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Your Home Sold - Guaranteed!
www.CallSarahFirst.com

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

31092 Morley Drive Lindstrom, MN 55045


COMING SOON!
Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/AD3G3L
Amazing value! Featuring walkout basement, vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace w/built-in cabinets, private master bath with a whirlpool tub, main floor laundry, storage, mature trees, deck and more!
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 3.50
Square feet: 2,719
Price: $259,975

For more information about this property, please contact Sarah Marrinan at or SarahMarrinan@KW.com. You can also text 2600049 to 67299.


See more listings at: www.CallSarahFirst.com


MLS ID: 4567655

Is Your Home a Fit For One Of My Buyers?

Do you have a home to sell to my buyers?

Buyer #1

Lake Front or Lake Access: Pleasant Lake, Bald Eagle Lake
4,000+ Sq Feet
Large Entertaining Space
Under $1M


Buyer #2

North-East Metro (Including certain areas of North St Paul)
2+ Bedroom
1,200+ sq Ft
Move in Condition
No Busy Road
Under $150k


Buyer #3

Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, Mounds View (and surrounding areas)
Private Yard (House or Townhouse)
2+ Bedroom
Under $140k

Buyer #4

Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, Mounds View (and surrounding areas)
Town House or Condo
2+ Bedroom
Under $100k




If you have a home to sell to one of these buyers, please call me today!

Sarah Marrinan, Keller Williams, CallSarahFirst.com

School District 12School District 624 School District 621



Friday, March 20, 2015

COMING SOON: Rare Find! Duplex Near Lake Phalen!

INVESTMENT PROPERTY COMING SOON: 

Rare Find! Duplex Near Lake Phalen!


1502 Birmingham St, St Paul, MN



Get Directions Click Here





Description Photos Maps & Local Schools Walk Score

$ Click for current price


Beautiful duplex nestled in a quiet, residential neighborhood near Lake Phalen!
Located on a spectacular corner lot, with mature trees and local amenities such as Phalen Lake Park, golf courses and shopping.
Nearby schools include Frost Lake and Hill Murray.
Public bus stops are also only a block away.

This building consists of two units and had a two car garage. The upper unit is a three bedroom and the lower unit is a two bedroom. Both units feature updated oak cabinets with self closing drawers, appliances under 5 years old (including two sets of washer and dryers), updated electrical and new plumbing. New siding in 2009 on give and garage. New garage roof in 2009 and home had a new roof in 2003.
One owner for nearly 25 years! Call for details. 651.964.0289.

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Sarah Marrinan

Keller Williams Premier Realty

651-964-0289

SarahMarrinan@KW.com







All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Each Keller Williams Realty office is independently owned and operated. Keller Williams Premier Realty, 3555 Willow Lake Blvd Ste 100 , Vadnais Heights, MN, 55110-4461, 651-964-0289
Legal: © 2015 Call Sarah First, Inc, CallSarahFirst.com

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Material Fact Disclosure - What Does That Mean?

REAL ESTATE DISCLOSURES...

In real estate, disclosure is a big deal. In fact, 2015 Minnesota Statute 82.68 is all about it.

Subd. 3. specifically goes into detail about Material Facts and if you are concerned about something that should be disclosed as a material fact, I suggest you read it further.

The "rule of thumb" I usually tell sellers it's better to disclose that get sued. That said, they should ask themselves  two things "If I hide this and someone finds out, would they threaten to sue me?" and "If I were buying this house, is there something that is not in plain sight (like rodent nests behind the walls) that could cause me a big headache or cost me a lot of money if I found out about them at a later time instead of knowing right away?"  If you answer YES to either of these questions, you should put it on your property disclosures!

According to Subd. 3. it is not a material fact relating to real property offered for sale the fact or suspicion that the property:
(1) is or was occupied by an owner or occupant who is or was suspected to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus or diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;
(2) was the site of a suicide, accidental death, natural death, or perceived paranormal activity; or
(3) is located in a neighborhood containing any adult family home, community-based residential facility, or nursing home.

Interesting stuff! Want to read more?


What Top 8 Things Most Affect a Home's Value?

Learn the Lingo: Real Estate Vocabulary 101

Simplified Real Estate Glossary for Home Buyers and Sellers

11 Shocking Facts You May Not Know About Real Estate Agents

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Property Appraisals: 101

Here is a crash course on house and land appraisals:

Any time you are requesting a loan for the purchase of property, the lender becomes a co-investor. They want to protect their investment (as do you) so a third party appraiser is hired to submit an appraisal.

The appraiser's job is to note every material aspect of the subject house, including the type and condition of the foundation, wall construction, condition and age of the siding and roof, whether the roof has guttering, type of heating and air conditioning, utilities, interior and exterior finishes, lot size and garage type. The appraiser will be looking for signs of damage and structural problems. They will  measure the exterior of the house as well as the dimensions of all interior rooms. In order to formulate an accurate value the appraiser records every detail that might affect the value.
Once this information has been collected, the appraiser searches real estate records to find similar/comparable properties (called "comps") that sold within the past six months. These properties/houses provide a basis for determining the current market value.

If the appraiser is unable to locate comps that are close in location, age and style, he will make his selections based on as many similarities as possible. In small communities with only a handful of recent sales, the appraiser might have to include houses that sold up to a year ago to find comps.

The appraiser fills out a grid with the sales prices of the comps, how long they were on the market, and the same details noted from his inspection. The appraiser will adjust the value of each of the comps based on the house's features. For example, if the subject house has a new roof, but a comp had an old roof, the appraiser would add value to the comp to indicate what it might have sold for had its roof been in new condition. Other things the appraiser uses to assign value include the type of neighborhood, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, quality of interior and exterior finish, landscaping and lot size. As the appraiser goes through the list, he will adjust every comp value, either up or down, using the house's condition and amenities as references. After completing the adjustments, the appraiser averages the totals to determine the value of the subject house.

Appraisers are always third parties in the mortgage process and do not work directly for the mortgage broker/lender or real estate company although many professional appraisers have real estate sales or mortgage finance experience. Their objective is to supply a realistic judgment about a property's actual worth at the time of the appraisal. Often, these appraisal values will come in at or near the agreed upon purchase price since the true market value is what the buyer is willing to pay. Unfortunately, a changing housing market sometimes means a struggle with appraised values, especially when not many homes are selling in the local area or there are many distressed sales.
So here are tips to get a higher appraisal.

Professional appraisers must undergo initial training and testing before receiving a license. The Appraisal Standards Board sets minimum qualifications for appraisers, and individual states can adopt standards that are more stringent. Every two years, the appraiser must take additional courses to stay abreast of the latest rules but not all appraisers are created equal.
Just as there are varying abilities in doctors, mechanics, real estate agents, and other professional services, some appraisers are just better than others.

More Information:
Learn the Lingo: Real Estate Vocabulary 101
See Additional Home Buying Help in the Twin Cities
Get a CMA on your home.
What improvements should you make to your home?

Monday, March 9, 2015

Zillow doesn't know if cats sprayed all over the house...

Does Zillow know how much that house is worth?



A lot of people go on line to look at their house value.  I mean, why not? It's kinda fun!

Yes, I said fun.  Looking up "Zestimates" to compare what your neighbor's house is worth compared to yours can be amusing - especially if you have similar homes and they have updated their home and you have not and it's showing yours at value higher.  Many see this and gloat inside a little.

But when you need accurate numbers for selling or refinancing, it's no longer about fun.  It's about money.  And when it's about money, it's serious.

In order to understand why Zestimates are fun and not accurate, you need to understand what affects a home's value.  See the Top Factors that affect your home's value.

Zillow's algorithms can estimate location and market sales and tax data but there is no algorithm to determine the condition of a home or see if the home has had square footage added in a remodel.

So I just picked on Zillow here but they aren't the only website automatically "estimating" home values (their estimates are a bit of a running joke in the real estate community just because they were one of the first to do it).

If you really need to know your home value for selling or refinancing, seek professional help.  Have an agent come out and work with you to get a correct value and avoid surprises. Again, when it's about money, the only good surprise is winning it!

BUYERS - the estimate is not reliable for sellers, it's NOT reliable for you either!  You can't base your offer on some online estimated value!
Also, check out Things That Do Not Affects a Home's Value

Have questions about the value of a home?  Let's meet and review and do the CORRECT research!





Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Twin Cities Home Seller Resources

The Best Resources for Selling a House


When you are selling a house, you need to be sure you have the proper resources.  Your number one resource is a professional, full-time, experienced real estate agent. They will handle most things in the transaction with limited involvement from you from marketing to hiccups between offer and closing.  This is what you are paying them to do!

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Realtor (R) and some resources you can review on your own, including this 7 Step Selling Guide.


If you are not getting a weekly Market Watch email, contact your agent. 
Watching the market is key to ensuring you are getting the maximum sale price for your home. 

Marketing Plan
Your agent should have a strong marketing plan.  Most home buyers start their search online so their online marketing plan should be strong. Request Sarah's Plan.

Real Estate Vocabulary- learn the lingo!
Preview the language real estate and mortgage professionals use so that your next conversation or email doesn't fly right over your head. And remember, if your agent or lender says something you don't understand, ask for clarification. The old cliche applies, there are no stupid questions!

Staging Tips
Your home should put it's best foot forward!  Staging will help the buyer visualize themselves there.  Once you hire an agent, they should be able to give you staging advice or hire a stage to help get your home ready.

Cleaning Tips
Let's face it, we can't smell ourselves like others can and we certainly don't notice those dirty socks in the corner as quickly as a buyer will.  Get some solid advice on making your home feel (and smell) clean!

Maintenance Tips
Oh, you thought this was just about putting a sign in your yard? Not if you want the best price for your home! A home inspector is paid to pick your house apart. Talk to your agent about what repairs are most important.

Moving Tips
If you're selling a house, you're moving.  Why not get professional advice!





11 Shocking Facts You May not Know About Real Estate Agents

What Does a Listing Agent Do For a Home Seller in MN?

Seller Wake Up Call !

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