Now that summer is in full swing here in Edina and the kids are home from school you may be finding yourself looking for ways to keep them entertained. Consider visiting Centennial Lakes Park, this 24- acre pond and park is sure to have something to captivate the attention of everyone in the family. The park boasts over 1.5 miles of paved pathways that surround the 10 acre lake which is perfect for a walk. If the 1.5 mile walk is too long for you do not worry the path has many places to stop, sit and enjoy the scenery. Other fun summer activities at the park include: • Paddleboat Rentals that sit four • Fish in the lake for sunfish, bass and bullheads • Watch remote control sailboat races • Explore the maze • Croquet and lawn bowling on the finest bent grass lawns in the Midwest • Atten... 07/30/2010

http://www.luxuryportfolio.com/blog/Luxury-Home-Design 07/28/2010

Edina MN $100,000 - $500,000 Homes! Instant Updates* Walk Scores + Search Like An Agent! MLS IDX Edina Homes, Foreclosures, and Real Estate Property Search! Click Edina MN $100,000 - $500,000 MLS Homes and Properties Instant Updates Incredible Historic Interest Rates Click Freddie Mac 30 Yr & 15 Yr Fixed Mortgage Rate Weekly Survey Results FHA 3.5% Down Financing Click FHA FAQ Click FHA 203k Streamline Rehab Loan Instant Updates MLS IDX No Sign-Up Schools Walk Score Go Green Remodeling Cost vs Value Cd, REO, Short Sale Comfort Level High 25 Yrs Local Industry Experience Contact Information RES RealtyBob Elliot 12280 Nicollet AveBurnsville 612 578 6162More Listing InformationEdina MN HomesEmail Me Information on this flyer is for informational purposes only. 07/14/2010

NOTE: see the bottom of Sunday's Site posts for homes for sale in the area The corner of 50th & France in Edina at the border of Southwest Minneapolis has long been a destination. Not only does it feature an array of charming shops, boutiques and services, it also has wonderful restaurants, one of the best homemade ice cream shops in the metro, a movie theater featuring independent and foreign films... and an upscale grocery store. With brick-paved sidewalks, streets lined with flower pots and a place to relax around a fountain, this is a delightful spot to spend a leisurely afternoon shopping, eating and relaxing. It is the site of the annual Edina Art Fair the first weekend in June, of the first art fairs of the season.  I think of this corner as one of the fore-runners of the new con... 07/05/2010

 Inman News, Tuesday, June 15, 2010.   For real estate professionals trying to put their best foot forward, the results of a recent survey offer clues on how to make for-sale listings stand out. In May, online brokerage ZipRealty asked about 1,000 house hunters who registered on its site what their "must-haves" and "deal breakers" were for their future home purchase. While the survey found that house-hunting men and women tend to have different priorities when searching for a home, their preferences do overlap in some ways. Men and women's top 10 preferences were largely the same with two exceptions: having a view made it onto the men's list (and not the women's list), with 44.5 percent of men saying it was a high priority; and wood floors made it onto the women's list (and not the men... 06/15/2010

  Words of Wisdom: UCLA Legend John Wooden     Brenna  Fisher  During his coaching career at UCLA, John Wooden led the basketball team to an 88-game winning streak and 10 NCAA championship titles. But Wooden is equally famous for being a mentor and lifelong teacher, with several books published on his insights and methods for leadership. The following include some of his key strategies. Be enthusiastic about your work. Enthusiasm is one of the cornerstones of Wooden's "Pyramid of Success." "Without enthusiasm, you cannot work up to your fullest ability and potential; you're just going through the motions. And just going through the motions won't bring you to the level of competitive greatness we seek, whether in basketball, business or life." Don't get angry when people test you. "Peopl... 06/11/2010

  http://wealthmagazine.com/2010/01/why-now-is-the-time-to-buy-real-estate/     05/26/2010

http://www.edina.k12.mn.us/news/newsletters/schoolboardupdates/School%20Board%20Update%2005-17-10.pdf 05/25/2010

http://seekingalpha.com/?source=headtabs 05/24/2010

  http://www.mplsrealtor.com/the100.aspx   http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/the100/Edina.pdf     05/24/2010

WEEKEND INVESTOR MAY 22, 2010 Financial Aid 101: How to Get More Even Well-Off Families Can Outwit the College Bean-Counters By JANE J. KIM Now that families have sent in their college acceptance letters, reality is setting in. How in the world are they going to pay the bill? Faced with steep budget cuts and slumping endowments, schools are raising tuition and paring back aid, putting additional strain on families still struggling to recoup investment losses suffered during the financial crisis. Earlier this year, for example, Harvard University announced that its tuition, fees and board would increase by 3.8% for the 2010-2011 year, exceeding $50,000 for the first time. Dartmouth College and Williams College announced plans to replace grants with loans in the aid packages of some stud... 05/24/2010

http://frankdrake.edinarealty.com/Content/Content.aspx?CategoryID=498627&ContentID=592341 05/20/2010

http://www.luxuryportfolio.com/browse~mnc/minnesota/twin_cities_area/edina.cfm 05/20/2010

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/house-of-the-day.html?mod=djemRealEstate_h 05/18/2010

  http://www.learnebusiness.com/ebusiness_articles/ebusiness-2010-deborah-collier.pdf www.learnebusiness.com/ 05/17/2010

I consult Buyers and Sellers, preparing them for retirement. Others I help create a positive net worth, ensuring a better life. And some, I help them quickly dispose of a bad asset or lifestyle. [Edit] Edina Realty Home Services Practical Real Estate Experience: As a Realtor, owner of six homes and former owner of two office buildings, I share my experience and business contacts to deliver the best possible outcome.   As a 25 year member of the Greater Minnepolis Association of Realtors®, I know the market, the agents and major players involved. Today, the resources available to match buyers with sellers, buildings with new tenants have never been more powerful. Through my Book of Business, I realize business opportunities don't wait and all the technology in the world won't help if yo... 05/15/2010

The contract is a critical step in any remodeling project; it holds the job together and ensures that all parties agree to the same vision and scope. By Kelly Quigley | April 2009   The National Association of the Remodeling Industry spells out the following key elements that every remodeling contract should have:   1. The contractor’s name, address, phone number, and license number.   2. Details on what the contractor will and will not do.   3. A list of materials for the project in your contract. This includes information about the size, color, model, brand name, and product.   4. The approximate start date and completion date.   5. All required plans. Study them carefully for accuracy. Insist that you approve them and that they are identified in your written contract before any work... 05/07/2010

I am an American living in France. I have one daughter who completed the incredibly rigorous French education system and is now attending one of America’s most prestigious Ivy League universities. My younger daughter currently attends an international-French school; she endures a 9 hour school plus two hours of homework every day 10 months out of the year.Apparently, I am not alone. I talk to many parents in the States and across the world with school age children who tell similar tales.We submit our children to grueling school schedules, ridiculous pressure to get them into ‘good’ schools. Once they are in university, the undue strain just continues. The cost to the children and society are tragic. Cornell University, for example, recently suffered the shocking heartbreak of several un... 05/06/2010

South Knoll Road between View Lane and Blake Road will be closed on May 5, 2010 for utility work.　 The work is anticipated to be completed by the end of the day.　 Please contact Aaron Kuznia at the City of Edina Engineering Deparmtent at 952-826-0444 for additional information. 05/04/2010

Rule #1: Don’t go back and forth between a buyer and seller more than twice. At and after the third round, your chance of making the sale drops dramatically. Rule #2: Don’t let the buyer and seller come to dislike each other. If you notice your client or yourself beginning to disparage the other client, redirect your focus to putting together the sale and gaining a positive outcome. Rule #3: Stay focused on the goal of completing the sale. Stay calm, listen and empathize, but do not get involved in conversations about the party’s personalities. It is your job as the professional to remain objective. Rule #4: People believe what’s in writing. Provide copies of all relevant CMAs, comparables and reports, and always make sure to put your offer in writing. Don’t negotiate verbally; put eve... 05/04/2010