New Listing 1758 Seashell Lane in Waconia

Custom built by Songergaard Forcier, this walk-out Rambler in Waconia Landings offers a bueautiful finish level and enjoys deeded day dock access on Lake Waconia. For more information on this listing, please visit StaffordFamilyRealtors.com or call us today! 952.470.2575.

Waterfront Tour for Coldwell Banker Burnet

Well, its that time of year again! The spring Waterfront Tour hosted by Coldwell Banker Burnet is this Sunday, May 16th. There are over 170 homes offering everything from Lakeshore Living to Deeded Access on lakes, river, ponds and more.

Stafford Family Realtors will be hosting 4685 North Shore Drive in Orono open from 1-5 PM. Stop in for some Refreshments and enter to win a Brunch Cruise on Lake Minnetoka for 2!

This beautiful home is sited on over 70 feet level lakeshore with a pristine sandy beach. The home offers amazing vaulted ceilings, walls of windows and over $100,000 in upgrades! This home truly offers resort living at home.

New to market: 5965 Eureka Road, Shorewood

Coldwell Banker Burnet’s Waterfront Home Tour

For nearly twenty years Coldwell Banker Burnet has been promoting its waterfront listings through annual waterfront home tours. No other real estate company has the inventory to mount a tour such as ours. Last year we had 178 waterfront homes on our Spring Waterfront Tour with the highest priced home listed at $5,950,000.

We choose a Sunday in mid-May, avoiding Mother’s Day, because we believe the homes look their best with their docks in the water and their gardens starting to bloom. It also is the perfect time to capture the interest of Minnesotans who have been indoors all winter.

Timing of the tour is everything. This year on May 16th interested buyers will be able to view a number of waterfront properties in one afternoon. They will be able to write an offer, negotiate that offer and close it with summer days to spare!

Our upcoming Tour will be held on May 16th from 1-5. Stafford Family Realtors are pleased to offer 4685 North Shore Drive in Orono as a featured home on this tour. Located on over 70 feet of lakeshore, this home has it all. For more information, please visit StaffordFamilyRealtors.com or contact Eric & Sharla Stafford today for a private showing.

Open Sunday!!!!

Stafford Family Realtors have some great open houses this weekend!

We are pleased to announce 4 great opens for this weekend!

1878 Sandbar Circle ~ Waconia
Open Sunday 12-2
Better than new construction!! This amazing home is completely loaded with all the upgrades & custom finishes! Entertain in style in the Gourmet Kitchen with Granite counters and Stainless Steel Appliances, enjoy to beautiful Hardwood floors & the fully finished Walkout Lower Level! The backyard is fully fenced with a wood privacy fence & the neighborhood enjoys a beach & day docks on Lake Waconia.

8801 Wedgemere Drive ~ Victoria
Open Sunday 12-2
Simply Stunning! This amazing one level home sited on the premier lot on Deer Run Golf Course offers attractive amenities including a private main floor Master Suite, Great Room floor plan, main floor Office or Formal Dinning Room and a Gourmet Eat-In Kitchen with stainless steel appliance. The fully finished lower level walk out features three Jr. Bedrooms, and Exercise Room, large Family Room with full Wet Bar and a Billiards Room. Nestled between greens #2 and #15, enjoy the long fairway views and all the conveniences of this great location!

2305 Lukewood Drive ~ Chanhassen
Open Sunday 12-2
This beautiful home is sited on a spacious lot with mature trees and lots of privacy. The finish level of this home is amazing! Open spacious floor plan offers a Great Room with Crown Molding and Fireplace that looks into the Hearth Room. The large flowing Kitchen offers newly installed Granite countertops and all new stainless steel appliances. Enjoy the deck off the private Master Suite. The fully finished Lower Level offers an Amusement Room with built-ins, stone faced fireplace and a full wet bar. There is also a Play Room, Game Room and Office. The flat expance of the back yard is great for any type of entertaing or relaxing. Contact us today for a private showing!

1234 Amber Point ~ Waconia
Open Sunday 2:30- 4:30
Only available due to relocation, this beautiful home in the Pinehill neighborhood of Waconia offers an open floor plan with great spaces. Freshly painted throughout, this home show like a model.

For more information on these open houses or other listings from Stafford Family Realtors, Please visit StaffordFamilyRealtors.com

Minneapolis is one of the top Bicycling Cities in America!!!

WHO SAID SO
The new issue of Bicycling magazine, published Tuesday, ranks Minneapolis ahead of 49 other large and medium-size cities in accessibility to bicyclists. Portland has long ranked first, both in the magazine's rankings and other surveys.

HOW WE DID IT
In its assessment of Minneapolis, the magazine pointed to the fact that the city has nearly doubled its percentage of bike commuters in just three years and its pledge to install new bike racks and start an innovative bike-share program. Other criteria include the number of bike lanes, municipal bike racks, bike boulevards, government interest in cycling improvements and local bike culture.

WHAT THEY SAID
"Despite the cold wintertime climate, Minneapolis has a thriving bike community. It has 120 miles of on- and off-street bicycle facilities, plus indoor bike parking and other cycling-friendly facilities."

OUR COMPETITION
Not surprisingly, other high-ranking cities include such granola-eating communities as Seattle, Boulder and Eugene. Madison, Wis., ranked seventh. The only other Upper Midwest cities that made the cut were Sioux Falls, at 31st, and Fargo, which ranked 46th.

Originally Published by the Star Tribune - article by BOB VON STERNBERG

Open Houses for March 28th!

Stafford Family Realtors have some great opportunities for you!

We are pleased to announce 4 great opens for this weekend!

12237 Jasper Lane ~ Eden Prairie
Open Sunday 12-2
Just listed and first time open! This home shows like new construction - a true MUST SEE! Beautifully finished from Pillar to Post and well maintained, this home has been freshly painted and the seller's have installed all new flooring throughout. The amazing lower level features a full service wet bar, a stunning family room with a wall of custom built-ins and a fifth bedroom. Other upgrades include granite countertops, archways and a gorgeous deck.

2301 Boulder Road ~ Chanhassen
Open Sunday 12-2
Pottery Barn finishes accentuate this beautiful Hans Hagen home sited on a private lot in demand Stone Creek. Upgrades galore; including Enameled woodwork, Granite, Stainless Steel Appliances. Walk to Neighborhood Park & new Chanhassen High School! Chanhassen voted #8 Best Place to Live by Money Magazine!

2305 Lukewood Drive ~ Chanhassen
Open Sunday 2:30-4:30
This beautiful home is sited on a spacious lot with mature trees and lots of privacy. The finish level of this home is amazing! Open spacious floor plan offers a Great Room with Crown Molding and Fireplace that looks into the Hearth Room. The large flowing Kitchen offers newly installed Granite countertops and all new stainless steel appliances. Enjoy the deck off the private Master Suite. The fully finished Lower Level offers an Amusement Room with built-ins, stone faced fireplace and a full wet bar. There is also a Play Room, Game Room and Office. The flat expance of the back yard is great for any type of entertaing or relaxing. Contact us today for a private showing!

4716 Temple Road ~ Minnetonka
Open Sunday 12-4
This is not your typical townhome! Loaded with character, this home has been beautifully updated & lovingly maintained. Sited on a gorgeous .37 acre lot covered with mature trees! Enjoy the Gourmet Kitchen with new stainless steel appliances, the spacious Lower Level Walkout with full Wetbar. The current owners have done over $100,000 in Upgrades! Association maintains Yard/Snow/Garbage.

Fannie Mae: Recovery is Moving Forward

The decline in home sales in February was a disappointment to the housing industry, but Fannie Mae’s analysts say it is temporary and a sustainable turnaround is likely by the end of the year.

Fannie Mae Chief Economist Doug Duncan points to evidence that a recovery is on its way, including an increase in consumer spending, an improving service sector, and the likelihood that employers will begin hiring soon.

"More favorable financial conditions overall keep us optimistic that we are moving forward with the recovery, albeit at a lower trajectory than previously forecast," Duncan said in a statement.

Source: Fannie Mae (03/17/2010)

The Best Housing Markets of 2010

Some U.S. housing markets have faired quite well regardless of the economic turmoil of recent years. These markets share a few things in common: modestly appreciating home prices, a high affordability rating, better-than-average economic activity and a low foreclosure rate.

Realty Trac, an online marketplace of foreclosure listings, estimates that 4.5 million foreclosure filings are expected in 2010, up from 2.8 million in 2009. This weighs heavily on the housing market. Foreclosures supply an excess of inventory that destabilizes home prices. Louisville, Kentucky, is fairing well partially because it has a 1.15% foreclosure rate, the lowest in the country, and about half the national average. Louisville – as opposed to some coastal cities and vacation destinations – never really encountered the boom so it’s been less affected by the burst.

Midwestern cities such as Indianapolis, Minneapolis and St. Louis have among the best housing markets largely because they have some of the best housing affordability rates in the country. Indianapolis had the highest affordability with 96% of homes affordable to families making the median income.

According to Forbes, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has the best housing market in the country for a host of reasons: the second lowest foreclosure rate, a housing affordability rate of 85%, home prices anticipated to increase 2.67% in 2010, and a diversified and comparatively robust economy. This stable economy is largely due to Pittsburgh transforming itself, over several decades, from a center of manufacturing to one of education and health care.

Stable economic activity is also boosting the real estate markets in Tacoma and Seattle, Washington. The housing market in Memphis has faired well and is expected to improve, largely because the city’s largest employer, FedEx, will be one of the first industries to rebound in the economy recovery.

Published by Realty Trac

See what our clients are saying...

Stafford Family Realtors are getting great feedback from some wonderful clients! Look below to see how Stafford Family Realtors is rating with their clients!

“I likes the very professional, yet relaxed, attitude of both Eric & Sharla. It helped us feel more relaxed about the whole selling experience. We felt confident that our house was in good hands with ther strong work ethic and degree of experience. Also, they were both fun to work with. Thanks for your good work!”

Doug & Eileen Peterson

“You amaze me! The level of attention you provide to your clients, and the degree of consideration involved with your efforts toward excellence are beyond measure! More than my gratefulness is my awareness of your incredible attention and commitment to others! You are models of stewardship! Thank you so much!”

Mary Beth Moze


Stafford Family Realtors strive to offer the best experience whether you are buying or selling your home. We promise to protect your investment and treat your family as if it were our own.

Contact Eric or Sharla Stafford today for more information and your free market analysis of your home.

StaffordFamilyRealtors.com

Looking ahead to Spring? Here are a few helpful tips to get your home ready!

March 20th is the first day of spring. It may be hard to imagine that spring is actually only a few weeks away if you are still cranking up the heat in your home and shoveling snow from your driveway. But, it won't be much longer before old man winter will be sent packing. While you are waiting for the arrival of spring, here are seven things you can begin to think about to get your home ready for spring.

Windows - Your windows take center stage once the weather changes from cold to warm. Begin thinking about whether you will wash them yourself or hire someone to tackle the job. If you choose to hire someone, you'll want to make an appointment now before they become booked solid. Consider what window treatments you will use. Undoubtedly, you will want to switch to a lighter fabric and different color value that is more conducive to springtime.

Carpets / Flooring - Our floors take a real beating during the winter months. Whether you have carpet or hard wood, or whatever, chances are your floors could use some tender loving care. Again, will you tackle the job yourself or hire someone? And, once your floors are cleaned, consider using runners to keep the dirt from foot traffic to a minimum.

Outdoor living area - It doesn't matter what the square footage of your outdoor space is; what matters is that you make the most of it. Take a look at your outdoor furniture and determine what kind of care is necessary before you use them or if you need to start fresh with new pieces. If you have a fence, what kind of maintenance does it require? Who will cut and take care of your grass this year? If you have a wood deck, does it need to be stained?

Gardens - Boost your curb appeal. Begin planning your color scheme and the flowers you will plant this spring. Read up on the different flowers and plants and do something different this year.

Roof / Gutters - Ice (which can cause damage to roofs and leaks in the home), leaves, you name it, it could be up there. Hire a professional to clean them. This will help your curb appeal a great deal, too.

Foyer - The foyer of the home tends to be neglected and used as a pass through space. But, during warm weather, people linger a little longer. So, be sure to enhance the look of your foyer. Resist using it as a place simply to drop keys, mail, and take off shoes.

Entertainment Area - Company's coming. People are just more social during warmer months. Is your entertainment area inviting? Maybe now would be a good time to de-clutter and organize the space.

These are just a few projects you can begin before spring. Instead of looking longingly at the calendar wishing spring would hurry up, take this time to think about these projects so that when spring does arrive your home will be ready.

©Rena Bullard 2010 This article may be reprinted, in its entirety, with copyright information.
Rena Bullard is certified and trained as an Interior Decorator and loves to help people with design. Rena is an Expert writer for EzineArticles.com, contributed articles to the online magazine, The Decorator's Notebook, and writes her own blogs where you will find quick ideas on how to solve redecorating dilemmas. Rena interviews industry professionals and gives away free decorating tips as the host of her own blog talk radio show called, ReDecorating by Rena.
Contact Rena via her website: [http://www.redecoratingbyrena.com/]

New Non-MLS Listings & Open Houses

Open Sunday!

2395 Lukewood Drive, Chanhassen

MLS #3878893

12-2:00 PM

Stop in and check out this amazing family home in neighborhood of executive homes. Sited on a park-like .65 acres, this home offers one level living at it's best! Spacious rooms, large windows and great spaces for entertaing or relaxing. Stop in and check it out!

We have a few new Non-MLS Listings coming soon to market:

Timberwood Drive ~ Chanhassen ~ $475,000

This amazing family home is sited on 2.86 acres in Chanhassen. Enjoy country style living with all the ease of downtown Chanhassen. 3,160 Finished Square Feet feature 4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, a fully finished lower level. Contact us today for a private showing!

Landmark Shorewood Estate

Call for Pricing

This English Manor Home is a landmark for residents of the Shorewood / Excelsior area. Sited on 1.72 acres covered with lush, professioal landscaping, this spacious home offers 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms and TONS of charm. Located on the grounds you will also find a Pool House with kitchenette and in-ground pool.

Eric & Sharla Stafford ~ 952.470.2575

10 Home Features Buyers Want

Home designers and builders speaking at the recent International Builders Show in Las Vegas say that buyers are seeking cost-effective features and rejecting things that don’t have lasting value.“It's all about family togetherness – casual living, entertaining and flexible spaces," says Carol Lavender, president of the Lavender Design Group in San Antonio.

Paul Cardis, CEO of Avid Ratings, which conducts an annual survey of buyer preferences, identified these must-haves in new homes:

~ Large kitchens with islands
~ Energy efficiency, including energy-efficient appliances, super insulation, and high-efficiency windows.
~ Home offices
~ Main-floor master suite
~ Outdoor living space
~ Ceiling fans
~ Soaking tub in the master suite and/or an oversize shower with a seating area
~ Stone and brick exteriors rather than stucco or vinyl
~ Community walking paths and playgrounds
~ Two-car garages, but three-car garages are even more desirable

Are you looking for a home with these features? Stafford Family Realtors have a selection of Exceptional Homes that fit most or all of the above mentioned criteria. Call us today or visit www.StaffordFamilyRealtors.com to see a list of all our homes for sale.


Source: MarketWatch, Steve Kerch (01/30/2010)

6 Surprising Facts About the Buyer Tax Credit

The homebuyer tax credit is not as simple or straightforward as you might think. Here are some nuances that will affect homebuyers who plan to use it.

- To qualify for the move-up tax credit, a home owner must have occupied the same principal residence for five of the last eight years consecutively.
- Buyers can elect to claim the credit on either their 2009 or their 2010 tax return, whichever is best for them.
- Buyers who claim the credit in 2009 can’t file electronically because the Internal Revenue Service hasn’t put the required forms on line. The wait for a refund is three or four months.
- The home can be a mobile home or travel trailer that is fixed to land owned or leased by the home owner. A mobile home or travel trailer that is actually mobile doesn’t qualify.
- The home can’t be purchased from a close relative, including a parent, spouse, child, grandparent or grandchild.
- A buyer who earns no taxable income or doesn’t owe any federal income tax can qualify for the tax credit and file a tax return just to claim it.

Source: Bankrate.com, Marcie Geffner (01/21/2010)

Newest Exceptional Home from Stafford Family Realtors

Trump Nets Big Profit for Florida Palace

Donald Trump has sold his Palm Beach mansion for $81 million, $24 million less than his asking price but up 150 percent from his $32 million 2004 purchase price.

A Russian fertilizer billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev bought the 60,000 square-foot, oceanfront home. The property was renovated by Kendra Todd, a winner on “The Apprentice.”

Todd is said to have added lots of marble and 24-karat gold fixtures in the bathrooms.

Trump says, “ In an age of so many people getting hurt in real estate, it shows that you can still do well.”

Source: Daily Mall (01/26/2010)

JOB Fair

The recent recession has scorched the best of us. Erik Paulsen is hosting a Job Fair bursting with great community resources that will connect employers and potential employees

Date and Time:
Monday, February 8, 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: Normandale Community College (Cafeteria)

If you're looking to hire or know a business hiring, learn more about this free opportunity to connect with the public. There are no fees associated with participation or admission. Submissions due on January 29, 2009.

MORE INFORMATION LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN PAULSEN

Housing Components Don't Last Forever

Many aspects of a home last little more than a decade. Home buyers should be especially vigilant about inspecting these household components because they have a relatively short lifespan, says the National Association of Home Builders.

• Aluminum roof coating: 3-7 years
• Enameled steel sinks: 5-7 years
• Security systems: 5-10 years
• Carpet: 8-10 years
• Smoke detectors: fewer than 10 years
• Faucets: 10-15 years
• Garage door openers:10-15 years
• Air conditioners: 10-15 years
• Asphalt: 12-15 years
• Termite-proofing during construction: 12 years

Source: Bankrate.com, Marcie Geffner (01/22/2010)

Minneapolis is in the Top 10 Smartest Places to Buy!

10 Cities Where It's Smarter to Buy

For people who want to own a home, the premium to buy—the spread between what they’d spend to rent and what they’d pay for a mortgage—is much lower than the 15-year average in many cities.

To determine what cities are smart buys, Forbes magazine computed the premium and also identified locales where economists predict home prices will go up the most over the next five years.

Here are the top 10 cities the magazine chose as the best places to buy right now.

1. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass.
2. Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.-S.C.
3. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis.
4. Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.
5. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colo
6. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.
7. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.
8. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore.-Wash.
9. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.
10. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.V.

Contact Eric & Sharla Stafford for information on Relocation, Buying or Selling in the Twin Cities!