Lynn Johnson, Owatonna, MN Real Estate

As with any house, regular home maintenance is one of the best investments you can make. Here's a list to get you started with your maintenance projects. It's a good idea to tackle these projects as soon as the weather permits.

• Check and clean your mechanical ventilation system
• Clean or replace your furnace filter
• Clean snow from your air intakes, exhausts and meters
• Check gutters and downspouts and clean as needed
• Inspect your basement for any seepage and leakage
• Maintain proper grades for drainage
• Be sure to check for settling after the spring thaw
• Check and repair any screen damage
• Inspect roof for damage and make repairs when necessary
• Adjust thermostat for season change, check humidity levels to prevent excessive moisture

Keep a record of your maintenance and repairs along with expenses for each. Consistent maintenance when the need arises is critical to retain the value in your home.

What's the buzz so far this year?

We're seeing a strong surge of first time real estate buyers and investors. Both of those markets have been active and there seems to be a good supply of homes that appeal to both. We've noticed their influence in the average price of the homes that are pending and sold so far this year.

The 34 homes sold in 2009 year to date within an average of 107 days at an average of 94% of the list price and an average of 88.8% of the original list price. There are 47 homes that are pending sale with an average list price of $125,334. The 173 active listings are priced at an average of $197,479 and have been on the market for an average of 177 days.

This information has been provided by the South East Minnesota Association of Realtors.

The stimulus plan will put money in the pockets of those first time home buyers and hopefully continue the momentum through 2009.

We have a plentiful supply of building lots available with a variety of options and neighborhoods available. We've seen a definite decrease in the number of building permits that have been issued and we're hopeful to see things turn around for the builders in our area.

If you're thinking of buying or selling you can put our Owatonna Real Estate Pros (Chad Hacker and Lynn Johnson) team to work for you. Reach at us Coldwell Banker Home Connection at 507-451-8080.

What's the Buzz in the Owatonna Real Estate Market?

We've seen some good showing activity lately, and we continue to be pleased with the values that are available for buyers right now. We like to focus on the many positive things that are happening in our area - things that help buyers understand the opportunities that are out there in our Owatonna housing market.

We still have some zero down programs open to buyers in our community. The interest rates are terrific and offer affordable options like no other time in recent history. We've seen a slight drop in available inventory but we expect that to increase as Spring approaches.

So far this year we've seen 20 residential sales in Owatonna as compared to 23 for the same time last year. The average sale price of homes is $161,175 which is up from the aggregate average sale price from 2008. It takes an average of 130 days to sell which is (so far) down from 136 days this time last year. We currently have 176 homes in the market and the average list price of those homes is $195,486 with an average time on market of 176 days.

What will 2009 bring? Let's hope that the stimulus plan, the (up to) $8000 tax credit, and continued low interest rates will help buyers feel comfortable taking the steps they need to become proud homeowners - and we'll be there to help them

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Owatonna is very fortunate to have been chosen as the site for the 54th campus in the Minnesota State College and University System. The Owatonna College and University Center houses Riverland College, Minnesota State - Mankato, Southwest State, Concordia University - St. Paul, Crown College and the University of St. Thomas. The Center is a national model of cooperative education, offering two-year, four-year and graduate programs in several disciplines. Employers can tap trained workers from the certificate and associate of arts technical trade programs. They also can access specialized training programs designed to meet their unique workforce development training needs.

I've become an adjunct instructor at Riverland College at the Albert Lea and Austin campuses. I teach a class entitled "Workplace Human Relations" and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the students. It's been a breath of fresh air and a bit of a change from my typical responsibilities as a real estate broker, and it's fun to seek out new challenges from time to time. It hasn't interefered with my ability to service my clients and take care of the day-to-day operations of three offices, but it does guarantee that I'll be busy.