If your down payment is under 20 percent, mortgage insurance through CMHC, Sagen or Canada Guaranty is mandatory, and Saskatchewan applies provincial sales tax to that insurance premium at closing, which adds to the cash you need on hand beyond the down payment itself.
New listings rose 12.3 percent year-over-year in August 2026, giving buyers more selection, which in practice means a well-prepared buyer can negotiate on price or conditions rather than accepting the first number a seller lists at.
Joel Dyck breaks down the full cost picture for buyers before they make an offer. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.