Do You Question that we are Living Exponentially?

Ever feel like you are being left behind by technology? Don't think anyone is using facebook.com or twitter.com? Not even sure what Facebook or Twitter are? Think it doesn't really make a difference in today's world?
Here is an eyeopener for you...This great video that gives snippets and facts that reinforces the belief that things are changing faster than ever before. Well worth the four minutes of your life it takes to watch. The numbers are mindblowing....Enjoy!







Thanks to Ken Brand and his 411 blog for bringing this awesome video to my attention!

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!

Copyright 2009 terieckholm.com

Teri and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Subzero MN Winter Day

In Minnesota this week we experienced a once (or twice) in a canine lifetime, finger-freezing, pipe-bursting, cold snap….or should I say ARCTIC BLAST? I know that half of America felt a bit chilly this week as that horrible, no-good jet stream swooped down from the Arctic into states as far south as Florida. But I frankly have no sympathy for someone suffering in 30 degree temperatures when ours are 30 degrees below zero. I think it is time to pack up the hateful flannel railroad pajamas and head to Australia!
There is no other way to describe subzero, bone-chilling weather…30 degrees below zero weather is NASTY with a capital N! The wind freezes the skin in a matter of seconds. Dress in layers takes on a new dimension as people, who never wear hats, gloves, boots or scarves, swaddle themselves in mismatched accessories and ugly holiday sweaters in order to walk out to warm up their cars…If the cars will start that is.

Thank goodness I didn’t have to show houses during the snap. As a Minnesota REALTOR®, it is cold enough when trying to show a winterized, heatless, and foreclosed home on a 30 degree day. In this weather, taking off your gloves to work a combination lock box can be a painful reminder of how quickly frostbite can overtake essential extremities…like fingers!

Our 17 year old dog, Tikki, played dead when I try to coax him out the door to take care of business. When I was finally able to push him out and down his dog ramp, he was too cold to do anything and he sat on his tail with his frozen paws in the air. I had to put on boots to go out and lift him back to his feet to get him inside. A few minutes later, we had an accident in the house.

School was delayed or even cancelled in many communities for fear that kids will freeze at bus stops or walk to school in their usual jacketless, bootless, gloveless and hatless state. I guess common sense still isn’t being taught at Minnesota schools…or maybe it is just that teenagers still don’t believe that minus 30 is COLD! Heck as a Minnesota teen, I chose style over warmth too no matter how low the temperature got.

Those who have to venture out in this weather have all the supplies…gloves, blankets, boots, hats and energy bars in their winter survival kits…Who am I kidding? It is advised to carry one of those kits in your car but I don’t know one Minnesotan that has one. I did see someone get one as a Christmas gift once but I’d bet the Hershey’s bars were eaten long before any possible incident where the car hit black ice and went into the ditch.

On days like this week brought us, if I have to go out, I make certain to wear boots and thick, woolly socks. Once your feet get cold in this weather, they never warm up!

There was some frigid weather fun…The news people froze a wet t-shirt into a pancake-flat work of art in a matter of minutes and overnight a banana hardened into a “bammer”…fruit so hard it could pound in a nail. Hot water thrown in the air creates an instant cloud and blown soap bubbles freeze and shatter like glass. Great times…Yeah right!

It was over 90 straight hours of below zero temps before we started to warm into the single digits…Next week it may be just warm enough to wash the thick, white crust of salt residue off the sides of my car. That groundhog better NOT see his shadow in a couple of weeks! It is SO time for spring! OR maybe a move to Australia!


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!

Copyright 2009 terieckholm.com

The Frugal File—Halloween Horror: Old Candy Alert!

Thrifty times call for drastic measures. I myself have been known to pinch pennies with the best of them so that our family could splurge on other things. But there is being frugal and being down right cheap. Trick-or Treaters beware…

Last March, my job as a REALTOR had me showing several homes to buying clients throughout Blaine, East Bethel, Andover, Ham Lake and even a few in as far south as Fridley and north to St. Francis. I can no longer pinpoint where this home was located but I will never forget what we saw stored in the closet under the stairs. A clear 38 gallon tote full of 10-20 bags of snack sized chocolate bars. All the favorites were there…Reese’s, Snickers, Hershey’s, you get the picture. It was clearly labeled “Halloween candy for 2008”. Keep in mind this is March now. After my client pointed it out it and I took a minute to process it...Yuck! Some poor kids are going to get a not so tasty surprise on Halloween because that is going to be very old chocolate!
If you want to be thrifty and pre-buy something for next year’s trick-or-treaters at the half price sales on November 1st, stick to the non-edible treats. Pencils, Play-doh and small toys are usually available. Now if you like to give small gifts at Thanksgiving, by all means get the candy that is 50% off and wrapped in fall colors. I like to buy these and put an assortment into small gift bags for teachers and other service professionals as a Thanksgiving thank you. The chocolate is fresh and will taste good for several more weeks. I will even stock up on Hershey Kisses Kisses for making peanut blossom cookies that we have at Christmas. But saving chocolate under the stairs for a year and distributing to the neighborhood kids is not recommended as a way to save money. In fact it’s kind of gross.

Have a Very Safe and Happy Halloween!

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

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

One Week and Counting Down to the GREAT Minnesota State Fair!

It’s Coming! We are just a week away from the great Minnesota get together...better known as the Minnesota State Fair! Preparations for this fabulous event were well underway early this week. Though it looks a bit of a ghost town as of Monday when we were dropping off a few entries at the education building, there were signs of the frantic activity soon to come.

Trailers were parked strategically near displays and buildings still without signage.

Crews of hard working men were pulling up tents and working on other displays.

Though only a lone piece of farm equipment adorned Machinery Hill, there will no doubt be several more tractors on display soon.

The roads were clear of the mass of humanity that blocks every street and corner on a busy day in the last week of summer. In a remote corner of my mind I was certain I heard the echo of a long ago request for a Prontopup with ketchup and another for Tom Thumb Mini Donuts…Or was that a voice of the future? Probably both.

The 2008 Minnesota State Fair starts Thursday, August 21 and runs through Labor Day, September 2. For additional information and schedules, CLICK HERE to visit the MN State Fair website.

****************************************
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

It’s Historic! It’s Irish! It’s St. Patrick’s Day with a Minnesota Flair!

Or Flaherty…In this case! Though many consider Minnesota to be the home of Swedish and Norwegian immigrants, the Irish have very deep roots in Minnesota’s soil. Railroads and farming opportunities enticed Irish immigrants in the late 1800’s to the state to settle in colonies along the Mississippi. Of course on St. Patrick’s Day every Minnesotan has a bit of the Irish in them. The traditional St. Patrick’s Day parade in St. Paul was held this past Saturday as to not conflict with holy week but Minneapolis is holding true to a celebration today.

Growing up in St. Paul as a Flaherty, we did participate from time to time in the St. Paul St. Patrick's Day parade and watch the Gaelic events. I think we may have had a traditional familiy corned beef and cabbage dinner once or twice too. Whether as a spectator or walker, it was fun to watch the celebration of our heritage. The Irish dancing and music are a unique cultural experience, though I doubt my hair would have ever held those tight ringlets.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I wanted to share some fun Minnesota Irish websites. Enjoy!

• Meet St. Patrick


• History of Irish in Minnesota


• Irish Songs and their lyrics


• Irish Recipes


• St. Paul St. Pat's


• St. Patrick's Day Online Games


• The Irish Gazette


• Official Government Website of Ireland
  

And here is the chorus of my favorite Irish song:

When Irish eyes are smiling, sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.

In the lilt of Irish laughter, you can hear the angels sing.

When Irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay.

And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure, they steal your heart away.

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

Ready to Rumble? Back to the 50’s Weekend is Coming up FAST!

The Back to the 50’s Weekend Car Show is a time-honored tradition of the Minnesota Street Rod Association (MSRA). From a very humble beginning of 12 members, the association has grown to over 13,000. The Back to the 50’s Weekend car show boasts 11,000 cars and over 100,000 spectators each year. It is the 2nd largest show of its kind in the World; second only to the NSRA Street Rod Nationals.

For three days, June 22-24, Minnesotan’s get a chance to walk down memory lane as thousands of restored classic automobiles and their owners take over the state fair grounds. Street rods, classics and custom vehicles all dating from 1964 or earlier are just part of the massive show.

Believe it or not, cars aren’t the only reason to visit the show. The event also includes entertainment from Bob and the Beachcombers and Sh-Boom among others. There will be yummy food vendors, an auto auction, a ladies expo, the Crusin’-Arts and Crafts fair, exhibits and a swap meet.

It is an amazing site to pull up a chair on Friday and Saturday night along Snelling Avenue and watch the cars exit the fair grounds and head to Porky’s Drive-In on University Avenue. As the drivers cruise up and down the local roads, spectators sit in lawn chairs to admire the awesome vehicles. Families set up picnics roadside to watch and marvel at the event.

Thinking of joining in the fun? Here are the details:

WHAT: The Minnesota Street Rod Association’s “Back to the 50’s” Weekend

WHEN: June 23, 23 and 24
Friday and Saturday 8:00AM to 11:00PM
Sunday 6:00AM to 3:00PM

WHERE: The Minnesota State Fair Grounds

COST: $10 per adult
Kids 12 and under are free with each paid adult
$2 discount tickets available at O’Reilly Auto Parts Stores

Need more information? Visit the MSRA website.
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.

Copyright 2007 terieckholm.com

Happy Mother's Day--The Meaning Behind the Message

Wishing someone a “Happy Mother’s Day” has a deeper meaning than to just have a joyous day. Sharing these three words with your mom, Grandma, stepmom or other person is a way to say, “thank you”, “I honor you”, “I respect you”, and “I love you.”

It is about putting a mom’s happiness first for the day.
In the United States we have been honoring mothers for over ninety years on the second Sunday in May. Credit for the holiday is attributed to Anna Jarvis, who spend much of her lifetime promoting this special day to honor her own mother, Ann Jarvis. She was inspired by her mother’s dedication to her eleven children.

On the second anniversary of her mother’s death which fell on the second Sunday in May, Anna Jarvis worked with her Mother’s church in West Virginia to create a celebration for all mothers. She decorated the church with her mother’s favorite flowers, white carnations which were symbolic of her mother’s love; full of sweetness, purity and endurance. Carnations still are used today in Mother’s Day celebrations. Red carnations are symbolic of mom’s who are living and the white flowers memorialize the ones who have passed away.

This first Mother’s Day was such a success that support grew for Anna Jarvis. She recruited a team of supporters to write politicians, congressmen and ministers throughout the U.S. In 1910, West Virginia became the first state to officially recognize Mother’s Day as a holiday. The following year almost every state observed the day to honor mothers as well. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May as the holiday: Mother’s Day.
In the past 90 years though families have changed and there are many more “mothering” people to be honored, one thing has stayed the same. This day is for remembering and honoring mom’s for all of the good you do and the love you share. Happy Mother’s Day!

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.

Copyright 2007 terieckholm.com

Dinos Replace Peanuts in the Twin Cities this Summer!

My family along with thousands of others searched for a parade of Peanuts Characters for five straight years. First we searched for Snoopy throughout the city of St. Paul in the summer of 2000. The next spring in 2001, we were at it again finding Charlie Brown all around the town. During the next two summers, we looked for Lucy and Linus in Ramsey County parks, street corners and even at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds. The Peanuts parade ended in 2004 with Twin Citians asking “Where’s Woodstock?”, as we searched for Snoopy and his little yellow friend on decorated doghouses for one final summer. It was a tremendously fun way to honor the late Charles Schultz and tour our beautiful capitol city!

This summer, after a two year hiatus, the plastic statues will once again be gracing the corners of Twin City streets. Only this year the characters are not Charles Schultz creations. Get your walking shoes and cameras ready because starting in May 2007 expertly decorated dinosaurs will be invading the city streets of St. Paul and parks of Minneapolis. (Yes, this year Minneapolis has joined in the fun!)

The event is to commemorate one of my family’s favorite places, the Science Museum of Minnesota’s 100th Anniversary. The public is invited to a “paint off” in mid-May at the St. Paul RiverCentre as the artists transform the plain white statues into works of art. For more information visit www.diggingdinos.org.

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. Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2007 terieckholm.com

Happy Easter—Tips to Clean up the Fridge after Holiday Surprises!

If you’re considering moving this spring, a clean refrigerator is essential. Home buyers are very particular about the cleanliness of kitchens. They look inside the refrigerator and stove to check to see how clean they are. Here are quick tips to put your fridge in tip top shape:

• Remove all food from refrigerator. If anything is past the freshness date, throw away.
• Remove all drawers and shelves that can be removed. Put on the counter or in sink of soapy water.
• Using soft cloth or sponge and warm soapy water, wipe down the entire inside of the appliance.
• Don’t forget to clean the door. Pay extra attention to the top of the door where food can collect.
• Clean off all of the drawers and shelves on the counter and in the sink.
• Reassemble the interior parts of the refrigerator.
• Vacuum coils underneath the appliance. Check to make certain the drip pan is empty.
• Wipe down the entire exterior. Pay special attention to around the handle.
• Put in a fresh box of baking soda to keep odors at bay.

Now your refrigerator as clean and fresh as a Spring Day!

Happy Easter!



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. Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.



Copyright 2007 terieckholm.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Growing up Irish in St. Paul, Minnesota made March 17th an official holiday! (Okay...only a quarter Irish but on St. Pat's day, whose counting?) We attended the big downtown parade and walked under the “Flaherty” banner. Our dinner was home cooked corned beef and cabbage. We didn’t dance, but sang the “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” all day! It was fun to celebrate our heritage.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to share some fun Minnesota Irish websites. Enjoy!Meet St. Patrick
Irish Songs and their lyrics
Irish Recipes

May you have all the happiness

and luck that life can hold—

And at the end of all your rainbows

may you find a pot of gold.Traditional Irish Toast

Taking "BUILDING" Blocks to a New Level--Real Estate used to send messages!

Did you realize that every building has it's own unique shape from above? Who would have thought that some of those shapes would resemble letters of the alphabet!

This is an amazing new way to look at real estate! The creators of http://www.geogreetings.com must have stayed up many nights searching out aerial views of buildings to find a shape resembling each letter. When you view each letter or building a Google map indicates where the structure is located. Many are in the U.S., but some are located in other areas of the world.

Just type in the message and the program does the rest to create your message using the top views of the buildings. The site has a cool feature allowing you to email your friends' a unique greeting. A fun way for both kids and adults to get their message across. And with the Google map feature, they just might learn something.