About Aitkin's Bay Lake

If everyone had the ability to sell their existing home or the financial resources to make the purchases, there are many great homes on the market at exceptional prices in the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota. For every home that sells in the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota, 15 properties remain on the market. The median sales price of a home in the Brainerd Lakes area dropped 9 percent and is now at $154,425 according to the Greater Lakes Association of Realtors.
The Brainerd housing market is lagging behind the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington market, which was recently ranked the top healthiest market in the nation. The Brainerd housing market is moving on a slow, steady road to recovery as the number of homes for sale decreased and closed home sales increased. Closed home sales were up 9 percent over last October; all told, 206 properties closed last month compared to 189 a year ago.
Overall, active listings were down 11 percent and new listings were up 2 percent. The month’s supply of housing has dropped to 16.8 months from 19.3 months, meaning that it would take 16.8 months for the existing inventory to be sold at the current rate of sales.

If you are interested in a seasonal property or a year around home in Central Minnesota- call Kathleen Lordbock with Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes. The lakes are always beckoning whether it is summer wake boarding or winter ice fishing. Combine those with the exciting snowmobiling opportunities, skiing and brisk winter walks in this wonderland.

Come and see us soon!

Foreclosure numbers for 2010 in lakes area counties represent a staggering sum.

"The No.1 driver for foreclosure in the state of Minnesota is unemployment and underemployment," said Ed Nelson, marketing and communication manager with St. Paul-based Minnesota Home Ownership Center. "Until we start seeing our unemployment rate drop and stay dropped, we're going to see elevated numbers of foreclosures."

In 2010, there were 71,556 pre-foreclosure notices sent to Minnesota families.

While not all the foreclosures represent a homestead lost, since reports indicate a rise in second-home foreclosures, the majority are serving as primary homes.

In a Seminar at the Greater Lakes Association of Realtors on January 28,2011, Nelson presented a preview of preliminary foreclosure numbers. These initial figures, which may change slightly, present a picture of the extensive mortgage crisis. In the hard hit Crow Wing and Mille Lacs counties, up to 8 percent of all residential parcels are in foreclosure.

Crow Wing County had 388 foreclosures in 2010 for a running foreclosure total of just less than 1,600 households in the last four years. For Crow Wing, the numbers began a rather steep rise in 2007, bumped up even farther in 2008 before leveling off in 2009.

Mille Lacs County's foreclosures shot up in 2006, more than doubled by 2007 and climbed even higher in 2008. Nelson said the Mille Lacs County foreclosures have leveled off but at elevated numbers. The county had 226 foreclosures in 2010, slightly higher than 2009.

If you are falling behind on payments or have already received a notice of the Sheriff's Sale, please do not walk away. We may be able to negotiate with your lender to sell your home for less than you owe and avoid foreclosure. This will give you a graceful exit and allow you to move on.

Kathleen Lordbock

Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes

Short Sale Specialist

218-831-8001

This is Christmas Day and by now most of you will have already opened your gifts and had some good things to eat! This is perhaps the most celebrated holiday in the entire world. Gift giving is core to the message of Christmas." For unto this world a child was born", a gift for all mankind who believe. Jesus gave the best gift of all- the sacrifice of a sinless life-heaped with the sins of mankind. None of use could give a gift like this-"for all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God". But we can share this gift and tell others about it for it is the"good news' that the shepherds heard sung by angels.

This Christ is the only son of the living God- always was and always will be.

The gift is there for those who seek it - wise men did.

Why not you?

Do you mean it-are you serious about buying a home? Do you really want to take advantage of record breaking historically low interest rates, low home prices and a huge inventory? If you answered YES to any of the above questions: do it now- what are you waiting for?

Here in Central Minnesota the holidays are fast approaching, the snow is flying and rates are slowly beginning to rise. We have houses priced to sell and move in ready, fixer-uppers and luxury lake homes. Your home search will find you just what you want for Christmas. Better yet- let me be your personal shopper, while you are busy getting ready for the holidays and family. There may not be time to move into your new home before the New Year- but you will certainly make it before the next. You rest, I will search and before you know it- you will be enjoying your new home.

Just when you think that they can not go any lower, interest rates drop slightly. Wow, if you are waiting for homes prices to drop even more, remember that when these interest rates climb- the game changes.