Perfect Day For Beautiful Homes And Outdoor Dining
Yesterday (Saturday) was the perfect day. The weather was perfect, and the buyer I was working with fell in love with the 2nd home I showed her yesterday. On Tuesday she asked me, “Do people ever walk into a home and just know it is the perfect one?”
Yesterday she got her wish. The 2nd home we looked at in the Linden Hills Neighborhood of Minneaoplis took her breath away when we walked in the front door. It was a beautiful, classic Southwest Minneapolis craftsman, in excellent condition.
She loved it and I was happy she loved it. It is an excellent find, only being 1 day on the market. After looking at the entire home and at her request, we cancelled all other showings, and promptly returned to my office at Edina Realty - 50th and France - and proceeded to write a purchase agreement.
Afterward, as I walked down the street from my office, I saw something I had not seen in about 7 months: People eating out at a couple of restaurants in the 50th and France neighborhood. It was warm and beautfiful.
Since I happened to have my camera, seeing this inspired me to take this photo.
This, in tandem with my perfect buyer finding her perfect home made it a perfect day!
Minneapolis Market Update and Feedback
The spring buyoff is in full-force. Homes are definately moving. I had a very busy open house today and had many conversations with buyers. They all had pretty much the same story: Yet another beautiful home that was priced well, sold before they came to see it. They waited too long.
Example: The home I had open today went on the market on Tuesday and officially sold yesterday. Three buyers were circling the night it went on the market, and it was only a matter of who would pull out their pen and write a purchase agreement first.
The home had to remain open today because the open was scheduled and the buyers have not yet had their inspection (which should not be a problem, as the home is in pristine condition), but all people today were not too happy to hear it had sold.
At least 6 groups of buyers were very distressed (to say in the least). They said this has been happening to them lately; they find a home on the MLS they like, or their agent has been asking them to see, the buyers hesitated, thinking it would be there forever, only to find when they finally do consent to a showing, or come out for the open house, the home is sold.
Recent Minneaplis Area Association of Realtors (MAAR - linked on sidebar)Market statistics show that homes are indeed moving and have been doing so for the past few weeks.
With interest rates still bouncing around the 6% range, home prices at or near bottom, you’ll wish later you were buying now.
Advice #1: when you think you’ve found the right home, don’t hesitate…it’s likely the other people who’ve had their eye on it won’t either.
Advice #2: If you’ve been waiting to see if rates and pricing are going to get better, don’t. I don’t think they will, or at least not by a significant enough amount to wait for the right home to drop in price, or rates to lower. Most lenders and agents I speak with think the same way.
Now is the right time. As an agent with Edina Realty at the 50th and France office, I see a lot of nice listings in the Minneapolis downtown, lakes-area, South, Southwest and Edina areas. The problem is, I don’t see the decent listings for very long, because when a good one comes on the market, it sells very quickly.
This means you see them even less…if at all.
There are a lot of listings, but not a lot of great listings. When a good one comes along, I suggest you move fast!
There are many buyers looking for the same thing.
New On The Photography Front
I’m pretty psyched. I just purchased a new Nikon D80 DSLR camera with all the goodies…18-55 VR lens, a 55-200 VR lens, an SB-600 flash along with a tripod and bag.
At first I purchased the D60, but after testing it out for a week, I exchanged it for the heavier D80, which has more professional features.
After a bit of a break from photography, I have decided it is going to be something I am going to start pursuing - as a hobby - again.
My photographic background goes back many years, actually my entire life. My father went to photo school and opened his studio in the mid 70’s. My brothers (Gabe and Greg) and I grew up helping him on shoots and eventually taking on shoots of our own…anything from Weddings, seniors (the high-school type), families, church events all the way to modelling, commercial and political.
My brother Gabe and I ended up graduating with degrees in photography. I eventually gravitated toward a different direction, meanwhile my brothers eventually took over the family business of photography.
As of late, my brothers (Haney’s Photography) have been hired by the organizations of directly and indirectly for Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Barack Obama, Tim Pawlenty, Norm Coleman, Sam Donaldson and for many other political figures.
They’ve also been shooting weddings for players on the Minnesota Wild, commercial shoots for Redken Salon Products in NYC and nationwide radio personalities, as well as a fair amount of magazine covers in the past 2 years.
Their primary location is in Fargo-Moorhead, but now a twin-cities location is opening in Edina, MN as well. It’s a smart move as they do a fair amount of business down here and fly an awful lot from the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport.
As always, we all shot for our own interest on the side. My own home is filled with many fine prints my father has taken in Ireland, NYC or the wilds of Minnesota. He is also a master framer, as the photography and framing/matting go hand-in-hand well.
Selling real estate is a 7-day a week, days and evenings profession, but I am going to try to squeeze a little time in for a re-acquaintance with photography as a muse, or hobby. Now after my hiatus from photography, I have decided to start picking up the camera again. I want to capture nice images of my kids, real estate, the natural world and many of the multiple opportunities to capture various significant and (mostly) insignificant images.
Hence my splurge at Ritz Camera yesterday. I was going to get the Nikon D300, but decided the D80 would be fine for now, and if I find the passion continues beyond the 1-year point, I will then consider the upgrade. For now, the D80 is a fine camera.
The D80 was on sale, as It was a mother’s day special. So I am taking mucho images of my wife Wendy and our 3 kids.
I look forward to using it. All I have to do is find the time.
WSJ - The Housing Crisis Is Over
I think this is a very provocative article from the Wall Street Journal. While I do not have a crystal ball, I see a stabilization happening, with a 3-5 year ironing-out, or righting of the ship. I think by and large the bear has been reduced to a cub and may even be going into a summer hibernation. So does the Wall Street Journal. It’s all in the details:
Click here for the complete article