New listings are up on 1.3% over last year but pending sales are actually down 3%. That said, you can see in the charts below how closely they are tied together. If we had more new listings, I would expect pending sales would also be higher. But don't expect potential buyers to jump at every new listing... they are very discerning in their choices. Total inventory, however, continues to fall behind previous years, this year 19.9% below last year. Ten years ago, in March 2007, there were a total of 29,285 homes for sale... a 6.8 month supply. This year there are only 10,213 homes for sale... a 2.0 month supply. That is about a 65% drop in the supply of homes for sale over the last 10 years! Although the months supply of homes for sale is up from the 1.8 months it was December-February, it isn't by much. It would take only 2 months for all the homes to be sold if no new listings came on the market. It should come as no surprise that days on the market are also down, 14.1% below last year at 73 days. If you talk to buyers, they will likely tell you it feels more like 73 hours rather than days for the good listings! Don't expect to get a deal on price... often, the deal is securing the winning bid! Median sales price went up 7.0% to $237,500 and average sale price was 98.1% of list price. That means average sale price for a home listed at $225,000 was $220,725. The figures above are based on statistics for the combined 13-county Twin Cities metropolitan area released by the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors. Never forget that all real estate is local and what is happening in your neighborhood may be very different from the overall metro area. Click here for local reports on 350+ metro area communities Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis - St. Paul Real Estate Market HomesMSP Team- Sharlene, John, Angela - Minneapolis-St. Paul Realtors RELATED POSTS Why is there such a shortage of homes for sale? It's spring... 10 years after the foreclosure crisis New Construction Teardowns... and where to find them by price range February 2017 real estate market update... supply of homes for sale is down nationwide Continue reading

"Advice from friends is like the weather. Some of it is good; some of it is bad." ~ Arnold Lobel, Frog and Toad NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It's my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian 'Quote Cup' passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, and sometimes some photos of family fun. I love trying new recipes...and love getting recipes you would like to share! Tonight was our last show Children's Theater production of the season, but everyone voted to come back again next season! This season's last show was 'A Year with Frog and Toad'... premiered at CTC in 2002, then went on to Broadway where it was nominated for 3 Tony Awards... and back here again to end this season. The visual staging was impressive... so much with only 5 actors... loved their use of silhouettes. RECIPE OF THE WEEK This recipe came from a cookbook about 25 years old, NO RED MEAT by Brenda Shriver and Ann Tinsley. I had this recipe tagged for many years, used it for the first time a few weeks ago. Recipe notes say their grandson loves fish prepared this way... so did I! I used a whole egg instead of only egg white and butter instead of margarine. Forgot to take a photo! BRENDA'S BREADED FISH 3 fillets white fish, about 12 ounces 2 cups loosely packed fresh bread crumbs 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 egg 1 tablespoon water 1/8 teaspoon lemon pepper Dash of garlic powder 1 tablespoon butter, melted Parsley sprigs, lemon wedges to garnish if desired Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Realtor Who Cooks RELATED POSTS Wednesdays Unplugged - Golden Baked Walleye Wednesdsays Unplugged - Homemade Fishsticks Continue reading

Pent-up demand and low interest rates, combined with increased demand for desirable neighborhoods and school districts have been driving a teardown craze which has been going on for a number of years. Two neighborhoods at the epicenter of this craze are the Minneapolis Linden Hills neighborhood and the city of Edina. My experiences with teardowns in both of these neighborhoods as well as the Minneapolis Longfellow neighborhood last week made me curious to dip in deeper into teardowns listed on the MLS built since 2015. Red markers below are sold, orange pending, and green active and available for sale. Although they are scattered throughout the metro, the highest concentration is still in the Edina and Linden Hills neighborhoods. As I was chatting with a builder in the Linden Hills neighborhood, he said they get contacted regularly by homeowners wanting to sell their home but the market is starting to slow down as it gets saturated... not surprising given how many have already been built and sold in recent years. I was amazed that 67% of the comps I pulled for a coming Edina listing were built in the last 3 years... my listing will be in the historic Country Club district, the only part of Edina NOT marked by teardowns. Thinking you might like to buy a new house in an established neighborhood? They actually are available at different price points, but $400-$500k is the really price point for 'affordable' new construction homes in the city or in new developments. In the higher price ranges, most builders no longer do 'spec' homes but custom build to suit their buyer. Check the maps below to see where to find new construction teardowns by price range... then contact us if you would like to learn more or take a look! Interesting to see the concentration of new construction teardowns in the Longfellow neighborhood, as well as some clusters in St. Paul Mac-Groveland neighborhood. Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Walkable Neighborhood Realtor HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela - Edina Realtors RELATED POSTS Edina's 50th and France... walker's and shopper's paradise Spring is in the air around Lake Harriet in Linden Hills Connecting: Birdsong Soup to Convention Grill in Edina's Morningside Neighborhood Continue reading

Minneapolis has been called the 'Vatican' of the Lutheran Church... and Minnesota the Land of 10,000 Choirs. Both are thanks to the many Scandinavian Lutherans who settled in the upper Midwest when they immigrated in the late 1800s. To give you an idea of how prolific the Lutheran church is in Minneapolis I just did a Google search of Lutheran churches in Minneapolis and it came up with a list of 144 churches! Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis If Minneapolis is the 'Vatican', Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis is 'St. Peter's'. When it was founded in 1919, most Norwegian Lutheran congregations still conducted services in their native language, but Central was founded as an English only congregation and it quickly grew... reaching over 6,000 members at its peak in the late 1960's. Its towering stone structure at the edge of downtown Minneapolis reflects its importance as a symbol of the significance of the Lutheran Church in America. When we stopped there this morning, music from their carillon bells were ringing out over the city. The first wave of Lutheran immigrants were mainly Germans settling on the east coast, and they brought with them the music of Bach and pipe organs. But it was the Scandinavian Lutherans who later settled in the Midwest who expanded on that to influence the establishment of the American choral tradition. Because the official Lutheran Church in Scandinavia required that all children be taught to read and write, immigrants arrived with a high level of literacy. Those roots led them to found church-sponsored institutions of higher education, and their social singing clubs fostered a strong choral tradition which lives on today in Lutheran colleges and churches alike. As a result most Lutheran churches have a choir, regardless of size... and many congregational members are also schooled in choral singing resulting many congregations still singing in the traditional 4-part choral tradition in addition to newer musical styles and traditions. University Lutheran Church of Hope, Minneapolis Our church, University Lutheran Church of Hope near the UMN campus, is one such church that has a strong music tradition... one that pulls together many music styles and traditions from throughout the world. A singing tradition that ended today's festival service with the congregation joining the choir in singing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Arts Realtor The HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela RELATED POSTS Minnesota... Land of... Continue reading

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity recently asked if they could do a feature blog post on John and me... and of course we had to say yes! Imagine my delight when we got together and learned that the post was to be written by a fellow Cobber, Blake MacKenzie! He created a great post... thank you, Blake! Below is an excerpt... "I think of home as a sanctuary," Sharlene said. "Comforting, welcoming, warm, where you can be yourself. Home should be nurturing to your soul. A house is just a house, but the people in it make it a home." Sharlene and John have created a weekly sanctuary for their family in their home. As realtors, they know how a family’s life can be changed for the better when they finally own a home of their own. That’s why they support Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. By donating and volunteering, they are helping families build homes – and sanctuaries – of their own. ...read the full post at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Blog... it even includes a connection with one of our clients! Sharlene Hensrud, REALTOR RE/MAX Results HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela - Twin Cities Realtors RELATED POSTS Habitat transforms the lives of the 'invisible homeless' Thank you... why I support Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity ReStore... a home remodeler's dream place Continue reading

"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees." ~ Amelia Earhart NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It's my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian 'Quote Cup' passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, and sometimes some photos of family fun. I love trying new recipes...and love getting recipes you would like to share! After a glorious weekend touching the 70s we were greeted by snow through the night on Monday... it is Minnesota, after all! We attended One Day University at the Guthrie on Saturday with fabulous lectures by some of the top professors in the country. John is enjoying volunteering at both the Guthrie and Habitat ReStore. Our son is helping set up a new store in Seattle this week... he joined us for Wednesday night dinner via speaker phone, which his son put on his chair! Oh, yes... and through it all we have been crazy busy with buyers and sellers! RECIPE OF THE WEEK Our family loves deviled eggs, and I couldn't resist making these deviled egg chicks from Natasha's Kitchen for Easter week... with a little help from our Wednesday night guests. DEVILED EGG CHICKS 12 large eggs, hard boiled and peeled 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 small carrot, peeled and sliced into discs then cut into 6 'pie' wedges 6 black olives Straw With a sharp knife, slice off a thin layer from the base of the egg to create a flat surface for standing the egg on a platter. Cut off a generous top the of the egg and squeeze out the yolk into a bowl. Keep the tops with their bases. Mash the combined yolks and add 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Generously fill egg bases and gently press tops over the filling. For the eyes, poke through the olives with a straw and blow out the little circles of black olive. Insert 2 olive spots for the eyes and 2 carrots wedges for each beak. Set chicks on a platter garnished with fresh parsley. Sharlene... Continue reading

As with most things, the current housing supply shortage can't be explained by just one thing... there are multiple factors involved, many of them after-effects of the burst of the housing bubble about 10 years ago. 1. People aren't moving as often One of the contributing factors is people simply aren't moving as often as they did prior to the housing market downturn so aren't selling their homes as often. This is compounded when they can't find a new home to buy because of the current short supply and decide to stay and remodel/renovate instead. Chart from National Association of REALTORS® - PROFILE OF HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS 2016 From 1985 to 2008 people stayed in a home an average of 6 years before selling and buying another home. It rose after that, partly because potential sellers were underwater on their mortgages and couldn't afford to move. The average is now 10 years. This longer tenure is a trend I see reflected in current buyer decision-making even for first-time buyers, many of whom saw family and friends stuck when their homes lost value. The majority of buyers I work with now are planning to stay in their homes for 10 years or more. Nationally 15% of buyers say they play to stay 8-10 years and 26% 16 years or more! This diminishes the number of homes available for sale simply due to the lower turnover rate. 2. About half the homes sold 2009-2012 went to investors... many are renting them rather than selling them When foreclosures dominated the market 2009-2012 many of those homes were gobbled up by investors. Some of the homes were rehabbed and resold but many of them were rehabbed and rented. Those homes don't have 'normal' turnover rates and contribute to the shortage of homes for sale, particularly in the lower price ranges. Chart from Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors 3. New construction market share was 14.8% before the crash, it now has a 6.9% share New construction also plummeted when the market adjusted and although it is now increasing, it still contributes to the shortage... compounded by the fact that available land may not match where buyers want to live and median price of a new construction house is $407,822 vs $252,500 for a previously owned house. 4. Rising rents and low interest rates create higher buyer demand It isn't as much the number of... Continue reading

When I read that Minneapolis was ranked the 3rd most literate city in America in 2016 it was in the back of my mind that I thought I had heard we were #1 before, and indeed we were... in 2015! In fact the same three cities... Washington DC, Seattle and Minneapolis... have all been in the top 3 every year since 2010. We attended One Day University at the Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis yesterday, where they bring together the greatest professors from the world's top schools to present special versions of their best lectures... live. They now present in 55 cities, but their very first one was in Minneapolis... for good reason! All the presenters said this is their favorite city... because of the engaged audience with great questions. The photo above was taken from the new US Bank football stadium, which will be the site of Super Bowl LII in 2018. Just one example of the great diversity of sports, nature, the arts and literacy that the Twin Cities has to offer! Here are some other brag-worthy rankings... Minnesota ranked least stressed state in the country Minneapolis ranked 2nd best biking city on Earth Minnesota ranked 3rd best state for Millennials Minneapolis ranked 6th best city for an active lifestyle Minneapolis ranked 9th best sports city for fans 5 Minneapolis restaurants ranked among top 100 hotsports in America for 2017 Minnesota State Fair ranked #1 state fair in America Minneapolis North Loop ranked in Fodor's Top 25 World Destinations Minnesota ranked 2nd smartest state in America Surly named one of the 50 best brewers in the world and best brewery in Minnesota Manny's Steakhouse ranked in 10 best steakhouses in the world 15 companies ranked for LGBT equality Walker Art Center ranked 13th best art museum in America Minneapolis ranked 4th best city for festivals in America Minneapolis-St. Paul ranked 3rd best city for beer lovers Minnesota ranked 3rd most energy efficient state in America Minneapolis ranked 7th greenest city in America Minneapolis ranked 3rd most romantic city Target Field ranked in America's best baseball stadiums Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Twin Cities Realtor HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela - Minneapolis-St. Paul Neighborhoods RELATED POSTS A thundering Open House at US Bank Stadium... new home of the Minnesota Vikings Minneapolis Made the Top 10 List of Cities Residents Never Want to Leave Living in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota...... Continue reading

The biggest reason young renters choose to buy is to have control over their living space... such as having the ability to paint whatever color they want, make updates and renovations, or add a pet. Infographic from Keeping Current Matters Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Minneapolis-St. Paul Realtor HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela - Minneapolis-St. Paul Relocation RELATED POSTS 4 tips to help make your dream of owning your own home come true Ready to buy? Start by creating a home buying plan Tips for choosing a great real estate agent Continue reading

You finally got an offer accepted on what will be your new home and came to an agreement following the inspection. It's time to start packing... but what are the rest of the steps to closing and getting the keys to your new home? Appraisal - the inspection is done for you, the appraisal is done for your lender to make sure the value is there to support the amount of your loan Title work and title insurance commitment – you must purchase title insurance for the lender and have the option to add owner’s title insurance for yourself as well, which I highly recommend… I would never buy a property without it; it is a one-time charge which protects you for as long as you own the property, even if you re-finance; you would only need it when it comes time to sell and most of the time it isn’t needed, but when it is it can cause big problems in your sale; cost is included in your closing costs… here is a link to a blog post that explains it… Do I really need title insurance? What is it anyway? Underwriting your mortgage – expect your lender to contact you asking for what seems like a million details regarding your personal finances You will be notified of closing time by your closer once it is scheduled with everyone Arrange for your homeowner’s insurance, need to provide proof of insurance to your lender for your mortgage Arrange for your utilities at your new home Final underwriting approval Shortly after that is completed you will get a closing disclosure from your lender that lists all the details of closing costs, etc and includes the amount of cash you will need to bring to closing – you must sign and return Arrange for certified funds for closing, either via wire transfer or cashier’s check payable to your title company – also plan to bring a blank personal check to closing in case there is some minor change, which you can pay for by personal check (rarely happens, but is possible) Schedule final walk through of your new home shortly before closing (often the day of closing, right before heading to closing office) Attend closing where you pay and sign papers transferring ownership to you – usually takes about an hour Get the keys to your new home!! Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results... Continue reading

I have my favorites, which is what I started out with, but there are so many wonderful places and pizzas, I couldn’t help but add a few more shops to the list. Continue reading

"We have created imaginary boundaries, forgetting that in reality we are all living together." ~ Madisyn Taylor NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It's my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian 'Quote Cup' passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, and sometimes some photos of family fun. I love trying new recipes...and love getting recipes you would like to share! It is starting to really feel like spring... love the brilliant morning sun and the tracery of the trees before their leaves arrive. RECIPE OF THE WEEK I grew up on recipes made with cans of cream of mushroom soup, but I like homemade without all the oil so much better... like this recipe from The Pioneer Woman. HOMEMADE CONDENSED CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP NOTE: a 10 3/4 ounce can of condensed mushroom soup is about 1 1/4 cups. This recipe makes 1 1/2 cups of condensed soup. 1/4 cup butter 6 ounces mushrooms, finely chopped 1/4 cup finely diced onion 1 clove garlic, minced Salt and pepper, to taste 1/4 cup flour 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup chicken broth Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add mushrooms and onions and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add flour and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Quickly whisk in cream and chicken broth until smooth. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. This is a condensed soup, so it should be saltier than normal. Allow to cool slightly before transferring to a jar or freezer-safe jar to store in refrigerator or freezer. To reconstitute, add 1 1/2 cups of liquid such as chicken broth, milk, water or a combination. Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Realtor Who Cooks RELATED POSTS Wednesdays Unplugged - Mystery Hot Dish Wednesdays Unplugged - Fresh Green Bean Casserole Continue reading

Wondering whether you should buy a house or a townhouse or a condo? Here are some of the differences to help you decide which is the best fit for you. When you buy a house you own a piece of land and all the structures on in, including the house and garage. Restrictions about what you can do with your property are primarily dictated by the city in which you live. When you buy a townhouse you own a section of a building from the ground to the sky and have your own private entrance from the street, much as with a house. You usually have at least one shared wall and may share up to three walls. This means outside light may be limited and the direction you face could be more important depending on your natural light preferences. Some town houses have no private grounds, some do... but all include some shared grounds. Rules about what you can do with your exterior vary from association to association and can include what color you can paint your front door and whether or not you can plant any bushes or flowers. If you want to do something outside normal standards you must request approval from the association board. When you buy a condo you are buying air space in a building and a share in the common areas. It is much like an apartment that you own. Top level units are often preferred because you have no one above you so overhead noise isn't an issue. It is not uncommon for condos to have restrictions on flooring because of noise... for example, some require carpet and some require a certain percentage of the floors be covered with area rugs. Both town houses and condos may have rules regarding pets, but condos are usually more restrictive. Many of the newer condos have fewer pet restrictions than older ones. When I start working with buyers I often hear complaints about the association fees associated with condos and town houses. In reality association fees are just a different way of assuming the responsibilities of home ownership. When you buy a house you assume responsibility for everything. In addition to electricity, gas, water, sewer and trash removal you also are responsible for hazard insurance, mowing the grass and shoveling the sidewalks and driveway. If the roof or siding needs to be replaced or the... Continue reading

New town home complexes often have upscale finishes and trendy design, but are lacking when it comes to practical space... for living, storage, garage, as well as surrounding green space! Add to that the spendy cost of newer construction and it can be difficult to come up with a realistic option. New Brighton's Windsor Green town house complex is a one-of-a-kind realistic option with space both inside and out. It was built in the 1960s... old enough so some units have already been beautifully updated, with others ready for you to make your own renovations. But regardless of finishes, they have space rarely found in town homes without higher price tags. New Brighton's Windsor Green was the first owner-occupied townhome complex in Minnesota and it was carefully designed to be an enticing reason to transition from a house. It was well planned when it was built and continues to be effectively self-managed and maintained, with an onsite manager hired by the association board. No rentals are allowed, resulting in residents who take pride in their homes. Its thoughtful plan with spacious units of six different designs all with double garages, 34 acres of beautiful, park-like grounds with miles of paths, 2 swimming pools, tennis courts and playgrounds give the feeling of owning your home in a resort setting where everything outside is taken care of for you. All this, and Silverwood Regional Park (part of Three Rivers Park District) with a focus on arts and the environment is right across the street... and Silver Lake Village with shopping, dining and services is just down the street only about half a mile away. Here are some things a current resident has liked about living in Windsor Green... Community run by a board of elected officials Low monthly fees, currently $235 a month Grounds professionally kept up by staff who are friendly and helpful at all times Onsite office is a friendly place to get all your questions answered Clean pools in the spring to fall with working equipment and tables and chairs Tennis court with lessons if you want Many activities to participate in if you choose throughout the year Child friendly as well as pet friendly Well lit at night... I worked different hours and found this inviting Safe at all times Quiet neighborhood Close to Silverwood Park Public transportation nearby Want to find out more about Windsor Green? Let... Continue reading

"The way you look at things is the most powerful force in shaping your life." ~ John O'Donohue NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It's my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian 'Quote Cup' passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, and sometimes some photos of family fun. I love trying new recipes...and love getting recipes you would like to share! I made a brief stop at the Del Toro exhibit at MIA last weekend between appointments... it was so fun to see the galleries filled with people and the museum teeming with life. John was busy cooking today, and everyone pitched in to help with a mailing... many hands make light work. RECIPE OF THE WEEK I was hungry for soup this week and John obliged by preparing this week's recipe from The Pioneer Woman. It was delicious even without the tortilla strips! CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP 2 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup diced onion 1/4 cup diced green bell pepper 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes and green chilies 32 ounces chicken stock 3 tablespoons tomato paste 4 cups hot water 2 cans (15 oz) black beans, drained 3 tablespoons cornmeal or masa 5 whole tortillas, cut into uniform strips about 2-3 inches Garnishes: sour cream, diced avocado, diced red onion, salsa or pico de gallo, grated monterey jack cheese, cilantro Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder and salt. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil on chicken breasts, then sprinkle a small amount of spice mix on both sides. Set aside the rest of the spice mix. Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until chicken is done. Use two forks to shred chicken. Set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add onions, red pepper, green pepper, and minced garlic. Stir and begin cooking, then add rest of the spice mix. Stir to combine, then add shredded chicken and stir. Pour in Rotel, chicken stock, tomato... Continue reading

We transition through many changes in our lifetime, many of which are also reflected in our housing life cycle. Thanks to insights gained from transitions life coach Beata Rydeen, I have learned to think about life changes as part our life spiral. The spiral is an ancient symbol of growth and renewal, where we keep cycling and re-cycling throughout our lifetime. Which brings me to my 'Kinky Slinky'....I think of it as a symbol of our life spiral. It was perfectly smooth when I got it...until I had great fun playing with it with our grandson and it got some kinks in it. I realized that's much like our lives...they aren't all smooth and regular, they are riddled with twists and turns and kinks...and hopefully some fun along the way. Sometimes transitions come when we're not ready for them but they come nevertheless and keep popping up even though we may try to keep them down. The openings on both ends of my 'kinky slinky' remind us to let go of some things...hold on to others...and open ourselves to new experiences throughout our lives. Major life changes often also include housing transitions... First job Finding a life partner Getting married Raising a family Moving up to a larger home Separation/divorce Loss of someone dear Job relocation Retirement Downsizing to a smaller home Moving closer to family Parents and/or adult children moving in for multi-generational living Selling your parent's home Transitioning to one-level living Moving to senior housing ...if yours do, we are here to help through good times as well as not so good times. Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Life Transitions Realtor The HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela - Twin Cities Realtors RELATED POSTS Baby Boomers and Milennial first-time homebuyers have more in common than you might think Buying a home... before you make the leap, does it fit the way you live? Tips for choosing a great real estate agent 5 questions to ask yourself before you downsize Moving closer to family... some things to consider before you pack up and move Continue reading

Sharlene has always loved the architecture of this museum/church. So I decided to take a look. It is beautiful, definitely worth your time to visit. As Sharlene mentioned in 2009, the historic former church was transformed into The Russian Museum of Art. The building itself is notable because its architectural style is so unexpected in Minnesota...an unlikely design borrowed from the southwest because the pastor of the church at the time it was built fell in love with the style. It is also unexpected to find the only museum in North America dedicated exclusively to the presentation of Russian art and artifacts in Minnesota! When you put the two together you have a unique treasure tucked into a southwest Minneapolis neighborhood...yet another hidden gem that reflects our diverse community and its love of the arts. With a recorded Russian history that spans over a thousand years, the museum has a rich heritage from which to draw. Their current exhibitions, The Seige of Leningrad and Born in the USSR: Paintings of Childhood and Youth, are wonderful examples of how art provides a gateway to understanding history and heritage. Certainly one of the most tragic conflicts of WWII, the museum has assembled a multimedia presentation of the 900-day siege of Leningrad in 1941-1944. The exhibition focuses on the city’s struggle and survival through photographs, films, maps, and stories of the war period. It highlights not only the sad side of the war, but also the life-affirming effort of the people who lived through the horrible ordeal. Little known stories fill the exhibition that is co-organized with the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg, Russia. The other current exhibition, Born in the USSR: Paintings of Childhood and Youth, presents about sixty works created near the end of the Soviet era. Portrayals of schoolchildren in uniforms with red ties ties, working children, and more, uncover the rich story of childhood and youth developed by Soviet artists. The museum isn't large so it doesn't take a big time investment to visit. Its beautiful setting and enlightening exhibitions make it a tranquil respite...and it also has a wonderful gift shop. Don't miss this hidden gem at the southwest corner of I-35W and Diamond Lake Road in the Tangletown neighborhood of south Minneapolis. John Hensrud, REALTOR RE/MAX Results HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela - Twin Cities Realtors RELATED POSTS Onion domes in Minnesota Sunday's... Continue reading

Start with the exterior. The exterior is the first thing potential buyers will see, and first impressions set the tone for their entire visit... so make sure the outside of your home is clean and inviting. Touch up painting, landscaping, clean windows, inviting entry are all important and not major investments. In fact, replacing your front door can often give you the biggest return on your investment because it sets expectations for the whole showing. City inspection. If you live in a city that requires a Time of Sale/Truth in Housing inspection when you sell your home, that inspection you will get a to-do list to fulfill their requirements. Depending on city requirements, you may consider getting a 'pre-inspection' first, so you have time to make repairs and then get a 'clean' final inspection. Fix defects... buyers will over-compensate in price. The real inspectors you must satisfy when you sell are your potential buyers. Even minor flaws can become big deals. It is often said that buyers will ask for a price reduction or compensation of $3,000-$5,000 for every $1,000 of perceived defect. This means making repairs before listing your home for sale could save you money in the long run. Don't overlook the little things. Little things like worn woodwork, caulking in bathtubs and showers, old wallpaper, marred walls and stained ceilings, loose knobs, sticky windows, doors and cabinets that don't close properly, broken light switches, dirty or worn flooring can all add up to a bigger impact than you might think. Kitchens and bathrooms are the two most important rooms in the house... evaluate them with a critical eye. Again, keep in mind that buyers will over-estimate the cost of these repairs and their reduction in the price they are willing to pay. But perhaps most important, don't overlook the importance of having your home sparkling clean... buyers notice!!! Don't go too big. If you decide to more significant updates, be careful of investing too much. Many buyers will make their own updates when they move in so this isn't the time to invest in a major kitchen remodel, although moderate updates will likely reap benefits... paint and resurfacing can go a long way. Upgrades that are almost always worth it are refreshing paint and flooring. Windows can also be a good investment, depending on the condition of your current windows in relation to the rest of your... Continue reading

CoreLogic just released a report looking back on the national foreclosure crisis... United States Residential Foreclosure Crisis: 10 Years Later. That crisis is still affecting both buyers and sellers today, who are much more informed and cautious. It peaked in 2010, and over 7.7 million families lost their homes throughout the period between 2008 and 2012... no wonder buyers are more cautious!! One of the key factors brought up by CoreLogic's chief economist is the connection between jobs and homeownership. At the peak of the crisis, the national unemployment rate was 7%. In February 2017 the nationally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7%... with an even lower rate of 4.0% in Minnesota. A healthy economy is driven by jobs... which usually drives consumer confidence that leads to homeownership. Foreclosures have been dropping steadily since their peak in 2010. CoreLogic's report suggests the country will be back to 2005 levels by the end of 2017. from Keeping Current Matters In Minnesota, February foreclosed sales only accounted for 7.5% of total sales... a good sign for traditional sellers and a healthy real estate market... and a frustration for those in the renovation business who no longer have a big supply of foreclosure properties to renovate. Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Minneapolis-St. Paul Realtor HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela - Minneapolis-St. Paul Relocation RELATED POSTS Is the Housing Affordability Index getting scary low? Is a new housing bubble forming? 6 reasons why that isn't likely right now Continue reading

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It's my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian 'Quote Cup' passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, and sometimes some photos of family fun. I love trying new recipes...and love getting recipes you would like to share! This week saw the first day of spring, and also the announcement of the happiest country in the world. This year it was Norway, which was especially joyful for us because both my husband and I are of Norwegian heritage! He brought lots of happiness tonight by playing the mummy game... wrapping our grandkids in toilet paper, then filming them breaking out. There was much laughter involved! RECIPE OF THE WEEK This week's recipe was a deliciously simple way to cook salmon... and perhaps the most moist and tender salmon I have ever eaten. The recipe came from Damn Delicious. FOIL-WRAPPED BAKED GARLIC BUTTER SALMON 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 2 pounds salmon 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves for garnish, if desired Preheat over to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil, making it long enough to wrap around salmon and seal. Melt butter in measuring cup. Add and whisk together brown sugar, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper to taste. Place salmon onto prepared baking foil and fold up all 4 sides. Spoon the butter mixture over the salmon. Fold the sides of the foil over the salmon, covering completely and sealing the packet closed. Place into oven and bake until cooked through, about 15-20 minutes. Serve immediately, garnishing with parsley if desired. Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Realtor Who Cooks RELATED POSTS Wednesdays Unplugged - Simple One-Dish Salmon Meal Wednesdays Unplugged - Sesame Ginger Salmon Wednesdays Unplugged - Grilled Marinated Salmon with Mango Salsa Continue reading

I recently encountered a couple different properties that were both being sold subject to HUD Guidelines 24CFR206.125. Huh? What does that mean?! The guidelines are stipulations for the sale of reverse mortgage foreclosures. Again, what does that mean?! First... what is a Reverse Mortgage? A reserve mortgage is a special type of home loan that lets homeowners 62+ years old who own their home outright or have a low mortgage balance convert a portion of the equity of their home into cash. The cash may be paid out in monthly payments or in a lump sum like an equity line of credit. The homeowner must live in the home and pay real estate taxes, utilities, and homeowners insurance. However, unlike a home equity line of credit, there are no monthly payments and the loan doesn't have to be repaid until the property is sold or is no longer used as a primary residence. There is even a purchase option to allow the purchase of a smaller home and never having a house payment. More info on reverse mortgages from the FTC. Second... what can trigger a Reverse Mortgage Foreclosure? There are three scenarios that can trigger a foreclosure on a reverse mortgage... The party who established the reverse mortgage has died. Property taxes and insurance are not paid. The owner moves out and it is no longer their primary residence. Third... what are stipulations in HUD Guidelines 24CFR206.125 Some of the guidelines include... Price is not negotiable... property cannot be sold below list price except to an heir, who can purchase for 95% of list price No electronic signatures No seller contribution to buyer closing costs 60 days minimum escrow period Property sold in AS IS condition Details from HUD Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis - St. Paul Real Foreclosures HomesMSP Team- Sharlene, John, Angela - Minneapolis-St. Paul Realtors RELATED POSTS First Look Initiative gives homebuyers advantage over investors The FHA assumable mortgage option... another possibility to bring buyers and sellers together Continue reading

If you are looking for 50's nostalgia be sure to check out 50's Grill in Brooklyn Park. But don't go just for burgers and shakes... there are many places to get great burgers and shakes in the Twin Cities. Go for old-fashioned homemade comfort food like a hot turkey sandwich or meatloaf... or their homemade Chicken Pot Pie, their number one seller for 20 years and the best in town. And then of course there are their homemade pies... With servers in poodle skirts, an old Coca-Cola vending machine with bottles and 50's decor, it feels like a trip back in time... to a time when most food was homemade. Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Brooklyn Park Agent The HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela - Minneapolis-St. Paul Realtors RELATED POSTS MidModMen+friends: A treasure trove for the 50's Mid-Century Minnesota Modernism... SUBURBIA and the first indoor shopping mall Continue reading

The supply of homes for sale is not only down in the Twin Cities, it is down dramatically nationwide as you can see from the chart below from Keeping Current Matters. The orange dotted line indicates a balanced market. Our local supply inched up a little in February, but it is still dangerously low. Total supply of homes for sale was down 25.3% compared to last year, and months supply at 1.8 months is still historically extremely low... and 28.0% below February 2016. As interest rates rise, buyers are scrambling to find homes to buy and are frustrated to find them sold almost as soon as they hit the market. The shortage is still lowest in prices ranges below $350k, but at least months supply crept up a bit... more notable in move-up price ranges. This is significant because potential move-up sellers in starter price ranges have been afraid to sell for fear of not finding a home to buy in higher price ranges... perpetuating the shortage cycle. We are seeing evidence of a continued increase in supply in March but it still isn't enough... the housing logjam needs to loosen to get the market flowing again. Although February 2017 listings were higher than January they were still down 7.5% compared to February 2016. Total supply of homes for sale was down 25.3%. It should be obvious new listings are desperately needed! Pending sales were eerily close year-over-year, up only 0.5% in February 2017. It would be much higher were there more homes for sale. Closed sales are hampered by the inventory shortage of a couple months prior (those tiny, flat red bars on the grey chart further above from the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors). Fierce competition for the homes that are on the market continues to drive prices... down a little from last month but up 7.6% compared to last year. Median price for February 2017 was $223,000. With many properties selling in multiple offers at prices higher than list price, average percent of list price received was 96.5%. The key to keeping price growth to a moderate rate is an ample supply of housing... sellers, we need you! The figures above are based on statistics for the combined 13-county Twin Cities metropolitan area released by the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors. Never forget that all real estate is local and what is happening in your neighborhood may... Continue reading

"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life." ~ John Lennon NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It's my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian 'Quote Cup' passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, and sometimes some photos of family fun. I love trying new recipes...and love getting recipes you would like to share! More snow this week, hopefully we are near the end of snow season. Also celebrating more birthdays... landmark birthday of a dear friend... and our son's birthday, the last in our string of family birthdays for now. We brought back some very cool sheets for him from Modernism Week! RECIPE OF THE WEEK Rather than pick the menu for his birthday dinner this year our son asked to be surprised. His meal included such throw-backs as green rice krispie bars... once taken to school as birthday treats since his birthday is the day before St. Patrick's Day (but no one would eat them because they looked gross)! He happens to love Brussels sprouts so I tried this new recipe... very interesting taste combination. ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND GRAPES with walnuts 24 ounces Brussels sprouts (about 8 cups), halved or quartered if large 24 ounces red seedless grapes 4 tablespoons fresh thyme Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Toss Brussels sprouts and grapes with oil and thyme and put on large baking sheet/jelly roll pan. Season with salt and pepper. Roast until caramelized and tender, about 20 minutes. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, scrape up any caramelized bits with a wooden spoon, toss in walnuts and serve. Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Realtor Who Cooks RELATED POSTS Wednesdays Unplugged - Rhubarb Compote with Roasted Asparagus Wednesdays Unplugged - Three Cheese Scalloped Potatoes Wednesdays Unplugged - Oven-Baked Potatoes Hasselbacken Continue reading

I found the results of a study of recent homeowners conducted by NerdWallet fascinating. Their Home Buyer Reality Report divided answers to a number of questions about the homebuying process into different generations, which clearly shows different experiences. One thing I found very interesting were the two highest regrets for Millennials... ... "things I valued changed"... and "should've purchased larger home". These seem to me to be related, just as "mortgage rate too high" and "should've waited longer" seem related. An important question to ask when you purchase a home is how long you plan to stay and how your life will change while you are living in the home. Often first-time homebuyers are just thinking about now... either living alone or with a significant other and loving a vibrant, urban neighborhood. As people settle down and start to raise a family priorities usually change... which often also results in outgrowing space. This doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a smaller home in an exciting urban neighborhood if you are buying your first home and that is where you want to live... just do it with an awareness that your life may change in the future and this home may no longer fit your lifestyle. With interest rates among the lowest in history, some buyers are looking ahead and purchasing the most home they can afford so they can grow into it and not need to sell and buy again because of outgrowing the space too quickly. It costs you money each time you sell and buy... interest rates will likely be higher the next time you sell... and payments that seem like a stretch now may seem low as your income grows... all compelling reasons to stretch a bit now as you plan for the future. Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - First-Time Homebuyer Realtor HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela - Minneapolis-St. Paul Buyer's Agents RELATED POSTS Common Homebuyer Questions Ready to buy? Start by creating a home buying plan Tips for choosing a great real estate agent Continue reading