Time to get back in the groove with this blogging!! Check us out on Facebook too!!

I just had a buyer lock in his interest rate at 4.5% for a 30 year mortgage....he's also going to get the $8000 tax credit because he's a first time buyer. Tell your friends & family!!  Real estate had been busy in Duluth & the surrounding areas.....lots of people looking & making offers.

The first snow storm of the year is suppose to arrive this evening....yea!! It probably won't be as much snow as they are predicting.  Kind of like the real estate market right now. It's NOT as bad as the rest of the USA is experiencing. Interest rates are below 6% right now....it's time to buy if you are waiting. There are ALOT of good buys out there!! Get preapproved & call J.S. Realty.

The first weekend of deer hunting at Comstock Lake. My husband can't wait to get to the cabin outside of Cotton to begin. He takes a half a day off on Friday & the whole day off on Monday to enjoy his time in the woods. I don't believe he's REALLY a deer hunter....he's a book reader. He has a deer hunting stand with a heater & comfy chair, so I'm sure he misses MANY deer that walk by. He & the deer aren't aware of each others presents!! At home we are having a good weekend at home, me & the boys. We went to the movie, Madagascar 2, hockey pratice & stayed up late watching TV. I'm a referee for the brothers who REALLY do love each other, but it's hard to tell sometimes. I look forward to the weekend when Dad takes the boys to the cabin....my weekend alone!! Nothing better than hanging out!!

We still have pumpkins if you want to come & get one at J.S. Realty!! My youngest has decided that Halloween is his favorite holiday!! We've been shopping 4 different times to look for costumes, ususally ending with, "Where else can we go, Mom??" I think he just likes looking at them.....he decided to be a "mad scientist", but he looks more like a nerd, pretty funny!! J.S. Realty will be handing out candy for the trick & treaters.....please stop by 5112 Midway Rd.

Fall is certainly in the air!! We are doing our pumpkin give away a little different this year. This Friday, October 17th from 12-7:00 & Saturday, October 18th from 9:00-noon come to the office at 5112 Midway Rd for a free pumpkin & a cup of cider. Directions: N on Hwy 53, right on Midway Rd 2 miles on right. Hope to see you all!!

I've been showing homes in certain price ranges and areas in our Duluth, MN market and am finding it difficult to give the buyer options!!!  The market is picking up and we could use some nice, marketable homes on the market!  Some homes that have been in certain price brackets are moving very quickly - especially those that are priced competitively and staged well.

Spring is in the air....glad to see the snow melting, finally!! Duluth Area Assoc of Realtors Statistics for 2008 first quarter are good with 165 pending sales & 288 solds. Average days on the market=79. Average sale price $161,187. The high sale being $1,415,000 in Ely & low being $23,400 in Lincoln Park. Interest rates are still low & it's a GREAT time to buy!!

The weather is starting to feel more like spring - buyers are starting to come out!  Jamie has put 7 closing on the board, we have listed several homes, we closed on a sale today and our showing count is up!  Julie and Jackie both have out - of - town buyers coming in to look at homes over the holiday weekend.  Who says things are slow!!!  Julie Sathers

I have been keeping track of the average single family home price in the Duluth, MN area since 2000.  Below is the chart I have created using statistics from the Duluth Area Association of Realtors that shows the average list/sale price along with the median list/sale price.  In looking at the graph, prices stabilized in 2006 and there was basically no increase in 2007.  It will be interesting to see what 2008 will bring!  Our office is noticing an increase in showings and offers to purchase on homes we have for sale and we have some offers outstanding with buyers!

My name is Jamie Sathers-Day & I have been selling real estate since 1989. Jackie Sathers, my mom & broker, & I started J.S. Realty in 1989.  I also work with my sister in law, Julie Sathers. I live in Esko & grew up in Hermantown.  I work with a variety of customers from sellers, first time home buyers, move up buyers, investors, buyers moving into the area & vacation property buyers.  I'm actively involved in our Duluth Area Association of REALTORS (DAAR) as a member of the board of directors & on the Member Services Committee. I'm also on the Professional Standards Committee at the Minnesota Association of REALTORS (MAR). I'm the secretary on the board of directors for the Hermantown Chamber of Commerce.