Data Supplied by the Regional Multiple Listing Service Inc.

June was a busy month for SPAAR President and Snyder Team leader Jennifer Snyder. “In addition to it being ‘that time of year’ when families want to get moved and settled before the new school year, buyers feel that we have finally hit the bottom in terms of affordability,” she said.

Snyder’s sentiments are reflected in statistics released last week for the 13-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. While new listings are down, pending sales are up—nearly one-and-a-half times what they were over last June’s post-tax credit slump.

“Properties that are priced appropriately for the market are moving,” said Snyder. “Listings at all different price points are selling—and in a couple of cases it’s even getting tricky to find the right inventory for a specific buyer—a good problem I haven’t experienced in a while,” she said.

When combined with record affordability, the 5.5% decline in new listings and a 15.9% decrease in inventory add an element of urgency buyers haven’t experienced in some time.

The flow of financially distressed properties onto the market appears to be slowing, and those on the market are selling. Foreclosures and short sales accounted for 38.2% of all sales, the lowest level since June 2010. 

For more details, look at these June statistics: THE 200+ I HOUSING SUPPLY OVERVIEW

Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury has been named as one of the country’s 65 Great Community Hospitals by Becker’s Hospital Review, a publication that covers legal and business news and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems.

The hospital opened in 2000 and has 86 beds. Operated by HealthEast, Woodwinds partners with Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota to provide primary and specialty services for children and adults. It recently opened a cancer care clinic that offers chemotherapy, genetic counseling and oncology services.

This is not the first accolade for Woodwinds. The hospital at 1925 Woodwinds Drive was named one of Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals, one of the sources Becker’s used to compile its list.

The publication’s editorial team also reviewed data from U.S. News & World Report, HealthGrades and American Nurses Credentialing Center.

~Information from Tim Harlow, Minneapolis Star-Tribune~

Go to your typical real estate website.  What do you see?  Listings.  Lots and lots of listings.  Or in other words, sellers.  But what about the buyers?  They play just as important of a role in a real estate transaction.  RE/MAX Results understands this and is reinventing how we sell real estate.

Results.net, the RE/MAX Results website, now has Buyer Listings.  Sellers, whether they are on the market or even contemplating being on the market, can visit Results.net and search for active buyers who are currently under contract with RE/MAX Results. Simply enter a few pieces of information about the home you’d like to sell such as bedrooms, bathrooms and neighborhood or school district. Press the “Find Buyers” button. It will show you the matching buyers.

Visit Results.net today and check out this groundbreaking feature.  Are you interested in being added to the Buyer Listings?  Give us a call or send us an email today to learn more about it!

~Information from Marshall Saunders, Owner/Broker of RE/MAX Results.~

Every month brings home maintenance projects to keep your home in tip-top shape.  Here’s what you need to do in July to keep your home beautiful for years to come!

• If you have an asphalt driveway, patch it or fill holes with gravel. 
• If you have a concrete driveway, determine if you need a new apron or driveway poured.
• Check fences.  Repair or replace damaged portions.
• Have septic tank pumped if you have a septic system.

Do you have any tips to make these home maintenance projects easier?  We’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Every month brings home maintenance projects to keep your home in tip-top shape.  Here’s what you need to do in June to keep your home beautiful for years to come!

• Paint interior or exterior as needed.
• If you have wood decks, check them for signs of wear or deterioration.  Repair or replace as needed.
• Clean and seal decks.
• Check exterior railings and stairs.  Repair if they are loose or showing signs of wear.
• Service furnace or heating system.
• Make sure attic vents work properly. 

Do you have any tips to make these home maintenance projects easier?  We’d love to hear about them in the comments!

In honor of Flag Day, we’re offering up some easy instructions on installing a flag pole. 

What You’ll Need:

• flagpole kit
• quick set concrete (3 bags)
• assorted plants
• cordless drill with battery and magnetic screw tip
• hand tamper
• post hole digger
• shovel
• level
• screwdrivers (Phillips and flat-head)
• shims

Continue reading for step-by-step instructions on installing your flag pole. 

Steps:

1.  Check with your community, association, or city to see if there are any rules or regulations concerning the installation of flag poles. 

2. Determine the location for your flag pole, and mark off the area for the foundation using a string to measure a circle around a center point.

3. Dig the foundation for the flag pole.  Important: To determine the depth of the foundation hole, divide the height of the flag pole by 10. Following that formula, our 20-foot pole needs a 2-foot deep foundation.

4. The flag pole kit comes with a sleeve that’s installed into the ground, and the flag pole simply slips into the sleeve. The sleeve itself is what is secured in the concrete foundation. To prepare for installing the sleeve, mix your concrete according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Set the ground sleeve by first pouring six inches of concrete into the bottom of the hole. Next, push the lighting rod (the spike on the bottom of the sleeve) through the concrete into the dirt. Fill the rest of the hole with concrete, being sure to keep it plumb. Let the concrete set up.

6. Assemble the flag pole according to the directions included with the kit.

7. To set the flag pole, simply raise the pole and drop it into the hole.

8. Shim the flag pole until it is plumb and fill the voids with packed sand. Cap the packed sand with two inches of concrete in the sleeve.

9. Add dirt around the foundation and tamp it down.

10. Once the concrete has hardened, install the cleat for the flag pole rope.

11. You may want to landscape the area of the foundation with some plantings or flowers.

12. Raise your flag!

~Information from www.hgtv.com~

The annual Spring Parade of Homes starts this weekend.  Builders throughout the Twin Cities and Western Wisconsin showcase their latest designs.  This season there are over 340 homes to tour and be inspired by. 

The Parade starts this Saturday, March 5^th and goes through Sunday, April 3^rd.   The model homes are open every Thursday through Sunday from 12-6pm.  Pick up a guidebook with all the locations at your nearest Holiday Station Store. 

Will you be checking out the Spring 2011 Parade of Homes?

Join IHOP on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m., for National Pancake Day and receive one complimentary short stack! In return for the free flapjacks, we ask you to consider leaving a little something behind for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other designated local charities. Thanks to the generosity of their guests, IHOP raised more than $2.1 million last year. IHOP began its National Pancake Day in 2006, and since then, has raised $5.35 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities and given away more than 10.1 million buttermilk pancakes.

To find out more about this fabulous event or to find an IHOP near you, go to www.ihoppancakeday.com!

We’re starting a new blog feature this month!  We love exploring the communities we serve and we want to share our experiences with you.  Each month one of our team members will share their favorite restaurant, park, shop, or other community spot right here.  We’d also love to feature your favorites…so send them our way!

This month we’re featuring one of Jennifer Snyder’s favorites in Woodbury, Angelina’s Kitchen!  You’ll find this cozy little spot at 2170H Eagle Creek Lane.  Their motto is “Take Out You’ll Feel Great About.”  They specialize in healthy, delicious, and fresh meals.  Italian classics like Baked Ziti are always featured while updated versions of comfort foods are also available day to day and week to week.  The ever changing menu means there is always something tasty to bring home for dinner.  Angelina’s Kitchen also provides a catering menu to bring flavor to your next event.

Angelina’s Kitchen is also expanding!  They are partnering with Beans & Bakery next door to become Angelina’s Cafe.  After some renovations, they’ll be serving a new menu featuring items like salads, paninis, all natural frozen yogurt, home made cupcakes, and much more. 

We hope you’ll check out Angelina’s Kitchen and Angelina’s Cafe.  If you call or stop by, let them know The Snyder Team sent you.  Click here to go to their website or find them on Facebook!