Free Pictures with Santa

I would like to invite you to spend some time with Santa on December 3 from 10am-2pm.  There will be food, games for the kids, and you receive a FREE picture of you/ your family with Santa!  You can even bring your pets!  if you like, your picture can be posted to our website so that you may share it with your family and friends both near and far.

The fun will be at our offices in the RE/MAX Towers on 4154 Shoreline drive, Spring Park, MN.

RE/MAX Solutions is also an official drop off center for Toys For Tots.  A gift of a new and unwrapped toy would be greatly appreciated but not required.

Ho-ho-hope to see you there! 

Short Sale vs Foreclosure - part 1

Over the next few weeks, I will break down some frequently asked questions explaining the difference between a foreclosure and a short sale.  Be aware that short sales can be complicated so using a professional certified in dealing with them is highly recommended.

How a short sale and a foreclosure affect your ability to purchase another home in the future:

These are general rules and pertain to both primary and investment properties.  In some cases there are circumstances that could affect this rule, visit www.efanniemae.com for more information.   A foreclosure will make you ineligible for Fannie Mae backed mortgage for up to 7 years.  If you can successfully negotiate your way through a short sale you will be eligible for a Fannie Mae backed mortgage in as little as 2 years.

I am now a Certified CDPE Professional

Certified CDPE Professional

I have recently earned the new and prestigious designation of Certified Distressed Property Expert (known as CDPE for short).   I have completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance, with a particular emphasis on short sales.  At a time when millions of American homeowners are struggling with the possibility of foreclosure, the skills and education I have obtained will benefit area residents and communities.

A short sale allows the distressed homeowner to repay their mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even if it is sold for less than what is owed on the property.  As we all know and likely have felt, home values are dropping.  Short sales can save people from the negative impacts of foreclosure and even bankruptcy in some cases.  We are finding that more and more lenders are willing to consider short sales as an alternative to foreclosures as they are much less costly for everyone involved.

The CDPE designation is invaluable as it allows me to work with homeowners and lenders to navigate through complicated short sales.

In my next 4 posts I will compare and contrast the difference between short sales and foreclosures.

Budget Friendly Ways to Customize your Kitchen

Don’t have the budget or time to tackle a major kitchen remodel?  The following ideas can be helpful if you are getting ready to list your house for sale or want to spruce up and customize a kitchen space in a newly purchased home.

1.       Paint existing cabinets in a color that creates the mood that you are shooting for.

Open shelving concept

2.       If you have lots of cabinet space you can create an open shelving feel by removing some cabinet doors to expose the shelves.  Don’t forget to fill nail holes and consider a fresh coat of paint on the wall behind the shelves.

3.       Update cabinet hardware like hinges, drawer pulls, knobs, and light switches.

4.       Spruce up a plain backsplash with a pretty stencil, adhesive tiles, or traditional grouted tiles.

5.       If you have caned lights consider using a recessed-can converter kit to hang a statement making pendant light.  You can find them at home stores or on websites like www.thecanconverter.com  

great example of stenciled backsplash and pendant lights in this retro kitchen

6.       Mismatched appliances?  Give them new life by refacing them with an adhesive panel.  Most popular of course is stainless but you can even create your own custom panels to match whatever mood or color theme you are dreaming of.  Check out www.applianceart.com for ideas and products

Market Report week Ending Nov 5, 2011

Each week I get lots of information regarding Minneapolis area trends and happenings in real estate. Hope you find the following information interesting.

Pending home sales were off to the races as buyers eagerly entered more contracts than during the same week in 2010. Sellers pulled back a bit as they listed fewer new properties than last year at this time. By and large, inventory declines have been the 2011 tale to tell, but a handful of alternative leading indicators suggest that the Spring 2012 market could present a changing landscape.

In the Twin Cities region (which includes Wayzata, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Deephaven, Plymouth, and Hopkins), for the week ending November 5:

• New Listings decreased 18.7% to 1,134 • Pending Sales increased 20.5% to 794

• Inventory decreased 22.1% to 21,214For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price decreased 9.6% to $154,500

• Days on Market decreased 0.6% to 134

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.0% to 91.2%

• Month’s Supply of Inventory decreased 28.3% to 6.3

This information supplied by the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®

Tuesday Tool Day/ Angle Drill

A 90 degree Angle Drill is another one of those must have items.  It gets into tricky spaces  easily allowing you to drill holes and drive screws. 

Tuesday Tool Day/ Finish Nailer

I really appreciate this Cordless Finish Nailer.  It has its own compression cartridge which means you do not have to be hooked up to a compressor.  It shoots finish nails fast and accurately and is perfect for trim and baseboards.



This is a great tool to rent if you are doing just one or two projects that will use it.