Are you Stalking a Real Estate Sleeper?

Do you have your eye on the perfect home but have yet to make a move? You know the house I mean...It's been there saved as a favorite for a couple of months and it is priced right. In fact, it is a steal of a deal. But you are still on the fence about buying a home and so you just continue to "stalk" the listing but never act on it. Maybe you are trying to time the market and see if seller of that "sleeper" is going to drop the price again. Well wake up bargain hunter! It is very possible you are not the only one with an eye on that sleeper. If you wait too long it will be gone.

A real estate "sleeper" is a well priced home that hasn't sold yet. Usually the home is a great property, location, structurally sound and priced well but has not sold. In a winter market, especially just after the holiday season, sleepers are abundant.

Maybe the home was originally over priced and though it is now priced very well it is being overlooked. Possibly several very similar homes went on the market at the same time. Maybe the seller did receive an offer and the buyer's financing fell through so now it is "back on the market" through no fault of the house itself.

But if you are a buyer sitting on the sidelines and just watching your perfect home for another price reduction, beware. I have sold a couple of sleepers over the years throughout the north and east metro. In each case, there was minimal activity on the property then BAM....we had 3 or 4 qualified parties interested in the home at the same time. In these particular cases, they weren't the cookie-cutter variety either. One particular home in Washington County/Forest Lake area had a one-of-a-kind wooded lot and was in a perfect location. After months on the market, without an additional price reduction, over half a dozen serious buyers suddenly appeared. People were nonchalant when I told stressed that the home had recently seen a sudden surge of interest. Many even "pooh-poohed" the idea and mildly accused me of trying to coerce an offer. When the first offer came in, the seller wasted no time in accepting. Subsequently, I had several parties, buyers and agents alike, in disbelief, that it was suddenly sold!

If the sleeper phenomena had happened only one time over the years, I would consider it a fluke but I have experienced this situation on homes in Washington, Ramsey, Chisago and Anoka Counties as well. In some cases I was the listing agent and others I was representing buyers.

So home buyers heed my warning, if you are on the fence watching a sleeper, now might be the perfect time to make your move...Or someone else might beat you to it!



READY to Make YOUR Move? If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me, Teri Eckholm of BOARDMAN Realty, a call or visit my website for a FREE Home Buyer Success Guide or FREE Home Value Report. 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 2017 terieckholm.com

Hey Anoka County Homebuyers! Do you Have your Eye on a Real Estate SLEEPER?

You check the MLS link every day and there it is...sitting on the market day after day. It's your dream home and you have watched it for a couple of months now. It seems to be priced right; in fact, it is a steal of a deal. But the market has you paralyzed into watching and waiting rather than making your move on the perfect home so there you are on the fence still waiting until that perfect moment to call up a REALTOR® and put in your offer on your dream. As you continue to "time the market", waiting to see if seller of that “sleeper” is going to drop the price again, you may be missing out. It is time to WAKE UP! Because, you might not be the only one with an eye on that sleeper and if you wait too long it will be gone.

A real estate “sleeper” is a home that is an amazing deal but few people, if anyone, is paying attention to it. Usually it is a great property, location, structurally sound and priced well but has not sold. In a buyer’s market where there is significant home inventory but few buyers, sleepers are abundant.

Maybe the home was originally over priced and though it is now priced very well it is being overlooked because of high days on the market statistics.

Possibly several very similar homes went on the market at the same time and in the same condition. Picture for a second, three homes listed during the same week in a cookie-cutter development where all the homes have roughly the same floor plan. All the homes are the same age, condition, and priced very well, but only one homebuyer comes through the neighborhood during the next two months. So after 60 days, there are two sleepers left that didn’t sell. Since the houses are essentially the same as the neighboring home that sold, it's not that the homes aren't properly priced. This is another scenario that will cause a sleeper in this changed market.

And then some great homes are "sleeping" on the market because…well, there is just so much darned inventory out there!

But if you are sitting on the sidelines and just watching your perfect home for another price reduction, beware. I have sold a couple of sleepers this past year throughout Anoka, Ramsey and Washington Counties. In each case, nothing was happening on the property then BAM....we had 2-3 qualified parties interested in the home at the same time. In these particular cases, they weren’t the cookie-cutter variety either. One home in Ramsey County in the White Bear Lake/Vadnais Heights area in an ideal location. After months on the market, there were suddenly two offers in one day! Agents and clients were nonchalant when I told stressed that the home had recently seen a sudden surge of interest. Many even “pooh-poohed” the idea and mildly accused me of trying to get them of trying to coerce an offer. When the first offer came in, the seller wasted no time in accepting and I had several parties, buyers and agents alike, shocked, and more than a little miffed, that it was suddenly sold!

If the sleeper phenomena had happened only one time this past year, I would consider it a fluke but I have experienced this situation on homes in Washington and Anoka Counties as well. In some cases I was the listing agent and others I was representing buyers.

So homebuyers heed my warning, if you are on the fence watching a sleeper that is currently listed, now might be the perfect time to make your move...Contact your REALTOR® for a showing, make sure you have your pre-approval from your loan officer ready to go and make your move! Or someone else might beat you to it!

Copyright 2011www.terieckholm.com

Minnesota Real Estate Market Shows Similar Trends to Nation in October

For the past year or so, I have been fortunate to be taking part in a monthly nationwide real estate market research project with the investment firm, Credit Suisse. As a thank you, I receive a copy of the report in exchange for my views of what is happening in the home construction and sales market in Minnesota.

“Fear Grips Buyers in October” was the headline of this month’s report. It is not just a Minnesota trend that had real estate agents phones not ringing. The report indicated that this was a nationwide trend. “Nearly all markets are impacted by buyers worries.” And how could they not be with talks of bailouts and massive economic meltdowns.

There are indications that foreclosure heavy markets are seeing traffic and demand is weak at high price points. Some buyers are buying but cautiously. Funny thing was as I read this report; I could have written most of what has been presented. This information is what I have observed in the Minnesota market right down the line. September buyers were stopped in their tracks by the economic news. Very few calls came into my office and even fewer were scheduled. October is usually a time where the phone will start ringing with buyers excited about getting into that new home before the Minnesota snow starts to fly.

On a positive note, the Monday following the election, my phone has started to ring. My listings are getting showings and buyers have started to ask to see homes again. Maybe with all the political focus on the economy over, the public is ready to start venturing out to see all the great deals on Minnesota lakeshore and acreage homes in the north and east metro. Buyers wanting to be in by Christmas better hurry as the forecast indicates the snow will be flying soon.

• Click here for a FREE list of foreclosures in Anoka County, Chisago County or Washington County.


• Click here for a FREE BUYER'S SUCCESS Packet

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.

Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Hey Homebuyers—Do you Have your Eye on a Real Estate SLEEPER?

You know what I mean…There is a home you have been watching for a couple of months and it is priced right. In fact, it is a steal of a deal. But you are still on the fence about buying a home and want to wait until that perfect moment. You are timing the market so to speak and waiting to see if seller of that “sleeper” is going to drop the price again. Well wake up bargain hunters…You might not be the only one with an eye on that sleeper and if you wait too long it will be gone.

A real estate “sleeper” is a home that is an amazing deal but few people, if anyone, is paying attention to it. Usually it is a great property, location, structurally sound and priced well but has not sold. In a buyer’s market where there is significant home inventory but few buyers, sleepers are abundant.

Maybe the home was originally over priced and though it is now priced very well it is being overlooked because of high days on the market statistics.

Possibly several very similar homes went on the market at the same time and in the same condition. Picture for a second, three homes listed during the same week in a cookie-cutter development where all the homes have roughly the same floor plan. All the home are the same age, condition, and priced very well, but only one homebuyer comes through the neighborhood during the next two months. So after 60 days, there are two sleepers left that didn’t sell. Since the houses are essentially the same as the neighboring home that sold, it's not that the homes aren't properly priced. This is another scenerio that will cause a sleeper in this changed market.

And then some great homes are "sleeping" on the market because…well, there is just so much darned inventory out there!

But if you are sitting on the sidelines and just watching your perfect home for another price reduction, beware. I have sold a couple of sleepers this past year throughout the north and east metro. In each case, nothing was happening on the property then BAM....we had 4-5 qualified parties interested in the home at the same time. In these particular cases, they weren’t the cookie-cutter variety either. One home in Washington County/Forest Lake area had a one-of-a-kind wooded lot and was in a perfect location. After months on the market, without an additional price reduction, over half a dozen serious buyers suddenly appeared. People were nonchalant when I told stressed that the home had recently seen a sudden surge of interest. Many even “pooh-poohed” the idea and mildly accused me of trying to get them of trying to coerce an offer. When the first offer came in, the seller wasted no time in accepting and I had several parties, buyers and agents alike, shocked, and more than a little miffed, that it was suddenly sold!

If the sleeper phenomena had happened only one time this past year, I would consider it a fluke but I have experienced this situation on homes in Chisago and Anoka Counties as well. In some cases I was the listing agent and others I was representing buyers.

So homebuyers heed my warning, if you are on the fence watching a sleeper, now might be the perfect time to make your move...Or someone else might beat you to it!

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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

Inspection, Pre-Inspection, Truth-In-Housing and Disclosures! What is Required?

As a Minnesota REALTOR®, my real estate clients, both buyers and sellers, are sometimes confused by inspections and disclosure requirements in the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs. Sellers want to know what they have to disclose which in short is, every material fact a buyer would want to know. A handful of Twin Cities communities require a home to be inspected prior to listing it for sale. Buyers, especially in a changed market full of foreclosures and short sales want to what their rights are in regard to disclosures and inspections.

Recently while listing a home for clients in Anoka County, a first-time selling couple asked about pre-inspections. There home was beautiful with many updates and it was obviously well maintained. As they filled out the required disclosure, they brought up the subject of pre-inspection. A friend of theirs had recently sold a home and had it pre-inspected. When the offers came in, the buyers on their friends’ home opted to forego the inspection, choosing to just read the report. My clients were wondering if this was a common practice and if a pre-inspection was required.
In Minnesota, there is no Truth-In-Housing inspection requirement to sell your home at the state or county level. There are however a number of communities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area that do require a pre-inspection report. These go by many names: Truth-in-Sale of Housing Disclosure, Time-of Sale, Time-of-Sale Code Compliance, Dwelling Maintenance and Occupancy Code Compliance, Housing Code Compliance Inspection or Housing Maintenance Code Inspection. Some of these inspections are done by inspectors that are city employees while other communities have licensed private inspectors to perform the inspection of the home. But in most cases, it is the home owners responsibility to select a private inspector to perform the inspection prior to listing the home for sale.

The Twin Cities communities that currently require a home inspection are:Private Inspectors (Selected by Homeowner)

• Bloomington
• Hopkins
• Maplewood
• Minneapolis
• St. Paul
• South St. Paul

City Inspectors

• Brooklyn Park
• Crystal
• New Hope
• Osseo
• Richfield
• St. Louis Park

Can I still have my home pre-inspected if my community does not have a truth-in-sale requirement?

Absolutely! Having you property pre-inspected and an inspection report available to potential buyers can speed along the buying process for many buyers. Some buyers will choose to review the report and not have another inspection completed making the offer not-contingent on an inspection. Other buyers will choose to have the inspector who did the pre-inspection come out to the home to explain the details in the report. This is often completed for a reduced fee to the buyer since the work has been completed and it is not as time consuming to the inspector. However a pre-inspection does not guarantee that the buyer will not opt to hire their own independent inspector to give another report on the home.

If I give an Inspection or Truth-In-Housing Report, do I have to complete a seller's disclosure?

If you have lived in the home, yes! It is required to disclose any material facts that you know about the home. However, in the case of an estate or rental property where the owner did not live in the home, the owner will have limited information regarding the property to disclose. In this case, an inspector's report can be offered in lieu of the completed disclosure to meet the state disclosure requirement. A buyer may also agree to waive their right to the required seller’s disclosure. In either of these cases, this will not exempt a seller from any local or federal statutes (i.e. for septic or lead based paint).

What if it is a bank owned home? Does the bank have to provide a seller’s disclosure on a foreclosure?

Minnesota state law does not have different rules for a bank or other financial entity. They must disclose material facts on a seller’s disclosure, offer an inspection in lieu of foreclosure or have the buyer agree to waive their rights to a disclosure.

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

Minnesota Mortgage Opinions Please! Is It Harder to get a Home Loan?

With all of the seemingly continuous changes in the mortgage industry recently, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is asking the question, “Are home loans harder to get?”
As part of their Public Insight Network, MPR wants real answers from real people like you. It is an opportunity to share what you know with others about this important financial topic.

I find this question extremely interesting as I am certain other professional REALTORS® will as well. I will be even more interested in tuning in to hear the stories and subsequent discussions that arise from the survey. I want to hear stories from first time buyers and those attempting to buy a second home or investment property. I would love to hear examples from loan officers as to what has changed when qualifying a new client. As home prices have dropped considerably, there are deals out there, but can interested buyers get the loans? This is a very timely topic and a great opportunity for the average person to share their personal view.

Have you or someone you know recently applied for a home loan or tried to refinance?

Whether you are a homeowner, buyer, loan officer or real estate agent, MPR wants your story. Here is a forum to share your experience good or bad.
CLICK HERE to Visit MPR Public Insight Network to complete the form and share your experience. Your opinion and story could be used in an upcoming show and/or you could be contacted to provide additional information and opinions on your experiences. It is a way for the individual to have to have a voice by sharing real world experiences in regard to home loans and mortgages. Rest assured that your opinion and information will be confidential. MPR will not quote you on the radio or web without your permission.

Not familiar with Minnesota Public Radio? Minnesota Public Radio® is a non profit public radio organization. Headquartered in the heart of downtown St. Paul, Minnesota Public Radio is a premier organization operating a regional network of 37 stations, from Minnesota to areas in Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Iowa and Idaho.

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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

Forest Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics Mid Year 2008

Forest Lake, Minnesota is a special community in the northeast metro Twin Cities area. Many people from the city remember Forest Lake fondly from decades ago as a summer vacation spot or place to go for a drive in the country. Today, the lakeside cabins have been replaced with year round residences and the rural nature is all but a thing of the past in this thriving St. Paul suburb. Though housing growth has slowed down drastically in the past year or two in many northern suburbs due to ever increasing gas prices, Forest Lake is holding it’s own.

Real estate in Forest Lake, MN in north Washington County and east Anoka County continues to sell but slowly. The Days on Market (DOM) Statistic is currently running at about 211 days for all homes sold. When the first quarter numbers showed area homes had stayed on the market an average of 287days, this is welcome news.

If we look at sold homes in the under $300,000 category the absorption rate has come back an 11 month level from earlier this year where it was nearly 24 months. But high end homes continue to struggle for sales. Only five homes sold in the last 6 months in the $400,000 plus price category. Currently, the Forest Lake community sits with nearly 5 years of inventory if sales continue at this slow pace on high priced homes. Great homes at amazing prices are out there on lakeshore and acreage properties. With this much inventory, sellers will need to be flexible on pricing. It might be the perfect time to negotiate a GREAT deal on a lakeshore home!

Lakeshore opportunities are abundant in the Forest Lake area! There are more listings than ever before at incredible prices too! The is inventory awesome…47 lakeshore homes currently active. Many have been on the market for a quite a while. With continued low interest rates, it is a great time to negotiate a deal on your piece of Minnesota shoreline!

Mid Year 2008 Forest Lake real estate statistics for single family homes:
Under $300,000~ 99 Active Listings, 10 Pending Listings, 47 Sold Listings, 194 DOM (Lakeshore Subgroup ~ 2 Active, 0 Pending, 3 Sold)

$300,000-$400,000 ~ 39 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 14 Sold Listings, 268 DOM (Lakeshore Subgroup ~ 8 Active, 0 Pending, 8 Sold)

$400,000-$500,000 ~ 13 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 4 Sold Listing, 167 DOM (Lakeshore Subgroup ~ 6 Active, 0 Pending, 2 Sold)

$500,000 and Up~ 37 Active Listings, 1 Pending Listings, 3 Sold Listings 385 DOM (Lakeshore Subgroup ~ 31 Active, 1 Pending, 3 Sold)
Lakeshore available in the Forest Lake area:47 Active Listings, 1 Pending Listings, 16 Sold Listings

Forest Lake lakeshore price range: $269,900-$2,300,000

38 Homes on Forest Lake
7 Homes on Clear Lake
1 Home on Shields Lake
1 Home on Heims Lake

**All Statistical information based on information from the REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE of MINNESOTA, INC. for the period of 1 /1/08 through 6/30/08.
Articles on Forest Lake, Lakeshore and Minnesota that might be of interest:

• Does "Minnesota Nice" Affect the Real Estate Market? "Yah, You Betcha!"
• Dreaming of Life on MN Acreage?--What YOU Need to Know Before YOUR Move!
• Affordable Minnesota Lakeshore
• Relocating to Forest Lake MN? The Schools are Full of Ranger Pride!
• Forest Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics 1st Quarter 2008
• Lino Lakes, MN Real Estate Market Statistics 1st Quarter 2008
  

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

Ham Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics Mid Year 2008

Even though existing single family home sales in Ham Lake, Minnesota remained sluggish during the first half of 2008 the numbers show that homes are still selling. The Days on Market (DOM) statistic has stayed pretty consistent with 217 days as compared to 214 in the first quarter and 220 in the fourth quarter of 2007. However, homes in the higher price categories remain stalled.

For the first six months of 2008, only one home is in pending and one sold in the over $500,000 price category. While that three days on the market for the high price point looks like a bright beacon, it is not reflective of the actual market. Since DOM is based on sold properties and only one property sold, the number is an anomaly. The very low DOM for this price point can be attributed to one very unique home on Majestic Oaks Golf Course that sold as soon as it listed. This shows that unique properties priced correctly are selling but is not indicitive of the market when looking at whole picture including the market time of active homes.

Currently, active homes priced over half a million have an average CDOM of 257 as of 7/1/08. One property has been on the market over 600 days! With 67 listings currently on the market priced at $400,000 or more, Ham Lake continues to be over saturated with high end homes.

Lower priced homes under $300,000 are showing some good activity. If homes continue to sell at this current rate, we are looking at just over a year’s worth of inventory in the lower priced categories. In the $300,000-400,000 price range things are moving a bit slower with about 17 months of inventory but not a bad pace considering the changed market place.

An excellent opportunity remains for move up buyers. If you have a starter home in good condition and well priced, it should sell in a decent time frame. Move up buyers with sold homes have quite a selection of properties to choose from in the higher price categories. After 300+ days on the market, many homeowners and builders are ready to negotiate with a strong, non-contingent buyer!

Mid-Year Ham Lake residential real estate statistics for single family homes:

Under $300,000~ 54 Active Listings, 5 Pending Listings, 23 Sold Listings, DOM 184 (New Construction Subgroup ~ 1 Active, 0 Pending, 0 Sold)

$300,000-400,000~ 27 Active Listings, 2 Pending Listings, 10 Sold Listings, DOM 229 (New Construction Subgroup ~ 4 Active, 0 Pending, 3 Sold)

$400,000-500,000~ 30 Active Listings, 4 Pending Listings, 10 Sold Listings, DOM 287 (New Construction Subgroup ~ 3 Active, 1 Pending, 2 Sold)

$500,000 and Up~ 37 Active Listings, 1 Pending Listings, 1 Sold Listings, DOM 3 (New Construction Subgroup ~ 10 Active, 1 Pending, 0 Sold)

Lakeshore available in the City of Ham Lake:

6 Active Listings on Ham Lake lakeshore with prices ranging from: $259,900-$1,350,000

1 Home on Coon Lake
1 Home on Ham Lake
1 Home on Lake Amelia
1 Home on Lake Emily
1 Home on Lake Netta
1 Home on Little Coon Lake

**All Statistical information based on information from the REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE of MINNESOTA, INC. for the period of 1/1/08 through 3/31/08.

Photo Featured Listing in Ham Lake, Minnesota: 15139 E Vermillion Circle NE, 55304

Other Anoka and Chisago County Listings:601 86th Lane NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
401 Village Parkway, Circle Pines, MN 55014
25797 Freeport Avenue, Wyoming, MN 55092

Articles on Ham Lake, Lakeshore and Minnesota that might be of interest:

• Where's the Playground? A Key to Parks in Ham Lake Minnesota


• Does "Minnesota Nice" Affect the Real Estate Market? "Yah, You Betcha!"


• Dreaming of Life on MN Acreage?--What YOU Need to Know Before YOUR Move!


• Affordable Minnesota Lakeshore

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

Severe Weather and Real Estate—Understanding Risk of Loss

Spring storms and a busier real estate market are making life very interesting for MN buyers, sellers and Realtors! Just over a week ago, 400-500 homes sustained damage as a severe storm that spawned two tornados and devastated the Twin Cities north metro. Yesterday another storm blew through Minnesota. This time homes in the south and west metro were affected by hail and damaging straight-line winds. 2008 is setting up to be a very active storm season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes as more severe weather is already in the forecast for later this week. Will this affect real estate transactions? You betcha!

Even in this changed, buyer-driven market, spring is a busy time for Minnesota real estate. Current statistics showed the deadlock between buyers and sellers loosened earlier this year with many homes going into pending sale status in April.

My curiosity as a Realtor got the best of me. I looked at the devastated Hugo neighborhood with a real estate eye. So many homes damaged and destroyed—Roofs gone. Windows shattered. Vinyl siding looking like Swiss cheese. Trees toppled onto homes. It is an entirely different neighborhood than it was a couple of weeks ago. In this hard hit neighborhood alone, there were 6 active homes on the market and 4 homes in pending at the time of the storm. With all of the damage and in some cases, total devastation, no doubt the risk of loss clause will come into play in some, if not all, of these real estate transactions.

What is the “Risk of Loss” clause? What does it mean to the average home buyer and seller?
Risk of Loss is a “boiler plate” clause on page four of the Minnesota purchase agreement. Line 147 clearly states that the risk of loss due to any reason whether an act of God or the acts of vandals will be the responsibility of the seller from the time the purchase agreement is signed until the date of closing.

I wrote a post last August, Contract Cancelled—Understanding Risk of Loss, that explains the risk of loss clause in detail and what it means to anyone with a signed purchase agreement on a home that sustains damage. After the past few stormy weekends, this topic deserves to be revisited as a reminder to all home Minnesota buyers and sellers as we persevere through this turbulent summer.

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

Home Shopping with Teens—Get Ready. They WILL Voice their Opinions!

It is a great time to buy a home in Minnesota. As a Realtor working in the north Twin Cities metro, I see awesome homes at great prices coming on the market everyday. There is an abundance of homes in the $300,000 plus category from Ham Lake to Forest Lake and everywhere in between. Whether you want a two story on acreage or a rambler with lakeshore there is something for everyone. And people are able to negotiate some very attractive deals. So as a family we started thinking, this might be time to make a move.

Now the last time we relocated, the kids were toddlers and offered very little opinions on the homes we looked at. As long as we assured them that their Little Tikes, Hot Wheels and Duplos were coming, the house was just a box to keep the playthings in.

Flash forward to today and we have an entirely different situation. Our young adults who are usually in a music-induced stupor and non-talkative when it comes to family outings, take the earbuds out and fully participate in the discussion of possible new houses.

Here’s an example of one such conversation with my teenager…

“There it is up there. It looks very nice. Nice lot. Interesting design.”

“You mean that big ugly GREEN house?”

“That’s just the siding color. It is beautiful inside. I have seen the photos!”

“But it is GREEN!”

“So you live on the inside of the home.”

“Look at all the other homes in the neighborhood. They are tan. We are going to be the house that everyone uses as a landmark, you know, ‘turn right at the ugly green house’!

“It’s not ugly green. It is a very lovely sage green”

“Mom, I don’t know what sage is but I if it is anything similar to the color of puke, I would agree!”

Okay…so my husband didn’t like the wetland so near to the home so the lovely sage green house is out. We will continue to look. But my experience with young adults tagging along and voice opinions is not limited to my own kids. Several of my clients have had young adult children accompany them on house shopping excursions lately. Some of their voiced wants, needs and demands are priceless:

• “You are not seriously considering moving us to this dump are you?”
  
• “I vote for the home with the swimming pool!”
  
• “It’s in the middle of NOWHERE!”
  
• “This one is great! We can build the wet bar here and put the pool table there.”
  
• “So why can’t we have the big bedroom with the walk-in closet and private bathroom? It makes sense if you are going to make us share a room.”

And if you think watching a toddler at a home showing is tough, try an inquisitive teenager.

• “I wasn’t touching anything. I just opened the door of the clock to see how it works!”

Most families want their teenagers and young adult children to be onboard with the move. If the kids are not working with the parents, passive aggression could rise to the surface. Bedrooms will never be cleaned when there is a showing on your existing home. Dishes will be left in the kitchen sink and dirty towels on the bathroom floor of your perfectly staged home.

I understand that every family has to negotiate and find middle ground. But parents have to remind the kids who will be signing the purchase agreement and making the payments on the new home. The parents have the final decision on the house.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that we parents won’t hear our young adults’ opinions loud and clear—but as we are changing a world that they believe revolves around them, that’s to be expected. Right?

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota (with or without teenagers) 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/

North Metro Home Prices Plummet—No Wonder Activity is Picking Up!

The sales numbers are out for February 2008 and it comes as no surprise that the median price for a home in the north east metro Twin Cities has drop compared to the same period last year. No surprise to someone like me who as a Realtor works in Anoka, Chisago and Washington Counties everyday. Though it is hard to look at a double-digit drop in average prices, it is what is getting home buyers to start buying again.

Here are a few of the indicators I have noticed in the Ham Lake, Forest Lake and Lino Lakes areas:

• Mortgage options have tightened.


• Every appraisal is being scrutinized.


• Home buyers don’t want to overpay.


• Sellers are tired of waiting for their price.


• Deals are now being negotiated.
  

I have noticed a marked change since mid-December in the north and east Twin Cities. Throughout the area, buyers and sellers are coming to agreements and the stagnant housing inventory is starting to move.

This is happening in areas closer to the cities first. Homes in areas like Hugo and White Bear Lake have less days on the market than those in Forest Lake, Linwood, Wyoming and Chisago. But homes in the north are starting to see more activity than in the past year.

When inventory starts moving, prices will level off. Now is a good time for home buyers to waiting on the sidelines to look at getting into the game. Deals are being made and your dream home could be waiting!

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