Archive for December, 2008
The Secret to Marketing a Home on the Internet
December 31st, 2008 Categories: Minneapolis Home Buyers and Sellers, My Listings, Real Estate News, Twin Cities Home Buyers, Twin City Sellers
As a Realtor, I need to be one step ahead of my competition and always on the ball when it comes to marketing my listings. It is a known fact that 87% of potential home buyers now cruise the internet real estate websites before they call their Realtor. I make sure my listings are in tip-top marketing shape before I present them to the world.
One way that my clients can find out what’s been happening out there in the market besides actual showings of their home is to have me send them some statistics from these websites. We call these “hits”.
I do this every Monday so that it gives them an idea of the traffic that visits their actual listing on line. Since I supply many pictures of the interior of the home, people will “stop by” and take a closer look at the property. I also supply a bold headline and other various marketing tools on Realtor.com. Click here to see this home on Realtor.com so that you know what I mean.
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Flipper Girl’s Latest North Minneapolis Property - Ya Gotta See This!
December 30th, 2008 Categories: Cool Girls, Minneapolis Home Buyers and Sellers, North Minneapolis, Real Estate News, That Flippin' House, Twin Cities Home Buyers
Here she comes again! My talented client, Jennifer (aka Flipper Girl), has just purchased her latest diamond in the rough to transform in to a thing of beauty. This home is your typical craftsman style with natural woodwork, hardwood floors and a nice, big upstairs for a dreamy master suite.
Here are some more before pics…
This is actually the “after” pic. The “before” pic was the one with the Aldi grocery bag on the floor. Here’s a link from Johnny Northside’s website that shows all of the trashy pics.
This will end up being the dreamy master suite. I think Jennifer is going to remove this wall on the right to make for a larger space.
That’s it for now! Just a little teaser of things to come. Stay tuned!
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Hawthorne Neighborhood, Minneapolis, Minnesota…The Good, The Proud and The Strong
December 28th, 2008 Categories: North Minneapolis, Real Estate News
Lots of articles have been written about the terrible crimes that has occurred in North Minneapolis…especially the Hawthorne Neighborhood.
The Hawthorne Neighborhood.
Named after Nathaniel Hawthorne, the famous author who wrote the novel, The Scarlet Letter. You remember Hester Prynne, the young woman who committed adultery back in the 1700’s in Boston, MA.
Funny, isn’t it? This neighborhood that Read the rest of this entry »
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Just a Little Christmas Present From Todd Bracher at Bell Mortgage, a “Best of 2008″ Inductee!
December 19th, 2008 Categories: Cool Guys, Mortgage Stuff, Real Estate News, Twin Cities Home Buyers
We’ve all just about have had it with the predatory lending fiasco. What with the TJ Waconia scandal, BC lending, etc. it’s time to focus on what is right in the world of home buying.
Yes, it’s going to be tougher to buy a home!
You’ll have to work a little harder and save a little more and maybe go to Mom and/or Dad for a loan. If you are ready to buy a home and have done the right things to get yourself to this point, read on!
Here’s a message from Todd Bracher, a top-notch mortgage lender at Bell Mortgage that I have recommended to my first time home buyers. He is reliable and trustworthy…a great combination! he also is on my
“We have had a incredible week in the markets with rates reaching 4.5% earlier in the week. We have come up off of those lows but remain just under 5% currently.
The market is perfect for those first time home buyers. Bell Mortgage has always had a purchases come first mantra. We will never lose sight of our bread and butter Realtor clients.
When the refinances disappear again, so will the brokers that concentrated only on the feeding frenzy that low rates can create in our world.
I will be working through the Holiday Season so if you are in need of any mortgage related help please do not hesitate to call.
Have a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!!
Todd C. Bracher
Mortgage Banker-Bell Mortgage Trusted Since 1880
Office: 952-591-1880
Cell: 612-221-4677
Fax: 952-591-9060
www.toddbracher.com<http://www.toddbracher.com/>”
Thank you, Todd, for all you’ve done for me and my clients this year! You are on my “Best Of 2008″ list. You rock!
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Jake’s City Grille in Plymouth, MN…So, What’s New? Silly Property Repairs, For One Thing!
December 18th, 2008 Categories: Plymouth "News", Real Estate News, Silly Property Repairs, Taste Minnesota, The Good Life
Here we go again. Another chain in Plymouth.
Not a huge chain like Chili’s or Applebee’s but a chain, none the less. I’ve been to Jake’s City Grille in Eden Prairie a few times. Actually, I’ve had a blast every time I went.
The first time I went was with a really cool lady that I was introduced to by my BNI buddy, John Branstad at Leadership By Design. It was a “blind date” and Read the rest of this entry »
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Thinking of Buying a Home in January? Take a Look at the New FHA Rules That Must Be Met
December 16th, 2008 Categories: Minneapolis Home Buyers and Sellers, Mortgage Stuff, Real Estate News, Twin Cities Home Buyers
First time home buyers, and any home buyer for that matter who chooses to take out an FHA loan, will have to save up a little more cash.
Beginning January 1, 2009 the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 changed the National Housing Act to read as follows: Read the rest of this entry »
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Count Down to the End of the Year…You Know, The “Best Of” Stuff!
December 12th, 2008 Categories: Cool Guys, Eden Prairie Home Buyers, Real Estate News, Twin Cities Home Buyers
Today is the first of the “Best Of’s” for me in my real estate business this year, 2008. I have some people and things that were-and are-very near and dear to my heart. I will share them with you until the end of the year.
OH, BY THE WAY…THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF MY BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE, NOT TO MENTION MY BUSINESS!
OK, here’s the first, not the least:
Aaron Boyer, First-Time Home Buyer
Aaron is a first-time home buyer that was recommended to me by my BNI buddy, Bridget Lorentz. She is a graphic artist and she has worked with Aaron at Digital River, a top notch internet software programming corporation, in Eden Prairie.
Not only is Aaron one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, he is also Read the rest of this entry »
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Reason #3 Why Plymouth, MN is Rated as Best Place to Live in the U.S.
December 11th, 2008 Categories: Plymouth "News", Real Estate News
Plymouth, Minnesota boasts some of the prettiest houses in the Twin Cities area. Check out this beautiful home that I have listed. Please feel free to give me a call if you would like to have a personal tour of this property. You can also look at this home at www.JeanieHoholik.com. Otherwise, sit back and enjoy the following video!
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Selling a Home in the Twin Cities Takes Teamwork
December 11th, 2008 Categories: North Minneapolis, Real Estate News, That Flippin' House
Most real estate sales transactions take two Realtors to bring the buyers to their new home and the sellers to take their money to the bank.
It can be a tricky dance, at times. There are moments when Realtors butt heads and do not take the clients’ best interest at heart. Egos prevail! I pride myself on working closely with my peers throughout the Twin Cities to make a sale happen. It is for the good of the client, which, by the way, is what it’s all about.
I’ll work with an agent to make sure that my client receives Read the rest of this entry »
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STOP FliPPiN’ in North Minneapolis
December 2nd, 2008 Categories: Minneapolis Home Buyers and Sellers, North Minneapolis, Real Estate News, That Flippin' House
Last Friday morning after a fun-filled Thanksgiving day my son, Jim, and I took a ride over to my client’s house at 3306 James Avenue North. You know, the historic first TJ Waconia home to be sold since the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation took them over. Jennifer, my client, is putting on the finishing touches and I wanted to show it off to Jim, who also is in the real estate biz down in Milwaukee.
After we left Jennifer’s property, we wheeled around the corner and here was this stop sign with the spray-painted word “flippin” under it. Actually, it says FliPPiN. Don’t you just hate it when people write a word in both upper and lower case? I mean, how gauche!
The question becomes, who would want to STOP FliPPiN?
Flipping, as most of us now know the term, means to turn an ugly, run down home into one that someone can now inhabit and enjoy. Hopefully, the flipper can make a profit. That’s the whole idea. So, who would do this? My only guess is it is someone who would like to keep the neighborhood the way it is so that he or she can spend some time in a vacant home to do their business. Like…say…drug dealing, partying, prostitution and more.
With the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), a project of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Minneapolis will receive $5.6 million and St. Paul $4.3 million to purchase and rehab foreclosed homes. Some will be rehabbed and some will be demolished. That has yet to be determined. Along with the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation, private investors like my client will be buying foreclosed properties and turning them into the lovely homes they once were.
3306 James Avenue North will be available for purchase beginning this Friday, December 5th. Call me for a personal tour at 763-443-9148. The asking price will be $139,900.
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