Selling Your Home in Minnesota? Partner with the Top Realtor for Maximum ReturnsRecently posted or modified blog posts in the category - News and Infohttps://www.mnpropertygroup.com/blog/Copyright MNPropertyGroup.com2024-02-26T11:17:23-07:00tag:mnpropertygroup.com,2012-09-20:2524Rent vs OwnShould I Rent or Buy a Home in 2024?
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Understanding Rent vs. Own in Today's Market
Deciding whether to rent or buy a home in 2024 is a significant decision that impacts your financial freedom and lifestyle. With the ever-evolving real estate market, it's crucial to weigh the pros and cons based on current trends and personal circumstances.
Renting vs. Buying: A 2024 Perspective
Renting Advantages:
Flexibility: Ideal for those anticipating moves within two to three years, renting avoids the long-term commitment of homeownership.
Low Maintenance: Repairs and upkeep are the landlord's responsibility, freeing you from the cost and hassle.
Quick Move-In & Lower Initial Costs: Renting often allows for faster relocation with minimal upfront expenses compared to the down payment and closing costs of buying.
Buying Advantages:
Equity and Ownership: Every mortgage payment increases your home's equity, turning your monthly expense into an investment.
Tax Benefits: Homeowners can still enjoy significant tax deductions on mortgage interest and property taxes in 2024.
Inflation Hedge: Fixed-rate mortgages lock in your principal and interest payments, protecting you from rental inflation.
Personalization: Owning a home means the freedom to customize your living space without restrictions.
When to Buy a House in 2024
The best time to buy is when you're financially and emotionally ready. Consider these factors:
Financial Stability: Ensure you can afford the down payment, closing costs, and ongoing maintenance without compromising your savings.
Credit Score: A strong credit score can secure a more favorable mortgage rate, reducing long-term costs.
Market Conditions: Keep an eye on local real estate trends. While 2024 may bring opportunities, timing is key to finding the right deal.
Longevity: Plan to stay in your new home for at least five years to build equity and offset buying and selling costs.
Making the Decision: Rent vs. Own
Before deciding, ask yourself:
How much am I currently spending on rent, and how does that compare to mortgage payments in my area?
What is my credit score, and how will it affect my mortgage options?
Am I ready for the responsibility of homeownership, or do I value the flexibility of renting?
Conclusion
Whether you choose to rent or buy in 2024, the decision should align with your financial situation, lifestyle preferences, and long-term goals. If you're pondering "Should I rent or buy a home in 2024?", remember, the right choice depends on your readiness for the responsibilities and benefits of homeownership.
For personalized advice and to explore the differences between renting and buying in today's market, feel free to contact me. I'm here to help you navigate your real estate journey in 2024.2024-02-14T07:36:00-07:002024-02-14T07:35:16-07:00Joe Houghtontag:mnpropertygroup.com,2012-09-20:2529Buying homes in St. Paul MN
Is St. Paul, MN a Good Place to Buy a Home?
Is St. Paul, MN a Good Place to Buy a Home?
When considering the purchase of a home, St. Paul, Minnesota, stands out as a compelling option for many reasons. As the capital city of Minnesota, St. Paul is not only rich in history and culture but also boasts a unique blend of old-world charm and modern conveniences, making it an attractive place for homeowners.
Unique Blend of History and Modernity
St. Paul is known for its beautiful gardens, parks, historic buildings, and quaint cobbled streets, reminiscent of an East Coast city due to its early development style. This gives the city a unique character that blends seamlessly with modern amenities, offering residents the best of both worlds.
Historic Districts with Character
The city is home to several designated historic districts, offering a variety of architectural styles and a sense of community that is hard to find elsewhere.
Dayton’s Bluff
Historic Hill District
Irvine Park
Lowertown
Summit Avenue West
University-Raymond Commercial District
Small Town Feel in a Big City
Despite its status as a capital city, St. Paul offers a small-town vibe, with compact, residential streets and easy access to local amenities. This makes St. Paul an ideal place for those looking for a sense of community within a larger urban setting.
Affordability and Convenience
Housing in St. Paul tends to be more affordable compared to its twin city, Minneapolis. The cost of living, including rent and home prices, is generally lower, offering a more accessible entry point into homeownership for many.
Community and Safety
St. Paul is divided into 17 distinct neighborhoods, each with its district council that works closely with the city government to address local issues. This community-focused approach contributes to the city's overall sense of safety and belonging.
Recreation and Leisure
With 160 parks and open spaces, three 18-hole golf courses, miles of trails, indoor and outdoor pools, and a public beach, St. Paul offers abundant recreational opportunities for all ages.
Crime Information and Resources
For those concerned about safety, the St. Paul Police Department provides detailed crime reports and resources to help prospective homeowners make informed decisions about their neighborhood choice.
Overall, St. Paul, MN, presents a compelling option for anyone looking to buy a home. Its blend of historical charm, modern amenities, affordability, community focus, and recreational opportunities make it an attractive place to live. Whether you're drawn to the historic districts or the vibrant community life, St. Paul offers a quality of life that is hard to match.2024-02-06T17:09:00-07:002024-02-21T08:50:16-07:00Joe Houghtontag:mnpropertygroup.com,2012-09-20:2538Twin Cities Housing Market PredictionsTwin Cities Housing Market Outlook for 2024
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/494/image/real_estate_predictions_for_the_twin_cities_mn_2024.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Cityscape with a futuristic globe" title="Real Estate Predictions for Twin Cities" />
As we navigate through 2024, the Twin Cities Metro area continues to showcase resilience and progress in the real estate sector. Following a trajectory of recovery, the market remains dynamic, characterized by a blend of low-interest rates, moderated home prices, and a buoyant economic landscape underscored by strong employment growth and economic vitality.
Twin Cities Real Estate Outlook
The forecast for the Twin Cities Housing Market in 2024 remains positive, anticipating a steady yet more sustainable growth compared to the rapid surges of the past. Home values in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro are expected to see a healthy increase, potentially ranging between 4-6% over the year. Interest rates, while experiencing slight fluctuations, are predicted to stay attractively low, hovering around 1-2%. The decline in foreclosure rates is set to persist, contributing to the overall stability and sustainability of home values in Minnesota, with foreclosure inventory remaining significantly low. As we advance into the year, signs of a stable housing market become increasingly evident, promising a balanced season for both buyers and sellers as we approach the spring season. The anticipated trends suggest a vibrant market scenario unfolding.
Positive Developments for Sellers
The early months of 2024 are witnessing a low inventory of homes for sale, which is driving up home values.
Rising home prices are expected to lift more homeowners out of "underwater status," encouraging them to list their properties.
The supply of existing homes on the market is likely to stay constrained, benefiting sellers.
Individuals who have previously gone through foreclosures or short sales are gradually re-entering the market as potential buyers, thanks to improved eligibility for financing.
Current market conditions are increasingly skewing in favor of sellers, providing them with leverage and opportunities.
Encouraging News for Buyers
Mortgage rates are expected to remain low, maintaining the affordability of homeownership.
A transition towards a purchase-driven lending market is anticipated, potentially easing the financing process for buyers as lenders adopt more flexible policies.
Improving home values may enable homeowners previously "underwater" to sell their homes and upgrade.
A predicted decrease in investor activity could open up more opportunities for traditional buyers.
The market is likely to see an uptick in new construction, offering more choices to prospective homeowners.
In summary, 2024 stands as a pivotal year for engaging in the Twin Cities real estate market. With Minnesota's economy showing robust signs of growth, low unemployment rates, and promising job prospects, the housing sector is poised for sustained recovery. The combination of low interest rates, reasonable home prices, reduced foreclosures, and better access to financing creates an opportune moment for both selling and buying. Whether you're looking to enter the market as a buyer or a seller, this year offers a conducive environment to make your move, backed by strong economic fundamentals and a healthy real estate landscape.
2024-02-05T15:45:00-07:002024-02-26T11:17:23-07:00Joe Houghtontag:mnpropertygroup.com,2012-09-20:4513Top Realtor Not Making New Year Resolutions<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/494/image/new_year.jpg" width="816" height="1056" alt="New Year Minnesota Property Group" title="New Year Minnesota Property Group" class="img_box_center" /><br />
Top Realtor Not Making New Year Resolutions.
Another New Year celebration is over. As our planet begins another journey around the sun, so we start our quest for perfection vis a vis New Year’s Resolutions! While most of us are on board with improving our personal and professional life, resolutions may not be the best way to achieve our goals.
Studies show that only 9.2 percent of us complete new year resolutions. What’s even worse is that 80% fail by February. Why are failure rates so stunningly high, and what can we do to improve our chances for success?
Why do our resolutions fail?
There are several reasons why so many of us crash and burn regarding the promises we make in the final days of the outgoing year. We are swept up in those moments when we feel buoyant and inspired about all the glorious opportunities we anticipate in the upcoming twelve thirtyish day blocks of time on the calendar. We feel invincible and as if there is nothing we can’t accomplish. We see traits of Mario Batali, Mary Barra, and Marie Kondo in ourselves. And so we launch another year with too many expectations and unrealistic goals, setting ourselves up for another epic fail.
Typically it may look like this: after-work rush to the gym, hurry home to cook a healthy meal, clean up the kitchen, spend quality time with family, tidy up before bedtime, squeeze in hours dedicated to reading the classics before passing out from exhaustion. During the process, obsess about how to manage that volunteer gig, cello lessons, and the online photography course you signed up for yesterday and completely declutter your entire home before the end of the month.
And we make lists of resolutions. Long lists…
Lose weight
Exercise daily
Cook more often
Save money
Read 100 books
Spend more time with family
Make new friends
Reconnect with old friends
Get a new job
Volunteer
Learn to play an instrument
Take self-improvement course
Learn to speak French
Start a blog
Quit smoking
Travel more
Entertain more
We set the stage for a colossal crash when we think we are Wonder Woman or Superman. We are human, there are 24 hours in the day, and we need to sleep. No matter how good a time manager you may be, if you set unrealistic expectations, you won’t meet them. When you fall short, the desperation that is failure overpowers you. If the desired results have been elusive, try a different approach.
That's why, this year, no resolutions for me. I am exchanging resolve for intent. Intentions are much less rigid since they are not an all or nothing. Here are suggestions on making choices work for you in the new year.
Write down your intentions and journal your progress.
Highly successful people like Bill Gates, Oprah, Richard Branson, and others keep a journal. When you purposely put your intentions into a written format, they are much more tangible. Also, it becomes a way to keep track of your progress.
Keep your intentions general.
Don’t be too specific when you make plans. Remaining flexible gives you more options and allows you the opportunity to make actual improvements to your life.
Examples of common intentions and goals
Intention: Adopting a Healthier Lifestyle Physically and Emotionally
Goals: Lose weight, go vegan, exercise more, meditate, practice yoga or tai chi, spend time with family and friends, run a marathon, take a spin class, work with a personal trainer, quit smoking, quit drinking, bike to work, do a century ride, learn to kick-box, join a gym.
Intention: Get Control of Finances
Goals: determine net worth, control spending, establish a budget, save money, start an IRA, invest in the stock market, take a course on financial management, improve credit score, pay off debt, pay off the mortgage, <a href="https://www.mnpropertygroup.com/blog/do-you-know-a-super-real-estate-agent-when-you-meet-one-take-our-quiz/" target="_blank">buy a home,</a> invest in real estate, set up an emergency fund, start a college fund, start a business, invest in a startup, open a savings account
Intention: Improve Professional Life
Goals: Find a new job, make a career change, get a college degree, get an advanced degree, learn a trade, secure an internship, become a mentor, start a business, publish a book, launch a blog, publish a professional article, take a public speaking course, join the Chamber of Commerce, work for a political campaign, attend a professional conference, subscribe to a business publication, read a book by an expert in your field
Intention: Expand Horizons
Goals: get a new hobby, learn a craft, take art courses, learn to paint, learn to garden, learn a new language, read more, journal, write poetry, take a writing class, explore your local library’s resources, volunteer, attend a church service, join a book club, join a social group, sing in the choir, join a community theater group
Set goals to support your intentions.
Suppose that “Adopting a healthier lifestyle” is your intention. You can set your monthly/weekly/daily goals to achieve them. If you choose “losing weight” or “exercising daily” or “eating healthier” as your goals, decide what adjustments are necessary so that will happen. Keep your goals achievable and build on your success.
Limit the number of intentions to avoid being overwhelmed.
Because this is a flexible process, instead of working on all your intentions at one time, you may prefer to work them throughout the year. As you move forward adopting your new guidelines for living, goals become habits. As you weave them into the fabric of your life, you will be ready to layer on more.
You can work on all your intentions during the same time frame.
Each person will have individual priorities, and some intentions do not take a great deal of time to achieve. For instance, if this year you want to take control of your finances, there may be some upfront investment in time. For example, reviewing your spending habits, creating a budget, setting up automatic savings account deductions will only need your attention to establish and not to maintain.
Your intentions and time management
Say, for instance, you intend to expand your knowledge or expertise, and you set a goal of learning to play an instrument. That will require you to schedule time not only for lessons but for practice sessions and should be a daily activity. If you are taking a course, you may have summers free, and that will be a great time to plant and tend a garden if that was one of your goals.
When you manage and set your goals from this perspective, they become your time management blueprint. The best part is, you can make adjustments along the way. At the end of the year, if you have met even only one of those goals under your intention category, you have been successful.
Change is not easy. The majority of us don’t really like change. Our comfort zone is warm and cozy. We adhere to the familiar, even when it isn’t working for us because the unknown is, well, scary, and failure is humiliating. However, please don’t dismiss the effectiveness of small changes. They can result in significant improvements in our lives. Positive change brings success that is both intoxicating and inspiring.
This year set your intentions and establish those achievable goals and prepare to have a great year. What have you got to lose?
2019-01-09T14:17:00-07:002021-12-13T22:14:08-07:00Lindy Medeirostag:mnpropertygroup.com,2012-09-20:3823Do Your New Year’s Resolutions Need a Reboot?Do Your New Year’s Resolutions Need a Reboot?
Are you among those people who started the New Year with some well-intentioned resolutions only to find that your resolve has dwindled? Perhaps those goals that have slipped below the horizon of your consciousness during the day come back to haunt you at night like an insect buzzing around your head as you try to fall asleep.
According to statistics, by February 42% of us who made resolutions have not maintained them. We share your pain. We know the feeling when our willpower is on life-support and the loudest voice we hear is shouting self-criticism and blame.
It’s not easy to feel like you set yourself up for failure back on January 1. Statistics also tell us that 42% of Americans fail to achieve their established goals on a regular basis with only 9% feeling they had a successful outcome. However, and here is the good news to hang your hope on, people who start out the year with defined resolutions are ten times more likely to achieve their goals than those who do not make any.
Tips to Help You Restart Successfully
Take heart the game is still afoot! Every time the sun pops up out of the horizon and begins a new day offers us another opportunity to start over and to achieve our goals. Let’s begin with some general tips to help strengthen your resolve.
Forgive yourself. Change is not easy but it is attainable. Remember that successful people are the ones that have faced failure, learned from the experience and tried again.
Overnight success is rare. Be realistic and have a plan. Whether your resolution is to get out of debt, save for a downpayment on a home, lose 30 pounds or get fit be aware that you’re in it for the long haul.
Track your progress. Set shorter term goals that are achievable so that you don’t get discouraged. This will also inspire you to keep focused. Remember, success leads to more success.
Be your own best friend and cheerleader. Believe in yourself or at least give yourself the benefit of doubt.
Reward yourself. When you reach short-term goals on the way to the whole enchilada, turn it into a celebration.
Engage your family and friends in your journey. Nothing says you have to do it alone. Walk or run with a friend or join a club or support group.
Be inspired by others. There are successful people everywhere and in all fields of life right here in our own Twin Cities Metro. Listen to some stories on the Minnesota Influence and don't be surprised if you hear from someone you know!
The Internet is a Valuable Free or Low-Cost Resource
We are lucky today that we have resources aimed to help us be successful available on the internet. There are apps to help us stay focused and track our progress for our smartphones and tablets. By all means, engage them. Most are free or available at a nominal cost so I ask you, what’s not to like?
The 10 Most Popular New Year Resolutions
Here are some suggestions we found for keeping you focused.
Lose weight or eat healthier. There are many different options for healthier eating and weight loss, way too many to mention them all. Tried and true, millions of people have lost millions of pounds collectively over the years on Weight Watchers. The Mayo Clinic diet also offers an online program including meal plans. Another great resource for healthy eating recipes is Pinterest. Need more help? There are numerous apps available for both Android and iPhone that do everything from counting calories, tracking your progress and even helping you make healthy choices when you dine out. My personal favorite choice for everything fitness related is MyFitnessPal.
Get organized. Personally, I am a huge fan of organization because it is the only way I seem to be able to find things when I need them. My favorite website for everything home related is The Spruce. If you need to organize everything else in your life you need Evernote. It's like having your own personal assistant. Your welcome.
Get out of debt. This subject could easily be an entire article in its own right. Or a book even! But basically for our purposes here whether you are resolved to pay off your student loans or those high-interest credit card balances you need to begin by making a budget. Some great resources include Nerd Wallet, Mint.com, and Geezeo.com.<br />
Save money. See resources for getting out of debt because you need a budget for this one too. In addition, Forbes has a great article on apps that will help you to manage your finances and save money regularly. Also, check out my earlier post on passive saving where I share some suggestions I have personally road tested as painless ways to save every month.
Exercise regularly. This can be a difficult goal to stick to for many people. Find something you like to do so exercise becomes fun rather than a chore. Walking is the most recommended exercises to improve health and fitness, and it’s free. Buy yourself a pair of decent walking shoes and get moving. To keep from getting bored when walking listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. Need to track your progress or find inspiration. Check out this article from Marie Claire.
Read more. Join a book group and increase your reading while making new friends at the same time. Most libraries have reading groups or can recommend a community group you can join. If you need inspiration on what to read, again your local library website can help. Other great online resources are Oprah’s Book Club, Amazon, and Goodreads. You can also check out these 22 apps that might get you fired up. If you are a book lover like me, check out one of my favorite sites for inspiration, The Modern Mrs. Darcy. <br />
Help others. Check out your local community website for options in your city. Not sure how you can help? Here is a great article to get you started.
Learn something new. Whether you want to learn a new language, play an instrument, knit a sweater, grow vegetables or improve your home you can find how to videos on YouTube. It’s a great resource.
Find true love. I'm not moonlighting as a shadchanit so I’m giving you this link to the 10 best dating websites and after that, you are on your own.
Buy a home. Best advice if you live in the Twin Cities – Call Joe Houghton! Here is a review one of our clients recently left on our Facebook page:
I always thought buying a home was supposed to be stressful, but working with Minnesota Property Group proved me wrong. Joe and his very knowledgeable team made the process incredibly easy and he continually made himself available to show me homes on short notice. I would absolutely recommend Joe if you're looking to buy your dream house and will certainly be working with him in the future! - Kelly Kross Kratz
Other posts you may like: <a href="https://www.mnpropertygroup.com/blog/2017-favorites-from-our-twin-cities-home-blog/" title="Our Favorites from 2017" target="_blank">2017 Favorites from Our Twin Cities Home Blog</a>, <a href="https://www.mnpropertygroup.com/blog/is-2018-the-year-of-the-home/" target="_blank">Is 2018 The Year of The Home?</a>
2018-02-12T15:49:00-07:002024-02-22T14:20:47-07:00Joe Houghtontag:mnpropertygroup.com,2012-09-20:3065Top Remax Real Estate Team in the Twin Cities<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/494/image/2017A.jpg" width="625" height="417" alt="Twin Cities - Minneapolis" title="Twin Cities - Minneapolis" style="vertical-align: middle;" />
Twin Cities Real Estate Market Review by Top Remax Results Team
It’s that time again, the brand new year that marks the start of 365 days of new opportunities as well as new challenges. It is a psychological line of demarcation between what past and what will happen in the next 12 months. Some factors we can control and others we can’t but still, it is a fresh start. An opportunity to review and evaluate, amend and renew as we head into the new year.
This is the time I look back and celebrate the accomplishments of the Minnesota Property Group of RE/MAX Results as a team, and mine personally as the team leader. While I celebrate the successful outcomes, the resolve to do better for my clients, my team, my community and my family is the cornerstone on which I will build my priorities for 2017.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/494/image/2017C.jpg" width="625" height="469" alt="Minnesota Property Group 2017" title="Minnesota Property Group 2017" style="vertical-align: middle;" />
It Was A Great Year in Real Estate for The Twin Cities Top Realtors
The Minnesota Property Group, like the 2016 housing market, had a very successful year in local Real Estate. As the team leader, it has been profoundly gratifying for me to oversee the professional growth and development of 5 successful Real Estate agents. Together our team has helped 150 local Twin Cities families with the buying or selling of their home. Kudos to team veterans Mike Milne, Derek Irving and Andrew Klinkner and to our new members Paul McGuire and Parker Plucinak. Congratulations on meeting your 2016 goals and adding to your portfolio of Real Estate knowledge and Real Estate experience.
Kudos to our Real Estate Marketing Director Linda Medeiros for working behind the scenes to make us shine, for helping our home sellers tell the story of their homes, and for curating all the best information about our vibrant Twin Cities Metro real estate market, and everything pertaining to nurturing and inspiring our home. You can read it all on our updated Our Twin Cities Home blog, and keep up on our supporting Facebook page.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/494/image/2017H.jpg" width="625" height="417" alt="Minnesota Property Group 2017" style="vertical-align: middle;" title="Twin Cities year in review " />
We Care About All Our Home Buying and Home Selling Clients
Each member of my team proves time and time again that when we advocate for our clients like they are members of our own families, we not only reap tangible rewards but we make some great friends along the way. We feel good about ourselves, our team, and our work and for me personally that is what makes my Real Estate career so rewarding. Going forward into the new year we will continue to be successful together at serving our buyers and sellers and making their home buying or selling experience the best the Twin Cities can provide.
Recognition As Twin Cities, MN Real Estate Industry Leaders
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/494/image/2017D.jpg" width="308" height="412" alt="Minnesota Property Group 2017" title="Minnesota Property Group " class="img_box_left" style="float: left;" />We received some public recognition this year, which is always gratifying and validating. Our team was honored in July as 2016 Real Trends “America’s Best Real Estate Agents” The agents and teams recognized represent less than 1% of all agents nationally so we were all really honored to be selected. “The Minnesota Property Group led by Joe Houghton with RE/MAX is among the 2,691 RE/MAX agents and teams featured in the 2016 REAL Trends “America’s Best Real Estate Agents”<a href="http://www.realtrends.com/best-real-estate-agents-minnesota" title="Best Teams" target="_blank"> </a>survey."
In September, being recognized by Real Estate Executive Magazine as one of the 100 top producers and most influential agents in Minnesota was pretty exciting as you can imagine.
Lastly, being recognized as a 2016 Super Real Estate Agent™ for the 5th consecutive year by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business was the culmination of a great year. I was truly honored to be recognized among so many other hard-working, dedicated and successful real estate professionals in MN. While I don't believe that true success is based on awards and accolades, it is gratifying to have your work recognized by both your industry and your clients. It is even more rewarding to have your team recognized as well.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/494/image/2017B.jpg" width="625" height="540" alt="Minnesota Property Group 2017" title="Twin Cities 2017" style="vertical-align: middle;" />
The Real Estate Opportunities In The Twin Cities Are Endless
We are really energized about heading into 2017. Our mantra will be good is not enough if better is possible. Building on our past successes we hope to take it to the next level and surpass our previous year helping more than 150 families with their home buying and selling decisions.
That means helping more families change their lives by either moving into their first home or into a larger one. We want to help boomers find the retirement home they have always wanted to begin their lives reimagined. Because we love to see dreams come true, we want to see young professionals take the giant step from apartment dweller to condo or townhouse owner because owning your own home is still part of the American dream.
We also want to assist families through the sale of their home, making that whole process as stress-free and seamless as possible. We want to engage you in the process and hope when we come out the other side we will have made a friend for life.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/494/image/2017I.jpg" width="625" height="417" alt="Minnesota Property Group 2017" title="Minnesota Property Group 2017" style="vertical-align: middle;" />
This will happen because we are dedicated to building our social media presence to be everywhere you need us to be. To that end, we have expanded our website enhancing the function to go mobile. We plan to continue to expand our social media activity on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. Showing your property at its best using three-dimensional tours, quality professional photographs and drone photography when appropriate because we know the first contact a buyer has with a home is on the internet. We will continue to partner with you as a seller to tell the story of your home in pictures and on our blog. Speaking of our blog, we intend to continue to provide original and high-quality content of interest to home buyers, home sellers, and home dwellers and Twin Cities residents and beyond. We also intend to show you some great photography this year because we believe a picture also tells a story. If you have a topic you would like to see covered, let us know.
Thanks to all our wonderful clients of the past year and the preceding years as well. We really do appreciate you!
2017-01-10T16:48:00-07:002020-03-23T09:58:17-07:00Joe Houghtontag:mnpropertygroup.com,2012-09-20:2807The Minnesota Property Group Earned Ranking for 2015 Home Sales <img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/494/image/logo_press_release.JPG" width="600" height="94" alt="Minnesota Property Group Among America's Best" title="Minnesota Property Group Among America's Best" />
Local RE/MAX Agents Named Among “America’s Best”
The Minnesota Property Group Earned Ranking for 2015 Home Sales
Plymouth, Minnesota July 26, 2016 – The Minnesota Property Group led by Joe Houghton with RE/MAX is among the 2,691 RE/MAX agents and teams featured in the 2016 REAL Trends “America’s Best Real Estate Agents” survey. The agents included in the survey represent less than 1 percent of all real estate professionals in the United States.
On learning the news, team leader Joe Houghton said, “Our team focus is treating our clients like members of our own family to provide them with the best possible home selling or buying experience on the planet. To have our team recognized alongside of so many hard working, dedicated real estate professionals is an accomplishment and we are honored to be named ‘America’s Best’. I’m so proud of my awesome team!
“America’s Best” is the industry’s largest ranking of agents based on homes sold in 2015. The survey is open to individual agents who closed at least 50 transaction sides or $20 million in sales volume and teams who had at least 75 sides or $30 million in volume. The fourth annual ranking groups agents by state and metro area. Both individual agents and teams are recognized for their number of transaction sides and/or sales volume.
The Minnesota Property Group has a combined 25 years of experience in the Twin Cities market. This is the second year The Minnesota Property Group has been recognized among “America’s Best.”
RE/MAX agents accounted for 22 percent of the more than 12,000 participating agents who qualified for the survey. This year, RE/MAX had more agents named in the survey than any other brand.
2016-07-26T12:31:00-07:002020-03-21T10:57:18-07:00Lindy Medeirostag:mnpropertygroup.com,2012-09-20:2578Have You Got Attitude? 9 Ways to Inspire Yours Thoughts for the Weekend
Our attitude is extremely important to our behavior yet how much time do we really spend thinking about the condition of our “attitude”? For that matter, how often are we even aware of our attitude on a specific day, hour or minute. Yet, we talk about attitude quite a lot and common phrases in our language revolve around attitude. For instance, you have a bad attitude, you need an attitude adjustment, or you have too much attitude!
Our attitude affects how we think, act, relate to others, and how we approach and solve life’s problems. Witnessing a positive attitude at work is a beautiful thing! We are drawn to those who have mastered that discipline, hoping they will inspire us, offer us guidance and lead us into the light, because people with a positive attitude are generally happier and more successful.
Today’s fast paced and sophisticated world certainly presents us with constant challenges. Maintaining a positive attitude is not always easy, even for those who are naturally positive and upbeat. Yes the dark side is always pulling at us, especially when life throws us a curve ball.
We cannot always control what happens to us, but we do have control of how we deal with a challenging situation. I will be the first to admit it is not always easy. As much as I try, there are times my own attitude needs attention. Today I went looking for inspiration and found some in unexpected places. Here are the words of wisdom I uncovered.
"The legendary lotus is rooted in the murky darkness, in the muck of
lakes and ponds. It rises above the water, unsoiled by the muck, its fragrant
petals unfolding one at a time as it is kissed into full blossom by the
morning sun. Like the lotus, we also, have the opportunity to rise above the
surface, to bloom suddenly and to dazzle." - anonymous
"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." - Mahatma Gandhi
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” - Abraham Lincoln
"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or demons, heaven or hell." - Buddha
“Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it.” - Irving Berlin
“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” - Viktor E. Frankl
"I've had it with being nice, understanding, fair and hopeful. I feel like being negative all day. The chip on my shoulder could sink the QE2. I've got an attitude problem and nobody better get in my way...I'm in a bad mood and the whole stupid little world is gonna pay!” - John Waters, Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters
"It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come." - the 14th Dalai Lama
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And You are the one who'll decide where to go. - Dr. Seuss
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/61105.Dr_Seuss" target="_blank"></a>
2014-10-19T14:28:00-07:002024-02-14T11:17:47-07:00Lindy Medeirostag:mnpropertygroup.com,2012-09-20:2532Good Neighbor Next Door Program<img class="size-medium wp-image-555" alt="The Good Neighbor Next Door Program" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/494/image/HUD-logo-300x291.jpg" width="605" />
Minnesota Hud Homes
Certain professions can purchase Hud homes, Foreclosures, and the at a 50% discount for only $1,000 down before they are offered to the general public.
The Good Neighbor Next Door Program
The Good Neighbor Next Door Program is a random lottery process. The buyer can’t increase or decrease her bid; everyone will have the same chance. You would be entering their name in the lottery on the HUD website. Full-time teachers, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs who work in the area where the home is located can receive a 50% discount at closing. To qualify for The Good Neighbor Next Door Program, participants can’t have owned a home in home in the last 12 months. These homes are located in revitalization areas, and those areas have a higher than average FHA foreclosure rate and a higher than average renter to homeowner ratio.
No Real Estate Commissions
It HUD doesn’t pay commission, but they allow buyers with FHA financing to add up to 5% of the pre-discounted price into their mortgage for the commission. HUD also doesn’t pay any of the buyer’s closing costs in the Good Next Next Door Program. The FHA buyer doesn’t have to pay for an additional appraisal unless they get an FHA 203K Renovation Loan. If they use FHA financing, they can add all their lender fees and escrows to their mortgage. For FHA buyers using The Good Neighbor Next Door program, the down payment is reduced to only $1,000. The earnest money is different than other HUD homes. It’s 1% of the list price with a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $2,000. Buyers of the Good Neighbor Next Door Program must live in the home for three years after closing. HUD will hold a silent second mortgage on the home during this time. There’s no payment or interest due on the second unless the person sells the home before the three years. 2013-12-01T12:04:00-07:002022-01-25T14:35:18-07:00Joe Houghton