Shaggy Oak Trees in YOUR Yard? Trim NOW and Prevent Oak Wilt! - 01/31/08 07:27 PM
Oak wilt is devastating to the landscape across Anoka County. Prevent oak wilt spread by smart landscaping and maintenance. Oak trees should be trimmed in the late fall or winter months. If you have overgrown oak trees, now is the time to trim them and avoid exposure to this tree-killing disease!Last summer I photographed a neighboring property in Ham Lake that has been battling oak wilt for the past four years. Last summer alone this property lost nearly a dozen of these majestic trees. . (Read Oak Wilt-A Minnesota Tragedy for the full story.) What was once a home with a … (28 comments)

Ham Lake Residents Town Hall Meeting—View City Water and Sewer Plans - 01/30/08 06:56 PM
Do you have an opinion on the vision for Ham Lake's future? Take time and attend the town hall meeting to see the five proposed plans that the task force has outlined. On Tuesday February 12 starting at 7:00PM, there will be an opportunity for all of Ham Lake's residents to see the five comprehensive plan proposals that are currently being considered by the task force appointed by the city council.
According to the February 2008 issue of the Ham Laker newsletter, there will be a short presentation describing each of the five alternative visions for Ham Lake.
Mixed-Use Village Center
Develop 115 … (10 comments)

What’s My Home Worth in Forest Lake, MN? Or Ham Lake? Or Lino Lakes? Or Blaine? - 01/29/08 11:21 AM
Sound's like a trick question in this market doesn't it? Funny thing is that no matter what the market is like, the answer is not simple.What if you dig into your closet or file cabinet for that big vinyl envelope you received when you finalized your refinance last year? There was an appraised value for your home in that paperwork. Is that what your home is worth? Assessed values from the Washington County or Anoka County assessor are updated annually. That should be a pretty accurate number right?There are some great, interactive websites like Zillow that have popped up over the … (16 comments)

Best Part of Being a REALTOR®~ Helping First Time Buyers Find Their Way Home - 01/28/08 04:00 PM
Late one Saturday afternoon my cell phone rang. The caller said they had just driven by a listing of mine and could I show them the inside. "Are you working with an agent?" I inquired. "No", he said. The meeting was set for the next evening.The young man and his fiancée arrived with an entourage of parents and assorted other relatives. Being first time buyers, they wanted assistance and approval on their first home. Looking over the home from top to bottom, they liked what they saw but needed time to think. I asked the question I always ask, "When you are shopping … (30 comments)

Outside the Box Thinking Gets Homes SOLD! - 01/26/08 10:05 AM
You've seen the statistics! You know that the real estate market is down across the nation. Sellers in the 2008 spring market will be fighting to be noticed in a sea of foreclosed homes, builder's models and investor's flips. So what can you do to make your home stand out and get noticed? What little trick might give you an edge? Maybe it is time to think outside the box!THINK Feng ShuiUsing the ancient Chinese discipline of Feng Shui to create balance and a flow of energy throughout the home may get it sold more quickly. Before dismissing this concept as … (28 comments)

How Do Twin Cities North Metro Communities Compare to New Construction Nationwide? - 01/24/08 07:40 PM

A 25% nationwide drop in construction was announced last week by the National Association of home builders. But as all real estate is local, what does that mean to those of us living and working in the Twin Cities? Are the numbers the same? Better? Worse?The answer is, it all depends on your location!The Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) issued a press release stating that there were 8.961 units permitted in 2007, down from 12,644 in 2006. This translates to a 29% decrease metro wide during the past year. Additional statistics are available showing building permits issued since 2005. … (6 comments)

Real Estate a Good Investment?—Is NOW the time to Buy a House? - 01/17/08 09:50 AM
Annual housing numbers were released this week and there were no surprises that the housing market was down in 2007. I say there were no surprises because the double digit increases in value seen a few years ago throughout the Twin Cities and Minnesota could not continue. Everyone working in the real estate industry knew the market was ready to correct.In the north and east metro counties (Anoka County, Chisago County and Washington County), I have notice the market correction building for the past few years. In the northern suburbs we feel the trend sooner than in the heart of the … (31 comments)

January Thaw Brings Out Home Buyers in the Twin Cities North Metro—Is Real Estate Making a Comeback? - 01/14/08 06:42 PM
With the Minnesota Vikings out of the playoffs, Sundays are once again a good opportunity to sell real estate. At my first open house of the year yesterday, I wasn't able to sit down for a minute and read a chapter in the great novel I had brought with me. As soon as the sign was placed in the snow bank at the end of the drive, buyers started coming through the door.What?!! Buyers???On NBC's Today Show this morning, a real estate expert implied that there are no buyers to be found. Well that so called expert wasn't in Forest Lake, … (31 comments)

Tale of Two Headlines—City Water and Sewer for Ham Lake? - 01/10/08 09:22 AM
A day or two before Christmas, our copy of the January 2008 Ham Laker Newsletter arrived from the City of Ham Lake. I noticed it nestled between the holiday cards and did a quick glance over the headline, "Please Answer our Community Survey", before tearing into the envelopes that held the photos, wishes and good tidings from our family and friends. It wasn't until the Christmas gift wrap had been cleared that I had a chance to sit down and actually read it. Being a Realtor who likes to blog to keep residents informed on Ham Lake and Anoka County, I … (16 comments)

Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Homeowner Version: Forest Lake Steam Train - 01/09/08 11:50 AM
As I slowly wound my way through ice and snow on the slippery North Shore Trail while showing Forest Lake homes this past week, I was momentarily distracted by a colorful garage door. The elements made it difficult to see properly so yesterday I wound around back around the lake where I had showed homes days before to find this wonderful steam train artistic distraction. While painting a mural on a garage door can be a detriment to a home's value, I will have to admit that this steam train mural would be a welcome sight to many. It really pops … (30 comments)

Lino Lakes, MN Real Estate Market Statistics 4th Quarter 2007 - 01/09/08 09:23 AM
Real estate in Lino Lakes, MN in Anoka County is affordable and selling-though admittedly at a slower pace than most sellers would like. The community is conveniently located near the junction of the 35E and 35W split, just north of the Twin Cities, Lino Lakes is a 33 square miles treasure. With 13 lakes and acres of beautiful protected wetland, the community is served by three school districts; Centennial District #12, Forest Lake District #831, and White Bear Lake District #624. The gem attraction is the pristine 2,700-acre Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve is situated within the heart … (6 comments)

Forest Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics 4th Quarter 2007 - 01/08/08 09:17 AM
Real estate in Forest Lake, MN in north Washington County and east Anoka County is still selling. The first big December snowfall and holidays didn't deter savvy buyers from getting out into the market and writing offers. The inventory levels are down from the third quarter statistics, but sales during the last three months of the year were only slightly lower than the previous quarter. The fourth quarter numbers show area homes are staying on the market an average of 166 days, just slightly lower than the 171 DOM in the third quarter. Looking at current inventory levels for homes priced … (8 comments)

Open House 20XXX Georgia Ave Forest Lake***SOLD*** - 01/07/08 12:00 PM

Come and see this beautiful 3 bedroom/2 bath/3 car garage Forest Lake home on Sunday February 17 between 1-3PM. Beautiful inside and out-0.92 Acre Lot with City Water and Sewer! Ready to move right in!! 

Vaulted ceilings and open floor plan makes the most of the wonderful features of the home with a cozy eat-in kitchen, 4 Season porch and two lower level family rooms!

Walkout and enjoy wooded yard and pond from porch, living and family rooms. Note the beautiful stone fireplace and tongue and groove paneling.

Seller is motivated to have sold quickly--a quick closing can be … (20 comments)

Ham Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics 4th Quarter 2007 - 01/05/08 02:15 PM

The sluggish real estate market continues to affect Ham Lake, MN and Anoka County in the fourth quarter of 2007. Homes are staying on the market longer with an average Days-on-Market (DOM) of 220 days for homes sold in the 4th Quarter (compared to 157 DOM during the 3rd Quarter). Note that DOM for homes under $300,000 is a significantly lower time on the market, selling with an average DOM of 155.While there are 30% fewer homes on the market in Ham Lake, 110 versus 158 at the end of the third quarter, homes are taking a bit longer to sell … (12 comments)

Agent Showing Instructions—Lock Doors, Leave a Card and Bring Your Snowshoes! - 01/03/08 03:20 PM
Yesterday the second of January, I was out showing houses throughout Forest Lake and Wyoming, MN. It was a blustery Minnesota winter day that perpetuates the myth that our state is located somewhere north of Canada. It was COLD...No, it was FRIGID! Though the sun was bright, the morning temperature was -4. After a day of sunshine, the mercury had risen to the single digits or maybe teens depending on your location.Now the native Minnesotan that I am didn't let this stop me. I was working with a buyer who is in town sporadically. Yesterday was a day that she was … (41 comments)

Real Estate Resolutions for Home Buyers, Sellers and Investors - 01/01/08 02:32 PM
 
2007 brought a changed real estate market to Minneapolis, St. Paul and the extended Twin Cities suburbs. Home sellers counted market time in months rather than days. Home buyers stayed hidden in the woodwork in the first six months of the year. Those who ventured out to open houses or showings with real estate agents were often confused by the smorgasbord of properties available. In every price range and most locations there were several OPTIONS. Town homes, single family, split levels, ramblers, two stories, remodels, foreclosures, short sales and new construction.As a Realtor serving Anoka County, Ham Lake and communities in … (41 comments)

 
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Teri Eckholm, REALTOR® Anoka&Washington Counties Acreage & Lakeshore Homes

Ham Lake, MN

More about me…

REMAX Specialists

Address: 4910 Highway 61 N, White Bear Lake , MN, 55110

Cell Phone: (651) 336-7073

Email Me

Theresa "Teri" Eckholm/REMAX Specialists assists Minnesotans to find their way home with helpful tips and quality service. Dedication to customer service has made Teri the REALTOR® of choice for families in Blaine, Forest Lake, Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and Wyoming areas. Licensed in MN.


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