The community of Blaine has continued to grow and expand in the north metro of the Twin Cities despite the economic downturn. Just drive down Highway 65 and see the Main Street (125th) overpass to get an idea of how the significant changes have affected the community. Though housing construction had slowed during 2008, it has not stopped and continues to be a force in 2009. New developments expand the housing
base, especially in the townhome and lower level price points. Conveniently located along 35W and Highway 65 and connected by Highway 10 just north of the Twin Cities, Blaine is an attractive location for both business and residential development. The community is served by three school districts; Anoka Hennepin District #11, Centennial District #12, and Spring Lake Park District #16. Blaine is best known for the National Sports Center a sport and meeting facility that hosts an annual worldwide soccer event and Tournament Players Club golf course where the PGA Senior tour is played every summer.
Builders' incentives to home buyers have required home sellers to be very competitive with housing prices making homes in the Blaine area extremely affordable. I predict this affordability to continue throughout 2009. Home sales slowed at year end but overall the year was not bad for lower priced homes. The homes that are selling best in Blaine are in that under $200,000 price point. My guess is a majority of the sold homes were lender-mediated, either foreclosure or short sale properties. Cumulative days of the market (CDOM) has stayed consistent with the numbers from 2008 in the lower price points. Fluctuation in the higher price points are mostly skewed due to few sales.
Last year, homes in Blaine were selling a bit faster than other areas of Anoka County but the slowdown in existing sales seems to have overtaken this community as well. Buyers looking at single family homes under $300,000 in Blaine quite a bit of inventory to choose from but the choices are down from 2008. At a rate of 28 per month sold, the inventory is manageable. Looking at current inventory levels and the rate of sales for single family residential homes priced under $200,000, there is about 9 months of inventory as it stands today. But in higher price points the absorption rate still nearly 2 years.
New construction homes sales are slow in the first quarter just as builders added inventory for the Parade of Homes. Traditional home sellers need to be aware that builder incentives continue to be very attractive to entice buyers to build rather than buy existing.
The townhome and condominium market has exploded in Blaine and builders have pulled out all the stops bringing pricing down. There is considerably less new construction townhome inventory on the market with about 6 months of inventory compared with nearly 3 years of inventory in 2007. Existing townhome sellers must make their prices very attractive even though builders' inventory is down. Townhomes under $200,000 have about an 18 month absorption rate but little is selling in higher price ranges so it is difficult to assess how long the current new townhome inventory will stay on the market.
2008 Average Sales Price of all homes sold in Blaine:
· All Homes $225,300
· Single Family Homes $253,143
· Townhomes/Condos $171,218
2008 Average Cumulative Days on Market in Blaine:
· All Homes 154
· Single Family Homes 150
· Townhomes/Condos 162
1st Quarter Blaine residential real estate statistics for single family homes:
Under $200,000~ 88 Active Listings, 36 Pending Listings, 43 Sold Listings, 137 CDOM
$200,000-300,000~100 Active Listings, 15 Pending Listings, 20 Sold Listings, 145 CDOM (New Construction Subgroup 26 Active, 2 Pending, 1 Sold, 54 CDOM)
$300,000-$400,000 ~41 Active Listings, 3 Pending Listings, 6 Sold Listings, 286 CDOM (New Construction Subgroup 20 Active, 1 Pending, 2 Sold, 30 CDOM)
$400,000-$500,000 ~ 29 Active Listings, 3 Pending Listings, 3 Sold Listings, 156 CDOM (New Construction Subgroup 9 Active, 1 Pending, 0 Sold)
$500,000-$1,000,000~ 42 Active Listings, 3 Pending Listings, 0 Sold Listings (New Construction Subgroup 13 Active, 1 Pending, 0 Sold)
$1,000,000 and Up ~2 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 0 Sold Listings (New Construction Subgroup 1 Active, 0 Pending, 0 Sold)
1st Quarter Blaine residential real estate statistics for townhomes and condos:
Under $200,000~ 115 Active Listings, 21 Pending Listings, 20 Sold Listings, 95 CDOM (New Construction Subgroup 14 Active, 4 Pending, 7 Sold, 40 CDOM)
$200,000-300,000~24 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 0 Sold Listings (New Construction Subgroup 9 Active, 0 Pending, 0 Sold)
$300,000-$400,000 ~ 11 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 2 Sold Listings, 193 CDOM (New Construction Subgroup 10 Active, 0 Pending, 1 Sold, 151 CDOM)
$400,000-$500,000 ~4 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 0 Sold Listings (New Construction Subgroup 3 Active, 0 Pending, 0 Sold)
$500,000-$1,000,000~ 2 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 0 Sold Listings (New Construction Subgroup 2 Active, 0 Pending, 0 Sold)
For additional information on any current Blaine real estate listing or for additional information on buying a home in Blaine contact Teri Eckholm directly at 651-336-7073.
**All Statistical information based on information from the REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE of MINNESOTA, INC. for the period of 1/1/09 through 3/31/09.
Articles on Real Estate, Lakeshore and Minnesota that might be of interest:
If you are buying or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet, Homebuyers Success Packet or sign up for Listingbook Twin Cities Home Search. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota..JPG)
Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!
Copyright 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
******************************************************************************************************
LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe and let me email you an update!
Subscribe to Teri's Notes & Anecdotes on Twin Cities Real Estate by Email
;)
;)
What a lot of information in one location. Sounds like your market is doing OK. Good info.