Chuck Carstensen

People need to be aware that right now HOUSES ARE SELLING FAST. In fact many of the homes are getting multiple offers and selling ABOVE listing price. The market has definately picked up in Minnesota and as I read many of the blogs from around the USA, the market has picked up in many places.

BUYERS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

1. The best houses that are priced to sell are getting offers right away and selling right away.

2. On those homes that are priced right; they will sell at or above listing price.

3. You want to be be approved through UNDERWRITING before you spend too much time looking at houses. Loan approvals are taking longer and things are changing so fast you want to make sure you can actually buy a home.

4. Other buyers are taking advantage of the low interest rates, low house prices, and first time buyer tax credit. If your hesitant, figure out what is holding you back, and start to move forward in your home search with more confidence.

5. On BANK OWNED homes - The banks normally will not fix things on the house. Its sold AS-IS. If the home needs a lot of repairs it won't work for FHA financing. You either need to apply for a loan that is a REHAB type of loan or look for houses in good shape.

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Chuck Carstensen is a Realtor with The Discovery Team at RE/MAX; helping buyers, sellers, and investors of residential real estate. He is a Dynamic Life Coach; The Discovery Coach- "Helping you discover your talents, desires and purpose." Carstensen is a speaker and co-author in the best selling book series Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Your Wake Up Moments (NOW available go to http://tinyurl.com/wakeupmoments).

Tonight, for the second straight year, I played the role of John in Cambridge Lutheran Churches presentation of "The Last Supper."

Thats me on the far left (almost faded out of the picture).

I am two people to the left of Jesus on this one! (I hit my script right on!!)

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Chuck Carstensen is a Realtor with The Discovery Team at RE/MAX; helping buyers, sellers, and investors of residential real estate. He is a Dynamic Life Coach; The Discovery Coach- "Helping you discover your talents, desires and purpose." Carstensen is a speaker and co-author in the best selling book series Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Your Wake Up Moments (NOW available go to http://tinyurl.com/wakeupmoments).

Real Estate is LOCAL! The media puts a twist on almost all information they spew out. They make it sound like the world is coming to end, or at least that not many people are buying. However, the truth is that homes are moving really fast now. Buyers are in Spring buying mode. Prices are low and interest rates are low making home affordability at a 30 year high.

Minnesota might be taking a little extra time to heat up on the outside, but in the housing market it is heating up now. If you have been on line looking at homes and perhaps out shopping for a home, but haven't found a home you have liked yet chances are now when you see a good home at a good price, its going to be gone within a week.

Yes! Houses are selling FAST. The houses that are PRICED RIGHT are now selling for FULL LIST price or higher! Sure there are overpriced homes out there, but many of the bank owned listings have finally learned to price the homes right.

Often buyers think because its BANK OWNED they are going to get an extra $20K off. That's simply not the case. If its priced well the home will sell for full price.

So why buy now?

1. Homes are more AFFORDABLE then they have been in years because of the low prices and the low interest rates.

2. $8000 TAX CREDIT for first time buyers. Don't pass up free money!

3. We are NEAR market bottom. Many of the homes are being price well, so those prices are close enough to the BOTTOM that you will still be in a good equity position.

4. With the low prices your payment is potentially LOWER THEN a rent payment. So why rent when you can own.

5. You help stimulate the economy in your own way by buying now!

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Chuck Carstensen is a Realtor with The Discovery Team at RE/MAX; helping buyers, sellers, and investors of residential real estate. He is a Dynamic Life Coach; The Discovery Coach- "Helping you discover your talents, desires and purpose." Carstensen is a speaker and co-author in the best selling book series Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Your Wake Up Moments (NOW available go to http://tinyurl.com/wakeupmoments).

I don't how it is in other states, but in Minnesota there are 12 different MLS areas. I belong to the Twin Cities area MLS and the St. Cloud Area MLS. Most of my business happens in the North Metro of the Twin Cities, but certainly I go to St. Cloud for a chunk of my business.

Last year my brother bought a house in Rochester, MN. Totally out of my area, however I still represented him on the purchase. Thankfully our MLS system has a Co-op that allows us to search the other areas. I spent a lot of time researching Rochester and sending my brother listings. It was over a year from the start of his search until he actually purchased.

Now I am doing the same thing with my sister. She is looking in Mankato and again that is not my area, but I will help her. Its nice to be able to get listing info through the MLS Co-op. Its also great that amost all listings are available to the public because she has been sending me homes she wants to see.

Perhaps one day it will be all one MLS per state or nation. For now I am thankful for the MLS Co-op.

Chuck Carstensen

Re/max Associates Plus inc.

612-290-3809

Attention INVESTMENT property OWNERS or buyers looking for INVESTMENT PROPERTIES:

I AM LOOKING FOR A COUPLE OF BUYERS WHO WANT TO PURCHASE HOMES ON CONTRACT FOR DEED FOR PEOPLE.

ALSO IF YOU HAVE A HOME YOU WILL SELL CONTRACT FOR DEED LET ME KNOW!

Basically I have a lot of potential buyers I follow up with and for various reason some of them can't get financing on a home right now. However, some of them would make great buyers on a Rent to Own or Contract for Deed.

Please Contact me at 612-290-3809 or email me at chuckcarstensen@hotmail.com if you are someone looking to do some Real Estate Investing.

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Chuck Carstensen is a Realtor with The Discovery Team at RE/MAX; helping buyers, sellers, and investors of residential real estate. He is a Dynamic Life Coach; The Discovery Coach- "Helping you discover your talents, desires and purpose." Carstensen is a speaker and co-author in the best selling book series Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Your Wake Up Moments (NOW available go to http://tinyurl.com/wakeupmoments).