Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert says that his government is “gearing up” for another advertising blitz in Alberta to promote our province as a great place to live, according to a front-page story in today’s Star Phoenix.
While it’s hard to argue that a province shouldn’t promote its benefits abroad, someone seems to be unaware of the fact that Saskatoon home buyers are reaching their wit's end trying to find a good home to buy. Many have made offers on a number of properties, often tens of thousands of dollars above the asking price, and they still find no love.
MLS® housing inventory dropped to a critically low level of approximately 250 listings by the end of 2006. Today there are 249 single-family homes and condos on the system, most of those already conditionally sold. We’re seeing sharp price increases in every category of housing with some increasing as much as 70% since the start of the year.
My question to Mr. Calvert? Where are we going to put them when they get here sir?
Somehow, it just seems like the wrong time to be “gearing up” with this particular campaign. Let’s hope that the government updates its creative message, at the very least. Premier Calvert’s claim, “If you have any home ownership in Calgary these days, you can sell here, buy a home in Saskatchewan and be free and clear with your mortgage, likely own a cottage, and maybe one of two rental properties” is getting a little old.
I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.
Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Vidorra
-250-wide.jpg "Norm Fisher, TeamFisher")
