Minnesota's Real Estate Market Resource

First Time Home Buyer Tax Extension & Expansion has Passed!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:31:21 -0600

First Time Home Buyer Tax Extension has PASSED!

With the passing of the First time home buyer tax extension and the expansions Minnesota home buyers and sellers enter into some exciting times in real estate. The real estate market in Minnesota for first time home buyers has been tightening. The housing supply in Minnesota's Twin Cities area has shrunk to as little as 7.69 homes on the market for every buyer. This is a decrease of 29.3% from how many homes were available to Twin Cities buyers last year.

We specialize in working with First Time Home Buyers in Minnesota's Twin Cities metro area and have seen the demand of first time home buyers increase as the deadline of Nov. 30th has fast approached. The passing of the

extension of the first time home buyer credit gives Twin Cities buyers an opportunity to focus on their property search allowing them to make educated and confident decisions. The new terms however do not give them a complete break rather some room to breath.

With the passing of the expansions of the bill allows Twin Cities home owners who have lived in their home 5 years out of the past 8 years a $6,500 tax credit. This is HUGE opportunity for traditional home sellers in the Twin Cities who may have wanted to sell however felt they couldn't due to the conditions in the Minnesota housing market. We have buyers that desire to buy these homes as the inventory has gotten very low. So my advice to anyone looking to sell their Minnesota home is... NOW IS THE TIME!

The difference of the effects of the old first time home buyer credit vs the new one is that the old bill assisted only one segment of the Minnesota home buying market. The majority of that segment, first time home buyers were using the tax credit to purchase foreclosed properties in Minnesota's Twin Cities area. Seeing those purchases were from banks it did not create another pool of buyers. With the passing of the extension of the first time home buyer bill and extending it to another segment of the Minnesota housing market you will now create two segments in the market.

This creates a much healthier move back to more traditional sales where you have a buyer that is purchasing from a private party home owner vs a corporation. Which that alone is a very good thing. The benefits of the passing of the first time home buyer extension and expansions are yet to fully be seeing however it most definitely is a positive move towards a stronger, healthier Twin Cities, housing market.

Helful Links:

Tax Credit Explained - Simple to Follow!

Curent Minnesota's Twin Cities Metro Area Market Report

FREE Home Search

Twin Cities Real Estate Market Stats - MAAR's Monthly Skinny

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:18:10 -0500

MAAR's Monthly Skinny

The real estate market in Minnesota is continueing to see positive movement. As you will see here in MAAR's Monthly Skinny were MAAR's CEO, Mark Allen recaps the performance of the Twin Cities real estate market.

Here are a few of the video's key points for Minnesota's Real Estate Market in the Twin Cities Metro Area for the month of July of 2009.

Pending sales are growing strong and increased 16 % over July of 08.
Our listings supply continues to decline. We had 25,862 homes on the market a decline of 21.6% percent from this time in 2008.
New listings: The number of new listings that have come on the market is as low as the we had in 2002
Minnesota home sellers are receiving on average 94% of their asking price which is an increase of 1.4% from July of last year.
Lender Mediated properties still have a strong presence with them holding 43.6% of the pending sales

Find out what your city's real estate market trends are

With the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers and mortgage rates at historic lows, it's not surprising to see these positive gains in Minnesota's Twin Cities real estate market.

Helpful Links:

Uptown, MN - Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis MN

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:52:57 -0500

Around Town: Uptown Art Fair, Uptown, MN

Minneapolis's eclectic Uptown area is always a happen'n place however only once a year it plays host to it's highly antisipated Uptown Art Fair. This year the Uptown Art Fair was August 7-9th and despite the rainy weather once again the Uptown Art Fair was a success.

Some of the Vendars:

Helpful Links:

VIP Home Search

Kimberly Koehler's Website

EXiT Three Rivers Realty

Whitefish Chain of Lakes, Clamshell Beach - Luxury Cottage's starting at $79,900

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:20:58 -0500

Listing: Cottages on Whitefish

The lifestyle of the Brainerd Lakes area is one of the most sought after in Minnesota. The area is known for everything from Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox to it's pristine golf courses and it's sandy shores. It is no wonder this area is an escape for vacationers and is the second home to so many.

As you can imagine an area of such demand calls for high property pricing however the Cottages on Whitefish have created an option for you that makes the dream of owning a second home in this area possible. Their innovative fractional ownership idea was developed with you in mind.

Just some of what you will enjoy:

Fully Furnished Luxury Cottages
Professionally Managed - we believe in taking away the 'chores' of a cabin and providing you with worry free ownership.
Valet Boat Service - simply walk down to the dock and your boat is ready and waiting for you.
Club House, Pool, & Spa House
Across the street from the Golf Course
Located directly on the waters of Clamshell Lake which is a protected bay of the Whitefish Chain of Lakes

If you are seeking an affordable 'get away' that allows you to enjoy every second of your vacation you owe it to yourself to check out the Cottages on Whitefish. Prices start at $79,900.

For Additioanl Information call me!
651-998-9811
or
You can also request a packet of information!

Single Level Townhome, Hasting MN 55033 - 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage - main floor laundry

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:40:23 -0500

Kimberly Koehler | Exit Three Rivers Realty | 651-209-9366

1057 Bahls Dr, Hastings, MN

Spacious Walk-Out Rambler Style Town Home - Bright & Open Layout w/ Main Floor Laundry, Master w/ walk-in closet and bath. Large Rooms!

3BR/2.5BA Townhouse

offered at $122,900

Year Built	2001
Sq Footage	2,012
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$195 per month

DESCRIPTION

Spacious, walk-out rambler style, side by side townhouse. This lovely home is bright with many windows, has a wonder layout that is open and very spacious. There was no compromising of space or storage when this home was built.

You will enjoy the master bedroom suite, with it's an oversized room that has plenty of space for a king size bedroom set, with a walk-in closet and your large private master bath.

The basement is finished and is a walk-out. There is one large 14 x 14 bedroom or office space, with an even larger room across the hall that could either be an additional bedroom or the lower level entertainment room. For your convenience there also is a 3/4 bath in the basement as well.

Whether you are a First Time Home Buyer seeking to take advantage of this wonderful house market and use the $8,000 tax credit, or seeking a home with one level living yet still desire space for entertaining and guests or seeking to purchase and desire to have roommates and there are many, many more types of buyers this property would be perfect for.

If you are seeking to purchase, desire hassle free living but do not want to sacrifice on space and give up your basement ... then you owe it to yourself to set up a private viewing of this home today!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Walk-in closet	- Family room
- Living room	- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Basement	- Washer
- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio
- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Guest parking

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Walk-Out Basement w/ patio, Main floor deck and porch, Main floor laundry

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 5

Contact info:

Kimberly Koehler

Exit Three Rivers Realty

651-209-9366

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 31, 2009, 2:26pm PDT

Punishing Foreclosure Victims--Some Banks Take One Last Shot

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:24:57 -0500

Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):

In an article today in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, it was reported that it’s becoming commonplace for lenders to refuse to take title to some properties following foreclosure. Why would a bank bother to foreclose and then abandon the property? It’s simple economics. Many of the homes just aren’t worth the bank’s efforts. But then, why would they foreclose? And who ultimately owns such properties? The answers are often as confusing an illogical as the creation of the subprime collapse that precipitated the problem.

What’s happening is a crime—perhaps not legally, but figuratively. Sometimes it’s a crime against the very people who have already suffered the most; and other times it’s a crime against neighborhoods trying to recover from issues of high crime and drug dealing. In the words of Catherine Doyle, attorney with the Milwaukee Legal Aid Society, “This is just the meanest and nastiest thing (lenders) could do. Even more profound is the terrible damage to the community.”

Abandoned homes become a blight on neighborhoods, havens for drug and criminal activity, and create fire and safety hazards. No longer sources of tax revenue, such homes are a drain on struggling cities resources, and ultimately cost taxpayers thousands more when ondemned and bulldozed.

The procedure, known in the trade as “walkaways,” is a growing problem, especially for cities, where most are pressed for revenue. The mortgages on these homes, the great majority of which are subprime, were often made by now-defunct mortgage brokers, and are being foreclosed upon by loan servicers on behalf of investor groups often thousands of miles away. And, unfortunately, there appears to be no solution to the problem.

Have banks lost their hearts, or is it they never had one? The image of the friendly neighborhood banker was perhaps always a utopian vision; but what they’re doing is egregious on a monumental scale. Throwing people out of their homes, only to have those homes bulldozed later, is not only inhumane, it’s sheer stupidity. Once the owner is forced out, the home falls in to disrepair, may be vandalized, and everyone loses. And, the irony is; when the bank walks away, the original owner is still on the hook for taxes, boarding-up and clean-up fees that can run into the thousands of dollars. It’s a game of no winners.

Tips on buying, selling, building, remodeling, and the latest trends in housing: The Housing Guru

St. Croix River, Stunning Sunsets - 332 Oak St., Prescott, WI

Mon, 11 May 2009 18:47:25 -0500

Kimberly Koehler | Exit Three Rivers Realty | 651-209-9366

332 Oak St, Prescott, WI

Amazing Views of the St. Croix River

2BR/4BA Single Family House

offered at $285,900

Year Built	1999
Sq Footage	2,598
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	4 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$120 per month

DESCRIPTION

One of the best views in Prescott, overlooking St Croix River. Relax and enjoy this quiet river town 30 min from downtown St Paul. Enjoy stunning sunsets from your deck. The St. Croix offers wonderful fishing, boating, biking and hiking.

This beautiful home features an expanded deck over looking the St. Croix River, a garden area, 3 stone fireplaces, a large pantry, walk-in master closet, beautiful master bath with stunning views of the river, large master bedroom, cozy walk-out basement and tons of storage.

Set up your private showing on this home today!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor	Family room
Living room	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Microwave	Granite countertop
Basement	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

Laundry on-site

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

walk-out basement, views of the St. Croix River, soaker tub,

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

Kimberly Koehler

Exit Three Rivers Realty

651-209-9366

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: May 11, 2009, 2:57pm PDT

Useful Tools:

Market Reports:

MN Real Estate Market Minute - An Update on the Minnesota Real Estate Market - Twin Cities Metro Area

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:46:22 -0500

MN Real Estate Market Minute

The real estate market in Minnesota is seeing a consistent rise and positive signs of a healthier real estate market. The Twin Cities real estate market shows no signs of slowing down its positive rise.

Here are the current points for the Minnesota Real Estate Market in the Twin Cities Metro Area for the week ending March 28, 2009.

Pending sales are growing strong and increased 28.2 percent over last year.
Our listings supply continues to decline. The total number of houses for sale is 26,131, a decline of 16.2 percent from this time in 2008.
Days on Market (DOM) continues its downward trend, dipping an additional 9% over last years number. This means average seller(s) in Minnesota will have their home on the market for 150 days prior to accepting an offer
Supply-Demand Ratio in the Minnesota Housing Market has fallen 23.5% from this time last year as well. Meaning there are 5.57 homes offered for sale for each active buyer in the Twin Cities Metro Area.

With the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers and mortgage rates at historic lows, it's not surprising to see these positive gains in our local Minnesota real estate market.

Helpful Links:

First Time Home Buyer Seminar, MN - Online Workshop for home buyers in the Twin Cities Area of MN - Join Us

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:24:46 -0500

Our home buyer workshops are designed to prepare you for the buying process in the current real estate market. With how life changing the purchase of a home is, you owe it to yourself, your future, to take the time and educate yourself on the process.

We truly believe, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

We will:

Explain the $8,000 Uncle Sam wants to give First Time Home Buyers
Review Current Market Stats - Where we have been and where it appears we are going
Share Special Financing Programs Available
Provide you with Tools & Resources where you can search for homes on your own and at your leasure
Assist you with Determine what house payment you can truly afford with the lifestyle you live
Give you the oppertunity to Receive your credit report and get pre-approved
Help you develop a personal home buying plan
Have Foreclosure education - What is happening now and how to prevent this from happening to you
Give you all the time you desire to ask questions so you can get what you desire out of this FREE webinar

We are committed to empowering you to make confident, educated, real estate decisions. Join us for this no obligation, FREE, and educational Webinar!

Don't be left in the dark, join us online!
Register Here

*registration required, webinar directions will be provided 48 hrs prior to class*

Keywords: First Time Home Buyer Seminars, MN First Time Home Buyer Seminars, Real Estate, Woodbury, Oakdale, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Edina, Richfield, St. Louis Park, Bloomington, Stillwater, MN REO Homes, Foreclosures in MN

'Foreclosure Tours' - What is a 'Foreclosure Bus Tour'?

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:50:10 -0500

‘Foreclosure Tours’ - What is a ‘Foreclosure Bus Tour’?

‘Foreclosure tours’ or ‘Foreclosure bus tours’ are sweeping across the nation. ‘Foreclosure tours’ have been featured in news stories on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and many more. ‘Foreclosure bus tours’ have also hit the pages of places like the Wall Street Journal and internet blogs. You may have seen these stories.

‘Foreclosure tours’ are usually lead by licensed Realtors or loan officers. Typically the goal is to introduce themselves, provide a unique experience to you and hopefully assist you in purchasing a home and rebuilding the communities plagued by foreclosures. To the best of my knowledge, I have not heard any of these ‘foreclosure bus tours’ pressuring any of their attendees rather the opposite. The spirit of most ‘foreclosure tours’ is one of laughter and fun all the while providing education.

‘Foreclosure bus tours’ can run as short as 3 to 4 hours and we have seen some advertisements for an entire day event (5 to 6 hours). A ‘foreclosure tour’ could have anywhere from 10 to 16 attendees to as many as a large Coach luxury bus. The number of homes you may view can range from 7 to 15. The featured foreclosed home price range can be from 5k to above a million dollars. Some ‘foreclosure tours’ are free of charge while others range in price from $19.00 to $29.00. We have heard of some accounts in CA where they charge $49.00 to each attendee. Each ‘foreclosure bus tour’ like the real estate professionals running them, have a different flare and personality.

Often times there is a team of real estate professionals on the ‘foreclosure tour’. These professionals range from Realtors, home inspectors, loan officers, carpenters and more. The goal is to have these professionals on the bus tour so you can ask questions and again, be educated along the way.

The most common feedback that is given by tour attendees is that they found the ‘foreclosure bus tour’ to be enjoyable, educational, a lot of fun and an eye opener.

If you have an questions about attending a foreclosure tour please feel free to contact me directly or post a your questions

below. If you have held your own foreclosure bus tour please share your experience with us below.

Helpful Links:

Foreclosure Tours, MN

Foreclosure Tour Training Kit for Agents & Brokers

Building a Stronger Real Estate Community - Knowledge Cafe, Woodbury, MN - March 12th 10-12

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:45:07 -0600

Building a Stronger Real Estate Community – Knowledge Café in Woodbury, MN

According to the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors (MAAR) their membership is down 10% from 2008. They are not the only real estate board in the Twin Cities that have dropped in membership. What this means is the number of real estate professionals in Minnesota are decreasing making way for more opportunity for those continuing to move forward with their careers.

The Minnesota Realtors that I have spoken with welcome this decline in numbers. One of the primary comments that I hear is ‘this will increase our industries professionalism’ and ‘make way for me to gain more business’. Realtors are competitive by nature and most are passionate about regaining the high standards of professionalism that our clients deserve.

The real estate marketing in Minnesota, is giving an outstanding opportunity to buyers. The market is moving yet there are still many that are waiting for the bottom before they invest. As Realtors we know that once the public knows ‘the bottom’ has arrived it will be to late because the market will be on it’s way up. So I ask, ‘how do we as a group of professional Realtors, educate Minnesota buyers that NOW is the time to buy’?

The question I pose above is one of many industry questions that Realtors in Minnesota are asking each and every day. Some of the most successful Realtors I know work a business plan that they know works to grow and build their business while asking critical, time sensitive questions that will allow them to prepare and plan the building of their business in the future.

One of the greatest tools we have, are the eyes and ears of fellow real estate agents. The knowledge and experiences of each agent when shared allows our profession to grow in a positive light. When we share we grow, when we give we receive and that is what the spirit of the Knowledge Café is all about.

We believe that by sharing we build a stronger real estate community. The Knowledge Café allows agents to network with one another, discuss industry topics that are important to them and brainstorm how as individual agents we can implement some of these ideas to grow our business or build a stronger real estate community.

Join us for this high energy, power packed event that gets you involved and engaged. Kimberly Koehler acts as the facilitator, while participants are orginized into several small groups and are engaged in an energizing discussion that will bring about outstanding ideas that you can use and implement into your business today!

We often refer to the Knowledge Cafe as a Round Table Discussion on steroids. Unlike the Round Table Discussions where there is 1 'leader' or 'expert' at each table, at Knowledge Cafe's each person at the table is an expert. As a small group, collectivity the table develops an idea that can be incorporated into your business TODAY and is shared with the larger group at the end.

This is an outstanding opportunity to get your creative juices flowing, network with fellow real estate professionals, and learn an immeasurable amount of knowledge from one another.

Wildwood Lodge - 10:00 - 12:00
Woodbury, 94 & Radio Dr
(lunch around 11:30)
RSVP Your Attendance

More Future Events

Frustration w/ Point2Agent - Please Help!

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:57:14 -0600

I have been a P2A for about 5 to 6 yrs. and would say I am an intermediate user. When I started on AR I realized right away I could write my blogs at P2A giving them all the sparkle and pizazz I desired, take the HTML code and past it here. Which has been wonderful!

I am now having a problem since the new 'upgrades' to our editing tools on P2A. Now, when I source the info grab my P2A HTML code and copy it over here to AR sometime within 1 day or 2 (at times a couple hours even) the link code that is copied that will direct you back to my point to agent pages are some how being changed and the link is becoming dead.

So for example....

I have a picture of a house and that house picture links back to my P2A site www.minnesotametrohomes.com/bla,bla,bla/page_numberhtml, I will ask that it opens in a new window when creating this link. Then after sometime because I believe (not sure on this) P2A recognizes it is a page within my site it converts this code. Where I confused is why is it effecting my AR post? Are they not independent from one another? I can add pics or delete the P2A spot and it does not effect the AR post so why are the links messing up?

Your help and expertise is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

MN Foreclosed Properties, BUYING a FIXER UPPER - Is it Right for You?

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:03:27 -0600

BUYING A FIXER UPPER - Is it Right for You? Let's Find Out! - MN Real Estate

With foreclosures dominating the Minnesota housing market I am asked often about 'fixer uppers'. Our real estate market opens the door to amazing opportunities for home buyers in Minnesota. When buying a home you should be informed and confident in your decision.

If you are considering a 'fixer upper' you should take extra care to ask and find the answers to these key questions prior to making an offer on the home.

Who will be doing the work?
How much will it cost you?
Where will the money be coming from?
Is the home price in line with how much the repairs are going to cost you? - Does it make sense?
Do the repairs need to be done right away?
Can you move into the home right away? or Will you have to pay for 2 places at one time?
Will you have the extra money for any unexpected repairs?

If your answer to #1, is someone other then yourself then I would encourage you to be sure they will be assisting you. Far to many home buyers have been under the impression that family or friends will be helping them in fixing up their home to only be disappointed when they are unable to. This can be very costly and could force you to hire someone to do the work which may not have been in the original plan.

Factors that effect the return on your investment:

The purchase price of the home
The cost of the repairs
The length of time that passes from purchasing, doing the repairs, and when you decide to sell the home
The market conditions at the time you decide to sell

In January, 59.9% of the homes sold in the Twin Cities Metro area of Minnesota were lender mediated (meaning foreclosed or short sales - having bank involvement). Earlier this month 63.4% of the homes listed on the MLS were lender mediated. I share these Minnesota, real estate market statistics with you, because the odds are if you are looking to buy a home in today's market and a 'fixer upper' is what you seek, there should not be a shortage of them to chose from.

Useful Tools:

Market Reports:

We're in Good Company at EXIT Realty; A Commentary by Tami Bonnell, President, US Organization

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:22:39 -0600

Via The Team at EXIT Realty (EXIT Realty Corp. International):

Did you know that the renowned Internet search engine Google^TM started around the same time as EXIT Realty? Imagine, a new company with an innovative idea and a different name wanting to revolutionize their industry? Can you picture the conversations that went on behind the scenes and the competition saying, "They will never make it," "What were they thinking?" and "The audacity of a new venture wanting to provide what the client is looking for."

If you follow what top business advisors and economists are saying today's businesses require for staying power, it becomes clear that employees want a vested interest. They want a plan to get passionate about, that they can contribute to, where they are part of the organization.

EXIT Realty Corp. International started with Founder and CEO, Steve Morris looking for solutions to the many problems that real estate professionals throughout the industry were facing. Everything from the passing down of wisdom between associates, to quality of life, was kept top of mind when EXIT Realty was created. The best surprise has been how much all of our people have worked together to help each other and always be a part of the solution.

EXIT Realty Corp. International celebrated its 12-year anniversary on September 3^rd, and the amount we have accomplished every year, not to mention the speed in which it is accomplished is incredible! With the current climate in the marketplace, it certainly makes it easier to do our job when we know we are making giant strides in the right direction. We have become one of the major contenders in an industry where the majority of larger players have been in business for 35 years or more!

When I look at different successful companies from other industries, it's the passionate people involved that make or break an organization. Here at EXIT Realty so many of you are exceeding our expectations and for that very reason we are in very good company indeed.

This commentary originally appeared in the EXIT Recruiter Newspaper. For more information, please contact us.

Take the worry out of buying a home in Minnesota

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:16:41 -0600

Take the worry out of buying a home in Minnesota

In today’s real estate market many Minnesota home buyers face overwhelming odds that the home they fall in love with will be a foreclosure. Some Minnesota home buyers are choosing to wait to purchase a home with hopes to avoid having to deal with foreclosures in Minnesota. This just might be a costly mistake and before making that decision let me share with you some tools that may bring you to easy, allowing you to take advantage of the Minnesota housing market and rock bottom interest rates.

Foreclosure Bus Tour - Foreclosure PowerTour

Home Warranty of America believes that your first year in the home is not the time to worry about major repairs. HWA offers an exclusive 13 month warranty plan on the major mechanical systems and appliances in your home and is backed by superior service.

Home Warranty of America
Explains Their Program

The Advantages of HWA Warranties:

Full Coverage for every buyer
Your Repairs are done right by the best technicians available
Service is just a convenient toll-free phone call away – 24 hrs a day, 7days a week
Your Satisfaction is GUARANTEED
You can request a home warranty in your purchase agreement and have the seller pay for your warranty
There is a GreenPlus option that can be added

Additional Precautions You Should Take

Hire a Minnesota Realtor that specializes in representing buyers of Minnesota foreclosures, REO or bank owned properties
Attend home buying seminars/workshops that focus on educating buyers of not only the process of buying a home but how the current Minnesota real estate market conditions effect your choices as a buyer
Become familiar with special addendums the seller (the bank) may require you to sign after they already accepted your offer
Find out what your realistic move in time is after closing on the home
Request that all utilities and mechanicals are working prior to your home inspection and continue to work through your closing
Get a professional home inspection
Understand that all though at the time of the purchase agreement there may be appliances in the home many sellers of the foreclosures in Minnesota do not guarantee these appliances in their purchase agreement
Be prepared for some hick ups along the way

It is understood that buying a home is stressful and comes with some risks. The better prepared and educated you are on the Minnesota real estate market and the effects foreclosed properties have on your purchase you can devise a plan that is right for you.

It is our commitment to providing you with a road map for success that you can personalize to your unique and individual situation. Join us Jan 27^th for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION, educational buyers seminar to your learning today. Knowledge is Power!

Minneapolis First Time Home Buyer Seminar, Bloomington, Richfield, Edina Area - Are You Ready To Buy a Home? Find Out Jan 27th, 6:30 pm

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 01:58:51 -0600

Our home buyer workshops are designed to prepare you for the current real estate market. We are dedicated to providing our clients and seminar attendees with the very best education and "real world" knowledge that they can put to use right away. We are committed to empowering you to make confident, educated real estate decisions.

Who is our Home Buyer Workshop For?

Minnestoa First Time Home Buyers
Minnesota Relocation Buyers
Minnesota Move Up Buyers
ALL MINNESOTA HOME BUYERS

What Will You Learn?

An Overview of the Home Buying Process in MN - Beginning to End
The Steps to Your "Home Buying Success Plan"
Current Market Conditions
The Effects of Foreclosures and Shorts Sale
Minnesota Real Estate Market Trends and Latest Stats
Special Mortgage Options
How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Purchasing a Home
And Much, Much More

What Will You Walk Away With?

Your "Home Buying Success Plan"
Your Credit Report
Money Saving Coupons
Check Lists and Valueble Resources and Tools
Much, Much More

Knowledge is Power - Register Today!

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas - Our Well Wishes To You For a Joyous Season

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:37:20 -0600

5 Cheapest Places to Retire Abroad

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:31:00 -0600

5 Cheapest Places to Retire Abroad

With the credit crunch biting, Christmas costing a fortune and banks being bailed out by the tax payer but still demanding more money, it seems that us Britons have to escape Great Britain if we want to avoid drowning in a sea of governmental and institutional debt!

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if we were the ones who had built up substantial arrears and liabilities - but because it is mainly the government and financial institutions that are dragging us down, the only way to escape the inevitable recession/depression is to escape UK!

British retirees are among the most active group in seeking a new life abroad where they can afford to have a decent standard of living, and so for pre-retirees and retirees seeking an affordable life overseas, here are the Shelter Offshore top 5 cheapest places to retire abroad!

1) Cyprus

Despite the fact that the Republic of Cyprus is now in the European Union and the Euro Zone, (i.e., its currency is the euro), it is our number one pick for Britons seeking an affordable place to retire overseas. It charges a maximum of 5% income tax on pension income - meaning that it is far cheaper to live in Cyprus even with the pound buying fewer euros these days. What's more, property prices have been wintering something of a negative pricing adjustment in recent months as the nation has also been hit by the global effects of the credit crunch. This means that it is cheaper now to buy property in Cyprus than it was just a year ago. Mortgages are available on the island, it enjoys up to 300 sunny days annually, heating costs are therefore far lower, and all in all, with its strong expat and retirement communities, excellent quality and standard of living, we rate Cyprus as the number one cheap (ish) place to retire abroad.

2) Belize

For Britons who are willing to be a little more adventurous in their choice of overseas retirement destination, what about the tropical paradise that is Belize? Formerly a British colony, English is widely spoken in Belize and therefore adjusting to life in this stunning nation is quite straightforward. There is a retired person's incentive programme in place too, this ensures that qualifying individuals pay no tax - that's right, no tax at all - on their pension income as long as it is earned outside of Belize! The quality of life in Belize is what you make it - i.e., you can spend whatever you want to buy the standard of living you want. It has long been a popular retirement hotspot for in the know Americans, but until recently it was lesser explored by Britons. All that is now changing as Brits are becoming far more active in seeking an affordable place to retire to.

3) Panama

Another tropical paradise that was an American favorite for a long time is Panama. It too is now becoming more actively explored by Britons seeking a cheap place to live. Property in Panama is very affordable compared to what Brits are used to, the cost of living is far cheaper than in the UK or our number one choice of Cyprus, English is the business language in Panama therefore it is widely used, and what's more, any income earned outside of Panama can be remitted 100% free of tax! Naturally this makes Panama a far cheaper place to live in at the moment than the UK.

4) Malaysia

If you fancy an even more exotic retirement destination what about Malaysia? The country has an economic incentive programme to attract relatively affluent individuals to move there - entitled ‘Malaysia: My Second Home,' the programme has tax benefits for example. If you qualify for the programme you can move to Malaysia and your pension is tax free when remitted to the country. Other benefits of retiring to Malaysia under the terms of the programme include the fact that you can own freehold property there, you can import a maid (?) and buy or import a car tax free! The cost of living in Malaysia outside the main city areas is much cheaper than in the UK, and because of the climate, heating costs are a minimum.

5) France

This is not a tax advantageous nation to move to, especially if you're a higher rate taxpayer - however it has numerous other fiscal and lifestyle benefits for retirees. It will be cheaper and easier to get back and forth to the UK if you still have family there, if you earn a low income then your tax rate will be low in relative terms, property prices are falling, the cost of living is a lot less for a higher standard when compared to the UK, utility costs tend to be lower and qualifying Britons are eligible for free healthcare!

Hopefully you can see that there are affordable and even economically advantageous escapes for you if you're a Briton approaching retirement - or even early retirement. You just have to look overseas, consider each country on a like for like basis, determine the criteria you're looking for in a nation in terms of cost of living and quality of life, and ultimately, be brave enough to make the move! After all, what have you got to lose if Britain is about to enter a depression!

By: Shelter off shore & solpropertygroup

Our Mission IS Possible, Tami Bonnell

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:59:37 -0500

Our Mission is Possible! Tami Bonnell, Day 2 of Speakers at the EXIT Realty 2008 Convention.

The day started out with a wonderful performance from a children’s organization that helps the hearing impaired and gives them a venue to perform and sing/sign on stage. The video clip is part of one of their performance. They were adorable and I wish I had the entire performance. I would find it hard to believe that it would not make every Realtor out there smile.

Followed by renowned trainer Bill Nasby. To watch Bill up on stage open up was amazing. Bill shared with us some of his lifes struggles, successes, and the power of positive thinking and breaking free.

After our teary eyes with Bill Nasby, Tami Bonnell powered up the stage with her passion. Tami Bonnell is EXIT Realty's US President. Tami is an outstanding speaker, leader and inspires us to not

give up. Her message was very clear and that was if we believe in ourselves, our mission and stay focused on what it is we should be doing we will survive. We should be reaching out for training, education and to one another.

In September Tami shared with us as she did again at convention the power of "just one more". I have often asked my agents is there more you can be doing. Tami in her sharing of "just one more" brings agents to a very manageable concept. It is simple and is this... as we look at our activities, is there one more call we should/could be making? Is there one more appointment we should/could be having? Is there one more event we should/could be attending? Is the just one more training we should/could be attending? This is a very simple and powerful concept.

So I ask you... is there just one more activity that you can be doing in your business?

A Glimpse Into the Heart & Soul of An 80 yr. Old Real Estate Veteran, Bill Nasby

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:47:42 -0500

A Glimpse Into the Heart and Soul of an 80 year Old Bald Eagle, Bill Nasby. Day 2 of Speakers at the EXIT Realty 2008 Convention.

Following that was renowned trainer Bill Nasby. To watch Bill up on stage open up was amazing. I had the privilege to meet and listen to Bill Nasby speak at EXIT Corp. broker/owner training in Mississauga, Canada in Nov/Dec of 2006. He was passionate about his message yet also I found him a bit intimidating. Several in my class were friends with Bill and shared stories which dissolved my idea of him being a complete hard#!%. His assignment from Steve Morris was to speak about his struggle with authority.

As Bill shares with us his family struggles growing up. Giving us a glimpse into a window of time in his life when he was a child his family living off the land of a national park in Canada. He openly shared his father was a heavy drinker and hinted it lead to some pain and sorrow for his mother and his siblings. There were moments when he would tear up, his voice would shake and you could tell he was there and the

reflection was in his heart and all though he has over come and has rose above his heart has not forgotten. He had the greatest love and respect for his family and yet those yrs. of his life were pivotal in the development in how he viewed authority. There was this aura in the audience that we all were there for him, encouraging him to go on, to share, while having the greatest desire to run on stage and give him a hug.

Nasby took us though his yrs of service to his country. His struggle with drinking and the pain that it brought to is own family. His sobering moment and shared with us some of the people that has helped him along his journey that he has the deepest respect for. He spoke of his career, how he came to EXIT, how he HATED the name and thought Steve was crazy with the name and even with that thought he still respected and held Steve in high regard.

I am not a Bill Nasby expert however I have listened to his CD’s, and listened to him speak at broker/owner training. I believe he is an outstanding trainer and I am going to be working to get him into our region to train our agents. What I do know is parts of his story. I felt a bond because there were bits and pieces that were part of my life in his life. He has worked very hard to over come some incredible battles and is greatly loved and admired by many. I would say he has lived a great life, one not absent of pain and sorrow and is an example to us that with determination, a positive mind and some caring friends along the way we can rise above and over come life struggles.

My hat is off to you Mr. Nasby for having the courage to stand before us and share moments in your life that were of struggle. Through your sharing I know you brought tears to our eyes, warmth to our hearts and inspiration to our lives. Thank you!

"Right Now You are Exactly Where You Want to Be in Life", EXIT Realty Convention 2008, Nashville, TN, Day 1 of Speakers

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:46:50 -0500

EXIT Realty Convention, Day 1 of Speakers, October 15^th, 2008

The day started with speaker Richard Flint speaking on “How to Stand Tall When Others Are Falling Down Around You”. Flint was an outstanding speaker that spoke about leading a life by simple principles and coming back to basic in life. Building your life and business around relationships, true real relationships, conversations and connecting with one another. He is a true believer in we chose our attitude and the places in life we are at. He was comical, particle and to the point. On a scale of 1-10 I give him an 11.

Canadian Garth Turner spoke to us about “The Future of Real Estate”. Mr. Turner is a Canadian journalist, broadcaster, and politician. He is a popular public speaker on financial issues. His discussion points as I am sure you have guessed were about where our market was, how it got where it is today, and what we he perdicts to be where we are going. Key points of his speech was about the lending restricution lifting and because of that we will not see in our lifestime something so laxed again. He shared that boomers are the movers and shakers of our investments. The consumer confidence is the worst it has been in some time and the boomers will switch their investments from the stocks/bonds to real estate once again. Note I said once again, his point is that real estate is cyclical and that as real estate has become incredably afforable and our finacual markets distrought the money that is looking to be invested will once again turn to real estate as it has so many times before. Once elections are over and about in a yr or so we will be seeing a positive lift in our real estate world.

Dr. Robert Rohm was our afternoon speaker. He was comical and very energized. He is the personality expert that works with the D I S C personality system. D I S C is a system that breaks down personalities so we can understand how to work better with one another based upon personality comminalities in the 4 different groups. He had the group moving around the room ultimitly dividing the group up into the 4 different personality types. He took time to discrib the 4different personalities and give recommendations how one personality can work best with another. Angle Tucker is the EXIT traininer that specializes on the D I S C profiling. I would highly recommend taking the D I S C personality test to find out about your personality and developing your skills to identify others personalities. This is a powerful tool not only for your business life but also for your personal realtionships as well.

The evening ended a beautiful cocktail party that was abondant of food. The location was in the Delta Island of the Gaylord Opryland Resort. This setting was in the river walk area that has small bridges over the water, over looked water fountains and falls, and was surrounded by the shops. In the core of the location you felt like you were on the streets of a small, small town. You were surrounded by outstanding food, pleanty of bars so no long lines and the envirment was warm, encouraging of networking.

EXIT Realty's Broker Fun Night, 2008 National Convention, Nashville TN

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:45:04 -0500

Day 1 for me of the EXIT Realty Convention stated Tuesday October 14^th. I arrived in Nashville, registered for convention found my wonderful room and began to get ready for Broker Fun Night.

Broker Fun Night, was held at The Wildhorse Saloon which was yes, you guessed it a HUGE Country Bar, 3 floors that all over looked a large stage and a HUGE dance floor. In true EXIT style Steve Morris and the EXIT family spared no expense. There was the dinner buffet line and then there was the appetizer line. I would imagine that the appetizers would have been more then substantial enough for most everyone yet I am sure EXIT desired to not fall short of anyone’s expectations.

They brought in LoCash Cowboys who rocked the roof off of the place. Before they started to play it was a bit of a slow go. They came on stage and the floor filled, the energy was soaring and the EXIT party life hit the floor. Man that Jody Keats sure can dance and looks great in a cowboy hat.

Part of the EXIT Realty Convention experience is the beauty of the hotel the EXIT Realty Convention is held at. The interior of the Gaylord Opryland Resort is stunning. It in some ways reminds me of the Venetian in Las Vegas, NV yet with the rooms wrapped all around all the interior scenery, and all though it seems to be hosting several conventions and there seems to never be a shortage of people wondering about there still is this calming peaceful aura throughout the hotel. Then you take the previous and invite EXIT to come under your roof with their banners, flair, energy and excitement and you have a cocktail for an experience that impacts you in a manner that can only be truly understood if you were here.

Enjoy the pictures and the day by day blogs that will share with you a glimps of what this experince is like.

EXIT Realty 10TH Annual Convention, Oct 14-18th 2008, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:04:07 -0500

As I sit on my comfy bed, with laptop in front of me, occasionally pausing a moment or two to gaze out my window to appreciate the beautiful views I have of the atrium of the Gaylord Opryland Resort. I am in Nashville, TN for the 10^th annual EXIT Convention. I look forward to share with you my experience.

Enjoy the pictures and the day by day blogs that will share with you a glimps of what this experince is like.

Minneapolis Saint Paul Open House Sales Blitz THIS WEEKEND!!!

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:49:31 -0500

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Via Frank D'Angelo Minneapolis Real Estate Broker:

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CLICK ONTO THE EXPLORE MINNESOTA OPEN HOUSES LINK

WHO IS GOING TO CONVENTION!

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:47:03 -0500

Convention is just around the corner and I thought I would see who from here will be going. If you are still sitting on the fence it is time you stepped off. Convention is the best investment you will make all yr. long. Last yr. was my first convention, the knowledge that is shared and the relationships that are built leve you energized, focused and fired up about your business.