When a buyer opens a cabinet door in your kitchen, it’s not an invasion of privacy. The buyer simply wants to get a sense of the available space. So, you can expect some buyers to explore cabinet space, especially in your kitchen and bathrooms.

That’s why making sure cabinet space looks clean, organized and spacious is so important. Consider these tips:

• If you store a lot of items inside a cabinet, make liberal use of storage bins, baskets, and small plastic containers. Clutter doesn’t look like clutter when it’s organized!
• Go through each cabinet and get rid of as many items as possible. Pay particular attention to expired products. If you haven’t used an item for a while, question whether you need to keep it anymore.
• Consider storing some items somewhere else in your home. For example, pack up less used items and store them in a larger closet or other storage space.
• Thoroughly clean cabinets that are prone to odours, such as the ones under the kitchen sink or used for storing food.

Buyers will only give a cabinet space a quick glance, yet they’ll form a lasting impression. Make sure it’s a good one!

Shopping for a new home in a distant town, city or neighbourhood can be a challenge. It’s especially difficult if getting there requires a very long drive or flight. So, if you’re thinking of moving out-of-town, here are some home shopping tips to consider:

• Schedule a longer than normal viewing appointment. Make sure the seller is aware that you’ll need more time to see and evaluate the home, so they don’t book another appointment too soon after yours.
• Spend extra time in the neighbourhood and surrounding area. Drive the streets. Go for a walk. If possible, chat with neighbours you run into.
• Get all the facts you can about the home and surrounding area. You’ll want to take a close look at crime statistics, property turnover, demographics, etc.
• Don’t rush your travel plans when going to see a listed home. Try to arrive for the viewing relaxed and energized (rather than stressed and fatigued), so you can see the property in an unhurried manner.

Following these simple tips can bring you a lot closer to finding your faraway dream home.

There were 1,691 sales reported across the province in June, a year-over-year decline of six per cent. While year-over-year sales were down, Saskatchewan again reported sales levels well above long-term, 10-year historical averages.

As seen in prior months, inventory levels remain a significant challenge in certain regions of the province. Despite a slight increase from last month, inventory levels were nine per cent below levels seen in the previous year and over 30 per cent below the 10-year average. Inventory challenges continue to impact the more affordable segment of the market, with homes priced below $300,000 reporting a 17 per cent decline in inventory in June.

“While higher lending rates are impacting sales activity, continued employment growth and Saskatchewan’s relative affordability advantage are preventing a significant pullback in sales,” said Association CEO, Chris Guérette. “Our province continues to report strong sales despite persistent inventory challenges, specifically in the more affordable segment of our housing continuum.”

The slight monthly inventory increase did support a modest gain in the months of supply. However, with just under four months of supply, conditions remain lower than levels traditionally seen in June. Tighter conditions again resulted in month-over-month price gains, as Saskatchewan’s benchmark price reached $331,500 in June, up from $329,600 in May.

“Our market continues to demonstrate resilience amid interest rate hikes, ongoing inflationary pressures, and concerns over a national recession,” said Guérette. “We continue to keep a close eye on inventory levels and how tighter market conditions may impact prices moving forward.”

###

Regional Highlights
Sales activity has eased across many regions in the province throughout the first half of the year. However, the Swift Current- Moose Jaw Region was the only region to see activity fall below long-term trends.

While adjustments in inventory levels did vary across the province, all regions continue to report inventory below long-term, 10-year trends. Year-over-year inventory levels have improved in the Swift Current-Moose Jaw and Yorkton-Melville regions, while the Saskatoon-Biggar region is currently reporting the tightest conditions in the province

Price Trends
The benchmark price varied across Saskatchewan communities in June. As most cities report year-over-year and monthly price growth, the cities of Swift Current, North Battleford, and Yorkton experienced monthly and yearly price decreases. Additionally, the Humboldt region reported its highest benchmark price on record in June

City of Regina

The City of Regina reported 367 sales in June, a year-over-year decline of nearly 10 per cent. While year-over-year sales levels eased, they remain over 11 per cent above long-term, 10-year trends.

A pullback in sales and new listings resulted in inventory similar to levels reported last month. Inventory levels in Regina remain nearly 30 per cent below long-term trends, the lowest levels reported in June since 2014.

With only 2.8 months of supply in the Queen City, current conditions are the tightest they’ve been in June over the past decade. Tighter conditions are contributing to monthly price gains as the benchmark price in Regina reached $318,700 in June, up from $316,100 in May.

City of Saskatoon

The City of Saskatoon reported 541 sales in June, up nearly two per cent year-over-year and 17 per cent above long-term trends.

Despite a slight month-over-month improvement in new listings in June, inventory levels remain over 40 per cent below the 10-year average.

Tight market conditions persisted in June, with under two months of supply supporting further price growth in the Bridge City. The benchmark price reached $381,400 in June, up from $380,100 in May.

Purchasing a home is not the same as buying a product off the shelf. You don’t simply pay the price on the tag and know it’s yours. You can’t just see a home for sale and say, “I’ll take it!”, especially if the market is competitive. You need to make an enticing offer.

That offer, of course, would include the price you propose to pay. That price may or may not be the “price tag” or the asking price. In order for your offer to be successful, it needs other ingredients too. For example, winning offers often include evidence that appropriate financing has been arranged. This gives the seller confidence that you can afford the home and that the deal won’t fall through due to an issue with the mortgage.

Also, you may need to put conditions on your offer, such as making it conditional on selling your current home. You’ll need to be careful here. Adding a condition or two may be necessary to protect your best interests, but may also dissuade the seller from accepting your offer.

Negotiation is perhaps the most important part of the buying process. Even if there are no competing offers, there will likely be back-and-forth discussions about price, conditions, closing dates, and more. Savvy negotiating is critical, not only to ensure you get the home, but also that you get it for the lowest price and best terms possible.

Real estate negotiation is not for the timid. It requires in-depth knowledge of the local market, hard-won negotiating skills, and experience. If you’re selling your home, buying a new home, or both, keep in mind the important role that negotiation has in getting you what you want.

If you’re entertaining the idea of selling your home, especially within the next year, one question you might be grappling with is, “Should I sell now, or wait until market conditions are more favourable?”

The answer is simple. Your decision to sell should be guided by your own needs and desires and not by what you think the market will be like months from now.

First of all, it’s nearly impossible to predict the future in the real estate market. Months from now, it could be a buyer’s market, a seller’s market, a quiet market, or even a frenzied market! Who knows? It’s like trying to predict what the weather will be like on this day next year.

And, if you’re also buying a new home, then market conditions play a less important role. After all, if you sell in a seller’s market and get a high price for your home, you’ll also be paying a seller’s market price for your new home.

In most situations, the “right” time to sell is when you’re ready to make a move.

There were 1,736 sales recorded across the province in May, resulting in a four per cent year-over-year decline. However, despite the year-over-year decline, sales levels were 20 per cent above long-term, 10-year averages.

Stronger sales in May were possible due to recent monthly gains in new listings. While the seasonal boost in new listings also caused inventories to trend up over the last month, inventory levels remain lower than levels reported in the previous year. They are at their lowest level reported in May since 2008. While year-over-year inventory levels have improved for homes priced above $300,000, more was needed to offset the declines occurring in the lower price ranges.

“Saskatchewan continues to benefit from a strong economy which is helping offset some of the impacts of higher lending rates, keeping sales activity above levels seen before the pandemic,” said Association CEO Chris Guérette. “Despite ongoing inventory challenges, our market is once again showing its resilience as sales remain above long-term averages.”

Adjustments in both sales and inventories in May caused the months of supply to fall below four months. As expected, tightening conditions contributed to monthly gains in the benchmark price. As a result, Saskatchewan’s benchmark price reached $329,600 in May, nearly two per cent higher than the month prior.
“Supply levels do vary across different regions of the province. For example, much of the inventory declines have been driven by the Regina and Saskatoon markets, while other parts of the province are reporting year-over-year gains. For any buyer or seller active in this market, it will be important to work with a professional to understand how market conditions can vary depending on property type, price range and location.”

###

Regional Highlights
Most regions across the province reported year-to-date sales declines in May. However, the Swift Current-Moose Jaw Region was the only region that saw sales activity fall below long-term trends.

Adjustments in new listings resulted in year-over-year inventory level gains in both the Swift Current–Moose Jaw and Yorkton-Melville regions. Despite recent shifts, inventory levels generally remain well below long-term averages across all areas of the province.

Inventory adjustments have kept conditions relatively tight across all regions of the province, but the tightest market conditions are being experienced in the Regina-Moose Mountain and Saskatoon-Biggar regions. Tighter market conditions also resulted in monthly price gains across all regions of the province.

Price Trends
The unadjusted benchmark prices varied across different regions of the province in May, with most regions reporting a monthly gain.

City of Regina

The City of Regina reported 418 sales in May, an eight percent year-over-year decrease. Although sales eased on a year-over-year basis, they remain far higher than the 10-year average and pre-pandemic levels. While new listings did report seasonal monthly gains, inventory levels remain well below what we traditionally see available in May.

Stronger sales compared to new listings prevented any significant change to the inventory challenges Regina is experiencing. This caused the months of supply to fall to 2.4 months in May, lower than the levels seen last year and last month. Tight market conditions resulted in monthly price gains as Regina reported a benchmark price of $316,100 in May.

City of Saskatoon

The City of Saskatoon reported 538 sales in May, nearly identical to sales in May 2022 and well above long-term averages. Despite seasonal gains in new listings, inventory levels remain well below the 10-year average.

Higher sales and lower-than-average new listings prevented any significant change in inventory levels, causing the months of supply to fall to two months. As expected, tighter market conditions are placing upward pressure on home prices. Saskatoon’s benchmark price reached $380,100 in May, a monthly gain of nearly two per cent.

As you may know, curb appeal refers to how your property looks from the street, where potential buyers first see it. Your home’s curb appeal can have a big impact on the sale of your property.