Real Estate Blog 
Thanksgiving Day Activities
Tuesday, November 6th, 2012 at 12:33am. 6721 Views, 0 Comments.
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season. That day and those following are always filled with events to check out around the Twin Cities. While Thanksgiving is usually about family, food and football, the day can feature less traditional activities. Most are closed on Thanksgiving, but the Twin Cities offers plenty to do on the busy day.
The Depot in Minneapolis has a gorgeous ice skating rink that will host guests on Turkey Day. The rink opens November 23rd if you can't wait that long.
The Mall of America hosts a 5k Walk to End Hunger Thursday morning, before any lavish turkey dinner. The annual Life Time Fitness Turkey Day 5k kicks off from downtown Minneapolis in the morning as well. So, you can't do both, you'd have to…
Eden Prairie Ranked Third Best Place to Live in the United States
Thursday, November 1st, 2012 at 12:42am. 1331 Views, 0 Comments.
Each year CNN Money compiles a list of the Top 100 places to live in the U.S. In 2012, Eden Prairie, MN ranked third on the prestigious list. The city is no stranger to the Top 100, having ranked number one overall back in 2010. Suffice to say, the city is a great place to live.
The list is generated by a number of factors including, but not limited to, median household income, average home prices, job opportunities, number of restaurants, number of parks and facilities, the quality of schools, and even average Summer/Winter temperature. Considering all those factors, Eden Prairie, along with many other Minnesota cities like Chanhassen, Savage, and Owatonna, have been ranking high on this list yearly.
To check out properties in the area, check…
Twin Cities Housing Market Heats UP!
Tuesday, October 30th, 2012 at 11:00am. 604 Views, 0 Comments.
The Homes of Minnesota Team is happy to report that the Twin Cities real estate market is still trending UP! But don’t just take our word for it; let’s look at the facts that point toward good things ahead.
Like stocks and bonds, the price for local housing is directly correlated to its supply and demand. For the past six years we have watched as the supply of housing, meaning the number of houses for sale, increased week over week and month over month. The ballooning supply of homes, coupled with increased unemployment and lower consumer confidence, created a lower than normal demand for homes. This is why we experienced consistent drops in median and average sale prices. This trend continued for over five years as the median price for…
Thinking about buying your first home? The first steps for first time home buyers to get started.
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 at 3:30pm. 2938 Views, 3 Comments.
Buying your very first home can be exciting and rewarding. It is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make and a big milestone in most people's lifetime. So it is important to feel educated and ready to purchase a home before making the plunge in becoming a homeowner.
A common inquiry I get when working with first time home buyers is, "What is my first step I need to take on my journey to purchasing my first home?" Some may think the first step is to schedule showing appointments for some houses they found interesting online and get started in finding a home they like and dream of owning.
But, in fact, there are several crucial first steps to take when beginning your home search that HGTV's "House Hunters" completely skips over and is not…
Otsego- A Growing River City for Young Families
Friday, November 4th, 2011 at 4:53pm. 13794 Views, 0 Comments.
Otsego is a former agricultural city that has grown into a thriving area for young families in mind just 25 miles northwest of Minneapolis. It is uniquely situated along the Mississppi River bordering the north and east banks of the river. It's easy acess to I-94 and State Highway 10 allows for a quick commute to both Minneapolis and St. Cloud. Otsego conveys a country atmosphere while still having the benefits of a suburban lifestyle.
Otsego is a young city as it was only incorporated from a township to a city just a short 21 years ago in 1990. When Otsego officially became a city back in 1990, the population was 5,218 and there were 1,558 households within the community. The recent 2010 U.S. Census has reflected significant growth since 1990 with a…
City of Delano a Great Place to Call Home
Thursday, November 18th, 2010 at 5:58pm. 8633 Views, 1 Comments.
When purchasing a home, not only do you look for a home that fits your needs and wants, but you're also looking for a neighborhood and community you can enjoy and sustain a great quality of life. The residents in Delano feel they have found just that in a recent 2010 survey conducted by Delano city officials.
In fact, in the recent 2010 survey, 66% of residents feel the "quality of life" in Delano is good and another 25% feel it is excellent. When surveyed what residents "perception of community" is for Delano, 85% call it home while only 9% call it just a place to live. And 77% feel the city is "heading in the right direction" with their award winning school district, park systems, and steady growth. Another positive to living in Delano is that 54%…
Forbes Ranks Minneapolis/ St. Paul #1 as America's "Most Relaxed City"
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 at 2:51pm. 15248 Views, 1 Comments.
Feeling stressed all the time? It may be because you are living in the wrong city. Cities with high unemployment, snarling traffic, and long working hours can have a major impact on your physical health and well being. Stressful environments can take its toll on your health causing everything from headaches, back pain, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
So where can you escape from stress and live in a more relaxed environment? A recent Forbes study suggests the Minneapolis/ St. Paul metro area. This metro area of roughly 3.2 Million people boasts lower unemployment at 7% compared to the current national unemployment average of 9.6%. Less than 5% of commuters spend their morning in traffic and 84% of the population reported recent exercise- the…
Zero Down Payment option for Minneapolis and St Paul First Time Home Buyers
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 at 6:47pm. 49515 Views, 0 Comments.
Affordable Advantage - Zero Down Payment Loan
Can’t Save the 3.5% for an FHA Loan? Can You Save ZERO?
It’s back and in style, the true Minneapolis and St Paul MN zero down payment program. For a few years now, the most minimum down payment you can do is 3.5% with FHA. And FHA has had its fair share of hurdles, from appraisal issues to a pretty major upfront mortgage insurance premium that you finance over the term of your loan. I am not bashing FHA. It’s a great program. I am here to say that there just may be a better one now!
Thanks to MN Housing putting their collective brains together with US Bank, we have Affordable Advantage ! CONVENTIONAL alternative to FHA and one that will benefit you way more! It is true; minimum down is available on…
Do you have RADON in your home?? Get it Tested!
Monday, June 7th, 2010 at 1:28pm. 6184 Views, 1 Comments.
We have all heard in the news of high levels of radon being found in homes. As a real estate agent, I strongly encourage my buyers to not only get a home inspection, but to also have their potential future home tested for radon. So you may ask, WHAT IS RADON? Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically surfaces up through the soil to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside and can over time build up inside your home. According to the EPA, radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancers a year. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking!
I recently had my own…
Carolyn Capablo Is Reclaiming Her Name
Sunday, June 6th, 2010 at 6:03pm. 6226 Views, 0 Comments.
For real estate agents, their name is the basis of their reputation. It is how the community recognizes their business. Often, their name is the centerpiece to their brand. A REALTOR's success can actually be determined by whether or not potential clients know their name. When something tarnishes that name, it can have a serious impact on that agent’s reputation. When it happens to an agent through no fault of their own, it’s downright heartbreaking.
Usually a REALTOR’s dream, North Virginia real estate professional Carolyn Capalbo's phone has been ringing like crazy. Unfortunately, the reality is that Carolyn Capalbo is living a nightmare for two years. Her identity has been mistaken for a different Carolyn Capalbo, whose name has been associated with a…
Thanksgiving Day Activities
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season. That day and those following are always filled with events to c... Add Comment Read MoreEden Prairie Ranked Third Best Place to Live in the United States
Each year CNN Money compiles a list of the Top 100 places to live in the U.S. In 2012, Eden Prairie, MN ranked third on... 3Comments Read MoreTwin Cities Housing Market Heats UP!
The Homes of Minnesota Team is happy to report that the Twin Cities real estate market is still trending UP! But don’t... Add Comment Read MoreWe're always on the lookout for talented real estate agents to join our growing team.
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