Barker and Hedges Real Estate Blog 
Steps Towards Purchasing Your First Home
Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 at 12:16pm. 558 Views, 1 Comments.
It is easy to become overwhelmed these days when it comes to buying a first home. There are ways to prepare yourself ahead of time, though. The information below can help smooth your journey towards home ownership.
1. Review your credit. Mortgage lenders will be closely evaluating your credit and finances. Make sure that you know what is on your credit report first. Start by requesting a copy of your credit report from the big three credit agencies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. When you receive your report, review it carefully for mistakes. If you find an error, take corrective action by following the instructions the credit agency provides. The sooner the process starts, the better, as the investigation will take time.
2. Take steps to…
Selling Your Home? Improve Your Curb Appeal
Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 at 9:56am. 427 Views, 2 Comments.
A large percentage of people who are considering a home decide whether or not to take a look inside based on its curb appeal, or outside appearance. When selling a home, you can help make sure they stop at your home to take a look inside by spending some time working on its outside.
Take a good look at the exterior of your home. Be sure to look from both the driveway and the street so you can get a view similar to people passing by in a vehicle or arriving for a tour. Evaluate both the home and the surroundings. Ask yourself some questions:
What is your first impression of the house and front yard?
What are the best exterior features of the home?
How can you emphasize these features?
What are the worst exterior features of the home?
How…
Blaine Haven location
Friday, March 21st, 2008 at 6:31pm. 417 Views, 0 Comments.
Buy a new home in Blaine Haven! As a growing suburb, Blaine MN real estate has the potential to be an excellent investment.
Directions to Blaine Haven:
Highway 10 to Highway 65; north to 99th Avenue NE; west to Polk; north, turning into Territorial; south on Jackson to 104th Lane NE.
Look for the the sign on the corner of Jackson & Territorial!
Adjacent to Madison Elementary School!
We'd love to show you the model and 4 additional available floorplans. Prices starting from $274,900. Premium lot choices still available! Call 952-930-5138 to schedule an appointment with our team today!
Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area Truth In Housing and what it means to you when Buying or Selling A Home
Friday, March 21st, 2008 at 2:35pm. 315 Views, 2 Comments.
If you have ever wondered exactly what a Truth in Housing or Time of Sale inspection is and what it means to you as a home seller or a home buyer you have stopped at the right place. What you may not know is that Truth in Housing inspections are not required in all cities in the State of Minnesota. I'll just take a moment of your time to clear it up for you starting on the home selling side.
If you have made the exciting decision to sell your home you may be required to have a Truth in Housing inspection completed on your property. What this means is that before your house gets listed on the market an inspector (either private or city mandated) will come to your home to look for potential problems that the city feels the buyer should know about. …
Home Staging Defined
Thursday, March 20th, 2008 at 6:50pm. 312 Views, 0 Comments.
With the popularity of today’s HGTV programs, home staging is increasingly practiced throughout the country. However, it is difficult to get an accurate representation of staging by watching an edited, 30-minute television show. Home staging is more than just setting out fresh flowers, baking cookies, and playing soft music. Staging combines basic design principles with proven marketing techniques; the result is a beautifully presented house that appeals to a broad range of buyers.
Think about the process people go through when they sell their car. They wash it, they clean out the items that have collected under the seats, and they vacuum all the upholstery. Why? There are plenty of automobiles that are being sold, and the seller wants the best…
Minneapolis Home Values Are Dropping
Monday, March 17th, 2008 at 9:28am. 374 Views, 0 Comments.
In the latest city assessments, Minneapolis home values are down. Though falling home prices were predicted on the North Side, where foreclosures have been rampant, home values in all areas of Minneapolis have been dropping. The average home value change is about 10 to 12 percent citywide, but in some places its been as high as 44 percent. It is not uncommon for prices to have dropped by $20,000 to $30,000.
Suburban residential property in Hennepin County is down between 9 to 10 percent. Ramsey County owners should be receiving their notices anytime now.
In most neighborhoods, occasional foreclosures in the area are not to blame for home value changes. The sheer volume of homes for sale is certainly a factor. Also, sellers wanting to move will lower…
A Reprieve from Foreclosure for Minnesota Homeowners
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 at 7:00am. 280 Views, 0 Comments.
It’s estimated that 33,000 Minnesotans could face foreclosure during 2008. Soon, there may be help for many of them.
Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, and Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL-Minneapolis, have jointly introduced the Minnesota Subprime Foreclosure Deferment Act of 2008 to the Senate. The bill would halt foreclosures of subprime or exotic "negative amortization" loans closed after Jan. 1, 2001, and prior to Aug. 1, 2007, for one year.
The proposal would require mortgage lenders to cancel sheriff's foreclosure home auctions for eligible homeowners. The Minnesota Subprime Foreclosure Deferment Act of 2008 does not financially unburden homeowners, however. They would still be responsible for their debt. Under the legislation, homeowners with…
Good News for the Twin Cities!
Monday, March 10th, 2008 at 12:35pm. 409 Views, 0 Comments.
If you’re like many other Minnesota residents, you’ve been watching the housing market carefully, wondering if it is the right time to make a purchase or put a home up for sale. Prepare yourself for some good news!
The struggling real estate market has been offered a helping hand. Last week, the Federal Housing Administration temporarily doubled the limit for loans it guarantees throughout Minnesota. In the 13-county Twin Cities metro area, the limit on FHA backed loans rose from $276,683 to $365,000. For greater Minnesota, the limit rose to $271,050, up from $200,160. According to the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors, these changes mean that 77% of homes currently for sale could be purchased through FHA.
Since the collapse of the…
Why Choose a Realtor Over a Real Estate Agent?
Saturday, March 8th, 2008 at 8:32am. 323 Views, 0 Comments.
Purchasing or selling a home is a very emotional situation. The average American will buy or sell a home only 2-3 times during their lifetime and for many people, it will be the largest investment they make. This transaction is a significant event for anyone and because of that, it’s important that it’s done correctly. Choosing the right individual or organization to be your representative will have an incredible impact on the end results of your home purchase or sale.
Many real estate agents are professionals, but not all of them are REALTORS®. Some people believe that anyone who sells or buys real estate is a Realtor, but that is incorrect. The term “real estate agent” can generically describe someone licensed by the state that makes their living…
Pricing is key to successfully selling a home in today's Twin Cities Real Estate market
Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 at 12:43pm. 684 Views, 0 Comments.
Here is a great article to which I contributed information about selling a home in the Twin Cities real estate market that was recently written in St Paul's Highland Villager:
PRICING IT RIGHT IS THE FIRST STEP TO SUCCESSFULY SELLING HOME
by Kevin Driscoll - Published in the Highland Villager Wed Aug 22nd 2007
Whether it is because of rising interest rates, the growing number of mortgage foreclosures, the aging of the population or a surplus of new homes, the sellers' market of just a few years ago is history. However, even in today's buyers' market just about any home, and especially one in the neighborhoods served by the Villager, can be sold in three days to three weeks as long as it is priced correctly, area Realtors say.Pricing a…
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