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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