The Skinny September 2009

We’re seeing more home purchases than last year at this time– which has been a trends for about 14 weeks. The best market continues to be the market for homes under $175,000. Learn more on “The Skinny”, a month video created by the Minneapolis Realtors.

Foreclosures in Minnesota

Did you know that the foreclosure rate in Minnesota is the highest in the Upper Midwest? The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that last week. Minnesota 2020 has a proposal to help alleviate that problem. They suggest that Minnesotans consider starting a new program that would guarantee new homebuyers’ down payments for five years even if the market continues to decline. This type of “price floor” program would stop the housing market free fall and get local markets moving again, according to report authors.

They maintain that federal loans will not be successful if property values decrease – a Minnesota Home Values Guarantee Program could help homebuyers mitigate that risk.

The Best of Mpls / St Paul

Mpls/St Paul Magazine just came out with their Best of the Cities list. It’s a great roadmap to tour the city whether you’re new to the Twin Cities or you have guests coming into town and want to show them the local highlights. You can pick up a hard copy this month or check out the online version for a few of the highlights.

First Time Homebuyer Deals

November 30 is the current deadline for the first time homebuyer rebate. Here’s the scoop from RIS Media:

For those who purchase a home this year, the tax credit is for 10% of the purchase price, up to $8,000. Those who have owned a home in the past three years aren’t eligible. Buyers also have to meet eligibility requirements regarding income; the current credit begins to phase out for singles who make more than $75,000 and couples who make more than $150,000.

So if you are or you know a first time homebuyer have them find a home buyer real estate agent to help them make a purchase in time to take advantage of this great opportunity.

Most Expensive Zip Codes

So I have good new and bad news from Forbe’s list of the most expensive zip codes. The good news is that none of the list of the zip codes that have seen the greatest loss in the last were in Minnesota. The bad news is that none of the zip code that have seen the greatest gain were in Minnesota either. Maybe we can be OK with above average – but somewhere in the bell curve.

Don't forget to vote

It’s Primary Day in Minnesota. There are no primaries in Minneapolis as they are forgoing it to employ ranked-choice voting for the first time in November. But there are a couple of contested races in St Paul, Bloomington, St Louis Park and Maplewood.

Check out the Minneapolis Star Tribune for more information on the races or info on voting.

Minneapolis a top city to earn a living

Looking for a job? Forbes recently posted their list of the Best US Cities to Earn a Living. Minneapolis-St Paul ranked number 3! Here are their stats:

• Number of Forbes’ 400 Best Big Companies: 4
• Number of Forbes’ 200 Best Small Companies: 6
• Median Income: 32,509
• ACCRA Cost of Living Index # (100 Median): 112.1
• Five-Year forecasted Annual Job Growth: 0.83%

So we can’t promise you a job but we can tell you that we are indeed a good place to earn a living!

Minnesota Schools

School has started! We have school buses, school patrols and kids everywhere. It’s great to see their smiling faces and it seems like a good time to look at Minnesota school resources

The Minnesota Department of Education compiles anything and everything related to education in the state. You can learn about gift programs, drop prevention and everything in between. While the site is geared toward teachers and other education professionals it can provide insight for parents as well.

School Report Cards are exactly what they sound like. Check it out to see the reading and math scores, demographics of students, school opportunities, staffing and more.

Great Schools is an interesting site where parents can rate their experiences with a school. I would take comments with a grain of salt but sometimes the details are telling.

Eco House at the Fair

Been to the State Fair yet? If you are planning to go, be sure to visit the Eco Experience for some good ideas you can implement in your own home to promote a green (and often budget-friendly) household.

The Eco Experience is a building at the Fair that features cutting-edge, environmentally-friendly services and products. This year they will feature a Net Zero Eco House constructed in the building complete with a solar façade and green roof. You can follow the progress of the house as it’s built on the Living Green Facebook page.