Minnesota Real Estate Update: Centerville

Showing posts with label Centerville. Show all posts

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Year End 2008 Snapshot of Centerville Market Statistics

The number of new listings is down in significantly in Centerville, Minnesota and surprisingly so it the average days on the market. Homes sold almost three weeks faster in 2008 than in 2007. Centerville home sellers are negotiating on prices as indicated by the ratio of original price to sold price being down under 90%. That is good news for buyers as combined with the average sales price being down a bit too, Centerville is looking like a very affordable place to call home!

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet or Homebuyers Success Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Lives Changed in 30 Seconds--Twin Cities North Metro Memorial Weekend Tornados

In under a minute, life changed for so many residents of the Twin Cities north metro this past Memorial Day weekend. Several of the communities I serve as a Realtor, from Coon Rapids though Blaine, Lino Lakes and Centerville, ending in Hugo, were hit out of the beautiful blue sky by a tornado. Minnesotans were on alert all week from local weather reporters that conditions were ripe for such an event. And the unthinkable happened; the tornado took with it not only dozens homes but the smile of a two-year-old little boy.

On Monday only residents were allowed into Hugo for security and safety reasons. There are many photos of the torn apart housing development online already. We did drive by this Centerville farm that was demolished; the property was hit just moments prior to crossing 35E into Hugo. The debris from the silos is still scattered on the shoulder of the freeway on the other side of the huge farm field today.

From the time we are children, we are taught in Minnesota what to do in severe weather. We participated in tornado drills at schools. We looked to the sky when the sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of the month. We knew intellectually that tornadoes could be devastating but we always thought we would be safe in our basements.

Not so anymore as families across Anoka County and Washington County learned this past weekend. A twister is not a movie or an exciting scene on television. It can be a real event and we cannot be complacent.

We heard the rumble of the storm outside our Ham Lake home before the sirens went off. I thought it was unusual to hear an airplane flying in this weather. I clicked on the TV and heard that the storm had just hit in Coon Rapids and was heading through Blaine with reports of damage near Hwy 65 and Bunker Lake Blvd. Sirens or not, we went to the basement as I was well aware that tornadoes typically move in a northeastern direction and we directly in its path.

The alarms sounded just as we were going down the steps in our usual lackadaisical way. We sat at the bottom of the staircase; in fact I was on the steps, ready to head back up as soon as the event was over. We were just mildly concerned as we watched the minute-by-minute storm report on the portable television. The storm had change direction from its northeastern track and was now headed due east. We were thankful that it was no longer heading toward our home.

Being from the north eastern part of the Twin Cities, growing up in North St. Paul and selling homes throughout this area, I made a mental note of who was now in the storm's path. A few relatives and friends came to mind. A close friend’s business. A cousin and his wife. A young couple who moved into a home I sold last fall.

The storm ripped a line of damage through Anoka and into Washington County and literally blew apart 27 homes in Hugo. From the accounts on the news, the tornado blew through Hugo in 30 seconds. Lives were forever changed in less than a minute.
Over the last couple days, we have found that several of our friends, family members and coworkers were affected by the storm. Most had minor damage. Some lost windows. Many have hail-damaged roofs and siding or fallen trees in their yards. And then there are those who lost everything.

As I hear the stories of where people were as the storm hit, many in the safety of their basement, I began to reassess our preparedness for this event. Something about the sound of the storm was different so this time I had grabbed all of our cell phones as I went down the steps. I won’t feel so foolish about this the next time. My husband and I discussed where we plan to sit in the cellar during the next storm (northeast corner ready to head under a sturdy worktable.) We are somewhat thankful that we don’t have that walkout basement that we always wanted as we have few windows to avoid. We will be safer and more vigilant during the next storm.

It was always someone else, somewhere else…This time the storm was too close and too real for my family to ever be complacent again.

View footage of the tornado and aftermath on YouTube by Clicking HERE.

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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distraction—Homeowner Version: D’oh! Homer at Home in Centerville

Now what can I say about this permanent lawn sculpture except the homeowner must have a great sense of humor and fun! Homer Simpson in all of his colorful glory was spotted by my teenagers in the front yard of a home between Centerville and Lino Lakes.

It is definitely one for the collection of Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions as when my son first saw it I was distracted by the exclamation, “Look! There is a giant Homer Simpson in that yard!” On our next trip down to the Twin Cities, taking the short cut from Columbus through Centerville, we slowed down and there was Homer in all his glory. This piece of chainsaw art is carved right out of what must have been a massive tree where it stood in the front yard of the home. Not the lawn decoration for every family but for lovers of the Simpson’s, it is "¡Ay, caramba!" or a great surprise!

Other Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions:

Friday, October 12, 2007

Centerville, MN Real Estate Market Statistics 3rd Quarter 2007

Centerville is a community truly at the center of it all—or at least at the center of Lino Lakes, Minnesota. Located just off 35 E in the Twin Cities northeast metro, Centerville is a small community surrounded by its big sister community. Head any direction, north, south, east or west from Centerville and you will be in the community of Lino Lakes.

Real estate in Centerville, MN in Anoka County is affordable and selling—though admittedly at a slower pace than most sellers would like. The third quarter numbers show area homes are staying on the market an average of 198 days. Looking at current inventory levels and the rate of sales for homes priced under $300,000, there is about 6-7 months of inventory as it stands today.

While homes under $300,000 have a manageable inventory level, similar to other areas of the Twin Cities, high end homes are selling at a slower pace. Four wonderful lakeshore homes are currently available in Centervillle and one is on acreage With such a great selection, this is a great opportunity to buy that lake home you have always dreamed of owning.

3rd Quarter Centerville residential real estate statistics for single family homes:

Under $300,000 ~ 15 Active Listings, 1 Pending Listings, 6 Sold Listings

$300,000-$400,000 ~ 5 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 2 Sold Listings

$400,000-$500,000 ~ 5 Active Listings, 1 Pending Listings, 0 Sold Listings

$500,000 and Up ~ 14 Active Listings, 1 Pending Listings, 1 Sold Listings

Lakeshore available in Centerville4 Active Listings

Centerville lakeshore price range: $419,900-$649,900

3 Homes on Peltier Lake
1 Home on Centerville Lake

For additional information on any current Centerville real estate listings contact Teri Eckholm directly at 651-336-7073.

**All Statistical information based on information from the REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE of MINNESOTA, INC. for the period of 7/1/07 through 9/30/07.

Featured Listing in Centerville, Minnesota: 1988 Robin Lane N
Articles on Lakeshore and Minnesota that might be of interest:Does "Minnesota Nice" Affect the Real Estate Market? "Yah, You Betcha!"
Dreaming of Life on MN Acreage?--What YOU Need to Know Before YOUR Move!
Affordable Minnesota Lakeshore

If you are relocating to Minnesota, are looking for Homes for Sale in the north and east Twin Cities metro area and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage properties! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.