While this beautiful multi dwelling condo located on acreage in Ham Lake, Minnesota is definitely for the birds, I have another lovely property listed in New Brighton that is a wonderful place for people to call home. Click below to see a virtual tour of a 2bedroom condo in Birch Pond at 20 Windsor Lane listed for $159,900. It features one garage space, two full baths, an in-unit laundry and a view of the pond.
Check out a virtual tour of this wonderful New Brighton Condo:http://marketing.remaxdesigncenter.com/90/88490/883150/index.ipv
If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet, Homebuyers Success Packet or sign up for Listingbook Twin Cities Home Search. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota..JPG)
Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!
Copyright 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
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Amazing! Giant vivid orange mushrooms growing in the wooded area of our Ham Lake backyard. They start out like the top photo and in a few days flatten out to look like the dinner-plate shape of the lower photo. Mushrooms like these could scare Alice right out of Wonderland!
If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet, Homebuyers Success Packet or sign up for Listingbook Twin Cities Home Search. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!
Copyright 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
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As a REALTOR® I have fun watching the HGTV's remodeling, staging and sell-your-house-now shows but not all the advice is going to make sense for every home and every market. Case in point, kitchen remodels. You'd think watching these shows that the only way a real estate agent can sell a house with a new kitchen is if it has been remodeled with granite and stainless steel appliances. It seems that every real estate agent that walks through a newly remodeled kitchen is either gushing about the "perfect" choice of granite or lamenting about how the new white appliances were the wrong choice.
Here's the problem...Each show has one agent in a particular town giving a personal opinion based on their knowledge of their market. Time after time I see these REALTOR's® crestfallen faces as they enter the kitchen as eager sellers show off their beautifully remodeled space where they have chosen...can you believe it...WHITE appliances! The agent will gush over the granite and maybe the tile backsplash or light fixtures then question the choice of appliances. "Why, oh why did you not choose stainless steel?" they often lament. "But you did make an excellent choice with the granite counters."
Now add in that some of these shows are reruns from a few years back and one has to ask the question, does it always make sense to always use granite and stainless in a kitchen remodel? My answer is no.
A few weeks ago, I showed late 1980's built four level split in Ham Lake just a few miles north of Blaine. The selling features included a couple of acres with mature trees, a polebarn garage, a just completed four season sunroom and remodeled kitchen. The kitchen had beautiful granite counters and island accented by high end stainless appliances. Unfortunately, it also had the original 1980's windows that had seen better days. The wood rot was evident and progressing to a point where the windows would require replacing throughout the original part of the home. Add to this the complete lack of window treatments in the new family room which meant there was zero privacy as the bank of floor to ceiling glass faced the street. If the homeowners had gone with good quality appliances and high end laminate counters instead, they could have diverted the thousands of dollars from the kitchen remodel to replace windows and purchase window treatments for the sunroom.
Here's another point....Even if the home was in pristine condition, it is doubtful that the sellers would ever see a positive return on their granite investment. In fact, in the Twin Cities the average homeowner will see a return of about 72% on their investment on a kitchen remodel...NOT 100%! If homeowners overpay for the materials used, that percentage will no doubt drop like a chunk of granite used in the remodel! If the homeowner intends to eventually sell, upgrades like granite might help the home to sell faster in a slow market, but dollar for dollar return in most cases would be lower than going with high quality laminate in an older north metro Twin Cities home. (For more information on return on remodeling investments see the Cost vs. Value Report 2008 for the Mpls/St Paul area.)
Now had the home been a bit newer and located just to the south in one of the Blaine neighborhoods near the Tournament Player's Club golf course where everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) has granite and stainless, you bet, that not having these features would be a big negative when the owners went to sell. But this was not the case in a mid-range 1980's Ham Lake neighborhood.
Here's the bottomline on remodeling your home...If you plan to move in the near future, make required repairs first and be certain your upgrades fit YOUR neighborhood. As a local REALTOR® who knows the Twin Cities North and East Metro, I am here to help!
Remodeling Articles that might be of Interest:
If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet, Homebuyers Success Packet or sign up for Listingbook Twin Cities Home Search. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!
Copyright 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
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Beautiful rainbows appear frequently across the acreage in Ham Lake, Minnesota.
If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet, Homebuyers Success Packet or sign up for Listingbook Twin Cities Home Search. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!
Copyright 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
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Are Minnesota lakeshore owners hoping the real estate market has turned a corner? Maybe.
I spotted an unusual trend this past July. Lakeshore homes, that traditionally list as soon as the the frozen lakeshore shows signs of spring, were being listed mid-summer and now into August. And they are not just the usual handful of sellers that just couldn't get ready in time for the spring market. There were several lake properties listed in Anoka County after July 1st this year. These are not "cancel and relist as new" homes...You know the ones that just give you the feeling of deja'vu because they get a new MLS number every 6-8 months. Over a dozen new lakeshore listings hit the market as bona fide new listings in the past six weeks.
Here are a few of Anoka County "priced-to-sell" Lakeshore Listings that just hit the market:
Need to learn more about the size, depth and water quality of Anoka County lakes? Check out these links to a few popular lakes in Anoka County. For other lakes in the Twin Cities, check the Minnesota DNR Lake Finder.
More Articles on Buying a Minnesota Lakeshore property that might be of interest:
If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet, Homebuyers Success Packet or sign up for Listingbook Twin Cities Home Search. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!
Copyright 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
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Dedication to customer service has made Teri Eckholm/REMAX Specialists the REALTOR® of choice for families in Blaine, Forest Lake, Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and Wyoming areas. Licensed in MN.
"Exceptional service is always in style."
Considering Lakeshore? Acreage? A Single Family Home? A Townhome or Condo? Need to downsize? Need more space? Just need a change?
As a real estate sales professional and a parent of two teenaged boys, I know how important a home is to your family. It is more than just a place to live, it is a place to create memories with the people that matter the most.
I grew up and lived most of my life in North St. Paul. As a North St. Paul resident, I know the ins and outs of the North St. Paul, Oakdale, Maplewood and White Bear Lake areas. Over a decade ago, our family moved north to the eastern edge Ham Lake in the Coon Lake/Carlos Avery area. We love living just outside of Forest Lake and Columbus Township.
Now, I work and sell homes from East St. Paul to East Bethel--Specializing in Anoka County and homes in the Centennial, Blaine and Forest Lake School Districts! My 20+ years of experience in sales and marketing allow me to provide my clients with the BEST service available.
I have sold homes throughout the Northeast Metro area. As a REALTOR®, Mpls/St.Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Monthly have selected my on multiple occassions to be included in their their annual listing of Super Agents. With my skills, experience and dedication, I am ready to assist your family in finding the perfect home to create your memories.
Areas Served:
Andover, Blaine, Chisago, Circle Pines, East Bethel, Forest Lake, Ham Lake, Hugo, Lexington, Lindstrom, Lino Lakes, Mahtomedi, Maplewood, New Brighton, North Oaks, North Branch, North St. Paul, Oakdale, Scandia, St. Anthony, St. Paul, Shoreview, White Bear Lake,Woodbury,Wyoming, and surrounding areas.
Homes Sold: 401 Village Parkway, Circle Pines, MN 55014; 29194 Scenic Dr, Chisago City, MN 55013; 801 126th St NE, Blaine, MN 55434; 8943 138th St Ct, Apple Valley, MN 55124; 6006 269th Ave NE, Stacy, MN, 55079;20685 Georgia Ave. N., Forest Lake, MN 55025; 22355 Elston Ave, Forest Lake, MN 55025;1988 North Robin LN, Centerville; 10125 Jewell St NE, Blaine, MN 55014; 2335 Cedar Ave., White Bear Lake; 1728 Leone Ave., St. Paul; 15065 E Vermillion Circle NE, Ham Lake;1517 128th Ave NE, Blaine; 20404 Everton Tr., Forest Lake; 6418 83rd Ct. N., Brooklyn Park; 5671 370th St., North Branch; 23661 Japura St,. Linwood; 8655A Quarry Ridge Ln., Woodbury; 5683 409th Ct., North Branch; 39064 4th Ave., North Branch; 116XX 20th St., St. Michael; 2706 Galtier St., Roseville; 669 Arlington Ave., St. Paul; 608 Wells St., St. Paul; 1834 9th St., White Bear Lake; 25797 Freeport Ave., Wyoming; 40560 Finley Rd., North Branch; 9145 Yancy St., Blaine; 1482 Albemarle St., St. Paul; 25797 Freeport Ave., Wyoming; 5499 264th St., Wyoming; 5900 Oxford St., Shoreview; 694 Mariner Way, Woodbury; 12800 Johnson St., Blaine; 24375 Moody Lane, Chisago City; 2501 Long Lake Rd., New Brighton; 1123 Pecks Woods, New Brighton; 13155 St. Croix Ave., Lindstrom; 38474 Coventry Dr., North Branch; 40113 Greenlawn Ave., North Branch; 9472 Flanders St., Blaine; 2119 Highland Pl., Columbia Heights; 23840 Lofton Ave., Chisago City; 2335 Cedar Ave., White Bear Lake; 6876 262nd St., Wyoming; 11224 Magnolia St., Coon Rapids; 2512 16th Ave E., North St. Paul; 26411 Freeport Ave., Wyoming; 2715 184th Ln., East Bethel; 3401 Croft Dr., St. Anthony; 4586 245th St., Forest Lake; 5950 264th St., Wyoming; 26405 Glen Oak Dr., Wyoming; 2830 Hillvale Tr. N., Oakdale; 874 Main St., Lino Lakes; 6723 Foley Rd., Finlayson; 10400 Holly St., Coon Rapids; 32865 Redwing Ave., Shafer
Teri had previously sold one of our homes and was our first choice when we were looking to find a new home.
Teri was able to help us navigate the current unstable real estate market and went out of her way to help us. She pointed out about pros and cons of neighborhoods where we found potential homes and was eager and willing to work with both of us. She was willing to work out of her normal territory and traveled to meet our needs
She kept us informed and worked diligently with a difficult REALTOR® to present and negotiate our offer ensuring all the paperwork was presented and in order.
Teri represented our interests throughout the negotiations and closing process. We have been through several real estate transactions this one turned out to be a very smooth, quick purchase we are thrilled with our new home. We I highly recommend Teri for your real estate needs.
Thank you Teri!
-Cheri and Denny L.
Teri made buying our 1st town home a breeze! When we moved out of state 6 months later, Teri handled all of the details of the sale to assist us in a smooth transaction. We truly appreciated her assistance!
- Carl and Maria W.
We just wanted to say again, Thanks! You worked so hard to sell our home and did a great job- despite the market. You were always very patient with us and our constant questions and "eagerness" to sell. It was such a relief to have the house SOLD! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! We will absolutely (and already have been) recommending you to all our friends and family! We were told by a discount broker the only way to sell our lake home was to lower the price below the appraised value. Teri's marketing plan and advertising brought in several potential buyers. We were able to sell our home at our price and couldn't have done it without her! Teri, We love our new house! You did a great job! Thank you for all your hard work.
Disclaimer This is a personal web site, reflecting the opinions of its author. It is not a production of my broker. Statements on this site do not represent the views or policies of anyone other than myself. The information on this site is provided for discussion purposes only, and are not recommendations for real estate purchases. Nothing in this website shall be construed as an offer to purchase a home, sell a home or take any action whatsoever. Due to the nature of this blog/website, typographical errors and unintentional misstatements of fact may occur. In no event shall the publisher of this website and any affiliates be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of this blog/website, whether based on contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise.
- Joe and Theresa B.
- Joe and Jamie C.
- The Hansons
Thank you so much for all your hard work and the effort you put into selling my house. The brochures you put out were excellent! I enjoyed working with you and hope to again in the future. Again, thanks for going the extra mile.
- Terri/White Pine Homes
Teri, After I decided to sell, selecting the right person to represent ALL MY interests was imperative. Your experience, knowledge and consistent communication helped guide me through this whole 1st time process. The expedient sale can only be attributed to your efforts and hard work. Thank you so much!
- Suzanne A.
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