The real estate market has settled into midsummer… new and coming soon listings are steady, while price reductions, multiple offers, and pending sales are increasing. Property showings are lackluster, on par with 3 years ago in 2021. But you don’t need a massive number of showings to get your home sold. You only need two […] The post Weekly real estate update 7/26/24… determining if you are ready to buy a home appeared first on HomesMSP ..read more

Are you thinking about buying or selling a home? If so, you are probably paying attention to mortgage rates and wondering if they are ever going to drop. Many people have been expecting rates to drop for the past year and so far, they really haven’t changed a lot – up and down some, but […] The post How does the economy impact mortgage rates? appeared first on HomesMSP ..read more

Thinking it might be time to sell your house and move to something smaller? Maybe a townhouse or condo? Maybe in a dream destination? Before you jump in, ask yourself some questions to determine if it is really the right choice for you. 1. Will it help you financially? Does it matter? It is easy […] The post Thinking about downsizing? Questions to ask first appeared first on HomesMSP ..read more

“Art is for everybody.” -Keith Haring NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It’s my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian ‘Quote Cup’ passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a […] The post Wednesdays Unplugged – Old-fashioned Pea Salad appeared first on HomesMSP ..read more

I constantly see the rules about dryer duct safety and dryer transition ducts being brought into question, mostly on home inspector forums. If it’s tough for home inspectors to keep this stuff straight, it’s gotta be really tough for average homeowners. Products and rules are always changing, so if you read this post five years from now, be aware that things may have changed. Also, these are the rules for Minnesota. These rules come from section 504 of the 2020 Minnesota Mechanical Code. If you’re in a different part of the country where you use the International Residential Code, check out se ..read more

Showing activity is eerily on the same track as 2021… below 2020 and 2023 but ahead of 2022. Bottom line is, you don’t need 20 showings and 12 offers to get a property sold… all you need is one! Real estate market activity is moderating again after the holiday, with new listings, pending sales and multiple offers up, but just a little. Overall, new listings are up from last year… pending and coming soon listings are pretty stagnant. With activity not as robust as we have grown accustomed to the last few years, preparing your home for sale becomes even more important. Buyers are more savvy t ..read more

The Weisman Art Museum on the campus of the University of Minnesota is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Twin Cities. Hugging the east bank of the Mississippi River, the distinctive Frank Gehry design is hard to miss and photographs of the distinctive ‘tin can’ facade are frequently included in collages of the Twin Cities. Not as well know is the view from the campus, which continues the theme of undulating steel sheets to create a covered walkway for the students who regularly pass by. Built in 1993, the museum’s expansion opened in 2011, a ..read more

“The seemingly insignificant things that most of us spend our days noticing are really significant, have meaning, and tell us something.” – Joan Didion NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It’s my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian ‘Quote Cup’ passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, along with an update and photos of what has been going on in our lives. I love trying new recipes…and love getting recipe ..read more

If you are thinking about selling in this amazing seller’s market you have likely started wondering about what you need to do to get ready to sell. Your first step should be to contact your Realtor, even if you don’t plan to sell right away. A free consultation could be just what you need to create a game plan to get started… getting mentally ready is often the biggest step. How you prepare will partly depend on your motivation and reasons for selling in the first place, but if you want to get the most money for your house in the least amount of time it boils down to 4 basic steps. 1. Declutte ..read more

When it comes to buying a home, you may feel there is too much red tape if you are self employed. A bank statement loan may help you. This is perfect for consultants, freelancers or other self employed workers. Forget tax returns, w2’s and paystubs. Using our bank statement loan, you may be able to qualify using income on 12-24 months of bank statements. Your expense ratio must be under 50% using a uniform expense ratio, profit and loss statement or CPA stated expense ratio. Credit scores can be as low as 620. Loan amounts can be up to $3 million. It can be used for a primary residence, secon ..read more