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As we quietly close the door on 2011, most of us in the real estate industry will agree that the biggest development of the year was... (drum roll, please)
Hmmmmm.... well, maybe we can't pinpoint one specific thing. So how about a few notes:
Our "new normal" of lower prices and low interest rates continued, with a few bumps. As a nation, we suffered natural disasters, ...
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A good real estate agent knows the neighborhoods in which she serves. She knows where the schools are, where there are parks, what retail is available, and many other things that a prospective homeowner should consider when buying a new home.
Minnetonka Mills is an area I know very well, but I only recently learned some details about the history of the area. From the Minnetonka Historical ...
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From time to time, a client or friend will tell me that they rely on Zillow to get an accurate estimation of their home's worth. My response is always the same, that Zillow Zestimates can be interesting, but they are based solely on public numerical data, with no consideration whatsoever as to the condition or style of the home.
So when I saw this commentary on Zillow itself, written ...
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It's always been a challenge for buyers and sellers to agree on a fair price for a home. Today, there is a third party who has more impact over peoples' lives than most understand: The Appraiser.
Appraisers have one of the toughest jobs today. Using data about homes on the market and homes that have sold, appraisers look at everything from square footage to location, to style and ...
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When the federal government first came out with the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) Act, many of us in real estate cheered! Finally, some clear rules and guidelines to make this process more simple and less painful for all involved!
Months and months later, it's turning out to be less than we'd hoped, even with the incentives to banks that are included in ...
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Holiday Events in Plymouth and Selling your Home during the Holidays
There are great holiday events to experience right here in Plymouth! Catch my blogs during the next six weeks for some holiday entertainment and fun. Join the Wayzata High School Theatre Department in their presentation of Jerry Herman’s masterpiece HELLO DOLLY! , as its fall musical. The music is lively, ...
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Is it a good time to buy? I wanted to share some information that I recently came across from the publication Real Estate Insights. The following article was written by Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist, and I think you will find it interesting! If you have any questions about the home buying journey, please don’t hesitate to give me a call at (763)694-1059 and have a ...
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The time is right to buy a home – NOW! Mortgage rates haven’t been this low in about 60 years! Housing affordability, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors is at an all time high. The availability of low cost homes combined with low interest rates has created an extraordinary buying opportunity.
If you are interested in the Minnetonka area, call ...
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I have lived in and sold homes in the Minnetonka Mills neighborhood for nearly ten years, and this neighborhood just can’t be beat. It’s convenient to 494, Minnetonka Blvd, and Hwy 7, an easy commute to just about anywhere. The Hopkins school district is always rated very highly, too. One of my favorite things about the area is the gorgeous bike trail system, which can take ...
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In recent months, many first time homebuyers have utilized FHA financing to purchase their homes. It makes sense; since so many don't have thousands of dollars in their back pocket, FHA offers a solution at a reasonable interest rate, with a mortgage insurance premium attached. The biggest advantage, though, is that the minimum down payment is just 3.5%. (Conventional financing requires ...