Real Estate Blog for the North & East Twin Cities

First Time Homebuyer Statistical Snapshot of Blaine MN Home Sales

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:24:57 -0500

Townhomes, Single Family Homes, Twin Homes, Oh MY! Yes, first time homebuyers in Blaine Minnesota have lots of options in 2012. Whether you want the opportunity of a foreclosure, the security of buying from a traditional sellers or the ability to live in a brand new home, there are many affordable options for the first time homebuyer in Blaine. With price per square foot at $88, first homes in Blaine, MN are incredibly affordable.

The number of new listings decreased considerably in Blaine, Minnesota through 2011 as did the average sales price. Blaine’s lender mediated foreclosure/short sale homes in the lower price points that worked their way through the system continued to affect the average sales price. With this the average price per square foot dropped over 11% from triple digits to $88/sq ft. The lower pricing has brought out the buyers as closed sales are up for Blaine in 2011 over 2010. Listings are moving at relatively the same pace taking just a week longer to sell than in the previous year, up from 125 to 132 days on the market. Blaine sellers did receive a bit less than asking than in 2010 but still over 92% This north metro community has sold through most of its current home inventory and remains an affordable option for first time home buyers. With low levels of inventory in the lower price points, 2011 might be the year for a traditional seller with a starter home to have the opportunity to move up in Blaine, Minnesota.

For additional details on the inventory levels in Blaine, MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Are you a FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER ready to buy a home in Blaine, MN?

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet or FREE Homebuyers Success Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

First Time Homebuyer Statistical Snapshot of Andover MN Home Sales

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:22:17 -0500

First time homebuyers might want to take a close look at buying in Andover in 2012. There are several options from foreclosures to new construction and a good number of homes offered by traditional sellers planning to move up. With price per square foot at $88, first homes in Andover, MN are very affordable.

Closed sales are down a bit in Andover but the big drop in new listings has kept inventory in this northern Minneapolis suburb under control. The average sales price did take a hit with almost a 10% decrease from just under $221,000 to just under $200,000. This means the average price per square foot also took a 10% hit from $98/sq ft in 2010 to $88/sq ft in 2011. Another statistic that crept up a bit in 2011 was days on the market. It took an average of 154 days to sell an Andover home in 2011; up almost 3% from the previous year. It seems that home buyers continue to consider Andover an affordable option in the Twin Cities north metro but are very conscious of pricing.

For additional details on the inventory levels in Andover, MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

AREYOU A FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER IN ANDOVER MN?

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Anoka County Lakeshore and Acreage Foreclosures—Offer NOW or Regret Later!

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:27:13 -0500

A foreclosed home is not the proverbial money-pit! Many bank owned properties --especially Minnesota lakeshore and acreage homes--are priced to sell and do not sit on the market forever! People are snapping up deals all over Anoka County on homes that are in great condition and priced right! Some are bank-owned foreclosures but regular traditional sellers are also pricing their homes properly to sell in this changed real estate market. As a buyer, you have to be ready as the good homes are selling FAST even in the WINTER!

Here are a few north Twin Cities metro homes that I noted that sold in DAYS over the holidays:

East Bethel 1999 built 5BR Rambler on 3.5 acres with an additional garage located on Devils Lake. Sold in 20 days for $236K.
Lino Lakes home 4BR/4BA/5Car garage built in 1995 on 1 acre Renaushau Lake lot. Previously sold for $675K, bank accepted $535K. Sold in 20 days.
Linwood vintage 3BR/2BA lakehome built in 1916 on 4.3 Acres with 220ft shoreline. Bank sold for $170K in 7 days.
Forest Lake/Columbus 1977 built, 2BR/1BA/2 car plus pole barn on 10 acres. Sold AS-IS for $104K sold in 7 days.
Ham Lake 3BR/2BA/3 Car multi-level built in 1995 on 2.5 Acres with in-ground pool. Bank sold for $189K in 13 days.

This economy has builders and responsible homeowners alike to let amazing properties go back to the bank. Many are still in pristine condition. Some may require a bit of cleanup or a few cosmetic changes but there are many in move in condition too.

There are more deals out there too…Here are a few of the treasures I noted on the Twin Cities MLS in Anoka County today:

Executive 3BR/5BA 2 Story in Ham Lake on 10 ACRES with 12 Car garage! 4200+ Finished with all bells & whistles. Sold in 2008 for $1.1 million...Bank Listed for $495K
Lender-owned Linwood 3BR/2BA/2Car for $140,900 on 2 ACRES w/Polebarn…Sold in 2006 for $240K.
3BR/3BA/3Car Brick front Rambler on 1/2 acre in East Bethel on Coon Lake needs rehab but bank asking $234K.
Bankowned 2BR/1BA/2 Car on south side of Coon Lake in Columbus. Tax value at $207K…Bank priced at $124K.

If you are in the market for a great deal on a foreclosed home, get your ducks in a row because homes are being offered at rock bottom prices. Here are a few tips for those considering offering on a foreclosed home.

Banks LOVE clean offers. Buyers MUST be preapproved with credit checked and employment and funds verified. Documentation must accompany the offer or it won’t be considered.
Banks will reject lowball offers…no negotiation. They are a business and know the value of the asset they are selling.
Well priced foreclosed homes get multiple offers. Serious buyers put in their best bid first and quickly.
Banks sell homes AS-IS. What you see is what you get. In most cases repairs will not be made.
In most cases a banks will not pay for inspecting the septic system or well. Those will be the buyer’s responsibility along with all other inspections. If you chose to inspect the septic or the county requires a septic compliance test, expect to pay $400-$500 for this inspection. A well test will run around $150. A whole house inspection is $350-$500.
Personal property is not included as part of the sale. So if the appliances are at the home when you close, they are a bonus. The bank will not remove. But they don’t guarantee will remain at the home or that they are in working order. This means if someone breaks in the home prior to the closing and takes them, the bank will not replace.
Having your own REALTOR® to represent your interests is essential. The listing agent is under contract to represent the bank. In many cases, the bank will not allow a dual agency so if a buyer contacts the listing agent to write the offer, the buyer does not have representation. This means all of your information goes to the bank…the listing agent is required to tell the bank everything that you say about your financing and the amount you are able or willing to pay. But the agent is not required to tell you anything in return. The agent works only for the bank.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in Wyoming, MN Year End 2011

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:53:17 -0500

The number of new listings was up for 2011 in Wyoming, Minnesota which is a bit different than the surrounding areas to this southern Chisago County community. Most surrounding communities saw a drop in new listings in 2011 but Wyoming had almost a 10% increase. This is an area where there are many newer starter and town home developments that were hit hard by the foreclosure crisis. There could be many foreclosures and short sales still working their way out of the system in 2011 in Wyoming. The average sales price of a home dropped again this past year by almost 8% and is coming in just over $156K while the price per square foot is running $83/sq ft. This is one of the lowest average per square footage prices in the northeast metro area. A high point to the year is that homes are selling; over 21% more homes sold in Wyoming, Minnesota compared to last year. Sellers appear to be getting just over 92% of their asking price which is in line with several other north east metro communities. It is taking a bit longer to sell a Wyoming home this year as the average days on the market went from 131 in 2010 to 142 in 2011. If you are considering buying a Wyoming home in 2012, this might be a good time look as their still might be a bit more inventory than in other areas to the south.

For additional details on the inventory levels in White Bear Township MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in White Bear Township, MN Year End 2011

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:22:12 -0500

The real estate market in White Bear Township held relatively steady during 2011 compared to 2010. Closed sales were up in White Bear Township, Minnesota in 2009 2011 by almost 13% and there were only a few more homes listed than in the previous year. This northern Ramsey County township saw a drop in days on the market for the second straight year down to 137 DOM. The average home price dropped for the third consecutive year, down another 6 % in 2011 after a 9% drop in 2010 and 15% drop during 2009. However, with the cost per square foot at $100, the White Bear Township market is faring better than other communities in the north and east Twin Cities metro area. The average sales price for a home in White Bear Township is now just under $190,000 and remains an affordable area that is moving toward stabilization.

For additional details on the inventory levels in White Bear Township MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Wordless Wednesday (Almost)--Welcome to Minnesota!

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:11:17 -0500

It's February 1st in Minnesota! So maybe you were expecting photo covered in snow and ice. Well, this winter has been so extremely mild, I figured I'd share a summer photo from the Train/Maroon 5 concert that was held in September at the Minnesota State Fair. Maybe I should be embracing the Winter Carnival events of this week rather than a summer event...but the ice sculptures have melted.

Anyone considering a relocation to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area but are afraid of Minnesota winters can rest assured that we often have some nice warm above freezing days in the dead of winter. Okay...full disclosure here...our temps for the week have been in the mid 30's to mid 40's ABOVE zero. That is not sleeveless weather but warm enough to keep the wool in the closet for a few days!

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in Oakdale, MN Year End 2011

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:07:26 -0500

Closed sales held steady in Oakdale in 2011 but the amount of new homes listed dropped by a staggering 23%. The average closed sales price was down 13% and the average price per square footage at $83/sq ft, is one of the lowest in the north and east suburban area. This is another area where there were an abundance of lender mediated and foreclosures. The market reflects these properties working their way out of this central Washington County suburb just east of St. Paul. Market time is pretty stable taking 128 days to sell on average over 127 in 2010. This is not all bad news as with new listings way down and sales continuing at a steady pace, prices could begin to stabilize in 2012 as the market becomes more balanced between buyers and sellers. Buyers looking to take advantage of the lower prices and great affordability of Oakdale homes will need to make decisions quickly as the supply of listings could be limited especially in the lower level price ranges.

For additional details on the inventory levels in Oakdale MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in North St Paul, MN Year End 2011

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:33:42 -0500

Any city that can boast having the world’s largest snowman smiling down on commuters as they travel along Highway 36 has to have some appeal, right? In 2011, North St Paul, a quaint community located east of Minneapolis/St Paul metro, saw closed sales drop rise over 25%. New Listings are down by over 12% but not enough to push inventory levels too high. The average sales price did take a tumble to $129,117 and likewise the price per square footage dropped to $80 but this is to be expected as the area works through all the lender mediated and foreclosed homes. The average sales price is down roughly 12% and combined with similar drop for the past two years it appears that this eastern Ramsey County community is still in the process of moving toward a more stable market. The average days-on-the-market statistic is up a tad but at 129 DOM there is no need to be concerned. Sellers that reside in North St. Paul are not receiving their asking price and are accepting offers and average of over 10% lower than asking. With closed sales significantly up and lower inventory, it appears that the North St. Paul real estate market did do okay in 2011 but hopefully prices will start to rebound a bit more in 2011.

For additional details on the inventory levels in North St Paul MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

SALE PENDING20710 Minnie B Grant Lane, Linwood, MN 55092

Mon, 23 May 2011 21:00:06 -0400

Welcome to 20710 Minnie B Grant LN, Linwood!

Attractively Priced at $300,000! $284,900

Spectacular Home
& Beautiful Gardens on 2.4 Acres! Privacy--Located at the end of a
cul de sac and bordering a 660 Acre DNR nature preserve.

BEAUTIFUL Inside and OUT!

Love the gardens and the yard from the moment you drive up the driveway but
inside this home is also a treasure! GRANITEcounters! BIRCH Cabinets!
MAPLE Floors! NEW Roof! NEW Furnace! NEW Hot Water Heater! Master suite
with balcony and private bath with 2 person whirlpool! 2200+ Finished
square feet plus an unfinished fourth level!

Eat-in Kitchen Features and Upgrades: Custom Birch Cabinetry, Maple Hardwood
Flooring, Granite Counter & Breakfast bar and Reverse Osmosis drinking system
Beautiful all brick front of home with maintenance free vinyl in back. New roof and gutters in 2008
Huge 20 X 40 brick surrounded courtyard off dining area. Perfect place for enjoying a summer BBQ with friends & family

Spacious entry foyer opens to living room and kitchen.
Beautiful maple floors enhance this wonderful welcome area.
Vaulted Living room focal point is the gas fireplace enhanced brick and accent windows.
Newer Berber carpeting is neutral and durable.

Huge family room features walkout to patio, tongue & groove pine and cut stone-enhanced wood-burning fireplace. Plenty of room for the entire family to enjoy!
Need more bedrooms? The fourth level has yet to be finished but has 2 egress windows so could potentially have 2 additional bedrooms in the hobby room area.
NEW 93% efficiency furnace and hot water heater installed in 2010.

Beautiful gardens! Backyard garden with waterfall and goldfish pond!
Rain Garden! Granite stairway from patio to pond is breathtaking!In-ground Sprinklers!
Fenced fruit garden with raspberries & grapes plus a dozen apple trees throughout acreage.
Not a gardener? No worries! These perennial gardens are low
maintenance so will continue to look beautiful year after year with a
minimal amount of effort!

Fantastic location! Just west of Wyoming off 35E. A quick commute to

either downtown St Paul or Minneapolis. Or to the ParkNRide in Forest
Lake or Blaine!

Need additional information?

More details and color photos at www.terieckholm.com click FEATURED HOMES. ORCLICK HERE for a VIRTUAL TOUR. OR Call/Text Teri Eckholm, RE/MAX Specialists, at 651-336-7073 today!

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in Mahtomedi, MN Year End 2011

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:12:49 -0500

In this northern Washington County community, just east of White Bear Lake, new listings were up in 2011 which was very unusual for most other north and east communities in the Twin Cities metro. They were not only up but up significantly, by over 36%. Likewise, home sales were up by well over 50% in 2011 and the average sales price was up just a bit. This is an indication of the start of recovery for the Mahtomedi area but only time will tell if the trend will continue into 2012. As this is the second year in a row for a somewhat stable market in Mahtomedi, it is apparent that the bulk of the distressed properties have worked their way out of this community. Sellers are getting just under 91% of their asking price and the average sales price is holding steady at just over $295,000. Time on the market to sell a home, rose somewhat significantly to 143 days and the price per square foot fell 5% to $117. Both statistics are comparable to other surrounding communities. It appears that the Mahtomedi real estate market continues to move toward becoming balanced.

For additional details on home sales in Mahtomedi MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

First Time Homebuyer Question—Is a Buying a Home a Good Investment in 2012?

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:33:53 -0500

"Is buying a home really a good investment?"

Great question, eh? Especially in this slowly stabilizing economy. For decades buying a home was for decades regarded one of the safest investments a person could make; the epitome of the American Dream. But now first time buyers are confused as home values and average sales prices plummeted. Is the real estate market current downturn a opportunity to grab one's piece of the American Dream? Does owning a home make sense as a financial investment?

MOST AMERICANS say YES! In a January 2012 survey of voters by the National Association of Home Builders, "74 percent said that despite the ups and downs in the housing market, owning a home is the best long-term investment they can make." That is 3 out of 4 voting Americans who still believe in the value of home ownership!

And I agree, buying a home is a wise investment and not just because I am a REALTOR®, but because I, too, am a homeowner. The key is to treat your home like an investment. It takes discipline and time for an investment to grow. And like any other investment, if you have to sell a stocks, mutual funds or a home, when the market is down, there is a chance that you will not realize as much profit as you may have expected.

So what are some of the key points that must be considered when investing in your first home?

Buy Smart

**Price **Interest Rate **Type of Mortgage **Resale Potential **Equity Builder?

Maintain and Protect Your Investment

**Home maintenance **Insurance

Don’t Put in Your Asset in Jeopardy

The best way to have a healthy balance sheet when you decide to sell your home is to Buy Smart in the first place. Buying smart is not just about getting the home at an extremely low price. With many homes at rock bottom prices, it is a good time to consider buying a first home. But buying smart also means getting a mortgage that you can afford. One that is safe, preferably at a fixed rate rather than an adjustable rate, that won't fluctuate into something that you cannot afford. Interest rates are at record-breaking low rates. Talking to a knowledgable loan officer is a great way to get started in the home buying process and find out what options are available to first time buyers now.

But buying smart goes beyond the price paid and the loan used to finance a first home. It is also buying with resale in mind. Many, who purchased homes in the price climbing frenzy of a few years ago, snatched up any home they could after submitting multiple purchase agreements on several homes. They often overlooked an unusual floor plan or that the home was railroad tracks with several trains passing by at all times of the day and night. They adjusted their needs to accept the powerlines in the backyard or the noise from Interstate 35 just a few blocks away. But now if these same families are faced with trying to relocate, they are frustrated that buyers refuse to compromise on same aspects that they overlooked.

As a REALTOR® who loves to work with first time home buyers, I spend time helping my them to understand the positives and negatives of the location of each property we view. I point out how something quirky like having no basement or having a hot tub built in to a bedroom could affect the resale value by limiting potential buyers. Paint and wallpaper can be easily changed but foundation, plumbing and property location are much more expensive to deal with. Oddities it a home can drastically affect value when it is time to sell.

Lastly, buy smart by determining whether equity can be increase with good old fashioned hard work! If the home hasn’t been updated, a good sprucing up could raise its value. A house that has an unfinished basement, could build equity if it can be done at a reasonable cost. Don’t take shortcuts and avoid permitting because that can be costly if you go to sell. Is gardening your hobby? Look for a home with a yard that can be upgraded over the years. Just be frugal and realistic in what your resale will be in the end.

Beyond a smart buy, maintenance is essential as is proper insurance to be certain a home owner can afford the required repairs should the unexpected happen. Time after time I have to bear the bad news when presenting a market analysis at a home where the interior and/or exterior has not been repaired or replaced in decades. These homes are not worth what a neighboring, updated home is worth. Doing several projects over time allows a homeowner to enjoy the improvements while retaining the property value. Likewise, not insuring a home properly can be a huge risk. Worse yet, are the homeowners that make a home insurance claim and receiving payment for a repair but opt to use the money for something else.

Finally, it is important for a homebuyer to not put their investment in jeopardy. Many of the people who lost their homes in the market downturn put their homes in jeopardy but taking risky loans against the equity. Some people took home equity loans at reasonable rates but didn’t use the funds to improve their home. Some of these loans were at very high adjustable rates and as the payment rose, the homeowners just couldn’t make the payment. When I was growing up, I remember learning to never take a risk with anything you couldn’t afford to lose. I think a home falls into this category.

Like any investment, a home’s value will fluctuate. But a house is unique as an investment because it serves a dual purpose: It is a your place to live as well as a way to increase your net worth. By using the money that would be paid for rent and putting it toward a house you can afford with a plan to protect and maintain your property, a home purchase is still a good investment.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

A Wimpy Winter is the PERFECT Time to Trim Your Oaks and Prevent Oak Wilt!

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:53:18 -0500

What a crazy and wimpy Minnesota winter we are having this year! We have been blessed this winter with a lack of snow (or cursed if you are into snowmobiling and/or cross country skiing). Our roughly 15 inches of snow has meant that roofs are not sporting 3 foot icicles and there is parking on both sides of city streets. People aren’t breaking their backs shoveling or wallets paying for a new snow blower if the old one stops running. Yes, this wimpy winter is a blessing in many regards.

A less though of perk of the lack of snow cover means that it will be easier to trim your oak trees this winter. Oak wilt is devastating to trees in Anoka and Chisago counties as massive oaks are destroyed when this disease spreads. Smart landscaping and maintenance requires you trim oaks in the winter months—before April in Minnesota. Now is the perfect time to avoid exposure to this tree-killing disease and without the normal ice and snow of a Minnesota winter it will be much easier to maneuver ladders and equipment to reach trees on acreage properties.

Oak Wilt Devastates Acreage A few years ago I shared photos of a property in a Ham Lake community where the owners had dealt with oak wilt on their acreage property for several years. Or, more accurately, they chose not to deal with it. In one summer alone, this property lost nearly a dozen trees. (Read Oak Wilt—A Minnesota Tragedy) While the beautiful thicket of mature oak trees is now a memory, new property owners took the initiative to save the remaining oaks. I am happy to report that with treatment and proper care, they have lost only one small tree in the past five years.

Oak wilt is not just a problem in Ham Lake and Anoka County. It is prevalent in communities from Columbus to Lino Lakes and Forest Lake to Scandia. Whether you live in Anoka, Chisago or Washington County, if you have oaks on your property, you need to take precautions to protect them from this deadly tree-killing disease.

What is Oak Wilt?

Oak wilt is a disease caused by a fungus which attacks the central system of the tree from the roots to leaves. When the tree attempts to block the fungus, it also blocks all water and nutrients to the branches and leaves. The leaves then wilt, brown and eventually, the tree dies.

Oak wilt spreads through the root systems of near by infected trees and by fungus beetles that carry the oak wilt spores from tree to tree. For additional information on oak wilt from the University of MN Extention Service CLICK HERE.

Protect Your Trees

Keep oaks trimmed and healthy. Trim large mature oaks now as January/February are excellent months to prune oak trees. If you have your large oaks trimmed now it is a preventative to spring storm damage when heavy, dead branches can fall during tornados or straight line winds.

The fungus beetles infect trees that have been recently injured or trimmed. These beetles are very active in the spring and summer months but not active at all during the winter. Oaks should be protected from damage and not trimmed from April through July.

Tree trimming of mature oaks is best left to professionals especially near the power lines. The trimmer should use a bucket truck or a line/pulley system, NOT spiked climbing boots which can damage the tree.

Selling a Home with Oak Wilt?

Be honest and disclose! A seller might be tempted to cut down a diseased tree and not say a word to a new buyer. This is not only unethical it could cause expensive legal problems after the sale. Even if a seller doesn’t say anything about oak wilt infected trees that were removed prior to listing the home, most neighbors will. Cutting a tree diseased tree does not prevent the spread of oak wilt. It is likely other trees are infected. If more trees die and the buyers were not properly informed, the seller could be in a legal battle with an irate buyer. Bottom line: There is a question regarding diseased trees on the Minnesota Sellers’ Disclosure Form. Fill it out honestly and be prepared to remove the diseased trees properly and safely, if asked. It is never a good idea to not tell the whole truth on the property disclosure form.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Wordless Wednesday (Almost)--Tribute to a Local Hero!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:40:42 -0500

A bronze memorial of Officer Richard Crittenden walking hand-in-hand with his granddaughter is just outside the North St Paul police station on Margaret St. It was place there in 2010, approximately a year after the sad September morning when Officer Crittenden lost his life while protecting a woman from a domestic assault. He is a true local hero.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in Linwood, MN Year End 2011

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:27:23 -0500

Linwood real estate didn’t come to a standstill in 2011 but the number of sales did drop significantly in this northern Anoka County communities. There were nearly 34% less homes sold in Linwood last year. New listings were down nearly 35% as well which does help to balance the market. The average price of a Linwood home dropped over 13% to $142,536 but at $91/sq foot, home sales prices do seem inline with other north metro communities. Linwood is a more rural Anoka County community that featuring acreage and lakeshore properties. It is located just north of Columbus and south of Stacy. Market time dropped for the fourth year in a row to an average 154 days on the market for a home to sell. Linwood’s home sellers were seeing offers come in a bit lower in 2011and were receiving an average of 90.7% of list price compared to 93% in 2010. While it does seem a bit low, the percent of list price received is similar to many other commuities in the north metro so Linwood is showing continued signs of a slow but steady recovery.

For additional details on home sales in Linwood MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in Lino Lakes, MN Year End 2011

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:19:03 -0500

As in many other north and east Twin Cities metro communities, Lino Lakes has had a drop in new listing and a slight increase in sales. This is a good indication that we are moving toward a more balanced market across the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. There was a drop in the average home sales price in this eastern Anoka County community of just over 12%. Foreclosure and lender mediated pricing has affected the average price of a sold home in Lino Lakes coming in at just over $200,000 in 2011. Average price per square footage also took a bit of a tumble from $106/sq foot in 2010 to an average of $95/sq foot in 2011 but is still on par with other communities in the area. On average, it took about a couple of weeks more to sell a Lino Lakes, Minnesota home in 2010 but a good number of homes did sell in this Anoka County community so lender mediated properties are working their way through the system which will balance the market eventually. Sellers were getting just a bit less at 91% rather than 92% of original list price they received last year, Overall it appears that residential real estate market in Lino Lakes is continuing to stabilize.

For additional details on home sales in Lino Lakes MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Buying a Home? Check out my HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG? Subscribe, Follow or Like...It's your choice!

Real Estate Blog for the North & East Twin Cities

First Time Homebuyer Statistical Snapshot of Blaine MN Home Sales

First Time Homebuyer Statistical Snapshot of Andover MN Home Sales

Anoka County Lakeshore and Acreage Foreclosures—Offer NOW or Regret Later!

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in Wyoming, MN Year End 2011

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in White Bear Township, MN Year End 2011

Wordless Wednesday (Almost)--Welcome to Minnesota!

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in Oakdale, MN Year End 2011

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in North St Paul, MN Year End 2011

**SALE PENDING**20710 Minnie B Grant Lane, Linwood, MN 55092

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in Mahtomedi, MN Year End 2011

First Time Homebuyer Question—Is a Buying a Home a Good Investment in 2012?

A Wimpy Winter is the PERFECT Time to Trim Your Oaks and Prevent Oak Wilt!

Wordless Wednesday (Almost)--Tribute to a Local Hero!

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in Linwood, MN Year End 2011

Snapshot of Home Sales Statistics in Lino Lakes, MN Year End 2011

SALE PENDING20710 Minnie B Grant Lane, Linwood, MN 55092