Pohlad Grant Deadline Looming~Now FHA Approved!

The deadline is looming! Not just for the tax credit for first time homebuyer. Anyone interested in buying a home in the 55106 Dayton’s Bluff area, needs to pay attention to the December 31st deadline for this program too!

It’s been a few weeks since I had checked the Dayton’s Bluff website for information on the Pohlad Homebuyer Assistance Incentive Program. This is the program that caused so much excitement for buyer’s in the 55106 zip code earlier this year. But this morning when I clicked over I got a very pleasant surprise! The funds are now approved for FHA financing!

If you haven’t heard about it yet, this is a great program for homebuyers looking to buy in St. Paul’s 55106 zip code and available through the Pohlad Family Giving Foundation. However, they are not just giving away money here. The funds are distributed at the time of the purchase of the home as a forgivable loan. So it is not as simple as a homebuyer purchasing a house and walking in to the Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services of St. Paul to collect an $8000 check. That said, this is still an awesome opportunity if you want to live on the east side of St. Paul!



Here are some of the program's highlights:



*The funds up to $8000 are distributed in the form of a 7 year forgivable deferred loan.



*The loan will have an interest rate of 0%.



*Homebuyers must occupy the property as their principle residence for 7 years.



*Single family homes and duplexes purchases are eligible.



*The funds will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.



*It is only available in the 55106 zip code in St. Paul or 55411 zip code in Minneapolis.



* The funds can be used for down payment and/or closing costs including prepaids.



*First time homebuyers will have to take an approved homebuyer education class.



*Successful, prior homeowners will not have to take a homebuyer class.



*Funds are available to both first time homebuyers and previous homeowners alike.



*There is no maximum household income for the program.



*All homes must close prior to December 31, 2009.



If you are a home buyer interested in buying a home in the Dayton’s Bluff area and want to take advantage of this program, you NEED to be working with a REALTOR® and loan officer that understand the details of how the funding will best work for you. Must of the application process is supplemented by information provided from the mortgage lender or loan officer. Be certain that the people you select to work with really understand how the program works so you don’t miss out on this opportunity.

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

June 2009 Video Update—Local Real Estate Market Continues on Positive Path Out of the Woods!

Continued low interest rates and the $8000 first time home buyer tax credit continue to build on the more positive trend and path out of the proverbial real estate woods for the Minneapolis/St. Paul real estate market. According to the Minneapolis REALTORS® Association's June Monthly Skinny, the positive signs continue that the Twin Cities market is moving out of the woods. Overall inventory is at 7.6 months currently (a balanced market would be 5.6 months). But while lender-mediated inventory stands at 5 months, traditional homesellers face double the competition with 9.9 months of inventory. The supply of bank-owned and short sale homes is down considerably. Another indicator that we are marking a path to recovery is that pending sales have increased for the eleventh month in a row….up 17% in May 2009 compared to May 2008. No doubt the $8000 first time homebuyer tax credit has played a role in energizing the Twin Cities real estate market.



Not to be out done by our friends on the west side of the Mississippi, the St Paul Area Association of REALTORS® (SPAAR) has a premier edition of their own Twin Cities real estate market video. In the just released, Market Beat, SPAAR indicates this is the perfect time for first time home buyers due to the trifecta of affordability, low interest rates and the $8000 tax credit! Lower inventory and more pending sales has had a positive effect on the sales price of area homes. On the right side of the page look for the “Related Media” heading and click to view the entire video. (Hopefully SPAAR will be posting their informational videos on YouTube soon so I can embed and make it easier to watch…until then, this is the process.)

The positive signs in the real estate market are the entire 13-county area and the north metro is no exception. First time buyers have been in the market for the last couple of months and multiple offers on well priced homes under $200,000 has become common place. Just yesterday, I tried to set up several homes in the Hugo and Forest Lake area for a first time buyer….6 of 10 homes that they wanted to see were under contract, had offers or were sold pending inspection. As those first time homes sell, move-up buyers are finally able to take advantage of the market. I am continuing to field questions daily from excited first time Anoka County buyers on the specifics of this unique $8000 Tax Refund opportunity. (If you have a question call on the program, just let me know with a call or text to 651-336-7073 or just send a quick email.)


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

Pohlad Funding Update…Plan Ahead when Planning to Use this Funding

6/2/2009 UPDATE: Application is on-line as of today!

Buyers that want to take advantage of the up to $8000 in special funds available for the 55106 and 55411 zip codes made available by the Pohlad Family Giving Foundation need to do their homework and plan ahead.

As of today, the funding is NOT yet available at the Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services of St. Paul (DBNHS). I spoke with a representative of DBNHS last week who said that the funding should be in place any day now but applications cannot be accepted for the program until the funds are received.

Once the funds are in place DBNHS will start accepting on-line applications but be advised it will take 30 days to process the application and first time homeowners are required to take a class before the funds are distributed. The funds will be distributed as a seven year forgivable loan so it cannot be retroactive to your purchase. If you were planning to close on your property at the end of June or first part of July, this may be a problem if you expect to use these funds.

The representative at the DBNHS advised to keep watch on the website as the link to the application will be posted as soon as the funds are available. Also remember there are limited funds available and this is a first come, first served program. When the funds are gone, the program is over so it will pay to stay vigilant if you want to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

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

May 2009 Video Update—In or Out of the Woods? That is a Big Question!

It appears that the Twin Cities housing market is continuing to move forward to recovery as we head into the summer. According to the Minneapolis Realtors Association's May Monthly Skinny, there continue to be positive signs that we are moving out of the woods. Inventory did not inflate this spring as it usually does when the snow melts so the housing inventory levels that have been extremely high are starting to level off and come down. A major share of the homes sold 46%, continue to be lender-owned or lender-mediated sales. These homes are selling at 21% less than in 2008 but traditional sellers home sales prices are only down about 8%. Distressed homes are moving out of the market and that is a good thing.No doubt the $8000 first time homebuyer tax credit has continued to fuel the spring market throughout the Twin Cities as things really kicked into high gear just after the credit was announced.

A major coup for the most two neighborhoods most affected by the foreclosure crisis was the Pohlad Family Foundation Grants allowing for $8000 grants in the form of a forgivable loan to homebuyers in the 55411 in Minneapolis and 55106 zip code in St. Paul. Suddenly a surge of homebuyers became interested and now once over looked areas are seeing multiple offers on homes.
These positive signs are not just limited to Minneapolis/St. Paul and first ring suburbs. The entire north metro is seeing activity and homes selling. First time buyers have been in the market for several weeks now. As those first time homes sell, move-up buyers are finally able to take advantage of the market. I am continuing to field questions daily from excited first time Anoka County buyers on the specifics of this unique $8000 Tax Refund opportunity. (If you have a question call on the program, just let me know with a call or text to 651-336-7073 or just send a quick email.) Take a peek at the entire May video for a quick update on the Twin Cities housing move toward the edge of the woods as we make our way out…




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 , Homebuyers Success Packet or sign up for Listingbook Twin Cities Home Search. 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 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Buying a home on St Paul’s East Side? Understanding the Pohlad Family Foundation Homebuyer Program

The Homebuyer Assistance Incentive Program from the Pohlad Family Giving Foundation is the program that everyone is talking about on the east side of St Paul! It is a great program for homebuyers looking to buy in St. Paul’s 55106 zip code and available through the Pohlad Family Giving Foundation. I am currently working with several buyers who are interested in this program and boy are the homes selling quickly in these communities! Every other listing agent makes a point of reminding me about the "$8000 Pohlad money" for the buyer, as if we had not heard of the program. But few ot these agents have delved into the details. Some of the stories about the program are a bit exaggerated or misunderstood. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as a homebuyer purchasing a house and walking in to the Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services of St. Paul to collect an $8000 check. That said, this is still an awesome opportunity if you want to live on the east side of St. Paul!
Here are some of the program's highlights:
*The funds up to $8000 are distributed in the form of a 7 year forgivable deferred loan.

*The loan will have an interest rate of 0%.

*Homebuyers must occupy the property as their principle residence for 7 years.

*Single family homes and duplexes purchases are eligible.

*The funds will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

*It is only available in the 55106 zip code in St. Paul or 55411 zip code in Minneapolis.

* The funds can be used for down payment and/or closing costs including prepaids.

*First time homebuyers will have to take an approved homebuyer education class.

*Successful, prior homeowners will not have to take a homebuyer class.

*Funds are available to both first time homebuyers and previous homeowners alike.

*There is no maximum household income for the program.

*All homes must close prior to December 31, 2009.
If you are a home buyer interested in buying a home in the Dayton’s Bluff area and want to take advantage of this program, you NEED to be working with a REALTOR® and loan officer that understand the details of how the funding will best work for you. Must of the application process is supplemented by information provided from the mortgage lender or loan officer. Be certain that the people you select to work with really understand how the program works so you don’t miss out on this opportunity.

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

16,000 of the Best Reasons to Buy a Home on St Paul's Eastside in 2009!

How did that old gum commercial go? “Double the pleasure. Double the Fun.” How about “Double the Savings” with an $8000 grant AND an $8000 tax credit, if you buy a home this year on St. Paul’s east side?

Earlier this year the $8000 Tax Credit to first time homebuyers was announced as part of the stimulus plan. For those who may not have been paying attention, here is a quick rundown of the criteria to qualify for the government housing tax credit:

• The tax credit is for homebuyers buying their first home only. (But buyers are considered first time buyers if they haven’t owned a home in the past three years.)
• The money does not have to be repaid.
• The credit is capped at 10 percent of the home's purchase price with a maximum of $8,000.
• Homes must be purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. (Note not the credit is NOT available until the end of the year. Plan accordingly!)
• Income caps to apply...Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
• Additional questions on the $8000 can be answered by CLICKING HERE

Now for the exciting news for Twin Cities homebuyers. In mid-April, the Pohlad Family Foundation pledged up to $20 million to support two Twin Cities neighborhoods hardest hit by the housing and foreclosure crisis. Part of that funding is being allocated in the form of grants to homebuyers in the 55106 zip code in St. Paul and 55411 zip code in Minneapolis. These areas are considered to be the hardest hit by foreclosures statewide, according to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.

Anyone who purchases a single-family home or duplex in either of these neighborhoods by the end of the 2009 calendar year will receive $8,000 from the Pohlad Foundation Charity. The money will not have to be repaid if the home is kept for seven years. Also the homebuyer would have to live in the home to qualify for the grant but there are no limits on income.

Here’s where “Double the Fun” comes into play: The funding would be in addition to an $8,000 federal tax credit that is part of this year's federal stimulus package. Distribution of the funds will be through the following agencies:

• Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services of St. Paul Phone 651-774-6995
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Minneapolis Phone 612-521-3581

As many of the homes in these neighborhoods are in foreclosure, first time homebuyers need to be savvy when making there purchase. Get educated on how to buy a home by contacting a REALTOR® that knows this part of St. Paul (or Minneapolis) and how to best negotiate a good deal on a foreclosed or bank-owned home.

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