Home market trends in Blaine MN

Real estate market data in Blaine MN by Joel Friday of Keller Williams Classic Realty

Are home prices rising yet The Lakes in Blaine MN 55449 ?

Median sale price in Blaine MN

Latest trends in Blaine MN

The median list price in November for single family homes in Minneapolis is $329,900. The list prices increased by 2.8% from the previous month.

The price per square foot for listings in this area is $119.

Looks like the median sale price trend is wrong, I will check in on this issue.

What are the schools like in Blaine MN 55449?
Great restaurants in Blaine MN 55449?

Recently I was out on an environmental consultation and asked to evaluate for potential moisture intrustion and mold. I have been performing these type of consultation services for years so I was happy to assit this client. What I found was a musty odor and moisture intrusion in the lower level of this lakshore cabin property. To complicate matters the dwelling was an "Earth Home" type with a wood foundation and waterproofing was failing. The air samples and lab report confirmned the presence of an extremely elevated mold spore condition. In this case the prospective property owner had the dollars to remedy the situation and things were moving along smoothly. I left providing a valuable and helpful service to our client.

When I got home I got to thinking about the countless people out there who encounter situations such as these and are left to fend for themselves; 39 states allow property insurers to exclude mold and fungi from homeowners policies. Policies vary greatly in other states, typically available as an additional rider with very limited coverage. The article below is an interesting alternative to this problem.

If you suspect moisture intrusion and mold are present in your home contact us today to perform a forensic moisture intrusion and fungal survey. We use a FLIR infrared camera and Tramex moisture meter to qualatively and quanatively evaluate your home and determine the extent of damage, if any.  If you have had cleaning and mold remediation activities contact us for a clearance inspection.

J.B. Anderson Inspections Inc.

763.350.8509

http://www.jbandersoninspections.com/

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Corinne Purtill
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 30, 2007 12:00 AM

A bad mold infestation can cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix and can turn a home into a den of wheezing, coughing or worse.

However, homeowners insurance companies in Arizona exclude mold from coverage. As a result, some Valley homeowners say they have had to abandon houses and belongings they believe were making their families sick.

Some of those families are hopeful a bill to be introduced in Congress early next year could help others in similar situations. Sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., the "Melina Bill" would create a national insurance program to protect homeowners against major losses as a result of mold. The program would be similar to the national flood-insurance program already in place. It also would mandate mold inspections in public housing and certification for mold inspectors.

Mold experts say it could help protect Americans from a threat to their health and homes.

"The individual homeowners in the United States are facing terrible risks in their financial situations because of the lack of being able to get mold insurance," said Chester Leathers, an environmental consultant and professor emeritus of microbiology at Arizona State University.

Excluded in policies
Arizona is among 39 states that allow insurers to exclude mold from homeowners policies. Policies vary in the remaining states.

Payments from a covered incident such as a burst pipe may be used to treat mold. But generally, mold is considered "a maintenance issue, and therefore that's not the responsibility of the insurance companies to handle that particular event," said Ron Williams, executive director of the Arizona Insurance Information Association.

Conyers first introduced the U.S. Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act in 2005 after a staff member's daughter suffered serious lung damage as a result of indoor mold. The bill failed, but Conyers will reintroduce it in January with modifications, his communications director, Karen Morgan, wrote in an e-mail.

It's unclear exactly what the new version will look like.

Mold tied to ailments
Up to 20 percent of the population is allergic to one or more molds, Leathers said. Studies have found extensive evidence linking mold exposure to breathing problems, congestion, irritated eyes and skin irritation.

Arizona's dry climate is no safeguard. Plumbing problems, leaky roofs and humidifiers all can cause indoor mold growth.

Some Valley residents believe mold made them seriously ill.

Luz Fuenzalida's puppy chewed through a pipe in her Phoenix home in November 2001. The next day, she said, she and her two sons, ages 11 and 13, began suffering headaches and nausea. An environmental consultant later found mold as a result of the leak.

The family moved out two weeks later. In 2003, a pediatrician wrote Fuenzalida, saying both boys tested positive for high levels of Aspergillus flavus, a type of mold that can colonize in the lungs. It also produces aflatoxin, a carcinogenic toxin. Lab results from 2004 showed Fuenzalida also had abnormally high levels of aflatoxins in her body.

Fuenzalida's home still sits empty. Once she made a link between her family's health and mold, she never went back. Her insurance company will not cover her losses, she said, and she could lose the house.

"I never in my life thought (mold) could do what it has done," she said.

Scientists, however, say they can't prove a link between mold exposure and serious health problems. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that although indoor mold is a health concern, there is no solid evidence that it causes symptoms such as lethargy and memory problems.


As it is now, there are few options for Valley residents with mold problems they can't afford to fix.

Mary Buchberger, 59, abandoned her possessions and sold her mold-infested Phoenix home after she and her adult son became sick.

In January 2006, Don Herrington, epidemiology bureau chief at the state Department of Health Services, responded to her written complaint with a letter saying that, although he was sorry for the family's struggles, there was nothing the agency could do.

"In Arizona, there are no regulations pertaining to mold, hence, the government agencies within Arizona have no authority to intervene in mold issues," he wrote. "It seems that the most likely way to pursue your desire to help yourselves and others who are faced with a similar concern is through the legislative approach."

In The Twin Cities Minnesota Area the number of foreclosures is increasing. Many times these properties are distressed due to lack of maintenance during the redemption period. Often times the homes suffer damage such as frozen water pipes or are just plain neglected. These homes can sit vacant for many months while the foreclosure process proceeds. Some of these homes are put back on the Real Estate market with little or no repair work and listed "as is" with the seller (the bank) disclosing no knowledge or damages or previous repairs.  buyers must be cautions when proceeding with this type of transaction, the best advice is to hire an independent home inspector who will perform an objective evaluation of the major systems and components of the home.

A vacant residence presents its own types of problems. Although vacant residences typically are unfurnished, meaning that we can see virtually everything, residences that are vacant for any period of time can be expected to present problems upon move-in. Some structural and mechanical components and systems that have not been used on a daily basis can be expected to fail upon first use. A home is meant to be used, meaning that a fully functioning home requires proper use, care, and maintenance. When a residence is vacant, there is no one to do regular monitoring and maintenance.

Think about the "haunted house" in your neighborhood or city when you were growing up. It was vacant and dilapidated, and deterioration was continuing on a daily basis because no one was around to take care of it. Same thing with any vacant residence, new or used. Deterioration is an ongoing process; it does not quit simply because a residence is vacant. We recommend that, before moving in, you compile a list of qualified service personnel (plumber, electrician, appliance repair, etc.) and telephone numbers to assist you in the event of any emergency. The new childrens movie Monster House brought back memories of the mysterious run down haunted house in our neighborhood for me.

Don't buy a Monster House have it inspected and leave the monster to us.