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Top 3 Underrated Neighbourhoods in Saskatoon: Hidden Gems Worth Considering
When it comes to real estate in Saskatoon, everyone knows the popularity of neighbourhoods like Nutana, River Heights, and Stonebridge. But Saskatoon has a few hidden gems that fly under the radar, providing fantastic living opportunities at a more affordable price point. Let’s explore three underrated Saskatoon neighbourhoods that are attracting savvy buyers looking for value, charm, and community spirit.
1. Brevoort Park: An Established, Family-Friendly Community
Brevoort Park is a mature neighbourhood with a rich sense of community and family-focused amenities. Established in the 1960s, it boasts tree-lined streets, well-maintained homes, and close proximity to some of Saskatoon’s best schools. Despite being centrally located, Brevoort Park is often overlooked in favor of more modern subdivisions, but its value and livability make it worth a second look.
- Schools & Parks: The neighbourhood is home to Brevoort Park School and St. Matthew School, making it an ideal choice for families. The area has numerous parks, including Brevoort Park, which offers sports fields, playgrounds, and scenic walking paths.
- Affordable Homes: Brevoort Park offers a range of properties, from modest bungalows to spacious family homes. Buyers will appreciate the affordability, especially compared to nearby neighbourhoods like Holliston and Nutana.
- Access & Convenience: Located just a few minutes from downtown, this neighbourhood offers easy access to Circle Drive and numerous shopping amenities on 8th Street. For those who value a mix of tranquility and accessibility, Brevoort Park is a hidden treasure.
2. Avalon: A Quiet, Green Oasis Close to the River
Avalon is often overlooked, but it’s a gem for those seeking a quiet, green, and well-connected neighbourhood close to the South Saskatchewan River. This area offers a peaceful suburban feel with the added benefit of convenient access to downtown Saskatoon, making it a prime choice for young professionals, families, and retirees alike.
- Parks and Nature: Avalon borders the South Saskatchewan River, giving residents quick access to scenic riverside trails and Diefenbaker Park, a hub for outdoor activities and festivals. The neighbourhood’s Avalon Park is also a local favorite, offering playgrounds, walking trails, and sports facilities.
- Community Spirit: Avalon has an active neighbourhood association, hosting events and activities that foster a tight-knit community atmosphere. The area also has many charming mid-century homes, which add to the neighbourhood’s character.
- Hidden Value: Home prices in Avalon tend to be lower than in neighboring areas like Nutana and Buena Vista, making it a great choice for buyers looking for value in a central location with easy access to nature and community amenities.
3. Confederation Park: A Growing Community with New Development Potential
Confederation Park is one of Saskatoon’s best-kept secrets. It has long been a more affordable area, but recent developments have attracted new families, young professionals, and first-time homebuyers. With a mix of established homes and new builds, this neighbourhood is seeing a gradual transformation, with more amenities being added to cater to its growing community.
- Diverse Housing Options: Confederation Park offers a range of homes, from affordable single-family houses to newer townhouse developments. This variety makes it an accessible option for first-time buyers or those looking to upgrade without breaking the bank.
- Amenities Galore: Confederation Park residents enjoy close proximity to shopping centers like Confederation Mall, various dining options, and healthcare facilities. The area also has good public transportation connections, allowing residents to access other parts of Saskatoon easily.
- Family-Oriented Amenities: Confederation Park is designed with families in mind, offering numerous parks, playgrounds, and recreation areas. The Al Anderson Park is a popular destination for residents, featuring play areas, sports fields, and picnic spots perfect for family gatherings and outdoor activities. Additionally, the neighborhood has several well-regarded schools, including Bishop Roborecki School and Confederation Park Community School, making it a convenient and family-friendly choice.
Exploring Saskatoon’s understated neighbourhoods can offer buyers a unique opportunity to find great value and experience the benefits of community-focused, well-located living spaces. These neighbourhoods offer the chance to own in an area with character, amenities, and a promising future. So, if you’re looking for your next home or an investment property in Saskatoon, don’t overlook Brevoort Park, Avalon, and Confederation Park – they may just be the hidden gems you’ve been waiting to discover.
Ready to find your perfect spot in Saskatoon? Contact us to explore these neighbourhoods and more!
Beyond the Down Payment: Understanding the Full Cost of Buying a Home in Saskatchewan
Buying a home in Saskatchewan is an exciting venture, but it’s important to be aware of the additional costs beyond the down payment. These hidden expenses can impact your budget significantly, so it’s essential to plan for them. Here’s a breakdown of the various costs associated with buying a home in this beautiful province:
1. Legal Fees
When purchasing a home, you’ll need a lawyer to complete your real estate transaction. Legal fees in Saskatchewan typically range from $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the complexity of the purchase and the lawyer’s rates. These fees cover the cost of preparing and reviewing purchase documents, completing the title transfer, and ensuring that all legal requirements are met.
2. Land Title Transfer (ISC Fees)
The Information Services Corporation (ISC) of Saskatchewan handles the registration of land titles. When you buy a home, you must pay a fee to transfer the property’s title from the seller to yourself. ISC fees are calculated based on the property’s purchase price and can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
3. Home Insurance
Home insurance is essential to protect your new investment. It covers the building, your belongings, and liability in case someone is injured on your property. The cost of home insurance varies widely based on the value of the property, the contents inside, and the level of coverage you choose. Typically, homeowners in Saskatchewan might expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $2,000 annually.
4. Property Tax Adjustments
You may also need to reimburse the seller for any prepaid property taxes. This cost varies depending on the property tax rate in your municipality and the timing of your purchase. Property taxes are generally calculated based on the assessed property value and are used to fund local services and infrastructure.
5. Mortgage Insurance
If your down payment is less than 20% of the home’s purchase price, you’ll need to purchase mortgage default insurance. This protects the lender in case you default on your loan. The premium for this insurance is usually added to your mortgage amount and paid over the life of the loan. Premiums vary based on the amount borrowed and the size of your down payment.
6. Moving Costs
Moving costs can vary greatly depending on the distance of your move and whether you hire professional movers or decide to move yourself. For a local move, hiring movers in Saskatchewan can cost between $800 and $2,200. If you’re moving from another province, the costs can be significantly higher.
7. Home Inspection and Appraisal Fees
Before finalizing your home purchase, it’s advisable to have a home inspection, which can cost anywhere from $300 to $600. This helps identify any issues with the home’s structure and systems. An appraisal, required by most lenders to confirm the home’s value, typically costs between $300 and $500.
While the dream of homeownership is certainly exciting, it’s important to budget for these additional costs. By being prepared, you can ensure a smoother transaction and avoid any unpleasant financial surprises. If you have questions or need assistance navigating the home-buying process in Saskatchewan, don’t hesitate to contact a local real estate professional.
10 Tips When Moving With Kids
Moving is a stressful and uncertain time in your life, and it can be more so for kids, especially when they need to change schools, neighbourhoods or even countries. Informing your children about the move and following these few ideas might alleviate some stress.
Take Your Time
Allow extra time during all stages of the moving process with kids present. Tasks will take longer, and allowing spare time will help make each step less stressful. Moving and packing preparation time will also need extra time to prepare for additional events such as friends dropping by, temper tantrums, and other challenges. It might be a good idea to hire a professional moving company to allow you more time with your kids during the moving period. Not only can the moving company help transport your items, but they can also help with the packing and preparation process.
Transparent Information is Key
Inform your children about the move—don’t keep it a secret. When you know you are moving, tell your kids immediately. Tell them in an age-appropriate way and explain to them where you are moving and why you are moving, and what the new house has compared to this one. The sooner you give them specific information about the move, the sooner they can adapt to the upcoming changes. Give your kids ample time to prepare and absorb the news. Keep them aware of what’s going on during the moving process.
Making Things Concrete
When moving, please remind your children that everyone in the family is coming with them, even the pets. Also, let them know all their treasures and possessions will be moved. Explain that the changes might be challenging but will be a lot of fun. That it’s easy to visit family and friends, they miss from time to time, and video calling and other communication are still available. Describe the new home, bedrooms and fun things to do in it. Share information like what neighbourhood their new school is in, if you are moving closer to family and friends, and describe the home, schools, or the new city or country.
If your children are older, include even more details about the move, such as:
- The new address
- The name of their new school
- The neighbourhood
- The name of your and/or your spouse’s workplaces
Visit The New Home
It might not be possible to visit the new home, but seeing the city or town where you will be living in is a good idea. You can visit the new school and try fun activities to do in the area. When your kids can visualize a new life with you, it will take a lot of stress out of the move. Consider a mini vacation to the new city or country and keep things light and fun. Choose some activities that the kids will enjoy, like different parks, restaurants, and playgrounds. Finding places your kids will like in the new area will make them feel more comfortable.
Plan Fun Things
Before you move, plan to see close friends and family—this allows you to say “see you soon” instead of goodbye. Plan another time in the future when you have already moved to visit family and friends, so there is something to look forward to. When children anticipate seeing friends again, it will comfort them that time isn’t far away. Once moved in, plan for some fun things to do, such as allowing the child to pick a new toy or maybe get that new pet they have been thinking about for a while. A teen might enjoy a shopping trip to the mall in the new area.
Involve Kids in the Move
Involve the kids in the move, bring them to the homes you look at, and ask their opinions on the house and area it is in if they are old enough. Take their thoughts and desires into consideration. Let them pick their bedrooms in the home and help with decorating them. Creativity is a great way to boost their mood and get them excited to be in the new house. Before moving day, let your children help pack boxes. Helping pack their things will help make the move feel real and allow them to feel like they are a part of the process—hopefully making the transition easier.
Keep Their Favourite Items Unpacked
Comfort items like favourite toys, blankets or stuffed animals should be left unpacked. These items are essential to little ones and should be at hand to soothe them during stressful points of the move. The last thing you want is the comfort items to be packed away, and there is a melt down the day of the move.
Be Flexible
On moving day be flexible, and make the day as fun and stress-free as possible for your children. Spoil them with their favourite treats and a fun supper, like pizza. Don’t worry about this “special” day building bad habits. It’s a one-off day that won’t happen often. Toddlers can be especially challenging during moving days with all the uncertainty and strangers in their home. Let them play games or watch extra cartoons on a tablet to distract them from the things happening.
Find a Sitter on Moving Day
Having children out from underfoot during moving is crucial. Moving requires lifting heavy objects and boxes—often, large tools and machines are involved in the move, and it can be unsafe for children to be present. The best option on moving day, and even the days leading up to it, is to let them stay with a friend, have the grandparents take them for a sleepover or hire a sitter to be with your children. Doing this will help you and/or the movers do their job uninterrupted and give your kids a fun, joyous day!
Stay Positive
Not only is it best to stay positive for your mental health, but for your kids as well. Situations can be stressful while moving, and it’s essential to keep your cool. Make this a positive family adventure, and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Consider a few of these ideas about how to make your move less stressful with kids, and remember to let them be involved in every step of the process and keep them informed at all times.
If you need help moving into a new home or selling yours, contact your local REALTOR® today.
5 Ways to Write a Winning Offer
The real estate market currently has more sellers than buyers, however, homes are still receiving multiple offers.
Here is a quick guide to help you write a winning offer.
Demonstrate Solid Financing
Seller’s favour offers that have a higher odds of closing. The truth is, no one gets paid if the home sale falls through.
The most solid financial offer is an all-cash offer, but the chance for this kind of offer is realistically low.
The second most ideal offer is to have the financing in place and get pre-approved for a mortgage before the house-hunting process begins. A pre-approval letter shows the sellers that you are able to and are committed to purchasing a home.
Another thing to consider is the reputation of your lender, whether it be a private lender or a financial institution. Sellers won’t consider your lender’s reputation, but realtors often do. In general, some lenders are a lot more efficient than others. If you are finding it difficult to choose a lender, your Realtor can help you choose the best one for ease of business.
Put Down a Sizeable Deposit
A sizable deposit can also increase your chances of standing out as a serious buyer. A deposit is different from a down payment, so make sure you don’t get the two confused.
The brokerage or lawyer holds a deposit in trust until the purchase goes through. Once the purchase goes through, the deposit will is applied to the down payment and closing costs. Putting down a larger deposit is risky because you can partially or fully lose the deposit if the sale falls through. Check your contract terms.
Deposits can vary in amount, but offering an above-average deposit can show sellers you are serious about the property.
Ask for Few or No Conditions
Conditions are set in place by the buyer, a series of clauses that the buyer and seller must complete, or they can back out. These conditions appear in the purchase agreement and are legally binding once agreed upon by both seller and buyer.
Two of the most common conditions are:
Financing: A financial condition is a financing window of time the buyer has to gather funding for the home purchase. If they can’t meet the financing requirements, they can withdraw their offer, and the seller can move on to other buyers.
Inspection: An inspection condition requires a home inspection to be completed before purchasing the home. Usually, they are meant to discover pre-existing issues with the home, such as structural, electrical, plumbing, etc. Sellers can choose to fix the problems before the buyers move in, or sometimes re-negotiation of the final purchase price can occur, depending on the financial cost and work to be completed. If an agreement is not met, the buyer can choose to withdraw from the contract.
The more conditions that need to be met for the contract to go through, the offer becomes less desirable and weaker. In a competitive market, oftentimes, buyers are encouraged to voluntarily waive certain conditions to have the request go through easier.
Fewer conditions mean that there is less “red tape” to go through to complete the transaction, but missing things like a home inspection comes with a risk. Perhaps the home has many hidden repairs that will come out of the new buyer’s pocket, as they were not caught beforehand.
Offer a Flexible Closing Date
When an owner is selling their home, money isn’t everything. Sometimes having a flexible closing/moving date is appealing because it can create the lead time needed to move into their next home.
A flexible timeline can provide an excellent advantage for first-time buyers. If you are currently renting and can extend your month-to-month lease, this would be ideal for offering more flexibility on the closing date.
Doing so might edge out the competition or have no impact at all. Confer with your Realtor to see if this is an impactful move.
Work With a Skilled REALTOR®
In this competitive real estate market, the most significant advantage you have is to hire a knowledgeable realtor. They will have the skills and know-how to guide you through home buying/selling.
Realtors write up offers daily and will know what works well and what doesn’t.
Once your offer is accepted, the Realtor will also be the liaison between you and the seller/buyer. They can write up the paperwork and lead fair negotiations. They should have your best interests in mind and the knowledge to make your home-buying journey lovely.
A competitive offer in today’s market doesn’t necessarily mean the highest bid or the one with no conditions. These tips should help you sweeten the deal and hopefully get you in the house you want.
Now that you have all the information to write a winning offer, try it yourself or with the help of a trusted local REALTOR.
5 Things to Know About Buying Rural Property
Many homebuyers are looking to escape to a rural property and avoid the hustle and bustle of the city. It may seem like a dream to live a quiet country life, but there are a few things to consider before taking the plunge.
1. Check the Zoning
It is vital to check how the rural property is zoned. The zoning will dictate how you can use the land, what types of buildings are allowed and the location. The property might be zoned as residential, agricultural or country residential, among other titles.
How the property is zoned can affect lenders, the amount you qualify for, and what you can do with the property. Some lenders are hesitant to finance agricultural/country residential zones due to differences in lending and foreclosure processes.
2. Property Boundaries
Once the property has been zoned correctly, the next step is to book a survey. A survey will mark the property boundaries and avoid any future controversy. Now would also be a great time to appraise the land and its value.
3. Considering the Land and your Mortgage
In most cases, lenders follow the basic mortgage formula: one house, one outbuilding and up to ten acres of land. What purchasers don’t realize is that the amount of land can drastically affect the mortgage qualification and what you can borrow. If there is extra land or additional buildings on the property that is being purchased, consider that you will need over 5% of the typical down payment.
4. Water and Sewage
Rural living can have various water and sewage options, from city water and sewage to private wells and septic tanks. Plan to get an inspection done to ensure everything is safe and working correctly and make it a condition of the purchase offer, including testing the water quality and getting the septic tank inspected. Inspections outside the city will cost more than inside the city, but having a piece of mind will be worth it. The inspection will be an essential step as lenders will sometimes request potability and flow tests.
5. Coverage Matters
Coverage becomes very important when living outside of the city limits. Here are the top two rural property coverages you should consider:
- Home insurance: It’s no secret that home insurance costs more for rural properties due to the distance from the city’s fire stations and hydrants, but it is vital to purchase.
- Title insurance: This is the other essential insurance to purchase. It will protect you from unforeseen disturbances with the deed or transfer. It will also make you aware of any improper use of the property (i.e., dumping waste).
Here are a few guidelines if you are considering purchasing a home or land in a rural area. However, there are many more things to ponder. Seek a mortgage professional specializing in rural properties and locations to make buying one easy.
Contact your local REALTOR® who is familiar with the countryside properties to aid in your search today!
Moving and Selling with Pets
Buying or selling a home with pets can seem daunting for everyone involved. Here are a few great tips to make moving with a pet easier.
Buying a Home as a Pet Owner
Pet owners buying a new home should consider their furry friends’ current and future needs. This can restrict the number of house choices available and create additional expenses to make modifications. Some pet-owner questions to ponder are:
- Where can I take my dog outside to play or pathways to walk on?
- What time do I walk my dog, and will I feel safe walking in the neighbourhood then?
- Is there a yard for my dog?
- Is the yard fenced for safety?
- Do the neighbours have dogs too?
- Are there any pet restrictions (primarily condos)?
Condo Life and Pets – What Should I Think About?
Before falling in love with a condo or townhouse, start by investigating the pet restrictions. Whether you have pets or plan to in the future, check the condo board rules. In general, condo townhouses have fewer restrictions than condo apartments. You should be able to inquire about pet rules and regulations through your REALTOR®, the condo property manager or by checking the by-laws (on the unit’s status certificate).
Some common restrictions are as follows:
- How many pets can you have?
- Is there a specific weight limit?
- What type of pets can you have (some condos only allow cats, for example)?
- Limits on pet noise?
- Rules about where pets can relieve themselves?
- Rules about pet access?
- Do you have to register the pet with the building?
- Are there extra fees to have pets?
I Have Pets and am Selling my Home – What to do?
When selling your home, you want it to appeal to the masses—both the buyers who love pets and the buyers who do not. Firstly, to attract the attention of pet owners, mention things about the property, like a fully fenced yard, near parks, and let buyers know about the pet restrictions (if there are any). The second crowd you need to appeal to is the pet-free crowd. Many buyers have pet allergies and get nervous about the “dirt” that animals leave behind. If possible, deep clean the whole house before each showing, and remove any signs of a pet and your actual pet.
The key takeaway is that you remove the pet(s) before showing a home to eliminate distractions. On the other hand, animals can also get stressed with strangers in their house, and the last thing you want is to have your cat, dog, or rabbit run out through an open door. Ask your REALTOR® about giving you a heads up to remove your pets before they bring clients.
If you have some furry friends and want to buy or sell comfortably, let me help you find the perfect house!
