Usually, a home inspection is done after an offer is made to buy a home. The offer will typically include a condition that the property must pass such an inspection. The buyer then hires the inspector, who goes through the home, top to bottom, inside and out, looking for issues.

However, you can also get an inspection done as the seller. In this case, you are paying for an inspector to produce a report on your home — before you sell. In fact, this is often called a pre-sale home inspection.

Why would you do this?

A pre-sale home inspection can make your property more attractive to buyers. This is especially helpful if you’re selling in a buyer’s market, where there are more homes like yours for sale than there are buyers. The report serves as an enticing feature of your listing because it reassures buyers that there are no unknown issues.

So, getting a pre-home inspection is something worth considering. For a buyer deciding between your listing and another home for sale, it can be a determining factor.

Want to save money in 2023? There are many money-saving opportunities — including tax savings — that you can realize if you take action before the year ends. Here are just a few examples of what to consider:

• Do you own a business? Even if it’s just a side-hustle to make extra money, you can save on taxes if you make planned purchases this month. For example, if you need a new printer, buy it in December. That way, you may be able to take a deduction this year.
• Check your subscriptions. Many types of subscriptions — publications, online apps, memberships — automatically renew in December. If you subscribe to something you no longer want, cancel it this month. Otherwise, you might be stuck paying the renewal fee.
• Review your investments. Sit down with your advisor and go over your investments and other savings. You may be able to take advantage of year-end opportunities. Also check for investments or financial instruments that may be set to automatically renew this month.
• Watch for price hikes. It’s common for companies to raise prices at the beginning of a new year. Review your bills for announcements of fee increases. Some of those may be negotiable. You might also want to make other changes to reduce the impact.

Taking time this month to review expenses and investments could save you a bundle in 2023. It’s worth the effort!

There were 924 sales recorded across the province in November, a 32 per cent decline over last year’s record high. While sales continue to slow when compared to 2021, a record year, year-to-date activity remains over 16 per cent above long-term trends in the province.

The ongoing pullback in new listings continues to be driven largely by homes priced below $500,000. While new listings improved in higher priced product, the decline in sales and new listings has prevented inventory gains. For the second consecutive month, inventory levels remain over 25 per cent below 10-year averages.

“Higher lending rates and inflationary pressures are impacting housing demand across the country,” said Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association CEO Chris Guérette. “That said, our market remains resilient, and the biggest concern is a lack of supply in homes priced below $500,000. It’s increasingly clear that the lack of supply is in the more affordable segment of our continuum.”

Market conditions remain relatively tight for lower priced homes while supply gains in the upper price ranges are resulting in more choice for buyers. While the benchmark price has trended down from levels reported earlier in the year, prices remain nearly two per cent higher than levels reported this time last year.

“Market conditions vary significantly across the country and unlike other markets, we continue to report sales levels well above long-term trends,” said Guérette. “Positive long-term fundamentals have Saskatchewan on track to continue to fare better than many markets across the country.”

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Regional Highlights

Sales activity eased across all regions of the province, contributing to year-to-date declines as high as 26 per cent in some regions. Despite sales adjustments, sales have outperformed long-term trends in all regions.

As seen in prior months, inventory remains a challenge province-wide. All regions are reporting easing inventory and levels well below 10-year averages.

Price Trends

Monthly price adjustments varied significantly across the province. Moose Jaw and Yorkton were the only regions to report a year-over-year decline in prices in November. Most regions have seen prices ease from the highs experienced earlier this year, with the exception of Meadow Lake, which reported a record high, nearly seven per cent higher than last year.

City of Regina

November sales eased relative to last year’s record monthly high but remain consistent with 10-year averages. Year-to-date sales fell below the record levels experienced last year yet remain 25 per cent above long-term averages. Easing sales were met with a pullback in new listings, causing inventories to decline by 17 per cent when compared to last November.

As the decline in sales outpaced the decline in inventories, months of supply has improved slightly when compared to levels seen earlier in the year. The City of Regina reported a benchmark price of $314,300, slightly higher than prices seen last November.

City of Saskatoon

Easing sales activity resulted in a year-to-date decline of 15 per cent in Saskatoon. Much of the decline in sales continues to be driven by a pullback in detached sales. Though sales have eased from record highs, levels remain higher than pre-pandemic and 10-year averages.

New listings continue to ease, and November inventory levels fell to the lowest level reported in over a decade. The City of Saskatoon reported a benchmark price of $367,800, nearly three per cent higher than prices reported in November 2021.