Our home buyer workshops are designed to prepare you for the current real estate market. We are dedicated to providing our clients and seminar attendees with the very best education and "real world" knowledge that they can put to use right away. We are committed to empowering you to make confident, educated real estate decisions.   Who is our Home Buyer Workshop For? Minnestoa First Time Home Buyers Minnesota Relocation Buyers Minnesota Move Up Buyers ALL MINNESOTA HOME BUYERS What Will You Learn? An Overview of the Home Buying Process in MN - Beginning to End The Steps to Your "Home Buying Success Plan" Current Market Conditions The Effects of Foreclosures and Shorts Sale Minnesota Real Estate Market Trends and Latest Stats Special Mortgage Options How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Purch... 01/16/2009

 Twin Cities Luxury Market stats compared to the National Luxury Home MarketNew data is out for the Twin Cities Luxury Home Market and it looks like the upper tier of homes is inching toward the national average. While it is still a buyer's market, buyer's are beginning to come out of the woodwork, getting over the fear seen across the national market, and are starting to purchase high priced homes again. From speaking with some local buyers, they feel now is a great time to buy as luxury home prices have come down drastically in the last two years. While some are still wary, many are looking to negotiate with sellers, and sellers are now willing to listen to their wants and needs. Here are some local numbers for the luxury home market in the Twin Cities. Average Price: $850,615 Averag... 01/16/2009

1.15.2009 Thanks for visiting our Minneapolis Minnesota Mortgage Update blog hosted by Active Rain and Uptown Financial Corp.  We are located in the heart of Uptown Minneapolis, near Lake Calhoun, Linden Hills and all the great restaurants! Today is a wild day on the market---The new stimulus package has been revealed for $825B, the second half of the TARP funds are being opposed by Republican senate seats and apparently Bank of America is now requesting another 25B!!!  Guess the only constant in this market is the BAD economic news that continues to swirl. As for facts about where we stand right now for Mortgage Rates and Particular for Minnesota Mortgage Rates and Wisconsin Mortgage Rates. Minnesota Mortgage Rates for a 30 yr. Fixed:  4.75%  |  15 yr. Fixed 4.375% Bond Market:  Courte... 01/15/2009

1.14.2009 Reminder to all who are directed to our blog here on Active Rain.  We have been utilizing the Wordpress blog because of the LinkedIn.com combination it offers us. In wanting to streamline our efforts for Minneapolis Minnesota Mortgage Posts---please visit: http://www.linkedin.com/in/uptownfinancial http://www.uptownminneapolismortgages.wordpress.com http://www.UptownFinancial.com We wish you all a Happy and Prosperous 2009. Sincerely, Ben Coulter |  Founder/Owner  |  Uptown Financial Corp. 612-216-1388 Office 612-677-3100 Fax Ben@UptownFinancial.com  |  www.UptownFinancial.com http://UptownMinneapolisMortgages.wordpress.com/ Minneapolis Mortgages, Minnesota Mortgages, St. Paul Mortgages, Edina Mortgages, St. Louis Park Mortgages, Minnetonka Mortgages, Golden Valley Mortgages, ... 01/14/2009

                                  I ran into Snoopy and more at the Minneapolis Minnesota Airport!  Snoopy and his friend Woodstock were walking through the Minneapolis Airport today and I had to get a shot of the two of them.  The I snapped a photo of this man in this old airplane flying through the airport, strangest thing I've ever seen!  Then to top it off, these weird looking War of the World machines were spraying some strange alien chemical all over our airplane. It was this bright green looking color that looked like radiator fluid.  When I left Minneapolis Minnesota it was snowing heavy with temps under freezing. When I arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada at 2:00pm it was 70 degrees. Me and my wife really love the warm Las Vegas weather and really love being home. photographs above ta... 01/12/2009

 Clear skies from Las Vegas to Mpls/ St Paul by:Robert Swetz  I didn't sleep a wink on my flight from Las Vegas, Nevada to Mpls/ St Paul Minnesota. Reason, because 90 percent of the flight there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Being a photographer, I was afraid I would miss something.  The photograph above is Lake Mead - Colorado River in Nevada and was taken from 30,000 feet. If you look really really close you can see little white dots the size of a pin, these are boats. How's that for detail?  This photo above was taken in Colorado and these mountains look small, but they are not, remember this was taken fro over 30,000 feet. These mountains are huge!  This last photo above is the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, you don't think it's a little cold there do you? When we landed it was 8 d... 01/09/2009

When shopping for a new home, especially if you are a new home buyer, it is important for you think about what you want before you buy. One thing I have my clients do before we go house hunting is to sit down and make a list of the things they MUST have in the new home, and the things that would be nice to have, but don't really need if it came down to a hard decision. By going through the action of putting something on paper, a home buyer is forced into reality. One reality often discovered is the fact that two home buyers may not want the same things. Take for instance a couple I worked with recently. The husband was happy with a home that needed a little work because the home was in a good location and would hold its value in the future. Any updating they did would only add more futu... 01/05/2009

Minimum Credit Standards for VA Financing   While the Veterans' Administration does not set a minimum credit score standard for VA Home Loans, the mortgage industry does.  In the wake of the subprime meltdown, many of the secondary market mortgage investors (companies that buy bundles of mortgages) have tightened credit criteria.    The minimum credit standard for lending on VA Home Mortgages is set at a minimum credit score of 580.  Credit Rescoring products are available to permanently increase credit scores.  Ask your Loan Originator for more information.   Other criteria than just credit score are also considered in underwriting.  A minimum of no more than 1 late on any credit, revolving debt and installment debt, including mortgages, is allowable according to most guidelines.   A B... 12/16/2008

I discovered Pho Quan Restaurant in Minneapolis, located at 1815 Nicollet Avenue, some years ago.  It's still there, still homely, and still one of the best places to grab lunch in the Twin Cities. Don't look for charming ambiance, clean tables or cute southeast Asian decor.  You won't find it at Pho Quan.  But the Vietnamese noodle soup is the best anywhere. The place is frequented by some of my musician friends from the Minnesota Orchestra, including colleagues Robert Anderson (bass) and Taichi Chen (violin).  Pho Quan was recently rated among the "25 Great Places to Eat" in the Twin Cities by TwinCities.com and other food sites have followed suit. Choose from vegetable, beef, chicken or shrimp bowls, available in three sizes.  The price is astonishing and the Pho is unquestionably ta... 12/14/2008

Maximum VA Home Mortgage Limits for Minnesota counties   The new maximum loan limits for Minnesota are available now as a result of recently enacted VA benefits.   The previous loan limits on VA loans was $144,000.  However, loan limits in all Minnesota counties, are now $417,000.    More information on loan limits can be found at:    http://www.homeloans.va.gov/docs/2009_county_loan_limits.pdf 12/10/2008

VA Has Increased Maximum Loan-To-Value and Increased Loan Sizes   It's a one, two punch designed to knock out foreclosures! The VA has increased both the maximum Loan-To-Value limits and maximum loan sizes on home mortgages.   First, the maximum Loan-To-Value limit has been raised from 90 percent to 100 percent.  That means eligible Veterans and Military Spouses can tap into all of the equity in their home.  The VA Funding Fee will go on top of the mortgage so the actual Loan-To-Value will be something more like 102%.   Second, the maximum VA home mortgage limit was increased from $144,000 up to $729,750 (even higher for AK, HI and Virgin Islands) in some areas.    Congress passed these two new benefits in the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 in October.  These new benefits co... 12/09/2008

The ability to access 100 percent of your home's equity is a new benefit for Veterans.  It comes as a result of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008.  Previously, a cash out VA refinance mortgage was limited to 90 percent of your home's equity.  This mortgage is allowable for Veterans and Military Spouses who are currently in a conventional home loan and wish to access 100% of their home's equity.    Q:  Who is eligible for a VA 100 percent Cash Out Refinance?   A:  Veterans and Military Spouses who are currently in a conventional or subprime mortgage   Q:  What is the purpose of a VA 100 percent Cash Out Refinance?   A:  To enable Veterans and Military Spouses the ability to access 100% of their home's equity.  To obtain low fixed rate financing and refinance out of a subprim... 12/09/2008

The area in Minneapolis which has the most single listings is by far downtown Minneapolis. With the inventory largely condominiums, it is easier to break down the data, separating out the houses (only six for sale currently) from the condos. Below is a break down of what has happened so far this year when compared to 2007 for downtown Minneapolis condominiums: Average Days on the Market (DOM) : it is taking on average 108 days for a Minneapolis condo unit to sell, up an amazing 28% from this same time last year! Inventory : the good news is that the number of condos for sale in downtown has decreased by 28%. This means there is less competition compared to 2007, and because of this inventory decrease, the Average Price for condos has increased by 5.6%. The only downside is that the numb... 11/13/2008

Most real estate news today is bad, but rising sales volume is great news, and often seen skeptically in the media.  While falling average prices is important, it's not nearly as accurate as it seems.  Home owners would be well advised to understand the media's coverage of real estate is usually dead wrong in the way it thinks about your specific home's value. I take issue with most news stories on two points 1)The importance of rising sales volume, and 2)For not pointing out that averaging sale data, reflects the large volume of bank mediated sales, and don't accurately predict values of individual homes. Point 1) Rising sales volume is one of the most important metrics in our current market.  We have a supply side issue (among others).  As the number of homes offered for sale declines... 11/03/2008

HandyPro Handyman Services will send a Professional, Honest handyman to Provide the home improvement and repair services you need including:   Home Inspections - With an itemized list of recommendations Foreclosure Repairs - Repairs to the home that sat empty with utilities off Board-ups - Secure recently foreclosed or fire damaged property Insurance Repairs - Repairs after fire damage, flood damage, or vandalism   Our list of services includes over 1600 categories including:   Carpentry, Plaster, Drywall, Acoustic Ceilings, Interior Paint Home Warranty/Maintenance Interior Doors, Trim, Molding, Cabinets, Shelves, Bi-fold closet doors Bathroom Repairs:  Install Tub & Shower, Fix Leaky Faucets & running toilets, Bathroom exhaust fans Kitchen Remodeling:  Cabinets, Counter Tops, Sinks, Pl... 10/25/2008

1631 Newton Ave N Minneapolis, MN Click For Listing Website Click For Interactive e-Tour Welcome to 1631 Newton Avenue in North Minneapolis! This 2-story newer home with spacious bedrooms and 4 bathrooms is priced to sell! Three bedrooms are on one level, another private renovated bedroom and tiled bath with a jetted tub grace the lower level. A finished recreation room on the lower level is perfect for those family gatherings. This home is close to Highways 94 and 394 as well as city parks and recreation. Come take a look! MLS# 3591697 $112,900 4 Bed, 4 Bath 1631 Newton Ave NMinneapolis MN, 55411 Jan Tyson Roberts PhD EXIT INNOVATION REALTY 651-698-5025 jtyson@exitinnovationrealty.com 10/14/2008

About a month ago I bought a Blackberry Curve...finally upgrading my phone to something that can help my business get better. Sprint has a fantastic "Everything" plan for $99/month, and I would never have gotten this phone if not for this plan.  Tonight I was driving by Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis after showing some homes and decided to test out the camera for dusk shots. Here are three of the best photos I was able to capture. Not too bad if you ask me. (the last shot of the dock came out slightly blurry, so I thought the photo would make a great candidate for the "glow" effect from Picasa...what do you think?)           10/13/2008

Home repairs and remodeling projects can be very expensive.  In today's declining market people are concerned about getting a return on their investment.  Some realtors advise homeowners to sell their home as-is and list it at a competitive price for a quick sale.  Others are saying it is still better to do some cosmetic repairs and clean up to leave less room for negotiating your asking price down.  Many people will buy a fixer-upper to decorate according to their personal taste, but there still people who would much prefer a great deal on a turn-key home.   Even in today's economy, there are still several good reasons to remodel your home.   If the children have moved out and you're retiring soon, you will be home more.  Retirement is a big change for some.  While you're adjusting to ... 10/05/2008

Plexiglas is a brand name for acrylic plastic, a shatterproof glass replacement material with many uses, including skylights, fish tanks, picture frames and more.  Acrylic plastic is impact resistant and only half the weight of glass.  It can also withstand a temperature range of -30 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.  It cleans up easily with mild soap with lukewarm water and a soft cloth.  Unlike glass, it is not wise to use window cleaners, scouring pads or abrasives for cleaning acrylic plastic.   Working with Acrylic Plastic:   Acrylic plastic generally comes with a paper masking film on the sheet to protect it from scratches or other damage when working with it.  This film should not be removed until your project is finished.  Use metal cutting saw blades and drills which are ground for a... 10/05/2008

"Don't Let Your Dryer Start a Fire, Keep Your Home Safe & Sound" are part of Dryer Vent Wizard's ongoing campaign promoting dryer vent safety & fire protection    Minneapolis, MN--According to the US Fire Administration, dryer fires account for an average of $15,000 dryer fires annually.  Carl Hein, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Minnesota said, "Failure to properly clean and maintain dryer vents is the major cause of clothes dryer fires."  Carl Hein is franchise owner/operator of Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW), Dry Clothes, Safe Homes, a home service franchise based in Minnesota serving the Twin Cities area.    In cooperation with the NFPA, Dryer Vent Wizard is providing advice to consumers to minimize the risk of dryer fires.  Carl advises consumers to be sure the dryer vent systems are up to... 10/04/2008