Home Fads That Are Falling Out of Style

In this ever changing world, Fads come and go. The Eighties are trying to make a come-back in personaal fashion, bigger is not always better and Feng Shui has fallen out of alinement. It is hard to keep up with all the changes. Below is a list of the top 6 Fads that have fallen from grace with the Real Estate world.

This list was published on REALTOR, a magazine for Real Estate Professionals. The tips have been compiled by Melissa Dittmann Tracey.

1. Fireplaces: The fireplace skyrocketed in importance in homes in 1991 with 62 percent of new homes having one or more. But the number has steadily been decreasing ever since. In 2007, the number dropped to 51 percent.

2. Carpet: While 54 percent of homes still have carpet floors, the number is decreasing and hardwood floors are taking the place. Vinyl and ceramic tile flooring also are being bypassed more by buyers. Seventeen percent of new homes contain hardwood floors throughout the entire house.

3. Living room: These once-decorative centerpieces of homes are slowly vanishing from newer homes. Thirty-four percent of consumers say they’re willing to buy a home without a living room.

4. Desks in the kitchen: These desks were once looked at as great storage areas but they’re often too small and quickly become clutter spaces in a home, said Gayle Butler, editor in chief of Better Homes and Gardens. Instead, more consumers say they prefer larger desks in or near the family room—equipped with a messaging center—where they can keep an eye on their kids as they work on the computer.

5. Skylights: The little windows that allow natural light to seep into a home from above are falling out of style. Only 10 percent of new homes will include them this year, a continuing downward spiral for skylights.

6. Upscale kitchen finishes: Granite countertops are slowly becoming less desirable among buyers who are now moving toward affordable, low-maintenance laminate countertops—which tend to last longer and now come in various styles.

Weekly Market Update

With temperatures remaining stubbornly arctic, there is a very real possibility that we'll stay below freezing for the entirety of January. After a steady rise for the first two weeks of 2009, the Twin Cities housing market is reflecting the cold, with new listings down by 18 percent when comparing the week ending January 17 to the same week last year. If new listings continue to taper off, the market's supply balance can handle it, as we are still tilted generously in favor of the buyer.

For the same time period comparison, pending sales are up 13.2 percent over last year, and January 2009 has steadily outperformed January 2008. Total active listings trail last year, down by at least 10.5 percent. An ideal situation would be for listings overall to hold steady and for pending sales to keep rising...hopefully bringing temperatures up as well."And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our house, in the deep bosom of the ocean buried." – WS, R3

Information compiled and published by Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS

You Can’t Stand in the Way of Progress

60-ton house moves across ice on White Bear Lake

Manitou Island, White Bear Lake's tony private island neighborhood, will be short one house this morning.

The house that sheltered generations of caretakers on the island is moving — but only a few blocks away.

Still, for homeowner Doug Kraemer and house mover Terry Semple, who together have picked up and transported a dozen homes in White Bear Lake, this move will be different. They will be wheeling the century-old home across lake ice to make room for potential development on Manitou.

"Honestly, in this economy we're up for anything," said Semple, only half joking. Actually, the lake route is the only one possible.

The bridge that connects the island with the mainland is too narrow and wimpy to support the 60-ton house, Semple said. And with White Bear Lake water levels down 6 feet — meaning the 100-yard-wide channel between the island and Matoska Park is frozen solid in parts — a ride across the ice became plausible.

But that doesn't mean the move is easy. Semple has been trying to thicken the ice in areas by pumping water onto the surface of the lake, and he thinks he has a couple of feet of frozen stuff where he needs it.

The weight of the home will be spread among 64 tires as the house inches over the lake, winched from the far shore.

"It's far more common to tear down a house, sat's one of the neat things about this story — they are saving it," said Sara Hanson, the group's executive director.

The move will allow the Manitou Island Homeowners Association to divide the caretaker's lot into two lots for future building.

The house ultimately will sit on a lot on Sixth Street, just off the corner from Johnson Avenue. But it will have to wait at the back of the lot until spring, when Kraemer can dig a basement and put up a foundation.

This story appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press and was written by John Brewer. To read the full article, click the link below:

http://www.twincities.com/ci_11569047

Super Bowl

In honor of Super Bowl XLIII, Stafford Family Realtors will not be hosting open houses the weekend of February 1st.

!Go Cardinals!

Open Houses for January 25

Come stop by for a visit this Sunday at one of our Open Houses:

We have recently recieved a $500,000 price reduction on our two lake properties.

6557 Bartlett Blvd. in Mound will be hosted open by Eric from 2-4 in the afternoon. Stop in and check out this well appointed, luxury lake home on the shores of Minnetonka. This home has it all from an indoor elevator, gourmet kitchen, tram to lake and a Nanny's Suite. If you like this one, ask Eric about 6553 Bartlett Blvd.

We will also host our 7269 Bent Bow Trail in Chanhassen open from 12-2. This home has also seen a $35,000 price reduction, making it the Best Value in Chanhassen. Only Relocation brings this home in demand Longacres on the market.

Just minuets away from downtown, shopping and fabulous parks is 1340 Alpine Pass in demand Tyrol Hill of Golden Valley. This home is the perfect alternative to condo style living. Sited on a double lot with many mature trees, you can enjoy downtown style with pond views. Open from 2-4.

Please visit our website at StaffordFamilyRealtors.com for more informaion!

Weekly Market Activity Report

There's much "change" in the air around the world today. And there is also change happening on the streets of the Twin Cities metro area, as the number of new listings appearing in our Weekly Market Activity Report takes its ascendant year-opening uptick. Despite the increase, new listings for the week ending January 10 have not quite matched the numbers seen at this time period last year (down 7.6 percent), and pending sales are riding a healthy clip above where they were last year (up 19.4 percent) as more homeowners pour back into the market after the year-end transition.

As a summation of how most of 2008 went, total active listings for the year finished down 10 percent from the year before. Time will tell if the flurry of optimism associated with today's presidential inauguration will work its way into the economy, the housing market and, specifically, the Twin Cities housing arena. Hope meets anxiety at the crossroads of 2009.

This information is compiled and published by the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS.

Two Great Price Reductions!

We are excited to announce that we have received a HUGE price reduction on two of our Lake Minnetonka listings.

6557 Bartlett Boulevard, Mound

6553 Bartlett Boulevard, Mound

Both properties have been reduced $500,000, we are now at $1,500,000. Both of these Gorgeous Custom built homes overlook Halstead’s Bay on Lake Minnetonka.

We will be hosting 6557 Bartlett Boulevard open this Sunday, January 25th.

For more information on these and all our other listings, please visit StaffordFamilyRealtors.com.

Weekly Market Activity Report from MAAR

The New Year rang in with the normal post-holiday increase in new listings, but listings are still down from the same week last year. Pending sales for the week ending January 3 showed a strong increase during the year-end transition, rising nearly 40 percent compared to last year. Over the last three months of the year, pending sales were 18 percent higher than last year. Local housing inventory has reached its annual low point but looks to rebound in the opening months of 2009.

This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated figures from several important metrics:

In December, Days on Market Until Sale dropped 6.3 percent compared to last year. The market appears to have reached a plateau in the amount of time needed to sell a house, and this welcome decline certainly could continue into the next year.

Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale closed at 90.0 in December, 1.3 percent lower than last year.

The new Housing Affordability Index (HAI) for January is extremely positive. Last month we stated that the HAI of 180 was the highest we had ever recorded. Now it's even higher, jumping an additional 12 points to 192. The rise reflects the help that interest rates and softer prices have given to the market. (Note: The decline in prices is driven by the significant amount of lender-mediated home sales and its benefit is not equal to all buyers.)

This information is published by the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS.

News and Tidbits for January 13th

Eric and Sharla recently returned from their Disney Adventure with the Girls, the holidays are over and we are looking forward to the New Year with nothing but Optimism.

We already have buyers lined up for the beginning of the year which will be keeping us busy. We are excited to announce the newest REALTOR to our team. Jane Field has worked with us over the past year as our Client Services Manager, while she will continue on with that job title; she is also adding REALTOR to the many hats she already wears.

Receiving her license in early December, Jane has already sold her first house. A sure sign of what is to come!

Moving forward, we are eager to see what the future holds and are thankful for all our Clients and Friends and are looking forward to helping you and your family with all your Real Estate needs. Please call us with any questions or if there is any way we can assist you.

www.StaffordFamilyRealtors.com

Trees For Toys 2008

We would like to take a moment to thank all of our friends and clients who made our 2008 Trees for Toys event so successful. Every year we give trees and wreaths to our clients and friends when they bring an unwrapped toy to donate to our drive for the Toys for Tots campaign. Together, our office collected over 600 toys!

We would like to thank you for your generosity, support and friendship and for making 2008 such a great year.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a happy 2009!

Another Large Price Reduction!!!

We received another large price reduction on our listing on 7269 Bent Bow Trail in the Demand Longacres neighborhood of Chanhassen. This great family home has been freshly painted from top to bottom and features a Two Story Great room with a wall of windows; granite counter tops and a fully finished lower level walk out. We are now offering this home for $4854,000. Check it our on our Website, www.staffordfamilyrealtors.com or call us today!

We have two Great Opportunities for you to come and see this weekend!

We are holding two great properties open this Sunday, December 7th, 2008, both of which are rare opportunities.

7269 Bent Bow Trail, Chanhassen: Only available due to a corporate relocation, this Two Story, Walk Out is located in demand Longacres. Recently reduced by $30,000 and freshly painted from top to bottom, amenities include granite counter tops, a 2-Story Great Room and a fully finished Lower Level. This is your Chance! Open 2-4

1340 Alpine Pass, Golden Valley: Sited on a heavily wooded, private double lot in Tyrol Hills, this updated home has been updated with many high end amenities including stainless steel appliances and a new bathroom. This home is the perfect alternative to a condo. Open 12-2

For more information on these properties or our other listings, please visit www.StaffordFamilyRealtors.com.

Home Rehabs can put Money back in a Seller’s Pocket

Even in these rough economic times, investing in your home still pays off. According to REALTOR® Magazine, despite home price drops in many cities, remodeling projects are holding their own as a way for owners to add value.

Remodeling magazine's annual report, 2008-2009 Cost vs. Value Report, shows that maintenance-related projects and moderately priced upgrades are providing stable paybacks, even in a slower market.

Responding to a survey in the summer of 2008, REALTORS® said that home owners could expect to recoup a national average of 67.3 percent of their investment in 30 different home improvement projects.

Top 10 Project Paybacks

Exterior remodeling projects lead the way for recovery on dollars spent in this year’s Cost vs. Value survey. When compared against the national averages, replacement projects that boost curb appeal (i.e. siding, windows, and decks) give you the greatest chance of recouping your money. Inside, only kitchen remodels can compare, at least on a national level.

1. Upscale fiber cement siding (86.7% return)
2. Midrange wood deck (81.8% return)
3. Midrange vinyl siding (80.7% return)
4. Upscale foam-backed vinyl (80.4% return)
5. Midrange minor kitchen remodel (79.5% return)
6. Upscale vinyl window replacement (79.2% return)
7. Midrange wood window replacement (77.7% return)
8. Midrange vinyl window replacement (77.2% return)
9. Upscale wood window replacement (76.5% return)
10. Midrange major kitchen remodel (76.0% return)

Despite declines in overall remodeling dollars spent and a still shaky housing market, "people’s homes are still one of their best, most solid investments," said Paul Zuch, president of Capital Improvements, a designing, building, and remodeling company in Dallas. "Even though the markets have gone through some adjustments, it’s still smart to invest in your home."

… excerpts from REALTOR® Magazine article by G.M. Filisko / December 2008

Opportunity Knocks!

Here is your chance to get into the demand neighborhood of Longacres!

We are pleased to announce that we have reduced the price on 7269 Bent Bow Trail in Chanhassen. We are now offering this wonderful, single family home in a demand neighborhood for $499,900.

That is a $30,000 price reduction! This home has been freshly painted from top to bottom and includes features such as; Granite Counter Tops, a Two Story Great Room with a wall of windows, and a fully finished Lower Level Walk-Out.

Just minuets from both downtown Excelsior and Chanhassen, this is your perfect place to call home.

Open Houses for November 16th

We are excited to announce our open house schedule for the weekend of November 16th. We are hosting two great properties open from 2 – 4 PM.

2280 South Parkway, Victoria

This 4 Bedroom / 4 Bathroom custom built executive home located in the tranquil countryside of Victoria is bounded by the quiet waters of two lakes & wetlands and is just moments from Deer Run Gold Course. Only Available due to relocation in the demand neighborhood of Watermark. Come and check out this wonderful property!


7269 Bent Bow Trail, Chanhassen

Sited on a corner lot in demand Longacres of Chanhassen, this single family home has been freshly painted from top to bottom. Amenities include a 2-Story Great Room, Granite Counter tops, and a fully finished Lower Level Walk-out. This is the perfect place to call Home.

Enduring Home Design Trends

Katherine Salant, nationally syndicated columnist and author of The Brand-New House Book,says houses designed with both a master and second bedroom on the first floor have become the most popular because they appeal to all age groups.

Young couples use the second bedroom as a nursery. Middle-age couples use it to keep aging parents close by, and older couples like the design because their differing sleep patterns make sharing a bedroom difficult, Salant says.

Here are other trends Salant points to:

• The newest variation on the home office is a completely separate office space, connected to the house by a hallway or a breezeway.
  
• Kitchens are getting smaller, but they are connected to much larger dining areas, often with a center island where family members can sit while they have an informal meal.
  
• Oversized family rooms with high ceilings are giving way to smaller, cozier rooms with lower ceilings.
  
• Home theaters have lost much appeal because people don't want to watch television in a separate area of the home. TV viewing is a more informal activity that people engage in while they're doing other things like cooking or getting ready for work.
  

Source: The Washington Post, Katherine Salant (10/18/2008)

Cities Where Your Dollar Goes Furthest

Money goes further some places in the United States than it does in others.

Housing, in particular, has remained most affordable in the South and the Midwest. That’s because of less stringent building, an abundance of land and growing populations in the South, says Daniel McCue, a research analyst at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

To determine the cities that offer the best quality of life for the least amount of money, Forbes magazine calculated the ratios between a city’s median home price and its median household income. It also factored in projected job growth. And it compared median income to Moody’s Economy.com’s cost of living index.

Here are the 10 cities that it found to offer the best value, and the cities that it believes offers the worst value.

Cities Where Residents Get the Most for Their Money
1. Austin, Texas
2. San Antonio, Texas
3. Indianapolis, Ind.
4. Houston, Texas
5. Charlotte, N.C.
6. Columbus, Ohio
7. Dallas
8. Minneapolis/St. Paul
9. Denver
10. Portland, Ore.

Cities Where Residents Get the Least for Their Money
1. Los Angeles
2. Providence, R.I.
3. New Orleans
4. Philadelphia
5. Cleveland
6. New York
7. Milwaukee, Wisc.
8. St. Louis, Mo.
9. Washington, D.C.
10. Sacramento, Calif.


Source: Forbes, Abha Bhattarai (10/10/2008)

As Seen on TV...

Have you hear the latest news from Coldwell Banker Burnet? Our company is currently running a SALE, something that is a little out of the ordinary for a Real Estate firm. Yet, here we are, with a 10 Day Sales Event. Beginning on October 10th and ending on October 20th, Eric and Sharla Stafford are featuring the property located at 6553 Bartlett Boulevard in Mound for $1,899,000.
Local news station, KSTP featured the Bartlett home on its 5:30 PM and 10 PM news casts Sunday evening. Eric Stafford made an appearance in the video which is linked below.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S616167.shtml?articleID=183285

For more information on the property or for more on other properties, please contact the Stafford Family Realtors at 952.470.2575 or visit our Website at StaffordFamilyRealtors.com.

Open Houses for October 12th

Stafford Family Realtors present our Open House Schedule. We have two properties participating in the Coldwell Banker Burnet 10 Day Sales Event along with a few other great options.

Sunday, October 12th:

1340 Alpine Pass, Golden Valley 12:00pm-2:00pm
This home is the perfect alternative to condo style living. Just minuets from shopping, dinning and downtown.


2280 South Parkway, Victoria 12:00pm-2:00pm
Situated in the tranquil countryside of Victoria this custom built home is only available due to relocation.


7164 Harrison Hill Trail, Chanhassen 12:00pm-2:00pm
Located in demand Longacres, this home is being featured in the 10 Day Sale Event!


6553 Bartlett Boulevard, Mound 2:30-4:30
Come out and visit this beautiful Craftsman home on Lake Minnetonka. This home has been reduced to $1,899,000 for the 10 Day Sale Event.

Good News!

In the middle of the current financial turmoil,
Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller Report has some
good news regarding home prices in the Twin
Cities.

The Case-Shiller report, which was released
Sept. 30, notes that home prices in the Twin Cities
rose for two consecutive months this summer.
From May to June, prices rose 0.9 percent,
and from June to July, prices rose 1.3 percent—
the largest increase of all 20 metropolitan areas
surveyed in the report.

In other good news, the Minneapolis Area Association
of REALTORS® (MAAR) has been reporting
an increase in home sales in the metro area over
the summer and early fall, and in some cases
dramatic increases. For the week ended Sept.
20, MAAR reported that the number of pending
sales rose 42.8 percent compared with the
same week last year. MAAR noted that during
the last seven weeks, there were 5,866 signed
purchase agreements, an increase of more than
1,500 units compared to the same time period
last year.

The Case-Shiller Report reviews home prices in
the 20 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. The report
is based on thousands of repeat sales of
the same single-family houses. The MAAR report
studies the median sale prices of all singlefamily
homes, condominiums, and townhomes
on the Regional Multiple Listing Service that sold
during a specific period.