Wow, the last 2 homes I have bid on have had multiple offers on them. I haven't seen that in a few years now. The homes in the $150,000 to $200,000 range are moving like hot cakes all of a sudden. A search in Andover and Coon Rapids in this price range shows 27 pending sales out of 100 homes. I would normally expect 5-10 max. Let me know of are ready to buy your first home or potentially an investment property. Make sure your home is "SOLD by Friday!" JoelFridayHomes.com Joel Friday 612-868-6287 06/25/2008

Meadow Creek went 1-1 today in the sections at Mendkota Park and will play again on Tuesday night at Visitation. They beat West Lutheran in the 2nd game to keep their season going. They won 7-4 with West threatening in the bottom of the 7th.  Kelly Strandlund pitched great in both games. Alyssa Burg and Katie Minks both had triples and Kristina Domino gunned down 2 runners and made a great tag at the plate. Here is the team photo.   05/17/2008

Woodland Meadows was built in the late 80's and early 90's with large 2+ acre lots and a variety of homes. Nestled in with pines, oaks and rolling terrain. This is a very quiet neighborhood. All of the schools serving this neighborhood were built in the past 10 years. Rum River Elementary is a short walk. Oak View Middle School and Andover High School are within 3 miles. Homes in Andover vary from the traditional single family, to multi unit townhomes. The prices range from $180,000 to $500,000+. The recent boom in housing added over 50% of the homes in Andover. Andover sits east of the Rum River in Anoka county. Highway 10 and 65 connect you to the Twin Cities. Shopping can be found at Riverdale, 5 minutes south on highway 10 along with several local shops, including the brand new Ando... 05/06/2008

The latest statisics recently released still show a slow market for Andover.  There are some bright spots in our market compared to many area's in the metro.  The number of closed sales are up 44% over last year in the month of March.  The year to date closings are up 40% over the previous year.  It appears sellers and agents are adjusting prices to reflect the market conditions and getting sales.  The average sales price is down 14% over last year to $243,179.  I was researching for a market analysis this past week and was surprised to see the highest priced home to sell in Andover last year was under $430,000.  I was expecting more activitiy in the upper price ranges.  The Bright spot is that activity seems to be picking up lately.  More sales are coming across the board and open hous... 04/22/2008

 OPEN HOUSE:Saturday, Feb 23rd11-2pmThe weather is gonna be beautiful so why not pack up the kiddos, or hubby, or just yourself and trudge on over! I'd love to show you this large split level in Andover! With 5 bedrooms and 2 garages how can you go wrong?!?!?! This isn't exactly what you are looking for? That's okay, let me know and I'll help you find the perfect find just for you!See you this weekend. 3503 140th Lane NW , Andover, MN 55304List #: 3498498     Status: Active   Map Page/Coord:49/d2List Price: $189,900List Date:  02/13/2008County:  AnokaStyle:  (SF) Split Entry (Bi-Level)Area:  762 - AndoverBedrooms: 5Total Baths: 2Garage: 2Total Fin SqFt: 1,367Listing Agent:Listing Office:Coldwell Banker Vision 763-218-1347Appt Phone: 763-241-5467      Acres: 0.300  Yr Blt: 1982Directions... 02/19/2008

Bank bargains and foreclousre properties. It doesn't get any better than this!  There are currently 50+ bank owned properties in Andover, MN 55304.  If you are a first time home buyer, a step up buyer, an investor, or looking to rehab a property "these deals are fantastic."  Now is the time to take advantage of the market.5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 car garage, 3,380+ FSF 2006 built..........................................$380,000Property features: hardwood floors, granite countertops, water front rear yard, builder warranty included.This isn't the only steal of a deal out there.  Looking for something a little different, tailored EXACTLY to your needs?  I will set up your own private client web page that makes searching for a home the easiest it's ever been!  Let my combined real estat... 02/10/2008

Looking for the best deal in Andover, MN?  I can help!  Every month I put together my BEST BUY LIST of Homes For Sale in Andover, MN, plus I will give you Market Information for the previous month. Last month there were 10 homes that SOLD in ANDOVER, MN. There are currently 23 homes PENDING a contract for closing in ANDOVER, MN. There are currently 240 homes LISTED FOR SALE in ANDOVER, MN.Looking for the BEST DEALS you can buy right now in Andover, MN?  Here they are:7 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 5 Car Garage, $10,000 buyer closing costs included......$449,500 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2 Car Garage, new construction....................................$262,000 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2 Car Garage, updated with heated pool......................$229,900 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2 Car Garage, 2,... 02/10/2008

City of Andover - Anoka County - MN20072006Δ Change# Homes Sold291365-20.27%Average Price$291,122 $302,142 -3.65%Median Price$268,000 $273,000 -1.83%Total Volume$84,716,701 $110,282,026 -23.18%Based on information from the REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE OF MINNESOTA, INC.For the period of January 1, 2006 thru December 31, 2007 It is a great time to buy a home and there are great deals in all price ranges available.For more information about my services, guarantees or how I can help you find your next home,sell your home, buy a business or investment property - Just call me today at 763-548-1418!To view my interactive on-line real estate magazine with listings, click the button below:   Click the button below to send this information to your friends or family!Associates of Science Deg... 01/18/2008

How Much Can You Afford? Understanding how much you can afford is one of the most important rules of home buying. Depending on your individual situation, your budget can affect everything from the neighborhoods where you look, to the size of the house, and even what type of financing you choose. Bear in mind, however, that lenders will look at more than just your income to determine the size of the loan. Likewise, you may find that there are some creative financing options that can help boost your purchasing power. Loan prequalification vs. preapprovalOne of the best ways to determine your budget is to have your real estate agent or lender prequalify you for a loan. Prequalification is different from preapproval, because it is only an estimate of what you'll be able to afford. On the ot... 12/14/2007

All About Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) differ from fixed-rate mortgages in that the interest rate and monthly payment can change over the life of the loan. ARMs also generally have lower introductory interest rates vs. fixed-rate mortgages. Before deciding on an ARM, key factors to consider include how long you plan to own the property, and how frequently your monthly payment may change. Why choose an adjustable-rate mortgage?The low initial interest rates offered by ARMs make them attractive during periods when interest rates are high, or when homeowners only plan to stay in their home for a relatively short period. Similarly, homebuyers may find it easier to qualify for an ARM than a traditional loan. However, ARMs are not for everyone. If you plan to sta... 12/14/2007

When Should You Pay Points on a Loan? When it comes to comparing interest rates for a mortgage loan, homebuyers often have the option of choosing a loan with a lower interest rate by paying points. Simply put, a point is equal to 1 percent of the loan amount. For example, with a $100,000 loan, one point equals $1,000. Points are usually paid out-of-pocket by the buyer at closing. Paying points may seem attractive, because a lower interest rate means smaller monthly payments. But is paying points always a good idea? The answer generally depends on how long you plan to stay in the house. Let's look at an example: Bob and Betty Smith are shopping for loan rates on a $150,000 home. Their bank has offered them a 30 year loan at 7.5 percent with no points. This works out to a monthly payment ... 12/14/2007

How Mortgage Loans Work Excluding property taxes and insurance, a traditional fixed-rate mortgage payment consist of two parts: (1) interest on the loan and (2) payment towards the principal, or unpaid balance of the loan. Many people are surprised to learn, however, that the amount you pay towards interest and principal varies dramatically over time. This is because mortgage loans work in such a way that the early payments are primarily in interest, and the later payments are primarily towards the principal. In the beginning... you pay interestTo help calculate monthly payments for loans based on different interest rates, lenders long ago developed what are known as "amortization tables." These tables also make it fairly easy to calculate how much money of each payment is interest, and... 12/14/2007

Leveraging Your Money One of the greatest financial aspects of buying a home is the ability to leverage your money. Simply put, leverage allows you to use a small down payment and financing to purchase a larger investment. For example, if you bought a $125,000 home with 10 percent down, you leveraged the $12,500 down payment to purchase an asset worth 10 times that amount! AppreciationThe benefits of leverage really become apparent with appreciation, or the rise in value of a property. Using the above example, say you were to live in the house for 5 years, and during that time property values in your area were to rise an average of 2.5 percent a year. Your home would then be worth over $141,000. By putting only 10 percent down, you get to enjoy the appreciation for the full amount! Payi... 12/14/2007

Saving for the Down Payment Saving funds for a down payment should be part of an overall program to get your finances in order prior to shopping for a home. This includes rounding up financial records, examining your spending habits, and setting a budget you can live with. Remember, too, that the down payment is not the only up-front expense. An allowance for closing costs should also be included in your savings budget. How much is required?The down payment is usually expressed as a percentage of the overall purchase price of the home, and varies depending on the lender, the type of financing and amount of money being lent. In the past, the typical down payment was 20%, but in recent years lenders have been willing to offer conventional financing with as little as 3% down. U.S. Governme... 12/14/2007

15-Year, 30-Year, or a Biweekly Mortgage? In the past, the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was the standard choice for most homebuyers. Today, however, lenders offer a wide array of loan types in varying lengths--including 15, 20, 30 and even 40-year mortgages. Deciding what length is best for you should be based on several factors including: your purchasing power, your anticipated future income and how disciplined you want to be about paying off the mortgage. What are the benefits of a shorter loan term?Some homeowners choose fixed-rate loans that are less than 30 years in order to save money by paying less interest over the life of the loan. For example, a $100,000 loan at 8 percent interest comes with a monthly payment of around $734 (excluding taxes and homeowner's insurance). Over 30 ... 12/14/2007

Closing Costs The bundle of fees associated with the buying or selling of a home are called closing costs. Certain fees are automatically assigned to either the buyer or the seller; other costs are either negotiable or dictated by local custom. Buyer closing costsWhen a buyer applies for a loan, lenders are required to provide them with a good-faith estimate of their closing costs. The fees vary according to several factors, including the type of loan they applied for and the terms of the purchase agreement. Likewise, some of the closing costs, especially those associated with the loan application, are actually paid in advance. Some typical buyer closing costs include: The down payment Loan fees (points, application fee, credit report) Prepaid interest Inspection fees Appraisal Mortgage... 12/14/2007

Refinancing Refinancing your home can be an excellent way to bring down your monthly mortgage payment, raise cash, or consolidate debts with high interest rates. However, you need to do your homework before deciding to refinance. One important factor is the difference between current interest rates and the rate of your original loan. You also need to take into account the amount of time it will take to recoup the costs of refinancing. When should you refinance?Some common reasons homeowners refinance include: Lower monthly mortgage payments Convert an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate mortgage Raise funds for family expenses (i.e. college tuition) Pay off high-interest loans Home improvements The old rule of thumb is that you should refinance your home if interest rates fal... 12/14/2007

Understanding Different Types of Loans Today's homebuyer has more financing options than have ever been available before. From traditional mortgages to adjustable-rate and hybrid loans, there are financing packages designed to meet the needs of virtually anyone. While the different choices may seem overwhelming at first, the overall goal is really quite simple: you want to find a loan that fits both your current financial situation and your future plans. Though this article discusses some of the more common loan types, you should spend time talking with different lenders before deciding on the right loan for your situation. General categories of loansMost loans fall into three major categories: fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and hybrid loans that combine features of both. Fixed-rate mortg... 12/14/2007

 Well rates are coming down and no shortages of renters is the perfect time to jump in the rental business. We recently put a home we just renovated for rent and had twenty calls in a week in december WOW!! with prices this low it's hard to say no, Find yourself a team of people to help you complete your flip starting with a REALTOR specializing in foreclosure properties will get you some of your best deals and secondly the contractor or person who will be doing most of the work to bring back the sparkle to the run down home. stay on time and on budget  but do to take into account an allotment of money for the un-forseen which there usually is. Good luck and happy flipping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! e-mail with questions MIKE NEHMZOW www.GETYOUMOVED.com MINNESOTA Real Estate Is HOT!!!!! 12/06/2007

Buying Your Home - Insurance What kind of home insurance should I get? A standard homeowners policy protects against fire, lightning, wind, storms, hail, explosions, riots, aircraft wrecks, vehicle crashes, smoke, vandalism, theft, breaking glass, falling objects, weight of snow or sleet, collapsing buildings, freezing of plumbing fixtures, electrical damage and water damage from plumbing, heating or air conditioning systems, according to the Insurance Information Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group for the insurance industry. Such policies are "all-risk" policies, which cover everything except earthquakes, floods, war and nuclear accidents. A basic policy can be expanded to include additional coverage, such as for floods and earthquakes and even workers' compensation f... 10/19/2007