It's hard to believe we're closing in towards the end of Summer of 2010 already. 2010 has proven to be an interesting year, full of change and opportunity for growth. All of us at Lennar Minnesota look forward to what will come for the remainder of 2010.

It's exciting to begin sharing information for our upcoming community in Blaine, MN. The Woods at Quail Creek will feature our popular Landmark Series single family homes. The Pillsbury, Sinclair, and St Croix feature 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and a 3 car garage. Square footage ranges from 2,230 to 2,719 finished sq. ft. A new plan will be added in the near future, and I look forward to sharing that as well! Pricing will start from the low $300s.

Located just east of Hwy 65 and Radisson Rd, on the north side of County Rd 14, The Woods at Quail Creek is going to be a community of 44 exceptional homesites offerinig tranquil wooded surroundings, not found in many new construction communities. The community is adjacent to Pioneer Park, allowing access to area trails for walking, running, biking, hiking, and so much more.

Lennar Minnesota looks forward to bringing affordable, energy efficient PowerSmart homes to Blaine very soon. Site development is in the early stages, and we hope to begin construction on our model home in the coming months.

To stay updated on The Woods at Quail Creek, find us on Facebook at Lennar at Quail Creek. For more information or to be added to our VIP Interest List, contact Katie Greil at 612-490-5825 or katie.greil@lennar.com.

2010 has proved to be a year of change and opportunity for Lennar Minnesota. Just as our building competitors, realtors, and other buyers & sellers, we continue to see ups and downs in our marketplace. Nonetheless, this is a very exciting time for Lennar.

We have posted in the past about our new community coming to Eagan, MN. A quick re-cap and background on this piece of property...Stonehaven is a gorgeous 114 acre parcel which was formerly known as Carriage Hills Golf Course. Lennar acquired the property earlier this year. Our Land Development Team created an amazing lifestyle community that will offer homes for first time homebuyers, move up buyers, and empty nesters and those looking for maintenance free living, while focusing to maintain a balance of nature and the residential areas of the community.

Stonehaven will offer 363 units total; 158 Single-Family homes, 40 Twinhomes, 65 Townhomes, and 100 unit Senior Complex that is to be built by another developer, yet to be determined. Single family homes will consist of our popular Landmark Series as well as our new Classic Heartland Series homes. More information including plans, pricing, and virtual tours can be view by visiting Stonehaven's website at www.stonehavenmn.com. Don't forget to check out the gorgeous plans for the Amenity Center that will feature a beautiful swimming pool, patio, sundeck, and indoor spaces that can be used year round! (Even in cold Minnesota winters)

Grading and site work continues with grading being approximately 60-70%. We now have a sales trailer on site that we will be opening within the next few weeks. We're just waiting on utilities to be hooked up now! We look forward to having visitors at Stonehaven to share in the excitement.

I've included a few photos of Stonehaven to show the true beauty of this community and piece of property. If pictures are work a thousand words, seeing it in person must be priceless!

If you are interested in more information, please contact Lennar's Stonehaven team, Katie and Katie at 866-314-7519.

Photo below: Future homesite of our new Springdale model at Stonehaven. And yes folks!!! Those are gorgeous trees in the backyard! Gorgeous homesites available at Stonehaven.

Picture below: The future Springwood Path at Stonehaven. Look at all of those gorgeous trees on the left side of the photo. That is someone's view from their backyard!

Twin Cities led the way in May home price gain

(via Twincities.com)

Experts predict prices will fall, though By J.W. Elphinstone
Associated Press Updated: 07/27/2010 09:54:37 PM CDT

Home prices rose in May for the second straight month as federal tax incentives pulled more buyers into the market.

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index released Tuesday posted a 1.3 percent increase in May from April.

Nineteen of 20 cities showed price gains month over month. The Twin Cities and Atlanta led the way with 2.8 percent and 2 percent increases, respectively. San Diego posted its 13th straight monthly gain.

Only Las Vegas recorded a price decline, hitting a record low in May. Home prices there have lost 56.4 percent of their value since peaking in August 2006. And while Detroit recorded a 0.7 percent increase from April, the average there is about what it was in 1994.

Overall, the gains underscore the impact of the government's homebuying tax credits. Buyers rushed to purchase before the credits expired at the end of April. The index is an average of home sales in March, April and May.

May also is typically a strong month for selling homes. Most economists don't expect the price gains to last through the year and many predict home prices will fall through the rest of the year.

"I bet in six months 15 to 20 cities will have falling prices," said IHS Global Insight economist Patrick Newport. He predicts prices will fall another 6 percent to 8 percent before turning around next year.

Nationally, prices have risen 5.1 percent from their April 2009 bottom. But they remain 29 percent below their July 2006 peak.

More recent housing figures show a gloomier outlook, even though mortgage rates are at the lowest level in decades.

Sales of previously occupied homes fell 5.1 percent in June. New home sales jumped last month, but it was the second-weakest month on record and it came after sales tumbled in May.

A high number of foreclosures has forced home prices down in many areas, while 9.5 percent unemployment and tight credit have kept many from buying.

American sentiment eroded further in July, the Conference Board said Tuesday. Its Consumer Confidence Index slipped to 50.4 in July, down from the revised 54.3 in June. It was the second straight monthly decline.

A reading above 90 indicates an economy on solid footing.

"Until we see significant gains in employment, I just don't think you're going to see strong demand," said Glenn Kelman, chief executive of Redfin, an online real estate brokerage based in Seattle.

LENNAR'S PROPOSED STONEHAVEN COMMUNITY RECEIVES CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL IN EAGAN, MINNESOTA

Construction Set To Begin This Summer On Former Carriage Hills Golf Course Property

06.22.2010 - MINNEAPOLIS / SAINT PAUL, MN -The Minneapolis/St. Paul division of Lennar, one of the nation's leading homebuilders and the #1 homebuilder in the Twin Cities, is excited to announce its proposed Stonehaven community has received final approval by the Eagan City Council. The Stonehaven community will be developed on more than 100 acres of property that was previously occupied by the Carriage Hills Golf Course in Eagan, Minnesota. The homebuilder plans to start construction this summer.

Lennar's Stonehaven community is a multi-generational residential new home neighborhood that will offer a wide variety of quality homes for homeowners of all ages and income levels. Stonehaven will blend single-family homes, townhomes, twin homes and senior assisted living homes that will be surrounded by environmentally friendly neighborhood amenities.

"To their credit, Lennar has worked hard with neighbors to reduce housing density, plan walking trails and preserve relatively more open space," said Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire. "They have proposed what should be an attractive development in Eagan for both new and existing residents."

Stonehaven will consist of 363 homes that will appeal to first-time homebuyers, move-up homebuyers, homebuyers looking for maintenance free living and housing for seniors with a need for assisted living. Homes will range in size from 1,700 finished square feet to more than 3,300 finished square feet and will be priced from the $200s to the mid $500s. All of Lennar's homes will be built with its energy efficient PowerSmartSM included features such as more efficient windows, lighting, appliances, insulation and heating and cooling systems. Homebuyers will experience a noticeable difference in energy efficiency, durability, indoor environmental quality and water efficiency.

All of Lennar's homes at Stonehaven will also include an array of desired quality interior features and designer upgrades that are always included at no additional charge to the homebuyer.

Lennar will preserve the natural buffers around the perimeter of Stonehaven while maintaining the serenity the property currently offers. In addition, Lennar will provide enhanced outdoor living experiences by providing more than 35 acres of natural open spaces with a recreational trail system, extensive sidewalks, natural wetlands, woodland areas and ponds.

"We are thrilled to have the support of the Eagan City Council," said Bill Burgess, President of Lennar's Minneapolis/St. Paul division. "Lennar is excited and is looking forward to working with Eagan to bring a new neighborhood to their community."

Stonehaven is located just east of Interstate 35E along Yankee Doodle Road.

Construction on Phase One of Four Phases will start this summer and will consist of 49 single-family homes.

Two weeks ago, Lennar held a VIP Sneak Preview of the Stonehaven community by appointment only at the Eagan Community Center. Guests received a personal tour of the community plans, reviewed different floor plans, looked at interior and exterior package selections, learned more about the onsite amenities and community center and experienced a virtual tour of models to come.

"The sneak preview tour was a great success and all elements about the Stonehaven community were well received," said Burgess. "We anticipate taking deposits near the end of June and encourage anyone interested in reserving a homesite now to contact Lennar Minnesota right away."

For more information on Stonehaven or a complete list of Lennar communities throughout the Twin Cities area visit Lennar.com or call 866-314-7519.

Lennar is one of the nation's leading homebuilders with more than 55 years of experience building homes and communities all across the country with a variety of home product offerings available to meet any prospective homebuyers unique homeownership needs.

It's here! Stonehavenmn.com is up and running, and we're quite excited. More information will be coming very soon, with colored renderings of our beautiful amenity center, plat maps, trail maps, and more!

The two neighborhoods within the Stonehaven community are now on lennar.com.

The Highlands of Stonehaven

The Woodlands of Stonehaven

Check it out and let us know what you think!