Edina Gem: Centennial Lakes Park... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/27/09 12:28 PM
Edina Gem: Centennial Lakes Park... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale
 

 
Centennial Lakes Park  near Southdale is one of my most favorite parks.  It’s a very popular park year around as it offers many wonderful activity for adults and children of all ages.  Dog owners and those who love walks can enjoy more than 1.5 miles of beautiful paved paths and beautiful landscaping.
Some of the most popular summer activities include paddle boating, fishing, watching remote control sailboat races (by members of the Edina Model Yacht Club), golfing, croquet, or lawn bowling.
This Edina complex offers many … (10 comments)

Monday Inspiration… by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/27/09 10:41 AM
 
After a wonderful weekend, Monday comes knocking on your door. It offers a basket with some goodies.  With joyous expectation, you look through your gifts.  What do you find? 
Is it sunshine?  Is it hope?  Is it joy and happiness?  Is it success?  Is it opportunity? 
Is it friendly and helpful people?
You get what you expect!
And, you get exactly what you put into it!
 
Need a little coaching today?   Watch Al Pacino in this clip from “Any Given Sunday”(1999)
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
“The world is a great mirror.  It reflects back … (2 comments)

This You've Got To See: Earth Day Feature... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/22/09 03:55 PM

Good Morning America featured a brilliant trash-entrepreneur, Tom Szasky.  He is a founder and a CEO of TerraCycle, Inc.  They make a variety of products where every part of it is made from trash.  The story of this company is quite inspiring.  While in Princeton, Tom and his friend Jon Beyer, came up with the idea of the process, and … the rest is history.  View the video of Tom describing the humble beginnings.  
  At 28, Tom and Joe, are enjoying an incredible success and saving our precious planet from trash while offering very attractive eco-friendly products.  
… (9 comments)

Wordless Wednesday... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/22/09 12:04 AM
Richfield Lake in early spring. Sometimes, nature takes time waking up.  

 


If you are relocating to the Twin Cities, contact me for a FREE comprehensive  
RELOCATION PACKET.  
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Contact Marzena M. Melby, Broker/Partner, Counselor Realty, Inc., Licensed REALTOR® in the state of Minnesota at 612-267-6798 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in the Twin Cities Greater Metro Area.
 
Visit my profile to find out more about my services. Call me today at 612-267-6798. If you prefer, contact me by email, by clicking on ";email me"; link of … (4 comments)

Hot off the Press: Twin Cities foreclosure sales drop... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/20/09 02:08 PM
 
The number of foreclosed homes sold from February to April of this year dropped by 1,200 units, while the months supply  of inventory has significantly declined. During the four-year period 2005-2008, the number of lender-owned homes steadily grew, bringing the inventory up to the record levels as high as 12.8 homes per active buyer in November of 2007.  A typical balanced real estate market shows inventory levels between 5 and 6 active listings per buyer.   
The current breakdown, as reported by the MAAR office:  

 
All of this means that the Twin Cities have two active markets.  … (4 comments)

Social Media Train - Has It Left The Station Without You?... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/20/09 10:08 AM
 
Do you Facebook? Do you MySpace? Do you Yahoo?  
                Do you Twitter? Do you Ecademy?  
 
 
 
 
My head is spinning just thinking of all the sites that are out there.  I could spend all day in front of the computer reading, writing and chatting.  However, I know I need to make wise choices when it comes to using my time.  I found some interesting information and stats I wanted to share with you regarding traffic and market share of most popular sites.  
 
 
Social networking sites have been going through … (4 comments)

Why Do Buyers Need a Buyer's Agent--That ISN'T Representing the Seller? - 04/16/09 09:29 AM
 
 
 
Minnesota Buyers:  this is WHY YOU NEED REPRESENTATION in a real estate transaction!
 
Via Debe Maxwell Talk Charlotte with Charlotte's Realtor® (Helen Adams Realty):
Why Do You Need a Buyer's Agent? I've had numerous calls from customers who are requesting that I show them homes that I have listed and don't want to see any other properties.  I am representing the seller, and I am asked by these customers if I can only show them my listings.  When I discover that the person is NOT represented by an agent, I engage them in a conversational review of the types of … (6 comments)

Property Tax Information 2009 - More Updates… by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/15/09 11:20 AM
 
 
 
Metro County offices have been working to update their websites with the 2009 property information. 
 
Click here to find links to the Twin Cities metro county sites.
 
Today, Dakota County has uploaded all the new figures.
 
 
Check your property information here 
 

 
 
If you are relocating to the Twin Cities, contact me for a FREE comprehensive RELOCATION PACKET.  
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Contact Marzena M. Melby, Broker/Partner, Counselor Realty, Inc., Licensed REALTOR® in the state of Minnesota at 612-267-6798 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in the … (4 comments)

Property Tax Information 2009 Updates… by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/14/09 01:54 PM
 
Metro County offices have been working to update their websites with the 2009 property information. 
Use the link to access most current available numbers:
 
Carver County                  https://www.co.carver.mn.us/carvercountyrecap/ParcelSearch.aspx
 
Hennepin County             http://www16.co.hennepin.mn.us/pins/
 
Scott County                     http://www.co.scott.mn.us/wps/portal/ShowPage?CSF=1351&CSI=csc015171
 
 
The following counties are still showing the 2008 information:
 
Anoka County                     https://prtinfo.co.anoka.mn.us/(bjkwu245qkppsf55tynfbfnh)/search.aspx
 
Dakota County                   http://gis.co.dakota.mn.us/scripts/esrimap.dll?Name=webq1&Cmd=Map&
 
Ramsey County                  http://rrinfo.co.ramsey.mn.us/public/characteristic/index.aspx
 
Washington County           http://www.co.washington.mn.us/info_for_residents/atse/taxpayer_services/property_tax__appraisal_info/
 
 
 
 
If you are relocating to the Twin Cities, contact me for a FREE comprehensive … (0 comments)

Ground your teenager, get sued… by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/09/09 03:35 PM
 

Think impossible?!  Think again.
Here is a story from Ottawa, Canada:  A 12-year old girl was grounded by her father from going on a school trip. So far, nothing unusual here. The father had blocked her from going on certain websites on the home computer because he considered them inappropriate. However, the daughter disobeyed her dad, went on the banned sites using her friend’s computer and posted various “inappropriate” pictures of herself there.  When grounded after it all came out, the girl contacted a public defender and took the father to court and won.
Quebec Superior Court Justice noted … (13 comments)

Get Moving: National Start! Walking Day... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/08/09 01:05 PM
                    
Today is a very special day.  Join American Heart Association in promoting the National Start! Walking Day to get the American adults moving and improve their health.  This day is a part of the Workplace Wellness Week.  An estimated 174 million Americans are overweight and 74 million are obese. The health care costs of treating conditions related to obesity reach $117 billion per year.  Reducing these costs is critical!  And, American Heart Association reports that chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes are the cause of 164 million lost work days and cost employersabout $30 billion a year.
… (2 comments)

Hot off the Press: West Bloomington Market Update for Buyers and Sellers... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/07/09 01:45 PM
 
Single Family Homes
March 2009
 
With the cold spring and current economic woes, real estate market has been sluggish.  However, the activity has been picking up in the recent weeks.  Good news is that the foreclosure homes have been selling and there are fewer of them available.  In general, the inventory has come down and buyers experience a lot more competition now.
 
Current market activity in West Bloomington:
 
All homes available for sale: 155
lender owned: 18 non-lender owned: 137  
All pending transactions: 40
lender owned: 10 non-lender owned: 30  
Sales closed this month: 23
… (2 comments)

Hot off the Press: Edina Market Update for Buyers and Sellers... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/07/09 01:33 PM
 
 
 
Single Family Homes
March 2009
 
With the cold spring and current economic woes, real estate market has been sluggish.  However, the activity has been picking up in the recent weeks.  Good news is that the foreclosure homes have been selling and there are fewer of them available.  In general, the inventory has come down and buyers experience a lot more competition now.
 
Current market activity in Edina:
 
All homes available for sale: 276
lender owned: 8 non-lender owned: 268  
All pending transactions: 38
lender owned: 2 non-lender owned: 36  
Sales closed this month: … (0 comments)

Hot off the Press: SW Minneapolis Market Update for Buyers and Sellers... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/07/09 01:23 PM
 

 
Single Family Homes
March 2009
 
With the cold spring and current economic woes, real estate market has been sluggish.  However, the activity has been picking up in the recent weeks.  Good news is that the foreclosure homes have been selling and there are fewer of them available.  In general, the inventory has come down and buyers experience a lot more competition now.
 
Current market activity in SW Minneapolis:
 
All homes available for sale: 258
lender owned: 12 non-lender owned: 246  
All pending transactions: 78
lender owned: 15 non-lender owned: 63  
Sales closed this … (0 comments)

Hot off the Press: Richfield Market Update for Buyers and Sellers... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/07/09 01:14 PM
 
Single Family Homes
March 2009
 
With the cold spring and current economic woes, real estate market has been sluggish.  However, the activity has been picking up in the recent weeks.  Good news is that the foreclosure homes have been selling and there are fewer of them available.  In general, the inventory has come down and buyers experience a lot more competition now.
 
Current market activity in Richfield:
 
All homes available for sale: 165
lender owned: 31 non-lender owned: 134  
All pending transactions: 74
lender owned: 28 non-lender owned: 46  
Sales closed this month: 22
lender … (0 comments)

A New Form Of Identity Theft--Agents AND Consumers BEWARE of Craigslist Scam - 04/06/09 09:07 AM
This very important Buyer/Consumer Beware post reminded me of a couple of other scams I heard that originated on Craigslist.
One was an email to me from a potential renter who was "moving" from another country and wanted to rent my duplex unit site unseen for twice the asking price. She said she was going to send the check with extra funds which in turn I was asked to send to a "mover" to cover her moving costs.  I didn't entertain the offer knowing it sounded "fishy".
Another on I heard while listening to a local radio show.  A man called … (5 comments)

Happy Easter... by Twin Cities Homes for Sale - 04/05/09 05:12 PM
 
It's hard to believe that's it's Easter again.
Before I get to a serious celebrating of this holiday, I'd like to share a few photos I found
to illustrate the fact that identity theft is not just a human thing.

 
 
  
 

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact Marzena M. Melby, Broker/Partner, Counselor Realty, Inc., Licensed REALTOR® in the state of Minnesota at 612-267-6798 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in the Twin Cities Greater Metro Area.
Visit my profile to find out more about my services. Call me today at 612-267-6798. If … (3 comments)