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

Why Minnesotans have More to be Proud of than 10,000 Lakes

As a native Minnesotan, I have always loved living here! I have traveled to many parts of the United States and though there are other wonderful communities across this great nation, but I have always loved calling Minnesota home!

Being a Realtor working in the northeast metro of the Twin Cities, I get the opportunity to meet with many out of state families considering relocation to Minnesota for the first time. It is eye-opening for many of these visitors just what an opportunity it is to live in the land of 10,000 lakes! Whether people are considering a home an acreage home in Lino Lakes or Ham Lake, a town home in Blaine or a lakeshore home in Forest Lake, the reaction is always the same: Minnesota offers great opportunities.

At a recent seminar I attended, this message about Minnesota was brought home tenfold! Glenn Dorfman, COO of the Minnesota Association of Realtors shared some interesting statistics he compiled from various sources about our great state. I was amazed at our ranking in several categories. As Minnesotans, we have much to be proud of!
Minnesota is Prosperous!

• MN has the 2nd lowest poverty rate in the US



• MN rates 8th on the scale of median family income.



• MN rates 15th on the scale of residents with median family incomes over $150,000.



• MN rates 2nd for homeownership!

Minnesotans work hard and value education!

• MN rates 1st in women’s labor force participation.



• MN rates 4th in men’s labor force participation.



• MN is 9th for residents with a college diploma!



• MN is 2nd for residents with a high school diploma!

Minnesotans care about our health.

• MN rates 4th for residents having health insurance.



• MN is ranked 2nd on the list as healthiest by the United Health Foundation.

Minnesota is growing!
Minnesota grew faster than its four neighboring states, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin from April 2000 through July 2003. Minnesota grew 2.8% during this time period which was very close to the growth rate of 3.3% shown by the US as a whole.


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 2007terieckholm.com

Twin Cities Market Affordability is Improving--March 2007 Update

According to a press release this week from the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors (SPAAR), real estate is becoming more affordable in the 13 county Twin Cities metro area. This is due to predicted market correction which is a cause of concern to some homeowners who hoped property values would continue to rise indefinitely. Reality has hit with the slowest start in home sales in the past eight years. For the 7th month in a row, the Twin Cities has seen the median price of homes closed drop in comparison to the previous month.

Properties are staying on the market for longer periods of time and the housing inventory levels remain high with over 27,400 active homes on the market as of March 1. This is up 9.27 percent in just one month. But compared to last year's numbers, the statistics are relatively unchanged. 

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released news of its own yesterday, predicting that a recovery of the housing market is likely but the timing is hard to predict. Recent problems in the sub-prime lending market and unusual weather patterns are pointed to as some of the reasons for the inability to forecast an upswing. A 1.2% projected rise to the median existing home price is bringing the median value to $224,500 this year and even stronger gains are predicted for 2008. 

It's not all gloom and doom on the horizon for the housing market. In a buyers market, prices are being adjusted by sellers to intice buyers. After years of exploding house values a little market dip or flatline should not be too concerning to the average homeowner.

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

Is the Twin Cities Market Turning? A Closer Look at 2006 MN Homes Sales Statistics

Despite some of the negative slant the media coverage has given the 2006 Housing Statistics, there is actually some good news to report. According to the St Paul Area Association of Realtors Public Policy site, some of the changes were expected and not all the news is bad for the Twin Cities real estate market.

Here is an excerpt of the article.

Twin Cities, Minnesota (January 17, 2007) – Following five consecutive years of record or near-record home sales and strong home price appreciation, 2006 was the year that the Twin Cities housing market took an expected breather. The pause will ensure long-term stability and accessibility.

Buyer activity finally calmed and the year ended with 47,906 closed sales, a decline of 16.3 percent from 2005, according to the four Twin Cities-area REALTOR® associations. Newly signed purchase agreements—pending sales—showed a similar decline of 17.7 percent, posting 51,526 units.

Conversely, seller activity was robust. There were 108,022 new listings placed on the market in 2006, up 8.9 percent from the previous year. Despite a trail-off as the year progressed and new construction inventory was absorbed, sellers were active enough in 2006 to easily set a record for new listings.

All that supply colliding with lowered demand meant that the buyer gained more control over the process in 2006, and it showed in home prices. The median sales price in 2006 was $230,000, an increase of 0.5 percent compared to 2005. Total sales volume was $13,339,983,209, down 14.6 percent from last year.

“Since 1998, price growth has been extraordinarily high, between 6 and 12 percent each year,” said Wayne Gilbert, 2007 president of the Southern Twin Cities Association of REALTORS®. “The calm in appreciation was expected and is a natural byproduct of the market shift.”

As prices moderated and interest rates softened in the latter part of 2006, affordability conditions have improved significantly in recent months.

“The changes in the market during 2006 are often painted in a negative light, but they’re helping lay a solid and necessary foundation for the future,” said Jeff Dotseth, 2007 president for North Metro REALTORS® Association.

“Interest rates are still low, there’s a lot of inventory to choose from and housing is getting more affordable,” Steve Hyland said, 2007 president of the Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS®. “It all adds up—2007 should be a great year to buy and sell real estate.”

But before sellers start to celebrate it is important to remember that the Twin Cities is a big area. Some areas did see a bump in the median sales price in 2006, some markets were flat and others did see a drastic decrease in the sales price of a home.

My clients in the the areas of St. Paul and to the north and east know this all too well. Ramsey and Washington Counties did post modest increases in the median sales price of homes. However there are neighborhoods that are not faring as well as others. While North St. Paul/Maplewood have modest increases in value (1.0%), the east side of St. Paul is not faring as well (Phalen -0.7% and Hillcrest -1.6%). Further north in Anoka County, the median sales price was flat. The Blaine area did see modest increases (2.2%) but most communities like Andover, Ham Lake and Lino Lakes saw as much as a 7.5% decrease. The median home price in Chisago County has decreased as a whole (-3.6%). Communities including Forest Lake, Wyoming and North Branch are in Chisago county and post similar results.




What does this mean to Sellers and Buyers in the North East Twin Cities Metro for 2007? Pricing is going to continue to be key. It is more important than ever to look at current sales, within the past 3-4 month, to determine what to sell your home at. Buyers still have plenty of options and are taking their time to find a great home at a GREAT price.

Signs point to a good year for the 2007 Twin Cities real estate market as a whole. But, keep in mind that "Location, Location, Location" is a huge consideration and some market adjustments will take longer in some areas.