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SASKATOONEXPRESS - August 8-14, 2016 - Page 1
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Volume 14, Issue 31, Week of August 8, 2016
Saskatoonʼs REAL Community Newspaper
Dynamo CEO
Chris Guérette powers up new Parade of Homes
Joanne Paulson Saskatoon Express hen Chris Guérette became the new CEO of the Saskatoon and Region Home Builders’ Association on Feb. 1, a huge project was waiting for her. The SRHBA’s board had decided that, after a two-year absence, it was time to bring back the Parade of Homes. They had already decided on dates – Aug. 8 to Oct. 2 – and several builders had expressed interest in participating. The rest was up to Guérette and her team. “I hit the ground running,” said Guérette in a recent interview. “There are only six of us here, and people are often surprised by that because (of) the amount of work we do. It’s a small but mighty team. They’re just fabulous.” It wasn’t the only project she jumped into, but it was the most public one on the immediate horizon. “Based on feedback, our members and the public have asked for the Parade to come back,” she said. “It was a very clear message. And so we did, and the results obviously showed that feedback was accurate. “In recent history, there was a lottery home tied to it, with a charity. This time it’s just the Parade of Homes, and the theme is choice. It’s celebrating the choice of housing and communities in Saskatoon, and seeing what’s out there. “We’re telling people to ‘try on the home.’ Try it on. The research shows people shop for homes online, and when they get really serious, they start working
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Chris Guérette is the CEO of the Saskatoon and Region Home Builders’ Association with a professional. We’re saying, take a peek. You’re trying on the layout, the street, the community. “We always tell people, it’s better to be educated. We want to see everybody be able to buy their own home. Homeownership is huge, right? And buying into a new home is a really fabulous experience, the benefits you have – having a more energy-efficient home, to being able to choose your own area in the city, your own community.” This edition of the parade features 24 homes, 20 in Saskatoon, one in Corman Park at Cathedral Bluffs, two in Martensville and one in Warman. The previous parade was in 2013; and the largest number of parade homes previously was 22. You can find the homes and more information at
Community
https://paradeofhomesonline.ca/. The Saskatoon housing market has slowed somewhat over the last two years, and there has been much talk about overbuilding; but Guérette thinks the market is much healthier than press coverage suggests. “The market responds, and it fluctuates,” she said. “There haven’t been any major concerns out there. Just the fact that we have the biggest Parade of Homes that we’ve ever had, with the greatest diversity and the greatest outreach in terms of the communities . . . I think is a huge stamp of approval that we still have a very healthy market here in Saskatoon.” There are some parts of the market that are adjusting at present, particularly condos, said Guérette, but that’s part of the cycle.
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“We’re hearing anecdotally from our members that they’re still very busy. They’ve seen this before. They’re smart entrepreneurs. “When we do see the stats out there, it creates some alarm in the community. But as soon as you look at the stats, it means that that’s behind you; it doesn’t necessarily describe what is currently happening. “We have a really healthy housing market here in Saskatoon, and we’re pretty lucky. “But we always say educating the home buyer is always a win-win. When we get calls we always tell people, hire a professional, ask the right questions; ask as many questions as you think you should, to educate yourself. That’s your investment. (Continued on page 6)
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