real estate: What is your home worth - according to an appraiser...
- 08/20/12 06:02 AM
"When it comes to assessing a home's value, real estate agents and homeowners tend to be an optimistic bunch." In the post-bust world, appraisers are a different story. They have to predict a realistic value for your home that the bank can use to extend credit to a borrower -- and that number can make or break your sale or refinance. Appraisers say the following five areas are where homeowners often misjudge the worth of their abode. 1. The outside The appraiser sees: Overgrown bushes and chipped paint. What he does: Slices as much as 3% off the value of an … (0 comments)
real estate: Identity Theft - hits close to home! Helpful link for you!
- 04/09/12 06:40 AM
We have been hearing in the news recently of identity theft and tax returns. This actually just happened to one of my team members. Holli and her husband, Mike, went to have their taxes done at the end of February. He is a Lt. Colonel in the Army and she is my marketing person on the Rochelle Allison Real Estate Team. They own two investment properties in addition to their residence. They used the same tax accountant they have in the past. They were not aware of any identity theft issues since they had just refinanced their personal residence a few … (0 comments)
The Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced Wednesday that the deadline has been pushed out by three months to give consumers more time to file for a case assessment if they believe they suffered financial injury as a result of errors in foreclosure actions in 2009 or 2010. The original deadline was April 30. The independent foreclosure reviews, as mandated and enforced by the federal regulatory agencies, only apply … (1 comments)
real estate: Warren Buffet Housing Prediction...
- 02/10/12 10:02 AM
The Oracle of Omaha has finally made it to the cover of Time magazine. It’s a first, which seems long overdue, considering Warren Buffett’s investment wizardry and, increasingly, his outspoken willingness to talk straight about everything, including the future of the American economy."Once we get back to a million housing starts per year”– the current tally is 685,000 — “I think pundits will be surprised just how fast unemployment will come down in this country,” he says. “There are 4 million people hitting age 22 every year in this country. Sure, you can double up on households for a while, but at some point, … (0 comments)
real estate: Minneapolis Shows "measurable improvement" in Housing Market
- 01/20/12 09:47 AM
The number of housing markets showing measurable improvement nearly doubled in January, with the addition of 40 new metros to the Improving Markets Index put out by First American and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The index tracks housing markets that are showing signs of improving economic health based on three independent datasets – employment growth from the Labor Department, home price appreciation from Freddie Mac, and single-family housing permits from the Census Bureau. The index identifies metropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective troughs in employment, home prices, and housing permits for at least six consecutive months. The following 40 metros … (0 comments)
real estate: Enhanced 'H.A.R.P.' program on the way for home sellers!
- 11/15/11 10:17 AM
The government will release a new mortgage refinance program later this month. This program will enable many homeowners with minimal or negative equity (current loan balance is higher than current value of their home) to lower their monthly mortgage payments. This program is actually an enhanced version of the existing Home Affordable Refinance Program (“H.A.R.P.”). The basic program qualification requirements outlined below: Homeowner’s current mortgage must have been originated prior to June 1, 2009 Homeowner’s current mortgage must have been sold to Fannie Mae (FNMA) or Freddie Mac (FHLMC) by their loan servicer. Customers can verify ownership of their loan online at: www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup or www.freddiemac.com/mymortgage The outstanding … (0 comments)
real estate: What I love about Mac/Groveland - St. Paul, MN
- 11/07/11 09:07 AM
While at the annual retreat board members of the Macalaster Groveland Community Council shared what they loved about living in this community: Some of the favorites things mentioned were: - you can easily bike anywhere, including to downtown Minneapolis to go to work - kids can walk to great community schools - the Halloween Extravaganza on Sargent between Finn and Cretin - long standing connections and neighbors know the history of neighborhoods - can walk everywhere - Widmers Super Market - beautiful walks along the river and other areas - quiet, yet in the middle of the city - the … (0 comments)
real estate: Shred Fest is Back for 2011!
- 06/15/11 08:25 AM
M & I Bank and Shred-it® are offering free shredding services for the 4th consecutive year. Bring in up to two bags/boxes of confidential materials - for example, anthing that references your social security number, bank account information - and watch it be securly shredded. Identity theft occurs in many ways, one of which is by digging through your trash to find documents like receipts and account statements. By shredding these important papers, you will help protect yourself against identity theft. At this free community event, you'll be able to safely destroy confidential documents, learn about identity theft and more. … (2 comments)
real estate: Great Offer For Homeowners!
- 06/03/11 11:48 AM
CITY OF SAINT PAUL / NEIGHBORHOOD ENERGY CONNECTION As a result of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, the City of Saint Paul has a great offer for homeowners, and we need your help in getting the word out. Do you own a home in Saint Paul or know someone who does? Through the Sustainable Saint Paul initiative, the City of Saint Paul is focused on finding creative ways for residents to conserve energy and save money. Our latest effort is the Energy Smart Homes program which provides no-interest loans to Saint Paul homeowners to replace old furnaces or boilers and install … (1 comments)
real estate: Foreclosure overview and buying opportunities
- 04/14/11 07:11 AM
What is Foreclosure? Foreclosure is a process that allows a lender to recover the amount owed on a defaulted loan by selling or taking ownership (repossession) of the property securing the loan. The foreclosure process begins when a borrower/owner defaults on loan payments (usually mortgage payments) and the lender files a public default notice. The foreclosure process can end one of four ways: The borrower/owner pays off the default amount to reinstate the loan during a grace period determined by state laws. This grace period is also known as pre-foreclosure. The borrower/owner sells the property to a third party during pre-foreclosure. … (0 comments)
real estate: Monthly Skinny ~ March 2011
- 03/24/11 10:49 AM
March Skinny Video Where has the Twin Cities real estate market been and where is it heading? This monthly summary provides an overview of current trends and projections for future activity. Narrated by Andy Fazendin (2011 Secretary, Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®), script written by David Arbit, audio recorded by Zach Foty and video produced by Chelsie Lopez. Please view the video below for an update on today's Real Estate Market. Thank You for taking the time to visit my blog today. For additional information and assistance with your real estate questions please contact - Rochelle Allison 651-259-4683 Rochelle@RochelleAllison.com … (0 comments)
real estate: 5 Tax Tips, Tricks and Traps for Homeowners
- 03/10/11 03:58 AM
5 Tax Tips, Tricks and Traps for Homeowners Ask a roomful of homeowners what's so great about owning versus renting, and you'll hear them holler in unison: "the tax deductions!" And it's true – homeowners who itemize their taxes are able to deduct 100% of their mortgage interest and property taxes from their income tax returns. That means that if you're in a 28% tax bracket, Uncle Sam effectively subsidizes about a third of your borrowing costs or more, making your home more affordable or allowing you to buy a larger home than you could have otherwise. Also, big chunks of … (1 comments)
real estate: Monthly Skinny! February 2011!
- 02/23/11 10:01 AM
February Skinny Video Where has the Twin Cities real estate market been and where is it heading? This monthly summary provides an overview of current trends and projections for future activity. Narrated by Brad Fisher (2011 President, Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®), audio recorded by Zach Foty and video produced by Chelsie Lopez Please view the video below for an update on today's Real Estate Market. Thank You for taking the time to visit my blog today. For additional information and assistance with your real estate questions please contact - Rochelle Allison 651-259-4683 Rochelle@RochelleAllison.com … (0 comments)
real estate: How to Analyze a Neighborhood Before You Buy....
- 02/10/11 04:55 AM
By Money Crashers Posted: January 28, 2011 Five years ago, it was easy to tell a good neighborhood from a bad one. All you had to do was conduct a quick check on nearby schools and keep an eye out for hopelessly abandoned properties. If the schools were good and the homes well-kept, the neighborhood, and your future home, were keepers. Today, though, determining whether a neighborhood is good and will hold its value isn't so easy. The suburbs, once the Mecca of homebuyers with kids, now outrank urban city centers in terms of poverty. And that sparkly McMansion on the … (2 comments)
real estate: Think Green for your household for your New Year’s resolution.
- 01/06/11 08:04 AM
Think Green for your household for your New Year’s resolution. There are a few simple steps on getting started with helping out the environment. First ~ Recycle. Most cities right now are adapting a recycling program to help lessen the landfills. There are hundreds of daily item that you can recycle from cardboard, plastic bottles, glass jars and milk jugs to name a few.
Second ~ During the winter season, make sure that insulations, windows and seals of your home is up to standards. Any cracks and openings could increase your energy consumption.
Some Author Information: Rochelle Allison believes there are many qualities and skills that go into being an excellent real estate professional – integrity, in-depth community and market knowledge, marketing savvy, effective negotiation skills and a high-quality professional network, all of which are hallmarks of how she works.
Serious posts about life in Saint Paul and surrounding areas. Posts with questions and issues that buyers, sellers and investors should consider as well recommendations and comments about local restaurants and shopping. We like to eat local, shop local and share our experiences with our readers.
"When it comes to assessing a home's value, real estate agents and homeowners tend to be an optimistic bunch." 
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