Twin Cities Real Estate

Open Houses

Weekends to this Realtor mean Open Houses. Don’t feel sorry for me, it is my way of life. After 23 years in the real estate business, I figure I can grab my dry cleaning Wednesday a.m. when the rest of you are at work.

There is an art to a successful open. You need to take time to put out and take in many sandwich signs. I have almost been run over several times by doing this task. I have been drenched by rain and snow. You cannot put out signs and carry an umbrella. Drivers are not kind when they splash you as they wiz by. I get to spend the next four hours a little soggy.

I never know what to expect when I hold an open. If the weather is too nice, the traffic can be slow due to people wanting to play. Lousy weather can send people to the movies. Some people thin the Vikings games have an effect on attendance. I say, “hold the open and get what you get.”

There is a “Please Remove Your Shoes” sign at the front door of my houses. I am perplexed by those visitors who get irritated when they are asked to take their shoes off. Those who come in Army combat boots I figure were not planning on coming to an open. They get “dragged” along. It is a courtesy to the seller, but think if you did end up buying this house and you would not want many pairs of shoes scuffing the floors or dirtying the carpet.

I attempt to try to figure out who are buyers, lookers and neighbors. Neighbors are always welcome but they are so shy. They never want me to know who they are. Please, come to my opens and don’t make excuses. I like visitors who are honest with me. Tell me your name and they tell me never to contact you. There can only be so many Mary Millers that go through opens! Be honest with me, and I will be fair back. It is frustrating the number of people that go to opens for entertainment. My job is to assist the seller in selling that home. Keep that in mind whey going to an open. Leave pets at home and kids in hand.

I enjoy opens and always welcome people who respect the property I am holding open.

Free Buyers Seminars

Want to Know about Buying Real Estate?

Come to one of the free, no obligation sessions

SEPTEMBER

Saturdays 6, 13, 20 & 27 10:00 am to 11:30 am

Tuesdays 9, 16, 23, & 30 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

We will discuss:

What mortgages are available now?

What are the steps to buying?

Townhouse, condo, or single family?

How much does a buyer really have to have?

Email jane@thepaulusteam.com or call Jane 952

Advantages of Owning A House

Realtors are quick to point out the tax advantages of owning a house. How you can write off the yearly interest paid on your mortgage and the yearly real estate taxes are always discussed. This is true. The Realtor likes to point out the flower advantage.

Owning your own piece of dirt allows you to plant gardens and then reap the rewards. Gardens are a work in progress. I am always exchanging plants with friends. I find a new plant an in it goes. This year I added natural grasses to my gardens. They help keep the weeds down and provide a natural back drop for my Black Eyed Susans and Cone Flowers.

My gardens get me up early in the morning before the heat of the day and mosquitoes, to tend to their needs. It is a good way for me to keep my mind clear and my muscles working. During the average summer I will take off 10 lbs. just pulling weeds.

Gardens draw butterflies to my yard. They bring in neighbors and people walking by that want to enjoy the riot of colors. They give me a bench calling me to sit and stare at their beauty. The garden provides the finale resting place for the ashes of our beloved dog. It is the spot where I taught my granddaughter to smell and be gentle. They furnished the flowers for our daughter’s wedding.

During the cool hours, I can cut the ample supply of flowers provided by my gardens and fill vases. My rooms ad porch are filled with colors and fragrances. Pholx drop their petals quickly but supply bright colors and the best aroma. The Cone Flowers and Black Eyed Susans lat a good week. For three months I can put the flower shops out of business.

Gardens are really easy. You don't need much. A good pare of gloves, knee pads, spade and clippers will get you started. Ask friends to divide their plants. Watch for community garden clubs to have sales in the spring. Take seed and watch them grow. You have a green thumb if you let its true color show.

Your house with your garden will be your oasis in this over

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whelming world we live in. Yes, owing a house has real advantages.

Isolated Minnesota

 

We have a saying in real estate that people cry twice when they learn they are moving to Minnesota. Once when they learn they are moving here and again when they learn they are moving away!

Minnesota gets a bad rap from the media. When our temperature is posted, I think it is always the town Embarass, MN, which gets above freezing around July 4th. The movie about Minnesota "Grumpy Old Men". Not all of us snowmobile down the middle of the street, (which is illegal in most communities), and we don't all ice fish. It is true that all the women look like Ann Margaret and Sophia Loren.

We are a well kept secret. The outside world is not aware of our four seasons. Each season brings a new activity or interest for us. Our quality of living is outstanding. The education received here is some of the best in the United States. The fortune 500 companies are numerous. In Minnesota we have the highest number of women with post high school education and rightly receive the best incomes for females in the U.S..

We might be tucked up along the Canadian border in the Mid-West, but we do have things to do. The things to do relate more to the outdoors, agriculture and self-made fun. We are not an easy drive to any major city. It is a plane ride that gets you to Chicago in under an hour. The best way to enjoy this state is by car. It amazes me how many people have not gone up to Duluth and further north to be impressed by the North Shore. A week ago we were staying at Larsmont Cottages outside of Two Harbors. We met a couple from Boston. They had selected the North Shore by searching on the Internet. The North Shore has many features of Cape Cod but not the traffic and crowds. Charles and I have gone to Itasca State Park and followed the Mississippi River from its source down through Illinois never getting on a freeway. They still have motels where you can put a quarter in the bed and kinda feel it vibrate. You can go to so many places in this state and be amazed by small things.

We will always be the unknown wonderland but that is just fine. If keeps crowds up at Cape Cod.