It's a Happy Halloween to all my beloved fans! May your holiday be filled with fun and adventure!

What a better way to celebrate than to gain an extra hour of sleep, eh?
Just a quick reminder to all my trick-or-treating friends that tonight (October, 31st) is the night to turn those clocks back.

We gain an hour!! If only my kids would get the memo and enjoy their moment to sleep in....

Enjoy your Halloween and at the end of Saturday - don't forget to move those clocks!
It's just that time of year!

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you.

Lindsey Hasford
Coldwell Banker Vision
231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (cell)
lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com
http://www.hasfordhomes.com

In preparation for their grand opening the Northstar Rail has been sending out practice trains now for a couple of weeks. Have you seen them?

Starting service in November will be quite an exciting event for this public transportation system! Running from Big Lake down to the cities everyday with several stops in between (including Elk River) will provide a new and relaxing way for commuters to avoid high traffic during rush hour!

My boys love seeing these fast and bright trains fly by on the rails and ask often when they will get their turn to ride. We might just have to take a trip!

If you are looking at purchasing a home along the rail line now is the time! With prices at a low and the anticipation of how the train will help with commuting - now is the time! There is still plenty of inventory in Big Lake, Elk River, Ramsey and all along the commuter track!

http://www.northstartrain.org/

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you.

Lindsey Hasford
Coldwell Banker Vision
231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (cell)
lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com
http://www.hasfordhomes.com

Last Thursday I went through the Riverview Bank drive thru and it seemed that everything was normal and fine. Not a word was said to it's impending doom. Sure, I have heard rumors of allegations flying but you never know what to make of the rumor mill.

The truth is: Riverview bank has hit the dust. Closing their doors without warning on Friday and opening as Central Bank today.

Visiting their website doesn't give a lot of information except that patrons of the bank still have accounts and they are being merged into Central Bank.

Whew! That means that the mortgage check that I sent yesterday will still be good. No hiccups for me... at least not today. Local patrons of Riverview Bank are instructed to continue their daily business and they will be notified as the merge takes place.

If you are interested in more info on the bank and it's downfall please visit www.riverviewcb.com and follow the links that they have set up.

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you.

Lindsey Hasford
Coldwell Banker Vision
231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (cell)
lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com
http://www.hasfordhomes.com

You'll find this posted on one of the reader signs in front of a junior high school in Elk River these days.

I find it rather humorous and completely true!

In every circumstance and every moment of each day we have a choice.
A choice on how we want to feel.
Is it possible that it's up to us how we want to live?

Mixing this thought with another recent post that I saw from a facebook friend, saying,
"Every hour you frown is an hour of happiness that you've given up in your life!"

I think that it's time to stop and consider the happy things.
Time to stop and smell those roses that I hear about so often!

The challenge in these thoughts is figuring out how to take the unlovely things in life and turning them into good things!

How to keep smiling in the rough times.

As a realtor we get our opportunity once in awhile to be reminded how tough things can be...
especially when the closing checks are few and far between,
or when the one or several deals fall through or create havoc that we weren't expecting.

The key is to find the good in these and to keep trekking forward with a smile!
Why lose a moment's peace over things we can't control?

So, like it says in that "one" song, "Let's put on a happy face!" 

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you.

Lindsey Hasford
Coldwell Banker Vision
231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (cell)
lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com
http://www.hasfordhomes.com

On Friday I listed a property... a very nice property that needs a LOT of work. Trust me - I'm not one to mince words so it's stated so in the mls. I took the time in my agent remarks, as I've done before, to ask agents to 'prepare their clients' before showing this property. It's amazing what kind of reaction that will get from folks. It's not the first time I've used this stategy and it won't be the last.

I do find it kind of peculiar when an agent will peruse my listing and call and ask why I announce that the home needs work.  They ask if it's better to let the buyer find out for themselves.

Let me say, "uh, no." That's my final answer. I would much rather have a buyer know right up front that the roof on a house is caving in, or that there is mold in the lower level, or that the carpets are so smelly from cat urine that you can smell it from the front steps. I just think that forewarning goes a long ways sometimes. If a buyer anticipates that there is work to be done they will go in with open eyes and appreciate the structure of the home or the area that it's in.

I can say that this property has had it's share of showings over the last four days despite the fact that I was so brutal in my mls description. My phone rang all day yesterday and this morning I have several offers sitting on my desk.

Sometimes it is just better to be honest.

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you.

Lindsey Hasford
Coldwell Banker Vision
231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (cell)
lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com
http://www.hasfordhomes.com

Oh, how I have missed being on my blog! It feels like sooooo long!!!

I am grateful to say that I've been missing for GOOD reasons, but I'm ready to get back.

Today I am working on continuing education and hopefully can take some time out to write a couple of nice blog posts. I have much to share from the last three weeks!

Just keep hanging on - I'll be back to posting soon!

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you.

Lindsey Hasford
Coldwell Banker Vision
231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (cell)
lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com
http://www.hasfordhomes.com

I've been wanting to get on a write a nice post, but it seems like every time I turn around my schedule hasn't allowed.
I have a couple of new listings that I'll be posting this this week and I can't wait to show them to you!
I thank God for the busy times...
and I know that this too shall pass...
so stick around and we'll get to chat again.

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you.

Lindsey Hasford
Coldwell Banker Vision
231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (cell)
lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com
http://www.hasfordhomes.com

The Bridges of Hanover is a beautiful suburban neighborhood filled with families and homes that are bright and cheery and loads of fun.

I had the opportunity to sell a home in this nice neighbhorhood and it sold before I had the chance to properly advertise it.

Sooooo, I just thought that I would throw a photo of it in my blog and let you know what you missed. This gorgeous home listed on Friday and I had two offers before Monday morning finished out.

I'm still getting phone calls from interested agents and buyers wondering how it could have sold off the market so fast. Maybe I'll get another one. Maybe I'll be able to share another listing with you soon in this area - that would be a beautiful thing!

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you.

Lindsey Hasford Coldwell Banker Vision
 231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
763-241-5488 (office) 763-218-1347 (cell) lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com http://www.hasfordhomes.com

If you didn't read my previous post.... here is my update.

I have been asked and kindly volunteered to help raise money for the local area children with muscular dystrophy. They are having a fundraiser to help send these children to camp!!!!

Before August 27th I have pledged to try and raise enough money to send two children to camp and could really use your help!!!!

Please click HERE to help me make my goal.

If I haven't raised the funds on that day I will be arrested and brought to the MDA headquarters in Rogers until my bail has been reached.

If everyone that I know donates just $3 I could make goal quickly. Please help!

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you.

Lindsey Hasford
Coldwell Banker Vision
231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (cell)
lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com
http://www.hasfordhomes.com