Consumers Agree: It’s a Good Time To Sell

Consumers Agree: It’s a Good Time To Sell

In today’s sellers’ market, many homeowners are weighing their options and trying to decide if they should sell their house. If you’re in that group, you may be balancing things like the ongoing health crisis, rising mortgage rates, and your own changing needs to determine your best time to make a move.

However, recent data shows that time may already be here. According to the latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) by Fannie Mae, 76% of consumers believe now is a good time to sell.

Looking back over the past few years, its clear consumers are incredibly optimistic today. The graph below shows the percent of survey respondents who say it’s a good time to sell a house, and their positive outlook is…

759 Views, 0 Comments

Fun Winter Activities in Minneapolis

Are you a die-hard fan of Minnesota winters? Or maybe the only thing that’s getting you through the winter is counting the days until spring. Most of us are somewhere in the middle—appreciating the beauty of the season but still needing a boost as we face each new day that seems longer, colder and snowier than the last.

Thankfully, Minneapolis is not a city that slows down when the temperature drops. So, pull on your boots, pull down your hat, and get out there to embrace—and conquer—the last weeks of winter.

The Great Northern Festival
Jan. 27 - Feb. 6
The Great Northern celebrates our cold, creative winters with 10 days of diverse programming that invigorates the mind and body, including public art, musical performances, lectures, workshops, and…

1269 Views, 0 Comments

The 12 Days of Shopping Local

The 12 Days of Shopping Local

Hats off to the delightfully creative local businesses that choose to call Minneapolis home. And what better time to support our wonderful retail community than the biggest shopping season of the year. Explore these stores and make it a resolution to shop local as much as possible all year long.

I Like You
1955 Johnson St. N.E.
I Like You is a gift shop that gives space to more than 300 artists selling unique cards, jewelry and gifts.

Les Sol
4353 S. Upton Ave. #104
Les Sol is an eclectic Linden Hills boutique offering small, indie brands and locally designed jewelry, women’s clothing and gifts.

D.NOLO
219 N. 2nd St.
This one-stop shopping destination houses three cutting-edge fashion and home décor…

655 Views, 0 Comments

How Do I Get My Minnesota Real Estate License?

HOW DO I GET MY Minnesota REAL ESTATE LICENSE?

If you’re interested in starting a career in the exciting world of real estate, you’re at least 18 years old and a legal U.S. resident, you can follow these six steps to get your Minnesota real estate license.

Step 1: Register for Course I

There are three 30-hour courses (Course I, II, III) that need to be completed, but only Course I needs to be completed before the exam. Kaplan Real Estate Education offers multiple education options that fulfill the 90-hour requirement.

Go to www.kapre.com/real-estate-courses/minnesota/licensing/salesperson.

Step 2: Pre-Register for Your Real Estate License Exam

There are two ways to register:

· Online registration: Go…

672 Views, 0 Comments

Win When You Sell (And When You Move)

Win When You Sell (And When You Move)

If you’re trying to decide when to sell your house, there may not be a better time than this winter. Selling this season means you can take advantage of today’s strong sellers’ market when you make a move.

Win When You Sell

Right now, conditions are very favorable for current homeowners looking for a change. If you sell now, here’s what you can expect:

• Your House Will Stand Out – While recent data shows there are more sellers getting ready to list their homes this winter, there are still more buyers in the market than there are homes for sale. If you sell your house now before more houses are listed, it will get more attention from serious buyers who are eager to find a home.
• Your House Will…

623 Views, 0 Comments

Don’t Believe Everything You Read: The Truth Many Headlines Overlook

Don’t Believe Everything You Read: The Truth Many Headlines Overlook

There are a lot of questions right now regarding the real estate market as we head into 2022. The forbearance program is coming to an end and mortgage rates are beginning to rise.

With all of this uncertainty, anyone with a megaphone – from the mainstream media to a lone blogger – has realized that bad news sells. Unfortunately, we’ll continue to see a rash of troublesome headlines over the next few months. To make sure you aren’t paralyzed by a headline, turn to reliable resources for a look at what to expect from the housing market next year.

There are already alarmist headlines starting to appear. Here are two recent topics you may have seen in the news.

1.…

634 Views, 0 Comments

Great Vacation Rentals in the North Loop

Great Vacation Rentals in the North Loop

In the 19th century, the North Loop was a bustling hub of commercial and industrial activity.

Today, the spacious warehouses and turn-of-the-century industrial aesthetic have been preserved, but everything else in this cosmopolitan neighborhood has transformed to suit the modern lifestyles of its residents.

The North Loop has seen more development than any other part of Minneapolis in the past decade as aging industrial buildings have been converted into modern lofts and condos and boutique shops, restaurants, bars and art galleries occupy the renovated storefronts. It’s isolated from the traffic of the freeway but close to downtown, light rail, bike paths, and walking trails along the Mississippi…

662 Views, 0 Comments

Duck and Cover! Inflation Is Coming!

Duck and Cover! Inflation is Coming!

Catchy title, right?

Do I think you should be worried about inflation? Oh, hell yes. But as a real estate investor and agent, I see this as an AMAZING time to get into real estate investing, BECAUSE of inflation.

Let’s take a step back and do a quick review of inflation. I’m no Adam Smith, but I feel I’ve got a decent understanding of the fundamentals of economics. So, what is inflation? Inflation is the general decrease in the value of the dollar compared to its ability to purchase goods and services. Meaning, if a gallon of gas costs $3 today, then tomorrow, that same $3 might only get you three quarters of a gallon of gas. Good example? Ok, here’s another. Say you like to go to Valleyfair (I mean, who…

542 Views, 0 Comments

Think People Are Moving Out of the City? Think Again.

Think People are moving out of the city? Thank again.

It’s been a tumultuous year for the U.S. housing market, and the Twin Cities is as prone as any region to increased housing demand, low inventory, higher prices, and competitive sales. According to Minneapolis Area Realtors, the decade-long sellers’ market is continuing as the median sales price of homes in the Twin Cities rose 7.9% to $340,000, and new listings fell 11.5% from October 2020.

Another trend that market watchers are seeing is the steady increase in the percentage of home sales in the Minneapolis/St. Paul urban market. Condo sales were up more than any other property type over the past year, rising 3.8%. And in August, closed sales in Minneapolis reached their highest level since…

637 Views, 0 Comments

VA Home Loans: Homes for Heroes

VA Home Loans: Homes for Heroes

This Veterans Day, we honor those who have served and thank them for their continued dedication to our country. A special thanks to our DRG veterans JJ, Brooks, and Tim.

In the United States, there are many valuable benefits available to veterans, including VA home loans. For over 75 years, this program has given millions of veterans and their families the opportunity to purchase their own homes.

As we consider the full impact of VA home loans, it’s important to understand these great options for veterans, active-duty personnel, and surviving spouses and to share them with those who may be able to benefit the most. For a variety of reasons, many qualified applicants don’t take advantage of this valuable…

673 Views, 0 Comments