david kosmecki: Increasing May Jobs Report Shows Strengthening Economy - 06/11/13 04:52 AM
The U.S. Department of Labor released its Non-Farm Payrolls and National Unemployment Rate reports Friday showing 175,000 jobs were added in May, which surpassed expectations of 164,000 new jobs and April's reading of 149,000 jobs added. The jobs added in May were largely from the private sector.
However, the national unemployment rate for May was 7.60 percent, one-tenth of a percent higher than expectations and the April reading of 7.50 percent. The rise was attributed to more people entering the workforce as opposed to people losing jobs.
420,000 workers joined the workforce in May, which pushed the civilian participation rate in … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: What Does The Future Hold For The Security System In Your Home? - 06/07/13 10:13 AM
Imagine walking into your home and turning off the alarm, locking your doors, opening the windows and starting your coffee maker, all with a few taps of your finger on your smart phone?
What if you had a home security camera that you could monitor from anywhere and a motion sensor that would send you an email when your kids come home from school? What if you could open your blinds or unlock your home for a visitor, even from halfway around the world?
The technology that powers our home security systems is getting more and more sophisticated and in the … (1 comments)

david kosmecki: Four Important Home Maintenance Tips Everyone Should Know - 06/07/13 09:58 AM
One of the important aspects of owning a home is having the knowledge of how to keep it maintained to avoid costly repairs and serious damage. Over the years weather and use will wear down both the interior and exterior of your property.
If you are able to practice preventative care on your home, then you will prolong the life of all of its systems and components. At least every six months or so, you should be performing an inspection of your property so that you can ensure that it is still functioning properly and safely.
What should you be looking … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: 3 Critical Tips To Improve Your Credit Score And Mortgage Terms - 06/05/13 05:41 AM
When you are looking for a mortgage for your home, your credit score is very important. Any potential lender will check your score and will use the number to assess your creditworthiness and the interest rate that they offer you.
The better your credit score the lower the mortgage interest rates will be available to you, as the lender will be able to see that you can handle credit well.
However, if you have a very bad credit score, it could be causing you to be offered high interest rates on your mortgage that could cost you thousands over the years.
… (0 comments)

david kosmecki: 6 Ceiling Solutions To Update Your Home - 06/05/13 05:27 AM
If you're absolutely sick of looking at the popcorn ceiling of your 1980's home - it's time for a change.
However, behind the facade of a ceiling is a mess of plumbing, wiring, joists and structural beams, so you have to be careful and creative when updating your home.
Whether you're dealing with an older home, a tricky duct system or an unfinished basement, below are several ceiling solutions to brighten up the space above your head.
Bring Back Wood Paneling:
The 70's are making a comeback. If you have a flat or slanted ceiling, wood paneling is easy to affix … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: 5 Super Spring Decorating Ideas To Spruce Up Your Home - 05/31/13 10:32 AM
With spring just around the corner, now is a good time to begin decorating your home for the upcoming season.
Whether you enjoy chic decorations that are budget-friendly or easy changes to create a fresh look, below are five quick ideas to brighten up your home for the season.
Add a Pop of Color:
Spring is a good time to add color to your décor. Switch your tablecloth in the dining room for one with lighter colors.
Cover decorative pillows with pastel pillowcases to lighten a room.
Adding decorative centerpieces to tables that contain a pop of spring colors is also … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: Case-Shiller Reports Energetic Annual Home Price Gains Nationally - 05/31/13 10:24 AM
The most recent S&P/Case-Shiller Index showed all three composites posting double-digit increases over the last four quarters.  The national composite, which is the broadest based index, showed an increase of 10.2% annually. The 20-City composite posted even stronger annual growth at 10.9%.
Click Here To Download The Full Report:
The Case-Shiller Index measures changes in home prices by tracking same-home sales using 10-City, 20-City and national housing markets; and the change in sales price from sale-to-sale. Detached, single-family residences are used in the Case-Shiller Index methodology and data is for closed purchase transactions only.
12 Of 20 Metro Markets Notch Double-Digit … (1 comments)

david kosmecki: Simple Ideas To Create An Outdoor Living Space For Your Home - 05/31/13 09:39 AM
As the weather gets warmer, the desire to get outside and enjoy the fresh air begins to take hold. Having a place to entertain or just unwind can add a new dimension and enjoyment to your home.
First, you have to decide what type of space you want to create. Whether you want to have an outdoor living room, a vacation-like spot or a place to meditate and enjoy nature, how you extend your living space is limited only by your imagination — and possibly your budget.
Start with your vision and make a list of the things you want to … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: Existing Home Sales Numbers Highest Since 2009 - 05/31/13 09:33 AM
The National Association of REALTORS reported that sales of existing homes in April reached 4.97 million on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis.
Although this reading fell short of Wall Street's expectations of 5.00 million existing homes sold, it surpassed the March 2013 upwardly revised reading of 4.94 million existing home sales. This represents a 0.60 percent increase from March to April, and a 9.70 increase year-over-year.
Low Mortgage Rates Contribute To High Sales Levels: 
Low mortgage rates and pent-up demand for homes are driving sales of existing homes, which reached their highest level since November 2009. 
Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: How To Throw A Memorial Day Weekend Party To Remember - 05/31/13 09:25 AM
Memorial Day weekend is widely regarded as the beginning of summer and many people kick off their summer plans on the weekend coming up.
We take this time to remember the brave men and women who have given their lives to protect and defend our liberty and freedom. But even while giving thanks for their sacrifice, we also celebrate the beginning of our summer with fun and (hopefully) sun!
As many people are more budget-conscious these days, holiday travel out of town may not be the best option for everyone. There are so many ways to enjoy the first long weekend … (1 comments)

david kosmecki: Fed Meeting Minutes Expose Rising Interest Rate Risk - 05/31/13 08:41 AM
Minutes of the April/May Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) recently released may have a significant impact on mortgage rates going forward.  One significant development from the meeting suggests that the present quantitative easing (QE)  program may be modified in the near future. 
The current QE program involves the Fed purchasing $85 billion per month in mortgage backed securities (MBS) and Treasury bonds. The Fed's goal with QE is keeping long-term interest rates, including mortgage rates, low.
Considerations mentioned in favor of slowing the current QE program include concerns over “buoyant” financial markets as evidence of a developing economic “bubble”. FOMC members … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: Simple Tips To Help Your Flowerbeds Flourish This Spring - 05/22/13 10:08 AM
Flowerbeds can be a very attractive addition to any Maple Grove home -- if you have the time to set up and maintain them. Flowerbeds don't necessarily require a profusion of costly flowers that need to be fertilized, mulched, covered during severe weather, and possibly re-planted on a yearly basis.
So put on your green thumb and brave the outdoors this spring. With the tips below, you'll keep your flowerbeds filled and your house looking cheery without a huge money or time commitment.
Weed Eradication:
Before you even start picking out roses and tulips, take care of the weeds. Gardens get … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: Avoid These Common Mistakes When Pricing Your Home To Sell - 05/21/13 09:15 AM
It can be very difficult to determine what your property is worth in the current marketplace, because you are biased by what the property is worth to you. These emotions can get in the way of impartially evaluating a property and often cause sellers to overprice their home.
When pricing your property, you need to be objective and reasonable so you can come up with a selling price that will capture the interest of buyers.
Here are a few examples of common mistakes people make when pricing their house for sale.
 
Reading Too Much Into Online Comparable Properties:
Avoid relying … (2 comments)

david kosmecki: Benefits Of Owning A Green Home You May Not Have Considered - 05/20/13 05:58 AM
Going green is not just a new trend; it is a way of life that benefits not only the environment, but also your health — and your pocketbook. 
Green living cuts down on carbon emissions and creates a healthier environment both inside and outside of a home. While green structures sometimes cost more initially, the money (and environment) saved in the long run is well worth the investment.
 
Health Benefits: 
Owning a green Maple Grove home has significant health benefits. Many conventional buildings are not properly ventilated and indoor air quality is often more polluted than the air outside. 
Poor … (2 comments)

david kosmecki: Home Builder Future Sales Confidence Rises To New Highs - 05/16/13 10:10 AM
Home builders are gaining confidence in current and future market conditions for new homes, but continue to see below-average foot traffic in new homes.
The reading for May's National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) /Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) increased by three points to a reading of 44 as compared to April's revised reading of 41. The HMI measures builder confidence in current sales conditions for newly built homes, buyer foot traffic in new homes and builder expectations for future sales conditions.
Builder Confidence In Future New Home Sales Highest Since February 2007:
The HMI reading for current sales conditions … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: 7 Tips To Make Your Living Room More Appealing To Home Buyers - 05/16/13 10:02 AM
Everyone knows that first impressions are important. By carefully staging your home, you can positively influence the feelings your potential buyers have when they are viewing the property.
Staging is the art of decorating and arranging the spaces within your house to make it more appealing to buyers. If you can adapt the rooms to create an attractive and welcoming zone that home buyers can see themselves in, they will be more likely to buy your property.
One of the most important rooms to stage is the living room, because it is such a central part of the house. This is … (2 comments)

david kosmecki: Know Your Real Estate Disclosure Laws Before You Sell Your Home - 05/16/13 09:57 AM

When deciding to sell a piece of Minneapolis real estate, there are certain things you must disclose about the property to the buyer before the sale can go through.
Disclosure laws are put in place to protect the buyer from unknowingly purchasing defective property. Not disclosing certain information about the property can jeopardize the sale, or worse, invite a lawsuit.
This has become more of an issue lately as some sellers are tempted to gloss over deficiencies in the home they are selling in order to try to get a higher sales price.  In fact, a recent poll of real … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: May 2013 RealtyTrac Foreclosure Report Shows Strength For The US Housing Market - 05/13/13 06:15 AM
RealtyTrac recently reported that national foreclosure filings are down while foreclosure filings are seeing marked increases in some states.
There are two systems for foreclosing residential real estate in the United States; judicial and non-judicial foreclosure. The states individually decide which foreclosure process will be followed in their state.
Click Here To Download An Overview Of The Foreclosure Process
Judicial foreclosure requires action by the courts because the mortgage is not written including a "power of sale clause". Judicial foreclosure proceedings generally take longer than non-judicial processes due to this court involvement.
A log-jam of delayed judicial foreclosures are beginning to … (0 comments)

david kosmecki: What Women Want In Homes This Mother's Day - 05/09/13 09:14 AM
Whether you're looking to buy a new house this month or do a little remodeling, take advantage of the opportunity to give the mom in your life a present she'll appreciate every day.
Below are a few ideas for housing priorities and renovation projects that typically rate high on women's wish lists for their homes.
Open Living Areas:
The open floor plan is usually a big plus for any mother. They want to be able to cook dinner in the kitchen while monitoring their children's schoolwork at the dining table.
So look for a house that affords this visual luxury or … (1 comments)

david kosmecki: Upswing In April 2013 Jobs Report Signals Good News For Real Estate - 05/09/13 09:03 AM
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly Non-farm Payrolls and National Unemployment Rate for April last Friday. These two reports are collectively called the Jobs Report.
165,000 jobs were added in April, while the unemployment rate dropped from 7.60 percent in March to 7.50 percent in April. 673,000 jobs have been added since January. Jobs were added in employment sectors including business and professional, health care and eating and drinking establishments.
The main impact of the jobs report on home sales and mortgage lending is the ability of would-be home buyers to qualify for mortgage loans.
Long term unemployment and … (0 comments)