In Minnesota we are in a two day stretch of light but constant snow.  The snow sort of slows things down all around.  Obviously the drive time takes longer because drivers need to drive slower or they could find theirselves in the ditch.  Real Estate sort of slows down as well.  Sometimes we rescedule appointments.  Often agents will stay home and work from home. 

Homes are still getting listed so I make sure my buyers have the listings in their inbox so they have the option of seeing new homes.  Offers are still being made.  I submitted one yesterday and emailed a different buyer one today that we will look to submit by the end of the day.

Driving home last night going about half the normal speed part of the way I was thinking is it really worth it to be on the road if you dont have to??  So today I am working from home, but thanks to technology it does not slow me down at all!  Drive safe!

Chuck Carstensen - RE/MAX Associates Plus Inc - 612-290-3809

Statistics are one thing to look at and everyone seems to like them.  Statistics might show prices are still dropping or that they have went up only slightly, but observing certain cities it seems like things are really looking up.

I have investors who have been buying homes in cities like Crystal, Brooklyn Park, St. Louis Park and other Twin Cities close in suburbs.  As I watch these areas now it seems like prices have really jumped back up on your regular owner homes.  Sure there are still a lot of cheap bank owned homes but they are selling so fast that they don't scare me that much.

Even the bank owned homes seem to be starting to inch back up in price.  Plus I am seeing a lot of sales around the $150,000 mark again on homes with regular owners.  Just a few months ago that price was really hard to sell at because of all the cheaper bank owned homes.

Plus these city all require city inspections.  These inspections have helped these home to look great again because the city requires a lot of repairs that insure a code compliant house. 

As I drive through these neighborhoods there are less vacant homes and more appealing homes.  It has taken time and it will take more time, but overall the direction of the market is trending in the right direction in these areas.

Let me know if I can help you with any of your Real Estate needs.

Chuck Carstensen -- RE/MAX Associates Plus inc. - 612-290-3809

Lindsey Hasford wrote a wonderful summary of this a couple days ago!  See post: Elk River collecting 1,000 random acts of kindess in February!

I think what Elk River, MN is doing is a wonderful thing.  It really motivated me to think about ways we can show our kindness to others.  There are so many ways to do this and on the website they share a list if your looking for ideas: http://loveelkriver.org/1000-acts-of-kindness

Today I paid for the person behind me in the drive through at McDonalds.  I had never done this before even though I have heard about doing something like this in the past.  It was fun and felt great!  Too bad for them their order was only $2.14...I would have paid whatever the price was.

This is something we all could do.  Imagine if each day we made an effort to do an act of kindness!  Improve your world today and try it!

Chuck Carstensen - Re/max Associates Plus inc - Elk River, MN - 612-290-3809

I work with a lot of first time buyers and investors and most of them are looking for a good value.  The investors want something that they can rent and cash flow or buy low and fix up and resell.  The first time buyers want to buy right so in 5 years when they are ready to move they will have equity and be able to sell for a profit.

There are a lot of good deals out there, but they come on the market one day and are normally sold in the first couple days of the listing.  Its very important to be on top of the market.  Buyers have access to properties now about as soon as Realtors. 

If you are a buyer and see a listing you like, chances are many other people will like it as well so you will want to see it and make an offer as soon as possible.  So contact your Realtor right away when you see something you like. If you don't have a Realtor I am happy to assist you if the home is in Wright, Hennepin, Sherburne, Isanti, Chisago, Benton, Stearns, Anoka, Mille Lacs or Washington counties in Minnesota.

Agents if you see a property one of your buyers will like do your best to get ahold of your buyer right away so you can get out to the house and get an offer in on time. 

This sounds real simple and basic but how many times were you too late for a great buy.

Chuck Carstensen

RE/MAX Associates Plus Inc

612-290-3809

Even though the temperatures in Minnesota are freezing cold today; the desire for investment properties has been heating up for a while.

When it comes to homes that an investor might be able to "flip" for a profit there is a lot of competition.  Right now I am normally running into 5-15 offers on those types of homes. Many of those offers are CASH offers.

When it comes to homes that would work better as rentals you will still find multiple offers in some of the popular areas that have extremely low prices. 

As you move farther out of the Twin Cities the competition thins out, but there are plenty of low priced homes that work well for rentals.

This time of year is a great time for Minnesota Real Estate buyers to find a home.  Most of the homes need some work. so you can purchase now and get the work done and then have the home ready for the busier spring market.

If you are someone thinking of buying an investment property but don't know where to start.  Give me a call and we can set up a time to review your goals and needs!

Chuck Carstensen

RE/MAX Associates Plus Inc

612-290-3809

Its time to start expecting good things to happen in your life.  Sometimes we get stuck in a rut and expect things not to work out.  We need to realize that what happens to us in our life is a choice and we can speak things into existence if we understand the power of our thoughts and words!

It takes more effort to have negative things come about then it does GOOD things.  You can start thinking about things you would like to have happen (instead of how everything goes wrong).  You can speak the works, "GOOD THINGS ARE SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN TO ME!"

Its just as easy to do that as it is to say, "nothing good ever happens" or "why does everything go wrong for me."

Sometimes this will take some overcoming power because often you have had the current running in a negative direction for far too long.  Things start to turn around the moment you decide for them too, but resistance will come your way to keep you where you are at.

So repeat often, "GOOD THINGS ARE SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN TO ME!"  Little signs of good will start to come along and when you notice them and praise them soon enough some bigger GOOD things will happen.  Its a fun process, and certainly much more fun then looking for the things that aren't going well for you!

Chuck Carstensen

RE/MAX ASSOCIATES PLUS INC.

612-290-3809

As new buyers come into the market its important to know that in the Twins Cities Area in Minnesota the new listings and homes reduced to the right price will sell fast once they are priced to get attention.

Knowing this you will want to be pre approved for a mortgage when you are ready to move because not doing so could keep you from ever getting that great deal.

Also, you want to see the home right away in order to have a chance to get an offer in. Often these homes are getting multiple offers and the price is being bid back up.

I know, that can be hard to imagine in a "down market" or "buyers market" but its true.  Its important for you to know that come Spring or even before the competition is only going to heat up more.  More people like to move when its gets warmer.  The tax credit opportunity is set to expire April 30th so I would imagine an increased demand as we get closer to that date.

So start looking hard now and be ready for the opportunity to own a great home at a great price!

Chuck Carstensen

RE/MAX Associates Plus

612-290-3809

This is something we don't think of often enough.  Our mindsets direct us toward prosperity and abundance or toward poverty. 

It may not be as simple as thinking more positive and things will turn completely around because most people have deep rooted fears, expectations, habits and strongholds on the mind.  However, if you are aware that your mindset is a big part of where you are financially now it gives you a chance to start working on replacing your limiting thoughts.

I want to share an expand take on this from part of a newsletter I read this morning:

"We all have desires and aspirations. Some of us even have goals written down. Why is it that some people seem to have an ability to create wealth and others don't? There is even a political movement that concludes this scenario is unfair and wealth should be "redistributed." I want to suggest that it is much more benevolent to teach people how to move from poverty to wealth; giving to the poor is Biblical and appropriate in some circumstances but it reinforces poverty and is never a long-term solution. Continuing to give wealth to the poor without teaching them to multiply money themselves is the modern equivalent to slavery. It keeps people in bondage." - John Garfield

I feel its up to us to work on our mindset and once we do that we need to help others.  I am more then happy to feed the poor, but at the same time we need to start feeding the minds of the people who have poverty thinking as well. 

Obviously the above paragraph has some political undertones.  Nothing to get upset about either way, but something else to ponder.  What is the TRUTH about these words and situation...not in worldly TRUTH but in HIGHER understanding of thought.

Realize that your ways of doing things may be part of the problems in your life and in the world and if it seems they are then start doing something about it!

Chuck Carstensen

612-290-3809

RE/MAX Associates Plus Inc

I am wondering how many people actually know that they have the choice whether to be successful or not.  I think some people adopted thinking that other people can be successful but they can't.  Those limiting thoughts have set you up only for a mediocre life. Is that what you want?

Hopefully religion has not taught you that its more spiritual to just get by or worse yet to be poor.  If so you better get out the WORD and cross reference it with the TRUTH.

"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV)

God was saying here that its your choice to be blessed or cursed.  A blessing is multiplied and you can use the blessing to expand life.  A curse does nothing to expand life and sort of sticks the cursed in a long term place of being stuck and feeling dead.

A blessing sounds like a much better choice to me.  I want to be a blessing and be blessed. Thankfully we have the power to declare today that we are a blessing.

Say, " I am a blessing and I am blessed!"  It might not even feel right at the time but if you start talking that way to yourself soon you will find yourself starting to act like a blessing.

Chuck Carstensen

RE/MAX ASSOCIATES PLUS Inc

612-290-3809