My local Snap Fitness in Cambridge, MN is having their "Dash For Cash" competition from May 7th to June 29th.  I signed up today. I dont know all the rules but I paid $10, and the goal is that everyone who logs 100 miles on the treadmill by the 29th of June is in the drawing for the money. I think there is a prize for the first 25 miles and a couple other prizes along the way.

My goal is to get to 100 miles.  If I win a prize drawing great, but I am not a big treadmill (or running) type. I know to get there I will burn extra calories and probably lose 10-15 lbs.  So that is the main push.  Today I went 5.18 miles on the treadmill. It took me an hour.  I normally at most go 20 minutes which gets me just short of 2 miles.  Thus, I need to step it up to get to 100 miles and I got of to a good start.  We will see if I will be able to walk tomorrow. I went over 500 calories.  (My wife said I was overweight yesterday, so I guess she knows how to motivate me).

Looking for a home in Cambridge, MN?  Have you heard of the HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Program?  

The Hud Good Neighbor Next Door Program works for:

Law enforcement officers, pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and firefighters/emergency medical technicians can contribute to community revitalization while becoming homeowners through HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program. HUD offers a substantial incentive in the form of a discount of 50% from the list price of the home. In return you must commit to live in the property for 36 months as your sole residence.

Read all the details HERE!

There is currently one home available for $49,900 in Cambridge until December 15th! These don't come up often.  Has far has I know its been a long long time since there has been on available because the program Eligible Areas have been changing.

As a registered HUD Broker/Agent I can assist you with your HUD home purchases! For a list of HUD Good Neighbor Next Door homes in Isanti, Anoka, Sherburne, Washington, Wright, Hennepin and Chisago County; call or email me at the contact info below.

I have to admit that I am not an experienced black Friday shopper. Never before have I waited in line to get in a store to get the 'EARLY BIRD ' deals. I have gone in the mornings before and gotten some of the deals, but last night was the first time I waited in line to get into a store. (Oh what a wait it was).

At about 10pm my wife, her daughter and I headed to Wal- Mart only to turn around and drop them off as the craziness was spilling over to all the other area business parking lots.  My wife being 37 weeks pregnant was not up for it.  I thought it would be a new adventure for me, so after dropping them off I went back and headed into Wal Mart to see what things were like in theres.

All the DOOR BUSTER deals had lines waiting way too deep for me.  I was going to buy a couple small things but did not figure it was worth waiting in line for them so I put them back. I thought I would try Target since it was not open yet.  NOPE. Line way way too long for me to get in.

Next I headed to Kohl's. Thats my favorite store and the one I most wanted to shop anyway. and when I go there the line to get in just started to go around the corner.  So there I was waiting in line for 40 minutes to get in on the deals and the $15 for every $50 spent Kohl's cash.

I got in and got lost in the kids sections trying to find my kids gifts. I grabbed one each and then stumbled around as I found one of the DOOR BUSTERS that would be perfect for the person I drew the name of in my family.  Then there once a great deal on something on my wife's list. Next I needed shoes. By the time I got to the men's section (it was void of men shopping, I guess most men just stay away from these events)--- I could not carry all my items and they were out of carts. I had one bag and started filling that with clothes for me while pushing the other bigger boxed items along. (Line as people filed into Kohl's at midnight pictured)

Finally, it was time to get in line and the lady in front of me said they estimated a 3 HOUR WAIT to get checked out.  (That has to be a record).  The Cambridge Kohl's is a smaller one with only a handful of check out counters.  (Next year Kohl's should set up some mobile check out locations in the store...still love you but note to management).

About 30 minutes into the wait I spot a short line and ask how do you get in that line to a worker.  It turns out you just have to apply for a Kohl's card and your in that line.  HECK YES! Now I am a proud new owner of a Kohl's card and over $250 of charges on it.  (This netted me $75 in Kohl's cash and took care a lot of my shopping).  It took about 1 hour in that line, but I got out of there alive!  

Next I even went to Target.  By that time it was about 2:45 am.  The lines were fairly deep their. I staggered bewildered through the store to the TV section. I did not see what I wanted.  But by this time my wife was home and texted me from the command center (wondering where I was) and reminded me of a deal for my daughter.  I got that and got out and by the time I went to check out the line was only 1 person deep!

I did not sleep in either and now it was my wifes turn to shop.  I dropped he off, made some stops and then went to the office.  I picked her up and together we are about 95% done shopping!  With the baby coming we wanted to hammer it out!

I dont think I would ever do that again.  It was sort of a fun experience looking back.  It seemed to me that the nice Minnesota weather aided in getting people out to the stores in Cambridge!  I hope all the stores did well. I think Kohl's did, my wife matched my spending there this morning so I know they got us!

Everyone hears about how many foreclosures are out there for sale.  Buyers new to the market salivate over the deals they are going to get when buying a bank owned home.  The only problem is right now there are really not that many bank owned homes available.  

Here is a list of some of the area cities in Minnesota that I typically help buyers find great values on bank owned properties:

Cambridge MN has 11 ACTIVE bank owned property listings that don't have an offer on them. Isanti has 10 bank owned properties available.

Elk River has 16 bank owned homes for sale. Princeton also has 16 bank owned listings for sale.  Zimmerman has 13 bank owned listings ready for purchase.

What happens is that the good ones sell fast because many of them come on the market and are priced well. Some of these were overpriced and are having the proper price drops so they fall into the market price range, so those are the ones that stay on the market for a while.  Often buyers even make low offers on these homes and don't get them.

When the bank lists them at the right price they sell.  But as you can see in these area towns there are really not a ton of options out there.  Like I mentioned yesterday the time to BUY IS NOW! So if you see one that is a good deal, be ready, and buy it!