stieg strand: Buying a home with no money down - Myth or Fact?
- 04/29/19 01:36 PM
According to NeighborWorks, 70% of American adults are unaware that they may be eligible to receive down payment assistance when buying a home. Often when you hear about programs like this, it is easy to say "its too good to be true".
While that is a good philosophy for many things in life, in this circumstance it may be worth spending a little time to research down payment assistance programs...To be fair, not everyone will qualify but if you can at least get some free information to see if a program is available to you, that could be a big help in achieving … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Fresh Design Ideas for Staging Your Home!
- 04/26/19 02:54 PM
Getting your home ready to go on the market sometimes can feel overwhelming. Many sellers however, stop too soon and are tired or don't feel the need to get their home professionally staged - this can be a BIG MISTAKE!
According to the National Association of Realtors 2019 Home Staging Report, homes that are staged can increase the dollar value of the sale by as much as 6-10%! The median dollar amount spent on staging was $400...talk about a return on investment!
Given the importance of home staging, I am very excited to share my experience working with Ashley Lubs of Halo Home … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: "Swing into Spring" at Eden Prairie Golf Courses!
- 04/25/19 01:42 PM
Golf season has finally arrived in Minnesota!
Eden Prairie has 3 (member only) golf courses that are meticulously kept and enjoyable to play.
1. Bent Creek Golf Club - deigned by Don Herfort, 18 holes and 6,500+ yards from blue tees.
2. Olympic Hills Golf Club - founded in 1969, renovated in 2015 by renowned architect Ron Pritchard, it has become one of the top golf courses in Minnesota.
3. Bearpath Golf and Country Club - designed by Jack Nicklaus, this course is one of the premier courses in the Twin Cities and has an excellent country club community as well.
See Eden Prairie Golf Course … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Take the "Perfect Plunge" in your Minnetonka Pool home!
- 04/25/19 01:25 PM
Minnetonka is a highly desired community and economic hub on the west side of the Twin Cities. Minnetonka is home to two of the biggest employers in the United States - Cargill (privately owned) and United Health Group (publicly-owned).
The Minnetonka School District has been ranked as the best school district in Minnesota, and the city has 80+ miles of running, biking and walking trails. After a day at the office or a bike ride on a muggy Minnesota summer day, come home and "dive in" to your backyard pool!
Below are are a few tips and things to be aware of as you … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Enjoy a "Summer Splash" in your Chanhassen Pool home!
- 04/25/19 01:25 PM
Chanhassen has been voted as one of the best places to live in America, has fantastic parks, trails and features the gorgeous Arboretum. Other notable destinations in Chanhassen include Paisley Park and the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. After a busy summer day exploring in Chanhassen, come back home to your backyard oasis and cool off in the pool!
Below are are a few tips and things to be aware of as you consider buying a home with a pool:
1. How much maintenance is required? On average, about one hour of time and approx $100 per month (to cover unexpected repairs, parts, accessories and … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Backyard Pool "Fun Zones" in Eden Prairie!
- 04/25/19 12:24 PM
Eden Prairie has ranked as the #1 Best Place to Live in America by Money Magazine, has great schools, and is a vibrant family-friendly community. Enjoy hundreds of miles of trails, parks, open spaces and room to recreate...and for those hot summer days in Minnesota, spend some time splashing in your backyard pool!
Below are are a few tips and things to be aware of as you consider buying a home with a pool:
1. How much maintenance is required? On average, about one hour of time and approx $100 per month (to cover unexpected repairs, parts, accessories and pool chemicals. (Ususally around $500 … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Chanhassen Real Estate - Spring/Summer 2019 Outlook
- 04/19/19 12:56 PM
Chanhassen is STILL one of the Top 5 Places to Live (as ranked by Money Magazine) and home values reflect that. Chanhassen homes values have seen historic appreciation over the last few years with a 13.5% increase in median home prices since 2016.
Homes on the market in Chanhassen are currently receiving 99.0% of list price, indicating strong offers from buyers. Chanhassen home sale price are up an incredible 18.5% on average since January!
MORE STRONG TRENDS: We have seen an increase of 32.5% in pending sales since January and trending upwards, which is likely due to the increased foot traffic and buyers eager to get out and see homes to buy.
Given the numbers we are seeing, with the … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Eden Prairie Real Estate - Spring/Summer 2019 Outlook
- 04/19/19 12:55 PM
Eden Prairie continues to be a premier residential community and home values reflect that. Eden Prairie homes values have seen historic appreciation over the last few years with a 13% average increase in home prices since 2016.
Homes on the market in Eden Prairie on average are currently receiving 98.5% of list price, indicating strong offers from buyers. We are also seeing Eden Prairie overall home prices are up 16% on average since just January.
MORE STRONG TRENDS: We have seen an increase of 58% in pending sales since January and trending upwards, which is likely due to the increased foot traffic and buyers eager to get out … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Family Fun and Kids Activities in Chanhassen!
- 04/05/19 07:35 AM
The City of Chanhassen is a great community about 30 minutes southwest of downtown Minneapolis, and was ranked as the #4 Best Place to Live by CNN Money Magazine. It is a fun, family-friendly city and has activities throughout the year to enjoy with your kids!
Visit some of these family favorite spots in Chanhassen:
1. Summer Beach Favorites - Lake Ann Park and for a smaller, tucked away neighborhood beach check out Carver Beach on Lotus Lake.
2. Take the family for a trip to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum! This is also a great place to showcase Minnesota to family and friends who come to … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Will the real estate market "bubble" burst again?
- 04/02/19 09:49 AM
Last week, realtor.com released a survey of active home shoppers (those who plan to purchase their next home in 1 year or less). The survey asked their opinion on an impending recession and its possible impact on the housing market.
Two major takeaways from the survey:
42% believe a recession will occur this year or next (another 16% said 2021) 59% believe the housing market would fare the same or worse than it did in 2008 Why all the talk about a recession recently?Over the last year, four separate … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Living in Dog-Friendly Shorewood, MN!
- 03/28/19 08:22 AM
Shorewood, MN is an outdoor oriented community - and is very dog friendly! There is endless exploring at parks, trails and beaches in Shorewood and in nearby towns that will have your furry companions enjoying time spent with you. Here are 3 great places to spend time with your dogs in Shorewood:
1) Freeman Park - the largest park in Shorewood (just over 50 acres) has plenty of open space and trails, making this a great destination...plus it connects to the Lake Minnetonka LRT!
2) Crescent Beach - this quaint (hard to find, but worth it) beach sits in the heart of Shorewood/Tonka … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Buyers or Sellers Real Estate Market? Eden Prairie Spring 2019
- 03/26/19 12:16 PM
What is the state of the current real estate market in Eden Prairie?
Click on the report, it is LIVE direct from the MLS to give you the most current information available on how many days does the median listing stay on the market before it is sold, it is live, and goes back three years for context to see market trends.
"Live" Eden Prairie Real Estate Report
Why Live in "EP", Well....Eden Prairie is a great place to live for a number of reasons! More than 1,000 acres of developed parkland, 120 miles of bike trails, and 13 miles of nature trails.... Eden Prairie offers a wonderful environment for anyone who … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: All Family Fun! "March Madness" 5 things to do in the Minnetonka area!
- 03/10/19 11:07 AM
Spring in Minnesota means warmer weather, more outdoor activities and the start of new growth! Here are a 5 family friendly activites in and around Minnetonka during March:
1. Maple Syruping - have you ever been maple syruping? March is one of the best months in Minnesota to learn about and make your very own maple syrup. See what nature centers in the Twin Cities are offering learning experiences to do Maple Syruping!
2. Get the whole family outside for the Luck of the LAKE fun run!
3. Explore a real-life working farm at Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista...see farm animal babies, learn about life on a working farm and more!
4. … (2 comments)
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stieg strand: 5 Family Friendly Activities around Eden Prairie!
- 03/01/19 08:31 AM
Spring in Minnesota means warmer weather, more outdoor activities and the start of new growth! Here are a 5 family friendly activites in and around Eden Prairie during the spring:
1. Maple Syruping - have you ever been maple syruping? March is one of the best months in Minnesota to learn about and make your very own maple syrup. See what nature centers in the Twin Cities are offering learning experiences to do Maple Syruping!
2. Get the whole family outside for the Luck o' the Lake 5K fun run in Excelsior!
3. Explore a real-life working farm at Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista...see farm … (1 comments)
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stieg strand: Hanging out with Guy Fieri on DDD at 50th and France in Edina!
- 02/12/19 02:55 PM
Edina, Minnesota is a hub for shopping, activites and convenience in the Twin Cities. Spend a day exploring designer stores at The Galleria, or head to boutique shopping at 50th & France. Stop for lunch nearby at Red Wagon Pizza, a fast-casual restaurant featured on Diners, Drive-in's and Dives on Food Network with Guy Fieri or swing down to the Cheesecake Factory for a tasty dessert! If you want to add in a mid-day activity, consider heading to Centennial Lakes off France Avenue. Summer activites include mini-golf and paddle boats and in winter enjoy ice-skating and hot chocolate. Whether summer, winter, rain … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Minnetonka is Top 100 Best Places to Live
- 02/12/19 01:08 PM
Minnetonka, Minnesota is a beautiful suburb west of downtown Minneapolis and is one of the most desirable places to live in the Twin Cities. Enjoy convenient shopping at the Ridgedale Mall, or exploring the Minnetonka General Store. With top ranked schools, great parks and recreation, and large corporations including Fortune 500 employers, no wonder Money Magazine listed Minnetonka as one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live!
See homes currently for sale in Minnetonka
… (1 comments)
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stieg strand: Family Fun and Kids Activities in Excelsior
- 02/01/19 02:27 PM
The City of Excelsior is nestled along the shores of Lake Minnetonka, about 20 minutes west of downtown Minneapolis. It is a fun, family-friendly community and has activities throughout the year to enjoy with your kids! Spend a summer afternoon at The Commons Park and stop in for ice cream at Licks Unlimited or spend the 4th of July enjoying the kids parade, sandsculpture contest and fireworks over Lake Minnetonka. In September each year, stop by to participate in the annual Excelsior Apple Day, filled with live music, street dancing, food and art. At Christmas, watch the city come alive for … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: 4 Reasons to Live in Bloomington (Near the Mall of America)
- 02/01/19 01:51 PM
As one of the biggest attractions in Minnesota, the Mall of America is a great place to live near, especially during the cold winters. It is also a great place to bring guests who come to visit you!
4 Reasons to live near the Mall of America:
1. You have a 1.2 million-gallon aquarium right in your backyard with sharks, stingrays and giant sea turtles.
2. Endless shopping - the Mall of America is the largest retail shopping mall in the US and has over 520 stores and 50+ restaurants!
3. Afternoons of fun and adventure riding roller coasters at Nickelodeon Universe.
4. The pro-atheletes stay … (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Championship Golfing at Hazeltine National and Curling in Chaska
- 02/01/19 08:11 AM
Chaska is a highly desirable community and has commanded national attention as Hazeltine Golf Course has been selected as the hosts of the 2028 Ryder Cup and the Chaska Curling Center has become a national training center for Team USA curlers.
With great schools and a vibrant community, Chaska real estate is a must see!
Search for Homes for Sale in Chaska
… (0 comments)
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stieg strand: Chanhassen is a very Dog-Friendly Community!
- 02/01/19 07:30 AM
Chanhassen, Minnesota is a fantastic dog-friendly community and a great place to spend quality time with your pets! Take advantage of the trails at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum or the off-leash trails at the Lake Minnewashta Dog Park, which was also highlighted by Mpls St Paul Magazine. In the fall, be sure to participate with your pup in the “Fall About Dogs” 5K dog-friendly race!
See homes currently for sale in Chanhassen
See homes currently for sale in Chanhassen
… (0 comments)
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According to NeighborWorks, 70% of American adults are unaware that they may be eligible to receive down payment assistance when buying a home. Often when you hear about programs like this, it is easy to say "its too good to be true". 
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