Permit history matters more for a rental than an owner-occupied purchase, because a tenant living in an unpermitted basement suite is a liability the City of Saskatoon can act on, not a bonus bedroom. Pull the permit record before you write an offer, not after possession.
Financing a rental works differently than financing a home you will live in. Lenders typically add only a portion of projected rent to your qualifying income, and CMHC insures owner-occupied purchases with a secondary suite on more favourable terms than a pure investment property, so confirm which category your purchase falls into early.
Older housing stock in established Saskatoon neighbourhoods often carries deferred mechanical upgrades that a home inspection, typically $400 to $600, will flag before financing closes. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.