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You have to take a look at this wonderful condo I just listed. Minutes from the mega mall and the airport. Close driving distance to both downtowns. If you don’t need it, please pass it along. This is a steal.
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
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Many of my regular readers know that I also have the good fortune to engage in professional performing. I’ve done shows at the Guthrie, Minnesota Opera, concerts with Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. I’m a regular soloist at Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church in Golden Valley and my current “gig” is with a group called Voice 360, a vocal group that creates all kinds of wonderful sound! Click Voice 360 to hear audio excerpts.
This week, I’m sharing company with other top performers of the Twin Cities at the McKnight Theater at the Ordway. We are joining our respective talents in a stellar show to benefit the people of Haiti. It’s called Heart for Haiti. It’s my pleasure and thrill to be singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Very fitting for this event. Click here to buy tickets.
I depend on your referrals! At work, at play, at networking or family events, when you hear someone mention buying a house or getting a mortgage, please mention my name.
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.
Well, it’s about time we have some good news in the housing market. The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index reports home price increases in 17 of the 20 most watched housing markets. Topping the list, MINNEAPOLIS HOMES FOR SALE! Minneapolis housing market saw a 3.2% increase, more than any other of the most watched housing markets nationwide. Still declining, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Cleveland.
So, how much longer are you going to wait for our market to “hit bottom”. As is often written here, if you wait for the media to report it, it’s already happening. Prime example, readers! The media is reporting that our Minneapolis housing market is leading the nation in price increases. Hmmmm, couple that with the tax incentives offered to ALL home buyers of homes for sale in Minneapolis neighborhoods, like Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, or other Minneapolis cities like Plymouth MN, Maple Grove Mn, and any downtown Minneapolis lofts for sale, it seems like it would be important to get your ducks in a row to start your property search process, like, yesterday.
Read on for more details on the 20 important housing markets being tracked by S&P.
Contact me right away to find out how to get started!!! Have a house to sell? Give me a call to set up your appointment for a free market analysis.
Susan Hofflander 763-438-7249
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.
Volatility is still the name of the game when it comes to assessing what’s going on in the housing market, nation wide and right here at home. When I look at the number of sales that have increased steadily for 8 months, I’m encouraged to know that we are making progress. That means we are able to sell the inventory that’s out there to allow for a more even market. And, while housing prices are up for the 4th month in a row, we are still a good 20-30% less than prices at the height of the market 4-5 years ago. Most of the sales occurring are in the $200K and under price category. I view these numbers with cautious optimism. If we experience another wave of foreclosures in the spring, as has been predicted, we could see another dip in prices.
Read this article to be better informed about buying or selling houses for sale in Minneapolis, Lake Harriet or Lake Calhoun.
Contact me today to receive my free buyer’s guide to home buying. This applies to properties in any Minneapolis city, or Minneapolis cities of the Western suburbs, like Plymouth or Maple Grove 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.
Housing sales are up for the 16th consecutive month, year over year. That means homes have been selling in increasing numbers every month. As a matter of fact, home sales for the month of October are up 34% over what they were on October of ’08. Why is this important to you? Why is it valuable information for sellers and buyers of homes for sale in Minneapolis, whether they are homes for sale near Lake Harriet or Lake Calhoun; homes for sale in Plymouth or Maple Grove? Because this information tells us where we’ve been, where we are now and how far we have to go to get to an evenly balanced real estate market. Prices are somewhate stabilized, but they are decidedly lower than they were at the height of the market in 2005. At that time, median home prices were somewhere around $220K. Now, they struggle to stay at $175K. So, while the lower end of the housing market, price wise, is selling very well, the middle and high end homes are remaining on the market longer and experiencing more significant dips in price.
This video will provide all the current information as of November 2009, including info about the tax credit changes.
Do you have a house to sell in Minnneapolis near Lake Calhoun or Lake Harriet, or in the Western suburbs of Minneapolis? You need to call a 15 year expert of the real estate industry who is up on the latest in technology and real estate trends, but can give you the benefit of long term perspective.
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.
We’ve had 2 years of tax credits for first time home buyers. Those were wonderful programs to provide assistance to the beginners to the home buying process. They have been purchasing the foreclosed and distressed properties that are on the low end of the economic food chain.
But what about folks who have a house to sell and want to buy another property? With the real estate prices on the decline of late, there was little money left to pay the expenses that rest on the seller’s shoulders. So, the home buying process stagnated with that middle sector of the home buying public. Which made for a slow moving middle and high priced housing market. Enter the new plan!!!!!
The original $8000 tax credit is still in place for first time home buyers, but the income limits have been extended a bit. It used to be $75,000 for a single and $150,000 for a couple. Now, it’s $125,000 for single and $225,000 for a couple! That should assist some buyers who have been sitting on the fence. In addition, there is a $6500 tax credit being offered to those who will sell their current home and purchase another residence. Some restrictions apply: they must have lived in the house they’re selling for at least 5 years and they must be purchasing a residence they will be living in, it cannot be a second home or an investment property.
I view these credits with cautious optimism. While it’s a good idea to offer some incentives to get this very large sector of our economy moving again, I am trepidatious about how this tax credit will impact our overall spendable income as a nation as well as how it will be incorporated in to the picture of the nation’s financial “recovery”. I don’t want there to be any question that, while these dollars are meant to offer assistance, it should not be discounted when making calculations regarding what made these purchases possible, in part.
Read this article for more clarification about how theses credits work. Then, call me right away to get started before your time runs out!!! This benefit expires on April 30, 2010, which means you must have an offer turned in and accepted by then with a closing date set for no later than June 30, 2010. Contact me today to make an appointment so we can get your file up and running.
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.
What’s the difference? So many people ask me that question. In some contexts, they are interchangeable. A condo is easily defined as an “apartment” that is part of a Common Interest Community (an association) that an individual can purchase. So, in that instance, a loft IS a condo. But, when it’s time to examine what type of condo a buyer might prefer, that’s where the subtle differences come in to play. 
Some buyers like the finished walls and ceilings, with doors on all of the rooms and a clearly defined living room, dining room and kitchen. This would indicate a more conventional preference, more like a traditional apartment feel. When we talk about a loft, the expectation changes. A more open floor plan is the norm, with few or NO doors on rooms, walls that don’t go up to the ceilings, and sort of all-in-one type rooms that encompass the living/dining/kitchen “area”. Lofts in Minneapolis or any other city would suggest a much more modern, almost industrial atmosphere with exposed pipes, metal banisters and cement floors.
Minneapolis Condo / Loft Projects Other differences would include the type of buildings and areas in which we would find these styles. The apartment style Minneapolis condos are more likely to be found in the Mill District (i.e. Carlyle, River West) or right downtown (The Ivy, Skyscape, Grant Park) and mostly in highrise type buildings. Whereas the Minneapolis lofts are found in the Warehouse district (i.e. Rock Island, 5th Avenue, 710-720-730), St. Anthony Main (i.e. Flour Sack Flats, Cobalt), and peppered throughout the neighborhoods like Longfellow and Uptown and are usually in low rise buildings of 5 stories or less.
Exceptions to the Rules
Exceptions to every rule! Crossover exists in the styles and the areas. A couple of examples are The Bridgewater and The Zenith which are in the Mill District. They are lower rise buildings but kind of tall (9 or 10 stories). They are loft-like AND apartment-like in that there are some open spaces, but several defined walls and rooms with doors. There are bargains to be had in Minneapolis lofts as you will read in this article in Kiplinger’s.
Finding your way through the myriad of projects is overwhelming! Contact me today to be your guide through this process
