first time homebuyer: Rent VS Buy in 2019? High Rent Plus Few Houses Creates Dilemma
- 06/03/19 09:35 AM
Living in Minnesota is not as affordable as it once was. Home prices are continually increasing in the Minneapolis/St Paul metro. And to make things more stressful, rent costs in the Twin Cities are among the highest in the nation. Monthly rent costs for one and two bedroom units are nearly $1500 and $2000 respectively. Check out this June 2019 report on rent prices nationwide.
This leads many renters to ask, “Should I Buy instead of Rent?” It is a continuing dilemma facing many would be first time homebuyers. It also creates a lot of discussion and sometimes debate. So … (0 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Are you Stalking a Real Estate Sleeper?
- 01/03/17 07:09 PM
Do you have your eye on the perfect home but have yet to make a move? You know the house I mean...You have had it saved in your favorites for awhile now and it is priced right. In fact, it is a steal of a deal. You check on it almost daily but you are still on the fence about buying a home and so you just continue to "stalk" the listing but don't act. Maybe you are trying to time the market and see if seller of that "sleeper" is going to drop the price again. Well wake up bargain … (3 comments)
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first time homebuyer: When the First Time Buyer is Your First Born it's Back to Basics
- 03/03/16 06:25 AM
Buying a first house is difficult whether you’re in your mid-20’s or mid-30’s or really at any age. Over the years I have assisted people making this first big purchase in every age group from 18 on up. No matter the age, there are things that must be considered to be a successful homeowner. Buying a home should not be on a whim but a thought out plan. I always let a buyer make their own final decision but I do offer helpful advice throughout the home buying process.
My kids have grown up watching my educational sales process. Often I … (30 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Taking the FIRST Step can be Hard!
- 10/08/15 06:22 AM
Taking a first step is hard. No matter what you are attempting: Learning to ride a bike; Learning to swim; Learning to drive a car; Learning a foreign language. Even setting up an extensive vacation can be a challenge with hotel reservations, airline tickets, passports, car rentals etc. A while back, I had a REALTOR® friend ask me how to blog. I gave her quick rundown on how to get going fast, but her response gave me pause. Where can I take a class? Is there a book? Last I heard, she was heading to the library and months later, still … (8 comments)
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first time homebuyer: What is Agency to the Homebuyer? Do I really need a Buyer's Agent?
- 01/15/14 05:13 AM
So you are planning to buy a home soon. Maybe you have even stopped in at an open house or two. If you did, the hosting REALTOR® may have started talking about buyer's agents and seller's agents and possibly even a dual agent. But what does agency really mean? And why should you as a Minnesota homebuyer care? In Minnesota, real estate brokers and salespersons are required to disclose the type of working relationship they have with the parties in a real estate transaction. As a homebuyer, there are different types of relationships available to you. It is important to understand … (1 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Real Estate Word of the Day: Assessed Value
- 10/16/13 07:42 AM
First Time Homebuyer Real Estate Word is Assessed Value
So many real estate terms can be confusing to home buyers and sellers alike whether it is an acronym like FSBO or an often used word like equity or foreclosure. As a REALTOR® I am not surprised when that look of confusion comes over a buyer’s eyes when I mentioned escrow or earnest money. These terms sound so much alike when being bombarded with new terminology like, mortgage, deed, easement, appraisal, and association dues, etc. It is understandable that homebuyers that are more interested in room sizes and kitchen counters to … (0 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Real Estate Word of the Day: Equity
- 09/24/13 05:31 AM
From time to time I will be working with home buyers and be struck by the confusion in their eyes when I talked about escrow or earnest money. These can easily be confused with other real estate and mortgage terms like down payment or cash to close. This confusion is a reminder that simple terms I use everyday as a REALTOR® might be unknown to others. It is totally understandable because most homebuyers do not buy houses everyday.
There are so many terms that could possibly confuse a first time home buyers and repeat home buyers alike, that I thought an online … (4 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Real Estate Word of the Day: Easement
- 06/24/13 01:54 AM
I was talking to an old friend recently who mentioned new company had moved into Minneapolis/St. Paul area named FICO. I was taken aback by the confusion because most people living in the Twin Cities north metro are aware the business analytics company, Fair Isaac Corporation, has been located in Shoreview for decades. So the "new" company was just Fair Issac being renamed as it's acronym, FICO. But it was eyeopening that few outside the real estate and mortgage industry may have made this connection. Once again, I was a bit surprised that such a simple term I use everyday … (0 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Real Estate Word of the Day: Deeded Access
- 06/20/13 11:10 AM
A typical person will buyer only buys a home once every five to eight years. Many will only buy one or two properties in a lifetime. First time buyers and repeat home buyer alike can forget some of the simple terms used in real estate on a daily basis. For some it can be hard to remember whether the earnest money or money escrowed becomes part of the down payment or not. Often buyers are easily confused by similar sounding terms like easement and encroachment as they both deal with property lines and usage but what do they really mean?
Whether you … (2 comments)
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first time homebuyer: RETHINK the Bridal Registry! RE-Direct Funds to a First Home Instead!
- 04/07/13 10:53 AM
When I was married we didn't have a fun barcode readers to capture and share our favorite towels, toasters and china patterns but they seem to make life simple for today's bride and groom. But wouldn't it be awesome to point that thing beyond the department store wares and head out to the nearest neighborhood of cozy bungalows and tag something that a the happy couple also needs, their first home? Imagine engaged couples browsing the internet listings on realtor.com or dropping by an open house and using a scanner to click the QR-type code on their favorite new home so … (7 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Going, Going, Gone! Starter Homes Sell Quick!
- 09/17/12 07:41 AM
It seems a bit unbelievable to some homebuyers. After a few years of hearing about a real estate market where buyers were in the driver’s seat now buyers are hearing, "Sorry, that home is SOLD!" That is the very market we are now in folks! There are still homes being listed every day. But with these phenomenally low interest rates (Did you ever think a 15 year mortgage would be UNDER 3%?!), there are many more homebuyers off of the fence and in the market. If you are a first time homebuyer and looking for a home in the $100K-150K range, … (4 comments)
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first time homebuyer: SF Looking for Townhome in Blaine
- 08/17/12 11:07 AM
This is not a personal ad cut from a 1980's classified ad section. However it does signify a trend. as more single females are looking to buy homes than ever before. So if you are a single gal (or guy), what's stopping you from buying your first home?
Going solo on a home purchase for women is a trend in today’s real estate market. It’s not surprising to me. As a REALTOR® with over a decade of experience in the north and east Twin Cities metro, I know several self assured women who have leaped off of the home-buying fence and … (4 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Out of the Box Bridal Registry Thinking! Newlyweds Want Dream Home!
- 04/18/12 06:24 AM
Why can't a bride and groom take that little bar code scanner from Target or Macy's and scan a photo of a new home instead? I know couples need the department store stuff like blenders, coffee makers and blankets but they often want and need a first home too! What if brides and grooms could browse the internet listings on any real estate website or drop by a neighborhood open house and use a special "dream home scanner" to click on a favorite home. Then they could receive the keys to their dream home just in time to be carried over … (16 comments)
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first time homebuyer: First Time Homebuyer’s Real Estate Word for Today is Truth-In-Housing
- 03/04/12 04:19 AM
First Time Homebuyer Word Truth in Housing In a past episode of Cash Cab, an Emmy award winning television game show, a taxi full of contestants with stumped by the acronym, FSBO. As a REALTOR® in the Minneapolis/St. Paul north and east metro, I was a bit surprised “For Sale By Owner” eluded them. That is until I remembered the times a glazed look came over my buyer’s eyes when I mentioned escrow and earnest money. These real estate terms are easily be confused with other real estate financial terms like down payment or cash to close. It became apparent … (2 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Real Estate Resolutions for Minnesota Home Buyers and Sellers in 2012
- 12/31/11 03:45 PM
As 2011 comes to a close, I noticed a change in the real estate market across the north and east Minneapolis/St Paul metro area. Home sellers were seeing a more active market during the last quarter and many received purchase agreements. Home buyers who for several years had the luxury of the upper hand in negotiations, suddenly found they were in multiple offer situations when they submitted a contract for a seller's consideration. While there still is a good range of inventory in the higher priced categories, first time buyers had less options than a year or two ago. Yet a … (3 comments)
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first time homebuyer: The Joy of Being a REALTOR®~ Helping First Time Buyers Find Their Dream Home
- 12/08/11 04:07 AM
Late on a Saturday afternoon, I received a phone call. The caller said he and his fiance had just driven by a Forest Lake listing of mine and want to know if I could them the inside. "Are you working with an agent?" I inquired. "No", he said. So we arranged for a showing of the Washington County home the next evening.The young man and his fiancée arrived with an entourage of parents and assorted other relatives. Being first time buyers, they wanted assistance and approval from people they trusted when they made a final decision on their first home. Looking … (13 comments)
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first time homebuyer: XXXXX Olinda Trail, Lindstrom MN, 55045
- 02/08/11 04:16 AM
Welcome to Olinda Trail, Lindstrom MN!
This home is no longer for sale
Move in Perfect home One level home in the lakeshore rich community of Lindstrom!--Great location! Walk to Chisago Lakes High School, lakes, shopping and more!
Attractively updated and ready for your family!
2BR+Den on one level. Den is large enough to be used as a 3rd bedroom but is non-conforming. Brand new roof! Newer Windows! Huge Kitchen! As you step over the threshold, you will realize there is much more here than you'd expect! Two family rooms--One on the main floor! And additional unfinished areas in lower … (9 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Time to Rethink the Bridal Registry! Couples Today Want a First HOME!
- 05/17/10 05:23 AM
Wouldn’t it be great to take one of those little barcode readers beyond the department store towels, toasters and flat screens and head out to the nearest neighborhood of cozy bungalows and tag something that a new bride and groom really need, their first home? Imagine browsing the internet listings on realtor.com or dropping by a Sunday Open House and using that scanner to click on your favorite new home so you could receive the front door key just in time to be carried over the threshold. Only in a perfect world, right?
I know it is a crazy … (14 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Frugal Resolutions! Save Your Way to a New Home in 2010!
- 01/05/10 11:45 AM
As we celebrate the beginning of 2010 many are asking, "How will I ever be able to afford a new home, new car or vacation?" I was taught by my grandmother, if you take care of the pennies, they will become dollars. The New Year is a perfect time to assess spending habits and make a few frugal resolutions. Here are few ideas of where waste could be occurring in everyday spending. By making a few small changes now, you could build a big down payment by 2011!
Brownbag It! The average American spends an average of $6 when they go … (60 comments)
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first time homebuyer: Could it be the WINTER to Move Up to a Bigger House? YES!!
- 11/20/09 12:49 AM
So, your family has lived and loved your cute and cozy 1960’s rambler for a few years now. It was perfect for a young, just married couple when you bought it. The bedrooms were on the small side but there was room to grow and it worked perfectly when there were just two of you. Then came the puppy who grew into a huge licking Labrador. And later one baby, then two. Now suddenly 1500 square feet is overrun with chew toys, Little Tikes and Duplos. That cozy little starter home is now cramping your lifestyle. But with the flux in … (12 comments)
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