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How a pandemic led us to a record year for Saskatoon real estate


I always appreciate the opportunity to discuss the real estate market with a friend. 


This chat with Joanne Paulson from the Saskatoon Star Phoenix was a lot of fun as we unpacked the unfolding of a pandemic and the record home sale activity that followed.


“Norm Fisher viscerally remembers waking up to the news that the government had declared a state of emergency and a lockdown in March 2020 when COVID-19 invaded Saskatchewan…”


Read the entire story here.


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Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to receive updates on the Saskatoon real estate market and insights I've gained managing thousands of real estate transactions.


TeamFisher.com hosted over 450,000 user sessions in the past year and displayed more than four million pages to our visitors. If you have a Saskatoon area home you'd like to sell, we know how to get people looking at your home. Reach out to me directly to engage our team and learn about our processes.


I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.  Reach out by voice or text at 306-900-4161 or email me at norm at teamfisher.com


Norm Fisher

Royal LePage Vidorra

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In its latest Housing Market Assessment released last week, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation found that the Saskatoon housing market poses a low risk by all measures assessed in the research.


Overheating? Low risk.

Price acceleration? Low risk.

Overvaluation? Low risk.

Overbuilding? Low risk.


Here's a short Global News story on the report, below. This link will deliver the report in its entirety.



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Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to receive updates on the Saskatoon real estate market and insights I've gained managing thousands of real estate transactions.


TeamFisher.com hosted over 350,000 user sessions in 2020 and displayed more than three million pages to our visitors. If you have a Saskatoon area home you'd like to sell, we know how to get people looking at your home. Reach out to me directly to engage our team and learn about our processes.


I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.  Reach out by voice or text at 306-241-6676 or email me at norm at teamfisher.com


Norm Fisher

Royal LePage Vidorra


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The Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association recently released statistics for MLS® sales in the month of July 2020. The following text is taken directly from their media release.



Media Release.


Sales in Saskatoon were up 41.0%, going from 390 in July 2019 to 550 in July 2020, and up 54.5% in the overall region, going from 495 to 765. In Saskatoon, sales were 36.7% above the 5-year average (and 33.1% above the 10-year average), while in the larger region, sales were 37.9% above the 5-year average (and 33.2% above the 10-year average). Year-to-Date (YTD) sales in Saskatoon rose 4.1% over last year, increasing from 2,232 to 2,324, while YTD sales in the larger region rose 8.2%, going from 2,975 to 3,219.


Saskatoon homes sales by month to July 2020



Sales volume was up 49.0% in the city, going from $129.4M to $192.8M in 2020 (38.0% above the 5-year average, and 33.4% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume in the city was $793.9M, an increase of 7.3% from last year. In the region, sales volume was up 11.4%, going from $938.7M to $1,045.3M (42.9% above the 5-year average and 38.8% above the 10-year average). YTD sales volume increased by 11.4% in the region, rising from $938.7M in 2019 to $1,045.3M in 2020.


In Saskatoon, the number of new listings in July 2020 rose 9.1%, going from 748 to 816 (6.0% above the 5- year average and 3.7% above the 10-year average), while in the region, new listings rose 9.7% from 1,097 last year to 1,203 this year (5.7% below the 5-year average and 5.1% above the 10-year average). YTD new listings in the city fell 8.5%, going from 4,952 to 4,530, while in the larger region, the number of new listings to date fell 10.2%, going from 7,359 to 6,609. Active listings fell 20.3% in Saskatoon (down from 1,950 to 1,555) and fell 20.9% in the region (down from 3,575 to 2,827).


New and active Saskatoon real estate listings by month to July 2020



Inventory in Saskatoon stood at 3 (which is 43.5% below the level last year and 45.5% below the 5-year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 67.4%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers. Inventory in the larger region stood at 4 (which is 48.8% below the level last year and 43.8% below the 5- year average), while the sales to listing ratio was 63.6%, suggesting that market conditions favour sellers.


Homes in Saskatoon stayed on the market an average of 43 days in Julydown 17.3% from 52 days last year (but below the 5-year average of 48 days and above the 10-year average of 43 days). Homes in the region stayed on the market longer than homes in the city at 55 days on average in 2020, but also down from an average of 64 days last year (and 3.8% below the 5-year average).


Median home prices in Saskatoon went from $316,000 to $338,500 (an increase of 7.1%) and were approximately 3.0% above the 5-year and 3.2% above the 10-year average median price. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI)a more accurate measure of house price trendsis up 1.8% from $309,400 to $314,900. Year-to-date, the median home price in Saskatoon was $328,521 which is 2.1% above the $321,657 price from the same time last year. Median home prices in the region went from $300,000 to $320,000 (an increase of 6.7%) and were approximately 2.3% above the 5-year and 2.5% above the 10-year average median price. Year-to-date, the median home price in the region was $309,504 which is 2.6% above the $301,514 price from the same time last year.


Saskatoon home prices by month and category to July 2020



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I’ve upped my Facebook and Instagram game. Follow me to receive updates on the Saskatoon real estate market and insights I've gained managing thousands of real estate transactions.


TeamFisher.com hosted nearly a quarter of a million user sessions and displayed more than 1.2 million pages to our visitors in 2019. If you have a Saskatoon area home you'd like to sell, we know how to get people looking at your home. Reach out to me directly to engage our team and learn about our processes.


I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.  Reach out by voice or text at 306-241-6676 or email me at norm at teamfisher.com


Norm Fisher

Royal LePage Vidorra

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Four factors that caused the Saskatoon real estate market to explode in June, 2020


With the release of the Royal LePage House Price Survey yesterday, I appreciated the opportunity to speak with Connor O'Donovan of Global TV.


This story highlights the explosive real estate market activity we saw across the province during the month of June.


Why is this happening "during a pandemic"?


There are a number of factors at play, in my view.


1) Pent-up demand resulting from weak sales in April and May.

2) CMHC qualification changes that came into effect on July 1 (even though there are other options available to buyers)

3) The "I'll be damned if I'm going to risk a second wave of this crap locked down in this house" effect.

4) Significantly tightened inventory levels tend to cause buyers to pull the trigger quicker.



More from Global News: https://globalnews.ca/news/7159959/saskatchewan-home-sales-surge-near-record-levels-june/


Transcript

[Mike Duggleby] There seems to be a lot of excitement among buyers out there right now.


[Connor] A recent Royal LePage survey indicates little movement on home prices in Regina recently but as for the actual number of home sales in the Queen city, they actually grew in June by 50% compared to 2019.


[Mike Duggleby] This last quarter in particular, we've seen some dramatic acceleration of sales as far as multiple offers being made on reasonably priced properties.


[Connor] Saskatoon, meanwhile, saw a similar trend. A 37% increase in June sales volume over last year.


[Norm Fisher] There was some clear pent-up demand that resulted from poor sales over April and May, right? Like the bottom felt like it fell out.


[Connor] Both Fisher and Duggleby agree that relaxed pandemic restrictions likely played a role in the sudden sales surge. But Fisher says he also found the new norms of physical distancing and isolation played a role as well.


[Norm Fisher] I got the sense that there was some household tension. You know? People being in close confines with their entire family every day, day after day for a couple of months.


[Connor] Fisher added that on July 1st, a Canadian mortgage and housing corporation tightened insurance rules which likely added to the June blitz. But adds that, what he calls the first seller's market in years could continue for the short-term.


[Norm Fisher] We've passed the peak weeks for a typical year and inventory now appears to be declining, and I think it will likely continue to do that throughout the balance of the year.


[Connor] Connor O'Donovan, Global News.



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I’ve upped my Facebook and Instagram game. Follow me to receive updates on the Saskatoon real estate market and insights I've gained managing thousands of real estate transactions.


TeamFisher.com hosted nearly a quarter of a million user sessions and displayed more than 1.2 million pages to our visitors in 2019. If you have a Saskatoon area home you'd like to sell, we know how to get people looking at your home. Reach out to me directly to engage our team and learn about our processes.


I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.  Reach out by voice or text at 306-241-6676 or email me at norm at teamfisher.com


Norm Fisher

Royal LePage Vidorra

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Selling a home is hard work. 


Keeping your house clean and prepped all the time, while you try to maintain some semblance of a normal life. 


A buyer wants to come at 7. You rush to feed the kids, tidy the house, and pack the car for a half-hour drive to nowhere. 


Another evening gone for what you suspect is a kooky-loo. 


3D tours provide a simple way for home  buyers to get a good idea of what your home has to offer.


Using this amazing technology we can reduce physical showings to the most serious buyers only. 


Meanwhile, you can stay at home with your family.


The Canadian Real Estate Association estimate’s just 24% of listings on realtor.ca have a 3D tour or video.  


So, if they’re so effective why don’t we see more of them online?


Well, they’re expensive. 


When an agent lists your house for sale they’re never certain if they’re going to sell it and get paid.


It could be easy to cut a corner like this one and save the cash. 


That’s why we invested in two Matterport 3D tour cameras and that’s how we create a 3D tour for every listing we market.


Every one.


Because your life is hectic enough without having to leave for less than serious buyers to look. 


Here’s a short news story that shows how the technology works for our seller clients.


This is an old video but it provides a great overview of the technology. 






Take a virtual walk through of this Daytona Homes show home to experience it for yourself. Think Google street view as you work your way through the home by clicking the circles. It works exceptionally well on mobile devices.




If you're interested in having your home marketed using this technology reach out to anyone on our team.


Norm Fisher

Royal LePage Vidorra

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An overview of changes to Canada's mortgage stress test



Here's a short video I produced to explain the changes to Canada's mortgage stress test that were announced on February 20, 2020, and take effect in April of 2020. What follows is a Global News story that I had an opportunity to contribute to on the topic.



Global News Story



I'm upping my Facebook and Instagram game. Follow me to receive updates on the Saskatoon real estate market and insights I've gained managing thousands of real estate transactions.


TeamFisher.com hosted nearly a quarter of a million user sessions and displayed more than 1.2 million pages to our visitors in 2019. If you have a Saskatoon area home you'd like to sell, we know how to get people looking at your home. Reach out to me directly to engage our team and learn about our processes.


I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.  Reach out by voice or text at 306-241-6676 or email me at norm at teamfisher.com


Norm Fisher

Royal LePage Vidorra

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Saskatoon housing market shows momentum in Q4, 2019: Royal LePage

Strong sales in Q4 reinvigorate first-time home-buying segment

 

SASKATOON, January 9, 2020 -- According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey released today, the aggregate price of a home in Saskatoon decreased 1.0 per cent year-over-year to $368,954 in the fourth quarter of 2019. 

 

The median price of a standard two-storey home decreased 2.5 per cent year-over-year to $392,517, while the median price of a bungalow increased 1.3 per cent year-over-year to $338,345 during the same period.


“We’re seeing an increased level of interest in entry-level homes; the first-time buyer market has picked up, which skewed median prices downward,” said Norm Fisher, broker, and owner, Royal LePage Vidorra.


Fisher added that increased wages, combined with lower unemployment rates, is increasing consumer confidence.


“Incomes are rising and mortgage delinquencies are now falling,” stated Fisher. “There are strong indicators for an improving Saskatoon housing market in 2020, with modest price gains around one per cent, at best.”

Nationally, the aggregate price of a home in Canada increased by 2.2 per cent year-over-year to $648,544 in the fourth quarter of 2019. Similar to the third quarter, potential buyers are continuing to come back to the real estate market. In the first half of 2019, buyers had remained largely at the sidelines waiting to gauge the potential impact of the federal mortgage stress test.  


“The federal government has signaled that changes could come to the mortgage stress test mechanism in 2020,” said Phil Soper, president, and CEO, Royal LePage. “The stress test pushed people out of real estate markets across Canada temporarily. For the most part, buyers have adjusted, yet it still represents a significant hurdle as families pursue the dream of owning their own home.”


Soper added that the impact of the regulations-driven drop in demand is felt very differently in different parts of the country. 


“We believe policymakers have the necessary experience to modify the tool to meet the reality of today’s Canada - that we have very different and varied economies, and by extension housing policy needs, from region to region,” said Soper.


News Coverage for This Release


CTV Saskatoon - 'Strong Indicators'  that Saskatoon housing market will improve in 2020

GlobalNews - https://globalnews.ca/news/6404383/saskatoons-housing-market-royal-lepage-2019-2020

About the Royal LePage House Price Survey

The Royal LePage National House Price Composite is compiled from proprietary property data in 64 of the nation’s largest real estate markets. When broken out by housing type, the median price of a two-storey home rose 2.3 per cent year-over-year to $761,817, while the median price of a bungalow increased modestly by 0.7 per cent to $537,622. 


For more regional analysis, visit Royal LePage’s media room. The media room also contains royalty-free assets, such as images and b-roll, that are free for media use. 


The Royal LePage House Price Survey provides information on the three most common types of housing in Canada, in 64 of the nation’s largest real estate markets. Housing values in the Royal LePage House Price Survey are based on the Royal LePage Canadian Real Estate Market Composite, produced quarterly through the use of company data in addition to data and analytics from its sister company, RPS Real Property Solutions, the trusted source for residential real estate intelligence and analytics in Canada. Commentary on housing and forecast values are provided by Royal LePage residential real estate experts, based on their opinions and market knowledge.

About Royal LePage

Serving Canadians since 1913, Royal LePage is the country’s leading provider of services to real estate brokerages, with a network of over 18,000 real estate professionals in over 600 locations nationwide. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company to have its own charitable foundation, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, dedicated to supporting women’s and children’s shelters and educational programs aimed at ending domestic violence. Royal LePage is a Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc. company, a TSX-listed corporation trading under the symbol TSX:BRE. For more information, please visit www.royallepage.ca

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Norm chats with CTV's Chad Leroux about the 2019 and 2020 Saskatoon real estate market


I had the pleasure of sitting down with CTV's Chad Leroux to discuss the changes we've seen in the Saskatoon real estate market over 2019 and put forward some guesses as to what might occur in 2020.



For those who might be interested in the raw footage from the interview, it's here.



I'm always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. Feel free to reach out to me by voice or text at 306-241-6676, or email me at norm at teamfisher dot com.


Norm Fisher

Royal LePage Vidorra

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Canadian newcomers are a primary driver of the real estate market: Royal LePage


Norm Fisher, Broker/Owner of Royal LePage Vidorra and Kyle Benning of GlobalNews discuss the impact of "newcomers to Canada" on the local and national real estate markets.





A recently released report from Royal LePage shows that "newcomers to Canada" are behind one in five homes sold across the nation. That number goes to two in five in the Prairie region.


The survey found that 86% of newcomers (anyone who has moved to Canada in the past ten years) see real estate as a good investment and 75% of respondents arrived in Canada with savings to help them purchase a home.


Most typically, these folks settle into a rental home or stay with family initially. On average, those interviewed for this report purchased within three years of arriving in Canada.


At the current rates of immigration, it's expected that newcomers will purchase 680,000 Canadian homes over the next five years, 71,000 within the prairie region.


Read the full report here.

Read also: GlobalNews - 41% of homes bought on the Prairies purchased by new Canadians


I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.  Reach out by voice or text at 306-241-6676 or email me at norm at teamfisher.com


Norm Fisher

Royal LePage Vidorra

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Affordability sparks demand for Saskatoon housing: Royal LePage
 

Affordability of Saskatoon homes sparks demand

Local housing market shifts towards a balanced market

 
SASKATOON, October 10, 2019 -- According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey released today, the aggregate price of a home in Saskatoon decreased 2.0 per cent year-over-year to $357,979 in the third quarter of 2019.
 
During this period, the median price of a two-storey home decreased 4.3 per cent year-over-year to $387,830 while the median price of a bungalow remained relatively flat, increasing 0.9 per cent year-over-year to $334,087.
 
“The Saskatoon real estate market continues to show signs of a recovery,” said Norm Fisher, broker and owner, Royal LePage Vidorra. “We have moved toward a balanced market as buyers are responding to the affordability of entry-level units in the area. It’s an attractive time to enter the market.”
 
Fisher added that new construction declined significantly in 2018 after the province introduced a provincial sales tax on new homes.
 
 
Nationally, the aggregate price of a home in Canada has continued to post steady year-over-year gains during the third quarter of 2019 as the real estate market sustained its recovery from the significant downturn of 2018 and early 2019, following the introduction of the federal mortgage stress test.
 
The Royal LePage National House Price Composite, compiled from proprietary property data in 63 of the nation’s largest real estate markets, showed that the median price of a home in Canada increased 1.4 per cent year-over-year to $630,335 in the third quarter of 2019.
 
Looking to the fourth quarter of 2019, Royal LePage forecasts that the aggregate price of a home in Canada will rise 1.5 per cent year-over-year to $632,226, which is a 0.3 per cent increase compared to the third quarter of 2019.
 
The 2019 fourth-quarter forecast is dependent on consistent economic conditions and no new housing policy changes. 
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Saskatoon Home Prices See Moderate Decrease in the Fourth Quarter of 2018: Royal LePage



Homebuyer confidence affected by employment uncertainty and increases in home financing costs SASKATOON,


January 11, 2019 – According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey released today, the aggregate price of a home in Saskatoon saw a moderate decrease in the fourth quarter of 2018, decreasing 1.7 per cent year-over-year to $371,486.


When broken out by housing type, the median price of a two-storey home decreased 0.4 per cent year-over-year to $407,286. During the same period, the median price of a bungalow decreased 3.5 per cent year-over-year to $330,663.


“High levels of inventory coupled with a significant decline in demand have led to moderate decreases in the region’s home prices,” said Norm Fisher, Broker and owner, Royal LePage Vidorra.


“The increased costs of financing a home have also contributed to the slowdown in the Saskatoon real estate market. The stress test that came into effect in January of 2018 along with interest rate increases have made it tougher for first-time homebuyers,” added Fisher.


“At the same time, the commodities sector slump continues to weigh down the city’s housing market. As our provincial economy heavily relies on mineral extraction, uncertainty regarding employment in the oil and uranium industries is affecting homebuyers’ confidence.”


Nationally, year-over-year home prices made healthy gains in many regions across Canada in the fourth quarter of 2018. The Royal LePage National House Price Composite, compiled from proprietary property data in 63 of the nation’s largest real estate markets, showed that the price of a home in Canada increased 4.0 per cent year-over-year to $631,223 in the fourth quarter of 2018.


When broken out by housing type, the median price of a two-storey home rose 3.9 per cent year-over-year to $745,007, while the median price of a bungalow climbed 1.5 per cent to $516,950. Condominiums continued to see the highest rate of appreciation nationally when compared to the detached segment, rising 7.2 per cent year-over-year to $447,915.


“The invisible hand that guides our complex economy hit the real estate reset button in 2018 and that is a good thing,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage.


“Major market home price inflation through much of the decade had led to dangerous overheating in our most populous regions. Government regulatory intervention and rising interest rates, when combined with property price overshooting, triggered the correctional cycle we find ourselves working through today.” 


Read also - Global News - Mortgage stress test, higher interest rates affecting Saskatoon's real estate market

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Saskatoon Home Prices Continue to Decline in Fourth Quarter of 2017: Royal LePage


Surplus of inventory and low commodity prices contribute to home price depreciation across the region


SASKATOON, January 10, 2018 – According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey1 released today, home prices in Saskatoon saw moderate declines in the final quarter of 2017, with the aggregate price of a home in the region dipping 2.2 per cent year-over-year to $377,222.


When broken out by housing category, the median price of a two-storey home decreased 0.4 per cent year-over-year to $410,819 in the fourth quarter of 2017, while the median price of a bungalow decreased 4.6 per cent to $338,854.


“The decrease in home prices that we saw in Saskatoon in the final quarter of the year comes down to a high level of available inventory, especially in the bungalow segment of the market,” said Norm Fisher, broker and owner, Royal LePage Vidorra.


“In recent months, we have seen a surplus of activity at price points below $350,000 that has boosted the market, but not enough to keep prices from sliding.


“We continue to struggle with low commodity prices. When they are down, our housing market is impacted significantly,” continued Fisher. “We have seen layoffs in the potash and uranium industries, keeping our unemployment rate above the national average. However, we do see improvements on the horizon. Saskatoon has great inventory at an affordable price point for first-time buyers to choose from, providing them with attractive options and time to make an informed decision.”


Nationally, Canada’s residential real estate market saw strong, but slowing year-over-year price growth in the fourth quarter of 2017. The Royal LePage National House Price Composite, compiled from proprietary property data in 53 of the nation’s largest real estate markets, showed that the price of a home in Canada increased 10.8 per cent year-over-year to $626,042 over the three-month period. When broken out by housing type, the median price of a two-storey home rose 11.1 per cent year-over-year to $741,924, and the median price of a bungalow climbed 7.1 per cent to $522,963. During the same period, the median price of a condominium appreciated faster than any other housing type studied, rising 14.3 per cent to $420,823 on a year-over-year basis.


“To prospective homeowners in our largest cities, condominiums represent the last bastion of affordability,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage.


“This is especially true for first-time buyers whose purchasing power has been reduced by tightening mortgage regulations.”


In line with Royal LePage’s previous Market Survey Forecast, Royal LePage predicts that the price of a home in Canada will increase 4.9 per cent by the end of 2018. Looking ahead, the company anticipates that the new OSFI stress test will slow the housing market in the first half of 2018, as buyers adjust their expectations and many market participants take a “wait and see” approach.


“The unsustainably high rates of home price appreciation witnessed in recent years in B.C. and Ontario were dangerous to the stability of not only the housing market but to the broader economy itself,” continued Soper. “Policy measures like the OSFI stress test will quell runaway housing inflation to an extent. However, we do foresee an upswing in demand in the latter portion of the year, as prospective buyers adjust to the new realities. To put it another way, the demand is still there.” 


Read also: Global News - Housing prices in Saskatoon continue to drop

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