home buyers: Hey Anoka County Homebuyers! Do you Have your Eye on a Real Estate SLEEPER?
- 11/14/11 07:56 AM
You check the MLS link every day and there it is...sitting on the market day after day. It's your dream home and you have watched it for a couple of months now. It seems to be priced right; in fact, it is a steal of a deal. But the market has you paralyzed into watching and waiting rather than making your move on the perfect home so there you are on the fence still waiting until that perfect moment to call up a REALTOR® and put in your offer on your dream. As you continue to "time the market", waiting to … (13 comments)
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home buyers: MN Real Estate Market Trending Similar to Nation in October
- 11/18/08 01:10 AM
For the past year or so, I have been fortunate to be taking part in a monthly nationwide real estate market research project with the investment firm, Credit Suisse. As a thank you, I receive a copy of the report in exchange for my views of what is happening in the home construction and sales market in Minnesota. "Fear Grips Buyers in October" was the headline of this month's report. It is not just a Minnesota trend that had real estate agents phones not ringing. The report indicated that this was a nationwide trend. "Nearly all markets are impacted by buyers … (20 comments)
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home buyers: Do you Have your Eye on a Real Estate SLEEPER?
- 11/06/08 06:58 PM
You know what I mean...There is a home you have been watching for a couple of months and it is priced right. In fact, it is a steal of a deal. But you are still on the fence about buying a home and want to wait until that perfect moment. You are timing the market so to speak and waiting to see if seller of that "sleeper" is going to drop the price again. Well wake up bargain hunters...You might not be the only one with an eye on that sleeper and if you wait too long it will be gone.A … (67 comments)
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home buyers: Is It Harder to get a Home Loan? Minnesota Public Radio Would Like YOUR Opinion!
- 08/20/08 08:57 AM
With all of the seemingly continuous changes in the mortgage industry recently, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is asking the question, "Are home loans harder to get?" As part of their Public Insight Network, MPR wants real answers from real people like you. It is an opportunity to share what you know with others about this important financial topic.
I find this question extremely interesting as I am certain other professional REALTORS® will as well. I will be even more interested in tuning in to hear the stories and subsequent discussions that arise from the survey. I want to hear stories from first … (7 comments)
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home buyers: Forest Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics Mid Year 2008
- 07/02/08 07:17 AM
Forest Lake, Minnesota is a special community in the northeast metro Twin Cities area. Many people from the city remember Forest Lake fondly from decades ago as a summer vacation spot or place to go for a drive in the country. Today, the lakeside cabins have been replaced with year round residences and the rural nature is all but a thing of the past in this thriving St. Paul suburb. Though housing growth has slowed down drastically in the past year or two in many northern suburbs due to ever increasing gas prices, Forest Lake is holding it's own.Real estate in … (8 comments)
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home buyers: Ham Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics Mid Year 2008
- 07/02/08 03:52 AM
Even though existing single family home sales in Ham Lake, Minnesota remained sluggish during the first half of 2008 the numbers show that homes are still selling. The Days on Market (DOM) statistic has stayed pretty consistent with 217 days as compared to 214 in the first quarter and 220 in the fourth quarter of 2007. However, homes in the higher price categories remain stalled.For the first six months of 2008, only one home is in pending and one sold in the over $500,000 price category. While that three days on the market for the high price point looks like a … (2 comments)
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home buyers: Understanding Risk of Loss—How Severe Weather Affects Real Estate
- 06/02/08 02:48 AM
Spring storms and a busier real estate market are making life very interesting for MN buyers, sellers and Realtors! Just over a week ago, 400-500 homes sustained damage as a severe storm that spawned two tornados and devastated the Twin Cities north metro. Yesterday another storm blew through Minnesota. This time homes in the south and west metro were affected by hail and damaging straight-line winds. 2008 is setting up to be a very active storm season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes as more severe weather is already in the forecast for later this week. Will this affect real estate … (18 comments)
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home buyers: Home Buyers With Teens--Expect the Unexpected and Voiced Opinion!
- 04/17/08 02:44 AM
It is a great time to buy a home in Minnesota. As a Realtor working in the north Twin Cities metro, I see awesome homes at great prices coming on the market everyday. There is an abundance of homes in the $300,000 plus category from Ham Lake to Forest Lake and everywhere in between. Whether you want a two story on acreage or a rambler with lakeshore there is something for everyone. And people are able to negotiate some very attractive deals. So as a family we started thinking, this might be time to make a move.Now the last time we … (40 comments)
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home buyers: Double-Digit Drop in North Metro Home Prices—No Wonder Activity is Picking Up!
- 03/13/08 01:45 AM
The sales numbers are out for February 2008 and it comes as no surprise that the median price for a home in the north east metro Twin Cities has drop compared to the same period last year. No surprise to someone like me who as a Realtor works in Anoka, Chisago and Washington Counties everyday. Though it is hard to look at a double-digit drop in average prices, it is what is getting home buyers to start buying again.Here are a few of the indicators I have noticed in the Ham Lake, Forest Lake and Lino Lakes areas:
Mortgage options have … (15 comments)
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home buyers: Real Estate a Good Investment?—Is NOW the time to Buy a House?
- 01/17/08 01:50 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)
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home buyers: January Thaw Brings Out Home Buyers in the Twin Cities North Metro—Is Real Estate Making a Comeback?
- 01/14/08 10:42 AM
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)
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home buyers: Real Estate Resolutions for Home Buyers, Sellers and Investors
- 01/01/08 06:32 AM
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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home buyers: A Realtor’s Role—A Glimpse and Opportunity to Become a Friend
- 12/29/07 10:48 AM
This holiday season I was blessed with a ringing cell phone. Not just one client or contact but several. New prospects. Current buyers and sellers. Past clients and friends. And of course other agents.Each situation and reason for calling was unique. As I consider each of these contacts I realize once again how my position as a Realtor provides a glimpse like a look through the keyhole into lives. Each phone call is the beginning to a story and often the caller is asking me to play a role. When I answer a call, it could be a romantic love story … (42 comments)
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home buyers: Twas the Week Before Christmas and all through the County—I’m Showing Houses!
- 12/18/07 04:56 AM
Here it is a week prior to the Christmas Holidays and I am frantically getting ready as I always do this time of year. But in the midst of shopping for presents, sending packages, wrapping gifts and baking cookies, I have to set up and show homes to clients.
A normal year would see a slow down around the holidays but this year real estate has been anything but normal. Buyers have been out there all year long but with change on the horizon for 2008 in the mortgage industry, some buyers are very motivated to find the perfect home now! … (24 comments)
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home buyers: Sleigh Bells Ring are You Listening?—Winter is a Great Time to BUY a Home!
- 12/02/07 08:40 AM
A fresh blanket of snow covers the landscape across the Twin Cities from North St. Paul to East Bethel and Ham Lake to Scandia. Winter is not a time to hide from the elements and wait until spring to make a home buying decision! Although making a move in a Minnesota winter's snow and ice is not ideal, the timing could not be more perfect to buy a home and get a GREAT DEAL!Here are the Top Ten Reasons to Buy a Home THIS Winter!Reason 10-Holiday Décor. Visiting homes this time of year will really put you in the holiday spirit. … (19 comments)
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home buyers: Understanding Risk of Loss Clause--When Can a Contract be Cancelled?
- 10/24/07 02:08 PM
Picture the following scenario: After months of searching for the perfect place to call home, you wrote an offer on a picture perfect two story in Ham Lake. After a little negotiation, the offer was accepted and with the inspection over, you are on schedule to close in 60 days.
Three weeks prior to the closing, straight-line winds blow through Anoka County. Concerned, you drive up to your dream home and see that the picturesque oak trees that had given the home character have been uprooted. Worse yet, one of the huge trees fell onto the house severely damaging the roof. You are devastated as this was … (16 comments)
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home buyers: Buyers and Sellers Psyched Out in the MN Real Estate Market
- 10/21/07 10:53 AM
"Psychological factors are currently the biggest drag on the housing market, in addition to a disruption from tighter credit for subprime borrowers."- Lawrence Yun, senior economist for the National Association of RealtorsJune 25, 2007This statement issued three months ago by Yun still rings true in Minnesota today. We have low interest rates and unemployment rates below the national average yet the housing market is flat. Areas of Anoka and Washington Counties including Blaine, Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and Forest Lake have been over developed. There are several new construction homes and developments sitting empty awaiting new home buyers for, in some cases, years. … (14 comments)
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home buyers: Doctor, Doctor! Give Me the News, I’ve got a Bad Case of Real Estate Blues!
- 08/19/07 12:45 AM
Have you ever noticed how people out there want a quick fix for everything? Think about how many informercials and products out there guarantee quick and easy weight loss. Consider those who took Fen-Phen or have tried the new Alli fat-blocking product. Trading a heart attack or serious gastro-intestinal problems for a healthy weight, isn't a good tradeoff. Talk to an educated professional dietician and you will begin to understand there is no magic involved to long term weight loss. Good old fashioned hard work is the secret to success.
Similarly, there is no pill to kill the ills of the real … (60 comments)
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home buyers: Hello Hollywood? I ‘m Ready for the Screen Test when you Cast a REAL Realtor®!
- 07/01/07 01:58 AM
Writers for the silver screen L-O-V-E real estate agents...How could they not? Real estate agents have flexible schedules, make tons of money, and are down right funny! We drive fancy cars and have radar to find new business across a crowded room. Every audience member knows a Realtor® and there are few who will step up to defend the industry.
Well Hollywood, today is the day that I am standing up to offer my services for your next big production when you need a real Realtor ® for a role.
Take One-Cut! Cut! Sorry I can't drive up in a Lexus. No. … (118 comments)
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home buyers: How to Choose a Realtor and Avoid a Trainwreck!
- 06/25/07 02:02 AM
Though dual agency is an option in Minnesota, most buyers and sellers have individual representation. Therefore at the closing table the group assembled is eclectic. The buyers, their agent and closer are joined with the sellers, their agent and closer. Every once in a while, there is a loan officer or lawyer thrown in for fun!
As a successful Realtor working throughout Anoka County in Minnesota, I sit through many closings while clients sign documents selling their family homestead, buying their first home, and investing in that big deal. Usually this is an exciting time! The buyers are ecstatic to be … (4 comments)
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You check the MLS link every day and there it is...sitting on the market day after day. It's your dream home and you have watched it for a couple of months now. It seems to be priced right; in fact, it is a steal of a deal. But the market has you paralyzed into watching and waiting rather than making your move on the perfect home so there you are on the fence still waiting until that perfect moment to call up a REALTOR® and put in your offer on your dream. As you continue to "time the market", waiting to … (13 comments)
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