Let Jack Frost Nip Your Nose—Winter IS a Great Time to BUY a Home!

Brutal subzero temperatures came early to Minnesota this year. This is the first time in nearly 20 years the Minneapolis/St Paul metro has had to deal with bone chilling weather in December. Add a fresh blanket of snow covering the landscape from North St. Paul to East Bethel and Lino Lakes to Scandia and most home buyers will jump in bed and cover up their heads until spring. 

But wait, winter is not the time to hide from the elements if you are pre-approved and ready to buy a home. Although making a move in a Minnesota winter’s snow and ice is not ideal, the timing could not be more perfect to buy a home and get a GREAT DEAL!

Here are the Top Ten Reasons to Buy a Home THIS Winter!
Reason 10—Holiday Décor. Touring homes during December really puts a home buyer into the holiday spirit. Many homeowners take this opportunity to deck the halls with hopes that there will be a purchase agreement in their Christmas stockings!

Reason 9—Check Window Efficiency. Frost on the window sill is not a holiday decoration! Subzero temperatures really put windows to the test. Some windows will fog between the glass panes, others will ice up on the interior and then there are those that stay crystal clear despite the cold outdoors. This energy efficiency test can only be done when the temperatures are extreme outside.

Reason 8—Less Competition. While many Minnesotans seeking the perfect gift at the Mall of America for gifts or attending “A Christmas Carol” at the Guthrie Theater, savvy home buyers are visiting homes with their REALTOR®!

Reason 7—Your REALTOR® has Time. Most real estate agents are not juggling several clients during the holiday season and can spend more time scouring the MLS to find the perfect home for the ones that want to be in a new home in January.

Reason 6—Assess the Community. Home buyers touring houses in the winter will get a good idea of how well various communities maintain roads and keep the streets free from ice and snow.

Reason 5—Check the Heating System. Whether the home is heated with a forced air furnace or a hot water boiler, checking out the heating system in the summer is hard to do. With our current subzero temps, a furnace problem would be very obvious!

Reason 4—Icicles. Snow on a roof can create icicles that might appear festive but also are an indicator of improper attic insulation. A home with significant ice dams might require additional maintenance and/or repairs.

Reason 3—Affordable Interest Rates. Rates continue to be very affordable but as the market heats up in the spring, rates could go higher too.

Reason 2—Significant Inventory Though the number of homes coming on the market is not as high as in the spring, the market is pretty balanced and new homes continue to hit the market every day. Whether you are looking for a starter town home, a single family home, a private country estate, a McMansion or a lakeshore paradise, there is a good selection of properties for a buyer to select from. 

And, drumroll please, The Number 1 Reason for Buying in the Winter—Motivated Sellers. Homes that stay on the market in December and January in Minnesota are homes that need to be SOLD! If sellers are motivated enough to suffer through a Christmas Eve showing, they probably are willing to negotiate on the price as well!

Copyright 2013 www.terieckholm.com

Almost Speechless Sunday--Waves of a Minnesota Winter Snow!

Being a REALTOR® who specializes in Minnesota Lakeshore and acreage, you may have been expecting a frozen lake shot or field sculpted into drifts from the record-breaking, "snow-mageddon" Minnesota blizzard of last weekend. We clocked in with 16-20 inches across the Minneapolis/St Paul metro; in fifth place for the most snow in one storm. To be honest with you, those winter lake and open field shots can be boring as they are often nothing but white.

However the wind did sculpt the first snowfall of the season into perfectly formed snow waves across our newly installed backyard landscaping. This was such a unique sight, I just had to capture it for posterity! Only Mother Nature could provide such a backyard treat!

Copyright 2010 Teri Eckholm

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful--Ten Reasons Why NOW is a GREAT Time to Buy a Minnesota Home!

A fresh blanket of snow covers the landscape across the Twin Cities from Oakdale to Blaine and Ham Lake to White Bear Lake. There is a chill in the air...who am I kidding, the weather is biting cold this year. But winter is not a time to hide from the elements and wait until spring to make a home buying decision! Although making a move in a Minnesota winter’s snow and ice is not ideal, the timing could not be more perfect to buy a home and get a GREAT DEAL!

Here are the Top Ten Reasons to Buy a Home THIS Winter!
Reason 10—Holiday Décor. Visiting homes this time of year will really put you in the holiday spirit. Many homeowners use this opportunity to deck the halls with hopes that there will be a purchase agreement in their Christmas stocking!

Reason 9—Check Window Efficiency. No that frost on the window is not a holiday decoration! Subzero temperatures really put windows to the test. Some windows will fog between the glass panes, others will ice up on the interior and then there are those that stay crystal clear in the cold. This energy efficiency test can only be done when the temperature is extreme outside.

Reason 8—Low Traffic/Less Competition. While most Minnesotans are shopping at the Mall of America for gifts or attending “A Christmas Carol” at the Guthrie Theater, savvy home buyers are visiting homes with their Realtor!

Reason 7—REALTORS have Tons of Time. Most REALTORs are not juggling several clients like they often have to when the weather is warm. They will be have to spend more time scouring the MLS to find the perfect home for their buyers!

Reason 6—Amazingly Low Mortgage Rates. Though rates have ticked up a bit from the extremely low 4% rate that were available last month, at 4.5 % rates are still at all time record lows. These rates cannot continue forever. A low interest rate translates to being able to afford a higher priced home and/or a lower payment!

Reason 5—Check the Heating System. Whether the home is heated with a forced air furnace or a hot water boiler, checking out the heating system in the summer is hard to do. On a cold Minnesota evening, a furnace problem is very obvious!

Reason 4—Builders Discounts. New Construction developments hoping to clear inventory before the end of the year will often slash prices. Buyers ready to buy non-contingent are in the best position for a deal…Especially when they are accompanied by their agent to assist with the negotiations!

Reason 3—Check that Fireplace. It's hard to determine if that fireplace will be perfect for toasting chestnuts when the temperatures are in the upper 90's on a July summer day. But now is the perfect time to see if that fireplace is operational. A cracked flue can costs thousands if overlooked in the warm weather so buying during the winter is a plus when considering a home with a wood burning fireplace!

Reason 2—Amazing Inventory. Whether you are looking for a starter townhome, a single family home, a private country acreage, a McMansion or a lakeshore paradise, there are probably a slew of properties for you to select from. A search of lakeshore in Anoka, Chisago and Washington Counties alone, yields 100's available homes. Now that is a great selection!

And, drumroll please, The Number 1 Reason for Buying in the Winter—Motivated Sellers. Homes that stay on the market in December and January in the Twin Cities are homes that need to be SOLD! If they are motivated enough to suffer through a Christmas Eve showing, they probably are willing to negotiate on the price as well!

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Copyright 2010 Teri Eckholm