Archive for October, 2008
North Minneapolis Sighs Relief as Our Flipper’s Fingers Regain Strength!
October 27th, 2008 Categories: Cool Girls, Minneapolis Home Buyers and Sellers, North Minneapolis, Real Estate News, That Flippin' House, Twin Cities Home Buyers, Twin City Sellers
Thankfully, our forthright, courageous, professional and outstanding rehabber of North Minneapolis has recovered!
As you may recall from a previous episode of North rehabbing escapades, Jennifer just about sliced off her finger while gingerly maneuvering an awning off of a house she is rehabbing on James.
She drove herself to the hospital to re-attach her ring finger’s pad back on. So, at least she still has a finger print!
This home will be ready for sale in a couple of weeks. I can’t wait to see it!
It is the first TJ Waconia house to be re-entered into the mainstream marketplace for you to purchase! So, stay tuned for another beautiful home to be unleashed in North!
| Discussion: No Comments »
What We Found In (Of All Places) Downtown Minneapolis
October 19th, 2008 Categories: Cool Girls, Real Estate News, Taste Minnesota, The Good Life
I took a much needed day off of my real estate gig last Sunday. My buddy, Angel, and I spent the day together. We went to the Vikings game to see Detroit. Angel and I had a fun brunch at Ike’s and then made our way down 6th Street to the stadium.
There, in the window of the One Financial Plaza, was an unlikely visitor. It was a cute little bat! You can see Angel’s reflection in the window.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Digesting the Hawthorne Neighborhood Real Estate in North Minneapolis - Literally!
October 17th, 2008 Categories: Cool Guys, North Minneapolis, Real Estate News, Twin Cities Home Buyers, Twin Cities Real Estate Economy, Twin City Sellers
It’s a sad day when you watch a beautiful home that once had a family living in it that cared for it and took pride in it get taken out by a digger. (Not sure if that’s what that’s called. I should…I had three boys. They played with this stuff.)
I didn’t have the opportunity to view the inside of this historic home. I wish that I had.
Johnny Northside got a take on it for us to see before it was totally razed. It was a crack house, among other things.
One Realtor who viewed it on Johnny’s website said she “felt like crying”. Me too. There were some really cool features about this home. The dentil molding on the outside is the first clue.
What’s This?
It looks as if we have someone who knows this particular property and has a sense of restorative vigor about him. His name is “Kevin”. He told Johnny about Bauer Brothers Salvage. So far, there’s a clawfoot bathtub that sounds quite interesting!
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Twin Cities Area Real Estate Pending Sales 40% Above 2007
October 10th, 2008 Categories: Minneapolis Current Housing Statistics, Minneapolis Home Buyers and Sellers, Mortgage Stuff, Real Estate News, St. Paul Current Housing Statistics, Twin Cities Home Buyers, Twin Cities Real Estate Economy, Twin City Sellers
Pending sales skyrocket over 40 percent as prices decline
Here’s the latest from the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors just out today:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 10, 2008) – Buyers flocked to the Twin Cities housing market in September to take advantage of attractive home prices and a sunsetting federal loan program, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® (MAAR) based on data from the Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, Inc.
There were 4,036 pending sales in September, which represented a whopping 42.2 percent increase over September 2007’s mark of 2,839. Closed sales, too, were up dramatically—34.9 percent higher for the same time period comparison. The last time there was a year-over-year pending sales increase even close to this large was in March of 1998 when the increase over March of 1997 was 38.6 percent.
“There really are some incredible buying opportunities out there and this is the surest sign yet,” said Kevin Knudsen, MAAR President. “But we also need to keep in mind that September of last year was extremely slow, which makes these figures pop a little more.”
Also adding to the influx of September buyers was “last call” activity before the October 1 dissolution of the FHA-sponsored seller-funded downpayment assistance program, which was the last of a dying breed of zero-down loan programs remaining on the market.
A hearty 41.6 percent of September’s pending sales were lender-mediated foreclosures and short sales, up from 17.5 percent in September 2007. The increased market share of these bargain-priced properties led to further declines in home prices. The overall September median sales price of $189,900 fell from last year by 15.6 percent. Lender-mediated homes posted a median sales price of $146,000, a decrease of 11.5 percent from last year. Traditional properties had a September median sales price of $212,500, a decrease of 8.6 percent.
Due to the decline in home prices and another downtick in mortgage rates, the October Housing Affordability Index jettisoned upward from last month to 159, which is 21.4 percent higher than this time last year, and back up at extremely healthy levels following a few years of unsustainably low affordability. While challenging for sellers, this means a more accessible market for potential home buyers, thus the resurgence in sales activity.
“With all the uncertainties in the economy, it’s hard to predict right now if the sales upturn will continue,” said Steve Havig, MAAR President-Elect. “But the affordability and inventory choice picture is still very attractive, which bodes well for our long-term picture.”
| Discussion: No Comments »
BNI Breakfast of Champions! Why Our Chapter Is So Successful and How Yours Can Be, Too!
October 9th, 2008 Categories: BNI Full Circle Chapter, Real Estate News, Twin Cities Real Estate Economy
Being a real estate professional can be challenging when the economy gets rough. Being in ANY business right now can be challenging when the economy gets rough! We have a networking group, BNI Full Circle Chapter, that meets every Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. in Minnetonka. We refer business to each other and, at the present time, we have passed over $325,000 to each this year alone!
Once a month we meet for breakfast at Woody’s Grille in Plymouth to learn about a new technique or to brainstorm on how to be the best in the business in our profession. We call it The Breakfast of Champions and for good reason! This is one way of honing my skills as a Realtor.
I’m proud of my friends in BNI and I thank them for all of the business they have referred to me this year!
In the picture from left front and around the table:
Luke Carlson, Discover Strength
Stan Glasoe, StanLan Computer Support
LuAnn Svendsen, American Family Insurance
Amy Rogahn, Signature Bank
Pat Trumbell, Mary Kay Cosmetics
Kristi Thompson, Vision Mortgage
Me
Matt Anderle, MidAmerican Financial Group
| Discussion: No Comments »
The First Secret to Loving North Minneapolis
October 6th, 2008 Categories: Cool Girls, Minneapolis Home Buyers and Sellers, North Minneapolis, Real Estate News, That Flippin' House
It’s no secret if you visit this website.
My savvy, fun and super brilliant client has bought and refurbished the following homes only to be loved and cherished by all. All? Yes, not just the home owners, but the home owners’ neighbors, you see.
Fixing up North is a big deal for a lot of folks.
It’s not all about kumbaya stuff. It’s about making money.
It’s not about ripping people off. It’s about making a living. It’s about the American Dream…for real.
Here’s my client after she got her fingers ripped off pulling an awning off of 3306 James Avenue North…
I wasn’t sure she would be able to manage her filet but it was not a problem. I took her out for a nice dinner at Pittsburgh Blue to thank her for all of her business. She is a top notch gal who has it together.
I would have been home crying in my tea, but not her!
She had the guts to go out with the likes of me and put up with a filet and all the fixins’. Anyway, she’s had a tough time and I totally give her credit. Here’s the blood she shed at the scene before she drove herself to the hospital.
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
“Water Cooler Jitters” About North Minneapolis
October 6th, 2008 Categories: Minneapolis Home Buyers and Sellers, My Listings, North Minneapolis, Real Estate News, That Flippin' House
| Discussion: No Comments »
Cry Baby, Cry. How to Get Over Yourself and Your Woes
October 6th, 2008 Categories: Cool Guys, North Minneapolis, Real Estate News, That Flippin' House, Twin Cities Real Estate Economy
Here we are in the midst of some trying times. The stock market tanked today.
It will come back.
I’ve been watching and pouring my money in to it since 1984. If we go bust, we go bust. I’m a tad tired of the doom and gloom. I know what it takes to buck up. I’ve been there a few times and will be there again, I suppose.
It’s called dollar cost averaging.
Invest a dollar every day. Some days your dollar will buy more, some times less. It’s all good.
Here is a fun blog to look at while you are waiting for the stock market to return. Just sit back and enjoy. In case you missed the link above…
http://adventuresofjohnnynorthside.blogspot.com
Now, is your life so bad?
| Discussion: No Comments »
Reason #2 Why Plymouth, MN is Rated for Best Places to Live in the U.S.
October 3rd, 2008 Categories: Cool Guys, Plymouth "News", Real Estate News, The Good Life
We are lucky to have Discover Strength, a personal fitness facility, located right here in Plymouth, MN! As I have stated in my previous post about my personal training at Discover Strength, it helps me in my personal life, but it totally helps me keep my stamina and good nature in my real estate life here in the Twin Cities.My personal trainer at Discover Strength, Luke Carlson, has some great words of advice for those of you who are running the Twin Cities Marathon this weekend.
“Good luck to those of you running the marathon this weekend (or Chicago/Whistlestop next weekend). If you are not running and plan on watching the marathon, the DS staff will be watching just before mile 24 at Summit and Lexington - stop by and join us for eating, drinking, and cheering on runners! Watching a marathon is truly an incredible experience!”
Here are some more words of wisdom for you runners:
Tough Thinking for this Weekend’s Marathon and 10-Mile Runners
(adapted from Dr. Jim Loehr’s book “The New Toughness Training for Sports”)
One of the greatest secrets of peak performance in sport: sustaining a here-and-now mental focus during competition makes the natural expression of your talent and training easier. During battle, thinking about the future lets fear beat you; thinking about the past lets anger and frustration beat you. Aim to maintain a moment-by moment focus during the race.
When old man fear has you by the throat, look him straight in the eye, smile inside, and with all the conviction and passion you can pull from deep within your soul, think – or better yet, say out loud: “I LOVE IT!” “Tough Thinking” is based on your ability to use words and images to control your Ideal Performance State. This means disciplined thinking and visualization during competition. Tough thinking will keep you from panicking when things get crazy and prevent you form surrendering when the battle appears lost. Here are some examples of tough thinking. It is a great idea to pick 2 or 3 “go-to” phrases or words that you can continually repeat to yourself during the race. Pick a few words or phrases and repeat them to yourself throughout the entire race.
“I’M TOUGH ENOUGH”
“I’VE PUT IN THE TRAINING”
“LOOKING GOOD, FEELING GOOD”
“I FEEL STRONG”
“ONE MILE AT A TIME”
“I LOVE HILLS”
“BRING ON THE PAIN”
Or my personal favorite: “JARED MONDRY’S GOING DOWN!
When your back is squarely against the wall, think:
“THIS IS REALLY TOUGH – BUT I’M A WHOLE LOT TOUGHER”
When facing the hill on Summit Ave, say to yourself:
“BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON!”
When you feel tired, burned out, negative, and weak, think:
“TODAY WILL BE A GREAT CHALLENGE FOR ME. I’VE GOT TO BE SUPER-TOUGH TODAY TO MAKE IT. I’M GOING TO HANG IN THERE NO MATTER WHAT! NO EXCUSES!”
When things get painful and you feel like abandoning ship, think:
“I NEVER SURRENDER! NOT ME. NOT EVER! I WILL FIGHT UNTIL IT’S OVER. AND IT AIN’T OVER TILL IT’S OVER!”
Love the process, the fight, the marshaling of your resources, the pushing, the falling back, the breakthroughs, the struggles. Loving to win is easy. Loving the process moves you to a whole new level of competitive skill. Love the battle!
| Discussion: No Comments »
