Do I need a Realtor?

Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments you will make in your lifetime. Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a good realtor.

Here are a few good reasons to use a qualified Realtor:

• Your Realtor has many resources to assist you in your home search. Many time will know of or be able to find homes that you would not have found on your own.
• An experienced realtor will give an objective opinion. Your neighborhood realtor will know about neighborhoods, schools, shopping, and other facts about the community. 
• There are a number of negotiating factors that can be used. Your Realtor will know just what they are and how to approach them.Some of them are price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. 
• Your Realtor provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termite, dry rot, asbestos, structural issues, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, to name a few. A good Realtor can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports. 
• Your Realtor will guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly and you that you understand it.
• Your Realtor not only markets your property to the public, but other real estate agents, giving you maximum exposure.
• Your Realtor can help you evaluate a buyer's proposal while not compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing. There could be a lot of possible pitfalls. Your Realtor can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the entire process.

This is only a partial list of advantages to using a professional Realtor. Talk to Pete and John to learn more!

Disney Haunted Mansion replica up for sale!

So you have always enjoyed going to haunted houses for Halloween? Well, how would you like to live in one? Now is your chance, as the owner of this 10,000 sq ft replica in Georgia, has put the for sale sign out. The owner built this home and went so far as to even have the ornamental rod iron made by the same company that Disney used on their famous Haunted Mansion attraction. It is being sold through the themeparkconnection.com website and on Ebay for a "Buy it now" price of $873,000. To say this home will need a certain type of buyer may be the understatement of the year. Watch the video below to see what happens when you turn on the faucet in one of the bathrooms! For those of you who are looking for a normal home that won't scare you to death every time you walk in, contact Pete and John. We promise an experience that will not scare you!

Foreclosure filings hit 5 year low.

More good news from the real estate market! For the month of September foreclosure filings have dropped  for a second consecutive month, to a new 5 year low. The exact number of filings was 180,427, the lowest we have seen since July of 2007. We still have a ways to go to get back to the levels of 2005 but we are certainly headed in a better direction. Florida still leads the pack in foreclosures with 1 in every 117 houses in some state of foreclosure.
With 2012 bringing us more evidence every month that the real estate market is on the upswing, now could be the perfect time for you to be listing your home or looking for that perfect place to plant roots. Give us a call or visit our website. We look forward to the chance to serve you!

Pete 651-379-9313 
John 651-379-9312

Fall Home Staging tips.

The Fall season for many of us is our favorite season, and with good reason. The comfortable temps during the day, and the beautiful colors contribute greatly to our enjoyment of this time of the year. Taking advantage of people's love of the season when you are selling your home can be a wise decision. Here are some tips to help you out.

- Add seasonal decor to the outside and the inside of your home. Not overdoing it, but just enough to bring in the fall colors and harvest feel.

- Create some cozy spaces. Put a throw on the couch, some colorful leafs or pine cones on the coffee table, fall colored candles, etc.. Make it look inviting to whoever sees it.

- If you have a fireplace, show it off. If it is not lit, have some nice birch logs that look like they are ready to be lit and enjoyed.

- Hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks creates a wonderful aroma and can be a nice touch to offer potential buyers during their walk through. 

- Put a pumpkin or two on the front step. Inexpensive to do, but can be a nice first impression as people pull up to your home. Some cornstalks on each side of the garage door can look nice too.

I am sure you can probably think of many more ideas, but these will be a good start for you when preparing your home for potential buyers to walk through. Buyers will always remember how a home made them feel when they walked through it. To contact Pete and John to list your home visit our website!

Take advantage of the fall market!

If you are considering selling this fall and want to take advantage of the great weather that brings people out, give Pete and John a call and schedule a time when they can sit down with you and go over your options. Fall brings beautiful weather that most everyone likes and puts us all in the mood to get out and enjoy the great outdoors that our area enjoys. Whether it be picking apples or pumpkins, seeing the fall colors, and yes, for some of us, looking at homes. There is always the thought to wait for Spring when it is real estates busiest time of the year, but listing in the fall has its advantages too, such as less competition. The market is still good and we are looking forward to a great fall season for our clients. Give Pete a call at 651-379-9313, or John at 651-379-9312 and let their experience go to work for you too! To see our listings click here.

Selling your house tip - Kitchen Clutter

A full counter top and items on the floor will say, "this kitchen is small"!

There are many things you will need to pay attention to when selling your home. In this post we are going to cover only one, but it is an important  one. Your kitchen. We all know that the kitchen is one of the most important, and most used rooms in every home. There are some things that you will want to do to that will make a good impression on potential buyers.

Remove everything off of the counters - Find a good place where you can store everything, even the toaster. :) If you don't have the room in your cupboards, maybe start packing up stuff that you  rarely use or can get by without for a bit. You want to avoid stuffing your cabinets because many of the people walking through will open them up to see the inside. You want it to look nice when they do.

Food pantry - In your food pantry let your canned goods and other food inventory go down to the essential goods that you will need. A pantry that is chock full of food may seem that it is not big enough. The less cluttered it looks, the better the impression.

Under the kitchen sink - Here is one many people forget, but is also a place that many people will look during walk throughs. Again declutter. Take everything out and give it a good cleaning. Get rid of anything that you will not need and try to keep just one of what you do need. While you are under there see if there are any signs of leaks that need to be fixed.

Appliances - keeping your appliances clean will also go a long ways towards a good impression. Keep the stove top clean. Every time you use it be sure and clean up any spots or food that was spilled. For the refrigerator, again keep the essentials inside of it. A full fridge may look small to potential buyers. On the outside keep all finger prints cleaned off as well.

It's MN State Fair Time!

It is hard to think of August and not think about the great Minnesota get together, Aka The MN State Fair. The MN State Fair is the 2nd largest state fair in the country attracting over 1.6 million people every year. How many of us have great memories both as a child and as an adult of going to the Fair? If you are like me you find yourself telling your children about what you used to do at the Fair as you walk around the grounds with your family. (Yes, they just roll their eyes, but gosh darn it, they are going to hear it, right? Ha!)
So what is new at the Fair this year? Let's take a look at just a few.

• In the Kidway there are 2 new rides that should be a hit. Jumping Jumbo's and Down on the Farm Tractor Ride. 
• An inflatable sculpture that you can walk through called the "Luminarium".
• In the mighty Midway there are no less than 7 new rides for your older kids and mom and dad.
• There is a giant sandbox now where mom and dad can take a load off while still keeping the little one's entertained.
• Boys and girls ages 5 to 15 can test their skills when they tackle The Boy Scouts Adventure Summit.
• Some new foods to try this year are camel burgers, bacon ice cream, cereal  ice cream,  cranberry wontons, classic walleye roll, and red velvet funnel cake, just to name a few. Are you hungry yet?

Head over to the MN State Fair website if you want to see all the changes, admission prices and shuttle bus service. We would love to hear about your experiences at the State Fair so feel free to comment and tell us about them. See you at the Fair!

Real Estate Market Continues to Look Promising.

In the Twin Cities we have had a very hot summer, and the real estate market, although maybe not red hot, has been continuing to show signs that it may be in recovery mode. Buyers taking advantage of great price levels has been coupled with a boost in seller confidence over last year at this time. With both sides activity levels being stronger, it has given new life to the real estate market for 2012. Places like NE Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Fridley and New Brighton are seeing good sales as people are migrating back to the cities and close suburbs. With gas once again closing in on $4 a gallon, some commuters are tired of monthly fuel expenditures that exceed all their house utilities combined. With all that the cities and close suburbs have to offer as far as entertainment, great places to eat, transportation and parks, it only makes sense to want to live here. We have good momentum now in the market. Let's hope we can keep this rolling right into 2013! So far. So good.

Grandpa's Ice Cream in Fridley. Biz of the month!

With as hot as the summer has been this year, has anything sounded better than delicious premium ice cream? That is exactly what you get when you go to Grandpa's Ice Cream, located in Fridley at 1258 E. Moore Lake Drive. Grandpa's Ice Cream was opened by Kathy and Mick Simmons in 2005 and has developed a loyal fan base, as people in the area find out about their 32 flavors of wonderful ice cream, along with their malts, shakes, sundaes and yummy banana splits. Many of their flavors have come from suggestions from their customers, and end up being best sellers. So next time you are out and about in the Fridley area, stop by Grandpa's Ice Cream and treat yourself to great ice cream and great customer service! You may even run into Pete or John there!

This just in! Kathy has told us she would like to offer a special deal for our readers! Click Here!

2012 Lion's Club Jamboree June 24th!

The 56th Annual Columbia Heights Lion’s Club Jamboree & carnival will be held from Wednesday, June 20th - Sunday, June 24th at Huset Park. Some of the many events will be as follows:
 - Medallion hunt with daily clues

 - A youth fishing clinic
 - A carnival
 - Beer gardens
 - Softball tournaments
 - and great fireworks, are some of the many things to enjoy during the Jamboree. There promises to be fun and something to do for the whole family! So come out to Huset Park located near Jefferson St NE and 40th Ave NE. To see a map of the location click here, and to see each days events and times, click here.

 Call us at 651-379-9313, or go to our website to see what housing opportunities are available in this fantastic community of Columbia Heights.

Minneapolis is #1 Bike Friendly City According to Bike Score!

 If you are a biker in the Twin Cities you already know that the biking trails available in the metro area are fantastic, but how do we stack up against other cities?
Walk Score/Bike Score is a website that measures whether a location is good for biking on a scale from 0 - 100.
Bike Score is based on bike lanes and trails, hills, destinations and road connectivity, and the number of bicycle  commuters. The new service comes four months after Walk Score raised $2 million from a group of Seattle angels that included former Amazon.com CTO Shel Kaphan, former Facebook general counsel Rudy Gadre, entrepreneur Edward Yim and others. The new Bike Score functionality is available in 10 cities in the U.S. and 10 in Canada. As part of their introduction, Bike Score rated each of those 20 cities. Those with scores of 70 or higher are considered “very bikeable,” while scores of 50 to 69 are “bikeable.” Here is how all the U.S. cities faired:

1. Minneapolis (Bike Score: 79)
2. Portland (Bike Score: 70)
3. San Francisco (Bike Score: 70)
4. Boston (Bike Score: 68)
5. Madison (Bike Score: 67)
6. Washington, D.C. (Bike Score: 65)
7. Seattle (Bike Score: 64)
8. Tucson (Bike Score: 64)
9. New York (Bike Score: 62)
10. Chicago (Bike Score: 62)

Utility Line Protection Program Available to Columbia Heights Residents.

The City of Columbia Heights is introducing a new, optional program available to homeowners, provided through the National League of Cities (NLC) Service Line Warranty Program administered by Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA). The Service Line Warranty program provides low cost, worry-free warranty protection for water and sewer lines.
As a homeowner in the City of Columbia Heights, you are responsible for the maintenance and repair of your buried, outside water service line that runs from the utility connection to your home. Homeowners are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the buried, outside sewer service line that runs from your home to the utility connection.
The Service Line Warranty program offers citizens an affordable way to avoid the unexpected and often large expense involved with a water line repair or sewer line break. When a line breaks, the cost to repair it can often cause hardship on a family’s budget. This new program will offer warranty protection to help cover the costs of a break.
City of Columbia Heights residents will see offers in their mail boxes soon. The program is offered at no cost to the City of Columbia Heights, and no public funds are used to promote the program.
"We are pleased to work with the City of Columbia Heights to offer homeowners an affordable Service Line Warranty program," said Brad Carmichael, Vice President of Business Development for Service Line Warranties of America. “We think Columbia Heights residents will be pleased with our features and benefits, including a 24-hour repair hotline and the use of local, certified technicians. This keeps dollars in the local economy, an important benefit in these tough financial times.”
SLWA is proud to have been selected by the NLC as an Enterprise Programs Partner. The National League of Cities, representing over 218 million Americans, is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. After a decade in business, SLWA has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Looking for a home in Columbia Heights? Check out our listings!

5 Great Tips for Selling Your Home.

With even the most conservative forecasts calling for growth in the housing market for 2012, we thought it a good time to maybe offer some tips for home sellers that will maybe give them a leg up on getting their home sold.

1. Price your home appropriately right from the beginning. Consider that most homeowners will end up accepting less than their asking price. Have your agent produce a list of the latest comparable homes that have sold  in your area of the Twin Cities. This will give you a good starting point for pricing.

2. Make your home show worthy. Make small repairs, paint where needed, scrub, pressure wash that deck and driveway, clean windows and give it a good overall cleaning. Walking into a clean house gives a great first impression and starts any showing off on the right foot.

3. Be flexible. Be willing to stretch and bend to get a sale done. Paid closing costs, paid property taxes, some remodeling, etc. could make or break a sale with a interested buyer.

4. Use an agent that is experienced in the area. An agent that has been selling in your neighborhood for years can be a very valuable source. Their experience with the area can save much time and bring a quicker, more efficient sale.

5. Let your neighbors know you are selling. Many times your neighbors have friends or family that are looking to move into the area, and having their good friends next door, may (or may not! LOL! ) be appealing to them.

Condominium or Single Family Home?

Are you a first time buyer that really isn't sure which way to go with your first purchase? Maybe you have been in a single family home for years and are wondering if it is time to consider a condominium, or maybe you are a condo owner thinking about making the move to a single family dwelling. Whatever your circumstance, we thought that we would cover some of the basic pro's and con's of each.

Condominium ownership allows a person to own a predetermined area of space, that may or may not include land, and to share in the ownership of all common areas such as hallways, foundation, stairs, social rooms, etc. under a legal arrangement. With a single family house the owner owns everything and is solely responsible for the entire property. A house entitles the owner to the rights of the land and all permanently attached structures and the air above it.

In both instances owners of condos and houses have title of ownership and tax responsibilities and can rent and sell the property that they have ownership of. 

Because condo owners share ownership for common areas and because of this, by-laws are established to set certain rules and manage the property. A condo association is formed (usually a group of owners) that enforce,change and create by-laws. By-laws will usually cover areas such as noise, pets, common area usage, exterior decoration restrictions, interior renovations, and so on.

In addition, the common areas need to be maintained, cleaned and repaired and thus financial responsibility for common areas is shared by all the owners. Typically it is a monthly association fee that is paid into a fund to cover everything. This monthly fee will take into account extended repairs that may be needed in the future.

With a single family home everything is yours. There are no association rules and no association fees. There may also be a tendency for single family homes to appreciate in value more quickly than a condominium. With a single family home you enjoy more privacy, more control, and have sole responsibility for the property including all maintenance and repairs.

Depending on your needs and wants, either could be a great move for you and your family. To say one is better than the other comes purely from someones point of view. To look at your options and compare the two, contact Pete and John or visit our website to view our listings.

MN Fishing Opener Coming Up Saturday, May 12th!

For so many anglers, this week can be the longest week of the year. Fear not faithful; fishermen and women, Saturday will come! We thought it would be fun to make a list of the top 5 signs that you may have gone overboard waiting for the fishing opener.

1. You tie a doggie treat to your line on your fishing pole, and cast towards your sleeping dog.

2. Your spouse wakes up and finds you curled up in your boat sleeping.

3. You call in sick to work, so you can stay home and watch YouTube videos of fishing.

4. You spend your lunch hour downloading fishing apps on your smart phone.

5. You drive by your favorite fishing lake 2-3 times a day, just like in high school how you drove by that girls house that you secretly liked.

Last but not least we will leave you with this great YouTube video of fishing bloopers. Before we do though, Pete and John would like to wish you the very best this fishing opener! Go out and catch the big one!

Learn about renewable energy at the Northeast Library!

There are many of us that want to be able to do our part for the environment, but how many of us really do not

Northeast Library

even know where to begin? The Northeast Library in collaboration with Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, will be holding a meeting on May 5th from 11-12 that will address the basics, including options for installation in the state of Minnesota. Some of the topics that will be covered will be solar PV, solar hot water and space heating, and more. The address for the Northeast Library is 2200 Central Ave NE Mpls 55418. Their phone number is 612-543-6775 for more information.

Buying or selling in Northeast Minneapolis? Go with a team that has the years of experience you need for results in the NE Minneapolis area, and surrounding community. Pete and John are your friendly, neighborhood realty team. To go to our listings and contact info, click here!

Real Estate Market Getting More Competitive.

With the continued uptick in the Real Estate market, it is now even more important that you hire a professional

Realtor to assist with the buying or selling of your

home. There are a few  factors for the growth, with

the first one being the continued low interest rates

that are available to buyers.

Many are predicting that the interest rates will

slowly move upward this coming year, but no one

really knows how long these rates will last, and as a

result anyone that is considering buying, or has been

holding off buying, is now motivated to make a

move before it is too late.

Economists are predicting the unemployment rate to go down for 2012 which has encouraged Freddie Mac to

revise the Real Estate market to continue upward. With the variety of positive indicators, it is easy to see that

 2012 could be shaping up to be a very good year for Real Estate. If you are considering a move in Real

Estate,  and do not want to miss out on the current low interest rates,  contact us to discuss your needs.

Springbrook Nature Center is a great place to visit for learning and fun!

The Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley has been around for many years, yet there are still many who have not heard of it or not visited. If you are new to the area or thinking of moving into the area, you will definitely want to put this on your "to do" list. In a typical year the park will have around 200,000 visitors.  The park is 127 acres and is owned by the City of Fridley and offers many educational opportunities and events that people of all ages will enjoy.  If you just want to come and hang out or do your own thing, you can enjoy the three miles of hiking trails through the forest, prairie, savannah and wetland habitats, including floating boardwalks.  There are quiet places to relax like park benches, kiosks and a meditation garden. Meeting rooms, and restrooms are available also. Take the time to explore this great nature center in the city of Fridley. If you are looking for real estate in the Fridley area give Pete and John a call, they would be glad to show you around.

Real Estate Market Coming Back?

The 2012 Real Estate market is off to a strong start, which gets many people to ask the question, "Is this the turnaround we have been waiting for?" With the good start and the warm weather that we had in March, there are many buyers and sellers that are quite optimistic about the coming year. More and more of the distressed and foreclosed inventory, that has been a drag on the market, are coming off of the market. Homeowners that have been waiting in the wings to make a move, are now jumping in and buying and selling. Interest rates are still very good and nobody knows really how long they will last, which maybe gives extra motivation to buyers.So to answer the question if this is a turnaround or not, noone really knows, but all signs are good for the coming year. If you are considering buying or selling this year give us a call to discuss your situation. Pete and John look forward to the opportunity to serve you in this important decision. With their experience they can help make the process smooth and hassle free.

Bike Helmet Clinics coming to Blaine & Fridley.

Did you know that bike related crashes kill over 900 people annually and send over half a million people to the emergency room? Did you also know that wearing a bike helmet can reduce chances of a serious head injury by 85%? Those are some eye opening statistics that Anoka County would like the general population to realize.

 

Blaine and Fridley will be holding bike helmet clinics on these dates:
April 10 at the Blaine Police department and the Anoka County Sheriffs office.
April 24 at the Fridley Police Department and
May 8 once again at the Blaine Police department.
For addresses and times go to their website.

At the clinics you will be able to purchase new adult or children's bike helmets for only $12, or feel free to bring your own helmet in to have it inspected for proper fit and safety.

No appointment will be necessary, and you do not have to be a resident of Anoka County. Cash or checks only will be taken for new helmets. Pete & John hope that parents that need helmets for themselves or their children, will take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.

Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels Offer Best Return for Sellers.

When you are preparing your home to be sold you obviously want to be able to recoup as much money as possible from any upgrading or remodeling you will be doing to make the house, condo or town home more sale-able. In every area of the country bathroom and kitchen remodels offer the most appeal and best return on investment. Typically you can expect 100-105% return on your costs. There are some things to keep in mind though when doing these remodels.

- Keep within the boundaries of your neighborhood. Having a high end slab granite countertop may look great, but if none of your neighbors have slab granite countertops, it will be hard to recoup the cost of the expensive countertop.
- Avoid flashy or bright colors. Go with neutral colors. You may love an exotic or bright color but you need to remember you are remodeling for the buyer and not yourself.
- If you are not sure what direction you should go with your remodeling or a good spending limit for your area, consult your realtor. We are here to help!

New Brighton Rich in History.

The New Brighton Historical Society was formed in 1980 by Julie Beisswenger, Gene Skiba, Leone Aronson, and Joyce Kloncz. The four began meeting in 1979 to discuss the forming of the Historical Society. The foundation for the society was Jane Newham's papers that she had written while attending Metropolitan State University. Soon the organization became a robust, growing group that first met at the old New Brighton Elementary School, which was then the community center.  Julie Beisswenger become the Society’s first president.The rest, as they say, is history. 

The Congregational Church was 1st church in New Brighton

Stock Yards from 1890's

The New Brighton Historical Museum is located at 700 Park Drive in Long Lake Regional Park, and has many interesting exhibits and displays from years gone by in New Brighton. There are several annual events that the Historical Society participates in including its own annual meeting in April, Rhubarb Fest in June, Stockyard Days in August, Victorian Tea in August, Over 80's Harvest Dinner in October, and the city Town Hall meeting also in October. For more information you can visit their website.


To see beautiful homes for sale in the New Brighton area click here!

Kroening Interpretive Center Anniversary Celebration

The Kroening Interpretive Center is celebrating their 10th anniversary, and you are invited to celebrate with them! Come meet live animals, visit with costumed characters, make a celebration kite, help create our river of wishes and design a piece of art to add to the interpretive center. Check out a GPS unit and learn about the river on the anniversary course. Cake and puppet shows will be throughout the day. Enjoy the 10-year anniversary by getting reacquainted with the Mississippi River on Saturday March 17th. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.!

Are you or someone you know thinking of listing their home this Spring? Don't wait until Spring is upon us to begin the process! Fill out our easy form for Pete and John to give you a FREE market analysis on your property. 2012 is looking promising for the Real Estate market. Now could be your time to make a move!

St. Philip's Winter Kid's Carnival - Sat. March 3rd

St. Philip's is having a Winter Carnival for kids ages 2 years and up this Saturday! The doors will open at 10 a.m. and close at 4:00 pm and is open to the entire community. No need to worry about the snow or cold as the activities will be inside, and what are those activities? How about fun carnival games, a "junk food walk", food, bingo and a bouncy house. Admission is free and the games are .50 -$1.00 each to play. All proceeds going to their summer youth camps. The address is 6180 Hwy 65 NE in Fridley. We at twincitiesrealestateassociates.com wish them a very successful carnival!

Check out this beautiful rambler that is also in Fridley! Gorgeous wooded lot that is close to shopping, parks  and schools. This single family residence has 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and 2,477 square feet. Newer furnace, central air and 2 fireplaces are just the beginning. Check it out here!

Great Start for Housing in 2012!

Things are beginning to look up for 2012 in the housing market. This year is off to a strong start according to reports that have been released from the MN Association of Realtors. Statewide, there were 4,345 closed sales in January, a 6.4 percent increase from last year. Pending sales, meanwhile, also rose 14.5 percent from last year. The median sale price of a home was $125,660, down only 0.5% from last year at this time, making January's  the smallest drop since the housing downturn began. Chris Galler, Chief Executive of the MN Association of Realtors, says he is relieved to see prices stabilizing and is feeling good going into this Spring. Galler also stated that sales of distresses homes statewide was at about 25% compared to the Twin Cities at 55%, according to a index released by the University of St Thomas. Although distressed sales are expected to be with us for awhile, we are going into 2012 with some real optimistic signs for the Twin Cities area. Here's to a great year!

Source: Star Tribune

Pre Approval First Step in Home Shopping

In years gone by getting a mortgage was as easy as going to Wal Mart to pick out a pair of pants. These days it can be  more difficult for even someone with good credit to get a home loan. Before even looking at real estate, you will want to get a pre approval letter from your lender. The pre approval letter will tell both your agent and the seller that "yes, I can afford this property" and will assure all parties of a quicker closing if a price can be agreed upon. With a pre approval letter the buyer is in a much better position to negotiate.

Below are some tips you should know when seeking a pre approval letter from a lender.

Shop Around
 No need to go overboard, but talking to 2-3 lenders will give you some options and may get you a better rate.

Prepare Financial Papers
 Talk to your lender to see what they want, but most likely will include: tax returns, W2's or 1099's, bank statements, pay stubs and investment statements.

Know That You Are Not Obligated to One Lender
 Just because you have a pre approval letter from a lender, you are not obligated to go with that lender. If you decide to go with another lender, you can.

Pre Approval Letters Expire
 Make sure you know when the expiration date is on your pre approval letter. Typically they are good for 90 days. If you are getting close to the expiration date, you may want to ask your lender to re validate the letter with a new date.

For further questions please feel free to contact Pete & John.

Welcome to the Twin Cities Real Estate Associates Blog!

As Twin Cities real estate agents, we are always looking for new ways to communicate with our clients and provide them with valuable information. We pride ourselves on utilizing the most innovative and creative marketing strategies to provide the Twin Cities area with the most up-to-date and pertinent real estate information. We also pride ourselves on the exceptional customer service we provide to help people buy or sell their Twin Cities homes. The way that we have been able to successfully achieve these goals is by keeping the lines of communication open, and that is where this blog can become useful.

By providing top-notch buyer and seller tips, the most up-to-date information about the Twin Cities real estate market and important community information, we are acting as the premier experts and resources for you during your real estate transaction. The key to a successful real estate transaction is to be open from the beginning about your expectations. You tell us what you expect from your home sale or purchase, and we will tell you what you can expect. This makes each Twin Cities real estate transaction as seamless and smooth as it possibly can be.

While we think it’s incredibly important to listen to the needs and requests of our clients, we also use our extensive knowledge of the Twin Cities real estate market and community to manage their expectations and give them a realistic idea of what they can expect from working with us. We aim to help our community be as prepared as they can be for any real estate transaction or relocation to the Twin Cities area.

Each week on this blog, we will be providing you with the most up-to-date information about the local real estate market, buyer and seller tips, ways to prepare yourself for your Twin Cities real estate transaction, community events and news of interest. Whether you’re new to the area or have lived here your whole life, this well-rounded approach to our blog will be informative and useful to you. By switching topics frequently, we will be providing you with the most information possible.

Our goal in maintaining this blog is to be the go-to resource for anything related to the Twin Cities area. Our years of living and working as Twin Cities real estate agents have given us the extensive knowledge needed to guide you through every phase of your real estate transaction. We want to use our expertise for your benefit, and we aim to be a trusted resource that you feel comfortable using for any of your Twin Cities real estate needs.

We look forward to updating this blog weekly with useful and valuable information! We hope that you will check back often and see what’s new. If you need anything, or have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d be glad to take time to speak with you. We hope to hear from you soon!


Pete Heryla and John Rockwell
Twin Cities Real Estate Associates
ERA Muske Company Real Estate
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Come back soon for Twin Cities area real estate information and more!