April 2008 
There are 29 blog entries for April 2008.
From Bad to Worse: Foreclosure Fraud
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 11:00pm. 520 Views, 0 Comments.
All across the U.S., more than 1 million homes have been put in foreclosure so far this year. A recent study commissioned by the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund predicts that 28,000 homes within the state alone will be foreclosed on in 2008, which is not only a 39 percent increase from a year ago but would be a record for foreclosure homes in Minnesota. If those projections are accurate, it means that between 2005 to the end of 2008, one in every 31 households statewide will have gone through the foreclosure process.
With more foreclosures occurring throughout the country, "foreclosure rescue" scams are also on the rise. From California to Indiana to New York, to right here in Minnesota, unsavory individuals have been calming the fears of residents…
Special Considerations for Vacant Homes
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 at 11:22am. 475 Views, 3 Comments.
Problems are much more likely to occur in homes that are left unoccupied for any extended period of time. With a large inventory of foreclosed and vacant houses on the market today, home buyers should be aware of issues that often arise when a home is not maintained regularly. While these homes can often be purchased at a bargain, anyone considering a house which has been vacant for a while should pay close attention to their condition. Here are a few things to be aware of when buying a vacant property.
- One of the obvious things that can happen to a vacant home is vandalism. From broken windows and spray paint to the theft of copper pipes and wires, it does happen. This means that you may end up having to make some repairs yourself.…
National Real Estate Statistics for 2008: February Reports
Monday, April 28th, 2008 at 8:42am. 377 Views, 0 Comments.
On April 22, First American CoreLogic, a leader in residential mortgage data and analytics for the mortgage industry, released its February 2008 LoanPerformance Home Price Index (HPI). The LoanPerformance HPI “provides a comprehensive set of monthly home price indices and median sales prices covering 7,508 ZIP codes, 957 Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA) and 670 counties located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.” The indices are the most comprehensive available in the industry.
According to their LoanPerformance HPI criteria, 36 states experienced a housing price decline over the three month period which ended with February 2008. The Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington Core Based Statistical Area experienced a 3 month decline of 4.6% and…
Importance of Window Safety
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 12:41pm. 483 Views, 0 Comments.
Though this is just a little late, last week (the last full week in April) was Window Safety Week, sponsored by the Safety Council and window, screen and door manufacturers. It is spring time, headed into summer. The storm windows are coming off and screens are going in. For the safety of children, steps should be taken to lessen the chances of a window-related accident occurring.
- Window screens should be strong and thick enough to keep bugs out, but kids should still be able to remove them if an emergency occurs. It is also important to teach your children how to remove the screens if a fire occurs and they must escape.
- When children are around, keep windows closed and locked. If you open a window for ventilation, make…
Upcoming Twin Cities Home Events
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 12:06pm. 395 Views, 0 Comments.
You can still catch the Minneapolis and St. Paul Home Tour today. At this event, new and remodeled homes will be open for free self-guided tours from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 27. Home Tour guides can be picked up at Twin Cities libraries, at the homes themselves, and at www.MSPhometour.com.
The Parade of Homes Easystreet is a tour of 112 association-maintained new homes, including townhouses, condos, lofts, villa homes and rowhouses throughout the Twin Cities area. This event takes place through May 18. The times are from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Tour maps are available at local Holiday Station stores and at www.paradeofhomes.org.
As we discussed in a previous post, the Living Green Expo is…
‘Tis the Season to Do-It-Yourself
Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 3:30pm. 403 Views, 0 Comments.
With the weather warming up (and hopefully drying out… SOON), many Minnesota residents are gearing up to make improvements and repairs to their homes. Some will hire a professional, and some will do it themselves. When it comes to home repair, sometimes doing it yourself pays off - especially when trying to sell a home. Other times, it doesn't.
The idea of doing it yourself sounds great, at first glance. It can save you money on both labor and materials, you can learn new skills, sharpen existing knowledge, and improve your home at the same time. But it isn’t without its risks.
The key to avoiding an expensive mistake is knowing when to pick up the hammer and when to pick up the phone. When it comes to home improvements, you must know you’re…
The Living Green Expo: May 3rd & 4th, 2008
Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 10:02am. 433 Views, 0 Comments.
The Living Green Expo is an annual event that provides information and products to help Minnesotans improve how their day-to-day lives impact the environment and society. The Expo features over 200 exhibitors of products, services, and information, as well as workshops on a variety of sustainability and green living topics. There will be music, art, food, demonstrations, and activities for youth and children at this free event. Of particular interest, along the lines of our recent post about Green Homes, would be the Living Green Expo’s workshops, exhibits, and attractions which revolve around the home.
In regards to building and remodeling, your own home provides the ideal location for practicing sustainability on a personal scale. We probably spend…
Buying New? Try A Green Home!
Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 9:17am. 421 Views, 1 Comments.
It is not the color of the home of which we’re speaking, however. Earth-friendly homes and construction practices are being sought by environmentally conscious consumers across the U.S. No, we’re not talking about people living in cob, straw, or sod houses either, though there are people who choose to live in these types of abodes. We are talking about homes when have been built with renewable building materials and with peak energy efficiency in mind. This is called “green building.”
Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency of an edifice throughout the entire construction cycle. That means when creating a structure in this manner, human health and the environment will be taken into account through the dwelling’s design, the site…
Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Highlights
Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 7:52am. 518 Views, 0 Comments.
In the Central Community, one can find the Downtown Minneapolis neighborhood. Much of Minneapolis’ history is nestled in this area. Beginning in 1880, Minneapolis was known as the “Flour Milling Capital of the World.” This is from where Minneapolis’ nickname, “The Mill City,” comes. The Washburn A Mill was at one point the most technologically advanced and the largest in the world. At peak production, it ground enough flour to make 12 million loaves of bread in a day. It received grain via rail lines that stretched into Duluth, the Dakotas and Canada. The flour was exported as well as used domestically. Minneapolis sprouted up around the mills. The city exploded from 13,000 residents in 1870 to nearly 165,000 in 1890.
After about 50 years,…
Downtown Saint Paul Neighborhood Highlights
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 at 7:14pm. 418 Views, 0 Comments.
The borders of Downtown Saint Paul are made up of University Avenue to the north, Marion Street to the west, Interstate 94 to the east, and the Mississippi River to the south. The river’s presence not only offers beautiful views from offices and condominiums, but also provides a place of recreation with green spaces and trails. With the Capitol just a few blocks, downtown St. Paul is an ideal location for government workers. Additionally, many state offices are located in the area. Industrialized areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul are within short driving distance. Easy access to I-94 connects you quickly with the rest of the Twin Cities.
Downtown St. Paul is home to a number of attractions. The Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild…
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