Red River Valley News

It’s tough not to think about our friends to the North as they endure the flooding and cold weather. The Red Cross has done a great job keeping people updated about progress in the region with their Disaster Online Newsroom blog.

Twin Cities March Housing Update

From our friends at The Skinny, here's the latest on the housing market in Minneapolis and St Paul areas.

Vote Earth

On March 28 you can VOTE EARTH by switching off your lights for one hour.Or you can vote global warming by leaving your lights on.

The results of the election are being presented at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. We want one billion votes for Earth, to tell world leaders that we have to take action against global warming. (Learn more)

Granite counters emitting radon?

I know it’s just one more thing to think about when you buy a new home or renovate your home. And it’s just one more thing that we buyer agents make it our business to know.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune just ran a good article on the granite-radon debate. It seems as if the jury is still out on how prevalent or imminent the danger is – but it definitely looks as if there is a danger. The Marble Institute of America announced it will launch a "Home Approved Stone" program to reassure consumers about granite's safety. That should help. Radon professionals say homeowners may want to test their countertops and the rest of the house.

See our new office - March 18-19

Please stop by to see our new office and meet my associates this week ~ Buyers Real Estate Group is sharing space with Inner Source Solutions and Journey Consulting and Coaching, Inc. Come experience our "fully recycled" re-do of the office (paint, fixtures and all) and the great woodsy-ambiance.

Open House: Wed & Thurs, March 18 & 19, 1-4pm
Reception: Thursday, March 19, 4-7pm

Stop by for a few minutes, and enjoy a snack at the end of your work day or stay for awhile. Hope to see you next week!

Directions Below: Buyers Real Estate Group 11900 Wayzata Blvd, Suite #214 Minnetonka, MN 55305

From the East:-Take I-394 West to the Ridgedale Drive Exit (the 2nd exit past Hwy 169) -Go right (North) on Ridgedale Drive to Wayzata Boulevard (the north frontage road) -Go east (take a right) on Wayzata Boulevard -Take an immediate left into the gray two-story building with green decking (11900 Building of Marsh Run) -Our suite is on the west side of the building (the side with the GREEN doors) -We are in Suite #214

From the West: -From I-494 to I-394 East to the first exit - Ridgedale Drive -Go left (North) on Ridgedale Drive to Wayzata Boulevard (the North Frontage Road) -Go east (take a right) on Wayzata Boulevard -Take an immediate left into the gray two-story building with green decking (11900 Building of Marsh Run) -Our suite is on the west side of the building (the side with the GREEN doors) -We are in Suite #214

Sewer Problems are NO FUN!!

About three weeks ago I decided on a Sunday to wash a few loads of clothes. When I went down to check on the second load to my surprise I found about a half inch of water that had backed up from the drain in the basement floor. After trying to get someone one to look at it (remember it is Sunday) I gave up and waited until Monday morning. That means no flushing of toilets, washing of dishes, or showers. Get the picture??

Monday my sewer guy arrived about ten in the morning and at two in the afternoon he told me that he could not get it unplugged and that the next day he would be back with a scope to "take a look at the problem". This would also be an additional $200+ depending on how long it took.

Fortunately a neighbor mentioned that the city where I live in does the "colonoscopy of the sewer" as I have named it!! And they do it for FREE- I was very happy to hear this. So Tuesday came and let me tell you I have seen more of my sewer than I care to see, the city determined that it was blocked at the street, with tree roots. There are no trees in the middle of the street, but the roots from the trees go everywhere. So the sewer guy spent another 4 hours and finally broke through.

What I learned from this experience is this: have your sewer line cleaned every couple of years, only use single ply toilet paper and biodegradable. Put NOTHING down your toilet, but what comes out of your body and the toilet paper, no Kleenex, wipes, etc. After spending nearly $400 we have a clean sewer!!!

Submitted by exclusive home buyer agent Renei Schmitz

Federal Housing Plan

RIS Media recently published an article on Obama’s housing plan and how it attacks two problems that are creating a vicious cycle in the nation’s housing market.

First, it offers $200 billion to provide refinancing for some homeowners who owe more than their homes are now worth-shorthanded as being “underwater” on their mortgages. To qualify, these homeowners-5 million of them by administration estimates-must have their mortgages in the hands of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance giants that the government seized last September.

Many of these homeowners would like to take advantage of today’s historically low interest rates and refinance but can’t, since the law prohibits refinancing if the current mortgages reflects less than 80% of the homes’ values. These homeowners now can seek to refinance if their mortgages are up to 5% higher than the present-day values of their homes.

The other pillar of Obama’s plan attacks the problem of affordability.
The administration provides another $75 billion in incentives to help prevent foreclosures in cases in which the homeowners, up to 4 million of them, are about to lose their homes. The money comes from the $700 billion bailout fund approved last October.

In exchange for the incentives, a servicer would modify a mortgage so that no more than 38% of a homeowner’s monthly after-tax income was taken by the monthly mortgage payment. The government then would step in and share the cost of reworking that mortgage so that no more than 31% of the borrower’s monthly income was tied up in the payment.

For more information – including how to tell if you qualify for help – check out the original RIS Media article.

Submitted by exclusive home buyer agent Mary Rugani

Buyers Market

The housing market has been, well, strange lately – but not unfitting with the times around us. Lawrence Yun, National Association of REALTORS chief economist recently said, “Conditions have been aligning very favorably for home buyers with the exception of consumer confidence. But I am hopeful that sales will turn around by late spring and early summer because history suggests that home sales can rise even in times of job losses when housing affordability rises.”
January saw a big stall in the market and buyer waited to see what would shake out in the federal stimulus packages – but people are starting to buy again. Spring is traditionally a time of greater home sales in the Midwest.

This spring might be the right time for you – or a friend to look at purchasing a home. There are some great incentives, especially for first time home buyers. The prices are low and sellers are motivated to make a deal.

We continue to work only with home buyers, maximizing your buying advantage is our top priority.

The Fixit Club

Maybe you bought a fixer-upper, maybe you live in a well-loved and lived in home or maybe you just want to make some new improvements. I just ran into the site for you – the Fixit Club.

The Fixit Club contains simple instructions and tips on troubleshooting and repairing or recycling household things that break. They have everything from air purifier repair to yard trimmer repair. The instructions are straightforward and often include diagrams or drawings.

The site was created and maintained by Dan and Judy Ramsey, authors of If It's Broke, Fix It! and many other how-to books for homeowners and consumers.

Submitted by exclusive buyer agent, Shannon Lindstrom