Twin Cities Real Estate

Wind and Houses

It is on a windy day like today and the wind of the past few days that  I am reminded of the clause in the purchase agreement that talks about damage to a property from the date the purchase agreement is signed until the date of closing  referring to an "act of God" or vandalism.

This clause of a few lines is not paid much attention to when the purchase agreement is being signed, but when damage is done it is the clause that helps buyers.  A buyer does not need to close on a damaged property.  The purchase agreement could be canceled or insurance funds transferred to the new owner to make the repairs.

Last Memorial Weekend in parts of the Twin Cities a hail storm damaged many roofs and siding of properties.  It was a time when many purchase agreements were written.  That clause helped sales go through and repairs made later.  In fact that clause is still in play as we list houses and see damage from last year that was not reported to insurance companies.  In many cases the insurance company will make the repairs from past storms.

The same clause would come into effect if a property were tagged or other acts of vandalism were done to a property. 

A well written purchase agreement will make a sales transaction move along smoothly.

LONGER DAYS MEAN MORE DAYLIGHT

I say, "Bring it on."  All this daylight makes life so much easier for everyone but especially for Realtors.  Once Memorial Day Weekend hits, we often change our showing schedules from weekends to week day nights.  Many buyers head to that "cabin" during the summer months, so they are not around for weekend showings. 

The extended days allows me to meet buyers after their work day and still see 4 or 5 houses before the sun sets.  Sellers need to be prepared for later showings now that there is so much daylight.  The houses look so much better with daylight.  You don't get a good idea of what the yard is like cupping your hands looking into darkness through a cold window.  You can actually walk the yard at 7:00 PM!

More daylight also brings a higher energy level to everyone.  I can show three sets of buyers on a Saturday and still have energy to go dancing that night.  This should only help our real estate market that is showing small signs of recovery. 

We will have our longest day in June which reminds me that we have our shortest day in December.  December reminds me that on the 1st the $8,000 first time buyer rebate ends.  So-------with all this extra sunshine we must show as many houses and get as many buyers to buy.  See why I say, "Bring it on!"

Mothers

 

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;

they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils

are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,

filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough

doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what

the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'

and get their answer when a little
voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth

is not measured by height or years or grade...

It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she
carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,

because that is the doorway to her heart,

the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,

but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she
shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Please send this to 5 Mom's today.

If you don't, nothing bad will happen,
but if you do, something good
will:
You will boost a Mother spirits.

Hitting the Bottom

I can remember as a kid diving into a pool and searching with my hands for the bottom.  I always wanted to know when I had hit bottom.  It told me I could then shoot up to the surface and get air.  I would do that again and again and feel such excitement doing so.  There was a sense of security when I knew where the bottom of the pool was.  Where I could stand and be able to keep my chin above the water was important to me.  The bottom felt solid.  I could only go up from there.

So it is true with real estate.  We all want to know when we have reached the bottom of the deckling real estate market.  It will not be announced on the evening news.  CNN will not put a flash on the bottom of your TV screen or send it to you via email.  You will know when the real estate market has hit bottom 6 months after it has happened.  Prices will start slowly returning to the surface.

We are getting a  hint that here in the Twin Cities that bottom might be reached in 6+ months.  What tells me this is what is happening in Sacramento, Calif and Las Vegas, Nevada.  These two cities were where the market first dropped and dropped and dropped.  Some neighborhoods in these cities only have foreclosed properties.  We are seeing sales in these towns and the prices are rising ever so slowly. 

The Midwest will take many months to feel that recovery spread here.  The other thing we need to remember is that for the sleepy  Midwest the Twin Cities had property values rise quickly and to new heights.  That means it will be a slow and longer recovery for us.

We are not at the bottom yet, but our area should be ready to see the bottom come soon.  We need to reach out with our hands and feel for that bottom.  One must remember if you know you have reached the bottom of real estate, you are 6 months late and already paying rising prices.

A SMILE FOR YOUR FACE

Here is a good laugh. 

Those of us who are listing agents know how concerned our sellers are when their house has a completed purchase agreement, but the property still needs to go through a buyer's inspection.  It seems to take so long to get the results, and those results seem to pick the property apart.

I sell primarily in the cites and the houses were prior to 1970, so there are code concerns, older windows, and that chimney that always needs tuck pointing.  The scare comes when the inspector informs the home owner that there is a gas leak and it needs to be taken care of at once.

This happened to one of my sellers on Friday.  As soon as I got the notice I had her call the gas company.  She called and they told her they would be right out and gave her instructions as to what to do.  The technician arrived.  His first questions was, "Why are you sitting in the dark?" Her reply was, "Because your company told me not to touch the light switches."  He walked on and went into the basement with his meter to read gas levels.  He asked my seller, "I see your house is on the market. By any chance did you have a buyer's inspection today?"  "Why yes she said.  How did you know?"  He replied, "It happens all the time.  The instruments of the inspectors are not very good and they read wrong.  Lady, there is not gas leak in your house.  You can go to bed."

My seller called me and the two of us had the best laugh.  A gas leak is serious and is nothing to laugh at.  It should be checked out.  The humor was in the repair person who begged the house for sale and the inspection.

A SMILE FOR YOUR FACE

Here is a good laugh. 

Those of us who are listing agents know how concerned our sellers are when their house has a completed purchase agreement, but the property still needs to go through a buyer's inspection.  It seems to take so long to get the results, and those results seem to pick the property apart.

I sell primarily in the cites and the houses were prior to 1970, so there are code concerns, older windows, and that chimney that always needs tuck pointing.  The scare comes when the inspector informs the home owner that there is a gas leak and it needs to be taken care of at once.

This happened to one of my sellers on Friday.  As soon as I got the notice I had her call the gas company.  She called and they told her they would be right out and gave her instructions as to what to do.  The technician arrived.  His first questions was, "Why are you sitting in the dark?" Her reply was, "Because your company told me not to touch the light switches."  He walked on and went into the basement with his meter to read gas levels.  He asked my seller, "I see your house is on the market. By any chance did you have a buyer's inspection today?"  "Why yes she said.  How did you know?"  He replied, "It happens all the time.  The instruments of the inspectors are not very good and they read wrong.  Lady, there is not gas leak in your house.  You can go to bed."

My seller called me and the two of us had the best laugh.  A gas leak is serious and is nothing to laugh at.  It should be checked out.  The humor was in the repair person who begged the house for sale and the inspection.

HOW YOUR REFRIGERATOR CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

The refrigerator you have in your kitchen may just save your life.  Yes, you can think of food, drinks, storing certain meds, and most of all keeping that whip cream pie safe, but the refrigerator can do more.

 

When it is necessary to call 911 for medical help or if ETM's find it necessary to break into our homes, they might find us but nothing else to tell them about who we are, who to call, our medical history, and what we want done when caring for us.  The law does not allow them to look through drawers or other personal items in our home without legal instructions.  That can take time and that can mean life or how fast we recover.  The law does say the refrigerator in our house is open to all who want to look inside.

 

In our house tucked in with the eggs one would find information about my husband and I.  Our medical conditions, the meds we take, our health instructions, our doctor, our attorney, and the next of kin to reach is safe with the eggs.  Take note Charles and I are healthy and hope never to use this spot in the refrigerator but to keep eggs.  Yet, these papers are safe there and ready to inform medical personnel about our needs and wishes.  Yes, this sounds funny, but it is for real.  Many municipalities have tubal containers you can pick up from them and tuck the papers into.  Ours sit in a plastic bag with instructions in red ink. 

 

You might just pat the refrigerator next time you walk past it and thank it for doing more than just holding your food fresh.  It might be your life saver.