About Hennepin County, MN

MNDOT has finally received funding to complete the 610 exchange from Hwy. 169 to Hwy. 81 in Maple Grove. The construction starts with the closing of Hemlock and Revere Lanes in Maple Grove on 11/16/09. The new Hwy 610 extension will be a 2.74 mile long, four-lane highway from Hwy 169 in Brooklyn Park to County Road 81 in Maple Grove. The project includes two interchanges, or highway access points, at Highway 169 and Zachary Lane. The project also includes three overpasses, or highway crossings, at Jefferson Hwy., Revere Lane, and Hemlock Lane. A pedestrian bridge at Nathan Lane and construction of noisewalls along the corridor are also part of the project.

See link to project information:http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/610/

Most residents of the Northwest suburbs are extremely excited about this road being completed. It will save hundreds of travelers time and gas when traveling to the north metro and northeast suburbs. Travelers from Maple Grove, Rogers, Coorcoran, St.Michael and other towns used to have to cut through Maple Grove and then through downtown Osseo to get to Hwy. 169 or they had to follow 94 around all of the way around south Maple Grove to 169 and then go north to 610. Completion of this project is scheduled for November 2010.

Are you wishing you could sell your house but you’ve been putting off contacting a Realtor because you are sure the market’s no good? If so, then we need to talk. There are several reasons why right now is a great time to get your home on the market.

Lower inventory. Everyone knows that the housing market has been flooded with short sales and foreclosed properties, but the first time home buyer tax credit had a significant impact in the number of houses on the market. Just about every first time home buyer who qualified for the credit and was able to purchase a home has done so. This has helped to lower the number of available properties, making it more likely that your house will sell.

Prices seem to have hit bottom and are going back up. Perhaps you have been concerned about selling your home for less than it’s worth. This is a valid concern and has kept many financially stable home owners from listing their home. But consider this: If you are hoping to sell and buy a larger home, you may end up selling yours for less, but your new home will cost you less as well. Its quite possible that you may be able to find a home in your price range that you will not be able to afford when its value goes back up. If your home is paid off or if you have plenty of equity, then you should not afraid of the current market.

The extended tax credit means more time for first-time buyers. Most of the first-time home buyers who were going to buy have already done so. But some haven’t. The tax credit has been extended until April which may be just enough time for those who weren’t quite ready to be so.

The expanded tax credit means newly qualified buyers too! The credit was not only extended, but expanded to include first-time home buyers with higher incomes and current home owners. This opens up a whole new group of people who will jump at the chance to buy a home and cash in on the tax credit.

The expanded tax credit might include you! That’s right, if you were to purchase a new home before April, then you will qualify for the $6500 tax credit if you meet the requirements. This just might help to offset any loss you could incur based upon lower property values. Add it to your down payment and you could afford a more expensive house. Or use it to decorate your new home, do some landscaping, pay down debt, or go on vacation.

You probably have the funds to correct any problems. Home buyers hoping to find a house ready to move into with little more than a change of paint color, have been rather dismayed by the condition of many foreclosed homes. Even homes qualifying for short sales could be in need of major TLC simply because a distressed home owner does not have the funds to make repairs. This makes buying a house from a financially secure home-owner a major attraction to some buyers. Be sure to fix major and minor problems, get an inspection done so you know what they are, and have some cash on hand to make further changes that may be requested as part of an offer.

You have more flexibility than a bank. Another problem that home buyers have found when trying to buy a distressed property is the time it takes for a bank to respond to an offer. Even with a more than-willing home seller and buyer, waiting for a short sale approval from a bank can be frustrating. You may find a home-buyer who needs to close in two weeks, or one who low-balls an offer and needs several back and forth offers to agree on a reasonable price. You have the flexibility to handle this situation, whereas a bank may not be able to meet their needs.

Convinced yet? Either way, give me a call and we can discuss getting your house on the market. And while we are at it, we can start hunting for that next perfect home for you as well!

---

Looking for a home in Edina, Minnesota? Contact me, Kim Melin, today.

Check out my website for help in buying a home in the Minneapolis area.

Many financially stable home owners have wanted to sell their homes for various reasons over the past year but have either had no luck or just decided to wait. If you are one of these homeowners you should seriously consider putting your home on the market now. Why? There are a variety of reasons:

• Lower inventory. Everyone knows that the housing market has been flooded with short sales and foreclosed properties, but the first time home buyer tax credit had a significant impact in the number of houses on the market. Just about every first time home buyer who qualified for the credit and was able to purchase a home has done so. This has helped to lower the number of available properties, making it more likely that your house will sell.

• Extended tax credit. Most of the first-time home buyers who were going to buy have already done so. But some haven’t. The tax credit has been extended until April which may be just enough time for those who weren’t quite ready to be so.

• Expanded tax credit. The credit was not only extended, but expanded to include first-time home buyers with higher incomes and current home owners. This opens up a whole new group of people who will jump at the chance to buy a home and cash in on the tax credit.

• Low prices. Perhaps you have been concerned about selling your home for less than it is worth. This is a valid concern and has kept many financially stable home owners from listing their home. But consider this: your new home will cost you less as well. It’s quite possible that you may be able to find a home in your price range that you will not be able to afford when its value increases.

• Expanded tax credit. (Again) The expanded tax credit might include you! If you were to purchase a new home before April, then you will qualify for the $6500 tax credit, if you meet the requirements. This just might help to offset any loss you could incur based upon lower property values. Add it to your down payment and you could afford a more expensive house.

• Money for fix-ups. Home buyers hoping to find a house ready to move into with little more than a change of paint color, have been rather dismayed by the condition of many foreclosed homes. Even homes qualifying for short sales could be in need of major TLC simply because a distressed home owner does not have the funds to make repairs. This makes buying a house from a financially secure home-owner a much more attractive to most buyers.

• Flexibility. Another problem that home buyers have found when trying to buy a distressed property is the time it takes for a bank to respond to an offer. You may find a home-buyer who needs to close in two weeks, or one who low-balls an offer and needs several back and forth offers to agree on a reasonable price. You have the flexibility to handle this situation, whereas a bank may not be able to meet their needs.

Now tell me, can you think of a good reason not to list your home? Give me a call and we will get things started.

---

Looking for a home in the Edina area? Visit my website. When you are ready to visit any of these homes, or if you would like to list your home, contact me, Chris Prescott, at (952) 944-1728 or via email.

H1N1 Clinic Details

Date: Saturday, November 21

Time: 9:00 am -11:00 am

Location: South View Middle School

4725 South View Lane
Edina, Minnesota 55424 (Near Edina Community Center and the intersection of South View Ln and Concord Dr)

If you are coming to a clinic, please remember to:

• Wear a short-sleeved shirt.
• Bring an insurance card if you have one. Your health insurance will cover the cost of the vaccine. If you do not have insurance, there will be no cost to you.
• Come with your child. Children under 18 years must have a parent or guardian present to get the vaccine.

If you would like to learn more about the H1N1 flu and/or the H1N1 flu vaccine, please visit www.flu.gov or www.mdhflu.com. We will notify you of future clinics that will be open to more groups of people through your child's school. For more information about these clinics, call 952-563-8900.

To hear this information in Spanish or Somali, call 952 848-3930.

Thank you,

NOTE: see the bottom of post for homes for sale in the area

Last weekend as I stopped at Lake Calhoun in southwest Minneapolis I noticed people looking up into the treetops...

...to see two bald eagles perched in a tree along the south shore of the lake!

I assure you the photographer in the photo with the long lens got a better picture than I did, but I was pretty amazed to be able to take any photo of bald eagles in southwest Minneapolis!

It was a great reminder of what a wonderful public resource the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes is to the Twin Cities, with shoreline accessible to everyone. It is the most visited destination in the Minneapolis Park System, with 13.3 miles of trails that are part of the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway of 50.1 miles of metro area trails.

Lake Calhoun is the largest of the five lakes in the Chain of Lakes, with a shoreline of about 3 miles, surrounded by walking and bike trails. It is also the most exposed, with Lake Street bordering the north side of the lake. Lake Calhoun has three beaches, boasts great Minneapolis skyline views, and is great for both people watching and looking at beautiful homes.

It's hard to find a time when the paths around the lake aren't busy with runners, bikes, roller blading, dog walking...with swimmers, wind surfers and people playing sand volleyball or fishing on one of the piers nearby in warm weather...enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes is second in popularity only to the Mall of America as a Twin Cities visitor destination.

Click here to see homes currently for sale in the area around Lake Calhoun and the Chain of Lakes in southwest Minneapolis. Please be patient while the link searches for the most current listings...click on the map to zoom in until you see icons on the dots, then pass your cursor over them for property information, click for property details.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - HomesMSP.com

RELATED POSTS

• Sunday's Site - Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis
• Sunday's Site - Lake Harriet
• Sunday's Site - 'The Wedge' of Minneapolis