Mpls MN Homes $100,000 - $500,000 * Instant Updates * Schools * Walk Score + MORE Search Like An Agent! MLS IDX Mpls Homes, Foreclosures, and Properties Search! Click Mpls $100,000 - $500,000 Homes Instant Updates Historic Interest Rates Click Freddie Mac 30 Yr & 15 Yr Fixed Mortgage Rate Weekly Survey Results FHA 3.5% Down Financing Click FHA FAQ Click FHA 203k Streamline Rehab Loan Fast Search Mpls MLS Homes Instant Updates School Information Know Your Walk Score Market Data No Sign-up CD, REO, Short Sale Comfort Level High Contact Information RES RealtyBob Elliot 12280 Nicollet AveBurnsville 612 578 6162More Listing InformationMPLS MN MLS HomesEmail Me Information on this flyer is for informational purposes only. 07/26/2010

  An improperly installed drain hose is by far the most common defect that I find with dishwasher installations, but it's also one of the easiest things to get right.  In the photo below, which was featured as a Structure Tech Photo of the Day, there are several plumbing defects, two of which are related to the dishwasher drain.   Can you spot them? Wrong side of trap Problem number one is that the drain is connected to the sewer side of the trap.  The water that always sits in the bottom of the P-trap is what prevents sewer gases from coming in to the house.  The dishwasher drain must be connected before the P-trap, not after it, which is what was done here.  With this improper installation, sewer gases have the potential to come back in to the dishwasher.  The diagram below right show... 07/19/2010

Is it okay to toot my own horn? I feel a little weird about it but if I don't...who will? I found out yesterday that I have been selected as a Semi-Finalist to be one of the next Top MyKirkland's Designers! Yeah!! How cool is that!! After all the applications they have narrowed it down to 20. Now I have to go through a 30 minute interview with the corporate office in Nashville. The top 10 will be selected and then America will be able to vote online with Five Designers being Selected. I'm counting on my AR friends to vote. But only if you are voting for me of course. LOL I hope I make it to the top 10. I hope I am selected to be one of the Top Designers. If I only make it to the top 20 I will still take it as an honor. Here are the design before and after photos I submitted with my appl... 07/16/2010

The downturn in the real estate market has affected homes in all price ranges, but one of the most intriguing properties Minneapolis has to offer is surprising everyone.  Technically the only lake front property on Lake Harriet and legend to the community for years will soon have a new owner.  Little Guy's home, the little elf who lives in the tree and answers letters left by children has fallen behind on his payments.  He recently rented the home out to Papa Smurf in an attempt stay current with the mortgage, but was still unable to do so.  Papa Smurf was stunned today when the sheriff knocked on his door and posted the foreclosure notice.                         07/15/2010

The real estate market in minneapolis continues to pose problems for conventional sellers.  Minneapolis-St. Paul ranked 7th in the country for areas with the most underwater mortgages.  Nearly 39% of homes in the twin cities are underwater.  Despite this large number seller's do have options at their disposal that should be considered before giving up.  It's not necessarily everyone's dream to be a landlord, but with less people buying that means more people are renting.  Which, in turn, means you can likely get a fair price for your home as a rental allowing you to temporarily resolve your housing situation while the economy and the housing market eventually improve.  When deciding to lease your home it's important to use representation that will insure you attract high quality tenants... 07/14/2010

Low Down-Payment Financing Up to $35,000 for rehab Great for Buying REO’s Long Term Programs One Loan for Purchase and Repair Competitive Rates Use the EEM (Energy Efficient Mortgage) and Increase the Loan Amount Improvements or Upgrades Stainless steel appliances Flooring Roofs gutters downspouts Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning Plumbing and electrical systems Exterior and interior painting Weatherization Decks, patios, fences Plus more! Have questions? Put 19 years experience to work for you. Peter Boyle 612 701 6816 http://www.peterboylehomeloans.com pboyle@summit-mortgage.com NMLS License # 218261 p Summit Mortgage Corporation Equal Housing Lender 07/08/2010

When selling a home, it's NOT ALL ABOUT THE TV! I walk into more and more homes for home staging where the TV takes up half the room, at least one entire wall. Then, all the furniture is positioned for perfect viewing of the TV. Okay for living, not for selling. When I make the suggestion that the TV needs to be removed while the house is for sale I am usually met with a smile from the wife and an aghast look from the husband. Don't get me wrong, I am not asking to remove the TV from every room in the house, just the main living area that is so important. I'm really not as horrible as I sound because if the TV is of normal size, say 36" or below, not a problem. It's the 50" and bigger monster TVs that cause the problem. I recently completed a home staging on the home in these pictures. ... 07/07/2010

  Dale Frisch | Attractive Realty WWW.MNHOME4SALE.COM | 612.715.6474 4138 30th ave, Minneapolis, MN Completely remodeled home near the lightrail! 4BR/2BA Single Family House   offered at $299,900 Year Built 1913 Sq Footage 2,044 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 1 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION One of the Twin cities premier builders has done it again! This wonderful rambler has been completely remodeled with you in mind. From the Granite counters in the spacious kitchen to the breath taking fire place, this home feels like your own private retreat. The builder left their own custom touches with Custom doors, Kitchen cabinets, main floor laundry, basement half door, Mudroom with boot bench and overhead rain shower head in lower ... 07/06/2010

The 10,000th trip on Nice Ride Minnesota, Minneapolis' new bike share program, was taken only 20 days after its June 10th launch... way to go, Minneapolis! Now the city named America's most bike friendly city also has the country's largest bike sharing system!! When we we out walking in downtown Minneapolis this weekend before a Twins game, a bike kiosk near the stadium was full and other downtown kiosks had only a few bikes... just as would be expected since the stadium was the 'hot spot' of the moment. Nice Ride is intended for short trips under 30 minutes... pick up a bike when you need one, ride to your destination and drop it off at any station in the system... then pick up another bike when you need it again at any bike station. At a cost of $5/day or only $60/year it is quick, e... 07/05/2010

Rent vs Own Analysis. This is not your typical rent vs own calculator or report. It considers all aspects of renting vs. home purchase and helps you set up a plan. Details: Consider the Tax Benefits of home ownership* All costs currently paid including, rent, insurance, etc Compare the total net savings between renting and owning Look at the projected financial impact over 60 months and 120 months (customizable) Click Rent vs Homeownership Analysis Sample Call or Text for Your Customized Free Rent Vs Homeownership Analysis. Peter Boyle 612.701.6816 19 years mortgage experience pboyle@summit-mortgage.com NMLS License # 218261 Summit Mortgage Corporation Equal Housing Lender 06/23/2010

Mpls Real Estate Market Trends, MLS Homes, Schools, Walk Score Plus Mpls Homes Market Trends Click Mpls Real Estate Market Trends, MLS Properties, and Schools Market Trends and Data MLS Search Database School Map Walk Score Plus Contact Information RES RealtyBob Elliot 12280 Nicollet AveBurnsville MN 55337612 578 6162More Listing InformationMpls Market Trends, Homes, Real Estate, and SchoolsEmail Me Information on this flyer is for informational purposes only. 06/21/2010

MN Mortgage Borrowers! $150,000 Affordable Home Loan Plans * Includes First-Time Homebuyer ProgramsLocation: Minneapolis, MNSee the breakdown of loan amounts, interest rate, payments over time, and how each option impacts your goals! Bottom Line Debt Free *Answers how long will it take each option to pay-off your mortgage and how much interest you saved! See sample - Includes First-Time Homebuyer programs. First-Time homebuyer includes anyone who has not owned in the past 3 years. Drop down to Links in flyer and click $150k Mortgage Analysis ot goto: www.peterhomeloans.com and click $150,000 Mortgage Analysis * Scroll Down To LINKS Click $150,000 Mortgage Analysis - NO Sign-Up Needed!Get your Free Custom Mortgage Costs Analysis Today!Peter Boyle 612.701.681619 Yrs Mortgage Experience!NM... 06/20/2010

This home staging in Minneapolis, MN was so much fun! This beautiful home in south Minneapolis, MN was totally renovated and a second story added to it. She selected three stagers to provide bids and then took a look at our actual work. I was lucky enough to be chosen as the stager to stage this property. The owner had already selected the great colors and trendy shabby chic light fixtures. I was so excited to do this project. When the owner returned at the end of the staging day she started to cry, she said it was more than she ever dreamed it to be. The best words for a home stager to hear! She then went on to share with me that she almost went with a different home stager in Minneapolis, MN because that stager appeared to have more credentials.  BUT, she went out and viewed vacant pr... 06/16/2010

NOTE: see the bottom of Sunday's Site posts for homes for sale in the area There is something about the Foshay Tower that makes me think of the romance associated with the Empire State Building. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that they are the two tallest concrete skyscrapers... both built in the romantic Art Deco style... built just two years apart, The Foshay in 1929 and the Empire State in 1931... and both historic icons. The Foshay Tower was the lifelong dream of Wilbur Foshay, designed as a scale replica of the Washington Monument inspired by a visit to Washington, DC as a teenager. He had it constructed to house both his business and residence, with his private suite on the 27th and 28th floors of the 32-floor building.   When the building opened he sponsored a huge three-day ... 06/14/2010

If you have an old clawfoot bath tub with a standard faucet that’s located inside the bath tub, such as the one pictured at right, you have a potential cross connection.  If the tub were to fill up with sewage or something even worse, the household water could come in contact with it, because the spill line of the bath tub is actually higher than the bath tub faucet.  If you live in Minneapolis or Bloomington, this is also a required repair for Truth-In-Housing Evaluations. There are two common ways to correct this issue – replace the faucet or install check valves on the water supply pipes.   A proper faucet for a clawfoot tub will have the opening of the faucet spout located well above the spill line of the fixture, as shown below.  I found a small selection of replacement faucets at... 06/07/2010

General preparation suggestions.  De-clutter and de-personalize.  The less personal the home looks the easier it is for a prospective buyer to see themselves in your home.  The less clutter your home has and the smaller the furniture is, the bigger your home will look.  Keep the decor neutral in order to appeal to the largest audience possible.  Fix anything that needs fixing and do all the maintenance that items that may or may not "need" to be done.  If a buyer sees one thing that looks like it needs fixing or that appears to be deferred maintenance they assume there are more things that need fixing or they assume that the home hasn’t been properly maintained.  Make sure there is no peeling paint.  FHA has been extremely picky with peeling paint.  Going forward they will be requiring... 06/07/2010

NOTE: see the bottom of Sunday's Site posts for homes for sale in the area Crema Cafe is one of those rare spots where the cozy ambiance is perfectly matched to the amazing homemade eats and treats. A popular neighborhood hangout, it is also a worthy destination for both foodies and anyone ready to taste some of the best ice cream on the planet! Now in its third generation, award winning Sonny's Ice Cream has been made here at the corner of 34th & Lyndale since 1945. Whether you walk in to pick up a luscious cone or stay for a meal in their cozy dining areas inside and out, everything on their menu is made from scratch using the finest local organic ingredients. Their ice cream is freshly made in small batches... perfectly matched to their intimate space. You may be surprised at how 'so... 06/06/2010

  Dale Frisch | Attractive Realty WWW.MNHOME4SALE.COM | 612.715.6474 4138 30th ave, Minneapolis, MN Completely remodeled home near the lightrail! 4BR/2BA Single Family House   offered at $319,900 Year Built 1913 Sq Footage 2,044 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 1 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION One of the Twin cities premier builders has done it again! This wonderful rambler has been completely remodeled with you in mind. From the Granite counters in the spacious kitchen to the breath taking fire place, this home feels like your own private retreat. The builder left their own custom touches with Custom doors, Kitchen cabinets, main floor laundry, basement half door, Mudroom with boot bench and overhead rain shower head in lower ... 06/05/2010

Home Staging does not mean deceiving the buyer. There are times during a home staging consultation that I have been asked how to hide something. Don't hide it, fix it!! Home Staging can get a bad rap as many buyers, as well as Realtors, think things have been covered up, painted over, or a chair conveniently placed in front of an eye sore. Home Staging does NOT mean deceiving the buyer. A prime example of covering up is placing an area rug over a stain on the carpet or hard wood floor. Have I ever placed a rug over these stains? Yes, but only when it made sense to do so. For example, in a quaint 1930's vacant home I staged had the original hardwood floors. Charming. Naturally I wanted to warm up the living room by placing an area rug in the conversation area between the sofa and chairs.... 06/02/2010

Check out the photo below.  Can you guess what's missing?  Here's a hint: this garage doesn't have a service door, but it does have a automatic garage door opener installed.   If you said "pizazz" you would be correct, and you might also make a good home stager, but that's not what I'm talking about today.  This door is missing an emergency release. If the power went out, the GFCI outlet inside the garage tripped, or the garage door opener failed, the owner would be locked out of this garage.  The fix for this is quite simple - install an emergency release kit.    These kits cost about $15, and they take about ten minutes to install, if you really take your sweet time.  This is a very DIY project.  The only tools you'll need are a drill, drill bits, and a wrench. These emergency releas... 05/31/2010