Ryan Bretzel's Real Estate Thoughts

  Buying a HUD home can be a great opportunity at a fantastic price!  However, without proper knowledge buying a HUD home can be very frustrating and potentially costly.  My recommendation is to work with an agent who is qualified and has experience with HUD homes. What is HUD? HUD stands for Dep...

With interest rates so low and prices so affordable one would think more home buyers, especially first time home buyers would be buying homes.  The reality of the picture however is that with the job market slow people don't have much money and/or stable jobs and lending criteria has tightened up...

I was reading an article today based on some data that Trulia ran from Trulia Realtor profiles.  It concluded based on over 100,000 agent profiles that men Realtors on average list more homes than females and female Realtors list on average more expensive homes.  Now I haven't specifically notice...

Potentially affecting 669 counties in the United States is a decrease in the FHA loan limit ceiling for borrowers.  Currently in the Twin Cities Metro the limit is $365,000 but the previous limit was $318,550.  This is a $46,000 difference!   The temporary higher mortgage limits that went into ef...

Coming to the Market Soon!  Be the first to see this home before the rest of the public sees it.   3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom All Brick Home located in Premier North Como Park area.  Build equity fast with an unfinished basement. Updates include – New Kitchen, New Bathroom, New Windows and More…Offered...

You have probably heard that location, location, location is an important factor when buying a home. It is of course one of the biggest factors in the value of a home. Here are 3 things to consider and the weight they have in the value of a home today and in the the future.   1. Location Location...

The latest Monthly Skinny was released from the Minneapolis Association of Realtors (MAAR). Emily Green, 2011 MAAR Treasure, talks about the trends and implications of last month's numbers (May). Highlights Include: May 2011 Pending Sales are UP 13.2% from May 2010. May 2011 Inventory is DOWN 11....

 As a buyer you probably have seen updated bathrooms or windows and wonder when they were done. There are some ways to find out with a little looking. Here are some ways:   Windows - look inside between the double pane glass for a manufacturer's date. There might also be one etched in the glass ...

In reading a back issue of REALTOR (July/August '10) I came across an advertisement for Home Value Protection.  It is supposedly some program that buyers or sellers can buy in which it protects a home's value against local market declines.  They state it "gives buyers the confidence to buy withou...

I recently had a friend ask about what to watch for when buying a short sale or foreclosure.  Though these properties can be bought at significant discounts there are some risks as well that can be assumed.  You don't always know the outcome but at least know the possible risks. Things to look fo...