Buying a First Home? Define YOUR Dream!

Minnesotans are fortunate to live in an area where housing is affordable. Couple that with the low interest rates and first time buyers who live in the Minneapolis/St Paul metro have opportunities to buy that aren't available in other parts of the US.

However affordable, buying a first home can be quite intimidating. Understanding the difference between a lender mediated short sale,  a bank-owned foreclosure and traditional sale is essential. The Twin Cities market still has some distressed homes in the market but there are abundantly more traditional and new construction sellers too.  From Forest Lake to Blaine to Hugo and White Bear Lake, there are homes in all shapes, sizes, price ranges and conditions. 

Savvy home buyers will educate themselves using the wealth of information that is available online, but there will come a time to view the home in person too and many first time home buyers get stuck on what is the first step to buying a home. But I can help...and surprisingly, it is commission FREE!

I love assisting first time home buyers!

The thought of owning a first home is exciting and that excitement bubbles right out of these home buyers. Most will have a picture in their heads of what their dream home should look like.  Part of my job is to help draw out that picture and locate a home that will fit their dream. But each dream is different.

• Is it a little bungalow with the white picket fence?

• A new trendy condo in the heart of downtown St. Paul?

• Or maybe a vintage, fixer-upper to renovate and build equity?

As a REALTOR® working for home buyers, I work with you to define YOUR dream. But my service while invaluable is FREE!  It doesn't cost buyers one cent in commission to have representation but and is received is priceless!

As the real estate market in the metro becomes more balanced, there still are options in almost every price range for a homebuyer to consider. So how does a buyer narrow down the choices? 

Working with a professional real estate agent can help. The first step is always to get pre-approved for a mortgage to define an affordable price range and mortgage program. As a REALTOR®, I work with loan officers and can direct you to someone who is experienced and professional. Once we understand the financial parameters, my job really begins. I work hard to understand my client's needs and lifestyle so we can find the perfect home.

One of my favorite ways to assist buyers is to ask questions that help define their dream...What is most important their home? I take this beyond the number of bedrooms and baths or how many garage spaces. I want to know how do they really plan to live. By taking the time to talk with my buyers about their lives and what is important to them, I better understand their needs and wants in a property.  By taking a short, lifestyle inventory, I focus in on what makes up an ideal house. 


Once home buyers have outlined their needs and wants, putting a priority on the NEEDS of course, the list of potential properties can be narrowed down to good potential options. By understanding what my buyers' picture perfect home is, I help them stay focused and avoid wasting time with homes that don't fit the dream. It most cases it's not long before one house will stand out as the "perfect" home to make an offer on.

Copyright 2013 www.terieckholm.com

Picture Perfect DREAM HOME with Harold's Purple Crayon!

Decades ago, when I was first learning to read, I loved picture book, "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson. I wanted a crayon just like that little boy who drew out his dreams in his footy pajamas. Even though I have never been a fan of the color purple, I always wanted one of those special violet Crayola-type sticks of wax to draw to draw my dreams. Imagine life being so simple.

After many years of wondering whether the dream of owning a home was dead, the housing market has made a turn around. Due to lower inventories in many areas, sellers are back in the  drivers seat and would be homebuyers are back to sitting on the fence dreaming about their perfect home. As interest rates start to creep up, the dream of a home could slip away. The reality is, there STILL are AFFORDABLE homes in the Minneapolis/St. Paul north and east metro. Maybe homebuyers just need one of Harold’s purple crayons so they can draw out a path to a perfect new home…

Draw YOUR perfect REALTOR® Grab that magic purple crayon and sketch out your ideal of a trusted professional REALTOR®. The first step in owning a dream home is to find the agent of your dreams to represent you throughout the process. Make certain to sign the buyer’s representation agreement for with a blue ink pen not a purple Crayola.

Draw Your Preapproval letter. Pre-approval is an important step before you begin looking for a home. It not only determines how much home you can afford to spend on a home, it guarantees that you are ready to write up the offer when you find your dream home. The letter will serve as notice to the sellers that the bank has committed to lend you a specified amount based on your financial history. This gives you significant buying power as a seller recognizes you are approved for a loan. Your professional REALTOR® can assist you in locating a qualified loan officer that will work with you to make your dream home a reality.

Draw YOUR perfect home!  Here’s the drawing you have been waiting for...glide that purple crayon across the page and sketch out your dream home. Your perfectly depicted REALTOR® will set up an MLS search for homes that meet your needs. As perfect homes hit the market, showings will be set to view the homes in person.

Draw up a Purchase Agreement and happy seller! Use that magic purple crayon to draw up a contract on your dream home. Okay the contract will more than likely be completed in something other than that crayon, but here is where you work with your REALTOR® to draw up a contract including all of the details such as what you want to pay for the home, what personal property is to be included as well as the date you want to close and move in.

Draw a Qualified Inspector. To be certain that you didn’t miss any important details when you sketched out the beautiful purple palace, draw a home inspector that is qualified to check out your new purchase.

Draw up a SOLD sign. A big purple "SOLD" sign will announce to the world that this is YOUR dream home! It will stay on the sign while the home is in "pending" status prior to the closing. During this period prior to closing, your dream professionals work closely together to ensure that details such as the appraisal and updating the title are handled in a timely manner. Now you can use a REAL purple crayon to cross off the days on the calendar until you get to the closing table!

Draw the Keys to your new front door! ! One final purple colored work of art will complete the home buying process—Sketch up a set of house keys! When closing day arrives, be prepared to attend with your state issued picture identification, a 10 year address history, your checkbook, and all other information requested by the closer. At the end of this meeting, you will be handed the keys to your new home.

Wait a second! Nobody really needs a purple crayon! You just need a trusted professional REALTOR® to guide you through the story to your happily ever after!

Copyright 2012 Teri Eckholm

The JOY of being a REALTOR®~~Making Homebuyers Dreams Come True!

Late on a Saturday afternoon, I received a phone call. The caller said he and his fiance had just driven by a Forest Lake listing of mine and want to know if I could them the inside. "Are you working with an agent?" I inquired. "No", he said. So we arranged for a showing of the Washington County home the next evening.

The young man and his fiancée arrived with an entourage of parents and assorted other relatives. Being first time buyers, they wanted assistance and approval from people they trusted when they made a final decision on their first home. Looking over the property from top to bottom, they liked what they saw but needed time to think. I asked the question I always ask, "When you are shopping for a home, are you shopping for a REALTOR®?" The young man's dad answered, "They don't need an agent because they will get a better deal working directly with the listing agent." I explained why this wasn't true but could tell from the look on his face, Dad was not convinced.

I explained agency and asked the young couple to sign the disclosure on agency as required by the State of Minnesota. Buyers need to understand that at any listing for my broker, I am under contract to work for the seller and protect their interests. If the couple decides to sign a buyers' representation agreement with me, they would be in a DUAL agency when looking at homes listed by my broker. They had seen many homes with other real estate agents, but I was the only agent who explained agency to them or asked them to sign the required disclosure.

Days later, a decision was made; the young couple wanted to make an offer. A contract was signed for buyers' representation for the specific home only. Dual agency now applies. As an agent working for both parties, I could not do anything that would hurt either the buyer or seller. Because it was only for the specific home, I could not discuss other property options. An offer was presented, but terms could not be agreed upon. The buyers moved on to another home.

A few weeks later the price was reduced on my listing. I called this young couple to see if the lower price would be enough to renew their interest. It would. But there was also another new construction house in a different area that was being considered.

Another showing. They were sure that they had it down to between the two homes. I could see the indecision and confusion on their faces. I asked about the other home they were considering to help them contrast it to my listing to help my selling clients and put their home in a better light. As with most homes, neither home was a perfect fit. I am a firm believer that after weighing all of the pluses and minuses, homes will sell themselves if it is the right home for the buyer. A week passed. No offer came forth.

Finally a phone call from the young man. We have made a decision. We are not going to offer again on your listing. It is not the right home for us. In fact, neither home is right. We are starting over. "Would you help us find a home?"

Now as their buyers' representative, I got to work. For the next few weeks, we visited a dozen or so homes from the hundreds currently on the MLS that met their criteria. Traveling from Stillwater to White Bear Lake and Hugo to Forest Lake we narrowed down the field of potential homes to two or three. Finally, one sparked enough interest for a second showing with the parents, but this home also had a few quirks that raised concerns. That same evening, since we were out, I set up another showing for a home in a development that hadn't considered. Funny thing was, the home was perfect!

With the perfect home, there were no delay or hesitation in signing the offer; everything just fell into place. With every visit to the home for the inspection and walk-throughs, the young couple became more excited.

At the final walk-through, with minutes to go before they were to receive the keys to their first home, I asked them, "So, are you glad that you decided to sign with a REALTOR®?"

They answered in unison a resounding, "Yes!! You made it so much easier to find the right home! Especially since for buyers." I don't make this stuff up...Those were their exact words.

After the closing, I received a hug and sincere, "Thank you for everything", from my young clients. As they set off to begin life in their dream home a thought struck me, what a fantastic job I have!

Copyright 2011 www.terieckholm.com

Hey Harold—Grab that Purple Crayon and Draw a Dream Home!

When I was in grade school, I loved reading the story of Harold and the Purple Crayon. It was a picture book written by Crockett Johnson. I wanted to be like that little bald kid who drew out his dreams in his footy pajamas. Though not fond of the color purple, I always wanted one of those special violet Crayola type sticks to draw what I was dreaming of! Imagine if life were only so simple…





Today many people are sitting on the fence dreaming about their perfect home but aren’t certain that they have the tools necessary to take advantage of this unprecedented $8000 tax credit for first time buyers and amazing affordability in the Twin Cities home market. Maybe they are looking for one of Harold’s purple crayons too so they can draw out a path to a perfect new home…

Draw YOUR perfect REALTOR® Grab that magic purple crayon and sketch out your ideal of a trusted professional REALTOR®. The first step in owning a dream home is to find the agent of your dreams to represent you throughout the process. Make certain to sign the buyer’s representation agreement for with a blue ink pen not a purple Crayola.

Draw Your Preapproval letter. Pre-approval is an important step before you begin looking for a home. It not only determines how much home you can afford to spend on a home, it guarantees that you are ready to write up the offer when you find your dream home. The letter will serve as notice to the sellers that the bank has committed to lend you a specified amount based on your financial history. This gives you significant buying power as a seller recognizes you are approved for a loan. Your professional REALTOR® can assist you in locating a qualified loan officer that will work with you to make your dream home a reality.

Draw YOUR perfect home! Draw YOUR perfect home! Here’s the drawing you have been waiting for...glide that purple crayon across the page and sketch out your dream home. Your perfectly depicted purple REALTOR® will set up an MLS search for homes that meet the needs and price you have drawn up. As perfect homes hit the market, showings will be set to view the homes in person.

Draw up a Purchase Agreement and happy seller! Draw up a Purchase Agreement and happy seller! Use that magic purple crayon to draw up a contract on your dream. Okay the contract will have to be completed in something other than that crayon, but here is where you draw up contract including all of the details such as what you want to pay for the home, what personal property is to be included as well as the date you want to close and move in.

Draw a Qualified Inspector. To be certain that you didn’t miss any important details when you sketched out the beautiful purple palace, draw a home inspector that is qualified to check out your new purchase.

Draw up a SOLD sign. A big purple "SOLD" sign will announce to the world that this is YOUR dream home! It will stay on the sign while the home is "pending" the closing. During this period prior to closing, your purple professionals work closely together to ensure that details such as the appraisal and updating the title are handled in a timely manner. It is your job to use your purple crayon to mark off the days until you get to the closing table!

Draw the Keys to your new front door! Draw the key to your new front door! One final purplish piece of art will complete the home buying process—Sketch up a set of house keys! When closing day arrives, be prepared to attend with your state issued picture identification, a 10 year address history, your checkbook, and all other information requested by the closer. At the end of this hour meeting, you will be handed the keys to your new home.

Copyright 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Whose Home Would YOU Buy in the Hundred Acre Wood?

Imagine you were going to buy a home in the Hundred Acre Wood. Let's pretend that for a minute that Pooh and all his friends have their homes up for sale. Whose home would you choose?

• Eeyore’s? Not a chance. An A-Frame built of sticks without a proper foundation that a butterfly could knock down in a second isn’t worth consideration.


• Gopher’s? Though Gopher’s actual home is never shown, it would appear to be underground. Underground, earth berm homes lack the curb appeal necessary for most buyers.


• Owl’s? The tree Owl’s house is built in doesn’t seem to support the weight of the home. On a very blustery day, the whole thing could be blown down.


• Pooh’s? Now at first glance, Pooh’s place looks sturdy but I’d question the upkeep of a home maintained by a bear of very little brain. When a homeowner cannot even take down the name plaque of the previous owner, Mr. Saunders, it is doubtful that he would have the ability to do the upkeep on the interior. Besides when the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down, much of it was inside Pooh’s house.


• Rabbit’s? Now this is a character that cares for his property! Rabbit always seems to have a rake or broom in his hand. His garden is fenced and laid out perfectly, but he does seem to have a egress problem with his door. If a guest cannot have dinner, or several pots of honey, without getting stuck on the way out, there is a problem.


• Tigger’s? It seems that Tigger may be the homeless resident of the Hundred Acre Wood as he is always bouncing up to his neighbor’s homes but never appears to be at his own.


• Christopher Robin’s? Though probably the best choice of a home as it is currently being occupied by humans, Christopher Robin’s home is not located in the Hundred Acre Woods and so it does not meet your buyer criteria.


• Kanga's? Given this specific buying criteria, I would choose Kanga’s home. She seems to have a lovely, well maintained rambler with a covered front porch. We know it is a two bedroom because Roo has his own bedroom. All other homes appear to be one room efficiency dwellings. To me, Kanga’s two bedroom gem appears to be a perfect little cabin in the woods.

The question above is whimsical and not unlike what an actual buyer might go through when considering homes for sale currently listed in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

I have shown a few foreclosures this past year that were not much better than Eeyore’s pile of sticks. This is especially true of a few unmaintained decks. Several are so rickety, clients and I avoid being on at the same time if at all.

There have also been homes with narrow hallways and doorways. Though, I only recall one home where a full grown person could have gotten stuck in the floor opening of a spiral stairway, there were several others where I had to recommend that buyers consider how furniture would get in and out due to tight corners and narrow spaces.

And maintenance, or lack there of, by people whose heads seem to be a little “stuffed with fluff” is a common occurrence. I have seen homes where repairs were quite literally made with duct tape rather than a proper replacement.

Most home buyers strive to find the well maintained gem similar to Kanga’s house. Buyer’s dream homes usually are properties where all repairs and replacements have been made to code with proper materials. It is a house that is usable and accessible to everyone in the family without ducking their heads or turning sideways to squeeze through a doorway. Sometimes a buyer will even choose to look outside their original location parameters and consider a home on the edge of the preferred community to buy the exceptional home of their dreams.

Finding and buying the perfect home takes time but the process is made much easier when working with a knowledgeable REALTOR® that can tell an Eeyore pile of sticks from a comfortable cabin like Kanga’s.
*Note All Character Photos were shots of Disney® Pins in a personal collection.

Are you searching for a perfect little Minnesota home and need help from a professional REALTOR ® to tell Kanga’s Gem from Eeyore’s A-frame? 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.
Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Think You are Ready to Buy a Foreclosed Home?—Take the Quiz!

As a Realtor working in this changed Twin Cities real estate market, I get lots of questions:

• “Is it REALLY a good time to buy a home?”


• “With all the foreclosures, there must be some awesome deals?”


• “What does mean when an offer requires bank approval’?”

The media has lead many first time buyers and investors into believing buying a foreclosure or pre-foreclosure home is a great deal. So I get the questions. Potential buyers and those on the fence often want my expert opinion if buying a foreclosed home is a good idea. Well, my answer is it all depends on the buyer.

There are awesome deals on homes throughout Anoka County. Some of these properties are foreclosures or bank-owned. Others are short sale or upside-down, where the homeowner owes more for the home than the average buyer in the market place will now pay for the property. And then there is the traditional seller or builder who has the controlling ownership of the home, is ready to negotiate and move on to their next home.

Before you jump into buying a home in the changed Twin Cities real estate market, how do you know what type of property makes the most sense for you to buy? Face it—It is hard to pass up the very attractive, low prices on foreclosed and short sale listings. But not everyone has the stomach to handle the roller-coaster ride that accompanies the purchase of these homes. So, I created a 10 question true/false quiz to help you decide what might be your best option.

Is A Foreclosure or Short Sale Home for Me?

1. My ability to deal with household emergencies and repairs is limited to picking up the Yellow Pages and having a consult with Dex.


2. I have a huge rainy day fund and don’t know what it means to live on the edge from paycheck to paycheck.


3. I cheer for the banker in Deal or No Deal.


4. I expect empathy from the seller not apathy.


5. I have the patience of a saint.


6. I love my in-laws and vice versa that my entire family including the dog and two cats are welcome to live in their home for months on end while the deal goes through and the home is made habitable.


7. I will be purchasing my dream home.


8. I have expert knowledge in all areas of home construction and/or can afford to hire experts for inspecting the property prior to closing.


9. I need to be assured that my family won’t be exposed to lead paint, toxic mold, radon, failed septic systems, contaminated well water, rodents, insects and dirt.


10. This is the biggest personal investment of my life.

So how did you do? Are YOU ready to buy a bank-owned or upside-down property?
Question 1--False. If you answered true here, you might prefer to stick to the traditional seller. Foreclosed and short sale homes are not always in the best repair as the previous owners did not have the funds or desire to keep them in good condition. Paying out of pocket to hire contractors for every little repair can be cost prohibitive.
Question 2--True. If you truly have a considerable nest egg that can be invested in the known and unknown repairs of a foreclosed or short sale home, then it could be worth the risk. However if your budget can not withstand unexpected repairs, you might want to have a better understanding of the home you are buying with a complete seller disclosure and try to negotiate a home warranty with a traditional seller.
Question 3--True. Obviously a true on this one is an indication of a foreclosure and/or short sale buyer. You understand your purchase is just business to the banker. You are in it for the investment and feelings do not enter into the equation.
Question 4--False. Anyone who expects empathy from the seller needs to avoid short sales and foreclosure homes. The banks do not care about your family, your needs or your life. It is strictly a business transaction.
Question 5--True. If you don't believe patience is a virtue and answered false here, don’t even consider a short sale. Most transactions will take a minimum of 8 weeks for the purchase agreement that has been accepted by the seller to be reviewed by the bank. And when the bank finally reviews the agreement, then the negotiation begins. This process can take literally months!
Question 6--True. If your answer is false and your in-laws become out-laws after a day of togetherness, avoid the short sale or foreclosure scenario or find alternative housing prior to submitting your offer. Banks don’t accept contingent offers so if your current home sells and you put in that offer to the bank, your current property can close long before even getting an answer from the bank. Traditional sellers are much more flexible with timing as they are usually in a similar situation an can empathize with the buyers.
Question 7--False. In the best case scenario, the foreclosure/short sale buyer is purchasing a property not a dream. Dreams can become nightmares when buying an AS-IS foreclosure or short sale home. If you are not looking at the property as an investment devoid of emotions, stick with the traditional seller situation.
Question 8--True. If you cannot answer true to this question, be prepared to fork over hundreds of dollars for inspections on the home prior to purchasing it. Inspections and testing can cost into the thousands if the home is on a private well and/or sewer system, if there has been water intrusion/mold or if the home’s age indicates the possibility of lead or asbestos.
Question 9--False. If you need assurances about the condition of the home, stick with the traditional seller. In Minnesota homeowners are required to provide disclosures. Some inspection costs can be negotiated into a purchase agreement with a traditional seller like the well and/or septic system. Banks rarely pay for any type of inspection and buyers are often asked to agree to purchase the home AS-IS and waive their rights to a disclosure.
Question 10--False. If you answered true and this is the biggest investment of your life, as it is for many first time buyers or owner occupied residences, maybe a traditional purchase would make more sense in the long run. First time investors need to heed this warning and give careful consideration to foreclosures and short sales too. Until you can say, it is just another property and you don’t have your heart and sole tied to the investment, it might be more prudent to choose the investment with the least risk.

All kidding aside, these are serious questions to contemplate. Buying a bank owned property is not the right choice for the average buyer. Dealing with a corporation where a home is just numbers on a balance sheet can be frustrating. Buying a dream shouldn’t be a nightmare. The buyer alone is the only one who can decide whether buying a home that requires a bank approval is worth the risk, frustration and effort.

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Featured Ham Lake Listing--An awesome deal that is NOT a short sale or in foreclosure!

15139 E Vermillion Circle NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304

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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.
Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Sticking with Home Buyers until the Dream is Reality

It’s a bright sunny early spring afternoon in 2006, my cell phone rings.
“Hi my name is Ben Johnson and you worked with my in-laws a few years back. They are in that great home in Scandia.”

“Sure, Ben, I know who you are. I spoke with your wife, Kim, a few years back but you weren’t ready to make a move then.”

“Well we are now! Could you show us a few homes tomorrow? We are interested in a few horse properties that are on the market in Isanti and Anoka Counties.”

“Great! I will set them up!”
So began the journey to the perfect home for the Johnson family. This story does have a very happy ending but the middle was rather a long drawn out process. Ben and Kim had a home to sell. When they sold their first home a decade before, it sold in a matter of days. Like most Twin Cities homeowners a few years ago, they were certain that their home would sell quickly, even in the slower market. Many people had said they were interested in the two-story, centrally located St. Paul home. But FSBO is not as easy as it would seem. After exhausting their contacts, they listed with me at the end of the summer of 2006.

From our first meeting, the Johnsons opted to sign a buyer’s representation agreement with me. I represented the couple in the search for their dream home. Kim and Ben’s dream was to live on acreage so they wouldn’t have to board their daughters’ horses. The Johnson’s wanted land to ride on and prairie views of beautiful private sunsets. Driving from North Branch to Linwood and Stacy to Scandia, we scoured the countryside. We found many perfect places for this family while they waited for their home to sell so they could write a non-contingent offer.

Over the holidays, the Johnsons chose to remove their home from the market. Their busy schedule included celebrating with a number of children and grandchildren. Showings didn’t fit in the plan. During the time their home was temporarily off of the MLS, a buyer contacted me as my sign was still in the yard. She was ready to buy and love the home from the outside and the photos online. The day the house re-listed, she wrote an offer which was accepted.

Of course this was the first big snowstorm of 2007 and the Johnsons and I trekked out in the elements to see new homes. After viewing properties from East Bethel to Chisago, the perfect home was found in Forest Lake. Unfortunately, the person buying their home wasn't a good buyer; the earnest money check bounced. So we were back to the drawing board.

A few weeks into March and my clients were more dedicated than ever to find the perfect home. Kim and Ben had just had a new roof put on the house and made every repair recommended by the truth-in-housing inspector. They decided to offer a warranty on their home so a new buyer wouldn’t have to worry about an older dryer or boiler. They lowered their list price and showings picked up. The home they had their eyes on in Forest Lake sold but new homes were coming on the market to consider.

As spring turned to summer, my clients were home sellers frustrated with the market. The Johnsons dropped the price again. Weeks later, we were contacted by an agent that another offer was coming in. Out we headed again to find a perfect place to call home. This time there were homes in Scandia, Stacy, Columbus, North Branch and Linwood to consider. Again a perfect Scandia home was located.

The offer did arrive by fax the next day. It was from an investor who wanted to close within days. When the sellers countered with a new closing date, the investor rejected the counteroffer and bought a different home. A week later the Scandia home went into pending. Another dream faded away.

As August approached, Ben and Kim remained positive and determined to have a new home for the school year. Another price adjustment and another offer came in. Third time was definitely the charm!

Now, it was crunch time! A perfect horse property was available. It was a second choice to the Scandia home. An offer was written, accepted and on a bright sunny fall afternoon, both homes closed. Their dream was finally a reality.

See, the lesson here is a professional Realtor is in it with you for the long haul. I stuck with my clients through flighty buyers and a rough market. I showed them homes in four counties and several communities for over a year until the timing was right.

When I checked in on the Johnson family a few weeks after closing, Kim and Ben were happy with their new home. Of course there were hiccups that need to be resolved but overall the family was satisfied and at home. Their children were adjusting well, the horses were grazing in the back and life was returning to a new normal on 10 acres in the country.

This is why I am a Realtor. I make dreams reality no matter how long it takes.

*The story is true though in interest of my clients’ privacy, I did change the names.


More Articles on Buying Real Estate that might be of interest:
Are You a BUBBA?
Rent VS Buy? It's Time to Revisit the Question!
How to Choose a Realtor—Why a Good Friend is Not Always a Good Option
How to Choo-Choose a Realtor and Avoid a Train Wreck!

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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.

Copyright 2007 www.terieckholm.com