CURB APPEAL 101: Fall Tips to Make Your Landscape Shine

1. Convince yourself that raking leaves can be fun. Rather than wait for a single weekend, break this chore into stages. Matted leaves can lead to insect and disease problems and smother your turf, especially cool season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass.
2. To fertilize – or not to fertilize? Cool season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass, fescues and perennial ryegrass often need fertilizer this time of year. Grasses that go dormant in the winter, such as Bermuda, Zoysia and Centipede may not. Visit www.lowes.com for information on soil testing and choosing the right fertilizer.
3. Repair and re-seed. Fall is a great time to repair a damaged lawn and re-seed. Fill any holes or bare spots with topsoil and add grass seed. It’s important to choose the right kind of grass for your growing zone; go to www.lowes.com to learn what’s best for your area.
4. Don’t forget to water. New grass in particular needs frequent but shallow watering. Once the grass is established, water deeply to reach the roots. To minimize the threat of fungal disease, water in the morning or early afternoon so that the grass blades are not moist overnight.
5. Prune with care. Pruning promotes growth, so be careful not to encourage growth when plants are about to go dormant. By all means remove diseased, dead or broken branches.
6. Transplant trees and shrubs. Autumn is a great season for transplanting trees and shrubs, allowing roots to get established before the cold sets in. Also, heat stress is not a concern. Visit your neighborhood Lowe’s Garden Center for a broad selection of trees and shrubs that can bring new life to your landscape.
7. Spruce up flower beds. Replace warm-weather annuals with seasonal favorites like pansies and mums. Clean out summer perennials and add a fresh layer of mulch, which can help protect plants from hard freezes.
8. Divide established perennials. If your perennials are looking a bit lackluster or overgrown they may need to be divided. The best candidates have large, healthy clumps and have been in the ground for
   years. By dividing these in the fall, you’ll enjoy healthier plants in more places next spring.
9. Plant ahead for spring. Foolproof and fabulous, spring-flowering bulbs put gardening within everyone’s reach. When choosing bulbs, focus on your favorite color, or try shades that accent already established plantings throughout your garden. For more information on cutting gardens, see “Bulbs in Bloom” at www.LowesCreativeIdeas.com/OutdoorLiving.

Weekly Market Activity Report

Twin Cities consumers didn't do much laboring to purchase a home over Labor Day weekend, as sales activity for the week ending September 8 was down significantly. There were only 500 new purchase agreements signed in the metropolitan area during the week, the lowest number since the beginning of 2007. New listings increased slightly from the previous week, likely buoyed by post-holiday relistings.

Top 10 Cities with the Highest Cost Loans
The Chicagoland area ranked highest in the country in total high-cost loans in 2006, according to data released last week by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. Chicago has led the nation in high-cost loans for the past three years.

"High-cost" loans are identified in federal mortgage lending data as first-lien loans with interest rates at least three percentage points above the U.S. Treasury standard. The U.S. Treasury standard stood at 5.19 percent in mid-July for a 30-year mortgage.

African-American home owners were nearly three times as likely to get high-cost loans as their white counterparts. Even when African-American applicants went through prime lenders, they got high-cost loans 37 percent of the time, according to the report. Latino home owners were twice as likely as white home owners to get high-cost loans. From prime lenders, Latinos got high-cost loans 19 percent of the time compared with just 9 percent of the time for whites.The top 10 areas for high-cost loans were:
1. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet
2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
3. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
4. Phoenix
5. Washington, D.C.
6. Atlanta
7. Houston
8. New York
9. Miami
10. Tampa, Fla.

Creating a Beautiful Autumn Lawn

Nothing improves curb appeal more than a thick, green lawn. Though summer is drawing to a close, now is just the time to stimulate a strong network of roots and top growth on lawn grasses. Here’s a short, nine-step course in keeping grass healthy. Much of the information comes from "Better Lawns Step by Step," by Joe Provey and Kris Robinson.

Mow regularly. Set the mower for 3 to 3 ½ inches. Cut no more than one-third of the blade height. Cutting too much shocks the grass and taller blades of grass allow fewer weeds to break through.

Keep the lawn mower blades sharp. Dull blades tear grass.

Get rid of the leaves. Heavy accumulations of leaves can weaken and kill grass.

Aerate regularly. Rent a core aerator that removes plugs of soil or hire a lawn maintenance company that uses instead of the kind that just punches holes. Go over the lawn three or four times.

Spread compost. Sprinkle it into the aeration holes. Don’t cover the blades of grass.
Lay 40 to 50 percent organic fertilizer over the soil surface after aerating and sprinkling compost.

Get rid of weeds. Use pre-emergent weed killer spring and fall. Pull the surviving weeds by hand. Only use chemical spot treatment if pulling them out doesn’t work.

Overseed existing laws with three to four pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet of grass. Chose top quality seed appropriate for your region.

Water, water, water.

Weekly Market Activity Report

The Twin Cities housing market is seeing huge week-to-week declines in seller activity as we enter the fall and the school year begins again. Just four weeks ago, home sellers placed 2,324 new houses on the market for sale; for the week ending September 1, only 1,659 new units were listed. Compared to one year ago, this most recent figure is a drop of 16.7 percent. Not surprisingly, buyer activity remains stunted as uncertainties in the mortgage market and a fragile consumer psychology persist. The most recent tracked week shows a pending sales decline of 22.5 percent from this time last year.

This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features several new updated figures. The Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale for July 2007 fell to 94.7 percent and likely will keep falling through the end of the year as the winter buyer pause creates additional short-term downward pressures on home prices. Mortgage Rates for September rose slightly to 6.8 percent, which, coupled with a slight seasonal decrease in the median sales price, caused the Housing Affordability Index to hold steady at 127 for September.

Weekly Market Activity Report

Sellers and builders continue to curb activity in the Twin Cities housing market, with the week ending August 25 posting only 1,874 new listings—down 9.5 percent from the same week in 2006 and even further from their early summer peak. Despite the decline in new seller activity, the number of homes on the market remains at a record high for this time of year with 34,225 residential units for sale. This persistently high inventory is due to slowed absorption caused by sluggish home sales; newly signed purchase agreements were 18.7 percent behind this time last year.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity report features an updated September 2007 figure for our Supply-Demand Ratio (SDR). The SDR grew to 10.39, which means there are 10.39 homes for sale per buyer. This is an increase of 24.8 percent from last September, and this figure should continue to grow through December before declining in 2008 with the end of the winter season slowdown.

Weekly Market Activity Report

Activity in the regional housing market continues its downward trend as buyers and sellers respond to a changing market landscape. For the week ending August 4, newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) posted 802 residential unit sales, down 15.4 percent from the same week in 2006. Sellers and builders are slowing their activity as well, as new listings were 8.0 percent behind for the same time period comparison. In the last 19 weeks, this is the 17th week of year-over-year declines in listings.

This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated figures for Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale, our Housing Affordability Index (HAI) and our Housing Supply Outlook (HSO). The average percent received at sale for July was 95.3 percent, down slightly from last month. The HAI held steady at 127 due to flat interest rates and home prices. And our HSO grew to a 9.7 months supply of homes on the market.

To see how the Twin Cities housing market performed in July, see our July 2007 Monthly Indicators. This report features a new format designed to be consumer friendly and easy to understand.

Open Houses - Sunday, August 19, 2007

Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Sunday, August 19, 2007
Address: 2221 Lukewood Drive
Location: Chanhassen, MN 55317

Weekly Market Activity Report

As summer enters its final full month, both seller and buyer activity are beginning to gradually decline in the Twin Cities housing market. For the week ending July 28, there were just over 2,100 new listings on the market, down a few hundred units from the weekly velocity levels seen earlier this summer. Similarly, newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) are down from the higher absorption levels seen in May and June. Compared to this time in 2006, new listings were behind by 1.9 percent and pending sales were behind by 22.0 percent.

This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated August 2007 figures for Supply-Demand Ratio (SDR) and Mortgage Rates. The SDR posted a figure of 8.57, which means that there are 8.57 houses on the market for every buyer. Mortgage rates held steady from last month at 6.7 percent. While rates have risen in recent months, they remain favorable relative to historical conditions.

Open Houses - Sunday, August 5, 2007

Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Sunday, August 5, 2007
Address: 2229 Clover Field Drove
Location: Chaska, MN 55318

Weekly Market Activity Report

As the home sales slowdown continues in the Twin Cities housing market and throughout the country, slowed inventory absorption is keeping the number of homes for sale at record levels in July. There are currently over 35,000 residential properties for sale in the 13-county metropolitan region, up 12.0 percent from this time in 2006 and 56.7 percent from this time in 2005. The rise in inventory this year has less to do with new construction projects, as builder inventory has actually declined from this time in 2006 by 600 units.

Seller activity remains flat, with new listings for the week ending July 21 falling behind the same week last year by 0.5 percent. Buyer activity is even slower, with the number of newly signed purchase agreements declining by 10.2 percent for the same time period comparison.

Weekly Market Activity Report

Following the annual Independence Day break, the Twin Cities housing market rebounded the week ending July 14. Seller activity shot up almost 900 units from the previous week. There were 2,720 new listings on the market, down 4.2 percent from the same week in 2006. Buyers also returned from their holiday siesta, writing 893 new purchase agreements. While this is an increase over the previous week, it is behind last year at this time by 17.2 percent as the market remains in a relative power nap.

4 Tips for Cooling Down Your Energy Bills

You know August is approaching when temperatures are heating up and air conditioners seem to be constantly humming. Staying cool is on everyone's mind. But many home owners are equally concerned about how they can cut down on their energy consumption and reduce their monthly cooling bills. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has a few suggestions:

• Clean or replace air filters in air-conditioning units to keep cool air moving a reduce electricity consumption.
  
• Have an air conditioner tune-up performed by a qualified contractor.
  Make sure your attic, which traps a lot of hot air, is adequately insulated.
  
• Replace old equipment. A new high-efficiency unit not only pares down utility bills; it can help you qualify for a federal income tax credit. But before you buy something new, do your research. “Often people are so desperate to replace their equipment that they don’t take the time to research the investment, locking themselves into high cooling bills and less comfort,” said ACEEE researcher Katie Ackerly.

For more information log on to www.energytaxincentives.org/consumers

Weekly Market Activity Report

The word of the month for buyer activity in the Twin Cities housing market is "flat." For the week ending June 30, newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) posted 926 units as compared to 924 units the week before and 925 the week before that—now that's consistency. The unfortunate reality is that this flatness is taking place during what is normally the peak season for sales growth. Compared to one year ago, pending sales were down 15.4 percent. Seller activity has also declined, but to a lesser degree; new listings were behind last year at this time by 3.2 percent for the same time comparison.

Weekly Market Activity Report

Week by week and month by month, we have been saying the same thing for well over a year now. The Twin Cities housing market is in a state of post-boom correction and recalibration; both buyer and seller activity are down from 2006. It's also important to note that the 2006 market was down from 2005, making our current activity levels seem even slower in comparison. Newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) for the week ending June 23 were behind last year by 9.3 percent and behind 2005 by 33.8 percent. Seller activity is also on the decline, but to a much lesser degree than buyer activity. New listings for the same week were 2.2 percent behind 2006 and 0.8 percent ahead of 2005.

As of the morning of Monday, July 2, there are 34,630 single-family housing units for sale in the Twin Cities region, up 12.2 percent from last year and 60.2 percent from two years ago. Inventory growth has been less dramatic this year due to a relative drop-off in new construction activity. One year ago, new construction housing units for sale accounted for 19.4 percent of total inventory; new units account for just 15.2 percent of inventory today.

Five Inexpensive Ways to Revitalize a Kitchen

Replace the flooring. Install laminate floor over old linoleum, vinyl or chipped tile. It costs just $1 to $5 a square foot and looks like wood, stone or tile.
Replace the lighting. A new ceiling fixture costs less than $100 and will brighten up the place. Adding some under-the-cabinet lights will illuminate work surfaces.
Give the cabinets a new life. A coat of paint and new knobs is the cheapest way to go. If you’re able to spend $4,000 to $6,000 on the project, hire a refacing company to replace the doors and drawerfronts.
Refinish the appliances. For a few hundred dollars, an appliance refinisher will re-enamel your stove, refrigerator and dishwasher door in the color of your choice, including a stainless steel look-alike.
Update the backsplash. Replace the space between your cabinets and the countertop with fashionable stone or inexpensive wallpaper.

Open Houses - Sunday, June 24, 2007

Time: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM - Sunday, June 24, 2007
Address: 4870 Woods court
Location: Greenwood, MN 55331

Time: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM - Sunday, June 24, 2007
Address: 2221 Lukewood Drive
Location: Chanhassen, MN 55317

Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Sunday, June 24, 2007
Address: 17652 Cascade Drive
Location: Eden Prarie, MN 55347

Weekly Market Activity Report

June is traditionally a busy time for the real estate community and the most recent reporting week is no exception, as Total Active Listings for the 13 County Metro area continues at a record level. While buyer and seller activity accelerated as compared to recent weeks, the Twin Cities market continues at a lackluster pace in comparison to previous years. Weekly Single Family New Listings are down 1.2% and Pending Sales are 17.8% below the same week in 2006.

Open Houses - Sunday, June 3, 2007

Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Sunday, June 3, 2007
Address: 10 Hill Street
Location: Chanhassen, MN 55317

Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Sunday, June 3, 2007
Address: 2221 Lukewood Drive
Location: Chanhassen, MN 55317

Time: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM - Sunday, May 20, 2007
Address: 2500 Clover Field Drive
Location: Chaska, MN 55318

Go to http://www.staffordfamilyrealtors.com/ for more information. For questions, call Sharla Stafford at 612-282-6895.

Weekly Market Activity Report

I remain very optimistic about the market - it seems there are pockets that are selling quickly - coming back to location, location, location. So, please read the following info with the understanding this is across the Twin Cities - not necessarily specific at all to the West Metro. It's good information as this is what the general public reads/believes so does influence the market. Please call or email me if you have any questions. Here's the update:

The song remains the same from week to week in the spring Twin Cities housing market; new listings are flat relative to the previous year while buyer activity declines further. New listings for the week ending May 19 were 0.7 percent behind this time in 2006, posting 2,656 new units. Of these new listings, only 301 were new construction, bringing the new construction share of our total current inventory to 16.1 percent compared to 19.7 percent one year ago. Newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) were down 21.5 percent from the same week last year, continuing the trend of significant declines seen in recent weeks.

The residential market discord reflects a period of widespread recalibration of home values, lending standards, housing affordability, supply-demand dynamics, and construction activity; and the climax of this is depressed consumer confidence relative to real estate. The frenzied boom we saw from 1998 to 2005 was so extreme that it necessitates the market correction currently underway. The uncertainty surrounding our shifting market causes angst for both consumers and REALTORS® alike, but the adjustments now taking place will inevitably lead to long-term health and stability to our market.

Weekly Market Activity Report

Buyer activity in the Twin Cities housing market remains low compared to the past several years, with newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) for the week ending May 12 falling 21.8 percent behind the same week in 2006. Seller activity posted an increase of 4.7 percent for the same year-over-year comparison—the first annualized increase in four weeks.

Inventory continues to grow as the summer selling season approaches. There are approximately 34,000 single-family housing units for sale in the metro area, 11.6 percent more than were available at this time last year. New construction homes comprise 16.5 percent—roughly 5,550 units—of total inventory.