Do you know that a shock is in store for those recent home buyers who are hoping to bring home a hefty tax return in the next few weeks? Many of them are happily heading to their tax preparers office as soon as they get all their W2’s only to discover that it will be several weeks before they will get their refunds. Yep, that’s because the IRS has had it with the tax fraud that several people committed for the sake of getting a tax credit that they were not due. So now everyone claiming the first time home buyer credit or the expanded credit for previous home-owners will have to paper file their return. Those who are not due a refund, or due very little, will not find this to be of much of an annoyance. However for those who are expecting a refund of perhaps $10,000 or more, due to the ... 01/22/2010

fAQs What happens to the clothes now? The clothes are taken to our Dress for Success boutique, sorted and inventoried for our Image Coaches to get them prepared for clients. How does someone qualify to receive a suit for an interview? Clients qualify for a suit when they come to Dress for Success through a referral agency who has confirmed they have an interview set-up. Women qualify for one week's worth of separates when they have been hired for a job. I know someone who needs a suit, whom should they contact? They should contact a local service organization (non-profit, government, etc.) that provides employment services and request that they refer them to Dress for Success when they have an interview set-up. What services are available? Dress for Success provides work appropriate att... 01/15/2010

By Maria Patterson Print Article RISMEDIA, June 9, 2009-While the real estate market continues to correct, buyers are confronted with an increasing number of opportunities. And for those Realtors who see it, there is opportunity for them as well-as long as they are prepared to do a little bit of work getting the property ready for resale. While a bleak picture for many, foreclosure properties represent a once-in-a-lifetime chance for many first-time home buyers, a way for move-up buyers to get the bigger house they need, and a way for second-home buyers to secure the vacation home they’ve always dreamed of. Getting a foreclosure property ready, however, means that the Realtor must be prepared-both mentally and financially-to take on home improvements and ... 01/05/2010

News magazine U.S. News & World Report Media ReleaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEEdina High School named a Silver Medalist School by national news magazine Edina’s college readiness index higher than any recognized Minnesota school Edina, Minn., Dec 17, 2009 – News magazine U.S. News & World Report named Edina High School (EHS) a Silver Medalist School due to its high performance on state assessment tests and its college readiness scores. A total of 11 Minnesota high schools received a silver medal ranking. EHS had a college readiness index of 58.2, the highest of any recognized Minnesota school. High schools that receive this ranking are in the top 2 percent nationwide. Edina Public Schools Superintendent Ric Dressen was impressed by the method U.S. News & World Report used to determine the to... 01/05/2010

Have you broken them already? I hope not, but sadly a few days are about all the time many people need to break them. Consider setting goals this year instead of resolutions. The good thing about goals is that you can set them anytime! Even if you are reading this on April 1 or October 15, it’s never too late to sit down and decide where you want to go in your life. A goal is a spot to focus on so that you can improve something about your life. Successful people run their days by using goals. And you can too! Here are some quick guidelines for goal setting found at MindTools.com and my thoughts on them: Positive Statement While a resolution often includes things you will stop, a goal is always something you will do. Be Precise A resolution tends to be broad, a general change of attitude... 01/02/2010

With buyers scarcer, sellers must up the ante to convince them that their property offers what many want most — top value for dollar expended. Here are eight fast fixes: 1. Buff up curb appeal. You’ve heard it before, but it’s critical to get buyers to want to look on the inside. Be objective. View listings from the street. Check the condition of the landscaping, paint, roof, shutters, front door, knocker, windows, house number, and even how window treatments look from the outside. Add something special—such as big flower pots or an antique bench — to help viewers remember house A from B. 2. Enrich with color. Paint’s cheap, but forget the adage that it must be white or neutral. Just don’t let sellers get too avant-garde with jarring pinks, oranges, and purples. Recommend soft colors t... 12/31/2009

  If you are facing foreclosure and have been afraid to answer the door, fear not, at least not for the next week or so. On December 19, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac suspended all foreclosure evictions through the New Year. Citigroup has put a hold on them until January 17, 2010. It was a dose of Holiday cheer in troubled times, allowing homeowners in distressed situations to focus on family and fun, rather than the wolf at the door. It has also given them a bit of breathing room. I can imagine little worse than being booted from my home during the holiday season, and fortunately those in the business of home mortgages have agreed. Unlike Mr. Potter, the banker in the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life, these CEOs have shown their humanity. Both Michael J. Williams of Fannie Mae and Ed H... 12/26/2009

      http://seanwaithomemortgageminnesota.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/getting-a-mortgage-in-2010-10-things-to-know/ 12/20/2009

Nearly everyone wants to have a part of the American dream by owning their own home. Whether that home is a sprawling ranch in the country, a bungalow in the suburbs, or a condo in the city, it’s a dream that most of us share. For many that dream has already come true, and is just a fact of life. For many others the dream of home ownership seems too far away to reach. The usual reason, in their mind, is affordability. But what is really keeping them from owning their own home? It’s usually got more to do with their personal finances than the cost of the home. Mismanagement of finances over a long period of time causes two of the biggest factors in home buying to become seemingly impossible hurdles—credit history and down payment. We have all heard about, and probably experienced or seen... 12/18/2009

A free research tool from the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®Brought to you by the unique data-sharing traditions of the REALTOR® community   Week of December 14, 2009   The post-Thanksgiving bump is in effect for the Twin Cities housingmarket. The week ending December 5 saw pending sales swingupward from the previous week by 152 to settle at 551. This is 7.7percent less than last year at this time, marking the third week of thelast four to post pending sales numbers lower than a year ago. Theaftermath of the tax credit's initial expiration date is combining with thetypical holiday slowdown to bring sales down.Two other important metrics:Months Supply of Inventory – At 5.7, this is the lowest MSI in morethan two years and a full 32.9 percent below last year. This bodes wellfo... 12/14/2009

You often hear people sing about walking in a winter wonderland this time of year, but living in Minnesota in the winter is like living in that winter wonderland! There is nothing that creates that image of winter wonderlands better than ice skating with a backdrop of snow covered land and trees. Whether you want to skate outdoors or inside in a temperature controlled environment, the possibilities are many in Edina. A popular Edina ice rink is at Centennial Lakes Park. Open year round for a large assortment of outdoor activities, when the lake freezes hard enough, it becomes a maintained public ice skating rink. 10 acres of ice will give you both a workout and afternoon of family fun. There are even Norwegian ice sleds to enjoy! When the cold gets too much for you, head over to the par... 12/12/2009

One of the best things about living in Minnesota in the winter is the ice! No, I don’t mean the ice that may appear on the roads or your front steps; I’m talking about the ice skating opportunities! From informal skating at a community park to formal ice skating and hockey games, it’s a great source of winter recreation. Edina has several recreational opportunities for ice skaters. A popular one that is open for skating only in the winter, of course, is Centennial Lakes Park. Open year round for a large assortment of outdoor activities, when the lake freezes hard enough, it becomes a maintained public ice skating rink. 10 acres of ice will give you both a workout and afternoon of family fun. There are even Norwegian ice sleds to enjoy! When the cold gets too much for you, head over to t... 12/12/2009

Increases in internet use and online sales is nothing new. The rising trend has been elevated and more recently emphasised due to the economic downturn. What does this mean for the individual? What does this mean for the small business, and how does this affect the large organisation? I've put together a brief overview of my thoughts for the year ahead which I'll be exploring in depth in future articles. Prediciton 1: The Internet - Small Business Revolution The economic dowturn and cultural changes towards entrepreneurship, will mean opportunities for employees who have been made redundant. Those with sufficient funds will be considering setting up in business and are likely to focus on online initiatives. The internet is the ideal vehicle because of its relatively low cost and easy ac... 12/07/2009

Selling your home is never an easy task, especially in a buyer’s market. But maybe that house of yours is just not what you need now. Whether you are wanting bigger, smaller or just different, it’s time to move. And the Home Buyer Tax Credit sure looks good too. Before you can buy a new home and take advantage of the credit, you have to figure out what to do with your current home. Should you sell it? Should you rent it out? Should you just leave it on the market whether it sells or not? Should you turn it into a vacation home? Assuming your finances are in order, you owe little or nothing on your current home, and you have the funds to do necessary repairs, any of these could be a valid option for you. But which one will work for you and how? Sell Your Home--Quickly Wouldn’t it be grea... 12/05/2009

Many people find it hard to resist going all out with their holiday decorations, especially if others in the neighborhood do as well. It’s a fun tradition, sure, but if your home is on the market what should top your list this season is a buyer for your home! If you do decorate your home for the holidays, keep it relatively simple and good taste. Keep the pile of plastic candy canes and blow up reindeer boxed up this year. A moderate amount of lights along the edge of your house or in your bushes is a good idea, simply because they are hard to see in the daylight, but avoid stringing them along poles across your yard. Wreaths are always a nice touch, no matter the season, as are electric or battery powered candelabras in the windows. Try to make it make your decorations fit the style of... 12/05/2009

Are you wishing you could sell your house but you’ve been putting off contacting a Realtor because you are sure the market’s no good? If so, then we need to talk. There are several reasons why right now is a great time to get your home on the market. Lower inventory. Everyone knows that the housing market has been flooded with short sales and foreclosed properties, but the first time home buyer tax credit had a significant impact in the number of houses on the market. Just about every first time home buyer who qualified for the credit and was able to purchase a home has done so. This has helped to lower the number of available properties, making it more likely that your house will sell. Prices seem to have hit bottom and are going back up. Perhaps you have been concerned about selling y... 11/18/2009

Many financially stable home owners have wanted to sell their homes for various reasons over the past year but have either had no luck or just decided to wait. If you are one of these homeowners you should seriously consider putting your home on the market now. Why? There are a variety of reasons: Lower inventory. Everyone knows that the housing market has been flooded with short sales and foreclosed properties, but the first time home buyer tax credit had a significant impact in the number of houses on the market. Just about every first time home buyer who qualified for the credit and was able to purchase a home has done so. This has helped to lower the number of available properties, making it more likely that your house will sell. Extended tax credit. Most of the first-time home buye... 11/18/2009

H1N1 Clinic Details Date:  Saturday, November 21 Time:  9:00 am -11:00 am Location:  South View Middle School   4725 South View Lane     Edina, Minnesota 55424     (Near Edina Community Center and the      intersection of South View Ln and Concord Dr)     If you are coming to a clinic, please remember to: Wear a short-sleeved shirt. Bring an insurance card if you have one.  Your health insurance will cover the cost of the vaccine.  If you do not have insurance, there will be no cost to you. Come with your child.  Children under 18 years must have a parent or guardian present to get the vaccine.   If you would like to learn more about the H1N1 flu and/or the H1N1 flu vaccine, please visit www.flu.gov or www.mdhflu.com. We will notify you of future clinics that will be open to more groups... 11/18/2009

Many people in Edina and the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area took advantage of the first-time home buyer tax credit this year. There were many others who weren’t quite ready to make that jump into home owners, as well as many current home owners who wished they could participate in the credit. Well, if you were one who delayed or didn’t qualify, your chance may have arrived! An expansion and extension of the credit was approved and it’s yours for the taking. Last week, the credit was extended for another 6 months and expanded to include first-time home buyers with higher incomes. The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 opens the up-to-$8000 tax credit to almost all first-time home buyers by increasing the maximum annual income. The income cap for single home buy... 11/12/2009

The first-time home buyer tax credit was an overwhelming success at creating many new home owners. While most would agree that these owners were just waiting for the right time to buy, the right time had arrived. Now the right time continues! Last week, the credit was not only extended for another 6 months, it was expanded to include first-time home buyers with higher incomes. The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 opens the up-to-$8000 tax credit to almost all first-time home buyers by increasing the maximum annual income. The income cap for single home buyers has increased from $75,000 to $125,000. The cap for married buyers jumps from $150,000 to $225,000. Home owners looking to purchase a different home shouldn’t feel left out anymore, the new credit covers t... 11/12/2009