Want to learn a little bit more about me and my business? How do I help buyers, sellers, first time home buyers, seniors? Take a look at my short video to find out more!  Feel free to share the video if you know someone that is looking for a Realtor!

Buyers, especially first time home buyers, seem to have a fear of making an offer on a home that they really like as they have this fear of buying the wrong house, maybe something better will come along.  Through the home search buyers learn that new properties matching their search criteria come on the market every day, so how can buyers be sure that they have chosen the best home out there for their needs?

For one thing, most buyers have looked at many homes before they actually write up a purchase agreement. Buyers have learned that often what looks like the perfect house online is everything but perfect when they see it in person.  Of the 13,000 or so homes currently on the market in the Twin Cities, you have chosen to look at a very small percentage of them that matched your search criteria and of those you have normally only chosen one to write a purchase agreement on. This alone should be a sign that homes that are right for you are few and far between.

What about missing out on a good deal? It is a fact that distressed homes are rapidly declining in the market and with the low home inventory, prices are on the rise for all homes.  Even if you find a great home at a great price you will most likely end up in a multiple offer situation and would your offer be good enough to win the bidding war?

Better homes will always come on the market, meaning that there is no end to the problem of a possibly better home being out there. You need to make sure that the home you are making the offer on is a home that fits your criteria for the most part and that you will be happy living in. A home in not a life sentence! You can always choose to sell and move down the road if the situation is right.

Last week I held a First Time Home Buyer Seminar at St. Catherine’s University and had a nice turnout. There is really a lot of good information out there that buyers need to know in today’s market!  Yesterday I held a Life Transition/Downsizing Seminar at Arbors at Ridges in Burnsville for people that are needing to either move into a smaller home or a 55+ community type setting. Despite the sleet and snow about 25 people attended and were able to learn a lot about the current market and how the process of selling a home works today.  If your organization or company has people that would  be interested in a real estate seminar please let me know. I can adjust my program from first time home buyers to move up buyers to downsizing. The market has changed so much it is really helpful for buyers and sellers to know what they are up against before they start the buying or selling process!

Starting in January, Dakota county is offering money for first time home buyers! For qualifying first time home buyers, Dakota has $30 million to spend on low interest mortgage financing and up to $10,ooo for down payments and closing cost assistance.  This money is available through the Dakota County Community Development Agency’s First Time Home Buyer Program.  They expect about 200 home buyers to take part in this program. If you are not a first time home buyer but you have not owned a home in the past 3 years you may also be eligible.  The program covers purchases of condos, townhomes and single family homes in Dakota county up to $276,683.  The income limits are $83,900 for 1 – 2 person households and $92,290 for households of 3 or more.  All buyers must complete a home buyer education course in order to be approved for this program.  For more information contact me or go to www.dakotacda.org/homebuyers.htm