Barker and Hedges Real Estate Blog

In a case that has been watched by several Minnesota cities, the Hennepin County Board hindered the City of Rockford’s effort to redraw the county line. On June 17, the Board rejected a measure that would have allowed Hennepin County residents to vote on the matter.

The 3,800-resident city straddles Crow River, which is the boundary for the two counties of Wright and Hennepin. Approximately 90% of the city is in Wright County and about 10% of its land parcels are in Hennepin County. City officials say being split between law enforcement and ambulance service jurisdictions and tax rates has caused a multitude of problems. For years, Rockford residents have petitioned to bring all of its land under Wright County jurisdiction.

Commissioners, who stated that they had “no opposition” to the boarder change in Rockford, did not discuss the resolution before voting it down 6-1. Previously, commissioners had said that allowing Rockford to switch would set a precedent that could prompt “a cascade of changes” to Minnesota’s most populous county.

There are other Minnesota cities which have been watching Rockford’s situation. St. Bonifacius began to look at whether its taxes would be lower and its services better if it were part of nearby Carver County. But there is one catch: St. Bonifacius doesn’t even border Carver County. The city would need to annex land in order to make its case.

State law allows changing counties’ boundaries, but the process is involved. To begin with, one-fourth of a county’s residents must petition for the change. In Hennepin County, that would be 123,000 signatures.

Rockford managed to get around that in 2007, when the Legislature approved a measure for the city that takes the place of the petition. But then the approval of both county boards was required. The Wright County Board quickly approved the decision. Had the Hennepin County Board approved the resolution, the issue would have gone to the ballot, requiring majority votes in both counties.

The last time such a measure made it onto a ballot was in 2000, when Pine County residents considered splitting the county in two. That November, residents voted down the split by almost 4-1.

Rockford’s efforts to change the boundary have not ceased, however. More options are being considered, including annexing the Hennepin County section of Rockford into nearby Greenfield. Expect to hear more about this in the future.

The Northstar Center is undergoing an ambitious makeover. Downtown Minneapolis’ first mixed-use property, adding up to 814,000-square-feet of space which includes offices and retail as well as a Crowne Plaza Hotel, is being restored.  The work will include tuck-pointing, replacing stone, and cleaning the exterior of the three-building complex over the course of about three to four yearsWork on the parking ramp, which includes replacing some concrete and waterproofing, began in April and is expected to be completed in September. Renovation of the 222-room hotel is underway and is scheduled to be completed later this month. The over $4 million project has included remodeling guest rooms and the lobby and adding a larger Executive Club lounge.

All of this is happening because of new property owner and manager Grubb & Ellis.  Grubb & Ellis acquired the Northstar Center in December when it merged with the parent company of California-based Triple Net Properties.

The complex has about 645,000 square feet of office space, most of it occupied by Wells Fargo & Co.

Dayton’s Bluff is a neighborhood located on the east side of the Mississippi in the southeast part of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The northern border of the neighborhood is Grove Street and the Burlington Northern Railroad. The southern border is Warner Road. To the west is Lafayette Road and Highway 3, and to the east is Highway 61.

Dayton’s Bluff contains one of the widest varieties of history of any Twin Cities’ neighborhood. The history of the area goes back over 1,000 years when the Hopewell Native Americans used the area as a sacred burial ground. On the edge of the southern and highest part of Dayton’s Bluff today, a series of seven large aboriginal burial mounds remain in Indian Mounds Park, overlooking the Mississippi River and the central part of the city. The park features walking paths, playgrounds and a picnic area.

In 1857, Lyman Dayton, a well-known land and railroad speculator from Vermont, platted an “addition to St. Paul” on the Eastern border of the city. The area was separated from the early settlement along the river by a ravine, but this inaccessibility did not deter Dayton. A handful of other businessmen also built large and costly houses in the area. Farther to the south, beyond present day I-94 in the Mounds Park area, river-oriented residential development was also occurring. The earliest settlers had a spectacular view of the growth of the city at the Lower Levee and along E. Seventh Street. The area has since been referred to as Dayton’ Bluff, named after the man who built the first large home here.

Located on the east side of St. Paul, Dayton’s Bluff has a particularly high concentration of 19th century homes within its boarders. In the early 1800’s, Dayton’s Bluff was one of St. Paul’s first affluent suburbs, as is evidenced by the many Victorian, Italianate and Queen Anne styles of architecture. Overall, most of the homes in Dayton’s Bluff were built in the 50s and before. Because of the deep and varied history, each block tends to have a great variety of housing styles and types. It is not uncommon to find a large three-story mansion anchoring a block with a collection of simple one- and two-story houses. The house prices in this neighborhood reasonable against the soaring prices of other communities.

There is plenty of real estate available around Dayton’s Bluff. Primarily the properties are single family homes, but there are multi family dwellings that house a few families each as well. Homes are setback from the street in a quite uniform manner and most houses have a small yard at the front. The steep slopes have required the construction of a variety of many retaining walls. Some handsome older walls are built of limestone or brick.

Dayton’s Bluff homes have been undergoing renovations and restorations in past years. Many of the original homes still stand and have celebrated their one-hundredth year of existence. The current interest in the revitalization of Dayton’s Bluff focuses largely on the fine older buildings which are the record of the area’s long history.

The Dayton’s Bluff Historic District was approved by the St. Paul City Council in August, 1992. The creation of the Historic District recognizes the historical and architectural significance of this early St. Paul neighborhood and is an important part of neighborhood revitalization in St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff.

Exterior alterations, new construction, and demolition of buildings within the Historic District boundaries are reviewed by the St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission according to strict guidelines. A handbook intended for Dayton’s Bluff residents and potential residents which explains the criteria can be sent to you by calling 651-772-2075.

The Dayton’s Bluff Community Council and The East Side Neighborhood Development Company are active in the area’s revitalization. The Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Service assists buyers financially with purchasing a home in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood.

Browse homes in the Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Browse homes in other neighborhoods of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Northeast community of Minneapolis is composed of 13 smaller neighborhoods. The Northeast community blends old architecture, classic housing, bustling commercial districts, and industrial work centers as well as new residential high-rises, suburban cul-de-sacs, and a popular art scene. The Northeast community is part bedroom neighborhood and part job center for the City of Minneapolis. The prominent features of Northeast include ornate churches and massive grain silos and mills, both of which help to create a unique skyline. Formerly known as the City of Saint Anthony before it was annexed into Minneapolis, Northeast is sometimes referred to as Nordeast, reflecting the history of northern and eastern European immigrants and their language influence.

Columbia Park - The Columbia Park neighborhood in northeast Minneapolis is bound on the north by 37th Avenue Northeast, on the east by Central Avenue Northeast, on the south by 27th Avenue Northeast and St. Anthony Boulevard, and on the west by University Avenue Northeast, 4th Street Northeast and the Mississippi River. Phew! The Columbia Park neighborhood received its name for three reasons. The first has to do with the actual Columbia Park, an area park which has a challenging 18 hole golf course, playground area, walking trails, archery course, horseshoe pits and picnic areas. The second coincides with the park’s acquisition in 1892, which is referred to as the “Columbian” year, 400 years after Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas. Finally, the third reason is a nod to the adjacent suburb to this neighborhood, Columbia Heights.

In addition to Columbia Park, the neighborhood also includes a smaller park, Hi View park, with a children’s wading pool and basketball courts. Other highlights of the neighborhood include the walking paths along the Mississippi and the St. Anthony Parkway Bridge.

The neighborhood has residential areas tucked away with industrial surroundings between the city of Columbia Heights and Columbia Park and its golf course. Its north end consists of a narrow strip of streets from Main Street to Central Avenue. Much of the housing here are stucco and brick Tudors and two-story colonials.

The active neighborhood association is involved in planning activities for residents of all ages. Some of those activities include container gardening in community gardens, Tai Chi courses, and a monthly Procrastinators Night when all the procrastinators in the neighborhood get together to work on their unfinished projects.
Children in Columbia Park attend the Minneapolis Public Schools, which includes a strong magnet schools program and exciting opportunities for all students.

Waite Park - Waite Park neighborhood is bound on the north by 37th Avenue Northeast, on the east by Stinson Boulevard, on the south by Saint Anthony Parkway and on the west by Central Avenue Northeast. The neighborhood is named for Edward Foote Waite, judge of the District Court of Hennepin County from 1911 to 1941.

Incorporated in 1887, Waite Park is a mainly residential neighborhood. However, the Shoreham Yards train repair facility still exists in the area. While the yards are still in use, the land is expected to be redeveloped in the future, providing for more homes in Waite Park. The variety of real estate available here makes the neighborhood great for single people, retirees, and small or large families alike.

Audubon Park - The Audubon Park neighborhood is bounded by Saint Anthony Parkway, Stinson Boulevard, Lowry Avenue and Central Avenue. Stinson Boulevard is also the city’s border with St. Anthony. The neighborhood and its park are named in honor of John James Audubon, a great American naturalist and ornithologist.

A majority of the houses in this somewhat hilly neighborhood were built in the 1940s.

This Audubon Park neighborhood is perfect for the couple settling in the big city, the student looking to attend college in the city, a family looking to settle into a nice neighborhood, or even the retirees looking for a quiet place with conveniences.

Windom Park - The Windom Park neighborhood is bounded on the north by Lowry Avenue, on the west by Central Avenue, on the south by 18th Avenue and on the east by New Brighton Boulevard. Windom Park is named after William Windom, who served from the mid- to late-1800s as a U.S. senator from Minnesota and as secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Windom Park is a mainly residential neighborhood. Single-family dwellings tend to predominate in the eastern quadrant and multifamily buildings can be found in the western quadrant, particularly in the vicinity of Central Avenue. Many of the homes in the west part of the neighborhood were built between 1895 and 1810, providing for some beautiful architecture. On the east side of Windom Park, most of the homes were built after World War II. Central Avenue, the neighborhood’s western border, is a very active commercial corridor. Many ethnic restaurants line the street here.

Northeast Park - Northeast Park is bound on the south by Broadway Street and on the southeast by Interstate 35, on the north by 18th Avenue and New Brighton Boulevard, and on the west by Central Avenue. The city limits make its northeast boundary. This neighborhood takes its name from its geographical location within the City of Minneapolis.

Northeast Park is roughly divided into three sections. The western section is mainly residential. The Quarry, a large regional shopping center, is in the center. The eastern section is home to the Hillside Cemetery and Honeywell International manufacturing.

Northeast Park homes are typically single-family residences, and approximately one thousand people live here. Approximately two thirds of these homes were built before 1940, most of which were built around the turn of the century. With the Quarry acting as a buffer between the residential and industrial sections of the neighborhood, Northeast Park residents are largely unaffected by the presence of the industrial area.

Beltrami – The Beltrami neighborhood is bound on the north by Broadway Street, on the east by Interstate 35W, on the south by Hennepin Avenue East and on the west by Central Avenue and Harrison Street. The Beltrami neighborhood and its park are named after Giacomo Constantino Beltrami, an early 19th century Italian jurist, scholar and explorer. Beltrami Park has a playground, bocci courts, soccer and softball fields, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court and a basketball court.

Large tracts of industrial land cover the southwestern part of the neighborhood, while the remaining land is dedicated to single-family dwellings interspersed with low-rise multifamily buildings. Though there is some industrial activity in the southwestern part of the neighborhood, Beltrami is an excellent place to settle down and enjoy life in Minneapolis. As with other neighborhoods in northeast Minneapolis, many artists have set up studios in Beltrami.

St. Anthony East & West – The St. Anthony East and West neighborhoods are two of the oldest in Minneapolis as they were part of the village of St. Anthony, established in 1849 on the east bank of the Mississippi River. St. Anthony Falls – the neighborhood’s namesake – was seen in 1680 by Father Louis Hennepin, a Jesuit who is credited with being the first European to explore the area that is now Minneapolis. He named the falls after his patron saint, St. Anthony of Padua.

The St. Anthony East neighborhood extends from Broadway Street on the northern border to Central Avenue on the east and southeast, Second Avenue on the south, and then Fifth and Washington streets on the west. St. Anthony East has a number of churches, reminders of the area’s early history when people from different European countries moved into the area. These immigrants settled in neighborhoods around their churches, where they held together as tightly knit social groups.

The St. Anthony West neighborhood is bordered by Broadway Street to the north and Second Avenue on the south. The Mississippi River makes up the western extent and Washington and Fifth Streets define the eastern boundary. St. Anthony West is host to Boom Island Park, a 14-acre riverside park. The neighborhood is also within walking distance of downtown and the University of Minnesota.

Sheridan - The Sheridan neighborhood, located in northeast Minneapolis, extends from Washington Street on the east to the Mississippi River on the west, and from Broadway Street on the south to 18th and 17th Avenues on the north. It is named for Civil War General Philip Sheridan. The neighborhood elementary and junior high schools and the local park are all named after General Sheridan as well.

Historically, Sheridan has been a working class neighborhood, and was home to predominantly Eastern European immigrants in the early twentieth century. In the present day, Sheridan’s center is a bustling commercial district which was once a main line for the neighborhood’s streetcar line. This community is also home to many art galleries, and a stretch of 13th Avenue that runs through the area is known as “Arts Avenue”. A large portion of the neighborhood was built for industrial use of the Mississippi River, but the river banks are slowly but surely developing into an area of recreational and residential buildings. The Sheridan neighborhood also has a sizable amount of small apartment buildings.

Like many other Minneapolis neighborhoods, Sheridan residents are committed to improving their community. The Sheridan Neighborhood Organization has already had several successes, including funding the development of a public library, and the refurbishment of a theatre located on 13th Avenue. Current plans include programs for housing rehabilitation, and to increase the availability of affordable housing.

Sheridan has recently seen an increase in the number of young families moving to the area, and the under-18 age group is the fastest-growing age group in this neighborhood.

Logan Park - Logan Park neighborhood in northeast Minneapolis is bound on the north by 19th Avenue Northeast, on the east by Central Avenue Northeast, on the south by Broadway Avenue Northeast and on the west by Washington Street Northeast. The neighborhood is built around Logan Park, which dates back to the 1800s and is named for Civil War general and U.S. Sen. John A. Logan. This 150-acre neighborhood is 40% residential with industry comprising nearly 30% and 11.5% dedicated to parks and recreational uses. Railroad tracks along Central Avenue divide the neighborhood into an industrial area and the residential district.

There are just over 1,000 housing units in the Logan Park neighborhood. The neighborhood has many large Victorian houses. As compared to the average price of a home in all of Minneapolis, Logan Park’s homes priced much lower. Rent here is also generally a bit lower, so it’s ideal for a temporary situation as well.

Holland - The Holland neighborhood extends from 27th Avenue Northeast in the north to 17th and 19th Avenues Northeast in the south. Central Avenue Northeast is the eastern extent and University Avenue Northeast is the western boundary. The neighborhood and its elementary school are named after Josiah G. Holland, an American educator and editor born in 1819 in Massachusetts. He was well known for Timothy Titcomb’s Letters, a column he wrote for a newspaper in Springfield, Massachusetts. The neighborhood was a popular destination for Eastern Europeans emigrating at the beginning of the 20th century.

Located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Holland is a thriving neighborhood of over 3,500 people. The middle class working neighborhood has a diverse population with many opportunities for recreation for all of its residents of any age.
The Holland neighborhood is predominately residential. There is a core commercial district with shops, restaurants and cafes along Central Avenue. The neighborhood has other amenities including Jackson Square Park, Edison Senior High School and a Minneapolis public library branch. Close to downtown, Holland residents are insulated from the hustle and bustle of the city but still have easy access to the cultural, social and other amenities of the downtown area.

Housing prices are slightly lower than the median prices for similar housing in other parts of the city, making it a wonderful neighborhood for a “starter home.” Nearly 75% of the housing was built pre-1920s. The housing stock is about evenly divided between owner occupied single family homes and rental property.

Bottineau – The Bottineau neighborhood is bordered by the Mississippi River on the west and University Avenue to the east. Lowry Avenue Northeast is the northern extent of the neighborhood, which runs to 16th/17th avenues Northeast in the south. This neighborhood is named after the legendary pioneer, explorer and leader Pierre Bottineau who bought land here in 1845.

Bottineau neighborhood has a rich history with the large number of ethnic groups that have settled in this area over the years. Today the community has a population of 1,254 people and is. The cultural richness is enhanced by the many amenities like the library, the large park that serves the neighborhood, and the close location to the downtown area of Minneapolis.

While this neighborhood is a great place to raise a family, it is equally wonderful for the artistic community. Bottineau is a coveted destination for many artists to live and work
The Northeast Arts Association caters to the artists of the community, with a former industrial building having been converted into a number of studios for artists. A café and restaurant are open to the public while about 70 artists toil behind the scenes.

Marshall Terrace - Marshall Terrace neighborhood is bordered by Saint Anthony Parkway on the north and Lowry Avenue on the south. The Mississippi River is the western extent, and 4th Street Northeast and University Avenue are the eastern extent. The neighborhood is named after Minnesota’s fifth governor, William R. Marshall, who served from 1866 to 1870.

Large tracts of land in this neighborhood are used for industry, railroad tracks and utilities. About 20% of the land is residential with related commercial uses. Residential uses are restricted to the center of the neighborhood with utilities mainly along the river and industry and railroad tracks to the east.

A popular feature of this area is Marshall Terrace Park, a large neighborhood park equipped with a number of recreational facilities including a picnic area, a baseball field, basketball court, a swimming pool, and summer activity programs for kids.

Homes in Marshall Terrace are both affordable and attractive. The typical Marshall Terrace home is a single-family two or three bedroom residence with one or two bathrooms. Many of the residential streets are attractive, tree-lined areas, with nothing to suggest that an industrial area is close by.

The Northeast Minneapolis community is a refuge for those who want to or need to live close to the Twin Cities metropolitan area, but who crave the comforts and relaxation that come with small town life. The average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Northeast Minneapolis, MN is about $177,042

Browse homes in the Northeast Community of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Browse other communities in Minneapolis.

One hundred years ago if you wanted to look up any sort of vital records, from births and deaths to marriages and property histories, oversized books filled with information on paper was all the county recorders had.  Hennepin County still has its plat books, which are large, awkward, green-bound volumes that measure 31 by 26 inches and weigh 15 to 20 pounds each.

The county didn’t begin microfilming old documents until the 1960s. Electronic recordkeeping began in 1988, and since 1994, all document imaging has been in a digital format.

Now, Hennepin County will spend $2.7 million to digitize more than 24 million pages of records and marriage licenses dating back all the way to the 1850s.  The information won’t be available on the internet to just anyone, however.  The digitization is largely a move to smooth document tracking for real estate, legal and financial professionals who work with mortgages, property titles, easements and others.  Lay people are welcome to use the digitized information at the county records office.

Professionals who work with land records will be able to search the records online from their offices for a subscription fee, which has yet to be set.  In order to use the system, they’ll need a property name or legal description to track a property. The documents will not be searchable by keywords.

The switch to digitization is expected to improve efficiency and turnaround time.  The new system will allow users to go between documents that are related with a click.  Digitization should also protect ancient, brittle paper documents and reduce the theft of legal and historical records.

The new project will convert records in five stages. Documents which date from 1901 that show details of land sales, such as deeds, mortgages and powers of attorney will be the first to be digitized.  Certificates of title from 1901 to 1998 will follow.  Land abstract documents from 1988 to 1994 are third in line.  Fourth will be land abstract documents from 1930 to 1988.

Finally, Hennepin County’s oldest records will be digitized last because they are used the least often.  These oldest documents are probably the most historically significant, but they will also be the most challenging to preserve.

Much of the digitization is being done by AmCad, a firm with a technology conversion center in Illinois.  Most of it will involve conversion of microfilm rather than original paper documents. Working with microfilm is easier, and the firm has technology to sharpen blurry or faded images.

The project is being funded with money from the fees people pay to file documents with the county. New, higher fees went into effect in counties around the state a few years ago after businesses that use land records pushed the Legislature to find ways to raise money for digitization.

The digitization process means big changes at the Hennepin County Government Center, where people who want to research land records now have to peruse microfilm stored in tape cases. The county has three copies of each tape: one available for public use, a master copy in the basement, and a copy stored in temperature-controlled underground salt mine in Kansas. Sometimes people walk off with the cartridges available to the public, requiring a trip to the basement for a new copy. Digitization will put an end to that problem.

Though all the records that are being converted are public and will be readily available at the government center, it is knot known at this time if the records will eventually be made available free to anyone over the Internet.  Land documents sometimes contain information on divorces and other personal information.  Some may object to having such details readily available to whomever may happen to find it on the Web.  That policy decision has not yet been made, however, so there is no need to wonder about that just yet. 

The process has been initiated.  The first rolls of microfilm have been shipped off to Illinois for copying at the time of this writing.  The entire job could take up to three years to complete.

Hennepin County will talk with state and county historical societies about the fate of the paper documents from the 19th and early 20th centuries.  I’m sure many local historical societies would love to display some of those!

Hennepin County commissioners voted last to allocate up to $1.25 million to the City of Minneapolis to speed demolition of at least 50 houses. The actions comes as concerns rise that some Minneapolis neighborhoods may become so scarred by boarded up and vacant houses that they may not bounce back,

For example, northern Minneapolis has 544 of the 925 boarded and vacant houses listed within the city. The effects were cited on streets such as the 2900 block of Dupont Avenue N., where several houses were burned and boarded up after they were foreclosed on or abandoned. Minneapolis commissioners worry that other residents in the area will leave, resulting in even more blighted and vacant homes.

County officials will meet with their Minneapolis counterparts to negotiate an agreement that should allow the city to possibly double the number of houses it can tear down this year after they’ve been declared nuisance properties. Hennepin County evaluates properties for rehabilitation and chooses removal when area livability and safety can be improved with its destruction. At least 50 houses are to be demolished by the end of the year, with plans for the sites to be cleared and improved by next June.

The measure passed 6 to 1, with Linda Koblick voting no. Koblick’s refusal argued that the plan should have been reviewed by board committees and faced public feedback before a vote was taken. She said that taxes paid by people all over the county shouldn’t be earmarked just for a single city when there may be suburban properties that need attention as well.

Other commissioners voted for the measure anyway, arguing that the sheer magnitude of Minneapolis’ problem properties warrant action. An example of why this measure was introduced can be found at 2914 Dupone Ave N. A fire broke out at the vacant house at this location, but the city could not use its emergency powers to pull down the structure because it had not been damaged structurally. However, it had been damaged enough that it could not be rehabilitated.

Having the building demolished requires a long process under a city ordinance which is designed to protect the owner’s property rights while still giving the city the power to remove nuisance property. The intersection where it lies connects four blocks that had averaged six foreclosures per block during a two-year period through March of this year. As more blighted and vacant properties appear in the area, residents are likely to move, causing even more problems. If the cycle perpetuates, the area may not recover!

The city now finances its property demolitions through a new revolving fund that also pays for boarded-building enforcement staff and other nuisance abatements, such as cutting of tall grass. Destruction of these properties also isn’t the only option. Most of the Minneapolis properties that are boarded and vacant will be rehabilitated instead.

Similar to the experience of Minneapolis but more dramatic, new listings for homes fell in Saint Paul, Minnesota, during the month of May, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors’ Market Update for 100 Twin Cities Communities. During May of 2008, there were 623 new listings in the City of Saint Paul. In May of 2007, there were 818 new listings, which is a drop of about 23.8%. St. Paul’s Downtown experienced the greatest decline in new listings at -56.3%. The West Side/Cherokee neighborhood was the only location in St. Paul to experience an increase in new listings over last year. Here is a list of May 2008 new listings in Saint Paul by neighborhood and the percentage of change that has occurred compared to May 2007. (To see a Barker & Hedges article about April 2008 St. Paul Market Activity, please click here.)

Como 41 (-26.8%)
Crocus Hill 50 (-33.3%)
Downtown Saint Paul 21 (-56.3%)
East Side 143 (-14.4%)
Highland Park 55 (-3.5%)
Mac-Groveland 34 (-41.4%)
Merriam Park 20 (-23.1%)
North End/Frogtown 65 (-27.8%)
Phalen 83 (-0.0%)
Southeast 26 (-33.3%)
St. Anthony/Midway 26 (-46.9%)
West 7th 17 (-51.4%)
West Side/Cherokee 39 (+14.7%)

When you look at Saint Paul’s posted new listing for the 2008 year-to-date, there has been less drastic of a decrease by over half. From January through May, there were 3,138 new listings in the city, compared to 3,455 during the same time period of 2007. That means there are just 9.2% fewer new listings so far this year. The most dramatic changes have happened in the Saint Anthonty/Midway neighborhoods, where new listings have decreased by 31.1% while the Phalen neighborhood’s new listings increased by 11.9%. Here is a list of new listings in Saint Paul for the 2008 year to date compared to 2007:

Como 195 (-13.3%)
Crocus Hill 253 (-15.1%)
Downtown Saint Paul 220 (-15.1%)
East Side 678 (+1.0%)
Highland Park 216 (-4.8%)
Mac-Groveland 179 (-17.9%)
Merriam Park 88 (-30.2%)
North End/Frogtown 369 (-9.3%)
Phalen 414 (+11.9%)
Southeast 110 (-23.1%)
St. Anthony/Midway 164 (-31.1%)
West 7th 86 (-27.7%)
West Side/Cherokee 157 (+8.3%)

In addition to reduced listings, closed sales on homes in St. Paul, Minnesota, also declined during the month of May. At 258, there were over 8.8% fewer closed sales than May of 2007’s 283. For the 2008 year overall, the picture is very different, as just 6.4% fewer homes have been closed on this year. 940 home sales were closed in St. Paul from January through May of 2008 compared to 1,004 during the same time period last year.

As for home sales prices in Saint Paul, the downward trend is continuing. The glut of homes on the market has caused a decrease in real estate values. The average sales price of a home in the City of St. Paul was $184,935 in May 2008 compared to $230,672 in 2007. That is a decrease of 19.8%. The average sales price year-to-date in the City of St. Paul is $184,118. During the same time period in 2007, the average sales price of a home was $222,486, a decrease of 17.2%. The percentage of St. Paul homes which sold at their original list price has increased to 89.9%, an increase of over one full percentage point from last month. But last year, 94.9% of the homes sold in May were purchased for their original listing price.

Average prices of homes sold in Saint Paul by neighborhood during May 2008:

Como $203,298 (-8.8%)
Crocus Hill $310,619 (+10.5%)
Downtown Saint Paul $187,331 (-1.8%)
East Side $114,196 (-29.8%)
Highland Park $278,924 (-18.8%)
Mac-Groveland $292,196 (-23.6%)
Merriam Park $310,833 (-16.5%)
North End/Frogtown $66,435 (-46.8%)
Phalen $116,070 (-28.8%)
Southeast $203,015 (+11.1%)
St. Anthony/Midway $211,493 (-0.9%)
West 7th $159,700 (-14.3%)
West Side/Cherokee $78,725 (-69.7%)

As you can see, not every neighborhood has experienced a decrease in average sales prices. Some real estate have increased! St. Paul neighborhoods like West Side/Cherokee and North End/Frogtown areas have experienced extremely steep drops in real estate prices, while Crocus Hill and Southeast seen some increases in average sales price compared to last year.

Homes for sale in Saint Paul are staying on the market longer than they did in 2007. In May of 2008, a home in St. Paul was on the market for an average of 129 days before it was sold. In May of 2007, homes for sale in Saint Paul were on the market for an average of 111 days before selling. The amount of time a home spends on the market varies from neighborhood to neighborhood as well. Homes in the Mac-Groveland Saint Paul area in May were selling after an average of 75 days on the market, compared to 2007’s 116. It’s taking about 4 months or more in some neighborhoods, though. In West Side/Cherokee, it’s taking a 182 days for a home to sell! Year to date, homes are taking an average of 146 days to sell, compared to 2007’s 129 days. Here is the average number of days a home is on the market at the time of sale by St. Paul neighborhood for May of 2008.

Como 109 (+34.8%)
Crocus Hill 191 (+76.9%)
Downtown Saint Paul 78 (-25.6%)
East Side 171 (+47.8%)
Highland Park 89 (-11.1%)
Mac-Groveland 75 (-35.1%)
Merriam Park 83 (-28.5%)
North End/Frogtown 130 (+0.1%)
Phalen 174 (+13.5%)
Southeast 175 (+14.8%)
St. Anthony/Midway 80 (+2.3%)
West 7th 117 (+5.1%)
West Side/Cherokee 182 (+127.7%)

This is a brief analysis of the St. Paul real estate market based on calculations by the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors. These statistics do not reflect all situations. Though much of this information may seem like a downer, much of it a necessary market correction which has been happening for a while. It will take time for the real estate market to stabilize.

Browse homes for sale by Saint Paul Neighborhood:

Battle Creek & Highwood
Como/Como Park
Downtown
Greater East Side
Hamline-Midway
Highland Park
Dayton’s Bluff
Payne-Phalen
Macalester-Groveland
Merriam Park
North End
St. Anthony/Midway
Summit Hill
Summit University
Thomas-Dale
West Side
West 7th

During the month of May this year in Minneapolis, there was once again a decrease in new listings, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors’ Market Update for 100 Twin Cities Communities. During May of 2008, there were 1,098 new listings. In May 2007, there were 1,353 new listings. That is a drop of nearly 20%! It’s also much higher than April’s drop of just 6.9%, but it matches March’s 20% decrease. Basically, many sellers seem to be holding off compared to last year. The slowdown in new listings has really helped to ease pressure on the Twin Cities area real estate market.

Unlike March and April, the University community experienced the greatest increase in new listings during May. There were 56 new listings in University, up 36.6% from May of 2007’s 41. Conversely, the Philips and Nokomis communities had decreases in new listings compared to last year, at -48.4% and -34.9% respectively.

Here is a list of May 2008 new listings in Minneapolis by community and the percentage of change that has occurred compared to May 2007. These changes are very different compared to the real estate activity of April. (To see a Barker & Hedges article about April 2008 Minneapolis Market Activity, please click here.)

Camden 139 (-13.1%)
Downtown Minneapolis 120 (-31.8%)
Longfellow 64 (-27.3%)
Nokomis 125 (-34.9%)
North 118 (0.0%)
Northeast 89 (-11.9%)
Phillips 16 (-48.4%)
Powderhorn 93 (+2.2%)
Southwest 147 (-22.6%)
University Area 56 (+36.6%)
Uptown-Lakes 131 (-20.1%)

Taking a step back to look at Minneapolis’ posted new listing for the 2008 year-to-date shows a slightly different picture. From January through May of 2008, there were 5,145 new listings, compared to 5,916 during the same time period of 2007. That is a decrease of about 13.0%. The most dramatic adjustments happened in the Northeast and Uptown-Lakes areas, which experienced a drop in new listings by 22.3% and 29.4% respectively. On the end of the spectrum, the North and Powderhorn communities had increases in new listings of 10.1% and 10.2% respectively compared to last year. Here is a list of new listings in Minneapolis by community for the 2008 year to date and the percentage of change that has occurred compared to 2007:

Camden 694 (-7.0%)
Downtown Minneapolis 666 (-20.0%)
Longfellow 272 (-12.0%)
Nokomis 192 597 (-20.3%)
North 644 (+10.1%)
Northeast 372 (-22.3%)
Phillips 141 (+3.7%)
Powderhorn 398 (+10.2%)
Southwest 650 (-13.1%)
University Area 130 (-15.0%)
Uptown-Lakes 579 (-29.4%)

During May, Minneapolis closed sales slowed as predicted. Throughout the month, there were 445 sales, which means there were16.5% fewer closed sales than in May 2007. For the 2008 year to date, the City of Minneapolis closed sales are at about 5.8% lower than they were at this time last year. 1,657 home sales were closed in Minneapolis so far in 2008 compared to 1,759 during the same time period of 2007.

When it comes to home sales prices, the downward spiral continues. The average sales price of a home in Minneapolis was $199,392 in May 2008 compared to $262,440 in May 2007, a decrease of a whopping 24%! The average sales price year-to-date in the City of Minneapolis has had slightly less of a decrease. From January through May of 2007, the average sales price of a home was $254,388, which has fallen 15.7% to $214,414. The percentage of Minneapolis homes which sold at their original list price has slipped nearly another percentage point to 91.2% during the month of May, down from 95.3% in 2007.

Average prices of homes sold in Minneapolis by community:

Camden $83,915 (-45.6%)
Downtown Minneapolis $345,526 (+7.7%)
Longfellow $191,400 (-9.0%)
Nokomis $224,143 (-10.4%)
North $57,256 (-52.0%)
Northeast $167,464 (-17.7%)
Phillips $120,900 (-33.0%)
Powderhorn $143,139 (-15.8%)
Southwest $294,865 (-9.8%)
University Area $195,282 (-39.4%)
Uptown-Lakes $332,981 (-22.5%)

Finally, homes for sale in Minneapolis are staying on the market for much longer than they were in 2007. Last year in May, a Minneapolis home was on the market for an average of 114 days before selling. During May of 2008, a home was on the market for an average of 149 days when it finally sold. The statistics vary based on neighborhood and the types of housing on the market. Condos and town homes are being snapped up much more quickly than usual, while single family homes are staying on the market for much longer than usually. Here is the average number of days a home is on the market at the time of sale by individual Minneapolis community during the month of May 2008.

Camden 177 (+25.8%)
Downtown Minneapolis 176 (-5.7%)
Longfellow 68 (-15.1%)
Nokomis 137 (+116.9%)
North 114 (-40.4%)
Northeast 156 (+38.6%)
Phillips 181 (+7.1%)
Powderhorn 129 (+21.0%)
Southwest 129 (+24.4%)
University Area 212 (+60.8%)
Uptown-Lakes 109 (-13.6%)

This is a brief analysis of the Minneapolis real estate market based on calculations by the Minneapolis Realtors Association. These statistics do not reflect each individual situation of course. The decrease in new listings seems to be having an effect on the market. Only with a less flooded market is the stabilization of property values possible.

Browse homes for sale by Minneapolis community:

Calhoun Isle
Camden
Central
Longfellow
Phillips
Powderhorn
Near North
Nokomis
Northeast
Southwest
University

The Twin Cities suburb of Edina will soon have the opportunity to present its greatness to the nation. This year, the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open is happening right here in our own Edina, at the Interlachen Country Club. This event, which just happens to be the biggest competition in the world of women’s golf, happens from June 23 to June 29.  It is expected to attract 135,000 people to Edina during that period of time.  Edina native Hilary Lunke will be competing in the championship this year, giving the city yet another reason to be proud.  To top it off, the entire competition will be broadcast nationally on channels ESPN, ESPN2 and NBC.The flood of people will also mean a deluge of business for hotels and restaurants.  Because many attendants will be parking at Southdale Center and Galleria, it is probable that they will go shopping before or after they take a shuttle to Interlachen. It is estimated that the U.S. Women’s Open will bring $20 million into Edina’s economy as people sleep at hotels, eat at restaurants, and shop at the many stores.

Edina community businesses have already been cashing in on the benefits of hosting this huge event. The Edina Chamber of Commerce has connected event organizers, the United States Golf Association, with Edina businesses that will provide services and materials for the golf championship.  The Chamber will also have a hospitality tent at Interlachen provided by several metro-area businesses and organization. The USGA is lining up vendors, sponsorships, ticket sales, even scheduling trash pick up.  All of it is going to result in dollar $ign$ for Edina.

Though advertising in the metro area for the U.S. Women’s Open has just been recently making itself known, the plans for this one week of Edina history have been in the works for years.  In fact, organizers have been preparing for the event at Interlachen for five years.  USGA staff itself has been working on-site since the summer 2005.

The last major golf event Interlachen hosted was the 2002 Solheim Cup. However, this event will be much bigger in terms of attendance, on site media outlets, and national exposure.

Additionally, the Edina Community Channel 16 crew will be at the U.S. Women’s Open all week. An episode of “In Edina” will be broadcast from the golf course. Afterwards, a retrospective video about the event will be created and made available to the public.

The increase in revenue will make Edina a stronger community economically, which is the path towards a better city as a whole. The national attention will be an extra bonus.  At any rate, it will help the rest of the nation know what a great place Edina truly is.

Every June, the Home Safety Council celebrates Home Safety Month!  HSC is an organization which encourages people to take easy steps toward making their homes safer for themselves, their pets, and their families.  The theme for this year’s Home Safety Month campaign is Hands on Home Safety. As the name suggests, it suggests some simple hands-on steps to create a safer home environment from the five leading causes of home injury: falls, poisonings, fires and burns, choking or suffocation, and drowning.  Many household accidents like these can be avoided with some precautionary measures!  Also, some aspects of a home safety are good to have in place anyway when one is trying to sell a house.  If a potential buyer hurts themselves on your property, you may find yourself with a lawsuit instead of a sale!

According to the HSC, falls are the leading cause of injury at home. There are several actions which can be taken to prevent many types of falls.  Ensuring that stairwells and hallways are well-lit is the first place you want to start.  Stairs should have handrails on both sides secured along the full length of the stairway.  Finally, make sure the halls and stairs are unobstructed.  You wouldn’t want a potential home-buyer tripping over a soccer ball in an enclosed space like this.

Make certain that smooth walking surfaces, such as hardwood or stone floors, are dry. When these surfaces are wet, they can be very slick.  Putting rugs at doorways and in the kitchen in front of the sink can help to provide traction in potentially slick walking areas. 

Here is the HSC’s Hands On Home Safety Checklist.  Now, there are other areas of a home which can be susceptible to trips and falls which are important to be aware of when you’re selling your home. 

The top problem areas for outdoor falls around the home are walking paths, sidewalks, and driveways.  Cracks in the asphalt which result in even a relatively small gap can cause tripping, especially if the crack has resulted in an uneven surface.  You’ve probably tripped over a little crack in pavement yourself at some point.  If you have uneven asphalt at home, you may have tripped on your own property!  You don’t have to rip out and replace the concrete, however, there are mud jacking and sand jacking services which can help you with this. 

The same basic principle applies to landscaped paths which have brickwork or stepping stones.  If you have a brick patio and have noticed that it has become uneven over time, it’s probably a good idea to pull it up and re-level it.  If you put the bricks and stones in yourself, you can probably also fix the trouble yourself.

Also, uneven stairs can cause problems, whether their on stairwells inside the home or steps outside leading to the front door.  Not quite sure what I mean?  Perhaps the bottom stair on the outside porch is only 3 inches tall or the top stair of the basement steps is a much taller than the previous stairs.  If you have an uneven step in your home, you probably have already tripped on it yourself.  If at all possible, it’s probably a good idea to try and fix the problem.  It could prevent an injury or save a life!

Finally, I was driving past a home yesterday and I noticed a chiminea, or outdoor fireplace, on a wooden deck.  It dawned on me that the parts of the home safety guide I read, did not mention this type of situation. I felt I might mention it though!  If you have an outdoor fireplace, chiminea, fire pit, or any other source of open flames outside on your deck or patio, ensure that proper steps have been taken to prevent uncontrolled fires from happening.  Ensure it is kept far enough away from wooden decks, stairs, yard furniture, and other things which are flammable.

You can view the HSC’s full safety guide here.