New Winter Scenes of Life in Minnesota - 12/28/07 04:43 PM
Here are some new photos takes during the snow storms we had over the Christmas holiday. As you can see, I like Black & White photos, but I mingled in some colored shots here and there. The birds were kind enough to allow me to stand right next to the feeder and take action shots of them. After a while, my feet started to get numb and I had to go inside. Note to photographers: the cold makes your camera battery run down really fast so make sure to bring a spare. … (4 comments)

Christmas Traditions and the Message they Hold - 12/23/07 05:39 PM
Christmas holds special traditions for everyone. Over the years, we seem to stumble onto things that make us smile and appreciate the season. We even marry into families and merge traditions. I think that is one of the most fun things to discover about us all, the little quirks we all have. Each of us is so similar, but yet so different.One tradition I have married into is the yearly Christmas viewing of "It's A Wonderful Life". Yeah, it can be cheesy in a few places, but it has such a great message(s). Here are the two I like:
1. Touching someone's … (7 comments)

Going Down, In a Blaze of Glory...wait... In a Blaze of Embarrassment - 12/20/07 10:37 AM
So, after a few years of hearing complaints about the FTC lawsuits going on against all these Multiple Listing Services across the country, it appears that the Gestapo tactics of intimidation are starting to back fire on the FTC. Just this week, two MLS boards have been vindicated in the court of law for NOT having anti-competitive practices in place.
The most recent case comes from Michigan, Realcomp II, Ltd., a regional multiple listing service located in southeastern Michigan. The issue presented was whether the MLS treatment of "Exclusive Agency Listings" (EAL), those that allow a seller to not pay a commission to … (2 comments)

Even Expensive Homes Can go Back to the Bank! - 12/19/07 02:40 PM
The buzz words of 2007 are most likely going to be "bank owned", "foreclosure", and "short sale". As you can imagine, there are thousands on the market right now in the Twin Cities that are trying to compete with each other, and sadly, no one is buying.So imagine how difficult it is going to be to sell a Million dollar home that has gone to the bank. The property is automatically stigmatized by the words "bank owned" and any potential buyer of a high-end home is going to want a nice discount to purchase it.According to the Regional Multiple Listing Service, … (3 comments)

The Best Way to Describe Home Sellers - 12/14/07 02:44 PM
I think the disconnect between home sellers and real estate agents can best be summed up by the following video:
Oh, and in case you don't realize who is who, the buyer is the Boss, and the seller is Cool Hand Luke. Now some real estate agents, might like to use the wip, but I don't think it will get the point across.
… (2 comments)

Finders Keepers...and how NOT to do Business - 12/14/07 08:12 AM
I don't know if you have all heard about this little story coming out of Ohio. A contractor was hired to remodel part of an 83 year old house for the owner. While he was gutting the bathroom he found boxes of money stashed in the walls. He notified the owner and they were both giddy with excitement over the hidden treasure.
The money dates back to 1927- 1929 and contains many rare Federal Reserve Notes, as well as $500 bills and one $1000 bill. Worth a total of about $182,000 when it was stashed, the currency had been appraised near half a million … (12 comments)

Selling Your Home in Winter Doesn't Have to Be Impossible - 12/12/07 09:03 AM
 Winter in the Twin Cities causes real estate activity to slow down. Compared to July, it really slows down. But it doesn't have to be your worse enemy.
If you look at the graph below for the past three winters, 2005-2007, you can see that there is a huge dip around December.
red represents New Listings blue represents Pending Sales yellow represents Closed SalesWith so many holidays clustered around each other, people have other things on their mind besides buying a home. Buyers don't have the money to buy because they are shopping for Christmas, and sellers aren't listing their homes because they … (2 comments)

How to Survive a Minnesota Winter, Part 2 - 12/12/07 08:56 AM
Last week I talked about how to survive a Minnesota winter by keeping your vehicle stocked with items you might need should you find yourself stranded or in an accident. This week I want to touch on things you should do for your home to help get you through any emergencies during a snow or ice storm.Probably one of the most important items to have for your home is a back-up generator. Yes, not only do you need them during Hurricanes, but you need them for ice storms, too. A generator can help keep your perishable items cold for a little … (0 comments)

St. Paul Historic Home #24 - 12/12/07 08:53 AM
This weeks featured Historic Home in St Paul is 749 Summit Avenue.
Built in 1888 by the famous Clarence Johnston and in collaboration with William Willcox, the home was commissioned by The Wheeler Family and cost around $12,000 to build.
At first glance, you might think the home was built in the Richardson Romanesque style, mostly impart to the rough cut stone on the exterior walls. However it lacks any of the arches that define that style. Instead, it fits rightly into the a Queen Anne Victorian "masonry" category. The tower on the left has been built into the home and … (4 comments)

No Matter How Good You Are, You Can't Win Them All! - 12/07/07 10:09 AM
Every Christmas I sit down and write personal Christmas cards to all my past clients and those in my Sphere of Influence. Sometimes I even get Christmas cards from my clients, those being the ones that truly love me. Sitting down last night, I poured over the list of people and addresses trying to judge if I needed more stamps. I got to a name that brought back memories and knew he once again would not get a Christmas card.
In 2004, I received an email from a gentleman that lived in Washington state. He was an investor and he was looking … (15 comments)

Lake Minnetonka Real Estate Market Update - November 2007 - 12/05/07 10:05 PM
Looking to buy a luxury home? Well, the place to be is Lake Minnetonka. Just because it is winter doesn't mean you can't go out there and see the beauty of a frozen lake. Who knows, you might even want to put in some ice fishing time or check out a pond hockey game between showings. Here's the real estate numbers for the month of November:1 Million - 2 Million : Compared to the rest of the year's activity, the brakes were put on this month and new listings were put to a halt. There are currently only 131 homes actively … (1 comments)

HGTV coming to St. Paul - It's All Up to You! - 12/04/07 04:31 PM
St Paul has the chance to win the opportunity for HGTV to come to town and help three local improvement projects take flight through their new television program Change the World. Start at Home. Nine cities across the country are competing for life-transforming assistance - and viewers will decide through voting. Votes can be cast through December 21 at their website.Click here to VOTE SAINT PAULThe Saint Paul projects feature a mix of historic preservation, community, education, and environmental improvement, including:
Helping a deserving family with an unfinished home renovation. After her husband passed away 18 months ago, Kris Nelson's dreams of … (6 comments)

 
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Jennifer Kirby, the Luxury Agent

Minneapolis, MN

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Kirby Fine Homes

Address: 3800 American Blvd W, Suite 1500, Minneapolis, MN, 55431

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