Twin Cities Monthly Skinny - April

Twin Cities Monthly Skinny Recap for April
For the third month in a row we have seen a month over month in price gains. Sellers are getting offers closer to there asking price and there are almost a quarter less foreclosures currently on the market. Are things getting better?



Check out MN-TwinCities.com for more information on the Minneapolis / St. Paul Real Estate markets and trends. Or contact Chad Elliot at chadelliot@kw.com for a personal analysis of your home.

CHAD ELLIOT, REALTOR© The Hennepin Group, LLC Keller Williams Realty 17205 Yale Street NW, Suite D Elk River, Minnesota, 55330	Mobile: (651) 795-1147 Fax: (763) 241-0187 Email: chadelliot@kw.com ChadElliot.com

Twin Citites Housing Supply Outlook - March

Twin Cities Housing Supply Outlook
provided by MAAR

Sales growth is strongest now in the townhouse segment. Over the last 12 months the number of sales has increased by 24.4 percent, compared to increases of 14.8 percent and 11.8 percent for single-family and condo homes, respectively. All of that townhouse sales growth can be found in the price segments below $150,000.

Below $120,000 there is only 3.1 months of supply, down from the mark of 6.1 a year ago. Above $1 million there is 32.8 months of supply, up from the mark of 24.8 from a year ago.

Sales in the higher price ranges continue to slow. The market drivers of activity in the lower price ranges (low rates, tax credits) are having little to no effect in the upper bracket segments.

CHAD ELLIOT, REALTOR© The Hennepin Group, LLC Keller Williams Realty 17205 Yale Street NW, Suite D Elk River, Minnesota, 55330	Mobile: (651) 795-1147 Fax: (763) 241-0187 Email: chadelliot@kw.com ChadElliot.com

The Twin Cities Monthly Skinny - March

The Twin Cities Monthly Skinny is here for the month of March! We have seen a pretty active market even in the heart of winter for the Twin Cities. There have been many positive signs pointing to an upward trend in our Real Estate Market. Keep in mind the Tax Credits will be ending on April 30th! ...don't get left out in the cold :)

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis / St. Paul) or any other surrounding city contact me and we can discuss your opitions or you can visit my website at ChadElliot.com for more information.

CHAD ELLIOT, REALTOR© The Hennepin Group, LLC Keller Williams Realty 17205 Yale Street NW, Suite D Elk River, Minnesota, 55330	Mobile: (651) 795-1147 Fax: (763) 241-0187 Email: chadelliot@kw.com ChadElliot.com

How to price to sell and still make a profit!

How to price to sell and still make a profit!

The asking price you set for your home significantly affects whether you will profit in the sale, how much you will profit and how long your home will sit on the market. Your real estate agent's knowledge of the overall market and what's selling - or not selling - will be invaluable in helping you determine the price. The objective is to find a price that the market will bear but won't leave money on the table.

Here are some points to consider: Time. Time is not on your side when it comes to real estate. Although many factors influence the outcome, perhaps time is the biggest determinant in whether or not you see a profit and how much you profit. Studies show that the longer a house stays on the market, the less likely it is to sell for the original asking price. Therefore, if your goal is to make money, think about a price that will encourage buyer activity (read: fair market value).

Value vs. Cost. Pricing your home to sell in a timely fashion requires some objectivity. It's important that you not confuse value with cost - in other words, how much you value your home versus what buyers are willing to pay for it. Don't place too much emphasis on home improvements when calculating your price, because buyers may not share your taste. For instance, not everyone wants hardwood floors or granite countertops.

Keep it simple. Because time is of the essence, make it easy for the buyers. Remain flexible on when your agent can schedule showings. Also, avoid putting contingencies on the sale. Though a desirable move-in date makes for a smoother transition between homes, it could cause you to lose the sale altogether.

If you are interested in selling your home in Minneapolis, Maple Grove, Plymouth or any surrounding city give me a call or visit http://www.MN-TwinCities.com of more information.

CHAD ELLIOT, REALTOR© The Hennepin Group, LLC Keller Williams Realty 17205 Yale Street NW, Suite D Elk River, Minnesota, 55330	Mobile: (651) 795-1147 Fax: (763) 241-0187 Email: chadelliot@kw.com ChadElliot.com

Foreclosures in Minnesota remain "dangerously high"

Foreclosures in Minnesota remain "dangerously high"

There were 23,019 home foreclosures in Minnesota in 2009. While that was down 12 percent from 2008, it was still the second highest year on record, according to the Minnesota Home Ownership Center.

“The foreclosure numbers in Minnesota remain dangerously high,” said Ed Nelson, marketing and communications manager for the center.

Hennepin County had the highest number of home foreclosures in the state in 2009, followed by Ramsey, Anoka, Dakota and Washington counties.

The Top 10
Home foreclosures in 2009, by county
1. Hennepin........5,655
2. Ramsey..........2,519
3. Anoka............2,069
4. Dakota............1,787
5. Washington....1,255
6. Wright...............861
7. Scott.................811
8. Sherburne.........702
9. Stearns.............506
10. St. Louis..........441

For more information click here

Source: Minnesota Home Ownership Center

CHAD ELLIOT, REALTOR© The Hennepin Group, LLC Keller Williams Realty 17205 Yale Street NW, Suite D Elk River, Minnesota, 55330	Mobile: (651) 795-1147 Fax: (763) 241-0187 Email: chadelliot@kw.com ChadElliot.com

The Twin Cities Monthly Skinny - February

The Twin Cities Monthly Skinny for February is here! In January, we saw the first signs of a "normal" market with home prices stabilizing when compared to last year. Take a few minutes and enjoy the video.


If you have any further questions or would like to know more details about the Elk River, Big Lake, Otsego, Maple Grove, Ramsey and Minneapolis housing markets give me a call or visit MN-TwinCities.com.

CHAD ELLIOT, REALTOR© The Hennepin Group, LLC Keller Williams Realty 17205 Yale Street NW, Suite D Elk River, Minnesota, 55330	Mobile: (651) 795-1147 Fax: (763) 241-0187 Email: chadelliot@kw.com ChadElliot.com

Twin Cities Housing Supply Outlook - February

Twin Cities Housing Supply Outlook - February 2010
provided by MAAR

The new construction market has made huge strides in cutting down on oversupply the last year. The inventory of newly built homes has dropped to 2,175, down 32.6 percent from the last year. Meanwhile—on the demand side—sales picked up during 2009 thanks to the federal tax credit for first time buyers. The combined effect is that the Months Supply of new construction inventory has fallen from 11.0 to 7.8 in the last year.

Does that mean its time for builders to start putting new projects in the ground, post haste? Not quite. The impending loss of the federal tax credit and a likely increase in mortgage rates down the road mean that downward pressure on home sales is on the horizon. Regardless, the new construction market is in a much better place than it was a year ago.

The biggest growth in new construction home sales can be found in the lower price ranges of single-family detached properties. Sales are up strongly in that segment over the last 12 months.

CHAD ELLIOT, REALTOR© The Hennepin Group, LLC Keller Williams Realty 17205 Yale Street NW, Suite D Elk River, Minnesota, 55330	Mobile: (651) 795-1147 Fax: (763) 241-0187 Email: chadelliot@kw.com ChadElliot.com

Twin Cities Market Activity Report - WE 1/25

Weekly Market Activity Report
provided by MAAR

Activity continues to pick up in the Twin Cities housing market as sellers and buyers bid a sad farewell to the Viking's football season and the dormant holiday market begins to thaw. New listings, sales and inventory are steadily increasing as we prepare for the spring selling season.

For the week ending January 16 there were 571 signed purchase
agreements, up 4.0 percent from a year ago. That's only the second week of year-over-year increase in the last nine. New listings were 8.3 percent higher than a year ago at 1,668, and the total inventory of homes available for sale currently sits at 20,459, down 18.9 percent from last year at this time.

With an extreme shortage of inventory in some of the lower price ranges, new listings may be welcome in that segment for the first time in several years. In the upper price ranges, sales activity is still declining and new sellers face a tougher market.

Visit HennepinGroup.com for the latest new home listings in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Maple Grove, Plymouth all surrounding cities.

CHAD ELLIOT, REALTOR© The Hennepin Group, LLC Keller Williams Realty 17205 Yale Street NW, Suite D Elk River, Minnesota, 55330	Mobile: (651) 795-1147 Fax: (763) 241-0187 Email: chadelliot@kw.com ChadElliot.com