You may have heard that the housing market has hit the bottom and is turning around. Inventories of homes under the $120K price point have fallen in the past year and sales have increased in that same catagory. So is it too late for first time home buyers to get a great deal on a new home? Some are saying the local real estate market has hit the bottom for the typical "starter" home and that we are now entering a new "Seller's" market, at least in that price range.

Is that really true? Or is it just the seasonal nature of the Minnesota real estate market combined with the first time home buyer tax credit and other govenment incentives that have caused the lower end of the housing market to pick up again? What will happen when the tax credit expires and the snow flies?

While some are heralding the arrival of this new Seller's market... I am a bit older and have seen many different economic cycles in the past. The one thing I know for sure is that it takes a while to come out of a recession. Oh sure, we may see some fluctuations both up and down for a while, but in my humble opinion, I believe we will see sales drop off with the temperatures this fall. And remember all of those people who were laid-off between last October and now? Well, their unemployment will be running out after 6 months, and then what will happen? Are we going to see another round of foreclosures?

According to HUD, the current local foreclosure rates for Minneapolis (5.9%), Saint Paul (6.7%), and Anoka County (5.1%) are all above the statewide average of 4.8%. The seasonally adjusted unemployment in Minnesota is now at 8.2% which is better than the national rate of 9.4%.

So, did you miss the boat? I say no, there is still time if you are thinking about Buying a home. Just don't wait too long because even the best stock brokers can't time their markets and usually when you wait till everyone says "go", it is too late. Remember the tax credit is set to expire on November 30th and you must CLOSE before then. The process of finding a buying a home can take a couple of months, so if you are sitting on the fence, get up and get going now before the snow flies.

For more information about my services, guarantees, or how I can help you
find your next home, sell your home, buy a business or investment property.
Just call Patti Ann Kasper today at 763-548-1418!

To view my interactive on-line real estate magazine with listings of homes for sale
in the Minneapolis Saint Paul Twin Cities Metro Area, select the banner below:


Touch the banner below to send this information to your friends or family!

Patti Ann Kasper, Your Minnesota, North Metro Minneapolis / Saint Paul Twin Cities, and Blaine MN Real Estate Expert! Associates of Science Degree in Geographic Information Systems and Cartography from Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
© Copyright Patti Ann Kasper 2009 All Right Reserved.

The Monthly Skinny for June 2009:

For more information about my services, guarantees, or how I can help you
find your next home, sell your home, buy a business or investment property.
Just call Patti Ann Kasper today at 763-548-1418!

To view my interactive on-line real estate magazine with listings of homes for sale
in the Minneapolis Saint Paul Twin Cities Metro Area, select the banner below:


Touch the banner below to send this information to your friends or family!

Patti Ann Kasper, Your Minnesota, North Metro Minneapolis / Saint Paul Twin Cities, and Blaine MN Real Estate Expert! Associates of Science Degree in Geographic Information Systems and Cartography from Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
© Copyright Patti Ann Kasper 2009 All Right Reserved.

Check out this great Community
Blaine Minnesota
Sports Town USA!

Welcome to Blaine Minnesota!

Overview of Blaine, Minnesota

A booming business and residential community, Blaine is one of the Twin Cities' largest and fastest growing communities. From 2002-2006 Blaine had 3,774 new housing units constructed in the city, the most in Minnesota. This north metro 34-square-mile city has become a viable business and residential area. Blaine is also the home of Minnesota's Olympic-class facility; the National Sports Center (NSC), an athletic facility designed for training, competition and accommodating a variety of activities and events. The NSC hosts the USA Cup, the world's second largest youth soccer tournament each July. Also the NSC has the Schwann's Super Rink, eight Olympic sized ice sheets under one roof. The NSC draws over 4 million people to Blaine each year. Blaine is home to the TPC of the Twin Cities, a private 18-hole professional golf course, designed and owned by the PGA. This course is home to the 3M Champion's Tour held each August.

Blaine History:

Until 1877 Blaine was considered to be part of the city of Anoka, Minnesota. Phillip Laddy, a native of Ireland, is recognized as the first settler in Blaine. He settled near the lake that now bears his name, Laddie Lake, in 1862. Laddy died shortly after his arrival and his survivors moved on to Minneapolis. He was followed by Englishman George Townsend, who lived for a short time in the area of Lever St. and 103rd Ave.

It was not until 1865 that Blaine's first permanent resident, Green Chambers, settled on the old Townsend claim. Chambers was a former slave who moved north from Barren County, Kentucky, following the Civil War. In 1870 George Wall, Joseph Gagner, and some others settled in the area and it began to grow.

In 1877 Blaine separated from Anoka and organized as a Township of its own. That year the first election was held and Moses Ripley was elected as the first Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Ripley, who had come to Minnesota from Maine, persuaded his fellow Board Members to name the new Township in honor of James G. Blaine, a senator and three-time presidential candidate from Maine. By the year 1880 Blaine's population had reached 128.

While many of the other communities in Anoka County experienced growth due to farming, Blaine's sandy soils and abundant wetlands discouraged would-be farmers and it remained a prime hunting area. Blaine's growth remained slow until after World War II when starter home developments began to spring up in the southern part of town.

Blaine's population went from 1,694 in 1950 to 20,640 in 1970. As the Minneapolis/St. Paul area began to enjoy rapid growth, Blaine's wide open spaces became attractive to many people looking for the suburban life style just a short distance from both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. Its population in 2005 is estimated to be 54,020.[1]

With the development of Interstate 35-W, State Hwy. 65, and U.S. Route 10, Blaine's accessibility to the twin cities was greatly increased. Because of this, Blaine has become a very attractive location for business and residential development. Blaine has attracted many new corporate residents, such as the Aveda Corporation, MagnetStreet and Dayton Rogers Manufacturing. Blaine is also home to the National Sports Center, an Olympic class training facility, as well as home to a TPC golf course.

Contact Info

Patti Ann Kasper
REALTOR®

Cell 763-498-2088
Dir 763-548-1418
Email | Website

UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU TO HAVE $8000

Hurry, limited time offer
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Get YOUR $8000 Before it's all gone!

• Maximum tax credit amount increased to $8000.
  
• No repayment if you stay in the home at least 3 years.
  
• Any single family primary residence qualifies (including town homes, condos, and co-ops).
  
• Fully refundable tax credit reduces or eliminates tax liability and any unused portion is refunded to the home buyer.
  
• Available to individuals with adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less.
  
• Available to couples filing a joint return with adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less.
  
• Home buyer (and/or spouse) may not have owned a principal residence in the past 3 years - are considered to be a first time home buyer.
  
• Home buyers who use revenue bond financing now qualify.
  
• If home is sold within three years, entire amount of credit is recaptured upon sale.
  
• For purchases between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009.

Call Patti Ann Kasper TODAY! 763-548-1418

Let's get you into a new or existing home, townhome, or condo before this fantastic offer from Uncle Sam expires! This is a great time to get into real estate - the local market is changing - buy now while the prices are still low. There are still plenty of great homes available in the North Minneapolis and Saint Paul Twin Cities Metro area. Whether you are looking to move to Blaine, Coon Rapids, Lino Lakes, Ham Lake, Big Lake, Monticello, Elk River, Isanti, or any of the other north metro suburbs and exurbs, I can help you locate a property that is right for you! Act now before all the good ones are gone!

CONSULT YOUR TAX PROFESSIONAL FOR DETAILED INFORMATION
ON EXACTLY HOW THIS TAX CREDIT AFFECTS YOUR PARTICULAR TAX SITUATION!

For more information about my services, guarantees, or how I can help you find your next home, sell your home, buy a business or investment property. Just call Patti Ann Kasper today at 763-548-1418!

To view my interactive on-line real estate magazine with listings, select the banner below:


Touch the banner below to send this information to your friends or family!

Patti Ann Kasper, Your Minnesota, North Metro Minneapolis / Saint Paul Twin Cities, and Blaine MN Real Estate Expert! Associates of Science Degree in Geographic Information Systems and Cartography from Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
© Copyright Patti Ann Kasper 2009 All Right Reserved.

President Obama to Announce new Help for Homeowners on Wednesday!*

Good news for homeowners - President Obama will announce a plan to help homeowners facing foreclosures in a speech on Wednesday in Arizona.  In the meantime, some lenders decided to temporarily halt foreclosures on a homeowner's primary residence.