Kim's Edina Blog

Cash in on the Tax Credit for Current Homeowners

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:22:56 -0600

Selling your home is never an easy task, especially in a buyer’s market. But maybe that house of yours is just not what you need now. Whether you are wanting bigger, smaller or just different, it’s time to move. And the Home Buyer Tax Credit sure looks good too.

Before you can buy a new home and take advantage of the credit, you have to figure out what to do with your current home. Should you sell it? Should you rent it out? Should you just leave it on the market whether it sells or not? Should you turn it into a vacation home?

Assuming your finances are in order, you owe little or nothing on your current home, and you have the funds to do necessary repairs, any of these could be a valid option for you. But which one will work for you and how?

Sell Your Home--Quickly

Wouldn’t it be great if you could list your house and have an offer in hand tomorrow? Sometimes this happens, but more often than not it can take a few weeks or months, or even longer. There are some things you can do to speed up the selling process.

Find a Realtor who will market your home effectively.

Get a professional inspection.

Repair problems that come up on the inspection and things that have been bugging you for a while.

Clean up your yard, landscape as appropriate for the season.

Keep any holiday decorations at a tasteful level.

Stage your home.

Reduce clutter—begin packing stuff that isn’t essential.

Clean until you think you can't clean any more--and then clean some more!

Rent a storage unit and move boxes and extra furniture into it until moving day.

Brighten up your walls with a fresh coat of neutral paint.

Wash windows, inside and out.

Replace burned out light bulbs.

Replace old or worn flooring with something new and modern; refinish hardwood floors if needed.

Become a Landlord

This may be a good option if you have been considering getting into this business anyway, or if you have had your home on the market for a long time with few bites. If your long-term goal is to sell your home, perhaps you will have success with a lease-purchase option. Either way, you should still perform needed repairs on your home.

Leave it on the market

Many people find themselves moving into their new home without selling or renting the old one. While this could make it easier to sell, especially if you have pets or young children, it can be a risky gamble. If you go with this option, be sure to fix problems and stage your home well. If you have extra good-looking furniture you can leave for now, do so. Consider renting some furniture to use for staging. Empty rooms are harder to sell.

Turn it into a vacation home

Current interpretation indicates this option is available for the home buyer tax credit also. Perhaps your home is in the woods or on a lake and ideal for weekend getaways or long summer vacations, but the commute to work is a bit too far for your tastes. Turning it into a vacation home could be ideal.

Give me a call today and we can review your options, both for selling and for purchasing your next home. For the alternatives to selling your home, consult your tax specialist before making a final decision.

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Its a great time to sell your house in Edina, Minnesota

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:17:01 -0600

Are you wishing you could sell your house but you’ve been putting off contacting a Realtor because you are sure the market’s no good? If so, then we need to talk. There are several reasons why right now is a great time to get your home on the market.

Lower inventory. Everyone knows that the housing market has been flooded with short sales and foreclosed properties, but the first time home buyer tax credit had a significant impact in the number of houses on the market. Just about every first time home buyer who qualified for the credit and was able to purchase a home has done so. This has helped to lower the number of available properties, making it more likely that your house will sell.

Prices seem to have hit bottom and are going back up. Perhaps you have been concerned about selling your home for less than it’s worth. This is a valid concern and has kept many financially stable home owners from listing their home. But consider this: If you are hoping to sell and buy a larger home, you may end up selling yours for less, but your new home will cost you less as well. Its quite possible that you may be able to find a home in your price range that you will not be able to afford when its value goes back up. If your home is paid off or if you have plenty of equity, then you should not afraid of the current market.

The extended tax credit means more time for first-time buyers. Most of the first-time home buyers who were going to buy have already done so. But some haven’t. The tax credit has been extended until April which may be just enough time for those who weren’t quite ready to be so.

The expanded tax credit means newly qualified buyers too! The credit was not only extended, but expanded to include first-time home buyers with higher incomes and current home owners. This opens up a whole new group of people who will jump at the chance to buy a home and cash in on the tax credit.

The expanded tax credit might include you! That’s right, if you were to purchase a new home before April, then you will qualify for the $6500 tax credit if you meet the requirements. This just might help to offset any loss you could incur based upon lower property values. Add it to your down payment and you could afford a more expensive house. Or use it to decorate your new home, do some landscaping, pay down debt, or go on vacation.

You probably have the funds to correct any problems. Home buyers hoping to find a house ready to move into with little more than a change of paint color, have been rather dismayed by the condition of many foreclosed homes. Even homes qualifying for short sales could be in need of major TLC simply because a distressed home owner does not have the funds to make repairs. This makes buying a house from a financially secure home-owner a major attraction to some buyers. Be sure to fix major and minor problems, get an inspection done so you know what they are, and have some cash on hand to make further changes that may be requested as part of an offer.

You have more flexibility than a bank. Another problem that home buyers have found when trying to buy a distressed property is the time it takes for a bank to respond to an offer. Even with a more than-willing home seller and buyer, waiting for a short sale approval from a bank can be frustrating. You may find a home-buyer who needs to close in two weeks, or one who low-balls an offer and needs several back and forth offers to agree on a reasonable price. You have the flexibility to handle this situation, whereas a bank may not be able to meet their needs.

Convinced yet? Either way, give me a call and we can discuss getting your house on the market. And while we are at it, we can start hunting for that next perfect home for you as well!

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

H1N1 Clinic: Southview Middle School East Edina

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:17:19 -0600

H1N1 Clinic Details

Date: Saturday, November 21

Time: 9:00 am -11:00 am

Location: South View Middle School

4725 South View Lane
Edina, Minnesota 55424 (Near Edina Community Center and the intersection of South View Ln and Concord Dr)

If you are coming to a clinic, please remember to:

Wear a short-sleeved shirt.
Bring an insurance card if you have one. Your health insurance will cover the cost of the vaccine. If you do not have insurance, there will be no cost to you.
Come with your child. Children under 18 years must have a parent or guardian present to get the vaccine.

If you would like to learn more about the H1N1 flu and/or the H1N1 flu vaccine, please visit www.flu.gov or www.mdhflu.com. We will notify you of future clinics that will be open to more groups of people through your child's school. For more information about these clinics, call 952-563-8900.

To hear this information in Spanish or Somali, call 952 848-3930.

Thank you,

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended and Expanded

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:07:02 -0600

The first-time home buyer tax credit was an overwhelming success at creating many new home owners. While most would agree that these owners were just waiting for the right time to buy, the right time had arrived. Now the right time continues!

Last week, the credit was not only extended for another 6 months, it was expanded to include first-time home buyers with higher incomes. The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 opens the up-to-$8000 tax credit to almost all first-time home buyers by increasing the maximum annual income. The income cap for single home buyers has increased from $75,000 to $125,000. The cap for married buyers jumps from $150,000 to $225,000.

Home owners looking to purchase a different home shouldn’t feel left out anymore, the new credit covers them as well! Homeowners who lived in their home for at least 5 consecutive years in the past 8 are eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500 on their next primary residence purchase. The income limits are the same as for first-time home buyers.

The purchased home must be a primary residence costing less than $800,000. Live in it for at least three years after purchase and the $8000 will not have to be paid back.

In order to fight tax fraud, the new law requires anyone claiming the credit to provide documentation that the sale has closed and only adults can claim the credit.

Anxious for your money? Even if you purchase the home in 2010, you can claim it on your 2009 taxes and get an almost instant credit back. Ask your tax professional for details!

Sales contracts must be signed by May 1, 2010, with closing by the end of June. Don’t waste time, let’s start looking! Call me today and I’ll show you what’s available.

If you are a home owner wishing to sell, call me and let’s get your house on the market in time for your next home purchase to qualify you for the credit!

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Want Flowers in the Spring in Minnesota? Plant bulbs now!

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:51:47 -0600

If you have delayed planting your spring bulbs, delay no more. The University of Minnesota Extension Service recommends planting of most spring bulbs in Minnesota by the end of October. Early November may not be too late though, especially for tulips which can be planted as long as the ground isn’t frozen too hard.

Here are some tips to remember:

Bulbs should be firm with a papery skin. If soft or moldy, throw them away.

Bulbs need to be able to grow roots once planted in the fall, and they need the cold winter to break their dormancy cycle in order to bloom in spring.

Bulbs will need warmth and light in the spring to trigger their growth. Choose a site that will not be shaded in early spring.

Bulbs can be planted under trees as long as they will receive enough light before and just after their blooming season. Full shade in summer is acceptable.

Soil near southern and western exposure foundations could start to grow too soon, risking cold damage. It’s better to plant in an area that is sheltered from damaging winds but that will not warm up before other areas.

Bulbs need rich, well-drained soil. Avoid areas that tend to fill with water during rain storms.

New bulb beds should be cleared of rocks and matted roots, and some organic matter should be tilled in to a depth of 10-12 inches. Add some fertilizer in when tilling, but do not add it directly to the bulb holes.

Plan to plant the bulbs in odd numbers or mass plantings. Put the bed where it will be enjoyed from a window or the road.

The basic rule for planting depth is 2 ½ times deeper than the diameter of the bulb. Sandy soils should be a bit deeper, and heavy clay soil should be a bit shallower.

Always plant the bulb with the pointed end facing up, cover with a portion of the soil and water well. Add the rest of the soil, smoothing the surface, water again and add 3-5 inches of mulch. Leaf material, grass clippings and straw work well. (You will remove much of this mulch in the spring.)

Then sit back and wait for spring!

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Join Me for first open Saturday October 31st 11:00 -1:00, Music provided by Sara Pajunen

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:34:37 -0500

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">

$1,797,988

95 Woodland Edina, MN 55424
Bedrooms:	5	Bathrooms:	4
Square Feet:	5272	Year Built:	2006

MLS#

3850438

Special setting tucked into a quiet street in East Edina on Minnehaha Creek. Enjoy your private yard w/all the modern amenities! New construction, archet designed 2 Story w/amazing windows to nature! 4 BRs one level, Walkout, stately main floor library!

Start Your Search Now.

Find thousands of homes for sale across Minnesota, North Dakota and western Wisconsin. GO

What's Your Home Worth?

Because market conditions vary, you'll want to enlist an expert. Contact me for a free market analysis.

Kim Melin
REALTOR®

Phone: 952.201.4758

Contact me
Visit my Web site

Edina Minnesota Public Schools: Concord Elementary

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:58:28 -0500

Edina Public Schools have been recognized by publications around the nation as outstanding. One of the most recent was Family Circle magazine, which ranked Edina as one of its top 10 towns, due in large part to the quality of Edina Public Schools.

Concord Elementary is a five-star school within the Edina Public School district. Serving Kindergarten through 5^th grade students, Concord strives to create an exciting environment committed to meeting the mission statement goals and beliefs.

Concord has an active Parent Teacher Organization. They hold several fund raisers throughout the year, host fun educational events for the school’s families, volunteer in classrooms and at school activities, and help ensure the costs of “extra items” are met.

Concord Elementary is located at 5900 Concord Avenue South in Edina.

There are 5 other elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school located within the Edina Public School District. http://www.edina.k12.mn.us/

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Canstruction at Mall of America

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:17:05 -0500

Looking for a unique activity this weekend? Head over to the Mall of America in Bloomington. There is a unique competition going on.

Called “Canstruction”, architect students are competing to see who can build the best structure. But these aren’t just any structures. They are made out of cans. Regular cans of corn, fruit cocktail, SpaghettiO’s, and everything else you can think of!

Beginning today, the competitors have 12 hours to create the most creative and intricate designs they can. Judging of the competition will be Sunday afternoon.

Here is a quick video I found on YouTube showing an entry in a similar Canstruction competition in Canada. Enjoy!

The designs will be deconstructed on Monday and the food donated to the Second Harvest Heartland food bank in St. Paul. Last year the competition raised nearly 20,000 pounds of food!

Want to contribute to the competition and the food drive? Be sure to bring along some canned goods with you when come. These can be delivered to the Sears Court stage throughout the event.

For more information on this competition, visit the Canstruction website.

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Save for more than your down payment

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:12:10 -0500

When purchasing a house, having a sizable down-payment has always been good advice, and with today’s tighter credit guidelines it is essential. However you need to keep in mind that you will need savings beyond the down payment of your home. Here is a list of the things that usually come up during a home purchase and subsequent move that will require some cash.

Appraisal fee
Professional home inspection
Extra closing costs
Homeowner’s association fees
Repairs, upgrades, renovations. There are the obvious and the not-so-obvious. Your inspection may have suggested upgrading some of the electrical outlets, and you may already know you don’t like the paint color, but after you move in there are little things you will probably notice that will you’ll need some cash to rectify immediately.
Moving van rental fees, boxes, bubble wrap, and mover’s fees. Even if you enlist the help of friends or family, you will need to feed them or at least provide them with refreshments. And don’t forget the gas for the moving vehicle!
Termination fees for current services, deposits and connection fees for new services.
Appliances. If your new home already has a full set of appliances, then you can scratch this off your list! If not, be sure to remember the extra costs involved with warranties, installation, etc.
Household items. Invariably you will find that the stuff you filled your last home with are not quite right for the new one. This can turn into hundreds or thousands of dollars from runs to the home furnishings store and home-improvement store.
Lawn-care equipment. If this is your first home with a yard you will be surprised at how much equipment you will decide you need. An alternative is to hire someone to do your lawn care for you, which will still incur a cost, although it will be spread out over the coming months.
If you are relocating a great distance you might have air fare or other transportation costs for your entire family (pets included), a night or two in a hotel, and all the other expenses that can creep up.
And don’t forget that for at least a few days you might be eating out while you search for that box of dishes!

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

AMAZING PRICE ON AN UNBEATABLE OPPORTUNITY! NEVER AGAIN PRICING IN SOUTH HARRIET PARK,EAST EDINA. $337,988

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:46:01 -0500

Kim Melin | Edina Realty | kim@kimmelin.com | 952-201-4758

5625 Kellogg Place, Edina, MN

WOW! Prime location, great condition, clean and ready for you! Charming deck, professional landscaping, double sided fireplace between living room a

2BR/1.5BA Single Family House

offered at $337,988

Year Built	1964
Sq Footage	1,264
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	8,345 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Move in and enjoy, or do some adding of space! Which ever you choose, you will love this location!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Tile floor	- Living room	- Dining room
- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven
- Basement	- Washer	- Dryer
- Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- South-HarrietPark

- Prime location

- Nestled in the midst of million dollar homes

- Charming appearance

- NOT A FORECLOSURE OR SHORT SALE!

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4

Contact info:

Kim Melin

Edina Realty

kim@kimmelin.com

952-201-4758

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Oct 12, 2009, 6:30pm PDT

Some spooky fun around Edina and elsewhere in the Twin Cities

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:47:27 -0500

There is a long list of fun things to do this Halloween in our area. Here are a few of my favorites.

ZooBoo at Como Park Zoo. Oct. 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 4:30-7:30 pm. $7 at the gate.

Apple Jack Orchard Corn Maze. Saturdays & Sundays through Halloween. Saturday nights are flashlight night until 10 pm. $6 adults, $5 ages 6-11, free ages 0-5.

Minnetonka Orchards. Lots to do! Open daily 9 am-7 pm. October theme days:

CiderFest, Oct 17 & 18
Bonfires and Hayrides, Oct. 24 & 25
Dog Days of Fall, Oct. 31-Nov. 1

Autumn Unplugged at the Arboretum. All month! 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska. Admission is $9 for adults, free for members and children 15 and under. Activities include:

Weekend Family Fun every Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 pm.
Pumpkin Palooza, ongoing through Nov. 1.
Pumpkin Palooza Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24 & 25, noon-4 pm.
Ar-Boo-return Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31.

Halloween Happenings. Three Rivers Park District Halloween events. Find one near you!

Special events at the Minnesota Children’s Museum. 10 West Seventh Street, St. Paul.

Spooky Woods, Oct. 20-Nov. 1
Halloween Spooktacular Parties, Saturday, Oct. 24, Sunday, Oct. 25, 6-8:30 pm; Monday, Oct. 26, 10 am-12:30 pm; Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8:30 pm.

Pumpkin Patches and More. A comprehensive list of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, safe trick-or-treating, hayrides, etc throughout the state of Minnesota.

Hope to see you out and about!

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Twin Cities Area Extreme Home Makeover

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:22:53 -0500

There’s an Extreme Home Makeover going on in the Twin Cities this weekend. The TV show’s crew and an army of local volunteers has demolished the crumbling home of St. Paul’s Sandy Morris and is building a new home that could house her family for another 100 years.

The old house had a crumbling foundation, sinking roof, buckling walls, and a mold problem. It is a much needed rebuild, but since Sandy grew up in the house it is a bittersweet blessing. In an interview with the Star Tribune, Sandy said “It’s going to be quite emotional.”

Sandy runs a successful and very popular day care center in her home, and the new house will accommodate an expansion of her day care as well.

As in many of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition shows, the mission is to improve the neighborhood as well as the family’s home. In this case, there is a food drive, a blood bank, and a neighborhood cleanup going on which will provide benefits to everyone in the vicinity.

The crew can use all the volunteers they can get to complete all the projects in their designated 96 hour time frame. They need qualified carpenters of course, but also anyone who can help with painting, cleanup, minor repairs, etc. According to their website, they “need 100-200 volunteers a day that will be used in traffic control, clean-up, catering, shipping, and other misc. duties.”

Volunteer shifts are running every 4 hours, beginning at midnight. They request check-in to be 20 minutes prior to the start of a shift. Volunteers are especially needed in the overnight hours.

While they might end up turning people away, if you want a chance to help improve the lives of a deserving area family and improve an entire neighborhood in the process, put on your steel toed boots, grab your hammer and head on over to the site! Well, first you need to head over to their website and read all the rules and find out just how to volunteer.

Oh, and don’t forget to donate blood at the associated blood drive. You can find more information on the Red Cross website.

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Bicycling in Edina Minnesota

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:26:56 -0500

Bicycling is a popular sport in Minnesota. So popular that we have more bike trails than any other state in the country! Hennepin County has an extensive list of trails available for leisure, exercise, and basic transportation. While many of these are on-road routes, the number of off-road trails are growing as well.

The Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail follows the path of an old railway and runs from Hopkins through Chanhassen. There are plenty of entry points and stop-offs, beautiful views, and notes of history along the way.

One of the best treasures of nearby Eden Prarie is Birch Island Woods. It is 36 acres of protected sanctuary in its natural state with trees and wetland. Bike trails, along with hiking, ski, and nature trails, snake through it and are linked to the Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail.

Within the city of Edina, there is progress on improving the bike trail system with a comprehensive plan that is being implemented. The goal is to create a bike-friendly community conducive and safe to all kinds of bicycling. Follow the latest improvements, view the whole plan, and find upcoming bicycle events at Bike Edina.

Check out the list of frequently updated Edina bicycling events, maps, and comments from MapMyRide.

Want some more to do? There is lots of general info and social bicycle events on the Twin Cities Bicycling Club website.

On a final note, before you jump on your bike, help keep our bike trails safer by reviewing the rules of The Minnesota Share the Road Bicycle Safety Education Program.

Enjoy your ride!

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Secrets of Today's Real Estate Market:EDINA ADULT ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:48:53 -0500

I have had the opportunity to help many families the past couple of years with the daunting job of selling the "family" home. All of very different circumstances, and all unique situations. I have loved the opportunity to work intimately with the families during this time of transition. This has lead me to my "latest" idea. I am working with the Edina Adult Enrichment Classes to present a class/workshop and share some ideas and thoughts around this period of transition.

Please read the notice below. This would benefit any of use. If you have a family member aging and preparing to down size...come and chat. You might want to forward this invitation on to someone else you know. I would certainly appreciate it! Please...call with any questions!

Secrets of Today's Real Estate Market

Buying or selling a home, whether a single-family, multi-family or condominium, takes time especially in the market we are in today. You'll get tips on getting the right financing to exploring your future housingoptions. Whether you're a first time buyer or you're thinking about selling your home of 30+ years you'll get all the information you need to get started! This is your chance to ask lots of questions and take notes. No sales pressure! FREE seminar. Pre-registration recommended.

The September 24th seminar is facilitated by Kim Melin, a resident of Edina for the past 20 years and an agent with Edina Realty. Representatives from Morgan Stanley and Gentle Transitions will also be available for information and questions.

F9066 1 Session - FREE

Thursday, Sep 24 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Edina Community Center

Pre-registration encourage:

www.edinacommunityed.org/adult

952-848-3952

Easy one level living! Plymouth location only $209,988. 3610 Zinnia Lane N

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:08:40 -0500

Kim Melin | Edina Realty | 952-927-2888

3610 Zinnia Lane North, Plymouth, MN

Great one level in easy location! Situated just off CR 9 & 494 - you can't top that! Charming patio for entertaining. 36" door openings, func

2BR/2BA Townhouse

offered at $209,988

Year Built	1994
Sq Footage	1,500
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$169 per month

DESCRIPTION

Great one level in easy location! Situated just off CR 9 & 494 - you can't top that! Charming patio for entertaining. 36" door openings, functional 2 BR + Den unit - Additional storage in garage attic! Great laundry & mudroom area.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- High/Vaulted ceiling
- Walk-in closet	- Living room	- Office/Den
- Dining room	- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Microwave
- Washer	- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside
- Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking

- Guest parking

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Truly One level living

- Minutes to shopping, parks and more!

- Grat move in condition

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 1
Photo 2

Contact info:

Kim Melin

Edina Realty

952-927-2888

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 31, 2009, 6:50pm PDT

The Marketing Campaign Evolves with Tweet-a-Sale

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:25:56 -0500

It seems as though the possibilities are endless when it comes to Twitter. To grow the social networking site even more, new applications have been created to help make marketing even more simple for merchants hoping to gain the attention of consumers. One such application is a third party Internet tool called Tweet-a-Sale, launched for the purpose of bridging the gap and increasing connections between businesses and followers through Twitter.

Twitter is quickly evolving from a simple social networking platform, used to send quick instant-message type updates to followers, to an extremely effective business marketing tool. Now, more than ever, businesses and entrepreneurs are using Twitter to gain an up-to-the-minute understanding of what their target market is talking about, what their consumer opinions are on products and services and what the latest trends are in their particular industry.

Naturally, with its growing success, comes new developments and new services. With the development of Tweet-a-Sale, Twitter has recently become even more powerful in generating leads and helping businesses understand their consumers. For a while now, businesses have been flocking to Twitter to attract prospects and make sales and now additional marketing avenues have opened up.

Tweet-a-Sale generates word-of-mouth marketing by allowing businesses to provide followers with incentives such as free or discounted products and services. The followers can then generate buzz about their experience with the product or service to their followers, creating an endless cycle of low cost marketing for the businesses involved.

How does this work exactly? When consumers sign up and decide to follow merchants on Tweet-a-Sale, they instantly send out an automated message to their followers on Twitter. This message invites their followers to follow a particular merchant and discover the Tweet-a-Sale application .

The risk of spamming followers is avoided as consumers agree to sending out only ONE “follow” tweet and ONE “sale” tweet via Twitter. The sales tweet indicates when a consumer has purchased or received a product in Tweet-a-Sale, increasing awareness and curiosity. These tweets are provided to the merchants by Tweet-a-Sale, maintaining consistency with the messages sent out.

Both merchants and consumers benefit with this new tool. Consumers benefit because they have the opportunity to try new products and services for either free or at a discounted price with as many merchants as they wish. And merchants benefit because they are provided with a unique opportunity to share their product and service to an endless audience without having to spend the typical large sum of money often invested in regular marketing campaigns. The Tweet-a-Sale application is truly a win-win for all parties involved.

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Orthopedic Center of Excellence in Edina, Minnesota

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:31:44 -0500

Construction cranes are operating in Edina at the site of the new Orthopedic Center of Excellence. The building is designed to bring together all the offices and services of Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO), an independent physician’s group specializing in all areas of orthopedic care.

The 75,000-square-foot building is a year-long building project which will provide the ‘perfect’ facilities for the medical group while also providing some great construction jobs in this year of few new building projects.

The site of the new center is a full two acres and is located on 65th Street between Valley View Road and France Avenue. There is easy access from the freeway (Highway 62) and is next to Fairview Southdale Hospital.

During two years of planning and difficult decisions, including the scrutiny of 18 pieces of real estate, the 65th Street location was selected…and it wasn’t even on the market. The site was known by the developers and they approached the owners when it seemed the property’s strength’s outweighed those of the other locations.

Construction began on the new facility in April and is expected to be completed Summer, 2010. You can read more about the project on the website of Finance And Commerce, “Minnesota’s only business daily,” or at the TCO Press Room.

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Been thinking of buying a home in Minnesota? Time to Get Down From That Fence!

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:27:54 -0500

If you’ve been sitting “on the fence” waiting for conditions to improve before you purchase a home, fence-sit no more!

The Twin Cities housing market offers incredible opportunities for first-time buyers as well as move-up buyers.

In the Twin Cities, we’re seeing lower home prices than in previous years and historically low interest rates. In early July, 30-year fixed-rate loans were available in the low 5 percent range and 15-year fixed-rate loans in the high 4 percent range.

These rates are amazing, especially when you compare them to previous years such as the ‘80s when interest rates were in the double digits. This wonderful combination of low interest rates and moderating prices is resulting in excellent affordability.

Home prices are well within the means of the average Minneapolis or St. Paul resident.

The Twin Cities also has an excellent supply of homes for sale in all price ranges, styles, and communities. Buyers can choose from new construction, existing homes, starter homes, luxury properties, condominiums, co-ops, townhomes, and lofts.

Also, if you’re a first-time home buyer, don’t forget the tax credit authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Under this act, first-time home buyers can receive a tax credit for 10 percent of the value of a home, up to $8,000. This is a great incentive, especially since you don’t need to repay the tax credit unless you sell your home within three years. But, you only have until Dec. 1, 2009 to take advantage of this credit.

So, start looking for your next home now. Enjoy our beautiful summer weather and the benefits of the Minnesota housing market.

---

Have you jumped off the fence? Looking for a real estate agent to represent your best interests? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Edina South-Harriet Park Open Sunday 26th 12:00 -2:00pm

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:49:49 -0500

Kim Melin | Edina Realty | kim@kimmelin.com | 952-201-4758

5625 Kellogg Place, Edina, MN

WOW! Prime location, great condition, clean and ready for you! Charming deck, professional landscaping, double sided fireplace between living room a

2BR/1.5BA Single Family House

offered at $459,988

Year Built	1964
Sq Footage	1,264
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	8,345 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Move in and enjoy, or do some adding of space! Which ever you choose, you will love this location!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

• Central A/C	• Central heat	• Fireplace
• Tile floor	• Living room	• Dining room
• Dishwasher	• Refrigerator	• Stove/Oven
• Basement	• Washer	• Dryer
• Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

• South-HarrietPark

• Prime location

• Nestled in the midst of million dollar homes

• Charming appearance

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4

Contact info:

Kim Melin

Edina Realty

kim@kimmelin.com

952-201-4758

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 22, 2009, 4:42pm PDT

Short Sale in Richfield: Bank Approval required!

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:44:06 -0500

Kim Melin | Edina Realty | kim@kimmelin.com | 952-201-4758

6829 Grand Ave S., Richfield, MN

Bank Approval required

4BR/1.5BA Single Family House

offered at $199,988

Year Built	1952
Sq Footage	2,348
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	.14 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Cozy story and a half in prime Richfield location! Close to parks, shopping and freeways! Great 4 bedroom, 3 bath turn-key home. Coved ceilings, woodburning fireplace. Lower level has great space for your theatre or play area. Come and enjoy!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

• Central A/C	• Central heat	• Fireplace
• Walk-in closet	• Hardwood floor	• Family room
• Living room	• Dining room	• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator	• Stove/Oven	• Basement
• Washer	• Dryer

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

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

Contact info:

Kim Melin

Edina Realty

kim@kimmelin.com

952-201-4758

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 22, 2009, 3:54pm PDT

WOW! Bank approal maybe required....5401 Halifax Lane

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:31:50 -0500

Kim Melin | Edina Realty | 952-201-4758

5401 Halifax Lane, Edina, MN

WOW! Great price on new Construction in South Harriet Park, East Edina! *PROPERTY SALE MAY REQUIRE BANK APPROVAL*

5BR/3.5BA Single Family House

offered at $1,049,000

Year Built	2008
Sq Footage	4,900
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	9,524 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Be environmentally friendly while living in luxury! This new const South-Harriet Park gem is a thoughtful design w/top notch finishes.Htd gar,2 laundry rms,main flr office,luxury mstr ste,theatre rm w/seating. Hobby/exercise rm. Chef's kitchen! Take a look! Enjoy!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

• Central A/C	• Central heat	• Fireplace
• High/Vaulted ceiling	• Walk-in closet	• Hardwood floor
• Tile floor	• Family room	• Living room
• Bonus/Rec room	• Office/Den	• Dining room
• Breakfast nook	• Dishwasher	• Refrigerator
• Stove/Oven	• Microwave	• Granite countertop
• Stainless steel appliances	• Basement	• Washer
• Dryer	• Laundry area - inside	• Balcony, Deck, or Patio
• Yard	• Jacuzzi/Whirlpool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

• Garage parking

• Covered parking

• Laundry on-site

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

• Catwalk

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Kitchen	Front of Home
Dining Room View	Master Bathroom
Living Room View	Amusement Room

Contact info:

Kim Melin

Edina Realty

952-201-4758

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 17, 2009, 8:23am PDT

Credit Card Bill Ushers in New Era of Fairness for Minnesota Cardholders

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:54:14 -0500

President Obama recently signed a bill that reforms certain abuses within the credit card industry that may change life as we know it. The bill won’t take effect until 2010 but wounded lenders are already threatening reprisals in the form of higher rates and more fees.

The new bill will help consumers in many ways:

More time to pay bills: Bills will be due on the same day every month, no less than 21 days after they are mailed or delivered. No arbitrary time before 5 pm can be set for when the payment has to arrive. No late fees can be charged for payment not made on the due date when it fall on weekends or holiday.

More limited interest rate hikes: Raising the interest on existing balances can only be done under certain conditions. Subprime fees can't be applied until a payment is over 60 days late. Terms can't be changed for paying off old balances. No more interest rate increases because the cardholder was late with someone else. More notice for interest rate increases.

Limits on fees and penalties: Subprime interest rates charged if a customer was over 60 days late with payment will revert to the original rate once the customer has been on time for six months. Fees and penalties must be reasonable, based on rates set by the Federal Reserve Board. No fee can be charged for making payments, unless they are expedited through a service representative. No over-the-limit fees can be charged unless the customer agrees to have account set up to permit authorization of over-the-limit transactions.

New way to apply payments: Payments above the minimum payment will be applied to highest interest rate items.

Other provisions deal specifically with new cardholders and cardholders under 21.

In the current economy, many card holders who have been late on payments – maybe because they diverted the money to their house payment – have been slapped with high late fees, often compounded with over-limit fees, and subprime interest rates as high as 30% within a short time span. Even when consumers paid most creditors on time, they could be faced with interest rate hikes or credit line decreases based on their performance with other creditors. Interest rate hikes applied to all consumers even extended to old balances. Companies charged excessive fees even to pay the bill. The new law prevents lenders from going crazy with fees and interest rate hikes.

The new bill does not reward the bad behavior of people who can't or don't pay, but does make the treatment of all consumers more fair. This is a good thing. Even if you personally feel that people have gone overboard with credit, it is hard too feel too sorry for the banks. They have a year to find ways to recoup any losses they may incur as result of the new law, so it is unlikely they will pay a great price for being forced to act responsibly. Consumers are likely to pay, one way or the other, but many people will be forced to reassess their relationship with credit and how they use it.

---

Need help in assessing whether you are creditworthy to buy a home? Contact me, Kim Melin, today. Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Custom Built Home in West Edina Parkwood Knolls. Additional build opportunites available.

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:18:32 -0500

Kim Melin | Edina Realty | 952-927-2888

5305 Kelsey Terrace, Edina, MN

Carl M Hansen built in 2008. Executive home in premier West Edina Parkwood Knolls. Additional lots available. No expense spared, profess landscaped,wa

5BR/3.5BA Single Family House

offered at $1,895,000

Year Built	2008
Sq Footage	4,898
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	3 full, 2 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	.44 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Carl M Hansen built in 2008. Executive home in premier West Edina Parkwood Knolls. Additional lots available. No expense spared, profess landscaped,water feature,amazing outdoor entertaining, stroll through and admire the unique detail in craftsmanship

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

· Central A/C

· Central heat

· Fireplace

· High/Vaulted ceiling

· Walk-in closet

· Hardwood floor

· Family room

· Living room

· Bonus/Rec room

· Office/Den

· Dining room

· Breakfast nook

· Dishwasher

· Refrigerator

· Stove/Oven

· Microwave

· Granite countertop

· Stainless steel appliances

· Basement

· Washer

· Dryer

· Balcony, Deck, or Patio

· Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 1
Photo 2	Photo 3

Contact info:

Kim Melin

Edina Realty

952-927-2888

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 1, 2009, 2:08pm PDT

WOW! Twin Citites housing market showing signs of improving!

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:31:25 -0500

The number of homes for sale in the Twin Cities metro area continues to decline relative to a year ago. As of Monday morning this week, there were 26,674 homes for sale in the region, down 20.9 percent from a year ago. In other words, we've lost 1 in 5 homes in our inventory in the last year.

Sales are a different story. For the week ending June 20, there were 1,156 signed purchase agreements, up 32.1 percent from the same week in 2008. That's the 12th week of the last 13 to feature a year-over-year increase in sales activity exceeding 20 percent.

We must bear in mind, however, that sales are only up in certain categories and price ranges. Year to date, traditional home sales (excluding foreclosures and short sales) are still down 17.8 percent from last year. New construction sales are down 21.7 percent from last year. And sales of homes priced above $350,000 are down 26.8 percent from a year ago. The lion's share of market activity is taking place in the lower price ranges this year.

Interact with this post and others on "The Skinny," our market insight blog, by

clicking here.

NEW! The June Monthly Skinny Video is up online!

Click here to view. This month's edition is another quickfire update on the Twin Cities housing market, this time narrated by our President-Elect, Brad Fisher.

The attached MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report is information the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® (MAAR) sends to REALTOR® broker members and interested parties on a weekly basis. This is provided by MAAR to help you understand the Twin Cities 13-county residential real estate marketplace. Please contact me regarding any questions or comments you may have.

Sincerely,

Mark
Mark Allen, CEO

Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®
(952) 988-3134
www.mplsrealtor.com

Visit "The Skinny," our housing market insight blog

Did you get your mortgage refund?

Kim Melin (Edina Realty) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:49:51 -0500

Refund! That is a word sure to make anyone perk up their ears. And if you have ever had an FHA-insured mortgage then you should pay attention. While the refund process should be automatic, sometimes a refund gets missed or the payee can’t be located. First check the HUD website to see if you are owed a refund. You will need to enter your name or your FHA case number.

To be eligible for an insurance premium refund, you must meet these requirements:

acquired your loan after September 1, 1983
paid an up-front mortgage insurance premium at closing and
did not default on your mortgage payments

To be eligible for a distributive share from the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund you must meet the following:

originated your loan before September 1, 1983
paid on your loan for more than seven years and
had your FHA insurance terminated before November 5, 1990.

The HUD site encourages people who need help with their refund to contact them directly and not to hire someone to assist in collecting the refund. Often the collectors are scam artists. The direct number to the HUD support center is 1-800-697-6967.

For more details, directions on requesting your refund, and a list of the exceptions, read the FHA Homeowners Fact Sheet.

---

To begin your search for a new home, check out my Listingbook.

Contact me, Kim Melin, for more information on buying or selling.