reciprocity listings are displayed in accordance with SRA's MLS® Data Access Agreement and are copyright of the Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association (SRA).
The above information is from sources deemed reliable but should not be relied upon without independent verification. The information presented here is for general interest only, no guarantees apply.
Trademarks are owned and controlled by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Used under license.
MLS® System data of the Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association (SRA) displayed on this site is refreshed every 2 hours.