Despite facing inventory challenges, the real estate market in Saskatchewan remains strong, with sales activity higher than pre-pandemic levels and above long-term, 10-year averages, according to the Saskatchewan Realtors Association (SRA). 

The association recorded 854 sales across the province in February, a year-over-year decline of 19 per cent. However, inventory levels were down six per cent year-over-year and 31 per cent below 10-year averages, and the months of supply remained under four months in many regions.

Chris Guerette, CEO of SRA, acknowledged that higher lending rates and supply challenges continue to be the primary reason for the pullback in sales and expressed concern about the low inventory levels, particularly in the affordable segment of the housing continuum. 

Benchmark price up slightly year-over-year

February price trends varied across the province, with prices increasing in Melfort, Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Yorkton. 

According to SRA, in most regions, price adjustments were relatively small as we continue to return to more balanced conditions.

The provincial benchmark price reached $318,500 in February, slightly higher than the previous month and 0.4 per cent higher than February 2022.

Regina & Saskatoon

The city of Regina reported a benchmark price of $310,200 in February, while Saskatoon reported a benchmark price of $372,400.

Source: https://realestatemagazine.ca/saskatchewan-market-holding-strong-despite-inventory-challenges/

In the dead of winter, home maintenance isn’t really what you want to be thinking about. Much better to be cozied up with a good show and a glass of wine, right?

But home maintenance is also one of those things that you definitely don’t want to procrastinate. It’s so easy to keep saying “I’ll get to it next weekend.” But procrastinating can lead to emergencies, which tend to cost lots of cash to fix.

To avoid those expensive emergencies, make sure you’re doing your home maintenance on a regular basis. Here’s a few things to keep on your list:

• Clean and check the gutters before winter
• Check pipes and walls/ceilings for any leaks semiannually
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide monitors semiannually
• Clean your HVAC system and vents annually
• Clean drying vents annually
• Check electrical annually
• Take care of low hanging branches or suspect trees as soon as you notice them

I recommend creating a schedule for home maintenance and putting it in your calendar or planner. Some people like to spend a day taking care of everything while others want to spread it out so they have to do just one task per week. Either way, keep up on your home maintenance so you can relax and enjoy your home.

By Gerry LampowWednesday, Feb. 15th, 2023

“Lloydminster city council has gotten a full update on the proposed arena and events centre with a cost of some $102 million and discussion on Lloydminster Place will come back to council on Feb. 27.

At Monday’s Governance and Priorities Committee session, Mayor Gerald Aalbers noted that they are awaiting a determination on grant funds from both the federal as well as provincial governments with the Alberta budget expected to come down on Feb. 28, and the matter being slated for council on the day before.

From a budget of $2.16 million, the city has spent $1,812,057 as of Dec. 31, 2022. Those costs include architecture as well as geotechnical and materials testing. Another $100,000 has been approved to be spent this year on geotechnicals and materials. The budget has $247,943 left.

Given the economic picture, the range of options before council include whether to continue, stop the build or look at a scaled back version. Aalbers is asking the question about the reason people came to Lloydminster and he ties that into amenities like recreation, stores, raising a family, jobs and the quality of life.

“What would it take to draw a world class business to Lloydminster? And there are multiple pieces to that. We need available land, we need a workforce, but that workforce that may come with a major industry as an example, will want to look at the community and say,”Why would I want to move there?” Oh they’ve got top notch quality recreation facilities – cultural facilities.”

Aalbers says he hears these suggestions regularly from professionals in the area as the backdrop to attracting more talent in various disciplines. But also for people who work in other areas, he says the question on his mind is, “why would you move to Lloydminster and what we need to have as a community to draw those people and grow the city?” He feels that without growing, the city will go backwards.

Council documents detailed the scale of the project and councillors discussed the state of the ageing Centennial Civic Centre and the need to provide a replacement. As well they did not want to burden the taxpayers with repayment of loans over three decades at an interest rate of nearly five per cent.

The opportunity cost of whether to build now or delay, given that prices continue to inflate is a matter that is keeping the seven members of council awake at night, says Aalbers.

“I believe that if we are not building for the future, we are going to miss some things. Someone at one time or another took a risk of building Lloydminster where it is today and watched the city grow and it continues to grow. And we are optimistic that it is going to grow. And with that growth we need opportunities for people to do various things and recreation has become one of those things.”

Aalbers adds Lloydminster is the designated stop between Saskatoon and Edmonton and the city views itself as a regional centre. He concludes that Lloydminster Place, as proposed, is a place to gather.

Several options are still on the table ranging from building the events centre as proposed or scaling it back to either an events centre only, twin-arenas, or build the community arena as a shell and use the Archie Miller arena with upgrades.

Aalbers recognizes the challenges of the build even as he stays optimistic and looks to the future.”

The Quest for Excellence scholarship program is a cash scholarship that recognizes students for their ongoing community contributions and pursuit of leadership.

About the Award

RE/MAX Canada is pleased to expand the existing Quest for Excellence scholarship program in 2023, now offering 40 scholarships of $1,000 each to students across Canada (except for Quebec).

How to Enter:

To apply for the Quest for Excellence scholarship, eligible students are invited to write and submit an online essay* up to 1,250 words in length, answering one of the following questions:

1. What does a “bright future” look like for you?
2. How have you demonstrated leadership or charity within your community to make it a better place?
3. How can we ensure fair and affordable housing for all Canadians?

The essays are to be submitted online from, September 12, 2022 until March 13, 2023.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify, participants must be a Grade 12 student attending high school in the 2022/2023 academic year, who have not previously participated in graduation commencement ceremonies in the past.

Should you have any questions please email: questforexcellence@remax.ca. Do not email your essay, please enter above.

One entry per person.

RE/MAX Canada will review the essay submissions and award 40 scholarships, of $1,000 each, to qualifying Grade 12 students.

*All essay entries become the property of RE/MAX Canada. Photos and names of winners may be published in print or in digital formats and shared with media. Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated.

Community asked for input on future development of Bud Miller All Seasons Park.  

Lloydminster, AB/SK – The City of Lloydminster is launching its first phase of engagement for the Bud Miller All Seasons Park Master Plan. Starting January 30, 2023, residents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas on the future development of the community’s largest green space.

Bud Miller All Seasons Park is a beloved community asset that serves as a gathering place for residents of all ages. The master plan will guide the park’s development over the next 10 years, with the goal of creating a sustainable, accessible and inclusive space for the community to enjoy.

The City of Lloydminster is committed to engaging with the community throughout the master plan process and encourages all residents to participate in the digital engagement campaign. The feedback and ideas collected during the campaign will be used to inform the final master plan, which will be presented to City Council for approval.
The first engagement campaign runs Monday, January 30, to Tuesday, February 21, 2023, and includes a brief digital survey with an opportunity for respondents to provide comments or ask additional questions. The campaign will also include a virtual Question & Answer board, where residents can publicly ask more about the master plan and ask questions of the project team.

For more information on the Bud Miller All Seasons Park Master Plan and to participate in the digital engagement campaign, visit YourVoiceLloyd.ca/BudMiller. Those without access to a computer can obtain a paper copy of the survey at the Lloydminster Public Library (LloydMall), City Hall (4420 50 Avenue) or contact the City of Lloydminster at 780-875-6184, Ext. 2322. Paper copies are due by February 22, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.

“Bud Miller All Seasons Park serves as a symbol of the community’s collective aspirations for a healthy, sustainable and inclusive future. As such, it’s imperative that the master plan for this beloved community asset be developed through a robust and comprehensive community engagement process. I urge all residents to actively participate in this engagement campaign and lend their valuable insights and perspectives to the development of the park’s blueprint for the next decade.”
Mayor Gerald Aalbers

Many people think that selling in the winter is a bad move. With all the holidays and the cold, it might not be your first choice in timing. But buyers still need houses, even in the winter! 

With these secret real estate agent tips, you’ll know how to get your house ready to sell for top dollar this winter.

Keep your pathway and entrance free from snow. Make it easy for buyers to get into your home. Additionally, you don’t want to make it seem like it’s hard to maintain your outdoor spaces in the winter, so a clear entrance is key!

Brighten up every room. It gets dark early in the winter, so add some ambient lighting to keep your rooms feeling light and bright. Floor lamps are your best friend here. 

Keep the open house warm. No one wants to walk into a cold house in the dead of winter, so make sure your space feels welcoming by keeping it nice and warm. It’s worth spending the extra money on heating costs for your open house and showings.

Make your home feel cozy. Some throw blankets, nice winter smells, and good lighting go far to make your home feel like somewhere buyers will want to stay around for a while. 

Keep good curb appeal. Even though you don’t need to mow your lawn, make sure the outside of your home looks well-kept. Cleaning your windows and washing any siding can help your home look fresh and move-in ready. 

Keep holiday decor to a minimum. You want the focus to be on your home, not your decor, so keep it simple for any holidays. 

Winter gets a bad rap in real estate, but it can actually be a great time to sell, especially when you have these tips. The key is to make your home feel warm, cozy, and bright so that buyers feel like it’s somewhere they can call home. 

Want some help getting your home sold this winter? Feel free to reach out and I’ll help you sell your home for top dollar!

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Some renovations aren’t worth it if you want a good return on investment or ROI. This is especially true in the bathroom! Several bathroom renovations don’t pay off. When sellers put these upgrades into their bathrooms, they nearly never recoup the renovation cost and, as a result, don’t get a high ROI. 

Let’s go through these 5 bathroom envisions that won’t pay off.  

1. Steam shower: Steam showers can add a spa-like atmosphere, but they’re a niche item for buyers.
2. Whirlpool bathtub: Most buyers see these outdated and have heard horror stories about how difficult they are to clean, which can make them a major turn-off.
3. Moving to plumb: Unless the bathroom layout truly doesn’t make sense, it’s not worth it to move to plumb around. This is one of the most expensive things to do, and you generally will never recoup the costs.
4. Heated floors are luxurious for sure, but if your goal is a high ROI, steer clear of high-cost upgrades like a heated floor. Buyers don’t care enough about heated flooring for it to be a selling feature.
5. Too many high-tech gadgets: a fun upgrade here and there can pique buyers’ interest, but too many can feel overkill.

Everyone likes a nice, updated bathroom. But if you invest in upgrades that don’t appeal to buyers, you’ll be spending money you won’t ever get back when you sell. Most buyers don’t care about a high-tech bathroom with all the upgrades. Many would much rather have that money put towards a kitchen renovation because that’s where they’ll spend way more time! The next time you consider a significant bathroom upgrade, consider what future buyers might think and if you’re likely to have a high ROI. From there, you can make the right decision for you now and in the future. Have questions about which updates are right for your home? Feel free to reach out, and I’ll help you decide what upgrades will get your home sold for top dollar! 

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If you’re currently in the market for a new home, you’re likely keeping a very close eye on interest rates. Interest rates are on the rise, which can impact how much you pay on your monthly mortgage payment. 

Today, I’ll share one way you can reduce your interest rate. Not many people know about interest rate buydowns, but they’re something you should be aware of as a buyer in our current market. 

An interest rate buydown is a way for a buyer to get a lower interest rate on their mortgage by paying for discount points during the closing process. Discount points are also known as mortgage points or prepaid interest points–it depends on which term your lender uses. 

To purchase discount points, a one-time fee is paid upfront, and the discount points will lower the interest rate for the term of the loan. As a result, the borrower pays less in interest with their monthly mortgage payment, making the home more affordable for the buyer. 

In most cases, the discount points are paid for by the seller. In a slower real estate market where homes are staying on the market for longer or are being reduced in price, the buyer can ask a seller to buy down their mortgage through discount points as an incentive to buy the home. 

As a buyer, interest rate buydowns are something you should keep in mind when negotiating, especially if you’re buying in a slower market where there isn’t much competition. 

Buydowns are also something to consider as a seller as it can be a selling point for potential buyers. If your home isn’t the hottest on the market, offering a buydown as an incentive can be a smart move. 

Interest rate buydowns and discount points are a unique tool that can be used to make a buyer’s monthly mortgage payment more affordable, which is useful to know whether you’re a buyer or a seller! 

Want to learn more about interest rate buydowns and other ways you can decrease your interest rate in this market? Feel free to contact me and can direct you to an amazing Mortgage Specialist.

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