What’s Happening this Weekend?

If you are wondering what to do to finish your July or start your August check out the fun happenings below:

Come support a local baseball team this Saturday. The Chanhassen Red Birds are playing the Burnsville Bobcats and its Fan Appreciation Night.

Image by Sean Winters via Flickr

Where: Red Bird Stadium - 2200 Lyman Blvd. Chanhassen, MN 55317

When: July 30th 6pm – 8:30pm

Price: $4 for Adults, $2 for children/seniors, and Free for anyone 10 and under

For More Information: http://chanhassenredbirds.teams.mnbaseball.org/Schedule

You could also come support the local wineries. Waconia is having a Wine Festival. You can tour and sample wine from all 3 wineries in Waconia. Each winery has its own outdoor activities and food. The wineries participating are Sovereign Estate, Parley Lakes and Schram Vineyard.

Image by Wojtek Szkutnik via Flickr

Where: Parley Lake Winery, Schram Vineyards Winery & Brewery, and Sovereign Estate Winery in Waconia

When: July 30- 31 noon – 6pm

Price: $25 – covers tastings at all three wineries

For more Information:  http://waconiawinecountry.com/

Image by Dennis Hamilton via Flickr

Next Tuesday (August 2^nd) is national night out. Tons of neighborhoods are having local gatherings many with a visit from a fire truck.  It’s a great opportunity for a fun block party and to get to know your neighbors.

Have fun this weekend and enjoy your neighborhood.  

When is it time to update my bathroom?

If you are looking to sell your home there a couple of things that will make any bathroom less appealing to buyers: carpet in the bathroom, a toilet that isn’t white or dinged up linoleum flooring. Here are some design trends that will turn your bathroom into something that you can be proud to show.

 New tile – Hexagon tile can add a fun spin on boring bathroom floors.  You can also tile the shower a bold color and carry the color through the bathroom

Image by Jerry Daykin via Flickr

 Paint the walls a new color – Take down any peel and stick wallpaper and paint the bathroom a new color. New color can completely change a space.

Image by Beatrice Murch via Flickr

Update the bathtub or sink – One of the big trends this year is incorporating wood into your bathroom design. A fun way to do this is to have a wooden bathtub or sink. 

Image by livehome via Flickr

Image by jmv via Flickr

Weekly Marketing Activity Report For Week Ending July 16, 2016

Tight credit seemed to be a factor in keeping new home construction down during
the first half of 2016, but the situation is improving. June housing starts were up
4.8% from the month prior, as building recovers slowly from the housing bust.
This is news we’re happy to report, especially when taking the continuing concern
of high demand and low inventory into consideration.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 16:
• New Listings increased 8.0% to 1,896
• Pending Sales increased 10.6% to 1,332
• Inventory decreased 18.4% to 14,376

For the month of June:
• Median Sales Price increased 5.3% to $242,000
• Days on Market decreased 15.2% to 56
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.9% to 98.6%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 23.7% to 2.9

Publish Date: July 25, 2016 • All comparisons are to 2015

What's Happening this Weekend?

Happy Friday!

It’s going to be a hot weekend. Here are some fun activities around town to enjoy this weekend.

Image by Dave O via Flickr

If you are close to Chaska check out the Fire and Ice Bonspiel. It’s a curling tournament at Fireman’s Park. There will be a whole lot more than just the tournament though. They have a bunch of family activities planned, live music and food from Cooked Pint Ale House.

When: July 22^nd – July 24^th

Where: Firemen's Park at the Chaska Curling and Event Center - 3210 Chaska Blvd. Chaska, MN 55318

Click here for the full listing of events so you don’t miss any of the fun: http://www.fireandicebonspiel.com/events/

Image by James DiBianco via Flickr

US Bank Stadium is finally done! They are hosting an open house starting tomorrow at 9 am. You have to have a ticket for a timed tour but they are free. They will also have outdoor events including a giant-sized Jenga and Connect Four. Come see where you can cheer on the Vikings this Fall.

When: July 23rd 9:00 AM – July 24th 5:00 PM

Where: US Bank Stadium

Price: Free

More information: http://www.usbankstadium.com/event/u-s-bank-stadium-open-house/

Image by David McSpadden via Flickr

If you missed the ribs last weekend or just want some more there are two different Ribfests going on this weekend. Out in Watertown B’s on the River is hosting Ribfest 2016! If you haven’t been to B’s it’s a wonderful restaurant and golf course. Bob 106.1 will be onsite giving away prizes. There will be a bean bag tournament and there will be free events for kids including multiple jumping castles and a golf putting game.

When: July 23^rd gates open at 1pm

Where: B’s on the River - 1455 County Road 27, Watertown, MN

Price: $10 general admission $15 for all you can eat BBQ rib and chicken buffet.

More information: https://www.bontheriver.com/rib-fest

The second Ribfest is at Mystic Lake Casino in Shakopee. More information can be found here: http://www.mysticlake.com/en/promos-and-entertainment/midwestribfest/

Have a great weekend!

It’s Mid-July. Is it too Late for a Garden?

The answer is no, it's not too late. You can still have a beautiful and productive vegetable garden even if you haven’t started planting it yet. You just have to shift what you are planting. There are plenty of green things that will prosper this summer/fall or even next year if you want to plan ahead.

Herbs like basil and cilantro can grow outside until we get frost.

Image by arifm via Flickr

Hardy vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, radishes and kohlrabi will survive a light frost and need about 60 days to mature.

Image by Ted Major via Flickr

If you like salad and want to grow your own greens now is the perfect time to plant cabbage, leaf lettuce, mustard greens, collard greens and swiss chard.

Image by F Delventhal via Flickr

You can also plant garlic right now. It’ll survive through the winter and grow next year.

Image by danny O. via Flickr

Here is some garden inspiration:

Image by Jennifer C. via Flickr

Image by Kelly Sue DeConnick via Flickr

If you’d like more information on Minnesota planting check out the University of Minnesota Garden link: http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/vegetables/

Weekly Market Activity Report For Week Ending July 9, 2016

Sales have been brisk this summer, as the largest living generation in the U.S., the
Millennials, enters the housing market in droves. Student loan debt is still a
hindrance for many, but that has often been offset by continued low rates allowing
for lower monthly mortgage payments. With rents on the rise, conditions for further
sales are good, although, traditionally, the second half of summer is not as active as
the first half.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 9:
 • New Listings decreased 23.2% to 1,649
 • Pending Sales decreased 20.4% to 1,033
 • Inventory decreased 18.5% to 14,104

For the month of June:
 • Median Sales Price increased 5.3% to $242,000
 • Days on Market decreased 16.7% to 55
 • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.0% to 98.7%
 • Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 23.7% to 2.9

Publish Date: July 18, 2016 • All comparisons are to 2015

What's Happening around this Weekend!

Happy Friday!

Excelsior Firefighter's Dance

There are several really cool events happening this weekend. The fun starts tonight with the 2016 Firefighter dance. The music starts at 5pm and runs until midnight. There will be kid’s entertainment including an obstacle course. There will also be a huge silent auction and a raffle. Come enjoy some food, fun and music!

Image by Brandon Giesbrecht via Flickr

When: Friday, July 15^th 5pm - Midnight

Where: Station #1 24100 Smithtown Rd, Shorewood, MN 55331

Price: Free entertainment!

For More Information: http://www.excelsiorfire.org/index.php/events/2016-firefighters-dance 

Waconia Ribfest

Once you’ve danced the night away on Friday night come eat the day away on Saturday. It’s the 13^th annual Ribfest in Waconia, Saturday from 10am-4pm. Contestants will be grilling delicious food. There will also be live music, fun activities for kids and any beer sales are by Mack’s Miracles Relay for Life Team fundraiser.

Image by Aaron Poffenberger via Flickr

When: Saturday, July 16th

Where: Mackenthun's Fine Foods - 851 Marketplace Drive, Waconia, MN 55387

Price: Free entertainment!

For More Information: https://www.mackenthuns.com/events.html

Lake Minnetonka Cruise

If you are looking for more fun after an awesome weekend check out the Lake Minnetonka Margarita Cruise. It’s a Mexican fiesta on Tuesday night with margaritas and a fajita bar. If a margarita cruise isn’t your scene consider checking out other cruises that Bayview runs.

Image by Jake Mohan via Flickr

When: Tuesday, July 19^th 6:45pm – 9pm

Where: The Port of Excelsior located at 2 Water Street, Excelsior MN 55331

Price: Tickets Start at $36

For More Information and to signup: http://www.bayvieweventshop.com/products/898-lake-minnetonka-margarita-dinner-cruise.aspx

For a list of other cruises they have: http://www.bayvieweventshop.com/ClassSchedules.aspx

Design Trend: Highly Personalized Kitchens

Kitchens are made to bring families together. Something that is cropping up this year is a highly personalized kitchen. If you plan on staying in your house for years consider modifying the kitchen just for you and your family. Below are just a couple of examples of ways others are personalizing their kitchen.

Try a wood backsplash for your kitchen sink.

Image by williamskitchenbath via Flickr

Pet bowls can be tripping hazards or just unsightly. Instead of the setup below consider building them into the base of your kitchen island. This will help keep them out of peoples way and hidden a little bit.

Image by Sarah_Ackerman via Flickr

Speaking of kitchen islands try a fun color. Adding a different color can quickly give you kitchen a different feel. If color isn’t what you are looking for take a leap on an all-white kitchen. Take is a step further than the photo below with beautiful white countertops.

Image by Chalon Handmade via Flickr

Image by Sharon Hahn Darlin via Flickr

Add a bit of opulence in your kitchen lighting or add some character with some more modern lighting.

Image by Aurimas via Flickr

Image by C_osett via Flickr

Making your kitchen personalized can turn a house into a home or give you a new reason to love where you live. Whatever you decide to do in your space make it yours. 

Weekly Market Activity Report For Week Ending July 2, 2016

The United Kingdom vote for exit from the European Union (Brexit) has likely
already had at least one short-term effect on the U.S. housing market. The decision
to not raise interest rates until later this year was likely made because of Brexit, so
unrest in financial markets can be watched further with hopes of stabilization. Longterm
effects may include more or less foreign investment in U.S. residential real
estate, but wholesale price declines are not expected any time soon.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 2:
 • New Listings increased 24.2% to 1,589
 • Pending Sales increased 12.9% to 1,351
 • Inventory decreased 17.7% to 14,480

For the month of June:
 • Median Sales Price increased 5.3% to $242,000
 • Days on Market decreased 16.7% to 55
 • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.0% to 98.7%
 • Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 23.7% to 2.9

Publish Date: July 11, 2016 • All comparisons are to 2015

Things to do this Weekend and Coming Up!

Happy Friday! There is a lot happening around town this weekend. Check out some of the fun events below:

Cities 97 Basilica Block Party

This is a two night music concert featuring Cities 97 artists. Proceeds benefit The Basilica Landmark and the St. Vincent de Paul outreach program. Artists this year include: Matt Hires, The American Authors, Phillip Phillips and The Fray.

Where: Basilica of Saint Mary, MInneapolis

When: Friday, July 8^th and Saturday, July 9^th.

Price: Tickets start at $60 for one night and are $110 for both nights

More Information: http://basilicablockparty.org/

ArtStock

Enjoy live music, arts and nature in an open air gallery at the Parley Lake Winery. You can purchase art from a variety of local artists. While you are there you can tour the winery and the vineyards, enjoy locally produced wines.

Where:  Parley Lake Winery in Waconia

When: July 9 Noon-7pm and July 10 Noon-5pm

Price: Free

More Information: http://artsofcarvercounty.org/art-stock-2016/

Penny Carnival

Chanhassen is having a small event for kids this coming Tuesday. Games are 1-5 cents and include the Wonder Wheel, Bumper Car, Ring Toss, Duck Pond, and many more! There will be prizes, face painting, and a bounce house.

Where:  Chanhassen Recreation Center

When: July 12^th 2-4pm

Price: 1-5 pennies

More Information: http://www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us/index.aspx?nid=775

Hopkins Raspberry Festival

Not this weekend but coming up is the Hopkins Raspberry Festival. It starts Monday with the search for the Golden Raspberry. The Hopkins Raspberry Festival has been happening in July since 1934 as a way to celebrate and help the community. It has its own royalty, a Grande Day Parade, a family day and a search for the Golden Raspberry. It’s a week of family friendly events.

Where: Hopkins

When: Starts July 11th

Price: Most events are free

More Information: http://www.raspberrycapital.com/events-2/

Image by Luke Jones via Flickr

Brighten Up your Backyard BBQ!

Image by Jun Seita via Flickr

Summer is a great time to BBQ and enjoy the weather. Revamping your backyard can create a whole new entertaining space for summer gatherings and BBQs. Here are some quick tips to make the most of your space:

Create a little privacy:

Image by Karl Schneider via Flickr

A private backyard makes for a nice party and happy neighbors. If you don’t want to put up a fence try adding a DIY trellis on one side with some green climbing vines or planting some trees. You can also add flowers around a porch to create a mini area. It helps provide intimacy and comfort to outdoor parties.

Give your lawn a little love:

Image by Kevin Doncaster via Flickr

Take a walk around your backyard before any outdoor gathering. It’s a good idea to mow and check for possible tripping hazards. If it’s a big gathering and you have time consider putting down sod in places where your lawn is yellow or dried off.

Deck out your Deck:

Image by Wicker Paradise via Flickr

Add some cool furniture to your deck. New furniture can instantly change the feel of any space. If you are on a tight budget consider spray painting existing furniture a new color or adding slip covers made with outdoor fabric. You could also add an outdoor rug. This frames the space and gives it a put together feel.

Add some lights:

Image by TedsBlog via Flickr

If your party is going to be in the evening consider adding some festive lights. One fun way to do this is to place sting lights under an umbrella. While you don’t need shade in the evening it’s a simple way to add an enjoyable gathering area. You can also add citronella candles or torches along the parameter of your party. This will add light, create a nice border and has the benefit of helping control any insects.

For some awesome recipes to make in your new space check out Food Networks Healthy Summer Recipes: http://www.foodnetwork.com/grilling/healthy/fresh-healthy-summer-recipes.html

Weekly Market Activity Report For Week Ending June 25, 2016

As we know, declining inventory has been the central focus of real estate news
throughout the first half of the year. The lack of options of homes for sale seems to
be keeping many from selling and instead, staying and renovating. This, in turn,
leads to a lack of starter homes for first-time buyers. Sales are still climbing ever
upward, and low mortgage rates continue to aid affordability.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending June 25:
 • New Listings increased 2.2% to 1,907
 • Pending Sales decreased 6.0% to 1,336
 • Inventory decreased 19.0% to 14,294

For the month of May:
 • Median Sales Price increased 5.8% to $236,900
 • Days on Market decreased 21.1% to 60
 • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.1% to 98.6%
 • Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 26.3% to 2.8

Publish Date: July 5, 2016 • All comparisons are to 2015