Lake Harriet | Lake Calhoun | Western Suburbs | Minneapolis Lofts
| February 25, 2010 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
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Are you a First Time Home Buyer or a Repeat Home Seller/Buyer? Not sure what to expect? 
Do you qualify for tax credits? How do you get pre-approved? Come learn about the buying process, from working with a loan officer to getting pre-approved and house-hunting with a Realtor, to getting your offer accepted and finally closing on your home!
Join Darcy McDonald of Cornerstone Mortgage and The Minnesota Real Estate Team as they guide you through your real estate transaction. They will educate you about today’s current market, extended tax credits and special loans for those homes that may need a little TLC. Bring your questions we will be happy to help you get answers! After this seminar you will be prepared to hit the ground running and enjoy the adventure to get to your new home!
Location: Shoreview Community Center,4580 Victoria St N #203, Shoreview, MN. Seating is limited, so please register in advance to secure your placement.
Susan Hofflander is a seasoned real estate professional, providing real estate consultations for home buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities since 1994. Susan specializes in homes for sale in Lake Calhoun/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Plymouth, MN, Minneapolis Western Suburban Cities and Downtown Minneapolis Lofts.
This amazing property is now available! It sits on a fabulous 1/3 acre lot. Very easy access to shopping and freeways. The owners have kept this house in pristine condition. They added a new deck and have upgraded much of the electrical. The garage is completely sheetrocked. It’s just been painted in appealing, neutral tones. With pergo floors, a pond in the back yard, 2 walkouts and a prime location, this house is a bargain at $169,900!
Don’t miss it! Contact me today.
Susan Hofflander is a seasoned real estate professional, providing real estate consultations for home buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities since 1994. Susan specializes in homes for sale in Lake Calhoun/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Plymouth, MN, Minneapolis Western Suburban Cities and Downtown Minneapolis Lofts.
As a licensed REALTOR® since 1994, I’ve seen many scenarios in the housing market.
The last few years have produced unprecedented high numbers of foreclosed properties. Most of the time, those properties are left abandoned by the previous owners. Once the bank is the owner of the house, they arrange for the house to be “vacated”, meaning all of the furniture and “stuff” left behind is disposed of. So, most of the time, when we show homes that are bank owned or lender mediated, they are vacant and empty.
But, once in a while, we find residents living in a house that’s supposed to be vacant! I’ve entered homes to see several people running out the back door. Or, there was the time I walked in to the lower level of a split entry to find a “guy” passed out on the floor. That was scary because I was alone and I didn’t know what might happen! I left right away and called the police. The guy took off before they got there, slipped out the back door. I’ve walked in on people doing drugs. And, one other time, I was showing a house that was supposed to be vacant and a barking dog ran down the stairs and started snapping at us. The house was a mess, littered with laundry, trash, dirty dishes and moldy food. There were dog feces and urine everywhere as well as 4 or 5 residents that weren’t supposed to be there. These illegal residents are called “squatters”. The only way to get them out is to implement legal proceedings to do so.
This is one more reason for neighbors to stay involved in their neighborhoods when they spot suspicious activity. If they know the house should be vacant, they should report activity to the police. It may be new owners, but the police can check it out anyway. It will keep the drug activity to a minimum. And, real estate agents will keep their clients OUT of these houses, not only for their protection but for the agent’s own protection as well.
Take a look at this article to see how this is impacting homes for sale in Minneapolis cities.
Want an agent who keeps you safe and helps you find the home of your dreams? Contact me today!
Susan Hofflander is a seasoned real estate professional, providing real estate consultations for home buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities since 1994. Susan specializes in homes for sale in Lake Calhoun/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Plymouth, MN, Minneapolis Western Suburban Cities and Downtown Minneapolis Lofts.
As I indicated in Step #1, subsequent to my conversation with the modification representative from Bank of America, I consulted with my good friend Carrie Guarrero from Cornerstone Home Loans. 
She suggested I find out if Bank of America has an online option to fill out the paper work, rather than waiting 45 days or more for it to come in the mail. I was also told to ask what kind of modifications they would be willing to offer.
Turns out, Bank of America DOES have an online process to begin mortgage modification. They actually take you through the steps that I went through over the phone a few days ago. Once the online questions have been answered, a determination is made about whether a borrower is preliminarily qualified for any modification programs. But, from there, the process is the same. A borrower would STILL need to wait for the paper work to be delivered in hard copy. From what I was told, they need actual signatures and copies of things like tax returns and bank statements in order to complete the process. Once they have the signed paper work back, it will be submitted for review before a board. Once it passes the board review, they will assign a negotiator that communicates directly with the borrower.
So, while the online process does not help expedite the actual “nitty-gritty” of the process, it does help borrowers determine if they actually fit the scenario that renders them eligible to move to the next step.
Next: THE PACKAGE and submission of papers.
Susan Hofflander is a seasoned real estate professional, providing real estate consultations for home buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities since 1994. Susan specializes in homes for sale in Lake Calhoun/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Plymouth, MN, Minneapolis Western Suburban Cities and Downtown Minneapolis Lofts.
As many gentle readers of this website may know, my family is experiencing a bit of a crisis right now. My husband is ill with lung cancer. Dealing with all that entails, there is a very real financial aspect of having a family member who is gravely ill. 
As a result, I will be exploring a mortgage modification. I suspect this information will be of use to many of my readers, so I decided to write about the experience. Hopefully, my readers will benefit from my mistakes as well as my successes.
My mortgage is with Bank of America. Initially, we secured our loans through Countrywide, but with the downfall of Countrywide, they were bought out by Bank of America. So, this “journal” of my experience will involve only the communication with Bank of America. Experiences with other lenders may vary.
I made my first phone call before Christmas. That proved singularly unfruitful. I kept pressing the option to talk to someone about mortgage modification, but every time I pressed the correct key, the recording said, “I’m sorry, there is no one available to help you at this time. Please return to the automated system.” So, I called back and pressed the key to talk to customer service. When I got a customer service representative, I explained what happened. He said it was not surprising. Many people reported that, even if they got through to the department, they were on hold for 40 minutes or more! This gentleman then gave me several phone numbers that would take me directly to the Hardship Department.
Today, I called one of those phone numbers. I was on hold for twelve minutes before I got a “live” person. She did a preliminary pre-qualification of my circumstances to make sure that my situation met minimum guidelines. It was determined that our situation does qualify, so she transferred me to another representative who works specifically in the Modification department. I was on hold for another 7 minutes. The next rep took me through the same set of criteria as the first rep. She drew the same conclusion and deemed us, preliminarily suited for some sort of modification. There will be a packet of information sent to us, including an affidavit regarding my husband’s health situation which we will need to have notarized, and other forms pertaining to our hardship situation (i.e. request for bank statements, tax returns, etc.). We are told to expect those in approximately 45 days. They also indicated that there would be a temporary reduction of our monthly payment in order to alleviate the immediate situation while our file is being reviewed.
Because the rep talked so fast, it felt like she was reading this disclosure. And, upon further questioning, she didn’t really seem to know how the rest of the process will work. At this point, I will assume that I will confer with an employee more educated about the process than she in the future. That was the end of my conversation. I then called my friend, Carrie Guarrero at Cornerstone to ask for some educated feedback. She mentioned that I should see if there was an automated way to expedite the procedure. So, I’ll call back tomorrow to find out if there is an online way to submit the information they require.
While these kinds of procedures are uncomfortable, frustrating and somewhat scary, in many instances, it is absolutely necessary to face the harsh truth. I’ll put in my next entry once I submit the paper work. It will be informative and interesting, as well as helpful to understand how this whole process works. It will make me a better educated REALTOR®!
Susan Hofflander is a seasoned real estate professional, providing real estate consultations for home buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities since 1994. Susan specializes in homes for sale in Lake Calhoun/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Plymouth, MN, Minneapolis Western Suburban Cities and Downtown Minneapolis Lofts.
| January 21, 2010 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
There’s so much to know about buying a house, especially if this is your first time. And, now, with the housing market being so volatile, it’s more important than ever for buyers of homes for sale in Minneapolis cities to be informed consumers. Home buyers need to know about:
- The home buying process
- Mortgage pre-approval
- Inspections
- Insurances
- Agent representation
- Negotiating an offer
And, so much more. This free class, Buying Power For First Time Home Buyers, is tailor made for those who have inquiring minds! Among the topics covered, you’ll learn
- How to choose an agent
- Decision making about mortgages
- First time buyer tax credit
- How to pay for fix ups
Among other information of importance. This valuable education will prepare you to hit the ground running for your first home purchase. We at the MN Real Estate Team and Cornerstone Home Loans have prepared this class to lead you through the groundwork of what it takes. Click here to register or call me today!!!
Susan Hofflander is a seasoned real estate professional, providing real estate consultations for home buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities since 1994. Susan specializes in homes for sale in Lake Calhoun/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Plymouth, MN, Minneapolis Western Suburban Cities and Downtown Minneapolis Lofts.
| January 9, 2010 | ||
| 9:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
I post a fair amount on this blog about the importance of identity protection. I’ve recommended many times for consumers to protect themselves by shredding old documents that contain sensitive information. M & I Bank has hosted several free shredding events at their location. 
They haven’t had any since November. So, I’ve been searching high and low for other entities that will host free shredding events. Found one!! Saturday, January 9th you can bring your sensitive documents to American Bank at 1578 University Ave., St. Paul (it’s in the Midway). Shred Right is providing these free services in the next few months. There’s no charge, but they are taking donations for these services if you feel so led. It’s still cheaper than trying to pay for these services.
This website will offer you more information.
Do you want to buy a house?
Make sure your credit scores are protected. Protect them by keeping your identity information secure. That way, when the time comes to buy a house for sale in the Lake Harriet or Lake Calhoun neighborhoods of Minneapolis or homes for sale in any other Minneapolis cites, you’ll have a sound credit score to show the under writer.
Contact me today!
Susan Hofflander is a seasoned real estate professional, providing real estate consultations for home buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities since 1994. Susan specializes in homes for sale in Lake Calhoun/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Plymouth, MN, Minneapolis Western Suburban Cities and Downtown Minneapolis Lofts.
With the real estate market being somewhat volatile, many home owners are opting to remodel their current homes. It’s valuable to know which projects will be the best return on your investment when you do sell. As an agent, the best advice I can give is:
- start with necessary items first (i.e. roof, siding, plumbing, windows, electrical, furnace etc.)
- kitchens and bathrooms will yield you high percentages on your dollar spent
- family rooms are a good choice
- decks and outdoor entertainment spaces
While the roof, siding, windows are not very glamorous, they are a large part of why buyers may choose one home for sale over another. You’ll receive up to an 80% return on that investment. Next, kitchens and bathrooms looking updated and sparkly are another big selling factor. Those improvements will yield up to 75%.
Remodeling magazine’s feature, Cost vs. Value provides the results of their study each year, determining what the new data shows with regard to how improvements translate in to dollars returned when the homes are sold.
Contact me when you need information about your house in Lake Harriet or Lake Calhoun neighborhoods of Minneapolis, or Plymouth MN or any homes in the Western Suburbs of Minneapolis
Susan Hofflander is a seasoned real estate professional, providing real estate consultations for home buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities since 1994. Susan specializes in homes for sale in Lake Calhoun/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Plymouth, MN, Minneapolis Western Suburban Cities and Downtown Minneapolis Lofts.
| December 17, 2009 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Daunting, mysterious, scary — are these words that describe your feelings about buying your first home? Just say “no” to the negatives and “yes” to the positives! Come learn about the buying process, from working with a loan officer to getting pre-approved and house-hunting with a REALTOR®, to getting your offer accepted and finally closing on YOUR first home! Learn about the special first-time buyer programs that are available just for you. Many programs offer down-payment and closing cost assistance as well as lower-than-market interest rates.
Join Cornerstone Mortgage and The Minnesota Real Estate Team as they lay the groundwork for you to travel through the real estate transaction. This seminar is set up to show you how to get off to a fast start, and prepare you for every step along the way until you reach the end of your journey — moving into your new home. They will also address today’s current marketplace, the extended tax credit and special loans to help you fix up those not-so-nice houses. After attending this seminar your feelings about buying a home will be fun, exciting, and easy. Feel free to bring your questions and get ready to become educated on buying your first home!
Space is limited, so registration is recommended. Call to register 763-438-7249 All seminars held at 436 Gateway Blvd., Burnsville, MN.
Susan Hofflander is a seasoned real estate professional, providing real estate consultations for home buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities since 1994. Susan specializes in homes for sale in Lake Calhoun/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Plymouth, MN, Minneapolis Western Suburban Cities and Downtown Minneapolis Lofts.
| December 15, 2009 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
From his experience of owning 15 rental properties, Ryan O’Neill will teach you a concrete, non-infomercial way to build wealth through real estate. This seminar will be a one and a half hour presentation in regards to wealth building through real estate. There is no charge at all, no contracts you sign with us, no consultation fees, no hidden agenda. The seminar simply will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about our process: how you get pre-approved, what type of low-down loan product to choose, and then how we step you through the process of finding the home and helping you get it rented out. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced investor, this will be a great chance for you to learn more about how you can build your long term wealth through buying real estate. Again, all of those teaching the seminars own rental properties. Our team leader, Ryan O’Neill owns 15 single-family homes, and our mortgage coach Rob Bonahoom has over 20 properties. All of us have experienced the benefits of real estate, and we’re excited to share a free seminar with you on how you too can get into the game (or continue on).
Space is limited, so reservations are recommended. You may call to register. 763-438-7249
All seminars held at Cornerstone Home Loans Conference Room- 436 Gateway Blvd., Burnsville MN.
Susan Hofflander is a seasoned real estate professional, providing real estate consultations for home buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities since 1994. Susan specializes in homes for sale in Lake Calhoun/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Plymouth, MN, Minneapolis Western Suburban Cities and Downtown Minneapolis Lofts.
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Susan Hofflander
RE/Max Advantage Plus
MN Real Estate Team
763-438-7249
susan@
mnrealestateteam.com
