St. Paul's Localism - 01/30/07 01:37 AM
There's a new carnival in town and I liked the idea of a virtual tour of MY town!  Carnivals are not my thing.  It's probably because losing is not fun, but my honey and I are new residents of St. Paul (only 29 months now) and weekly say to one another, "Have I told you lately how much I like St. Paul?"  We are hooked.  We have no idea why we didn't settle here when we migrated from Chicago, but we didn't.  Now in our golden years, we see the lighted Capitol framed by our living room window every night as … (19 comments)

Minneapolis and Saint Paul Real Estate Sales - 01/27/07 07:02 PM
The Regional Multiple Listing Service of the Minneapolis and Saint Paul area of Minnesota has released its sales figures for 2006.  The stats show a decline in the number of closings; a slight increase in the median price of closed homes; a small increase in the average price of closed homes; and a decrease in the dollar volume of sales back to levels in 2004.  Pretty graphs and the chart for the last 7 years are here.  The figures support that the Twin Cities real estate market did not bust, but did indeed slow down this last year.  Value continues to … (0 comments)

The Search Is Done? - 01/24/07 11:04 AM
Minnesotans must be closet party-ers because the Minne-apple is not the first place people think of when they think of revelry and fun.  Oooooooh, it's cold up there.  What do you do in the winter?  Watch TV?  Nope, that's not it at all!  We have fun outside!
St. Paul is in the midst of its Winter Carnival right now.  Let the festivities begin.  Well, they've already begun and one of the more sedate events is done and about to begin again.  The medallion has been found after only 3 published clues!  It's a record and a disappointment to die-hard medallion hunters.  Some … (5 comments)

St. Paul's Frogtown - 01/21/07 04:33 PM
St. Paul like every other city has neighborhoods.  Being a St. Paul resident in my very core, albeit a new physical resident, I’m learning about the city like any other new resident.  I’ve always known about the houses, but not always about the city itself!
Thomas-Dale is the official name for the St. Paul neighborhood most often dubbed as Frogtown.  Bounded by 35E on the east, University Avenue on the south, Lexington on the west, and the Burlington Northern railroad tracks on the north, the area contains the four “mini-‘hoods” of East Midway (Lexington to Dale), Frogtown (Dale to Rice), Capitol … (4 comments)

St. Paul Winter Carnival - 01/20/07 11:39 PM
                                                                                                      
Starting January 26, it's party time in St. Paul, Minnesota!  The Ringling Bros. circus used to proclaim itself the biggest show on earth.  Well, St. Paul is proclaiming its Winter Carnival to be the biggest and oldest winter festival in the nation having carried on the tradition since 1886!  Rumor, legend, and fantasy surround the carnival starting with its inception in 1886 supposedly the result of a slur made by an eastern reporter about Minnesota's weather being uninhabitable.  The Legend explains the true purpose of the carnival:  the Vulcan King and his Krewe chase away King Boreas, the king of the … (8 comments)

We're Not Talking Their Language - 01/15/07 12:32 AM
I took a class two years ago that taught the generational differences between oldsters like myself and youngsters in their early 20's and late teens.  The class was before my blogging days.  At the time it made sense.  The Cliff notes of the class was that the boomers and older base their business choices on relationship.  Networking was extremely important to those generations.  Getting to know your client and develop a relationship was the key marketing tool.  For the XYZ generations, the presenter said networking and relationship are no longer valued.  Those generations were the McDonald's people.  The ones who were … (36 comments)

One Year - 01/14/07 02:21 AM
Yesterday, the 13th, was my one year anniversary of blogging.  My very first entry was January 13, 2006.  I had no idea what I was getting into.  I marked 100 entries and then 200.  I talked about all kinds of stuff, some real estate related and some not.  I had fun with it.  I learned a lot about the Internet and about globalization, technology to market my business, disintermediation, transparency, blog etiquette and being myself for the world to see!  I just checked the stats and I have made 350 posts, two short of the 352 I mistakenly proclaimed at my … (15 comments)

Andy's Garage Closes - 01/11/07 02:24 AM
 
 
 
 
When you're done with being a gas station, what better thing to do than convert the station to a restaurant?  That's what Andy's Garage did and had a thriving business since opening in 2000.  This is the St. Paul location at Fairview and University Ave. W.  Well, this WAS the St. Paul location.  As you can see, Andy closed her/his/their St. Paul location with no attempt to sell the restaurant business.  The restaurant just up and closed the doors.  Why?  He's (Dee, one of the owners) having knee surgery and it was too much to handle along with the new … (10 comments)

The Minnesota Blogging Game - 01/11/07 01:45 AM
Teresa called me yesterday complaining about lack of time and points  on Active Rain.  She is the Minnesota blogging queen and had close to a 4000 point lead while I took time off for the holidays.  For some odd reason she thought 4000 points was a safe distance.  I chuckled at our easy banter.  Teresa and I are competitors, not only in blogging, but in our market.  But, it's a big sea with a lot of fish and we're both willing to share while we compete.
One important part of competition and sportsmanship I learned early was that one has to be … (13 comments)

Minnesota Landlord Reminder - 01/11/07 01:26 AM
Minnesota rental property owners have to issue a Certificate of Rent Paid to each of their tenants from 2006 by January 31, 2007.  The CRP is the State's way of rebating the property owners' taxes to the tenants.  I could get on a soap box about this redistribution of wealth program, but hey, I live in Minnesota and that comes with the package! 
The forms can be obtained on this website under "CRP Instructions for Landlords".  If you're new to the landlord business, the instructions are short and easy to follow.  Read them first and then fill out one form for … (17 comments)

Firefox vs. IE7 - 01/09/07 12:53 AM
I love Firefox.  I had tried it before, but wasn't ready to make the switch.  This last week I did the download once again and am really enjoying the speed and the tabbed browsing.  IE7 had a tabbed browser as well, but it was slow and cumbersome to work.  Firefox just jumps happily from tab to tab without a blip.  IE7 did strange things to my computer when it forced the upgrade down my throat.  There were some improvements, but it didn't work as well as the last Internet Explorer that I had.
As with every other tech improvements I find, there … (10 comments)

A Minnesota Cooperative Effort in MLS Data Sharing - 01/09/07 12:36 AM
Hmmm.  The welcome screen on our MLS had exciting news to share when we logged on this week.  Minnesota has created an MLS Data Sharing Co-op.  I guess for now I'll call it the Co-op since the 6 page introductory description was adamant to say "The Co-op is not an MLS, but a data sharing cooperative."  It boils down to an MLS feed or access for all association members who are participating though.  To search properties in St. Cloud or Duluth or Rochester or any other outstate area except the Fergus Falls' Lake Region Association of REALTORS, all I have to … (3 comments)

Great Thinkers - 01/08/07 01:43 PM
There are great thinkers who have vision and see the forest instead of the trees.  Then there are thinkers who apply what the great thinkers see to the tree itself.  I'm the "tree itself" person.  I envy great thinkers.  Great thinkers sometimes are so "heavenly minded they're no earthly good" but they are the ones who create business models and superstructures for the practical person like me to be sheltered in.  I can think out of the box.  I can take the tree and find a million things to do with it, but seeing trends, making forecasts, seeing the vision is … (2 comments)

Point2 NLS - 01/08/07 10:36 AM
When I searched this morning, there were 8 blog posts on Active Rain that are tagged with NLS regarding the Point2 NLS anouncement .  One entry appeared to have been entered twice by one member so that leaves 7 actual statements about the new Point2 system.  I've been a Point2 website member for 2 years now and have been pleased with their agent centered and friendly product.  Prior to the announcement of the Point2 NLS, Point 2 users have had the ability to enter a listing on their own site and have it automatically generate to their broker's site (if they … (3 comments)

The Correct Price - 01/06/07 12:08 AM
Another blogger who is considering selling their personal residence in the next year or two asked about pricing.  In the question was the term "correct" price and if the price is this much this year, does that mean it was overpriced last year?
That question set my brain cells aflame.  Saying a home was "overpriced last year" implies the real estate agent who listed and the agent who brought the buyer's accepted offer were both misleading their clients about the value of the home.  That question also revealed how consumers look at home prices.  They don't realize that home prices can vary … (25 comments)

Technology Can Be Frustrating - 01/05/07 11:41 PM
Technology is supposed to make life simpler and supposed to speed things up.  Maybe it has, but when I'm waiting in line because the computer driven cash register can't figure out how to take something with the wrong code, it drives me crazy.  In the old days I would be checked out and gone by the time the manager comes over to unlock the system and the stock person is called to get the right numbers . . . well you get the picture.   In like manner I filled a prescription which is supposed to be 2 pills a day.  My … (9 comments)

Advice for New Agents - 01/05/07 11:19 PM
Monica Hubert asked for frugal advice for new agents on how to succeed.  My comment became so long I thought I'd make a post out of it instead.  Here's the advice I give to agents with little means just starting out:
Find a good mentor to ask practical day to day questions like how to fill out a purchase agreement or what to do in a negotiation!Join Active Rain or another network of real estate professionals that can give you advice so you don't have to go to your competitorsMake a business plan.  Both the Keller Williams "red book" "How to Become … (11 comments)

Blog Rules: Best Practices - 01/04/07 01:29 AM
My honey is a careful man.  In his very core, he is a cautious person.  His chosen career paths have lead him through IT security, disaster recovery, audit, systems analysis, and HIPPA initiations, to name a few.  He knows the dangers of the Internet.  He understands what best practices are.  He understands risk reduction.  He unsubscribed from my blog!
Occasionally, TLH (The Loving Husband) will bring me an article or tidbit he considers important.  This week was the best chuckle I've had yet.  From SearchSMB.com comes Blog rules: part 1: Best practices to keep you in business by Nancy Flynn, Contributor.  The summary of this … (11 comments)

How to Buy a House - 01/02/07 11:57 PM
I was going to keep silent on the topic of how to buy a house until reading Moo's latest entry on unrepresented buying triggered a recent experience I had with a consumer.  So, this post is for buyers who want to buy a house AND do it the most efficient and productive way possible!
Choose a REALTOR or real estate agent.  In Minnesota I would suggest a REALTOR because agents who are not members of NAR do not have access to the MLS.  This one step can save you money, time, and frustration.Meet with a lender (preferably one suggested by your agent) to get pre-approved for … (0 comments)

Virtual Gaming - 01/01/07 01:50 PM

The chart at left was pulled from the Second Life Virtual World of MMOG (massively multiplayer online games)  at 2:48 AM January 1, 2007.   I don't know if you're aware of this fantasy game, but almost a year ago, I stumbled on the site and found some interesting data at that time. 
One year ago on January 18, 2006, one could buy a 16 acre island in Second Life for a mere $1250.00 . . . That's U.S. dollars, not play dollars.  There was the ability to use a credit card online.  I have no idea if there are virtual agents who … (5 comments)

All I Want for Christmas . . . - 01/01/07 12:46 PM
We had a great Christmas.  It's the first time the family has been together on THE DAY for years.  When the kids grow and develop relationships, families have to share.  When you have more than one child, figuring out how to share so the whole family gets together at one time is a logistical nightmare.  We opted as a family to celebrate on "not Christmas" days so we could be together which is what it's all about for us.  Last year we celebrated on New Year's Eve.  By the time family stuff is done, the early to bed crew goes to … (4 comments)

 

Bonnie Erickson

Saint Paul, MN

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The Realty Matrix

Address: 1951 University Ave. W., St. Paul, MN, 55104

Office Phone: (651) 649-1153

Cell Phone: (612) 419-1829

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