market conditions: St Cloud Civic Center home of The Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame - another reason to love St Cloud MN - 07/03/10 05:22 PM
"If you build it, they will come!" The St Cloud Civic Center is already a destination for events large and small in the heart of downtown St Cloud MN. Nestled against the west bank of the Mississippi River between the new Highway 23 bridge and the Veterans Bridge (St. Germain) the Civic Center connects to the Kelly Inn and the Downtown Radisson and is walking distance to much of St Cloud's nightlife (entertainment venues).
Trade shows, conventions, training seminars, weddings, concerts and graduations all have come to the Civic Center. But few people know this facility also houses the Minnesota Ametuer … (1 comments)

market conditions: Website lead - million dollar cash buyer? Not really - NEW SCAM WARNING - 06/08/10 03:47 PM
I went into the back office section of my real estate website for St Cloud MNand found that the new buyer lead was from a person named Mr Hu Sang the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) CMEC LTD who would be relocating to Minnesota and was looking for a reliable real estate agent, found our firm and wanted to work with me to purchase his retirement home. The description of the home was very simple "I need a 2 or 4 bed room home or apartment of $500,000.00 USD - $1,000,000.00 in nice neighborhood in your location. The home will be a … (18 comments)

market conditions: Be a client and Find your perfect new home working with your real estate agent - St Cloud MN area real estate - 05/12/10 10:20 AM
Be a client and Find YOUR perfect new home working with YOUR real estate agent - St Cloud MN area real estate
The real estate business has changed a lot. There are many companies who make a living by gathering potential clients via the internet for real estate agents and then charging the REALTORS® for the potential client list. If you are serious about finding the perfect home for you, I would like to suggest finding a real estate agent, and interviewing them to make sure they are a good fit for you.
Many factors will come into play while working with a REALTOR®.
Do your … (0 comments)

market conditions: Simply, this is an incredible time to be a homebuyer! - 03/17/10 08:37 AM
The Federal Reserve announced Tuesday they are holding the interest rates at record lows. This is being done to promote economic activity in industry and in housing sales. A Buyer today has the greatest set of advantages I have seen in over 25 years in the business. Historically low interest rates, home prices at bottom, and the federal tax credit make up an unbeatable mix of advantages for a buyer. But act quickly! The tax credit is only available through April, and interest rates will go up, with an increase of 1% raising the monthly payment by about 16%. Buy now … (0 comments)

market conditions: UPDATE to scam warning - 09/18/09 05:08 AM
I had posted a warning about a scam being played out in the Minnesota housing market aimed at renters on Aug 24 2009. http://www.stcloudareahomesforsale.com/blogs/elizabeth__steve_baklaich/archive/2009/08/24/st-cloud-area-real-estate-update-this-is-a-warning.aspx 
There has been an update to this story via a youtube video from the Minnesota Association of REALTORS®.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwXID7BFwfY
Hope you find this information helpful and as always if you are planning on buying or selling a home in the central Minnesota area I am here to help.
Steve Baklaich ReMax Realty Source www.stcloudareahomesforsale.com Cell:320 260-3290
… (0 comments)

market conditions: Investment Property Heaven in Minnesota! - 02/11/09 12:53 PM
Real Estate investor buyers should be in good shape over the next few years buying apartments in the St. Cloud and Twin Cities Minnesota markets. Tightening of credit and financing for would be homebuyers, and the employment and foreclosure numbers are combining to increase the number of renters in many areas.
 Marcus & Millichaps 2009 National Apartment Report indicates the Minneapolis-St.Paul Minnesota markets diverse employment base and healthy population growth contributed to an improved ranking of 15 (up from 29 in 2008). St. Cloud Minnesota should also be a strong real estate market for multiple residential investment properties because of its strong … (0 comments)

market conditions: Consider all your facts when buying a home in Saint Cloud Minnesota - 01/21/09 05:05 AM
I read an article in the St. Cloud Times Sunday edition (1-18-09), titled "Bad Time To Buy", off the wire from Boston. This article strongly suggested that buying a home now would be a mistake, but fails to weigh all the factors.
There is a great difference between Boston, Ma. and Saint Cloud Minnesota. The prices are lower here, and the market more conservative. In fact, there are vast differences between the best and the worst market areas in this country.
In my 25 years as a licensed Realtor®, I have never seen better conditions to buy a first home. A … (0 comments)

market conditions: $1 homes from The Federal Housing Administration - 11/13/08 04:47 AM
The Federal Housing Administration (part of HUD) is now offering 1 dollar homes after FHA has been unable to sell them for 6 months. Here is a link to the listings:http://www.hud.gov/homes/index.cfm Here is the page for more info on the program:http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/reo/goodn/dhmabout.cfm
Local governments can partner with local nonprofit homeownership organizations or tap into existing local programs to resell the homes to low- and moderate-income residents of the community.
Steve Baklaich of RE/MAX Realty SourceSteve's cell - (320) 260-3290Office - (320) 258-5766steve_baklaich@yahoo.comhttp://www.stcloudareahomesforsale.com
… (0 comments)

market conditions: ATTENTION HOMEBUYERS: $7500 Homebuyer Tax Credit - 09/15/08 03:50 PM
A tax credit of as much as $7,500 can provide opportunity for many homebuyers due to newly enacted legislation.
Homebuyers who close on a home between April 9, 2008 to July 1, 2009 may be eligible. There are a few requirements: 
you must be a buyer who fits the description of a "first time homebuyer" this is defined as as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase in order to qualify for the full $7500 a single person may not earn over $75,000 and for married persons the limit is $150,000 per year The credit works like … (0 comments)

market conditions: 2nd Invitation to Michele Bachmann of Minnesota's 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives to come to St Cloud MN - 05/08/08 10:35 AM
Final reply - Invitation to Michele Bachmann of Minnesota's 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives to come to St Cloud MN - Original invitation sent April 2, 2008
Well we have finally received a reply with the date and the time for the meeting from Michelle Bachmann's staffers (only it actually came from a group of REALTORS® in the twin Cities Metro area) last night only to need to have it clarified today. The meeting is tomorrow. This is the notice that we have been given. I was hoping to have more notice so that carpooling could be figured … (0 comments)

market conditions: That sound you heard was my jaw hitting my keyboard – Reply from Michele Bachmann - 04/04/08 02:11 PM
OK much better now, I received a call from Michele Bachmann's staffer Julie Quist today in response to my invitation to come to St Cloud to discuss the housing situation. They are working on setting up a meeting for May 9, 2008 at the Schwan Center, 1700 105th Ave Ne, Blaine, MN, 55449. The time for the event still has yet to be set but they are currently thinking between 11am and 2pm. I was also informed that there would be someone from the Treasury Department in attendance.
Please mark your calendar, I will update this post and add new posts as … (0 comments)

market conditions: Another factor in the Foreclosure mess - 04/04/08 05:50 AM
On Thursday April 3, 2008 the Star Tribune ran the story City sues firm over mortgages: ‘It's personal' about properties in North Minneapolis. The first link is to the entire article, the second link shows the map of some of the homes affected by this company and their "complex and fraudulent real estate and mortgage fraud scheme".
 
http://www.startribune.com/local/17245204.html
 
http://www.startribune.com/newsgraphics/17246104.html
 
Steve Baklaich
RE/MAX Realty SourceSteve's cell - (320) 260-3290Offfice - (320) 258-5766steve_baklaich@yahoo.comhttp://www.stcloudareahomesforsale.com/
Permission to post links from John Wareham from the Star Tribune.
… (0 comments)

market conditions: St Cloud Mn area market update - Buyers are rushing to Rice MN - 04/04/08 04:52 AM
The city of Rice, MN has had more than its share of foreclosures lately, due almost entirely to the illegal activities of one real estate agent/mortgage broker. Sham sales were made and hopefully the authorities will bring those responsible to justice.
Now for the good news! Yesterday I showed property in Rice. We started out with 7 bank owned houses to view. Of those 7 homes, 3 had multiple offers, and were all but sold.
This is a view of things to come. Investors and first time home buyers are coming to the market to buy now! No one knows what … (2 comments)

market conditions: Invitation to Michele Bachmann of Minnesota's 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives to come to St Cloud MN - 04/03/08 03:48 PM
I would like to invite Michele Bachmann to St Cloud MN to have a sit down with the community and the area REALTORS® about the housing market. I feel that at this time that it is very important for our representatives in Washington to hear from us the citizens about how things are actually affecting individuals who are living with this everyday. I would also ask that there be a large showing from the REALTORS® in the area as we are the people with their feet on the ground in this situation. We are hearing the stories day in and day out.
This … (3 comments)