The Brainerd Lakes Real Estate Blog

Helping make real estate dreams come true Explore Lake Property I don't want to give my home away is an oft repeated phrase as I discuss with prospective home sellers the current estimated market potential of their home. They sometimes follow that phrase up with-" well, we will just hold on to it then" or "we will rent it out". Sometimes sellers can lose track of why they wanted to sell in the first place. Waiting for a year isn't necessarily going to solve their problem. I always like to ask them what will change in a year? Do you think that tenants will leave the property in the condition it is presently? What will the cost of repairs be after a year of renting? Will you be subsidizing the rent, as it may not cover your current mortgage payment and other home expenses such as the taxes, insurance and maintenance. Will you be hiring a management company and are you available at all times to handle repairs and renter issues? What will prices an...

Helping make real estate dreams come true       Are you looking to buy your first home and what is available in your area is not in a condition you like ? Many REO/foreclosed properties are being sold "AS IS"  with the lender(owner) not offering any repairs prior to purchase. An FHA 203K loan with as low as 3.5% down payment of the after renovation value may be the answer for you.      Looking for a deal in your market? Look for a fixer upper that conventional financing will not fund and certainly Rural, VA and USDA  Direct will not touch. Generally such properties are priced below the market to attract cash buyers. You can buy such properties at a discounted price via 203K financing with as little as 3.5% down payment of the after renovation value and be a happy homebuyer.      The FHA 203K loan can be a great option for many home buyers.  There are not many loan consultants in ...

Helping make real estate dreams come true Adjustable Rate Mortgages Updated January 14, 2010 Daily Value Monthly Value Jan 13 December 6-month Treasury Security 0.18% 0.19% 1-year Treasury Security 0.26% 0.29% 3-year Treasury Security 1.00% 0.99% 5-year Treasury Security 1.93% 1.93% 10-year Treasury Security 3.34% 3.29% 12-month LIBOR 0.784% (Dec) 12-mo...

HUD Short Sale Only Allows Certain Fees Helping make real estate dreams come true Have you received a Notice of Default on your property? What are your plans? Do you plan to walk away or do you want to try a Short Sale which has much less damage to your credit and helps you make a graceful exit? You need a plan of action and if you want to buy some time, stay in the home until it sells and save up some money - then contact: Kathleen Lordbock REALTOR/Staging & Short Sale Specialist Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes Don't just walk away - there is hope, there is help!

full log home & acreage This is a very nice full log home with over 5 acres and a pole building. Very private setting and close to the Lake Alexander public access. Call for a showing- 218-831-8001. Helping make real estate dreams come true Have you received a Notice of Default on your property? What are your plans? Do you plan to walk away or do you want to try a Short Sale which has much less damage to your credit and helps you save face? You need a plan of action and if you want to buy some time, stay in the home until it sells and save up some money - then contact: Kathleen Lordbock REALTOR/Staging and Short Sale Specialist Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes Don't just walk away - there is hope, there is help!

 November 2010 . Market Update The housing market continues its gradual recovery without the aid of the tax credit. Sales are slower but growing. Although it will likely be uneven at times, slow growth is believed to be the trend moving forward. Interest rates hit a new historic low again, a major factor in helping keep mortgage payments incredibly affordable. Extended periods of record low interest rates and further plans from the Federal Reserve Board to expedite recovery have some concerned about future inflation. One such investment guru, John Paulson, touted the benefits of owning real estate as a hedge against inflation on Forbes.com. “Your debt and interest payments get locked in at record lows, while the price of your home will rise … If you don’t own a home buy one … if you  own one home, buy another one, and if you own two homes, buy a third and lend your relatives the money to buy a home.” This march back up continues to provide excellent opportunities: ...

Helping make real estate dreams come true   By using gas and electric stoves more effectively, you can save an average of $30 per year. Image: Electrolux Spending less money on utility bills doesn’t mean you need to rush out and purchase a whole new suite of Energy Star appliances. With occasional light maintenance and good habits, you can greatly improve the energy efficiency of your large kitchen appliances—up to about $120 annually—without sacrificing convenience. Refrigerator/freezer Energy-efficiency experts tell us to focus our efforts on the biggest energy hogs in the house, and that ...

Helping make real estate dreams come true   At the end of 2009, foreclosures were definitely “in the news.” And for good reason: the number of foreclosures rose from 1.8 million at the end of 2008 to about 2.5 million at the end of 2009. Have you received a Notice of Default on your property?  What are your plans?  Do you plan to walk away or do you want to try a Short Sale which has much less damage to your credit and helps you save face? You need a plan of action and if you want to buy some time, stay in the home until it sells and save up some money - then contact:  Kathleen Lordbock REALTOR/Staging & Short Sale Specialist  Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes Don't just walk away - there is hope, there is help!