Facebook Page Launch Day
February 8, 2010 by Eric Hempler · Leave a Comment
Today is Launch Day for my Facebook Page. If you like what you see become a fan and I’ll be sure to keep you informed on Real Estate trends in the Twin Cities.
Beating the Winter Blahs
February 7, 2010 by Eric Hempler · Leave a Comment
Winter has a way of making us restless in our home. It is a good time to make a few changes to spruce things up a little. Here are a few quick ideas to help enjoy your indoor surroundings.
- Brighten your Bathroom. Give your bathroom a new look by simply changing the shower curtain, adding new accent rugs and towels.
- See your living room in a new light. Change out lamps or fixtures in your living and/or family room to brighten things up during the darker days.
- Cabinets can handle a new look. Spruce up cabinets by changing out handles and knobs. Try out satin, polished nickel or black.
- Change how your view the world outside. Update window coverings and treatments. Replace heavy drapes with sheer panels or invest in new blinds that compliment your furnishings.
- Clean up the kitchen. Take the time to wash the cabinets and wax the floor. Clean the fronts of appliances and shine up the sink. Keep counters free of clutter and add a new rug.
- Re-arrange the furniture. Moving your chairs, couches and tables around gives the room a whole new feel.
- Picture this. Change out photos or frames to keep a room looking fresh.
“The condo conundrum”
February 7, 2010 by Eric Hempler · Leave a Comment
There are some great deals in the condo market these days.
Put another way: It’s a really tough time to be selling one.
Aaron Wing was on the happy end of that equation last year when he snapped up a condo in the Market House development in Lowertown for $120,000.
The 1,330-square-foot unit, which had gone through a bank foreclosure, sold in 2005 for more than $300,000. Full Article.
“Minneapolis and St. Paul step into the market on a scale unseen in decades.”
February 7, 2010 by Eric Hempler · Leave a Comment
Guess who’s moving in on the local housing scene?
You are, fellow taxpayer.
In an extraordinary effort to save neighborhoods ravaged by unprecedented numbers of foreclosures, Minneapolis and St. Paul are spending millions of dollars to buy and repair houses and put new owners back in them. It’s an unusual governmental reach into the housing market, fueled by federal money and reminiscent of urban renewal and freeway building 50 years ago. Full Article.
“Home tour aims to help buyers discover north Minneapolis”
February 6, 2010 by Eric Hempler · Leave a Comment
Where can you buy a rehabbed 1919 Arts and Crafts home with an updated kitchen, new energy-efficient windows and charming wood built-ins for $125,000?
In north Minneapolis. Full Article.
“Bike-sharing hits Minneapolis streets”
February 6, 2010 by Eric Hempler · Leave a Comment
Nice Ride Minnesota has taken the reins on a full-blown bike-sharing program set to hit the streets of Minneapolis in June. Subscribers can look forward to borrowing a bike from any kiosk with the swipe of a card.
“The idea behind bike share is to make it easy for anyone to walk out of their office or classroom and use a bike for short trips in the city,” said Bill Dossett, Executive Director of Nice Ride Minnesota. “A bike share system must be easy to use, rugged, and reliable. The BIXI system was designed from the ground up with these goals in mind.”
Public Bike System Company (PBSC) will supply the bikes and kiosks to Minneapolis for the Nice Ride Minnesota’s bike-sharing program. PBSC is well-known for developing the bike-sharing program in Montreal called BIXI. The BIXI system was launched last May and is being purchased by cities throughout the world, according to Dossett. Full Article.
This Year’s To Do List
February 6, 2010 by Eric Hempler · Leave a Comment
Major Projects
Refinish Hardwood Floors
I did these once before, but each floor seems to have a different problem and some common problems. I’m the only one that notices it, but I don’t think I took the time I should have to make sure the floors were sanded perfectly with no imperfections. The second floor was so dry the coats I put on soaked right into the wood. The first floor went pretty well, but I think both will have to be done again. I also found not enough care was taken to make sure none of our furniture would scratch or ware the floors. It’s not much work for me to redo the floors, but will be a little bit of an inconvenience and I’ll probably have to send the kids to visit the grandparents.
Re Tile Bathroom Floor
After finishing the tiling I felt the floor wasn’t completely flat. Instead of removing the old sub-floor I went right over it with a new sub-floor. At the time I didn’t think it would be an issue, but it does seem the middle of the floor raises a little creating a small hill in the floor. Like the hardwood floors I’m probably the only one that notices it, but I know it could be better so I plan to redo this.
Refinish Staircase
I started this project, but never got around to finishing it. After taking the carpet off the stairs I did a little sanding, but found I’ll have to take each board off the staircase to completely sand and finish them. After that I can reassemble the staircase and at the same time I can get rid of some of the squeaks the staircase makes.
Replace Laundry Sink
This looks to be a major undertaking. The sink I have is probably as old as the house itself, about fifty years old. The sink I have is pretty heavy and has cracked due to age. The piping feeds strait from the ceiling to the sink and I’m sure some cutting to the supply lines and drain will have to be done along with completely replacing the drainage piping.
Build Garage
I haven’t completely made up my mind about this project yet. The access I have to the alley doesn’t have anough space to build a garage because the area from the alley to my backyard is sloped, which would require a lot of concrete, fill and grading. To do all of that doubles the cost of building a garage, so I’m not sure it’s much of a priority.
Odds and Ends
I have a lot of odds and ends left to do. A few doors, some wiring, light fixtures, painting, touch up items, etc.
“Woodbury park-and-ride funding proposed”
February 5, 2010 by Eric Hempler · Leave a Comment
State lawmakers included a new Woodbury park-and-ride facility in their public works proposals, but funding for the project is far from certain.
Minnesota House and Senate bonding bills, as the public construction packages are known, propose $1.5 million for land acquisition and construction of a commuter bus stop along Interstate 94 near Manning Avenue.
Democrats, who control the Legislature, unveiled their nearly $1 billion public works packages Thursday, the opening day of the 2010 legislative session. Full Article.
Part Time Realtor vs Full Time Realtor
February 5, 2010 by Eric Hempler · Leave a Comment
The other day I was reading an article that talked about hiring a Full Time Realtor over someone that sells homes Part Time or On the Side. I have to wonder what qualifies as full time versus part time. Even a zero time Realtor can sell a home. As long as the individual keeps up to date on market conditions there’s no reason why the person has to be a Full Time Realtor. Another thing to consider is the more experience someone gains the more free time they actually have because they’re not marketing as aggressively any more and are relying on referrals to keep them in business. So to some degree I would think someone with more experience is really a Part Time Realtor. Whether you go with someone that does this on the side or everyday really doesn’t matter. It really boils down to who are you comfortable with, do they know and understand the market, do they do their homework, do they know how to price a home and can they negotiate.
A List of General Home Buying Expectations
February 4, 2010 by Eric Hempler · Leave a Comment
Intangible Advantages of Home Ownership
- Satisfcation of having your own home.
- Tax Deductions on Interest Paid on a Mortgage, Property Taxes and Home Insurance
- Equity buildup from paying down the principal balance on a mortgage and apprecition.
Expenses of Homeownership
- Mortgage Payment
- Property Taxes
- Homeowners Insurance
- Mortgage Insurance (In some cases)
- All utilities servicing the home
- Maintenance and Upkeep
- Association Dues (In some cases)
When Buying a Home Might not be Right
- You plan to live there short term
- You may not like the area
- Can not count on a steady income
- Can’t make a downpayment
- Buying Solely as an Investment
- High interest rates
- Home prices are high
- Family situation is unstable
Expectations when Buying a Home
- Anything and everything will vary because everyone has a different experience when buying a home. That can include interest rates, types of mortgage, cost to purchase, inspections…
- Laws and disclosures change every year
- There is no perfect time to buy
- Nearly everything is negotiable