New to market in Longacres!

Welcome to 7357 Bent Bow Trail in the demand neighborhood of Longacres. Rarely available, this stunning neighborhood offers beautiful winding streets, 3 private neighborhood parks and great events throughout the year.

From pillar to post this home has been completely remodeled with designer finishes and custom touches on every level.

The formal dining space offers large windows and a vaulted ceiling along with a custom granite topped serving buffet.

The three season porch offers a beautiful setting to relax in private.

The gourmet kitchen has been totally remodeled with a beautiful backsplash and new granite counters. The large center island offers a breakfast counter on enjoy a meal in the eat-in dining space.

The two-story Great Room features a stone-faced fireplace flanked by built-ins.

You will also find a main floor office in this home.

The second floor offers four bedrooms including the master suite with private bath and large walk-in closet.

The fully finished lower level is where you will find a second fireplace perfect for curling up with a good book, the family room offers custom built-in entertainment center. The spacious game room features a full service kitchenette. There is a large bedroom currently used as an exercise room and finished play room.

Nestled on a premier lot in this stunning neighborhood, this home enjoys the privacy offered by the mature trees that cover the property. The backyard is home to a spacious deck perfect for entertaining or relaxing, wander down to the custom fire pit and enjoy the professional landscaping.

Stunning New Listing in Wynnfield of Eden Prairie

Welcome to 8127 Spruce Trail in the demand neighborhood of Wynnfield. This stunning one owner home is sited on one of the best lots in the neighborhood. Backing to a tranquil pond, enjoy the beautiful view from this home.

Only occupied by one owner, this home has been meticulously maintained and lovingly updated. You will find custom touches throughout from the well appointed Gourmet Kitchen featuring new granite and stainless steel appliances to the main floor Office with its custom built-in cabinetry.

The main floor offers beautiful spaces for relaxing or entertaining. Enjoy a meal in the formal Dining Room or curl up with a good book in the Four Season Porch.

The Great Room features one of the two gas fireplaces in the home. The second floor is where you will find four bedrooms including the private Master Suite featuring a sitting room, 3 large walk-in closets and a private bath with Jacuzzi tub and His & Her vanities.

The fully finished lower level offers a 5th bedroom, Hobby Room and spacious Family Room & Billiards Room. Walk out to the covered patio and enjoy the privacy offered by the mature trees.

This home truly has no equal in Wynnfield.

To schedule a private showing, please contact us for a private showing at 952.470.2575 or visit StaffordFamilyRealtors.com for more information.

Good News from Freddie Mac

Freddie Mac Featured Perspective

July 21st, 2010

The Housing Market You've Been Saving ForJuly 19, 2010 – Like a rare astronomical event, America is experiencing a conjunction between very affordable home prices and historically low mortgage rates that hasn't been seen for at least 50 years. Since nobody knows how long this will last, today's market is a rare buying opportunity for working families with stable incomes and good credit.

There are even some hints the present combination of historically low rates and more reasonably priced homes are beginning to slip away in some markets. For example, the National Association of Realtors' housing affordability index, while still high, has dropped nearly six percentage points in the past few quarters as existing home prices in many areas have reversed course and begun to rise again.

So why aren't more families in the homebuying market? While job worries may have some potential buyers holding back, others are sitting on the sidelines because they are unsure about the new rules of the road for getting a conventional conforming mortgage. They are actually straightforward and not so difficult for families who have:
· A stable income;
· A good credit history
· A common-sense down payment. Generally, about five percent of the purchase price for a conventional, conforming mortgage. (Fortunately, there are down payment assistance programs for qualified borrowers.) Documentation – responsible lenders today will want documentation verifying your income (like W-2 forms, tax returns), employment, credit history, and assets – such as bank statements -- to verify savings.
· Under the new rules of the road, the lender must also obtain an impartial third-party appraisal that complies with tough new rules to verify that the value of the house you want will support the mortgage you need to finance it.

Anyone still unsure about the new rules should ask a reputable lender to pre-qualify them for a mortgage. Think of a pre-qualification letter almost like a driver's permit for the new rules of the homebuying road. A mortgage pre-qualification letter can:
· Confirm you can qualify for a mortgage
· Tell you how much you can expect to borrow;
· Make you a stronger home shopper since sellers won't have to worry about whether you can qualify for a mortgage.

During the pre-qualification process the lender will review your credit, financial, and employment information. There may be an application fee. Athough mortgage pre-qualifications are usually only good for a limited time they are still worth getting. The reason: even though you will need to apply for a mortgage once you find a house to buy, your pre-qualification letter helps clear the way by telling home sellers you're road-tested for the most affordable mortgage market in 50 years.