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Interior Painting 101: Making Sense of Finishes

If you are thinking of sprucing up your property with a fresh coat of paint, the first thing that comes to mind is the colour. But to accomplish the look you are trying to achieve, an equal amount of thought should go into the type of paint sheen you will use, which is how much light reflects off the paint. For a rundown of the most common sheens read on.

Matte or Flat – With no reflective properties, this is a good option for touch-ups since they are less visible. Keep in mind it’s less durable, and will be damaged if treated with a cleaner, so it’s best used in low-traffic areas.

Eggshell – This sheen is soft like an eggshell, hence the name. It’s good for medium-traffic areas like entryways, hallways, and living rooms.

Satin – A popular choice for its increased gloss and better durability over lower sheens like eggshell, making it easier to clean and good for busy areas.

High-Gloss or Semi-Gloss – These sheens are shiny, sleek, and very durable with high moisture resistance, making them good for high-traffic and humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms. However, their shine shows imperfections the most. For maximum shine and durability, high-gloss is the best choice.

If you are torn between what sheen to choose, you can always mix them to get a little of both.


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 Pre-Vacay Home Prep

If you are planning a vacation this winter, in order to make sure things go smoothly, it’s wise to prepare your home before you go away. Here is a helpful pre-vacation home checklist:

  • Don’t tell everyone about your vacation or post about it on social media – the fewer people who know your home is empty, the safer.
  • If you are in a house, ask a neighbour to keep an eye on things, bring in your mail and help with any outdoor maintenance needed while you are away. Provide them with a key and your contact information in case they need to reach you due to an emergency.
  • Consider keeping a couple of lights on, setting lights up on timers if you have them, or controlling them remotely with your smartphone.
  • Unplug unneeded devices to save power and to prevent an electrical fire.
  • Keep your thermostat at 15 °C (59°F in the US) to avoid pipes bursting in cold climates.
  • Turn off the water supply to prevent water damage.
  • If you have smart technology linked to your phone, you can check on your home with security cameras, turn on and off the TV, and open and close blinds, to make your home appear occupied.
With a little pre-planning, you can go away with greater peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy your vacation.


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STRONG DECEMBER SALES WRAP UP SASKATCHEWAN’S SECOND-BEST YEAR ON RECORD
Saskatchewan reported 776 sales in December, up three percent year-over-year and nearly 15 percent above long-term, 10-year averages. Above-average December sales capped off the second-strongest year on record for resale housing activity in Saskatchewan, with 16,119 sales across the province in 2024, up nearly nine percent from 2023.
 
Strong demand throughout 2024 was consistently met with declining new listings, resulting in record inventory lows at various points throughout the year. In December, new listings decreased by 16 percent year-over-year, down nearly 30 percent from 10-year averages and two percent below 2023.
 
“Our province closed 2024 with an eighteenth consecutive month of above-average sales, an incredible statistic when you consider the significant inventory challenges we’ve faced throughout the year,” noted Association CEO, Chris Guérette. “This lack of available inventory, specifically in the more affordable segment of the market, is very likely preventing even stronger 2024 sales figures.”
Seasonal sales trends allowed the provincial months of supply to reach nearly five months in December, up from below four months in November. However, inventory levels decreased by 20 percent compared to December 2023 and continue to sit over 40 percent below the 10-year average – with even tighter conditions reported in Regina and Saskatoon.
The province’s residential benchmark price stood at $337,800 in December, down slightly from 338,400 in November, consistent with seasonal trends. Despite the slight month-over-month decrease, Saskatchewan’s residential benchmark price grew by nearly seven percent compared to December 2023.
 
“Saskatchewan’s resale housing market continues to benefit from record population figures, employment growth, and the recent Bank of Canada interest rate cuts,” said Guérette. “As we look ahead to 2025, we expect supply challenges to continue as a dominant theme. If this increased demand continues in the new year, we will likely see prices continue to trend upward across the province.”
 
 
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Regional Highlights
All regions of the province reported yearly sales that outpaced both 2023 sales levels and long-term, 10-year averages. The Regina-Moose Mountain (up 28 percent compared to 10-year trends), Saskatoon-Biggar (18 percent) and Swift Current-Moose Jaw (17 percent) regions significantly outperformed historical trends in 2024.
 
As seen throughout much of 2024, the Saskatoon-Biggar (3.23 months of supply) and Regina-Moose Mountain (4.11) regions continue to report the tightest market conditions in the province. Despite seasonal sales trends allowing the months of supply to improve in December, both regions are reporting months of supply over 50 percent below historical averages.
 
Price Trends
Strong demand paired with low inventory drove price gains throughout much of 2024 – with nearly all areas of the province reporting year-over-year sales gains in December.
 
For the fifth consecutive month, the City of Moose Jaw led the way with year-over-year price gains of over 14 percent. Additionally, the cities of Humboldt (13.5 percent), Melfort (12.5), and Melville (10.9) all reported double-digit price gains in December.
 
City of Regina
The City of Regina reported 198 sales in December, a five percent year-over-year increase and over 28 percent above long-term trends. Above-average monthly sales were a consistent theme for the Queen City throughout the year, with 3,917 sales in 2024 – the largest number of yearly sales in Regina’s history.
 
Despite modest new listing growth compared to 2023, record demand continues to impact Regina’s inventory levels, which declined by 32 percent year-over-year and are currently over 40 percent below historical averages.
 
Regina's residential benchmark price was $313,400 in December, down slightly from $313,700 in November and over five percent higher than December 2023.
 
City of Saskatoon
The City of Saskatoon reported 256 home sales in December, a year-over-year increase of over 12 percent and nearly 20 percent above the 10-year average. With 5,035 annual sales, 2024 marked the second-strongest year on record in the Bridge City, up over eight percent compared to 2023.
 
At year-end, there were only 555 available units, as inventory levels declined by 25 percent year over year and are nearly 50 percent below historical averages. With only 2.17 months of supply to end the year, Saskatoon’s inventory levels are near record lows for this time of year.
 
Saskatoon reported a benchmark price of $395,300 in December, down slightly from $398,800 in November, reflecting typical seasonal trends. However, the benchmark price remains over seven percent higher than in December 2023, as tight market conditions continue to drive price gains in Saskatchewan’s largest urban centre.
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