Don’t miss this important info.
Time for you to get out while these great prices last? 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.
There’s nothing worse than traveling to a foreign country and discovering that your temporary home away from home is a dump! It’s not easy to find good places to stay. Luckily, these days there are many reliable websites on which you can find more than suitable accommodations for a trip.
Frankly, I don’t like the idea of staying in the tourist-ey areas of places. It’s like riding the tour bus to the sights and not getting off the bus. You’re not REALLY seeing what there is to see, you’re seeing a reasonable facsimile of the city. Heck, if I wanted that, I’d just go to EPCOT or Las Vegas! (not that there’s anything wrong with that)
So, I’d much rather stay in a place that’s off the beaten path to soak up more of the local culture. And, true to form, the internet is providing more and more websites for travelers to find such quarters. AirBnB.com is the largest of this new generation of social B&B’s and has garnered the most reviews for their offerings. Istopover.com started in 2009 in Toronto. They specialize in big event accommodations. Crashpadder.com originated in London and can find you everything from a room in a house to a WHOLE house! Roomorama.com is more geared toward high end properties, especially in New York city.
I imagine, if you had a place for people traveling to Minneapolis or St. Paul, you could probably list it on these sites, too.
For assistance with more permanent houses for sale in Minneapolis cities, 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.
How do buyers and sellers of homes for sale in Minneapolis go about choosing the right agent for them? So much has changed in the real estate industry and market in the last 20 years. Heck, so much has changed in the last 5 years! The requirements for disclosure, while good, are somewhat overwhelming. I encounter many agents and homeowners that say, “I remember when a purchase agreement was one page and a handshake!”. Having been a licensed REALTOR® for the better part of 16 years, I don’t remember that scenario, but many forms have jumped from being 2-4 pages when I started to now being 7 or 9 pages.
If you’re new to property purchases, I strongly suggest you interview a few agents to see who will be a good match for your personality type and desires. Some agents are just not a good fit. If you are a “touchy/feeley” type and your agent is cut and dried, you may feel brushed off or that your feelings aren’t being considered. If you’re a detail person who wants to know all the facts and your agent is talking about the karma in the house, that might not work for you. Ask some questions to make sure you have the agent that will work for you in the most comfortable and efficient way.
When buyers purchase their first property, they think they will remember the agent that helped them through that process because it’s so momentous!! If the agent is doing their job correctly, they’ve been an essential and profound influence on these buyers. But, as time wears on and people’s lives settle in to day to day routines, the memory of the agent fades in to the background. Fast forward 5-8 years and it’s time to buy the “move-up” property. Will these buyers remember the agent they had come to think of so fondly in their first experience? Sometimes they will and sometimes they won’t. Maybe they get a card from that agent once a year, or an e mail news letter or just occasional updates about the market in their area.
Frequently, in their zeal to find the new property, they will begin to look online (93% of all buyers look online FIRST) or go to open houses. They may meet an agent at the open house or through their online search. Because they’ve encountered that agent at just the right time, they may forget about contacting the other agent who was so instrumental in their first purchase, in deference to the “love the one you’re with” mentality.
It is incumbent upon us as good agents to be following up with our good clients over the years (i.e. Holiday/birthday/anniversary cards, here’s what’s going on in the market cards and e mails, newsletters, gift cards from time to time, tax alerts, etc.) And, it’s hard to know how much is TOO much. There is a school of thought that says you must be “touching” people 33 times a year in order for them to remember you and call on you for your services when the time comes. Isn’t that too much? I wouldn’t want my agent/insurance person/doctor ANYTHING to be contacting me 33 times a year! It’s a little stalker-ey, in my opinion.
Bottom line is, stay in touch when you can, but don’t make a pest of yourself. And, buyers and sellers of homes for sale in Minneapolis cities, if you liked your agent the first time around and are thinking of buying or selling a home for sale in Minneapolis cities, contact that agent to see if you’re still a good fit! I know they’d be happy to help you again and again. I know I will be happy and honored to assist my past clients again and again, and welcome any referrals they would care to send me. I encourage everyone to know and acknowledge that having the right agent is essential to a successful real estate transaction. So, don’t just “love the one you’re with”! Save that magnet or notepad your agent sends you and remember to contact them when you or those near and dear need a good agent.
Do YOU need a good agent now? Contact me today to benefit from my experience and expertise.
For many Minneapolis home owners, this is a tough time. We are experiencing significant volatility in the mortgage arena. The guidelines by which a mortgage may be obtained are much tighter. Actually, the guidelines are back to where they were 15-20 years ago. You actually have to prove you can be a responsible home owner. The paradigm shift that occurred in the early part of the decade, to render anyone who can fog a mirror qualified to be mortgagor (meaning the person who obtains a mortgage and makes the payments toward total ownership) is now shifting back to those who have a proven track record of on time payments and make enough money to pay their bills.
There were people who met such guidelines when they obtained their mortgages, even in the free-for-all days. But, many have now fallen on a hardship of some kind. For example job loss, health crises, divorce, death of a spouse, business failure can all be life changing events that render the Minneapolis home owner unable to honor their commitment to make their housing payments as originally agreed upon. If that happens, the homeowner needs to find alternatives.
There is help available. The new programs that will go in to effect on April 5 have provisions to assist homeowners who are experiencing a genuine hardship. There are many provisions for assistance to forestall the sheriff’s sale until a short sale can be achieved and stricter guidelines that will bring pressure to bear on the banks to provide answers quicker in order to facilitate the short sales to go through. The new program, HAFA, stands for Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives, was developed last November and the new guidelines will go in to effect April 5, 2010. Check out the information to see what might help you or someone you love.
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.
Sometimes it’s so hard to find information when you need it. 
How do you maintain the different components of a house? What’s going on in the real estate market? How can I make the most energy efficient improvements to my home? What’s the latest in mortgage and tax information? Do I need to buy different insurances for my home? These are all great questions to be answered. Check out House Logic.
HouseLogic is a free source of information and tools—from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®—that can help you make smart and timely decisions about your home. With content covering home improvement, maintenance, taxes, finance, insurance, and even ways you can get involved in and enrich your community, HouseLogic can help you increase and protect the value of your home by helping you make confident decisions.
For more localized information about your real estate market, contact me today. I have access to information about your area, even your block! Relying on zillow.com and other real estate based websites is a mistake. Their information is only as good as the agents who participate in such websites. So, the information is very limited. Contact me, a local professional for information on Minneapolis homes for sale, or homes for sale in Minneapolis areas like Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. I also have lots of information on downtown Minneapolis lofts for sale and homes for sale 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.
| 03/18/2010 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
| 03/25/2010 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
There are so many buyer classes available. But, you want to get your education from the best. The MN Real Estate Team has been the #1 team in the State of MN since 2006. We’re now #3 nation wide and #8 world wide!! That’s quite a distinction. These standings show that we can get the job done.
We are now offering classes in 2 locations! Burnsville AND Shoreview. We heard from so many buyers, we had to offer more locations to accommodate everyone.
The first class is Thursday, March 18th from 6:30-8:00 at Cornerstone Mortgage in Burnsville. The next is in Shoreview on Thursday, March 25th at the Shoreview Community Center. The Minnesota Real Estate Team Home buyer experts and home loan partners from Cornerstone will walk you through the process from start to finish. Topics include the home buyer tax credits and how they fit in to your scenario, how the home buying process works, how to obtain a mortgage, all of the special financing programs and SO much more.
Cornerstone Home Loans – 436 Gateway Blvd., Burnsville, MN
Shoreview Community Center – 4580 Victoria St N #203, Shoreview, MN
It’s a good idea to register in advance as seating is limited. Click here to register
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.
Have you ever dreamed of living downtown? The hustle and bustle of people, nightlife, cultural activities, trendy restaurants and bars, sporting events, the works. Not to mention being able to walk to so many things and not have to rely on a car or even, in the nice weather, public transportation. I believe the Twin Cities are finally starting to catch on and catch up in the public transportation realm. We have the Northstar Railway from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis. Then, there’s the light rail going up the Hiawatha corridor. There are still buses that connect Minneapolis to St. Paul and all of their surrounding suburbs. So, now that we know we can get around, there is no reason not to live the dream.
It’s always been a fantasy of mine to live the high life of an independent (and independently wealthy) woman in a downtown condo with a fabulous view. Many young people are making their homes in one of these places with exquisite views of downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul, views of the river and the falls, or views looking East or West of the City for miles. But, it’s not just for singles anymore. Many young married couples are engaging in this life style before the kids come along. And, many retiring baby boomers are looking for a new experience once the kids are grown and gone or once they have fulfilled their suburban dream. Some folks that live in small town areas are even purchasing downtown Minneapolis lofts for sale as something called an “urban cabin”. That allows them to come to town to go to the Guthrie or a Minnesota Opera production at the Ordway, or grab a Wild game at the X-Cel or enjoy the brand new Twins stadium on a wonderful spring day.
This article elaborates on the theme of families living a downtown loft. There are certainly more educational opportunities available these days in downtown areas to make it do-able.
Looking for information about downtown Minneapolis lofts and condos? You’ve come to the right place! Contact me today to get more answers to your specific questions.
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.Are
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.
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:
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.
| 12/17/2009 | ||
| 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.
