Saskatoon Real Estate Resource Centre Blog

...That is, once you figure out a way to get paid more than $50k a year...

(see Norm's more recent posting if you think $50k is too much to sustain such unfounded house prices)

Obviously I'm in Saskatoon for a reason, I love it here.  However, in this report Winnipeg has Saskatoon well beat - 10 spots higher at #7!  And yet, Saskatoon is less affordable... I guess that's probably one of the main reasons why we're ranked lower.  (That and crime - I'd rather be the car theft capital of Canada instead of being #1 for something MUCH more heinous)

I found this page very interesting.  I just wanted to make it easier to find.  

http://list.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/bestplacestolive/2008/prosperity/Default.aspx?sub=n1&df=bestcities&sp2=1&sc1=6&d1=a

You guys shouldn't take the statistics of crime in Saskatoon too seriously.  Your city really isn't that bad.  Whatever makes the headlines - just remember, it takes way less to get the needle moving in Saskatoon.

Here in Winnipeg, we've had some pretty savage back to back crimes going on in the past few weeks.  A triple murder, five teens going on car theft sprees, another stolen truck that resulted in a cab driver being murdered...Check the news.

Seriously - only in the last 60 days.  I guess it doesn't help that there's a reported "hole" in the drug trade right now due to recent busts.  Police often notice increased criminal activity as they apply pressure to criminal industries.

I won't say that makes Winnipeg the worst place to live, but you really gotta get some perspective on it.  Violent crime is the least of Saskatoon's concerns.  At least - it isn't for now.

Heck - I wouldn't buy into anything these statistics say.  They have no hope of being objective.  Just stop looking at them and realize no matter where you go, employers want to screw you :)

How's that for levity?

Saskatoon Not #17 with last year of price increases.

Some huge issues with this, mainly based on "Avg House Price ($):  225000  Time to buy:  3.14"  Definitely a bit outdated.  With house prices $100,000 higher, I'm assuming we're dropping down a lot in the affordibility index.  Also, Saskatoon benefits from using freezing/0 C as cut off for cold, so -5 in Kelowna is considered just as unpleasent as

-25 in Saskatoon.  If it considered days less than -20 (when it becomes just unpleasent) we'd drop a few more spots

http://list.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/bestplacestolive/2008/DisplayProfile.aspx?profile=17  

And Alex, stats may not be subjective, but kind of the definition of objective.  At a third Winnipeg's population, your chance of having something bad happend to you here, is the same if we have a third the total number of violent crimes.  Apparently we have more than a third the number, so while the total is lower here, the chance is higher that it will happen to any one individual (well was last year).  To over simplify to the point of being insulting, a hamlet of 4 residents with 2 murders and 2 assualts in a year has low total crime, but a pretty high incidence for that year.

If you don't believe Maclean's go to the bottom of the Stats Can page and check out for yourself, the total numbers are actually quite high, with 1,606 violent crimes in 2006 in Saskatoon, actually the highest in Canada.  Maclean's took into account the type of crime, to make Regina more dangerous.

http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070718/d070718b.htm

And finally, you can afford to live in a nice area of Winnipeg, not so in Saskatoon.

My bad, actually 1,606 violent crimes /100,000 in Saskatoon, so over 3,200 violent crimes annually in Saskatoon.  Apparently this is not a big number, as just over 1/100 residents (3000 X 100 if our pop was 300,000) was the victim of violent crime, well yearly.

Seriously, just look at the table as the bottom.  Winnipeg was high too, just not Saskatoon high.

http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070718/d070718b.htm

We usually win the coveted Canadian "most crime per capita" and "most murders per capita" awards, but I think Regina beat us out last year.  

Despite this, I have never felt unsafe where I live.  There is only one part of town that scares me, just west of downtown.

Where there is poverty there is often crime. Unfortunately there is poverty in some parts of the Saskatoon and Regina populations.

And with rising housing, not sure how that will go.

I watched the discussion regarding Saskatoon's 17th place on the best places to live which was broadcast on Global yesturday evening. One aspect pointed out that the "survey people" (sorry, didn't pay attention to who conducted it)put too much weight on weather. For example, it was said that 20 points of the survey are dedicated to the climate with only 10 points given for visual appeal. Atch was criticizing the survey for this reason because Saskatoon will never be awarded even half of the 20 points because we have 200 days of below 0 weather per a year. The suggestion was put out that the average person would pay more attention to visual appeal when choosing a place to live as opposed to basing most of their decission on the weather.

I'm hoping someone else saw it on Global and may be able to explain it better than I can:)

As for violent crime in the city, it is quite prominent, however, many of you are not aware that we (Saskatoon as a whole) do not have any programming geared towards violent behavior for adult men. Yes, there is anger mananagement available for women and youths, but not for men whom I beleive are the dominent group for committing violent crimes (sorry to all guys on here.... no offence, just an opinion).

This has been for some time now and I find it appauling that we rank so high for violence yet our government has not ensured that these programs continue. When you hear a Judge order a violent adult male to violence prevention programming or anger management, trust me, none exist in this city. I will note that there is programming for domestic violence, but not general violence which may sometimes be scarier because you don't see it coming or where it might come from. For those who may say "throw them in jail then", it doesn't happen.... the majority are released on various types of Court orders right back to the same community.

The violence will continue and probably escalate as long as violent people aren't learning new and different ways to deal with their behavior.

I would love to see a list that compares canadian cities of the same population and see where we rank.

Actually, if you check David's link above, many of the places that ranked higher, Victoria, Fredericton, Moncton, Halifax, London etc. are similar in size.

And Stephanie, I think the reason we lack programming is seen a bit in the comments above, and will be seen as more are added, people in Saskatoon don't think it's dangerous.  It doesn't matter how many years we're near the top of the country in violent crime, how many times the police point it out, or how many times a murder makes the middle of the paper some where (so a story about living in the city's revitallized ghetto, near said murder, as an affordable option can make front page) people here just won't accept that our city is not that safe.  I would encourage them to check out the link, and remember, that just because a violent crime hasn't happened to you recently, at 3,200/205,000 ish it likely will happen to you in your lifetime in Saskatoon, at a rate much higher than most other decent sized cities in Canada (and higher than all including Regina if looking only at sheer rate of violent crimes)

And stop blaming Maclean's other than pointing out we'd be in the top 10 of violent American cities, it's all on Stats Canada website, look at the bottom, look at the types of things that are high.

http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070718/d070718b.htm

I wasn't implying Stephanie was blaming Maclean's it just seems that every time Maclean's points out we have a high crime rate in Saskatoon, or a raunchy area in Regina, a lot people are all up in arms, without actually realizing that compared to anywhere else in Canada, we do have all the bad stuff Maclean's points out, ie don't shoot the messenger.

http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070718/d070718b.htm

I probably wasn't clear in general, I was saying that hey everyone in Saskatchewan stop blaming Maclean's for pointing out our short comings.

Again, with Jim on this one, 17 th best place in Canada was based on older, much more affordable house prices, assuming we dropped a lot with the 50% increase in house prices since last year.  Also, the booming (see below average for Western Canada) economy may see a price drop, which would make it that much less appealing.  And people obviously do care about temperature, hence all the retirees moving to Florida and Victoria.

Not sure 17th in the country best case scenario is worthy of braggin.

I Love the biased Saskatoon media/real estate postings, Saskhouses.com posted some USA today article saying Saskatoon is affordable, when compared to some random cities world wide, based on a 2200 sq ft 4 bedroom house in Saskatoon for $211,000 in 2007.

I think all the real estate types showing outdated studies shows they are covering up current unaffordability.  I wonder why all the affordable and good place to live things always talk about prices half, or less, of what they actually are today.  I think if we talk about prices now Saskatoon is not a good place to move to any more.

Dougy,

I completely agree with you.  The media has totally put a spin on our housing market and conveniently left out the truth - that we're NOT affordable.  The Remax article published in the StarPhoenix that claims there is still plenty of affordable opportunities for first time home buyers... and to take advantage all you have to do is buy a drug house in King George!!!  What BS.

Alex trauzzi was trashing Saskatoon in another thread, something about not agreeing with my assessment that it has small town charm. Well here's what I was talking about in spades:

My Homes teens shown support

“We’re feeling a lot better . . . and I think they do, too," says EGADZ co-ordinator

Teens living in care homes run by the EGADZ outreach program got to see a friendlier side of Saskatoon...

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/story.html?id=f37793bd-b41b-49b8-8aeb-f68b2eafe893&k=60447

Callum, that EGADZ thing was all over the news because all of those people up in Hampton or whatever did not want those kids getting help and rebuilding their lives in their neigbhourhood.  That's the small town mentality Saskatoon has sometimes.  Ignorant, prejudiced and racist.  Luckily some have the big town, metropolitan attitude and in the article one of the red neck couples changed their tune after actually finding out about all the good stuff EGADZ does for those kids.  Shows they reacted prematurely and prejudiced in the first place.  Easier to start a lynch mob than be understanding.  Big cities like Vancouver, much more understanding of not everyone being the exact same.

Under Title of Sound off: Are neighbours overreacting to the My Home program in Hampton Village?

Spurred on by the people in power, city councillors

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=0b561683-9017-469e-81f8-5ea12c138c7b&k=91208

Sound off: Are neighbours overreacting to the My Home program in Hampton Village?

TheStarPhoenix.com

Published: Friday, May 02, 2008

Teens living in supportive care homes run by the EGADZ outreach program are speaking out in defence of their right to live among the middle-class home-owners of Saskatoon's new Hampton Village neighbourhood.

Staff of the My Home program say the young people started making plans to introduce themselves to residents living on Allwood Crescent - where two new care homes are slated to open this spring - after a woman in a van slowly drove by one of their houses Wednesday evening, rolled down her window and gave them the finger.

It was the last straw.

Email to a friend

Printer friendly

Font:****"We decided we should meet the people that disapprove of us, because they don't know what the My Homes are and they don't know what they're talking about," said one of the residents, a 14-year-old girl who had just finished her chores when she caught the obscene gesture.

Encouraged by city Coun. Myles Heidt and supported by Coun. Maurice Neault, a group of Hampton Village homeowners circulated a petition and appeared before a civic committee this week to argue against a recommendation for the city to contribute about $84,000 from its innovative housing program toward My Home Five and My Home Six, which EGADZ purchased in March with funding from the federal and provincial governments.

Share your thoughts on this situation. Are those complaining overreacting? Or do they have a right to be concerned? Sound off.

© The StarPhoenix 2008

The lack of accepting rehab programs like this might help explain why we have the highest crime rate in the country!

Hate to agree with Kenton, but Saskatoon is one racist and redneck city some times to the point I am quite embarassed.  A lot of people don't even censure their views, as long as no Native or minority group is present, the average resident will keep mouthing off whoever as the cause of life's problems when I walk by.

Not a nice thing to associate with home, but I really see a lot less of this when out in BC or Toronto.

Yeah, the one reason you know Saskatchewan has more legit farmers than Alberta, there are way more blatant racists.

We're definitely redneck.  To the point I actually get offended because people just blast minorities like crazy.  It seems as long as there's no native guy in the room, it is fair game to say whatever you want about them, no matter if you don't know anyone else around you.  I guess we lack a substantial black or asian pop too, but people here just seem to look down on anyone who doesn't look Ukrainian funny cause the asian dude is probably a doctor or something.  Maybe more of a don't live near me and i'm gonna call you names than any violent stuff, but yeah people are just blatant with hatred here sometimes.

You bet your ass I tell off people in public when they're making rude comments about minorities.  It's just it's so darn common, and it's so tough to judge what is appropriately offensive, that and the whole high violent crime.  There's times when a half dozen big farm boy bad mouthing natives... I'm not tough enough to deal with the ensuing brawl.  But in general, I try to politely step in and say "You know what, that's just mean, what is the point of that?" or something to that extent.