Trusted Saskatoon Blog | Tips and Resources

Marla Janzen Trusted Saskatoon Real estate tip on what you need to earn to buy a house in Canada

12. Jan 2015 trusted Saskatoon Home Staging, Saskatoon Interior Decorator , Saskatoon Real Estate, Trusted Tips

Marla Janzen is an award winning SASKATOON REAL Estate expert she takes action to sell her client's homes and find them the perfect new place to live while negotiating the best terms and price possible. She loves what she does and takes great pride in providing excellence in customer service to all of her clients.

She is one of our wonderful TRUSTED SASKATOON REAL ESTATE EXPERTS listed on the SASKATOON DIRECTORY and loves to provide Trusted Tips that help the public!

Marla Janzen from century 21 Fusion is the realtor for BC Based home builders Westbow Construction's Radius at The Legends condo project in Warman SK, and she invited the Trusted team up for a tour around the show condos and to meet the owner of Westbow Construction Dick Westeringh. We figured we would take along our video camera so you could see for yourself why living in Warman should be a consideration for anyone thinking about moving!

Here Marla shares a tip on buying a house in every major Canadian city:

How much you need to earn to buy a house in every major city

Many say property is the best investment you can make. Bursting housing bubbles and mortgage scandals aside, they’re usually right.

The price of making that investment varies widely in Canada, depending on where you live. We looked at how much you need to earn to buy an average-priced house in every major Canadian city.

To get these numbers, we consulted Adrian Williams, a Toronto mortgage broker, and used his calculator found here. He explained that to calculate the income required you need to know the purchase price, down payment, rate, utilities – mortgage qualifying must include a minimum of $100 a month for heating costs – and taxes.

We got the average purchase price per city from the Canadian Real Estate Association (they fluctuate. These prices were effective at the end of December. To see the absolute latest click here and input your city), and Williams provided the property tax rates. At his suggestion we used a 2.99% interest rate, which is the average qualifying rate for a 5-year fixed term. We used a down payment of 10% of the purchase price and calculated $100 a month for utilities.

According to Williams, “Other factors that will be included with mortgage qualification are the total monthly payment obligations from credit card, LOC’s, personal & car loans, car lease and other types of credit that require a monthly payment.”

Here is what you need to earn to buy a house in every major Canadian market. (Numbers are rounded to the nearest dollar.)

Vancouver

Average price: $819,336

Monthly mortgage payment: $3,570

Property tax: $251

Income required: $147,023

Jobs in Vancouver

Calgary

Average price: $465,047

Mortgage mortgage payment: $2,026

Property taxes: $236

Income required: $88,578

Jobs in Calgary

Edmonton

Average price: $365,520

Mortgage payment: $1,592

Property tax: $244

Salary required: $72,617

Jobs in Edmonton

Regina

Average price: $331,161

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,443

Property tax: $378

Income required: $72,028

Jobs in Regina

Saskatoon

Average price: $349,322

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,522

Property tax: $366

Income required: $74,546

Jobs in Saskatoon

Winnipeg

Average price: $270,605

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,179

Property tax: $274

Income required: $58,235

Jobs in Winnipeg

Ottawa

Average price: $357,887

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,559

Property tax: $336

Income required: $74,820.28

Jobs in Ottawa

Toronto

Average price: $587,505

Monthly mortgage payment: $2,560

Property tax: $354

Income required: $113,009

Jobs in Toronto

Montreal

Average price: $344,273

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,500

Property tax: $237

Income required: $68,884

Jobs in Montreal

Halifax

Average price: $264,447

Monthly mortgage payment: $1,152

Property tax: $266

Income required: $56,929

Jobs in Halifax

Find Marla Online at http://www.century21.ca/marla.janzen she is a Century 21 Fusion Realtor Sakatoon based at 703 Circle Drive, Saskatoon..or checkout her listing in REAL ESTATE SASKATOON here on www.trustedsaskatoon.com, Marla Janzen is TRUSTED SASKATOON REAL ESTATE EXPERT.

Epic Auto & Driveline Trusted Saskatoon Tire and Auto Repair expert tip on Re-Torquing Tires

9. Jan 2015 Trusted Saskatoon Saskatoon Auto Repair & Service, Saskatoon Tires, Trusted Tips

Epic Auto and Driveline is a one-stop Saskatoon automotive and tire shop for domestic and import cars, light trucks, and SUVs

You can be confident knowing that they always take pride in their work and take good care of their customers. Epic Automotive and Driveline is a Trusted Saskatoon Tire Shop. In this tire tip they share why you should re-torque your tires!

Re-Torque Your Tires

Occasionally a customer will come into our auto repair shop with a concern of a noise; once in a while we find loose lug nuts that hold the tires and rims tight to the car. This usually happens shortly after they have had the vehicle in for servicing somewhere and the wheels were off or they have taken the wheel off themselves.

Re-torquing wheels after vehicle servicing

When you bring your vehicle to a Trusted Saskatoon repair shop, if we have had your wheels off of the vehicle, we will ask you to return so we can re-torque the wheels. Your invoice will also have a statement on it advising that the wheels need to be re-torqued. You can do this yourself if you like, but if we were the ones to work on the car we do this at no charge to you. We always use a torque wrench to tighten your wheels when we re-install them. This is more of a safety concern now than it was 20 years ago. Vehicles are much more reliable today, but they are made with lighter materials and some of these are very fussy about how they are put together. Even a slight decrease or increase in the tightness of bolts and nuts can have adverse effects, in that they can loosen or they can break.

Most automotive shops will use a torque wrench to tighten the wheel and this is the best way to make sure the nuts are tight but not so tight that the wheel studs break from too much pressure on them. Some vehicles are more prone to having the lug nuts loosen and will need multiple re-torquing to make sure they stay tight.

Loose wheels don’t happen often, but to be safe, have your wheels re-torqued within the first 100 KM after they have been put on. It is the responsibility of the vehicle owner/driver that this is done. Loose wheels can cause a lot of damage to your car and potential injury to you and others. It doesn't take long to re-torque wheels and could save you a repair bill and a big headache.

Epic also offers financing. If you need vehicle parts or car service but don't have the immediate funds to pay for it, take advantage of a monthly payment plan using the value of your vehicle through their financing partner.

Relationships - Affordability - Transparency

Epic Automotive and Driveline is a Trusted Saskatoon Tire Shop

Reed Security Trusted Saskatoon Alarm and Security Expert share Holiday Security Tips

16. Dec 2014 trusted Saskatoon Alarm & Security, Saskatoon Alarm Audio Visual, Trusted Tips

Reed Security believes when you become a client you will be entering into a relationship – one they want to grow and become long term...they work hard to meet all your Saskatoon Alarm & security needs from day one!

REED SECURITY are Trusted and they are recipients of 2 x 2012 SABEX AWARDS - these Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce awards recognize excellence in business.

Here they share Holiday Security Tips:

THESE HOLIDAY SECURITY TIPS COULD SAVE YOU SOME HEADACHES!

Social Media is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, but don't forget it's very public. Thieves also like reading about your vacation plans and can often track down your address.

AVOID POSTING: "packing for the trip", "just got to lake", or "just landed", etc. or photos of your new big screen TV and PS4

Break'in's rarely occur when you are at home - so in addition to arming your Reed Security alarm system you will want to make it look like you are still there.

Cancel the newspaper
Have someone shovel your driveway
Have someone pick up your mail
Park an unused vehicle in the driveway
Install exterior motion lights (and make sure you test them)
Install timers for interior lights
Consider ALARM.COM Interactive Services. Control your lights, locks, blinds, temperature, and video cameras remotely

For even more helpful tips visit reedsecurity.com

Did You Know: A monitored Reed Security alarm system with 24/7 Rapid Response Monitoring will decrease the odds of having a break-in by nearly 400%.

HOLIDAY BONUS:

Save Up to $729 with our $5 a Month 24/7 Monitoring Promo

Save Up to $729 with our $5 a Month 24/7 Monitoring Promo

For more information and or to speak with a Security Specialist Click Here or call us:

Prince Albert 306.922.7200

Saskatoon 306.653.3200

Find Reed Security online at www.reedsecurity.com or check out their listing here in the SASKATOON ALARM & SECURITY Category on THE Saskatoon directory of excellence. Virgil Reed and his team are YOUR Trusted SASKATOON ALARM & SECURITY experts right here in Saskatoon!

PickNic's Catering your Trusted Saskatoon Catering pro shares another wonderful recipe

3. Dec 2014 trusted Saskatoon Caterers & Bakeries, Trusted Tips

What's the difference between good food and absolutely incredible dining? Fresh, quality ingredients, generous portions, imagination and creativity! From a simple catered lunch with gourmet sandwiches, to a Picknic Box for 2 for a romantic evening in, to a fabulously catered wedding or event, let Picknic's Catering and Fine Foods create something special for you!

PIckNics Catering & Fine Food is a TRUSTED SASKATOON CATERING EXPERT

PickNics Catering are known for their wedding cakes.

Here Nicola shares her Proscuitto and Gruyere Pinwheels Recipe:

Preheat oven to 375'F.
Start with one 10x16" sheet of puff pastry, thawed.
Egg wash, top with layer of Proscuitto, then sprinkle on Shredded Gruyere and Asiago cheeses. Sprinkle with a dash of Chili powder.

Find PickNic's Catering and Fine Foods at 210 33rd Street West or online here- or go to their listing in Saskatoon Catering & Bakeries to read all of the wonderful things her clients had to say about PickNics.

PickNic's Catering your Trusted Saskatoon Catering pro shares a wonderful recipe

25. Nov 2014 trusted Saskatoon Caterers & Bakeries, Trusted Tips

What's the difference between good food and absolutely incredible dining? Fresh, quality ingredients, generous portions, imagination and creativity! From a simple catered lunch with gourmet sandwiches, to a Picknic Box for 2 for a romantic evening in, to a fabulously catered wedding or event, let Picknic's Catering and Fine Foods create something special for you!

PIckNics Catering & Fine Food is a TRUSTED SASKATOON CATERING EXPERT

PickNics Catering are known for their wedding cakes.

Here Nicola shares her Pancetta and Roasted Garlic Tarts with Tomato Jam Recipe:

For the Tomato Jam:

In Heavy Bottomed Saucepan
1 Pint of Cherry Tomatoes
2 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar...
10 Whole Cloves
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 Tablespoon of Balsamic Vinegar
Juice of 2 Lemons
Simmer and stir occasionally for about 1 hour, until the tomatoes naturally burst.
You may need to add a Tablespoon of water every 15 minutes or so just to keep things juicy.

For the Tarts:

Preheat oven to 350'F
Layer 3 sheets of Phyllo pastry, brushed with melted butter in between the layers.
Cut the stacked set of sheets into 24 squares.
Line a mini cupcake pan with the prepared phyllo squares, pressing gently.
Fill with a generous crumble of Boursin cheese, cooked drained Pancetta, and a half clove of Roasted Garlic.
Top with a mixture of:
400mL of 35% Cream, whisked with 1 large egg, 1/2 teaspoon of thyme and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Remove from cupcake pan while slightly warm.
Top with Tomato Jam and serve warm or at room temperature.
VOILA!

Find PickNic's Catering and Fine Foods at 210 33rd Street West or online here- or go to their listing in Saskatoon Catering & Bakeries to read all of the wonderful things her clients had to say about PickNics.