Saskatchewan reported 1,667 sales in July, a seven per cent year-over-year gain and over 20 per cent above long-term, 10-year averages. The thirteenth consecutive month of above-average sales in the province has contributed to year-to-date sales that were 10 per cent above July 2023 and 19 per cent above the 10-year average.

While new listings saw a modest year-over-year gain, this had little impact on inventory levels, which were down 20 per cent year-over-year and remain over 40 per cent below long-term trends.

“Strong housing demand continues to support above-average monthly sales levels, preventing any significant inventory relief in many markets across the province,” said Association CEO, Chris Guérette. “Limited supply choice, specifically in the more affordable segment of the market, is likely preventing even stronger sales activity in our province.”

Saskatchewan reported a residential benchmark price of $344,800 in July, up from $343,300 in June and nearly five per cent higher than July 2023. Home prices trended up across all property types in July, with year-over-year gains ranging from over four per cent in detached to 11 per cent in row/townhouse-style properties.

“With just over three months of inventory across the province – below two in some of our larger centres – it remains a challenging time for prospective buyers right now,” said Guérette. “Supply constraints, when paired with strong demand, continue to place upward pressure on prices – as evidenced by record benchmark prices in some communities for the second consecutive month.”

###

Regional Highlights
Despite a slight year-over-year sales decline in some economic regions, all provincial regions reported monthly sales figures above long-term, 10-year averages in July.

Year-to-date sales have improved across all economic regions except the Northern region, with the largest growth occurring in the Regina-Moose Mountain and Swift Current-Moose Jaw regions. Meanwhile, the Saskatoon-Biggar region is again reporting the tightest market conditions in the province, with 2.19 months of supply in July.

Price Trends
Home prices trended up across many economic regions of the province in July, with the largest monthly gains occurring in the Saskatoon-Biggar (seven per cent year-over-year) and Swift Current-Moose Jaw (five per cent) regions.

The City of Saskatoon reported the largest price gains in July, with prices over seven per cent higher than last year. Meanwhile, Regina, Estevan, Weyburn, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Humboldt, Meadow Lake, Melfort, North Battleford, and Prince Albert all reported year-over-year price gains in July.

City of Regina
The City of Regina reported 381 sales in July, up 10 per cent year-over-year and 26 per cent above long-term, 10-year trends.

Strong July sales contributed to a 16 per cent gain in year-to-date sales, which are amongst the highest levels ever reported in Regina at this point in the year. Despite a slight year-over-year increase in new listings, inventory levels remain over 43 per cent below 10-year trends.

The City of Regina reported a benchmark price of $318,400 in July, up from $318,100 in June and 0.5 percent above July 2023.

City of Saskatoon
The City of Saskatoon reported 520 sales in July, a five per cent year-over-year gain and over 20 per cent above long-term, 10-year averages.

Limited supply options continue to prevent stronger sales figures in Saskatoon, as inventory levels remain over 50 per cent below long-term trends. The Bridge City continues to report the tightest market conditions in the province, with 1.60 months of supply in July.

The City of Saskatoon reported a record benchmark price of $406,500 in July, up from $403,500 in June and over seven per cent above July 2023.

Choosing new or replacement eco-friendly flooring is one of the emerging trends among house and condo owners. Eco-friendly flooring is made from, or with, more sustainable resources, such as materials that don’t deplete or permanently damage the environment (such as toxic laminates), or reusable or recyclable materials. Here are some examples:

• Renewable and Sustainable - Bamboo, cork, hardwood, natural stone, linoleum, and wool carpet are just a few of the options out there. Before you buy natural flooring products, ask if the harvesting methods are verified through an accredited authority.
  
  
• Repurposed and Reclaimed - Flooring made from old building structures (e.g., posts, beams, walls, and planks) is a viable alternative to grown and harvested resources. Likewise, recycled glass, plastic, and rubber provide ample raw materials for creative flooring effects. Using them also reduces landfill waste. These products can be found through decorative flooring dealers.

When purchasing any flooring, be it natural or synthetic, it is important to know how the product is manufactured, and that it can easily be recycled when it is beyond its usefulness, as opposed to ending up in a landfill.

Saskatchewan reported 1,675 sales in June, a one percent year-over-year decrease but nearly 10 percent above long-term, 10-year averages. Sales levels improved in properties priced above $400,000, which nearly offset the pullback in homes priced below $300,000, as inventory challenges continue to prevent even stronger monthly sales.

New listings dipped by 14 per cent year-over-year and 21 per cent compared to 10-year trends, preventing any significant inventory relief, as inventory levels decreased by 19 per cent year-over-year and over 40 per cent versus long-term trends. Despite these persistent inventory challenges, Saskatchewan reported above-average sales for the twelfth consecutive month in June.

“While the recent Bank of Canada rate decision was welcome news, higher lending rates and rising home prices continue to spur demand for more affordable housing options,” said Association CEO, Chris Guérette. “This demand, when paired with falling supply in lower price ranges, limits options for prospective buyers and prevents even stronger monthly sales figures. There simply isn’t enough inventory to service this segment of our market right now.”

Saskatchewan reported a residential benchmark price of $343,300 in June, up from $340,400 in May and nearly five per cent higher than June 2023. Meanwhile, the communities of Humboldt ($272,500), Martensville ($398,800), Melfort ($250,100), Prince Albert ($251,700), Saskatoon ($403,500), and Warman ($463,500) reported record benchmark prices in June, with Saskatoon eclipsing the $400,000 mark for the first time.

“Housing demand remains strong in Saskatchewan, despite ongoing supply challenges placing significant stress on the more affordable segment of our market, especially in our two largest centres,” said Guérette. “While real estate is local and market conditions vary by region, it can be incredibly challenging for prospective buyers right now.”

###

Regional Highlights
Regina-Moose Mountain and Prince Albert were the only regions to report year-over-year sales gains, while year-to-date sales remained above average in all regions outside of the Northern Region.

Saskatchewan’s two largest regions continue to report the tightest market conditions in the province, with 3.09 months of supply in the Regina-Moose Mountain region and 2.09 months in the Saskatoon-Biggar region.

Price Trends
Home prices trended up across many regions of the province in June, with the largest monthly gains occurring in the Saskatoon-Biggar (seven per cent year-over-year) and Swift Current-Moose Jaw (five per cent) regions.

With prices over 12 percent higher than last year, the City of Melfort reported the highest year-over-year price gain for the second consecutive month. Meanwhile, Saskatoon, Regina, Estevan, Weyburn, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Humboldt, Meadow Lake, North Battleford, and Prince Albert reported year-over-year price gains in June.

City of Regina
The City of Regina reported 380 sales in June, up four per cent year-over-year and 14 per cent above long-term, 10-year trends.

While conditions remain tight in the Queen City, month-over-month inventory levels improved slightly, resulting in 2.06 months of supply, up from 1.69 in May. Despite some relief, inventory levels were down 30 per cent year-over-year and remain nearly 50 per cent below long-term trends.

The City of Regina reported a benchmark price of $318,100 in June, down from $320,000 in May, and 0.5 percent above June 2023.

City of Saskatoon
The City of Saskatoon reported 540 sales in June, which were on par with June 2023 and 15 percent above long-term, 10-year trends.

Limited supply options are likely preventing even stronger sales in Saskatoon, as inventory levels reached their lowest point since June 2007. The Bridge City reported a 26 percent year-over-year decrease in inventory, which remains over 53 percent below the 10-year average.

The City of Saskatoon reported a record benchmark price of $403,500 in June, up from 397,200 in May and over seven per cent above June 2023.

Unfortunately, air quality alerts are becoming a more common occurrence these days. Aside from that, there are many reasons why the air quality in your home may not be at its best. Maybe it’s a faulty furnace or an aged carpet to blame. Until you get those issues addressed, how can you make your indoor air healthier – today?

Here are some ideas: 

• Use an air purifier – Choose a device that uses a HEPA filter, the gold standard for indoor air purifiers. Also, look for one that has a CADR rating equal to at least two-thirds of the room’s area. You may also want to consider if the purifier’s energy costs and ongoing maintenance costs are within your budget. 

• Check the furnace filter - This is one of the most overlooked maintenance items in the home. Any furnace repair person can tell you stories about filters they’ve seen caked in dust. Make sure those aren’t yours. Air passes through those filters before circulating throughout your home. Replacing a filter takes less than five minutes. 

• Clean the drains - Drains are a surprisingly common source of odour in the home. Most people only clean them when they’re clogged, but they should be flushed thoroughly with a good-quality cleaner at least once a season. 

• Turn on the bathroom fan - Not only do bathroom fans remove odour, but they also reduce moisture build-up. About 50% of air pollutants originate from some type of moisture; mould is the worst of these pollutants. Professionals recommend you keep your bathroom fan on for at least 30 minutes after a shower. 

• Clean your doormat - Even if your doormat doesn’t smell, it can be a source of air pollutants. When people wipe their shoes, they transfer outside pollutants from their shoes to your mat. 

Hope these tips have you breathing a little bit easier.

If you’ve ever been on a cruise ship, you know that rough waters can result in a miserable experience. Even on modern ships equipped with stabilizers, choppy seas and bad weather can leave you stuck below deck – and possibly seasick.