Below is an update of media coverage but also an email the REAL Kari Calder Saskatoon real estate agent sent the FRAUDULENT Kari Calder in Nigeria.

Unbelievably, these frausters are still attempting to rent this house. CKOM Saskatoon reporter, Bre McAdam, actually called the number yesterday that has been provided for the Western Union pickup of the $1000 deposit and pretended she was interested in renting the home. They fell for it until she identified herself as a reporter and they promptly hung up the phone.

The CKOM interview can be read about here: http://ckom.com/story/saskatoon-real-estate-agent-victim-scam/44848

CTV also covered the scam http://saskatoon.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120220/sas-scam-120220/20120220/?hub=Saskatoon

And Global Saskatoon has done an amazing job with it, reporter Wendy Winiewski did a great job, you can see the video here:  http://www.globalsaskatoon.com/real+estate+agent+warns+of+kijiji+scam/6442585442/story.html

I emailed the frausters the following, check out the response I got from calderkari@yahoo.com at the top.

I am not sure if that means they think I am stupid or if that is a threat. Whatever it means, I am on top of it and the word is out and hopefully will continue to make its way across Canada.

While most people who have English as their first language will be able to spot the grammatical mistakes my fear is all of the immigrants who are moving to our country and especially moving to Saskatoon and need to find a home for their family. Most need a place to rent and this looks like the deal of a lifetime! They may not catch the grammar errors or understand how we do things here and may not have anyone to help them. It is people like that who I fear may have sent money which is why these frausters keep doing what they are doing.

If you know anyone who has sent any money to these criminals, contact the City of Saskatoon Police if it is in Saskatoon or else your local police.

Thank you for your help to stop these criminals!

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

I have become a victim of being impersonated. I am NOT in Africa, I am a trusted Saskatoon Real Estate agent whose name is being attached to some very unethical and evil plans. I am fighting back as I don’t want to see innocent people hurt or my reputation tarnished.

My sellers, with the house for sale in Saskatoon that has been posted as for rent, have also been affected as people are showing up at their doorstep at all hours to try to rent this home as it is a beautiful home for a low rental price.

There are many other victims out there who have had false hope of renting this beautiful home and have been communicating with these scammers. I am hopeful that no one has sent money to these criminals. They are asking for $1000 deposit and then they will send the keys.

Luckily most people do their due diligence and at least google my name or call me. Imagine my surprise when I got the first call on Thursday regarding several emails I sent a lady about this property for rent. I had a brief moment where I considered I may be getting Alzheimers as she was insistent that I had been in touch with her. I had her send me, the legitimate Kari Calder Saskatoon Real Estate Agent, the emails and immediately realized what was happening. They were opening email accounts with Yahoo and using my actual name in the email address; calder.kari@yahoo.com, calderkari@yahoo.com and I am sure others as I hope yahoo closed those accounts after I sent them information that they were being used in scams.

Please help spread the word that this scam is occuring in our city and is affecting innocent people. There have been many disappointed potential renters whose hopes and dreams of a beautiful and affordable place to live have been squashed. I, and my Saskatoon home seller, are very hopeful that no one shows up on their doorstep with a UHAUL or a moving truck on March 1st with keys that do not work anywhere. Not only would these poor renters be out $1000 at least, they may also be homeless and this is so unfair. The Saskatoon City Police have been informed and have a small section now on their website but they don’t do anything on fraud under $5000.

Please warn everyone you can.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

Here are some reasons why:

The Bank of Canada won’t likely allow their rates to climb as such an alarming pace if the economy cannot keep up with it. We won’t wake up in 5 years with an extra 10-15% interest rate on our hands. With historically low rates right now we are seeing people getting more house for their dollar but most of those people will also be earning more money in their futures, not less. While I have Saskatoon home buyers who often can spend x they often choose to stay well below their budget to ensure they don’t get caught offguard if interest rates were to go up.

Real estate is very  market dependant and huge differences exist between each province but also between each town or city in that province. Vancouver has an average house price of $800,000 and their wages aren’t that much better than other places with lower average house prices such as New Brunswick and PEI where average house prices are $200,000. If you look at the size of house that a person gets in the Maritimes and how many people live in those houses I am sure you will see a larger home with less people than you typically see in Vancouver. People in Vancouver make it work. If Saskatoon real estate was priced like Vancouver real estate I think we would all be living in 800 sq ft condos but in Saskatoon most of us can afford a bit of land to call our own.

This is not the USA. There are many differences between what our lenders are able to do than what the US was allowed to do. We had less subprime mortgages than the US and a totally different recourse if someone did walk away from their mortgage. Banks in Canada have more ability to go after people who try to walk away from their mortgages. While I have seen a few more houses for sale in Saskatoon that are owned by the bank it is not nearly as intense as the US market.

Just because the US and some other countries experienced housing busts in the past few years doesn’t mean that every country is experiencing this. Portugal and Germany have been quite resilient just to name a few. This is also unfair to generalize all of the US as having a burst of the bubble as many states did not experience the same corrections. While the Saskatoon real estate market did see a huge gain it is also commonly thought that we were undervalued for so long that now we finally caught up to the norm.

Price to rent and price to income ratios show that our houses are over-valued but so is the US stock market and it has kept going for the past decade or so. Just a thought.

This does not mean that we can go on without considering a potential change in the Saskatoon real estate market or valuation but as long as there is a shortage of supply there will always be demand. In the Saskatoon real estate market and with the growing number of immigrants moving to Saskatoon and Canada in general this helps drive the local real estate market and the economy in general.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

Canada’s open-arms/open-doors approach to immigration is what is driving our population upwards as this ha become twice as important as the natural increase of life vs death. Our new population is 33.5 million people which is up from 31.6 million at the last census in 2006. While we are still the lowest population in the G8 nations we are the fastest growing population with a 5.9% increase in the past 5 years, up from our previous increase of 5.4% the 5 years before that. We beat the US growth rate of 4.4%.

While Alberta still leads all provinces in population growth (10.8% since the last census) it is all the Western provinces that are leading the way. For the first time in history we have more people living West of Ontario than East. It is marginal (0.1%) but it is still there. Helping this is the growth of Calgary and Edmonton as they outpaced the 31 cities with huge increases of 12% over the past 5 years.

Let’s not forget about Saskatchewan! In the 1986 census we had just over 1 million residents and then a long period of decline. We have now reached 1,033,381. We have an above-average growth rate of 6.7%. Since 2006 the population in both Regina and Saskatoon have seen an increase of 10%. As a Saskatoon REALTOR® this is of no surprise to me as I have seen an increasing number of people immigrating here and buying houses for sale in Saskatoon.

BC also saw an increase with the province’s total now at 4.4 million, up 7%. Kelowna was another of the country’s fastest growing cities after Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon.

Ontario, depsite the recession issues impatcing the manufacturing sector, still increased its population to 12.9 million but Windsor and Thunder Bay saw population decreases which was rare across Canada. Quebec has almost 8 million people and accelerated its growth rate from 4.3% in the 2006 Census to 4.7% in the last one.

It seems odd but Newfoundland and Labrador hadn’t noted a population increase since 1986 but finally got its numbers up to more than 250,000 people, largely due to petroleum. Even Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI saw their populations grow and Manitoba and the Yukon also saw significant jumps because of an influx of immigrants.

Overall, approximately 1/3 of all Canadians (35%) live in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver as all grew substantially since 2006. Again the drive was the arrival of tens of thousands of immigrants.

While Canada’ needs immigration there are almost major challenges in integrating and accommodating immigrant communities, but overall I think Canadians are still quite supportive of immigration and the promise of economic renewal and multicultural evolution.

In Saskatoon we definitely have a larger Indo-Pakistani community than ever before as well as a larger number of immigrants coming from Muslim nations. I see this daily when I drive around Saskatoon, whether it is just hearing more different languages or with new shops to cater to different food choices. This all helps drive our province to be what it is…booming!

If you are looking to buy a house for sale in Saskatoon and you are a newcomer to our country please speak to me about potential mortgage brokers in Saskatoon who can help new to Canada buyers.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

One of the reasons for coming back is that they recognize we are a ‘have province’ and as Wagner states, “People here deserve every option they have in bigger centres.” Excellent! They are bringing all the technology that is current and available in places like Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto.

Some of that technology brought to Saskatoon includes invisible retainers and braces on the inside instead of the outside are just a couple of examples of what they are doing. Imagine how that will positively affect people’s self-esteem? Kids no longer being called “Brace Face” and other, I am sure, much meaner monikers for kids with braces.

Not only do Dr. Mike Wagner and Dr. Ryan Lacoursiere of Saskatoon bring the latest and greatest in orthodontics, they also are placing an emphasis on building an environmentally friendly business. Their Saskatoon office is 95% paperless, they have made an effort to use materials that are easy to clean and don’t need a load of maintenance and they also use biodegradable products throughout the business along with recycle where they can. As a real estate agent in Saskatoon who is trying to go as paperless as possible this factor is very important to me.

Go check them out for any of your orthodontic needs at Image Orthodontics from Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. They are located at 150-1820 McOrmond Drive. Some will say in Willowgrove, others will say Arbor Creek, while others yet will say University Heights. Whatever you call the area it doesn’t matter, going to see these doctors who could have went to many other cities is sure to make a positive difference in your smile today.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

We welcome the newest member of the Saskatoon Co-Op family to occupy some commercial space in Stonebridge. This will be a nice alternative to people who don’t want to shop for all of their food needs at the Wal Mart Super Centre. Co-Op is often known for their top cuts of meat and great produce as well as their fresh bakery so I am sure customers will be happy with what they see.

This 32,000 square foot building is a new concept and new look for Co-Op as changes have been made to the overall look. The floors, the walls, the colours and the decor choices are all different and is said to be a new and exciting look. Co-Op isn’t worried about the close proximity of the Wal Mart in Stonebridge as they feel they have something special to offer. I agree as their fresh departments and customer service stand out.

The store can be found just south of the Co-Op Gas Station in Stonebridge just off of Clarence Avenue. This is a great location for both people who live in Stonebridge but also those who live in Casa Rio, Saskatoon or the Willows. This is great for the Saskatoon home owners who live in Stonebridge. It is just one more great amenity that makes Stonebridge a great place to live or work.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

Local Saskatoon chefs and vendors will be offering cooking classes and the kitchen is also available for rent for any type of functions where a licensed kitchen is needed. Sounds like a great place to have a birthday or a stagette!

On the third Thursday of every month there will be a new event which is the Executive Chef Event which is an intimate chef event. The first event was sold out and diners mingled with wine and imaginative food. As the kitchen is completely open the chef is in the spotlight and can be very interactive.

As someone who is looking forward to being able to grow my own veggies next year, I even have garden boxes started as I live in Willowgrove and the ground has too much clay for growing in the soil, I am quite pleased to hear that they are doing events like this and further promoting Saskatchewan grown food shopping and cooking. In the future months we will see more chef’s events with chefs from the Bessborough, Radisson and Prairie Harvest Cafe.

This is very exciting for our city!

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

Kai Chan’s exhibit called “A Spider’s Logic” has more than a dozen major works. Chan uses materials such as twigs, thread, toothpicks and buttons to create work that is described by the Mendel as “beautiful and unexpected”.

Another one of the exhibits is called “They Symbolist Muse: A Selection of Prints from the National Gallery of Canada” and it features more than 50 pints by renowned artists such as Picasso, Munch, and Redon. This Gallery will offer the people of Saskatoon a rare opportunity to view the 19th century prints.

The fourth exhibit, “Good Vibrations”, is part of the Artists by Artists Mentorship program. Featuring the work of Stacia Verigin and Benjamin Hettinga-Hettinga creates hand-cut paper compositions with his mentor, Verigin. Verigin holds a Masters Degree in Sculpture from the U of S.

The final exhibit, “Brayers & Blisters”, is an exhibition featuring the various tools and supplies used by printmakers and includes demos and workshops so visitors can learn more about the printmaking process.

This should appeal to Saskatoon’s art community and beyond. Check it out while it is here for this limited time.

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

We are sitting at under 1000 active houses and/or condos for sale in Saskatoon which is also down from last January.

The busiest price range of houses for sale in Saskatoon continues to be the $300,000-$350,000 range and in January we saw the sale of 68 units which is up from 45 units the year before.

The average price of a house for sale in Saskatoon was up to almost $319,000 in January but the busy price range being over $300,000 will influence the average house price in Saskatoon and help elevate this number.

The listing activity outside of Saskatoon is slower than in 2011 with only 185 properties for sale as opposed to 213 last year which is a decrease of 13% from 2011. The numbers of houses for sale outside of Saskatoon that actually sold was also down 26% with 42 units this year from 57 the year before. This doesn’t stop the prices from going up outside of the city though as the average sale price was up 3% from the year before at just over $279,000. Part of the reason for the decrease in listings and sales may have something to do with our gas prices in Saskatoon as those haven’t gotten much better in the past year so people are definitely considering the cost of gas when weighing the pros and cons of living in Saskatoon vs living in a surrounding community.

Our average days on market still continues to be around 45 days in the city and 75 outside of the city with the north end seeing the fastest turnover on average (33 days).

As long as the demand keeps outweighing the supply of houses for sale in Saskatoon we will likely continue to see a balanced to a seller’s market. January saw many competing offers in busy price ranges so don’t keep waiting as the less houses for sale in Saskatoon and the more demand means potentially further price increases. If you are looking to sell the market is still very price sensitive so don’t be fooled into thinking that you can get more for your house than is realistic. While some house prices have gone up there are some markets that still have not rebounded from the height of the market (older apartment style condos is one of these).

If you would like more information or are looking to buy or sell in Saskatoon give me a shout!

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

We had 4 Century 21 agents in Saskatoon who achieved Masters Diamond status, 5 agents with Masters Emerald, 7 with Masters Ruby, and 8 agents with Masters Silver.

We had 7 Saskatoon real estate agents with Century 21 receive the Centurion award this year and I am proud to say that in 2011 I was 1 of 2 Century 21 Saskatoon real estate agents and 1 of 52 agents across Canada to be awarded Double Centurion status. This is the 2nd highest distinction that can be awarded to a Century 21 REALTOR® or team of REALTORS® . In the previous 3 years I have been awarded the Centurion Award so this is a step up from the past 3 years. Overall I was ranked #70 across Canada for production which is a great achievement given how many agents we have across the country.

I am proud of all of my Century 21 Saskatoon colleagues and wish them all the best again for 2012!

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Fusion
kari@saskatoonrealestate.net