Do you remember that feeling when you were a wee little thing (but growing) and your pants just didn't fit anymore? You pulled up your pants and the ankle ended at your knee? And, the button didn't button so you had to ask for help and your mama told you to suck in just to get it to stick? It's like you were just too big for your britches. Or when your shoes were so small that your toes hung out the front in gaping holes? How about now?Are you feeling that squeeze? Maybe instead of you it's your family that is growing and without realizing it your house has grown too small?With interest rates at an all time low there is no reason to keep squeezing into your small home and waiting for the door to pop when it closes behind you. Prices are great for purchasing and upgrading to something b... 07/22/2010

Road Construction: This is a sight that is often seen in Minnesota during the summers. Construction workers making a mess of every roadway that they can muster. It starts with the thaw in the spring and ends with the first snow of the winter and for good reason...Our harsh winters cause decay on our road systems and to keep our commutes and travels smooth it just must happen.This summer seems especially hard in the commuting department with delaying in the northwest corner of the metro heading in every direction... Hwy 10 into Big Lake as well as into St Cloud, Hwy 94 at Monticello and Rogers, Hwy 101 in Rogers, Hwy 169 in Champlin, and the list goes on. The photos here are right on Hwy 10 in Elk River. They've been working periodically on these road all summer often causing delays dur... 07/22/2010

If you are moving to Elk River (or live there now) you might just want to check out Blink Bonnie's. Located across the highway from Coborn's off Highway 169 Blink Bonnie's is convenient, fast and will deliver! If you are hungry or need to feed a crowd - they are willing to accomodate. A family owned company for 15 years with a lone store in St Paul for much of that time, they decided to stretch their wings and grow. Not ONLY have they expanded their menu, but they are up to six locations with a new store opening this fall in Cottage Grove! From sandwiches to coffee and smoothies - this could be a wonderful meal for you! Check out their menu on their website and on one of those days that you just don't feel like cooking... give them a shout! And, if you are moving... either into or out o... 07/20/2010

Last nights fireworks in Elk River may have been the best ever! Sitting amongst the crowds lined on Lion's Park Drive we were hearing a lot of oohs, aahs and gratitude for the wonderful display that was presented. I must admit that I had LOADS of fun filling my camera with the lightshow. Maybe it was the lack of fireworks in town last year that made this years display so special? Or, maybe it was the combined effort amongst citizens to provide a wonderful family event on this 4th of July. Or, maybe it was the change of venue giving more opportunity for seating areas and parking? Whatever the reason, or combination of reasons, that this year was a wonderful success...it was truly worth the effort to watch the performance! Loaded down with bugspray and choosing the walk the almost one mi... 07/05/2010

Hoping that you get to enjoy a little fun this holiday weekend! Whether you are at the beach, or your house, or visiting someone's castle...May you have a very happy and relaxing 4th of July. If you are looking for a home near the beach... give me a call and we'll start looking together! It's always a great time to buy a home! (or castle) Check out my Journey with my Chevy Traverse at Mom's Timeout TwinCitiesSelling Real Estate in Minnesota! If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you. And, please feel free to share my name with anyone that you know who needs assistance buying or selling a home ~ I love referrals! Lindsey Hasford, RealtorColdwell Banker Vision231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330763-241-5488 ... 07/02/2010

The 4th of July is a great day to celebrate in Elk River, Minnesota!Back after a break last year...in a new venue...The anticipated fireworks show! So, on Sunday evening make sure to head out early to the Elk River Lion's Park for family activities and a picnic on the hill.... all while waiting for the fireworks display culminating the evening! It's sure to be loads of fun for the whole family!!!Hope to see you there! Check out my Journey with my Chevy Traverse at Mom's Timeout TwinCitiesSelling Real Estate in Minnesota! If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you. And, please feel free to share my name with anyone that you know who needs assistance buying or selling a home ~ I love referrals! Lindsey Hasford,... 07/01/2010

  You too could have this fun!!!! Today at the Riverfront Park in Elk River there will be a chalk-it-up concert for the kids to decorate the sidewalks and enjoy live music from 11:30-1:30. Grab a picnic lunch, a swimsuit for the kids (or you'll have wet butts in your car) and head on down to the park for some fun!   Check out my Journey with my Chevy Traverse at Mom's Timeout TwinCitiesSelling Real Estate in Minnesota! If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you. And, please feel free to share my name with anyone that you know who needs assistance buying or selling a home ~ I love referrals! Lindsey Hasford, RealtorColdwell Banker Vision231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (... 06/30/2010

Hauling buyers around in our cars is such a convenient and polite gesture as agents. It saves on gas and makes following from house to house much much easier! Driving the Traverse I saw all the benefits that I would have in taking clients from home to home, but the reality (as silly as it might be) is that my car is just as good a ride as the Traverse! Here is how I know (or refuse to deny!)... * In my car I have air conditioning. It's even better than tri-zone... it's quad-zone! All one has to do is roll down their window while I'm driving and I'll get that air going full blast! What's better th an a little wind and noise to make the ride a happy one? * My boys think that it's disturbing that we only have one sunroof in my car instead of two like the Traverse... I told them to go ahead... 06/30/2010

If you are like many families your summer is filled with family (children home on vacation), activities (for your children), and busy busy with vacations and loads of family fun! Exploring summertime with parks, concerts, farmer's markets and family activities can leave little time (and energy) to sell your home or look for a new one to buy. So, is it worth the effort? Absolutely! Finding a home to purchase in the summertime can be the perfect time for a family. The kids are welcome to help look at homes and be involved with the entire process. Moving in the summer can be advantageous with the return of school in the fall. By the time school starts the family can already be settled into new school districts and ready to meet new friends. And, finding their way through the bus systems c... 06/29/2010

I have often wondered what would happen when the banks realized that some folks are choosing to simply walk away from their mortgage committments. Maybe it's a hardship... maybe not. It's becoming increasingly popular for homeownwers who are current on their payments to CHOOSE to stop paying their mortgages as a "strategic" foreclosure. Sure, it's a tough market out there. Sale prices have dropped. Buyers have gone a bit by the wayside. A LOT of us are paying way more for the homes that we are in than they are currently worth, but... ... the bottom line is that we decided to purchase the homes and to pay the payment. The banks are coming out with increasingly more alternatives to foreclosures. It's just in our best interest to look at the alternatives before walking away. Let's take a l... 06/23/2010

Do you know what goes on in Elk River during the summertime?There are loads of events geared towards you!Check out someof this week's options below. Tuesday, June 22nd in Downtown Riverfront Park at 6:30pm enjoy a concert at the park!                             at Lion's Park there is a kid's bike rodeo from 1-3pm as well! Thursday, July 24th at Lion's Park at 10:30am the kidlets are invited to enjoy Kidstock.                                Kidstock runs throughout the summer and features different kid's entertainment each      week! Thursday, June 24th from 4-7pm the farmer's market opens for the summer on highway 10 just west of town!                                Enjoy those weekly goodies and veggies from local farmers! Thursday, June 24th at 7pm in Downtown Riverfront Park you ca... 06/22/2010

With summer beating down on us with some force this week I thought I'd take a few minutes and highlight a few ideas that I have that make own a home great this time of year! There are just some things that are easier to do when it is on your own land! * If you are like us and don't have air conditioning... now is the perfect time to open up that tent and have a "camp out" in the backyard. What's more fun than fending off mosquitos and looking at the stars on a hot sticky summer night? (of course - it's beneficial to watch the weather before heading out) * You can set up the hose and fill your portable hardsided pool for the kiddies to play in... right in your driveway (or grass). The best part? You can arrange your lawn chair and stick your own tosies in the cool water! Or, you can fill... 06/22/2010

I'm feeling a little blue this week. It's that feeling like Christmas is winding up and then what... except that it isn't Christmas. It's just one of those weeks that it's work to work and work to play. It is an interesting week for us. The summer is high in the sky, but it's been raining. I just got home from my girl's weekend getaway in Chicago. (photo by Sarah who's behind the camera instead of in the pic!) The boys have VBS this week (which they've been waiting for forever!). Everyday fun for two hours equals exhausted Mama and even more exhausted children.   And, on Friday I'm giving back the Traverse. Right there. That's it. I think that is the crux of the whole thing.... Friday is coming quickly and I'm not ready to give back the fun. The past month we have certainly enjoyed the ... 06/16/2010

There is something special about the fog falling at dusk when the sun is lowering out of the sky. Love that cloudy feeling as I'm driving home or looking out my back windows over the fields and wildlife areas.The fog especially falls over the rivers and creeks which I just think is extra pretty.   Check out my Journey with my Chevy Traverse at Mom's Timeout TwinCitiesSelling Real Estate in Minnesota! If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you. And, please feel free to share my name with anyone that you know who needs assistance buying or selling a home ~ I love referrals! Lindsey Hasford, RealtorColdwell Banker Vision231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (cell)lindseyhasford... 06/16/2010

One of my favorite things as a real estate agent is seeing the pleasure of a family finding a home that will work perfectly for their needs. Every family has a different way of going about it, but it's of my mind that a house for a family is ultimately a family decision. So.... I encourage families to shop together. Teeny boppers, toddlers and parents are all invited. Have you ever seen a toddler run screaming out of a house that they are scared of? Or, a 4-year seek out their bedroom in their new house? Both sides of the coin are important and I think that it's great for parent's to see their kid's reactions to the environments that they will be committed to growing and living in. On the same token... if a buyer is unsure of how to choose a home and has a friend or family member that ... 06/15/2010

This spring I have enjoyed watching the birds. We've seen bird nests, and little eggs, and little baby birds. It's so much fun to watch them find their wings! One day I was at my mom's house watching the birds in the neighbors yard coming and going from their birdhouse. Every so often I would see birds sitting in every door to this precious house (to the right) and it fascinated me as they came and went. The sun was at the wrong angle to get a "great" picture of what was going on, but I tried. We were chatting about the birds and how they usually come in every spring. This year, however, a new bird took over this home. A whole flock of birds. They cleaned out the house (and the debris was on the ground for the neighbor to clean up) and then they proceeded to build their own nests insid... 06/15/2010

This month has been great fun for me driving the 2010 Chevy Traverse on a long extrended test drive. I have learned soooooooo much about what to look for in a new car (when I'm ready to buy) and what is available to look for that it's amazing. One of the things that we are to do during the test drive is to encourage others to take an opportunity to test drive a Traverse too. Just a stop by the dealership and try it out. I didn't know that it was that easy for one. I always thought you had to prove great interest in a vehicle with probable purchase to test drive a car. It's gotten me to thinking. Wouldn't it be nice if one could test drive a house before purchasing? It just doesn't work that way. I know that there are a lot of different choices that I'd have made on housing if I had the ... 06/14/2010

    Whether you live in Elk River and are looking for an adventure or you are thinking about moving to the Elk River area and wondering why you would want to... this is an option of fun! In the historic downtown there is a quaint little store called "Sweet P's Ice Cream" where they have an old fashioned cooler filled with flavors upon flavors of delicious icecream and your choice of cone or dish to put it in. For 'not so much' money you can bring the whole family for a summer cooldown in a simple family atmosphere. If you aren't so much for icecream they also have candy and goodies to suit. Or, rootbeer and cream soda for those that like drinks. Our favorite thing to do is either bring a book to read while there OR walk a block down and sit outside the fountains in the River Park. You ... 06/04/2010

  Wanna see great sunsets?This great sunset picture was taken less than one mile from my listing at 15727 County Road 35, Big Lake Twp.This sunset could be your sunset! Call today for more information on area homes for sale....And, maybe... Just maybe... We can find you a great sunset too.(Of course, in Minnesota the weather changes so these sunsets are not guaranteed) If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you. Lindsey HasfordColdwell Banker Vision231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330763-241-5488 (office)  763-218-1347 (cell)lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.comhttp://www.hasfordhomes.com Twitter: elkriverhomes   Facebook: Lindsey Veek Hasford 05/25/2010

I've been driving the 2010 Chevy Traverse now for five days and I must say that I've already discovered a LOT of great uses for the "trunk" space (hatchback space). I am absolutely LOVING the extra seats in the back and the fact that I have space besides is a great bonus. These top ten ideas of mine are not scientifically proven...  BUT I think that they are great ideas, and even a little fun maybe. Of course.... they are real estate minded because I certainly love houses! So, without any delay here are my top choices for using the back hatch of my new Chevy Traverse! 10. Carrying groceries (which I know first hand that you can fit a lot of them in!) 9. Storing open house signs and real estate "do-dads" like lockboxes and name riders without using precious seat space. 8. Loading up all ... 05/25/2010