Paying off the mortgage on your home as quickly as possible will ensure that you pay less interest and save money in the long term. But how can you accelerate those payments so that you own your home sooner? One simple and easy way that you can pay off your mortgage faster is to round up your mortgage payment to the nearest $100 interval. So, for example, if your mortgage payment is $756 per month, you can pay $800 instead. Not only will this help you to pay off your mortgage sooner, but round numbers are also much easier to handle for simple calculations. You will be able to look at your bank account and easily subtract your mortgage payment in your head to get an idea of where your money stands. Will This Really Make a Difference?  By rounding up your mortgage payment, you won’t notic... 09/16/2013

Its fall and my favorite time of year both personally and professionally! On a personal level, I love the change of season, the turning of the fall colors, the cool breeze and most of all, I love fantasy football, tailgating and going to football games either high school, college or pro. On a professional level, opposite of most agents, I tend to sell more homes in the fall.  I have never believed in the idea homes only sell in spring or summer.  There is half the competition in fall that here is in summer, buyers tend to be more serious if they are out looking during this time of year and businesses don't relocate worker based on the season, they relocate them based on a business need. So with that said, I am going to share my 2013 Tailgating Guide and in turn, I hope you will contact ... 09/10/2013

JUST LISTED 16919 78th Place N, Maple Grove, MN Highly Desired Maple Grove Town Home Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half Living Area Approx: 1682 List Price: $Get Current Price Schedule a Showing Maple Grove Homes For Sale Search Maple Grove Forclosures Search All Homes For Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale Albertville Homes For Sale Short Sale Homes For Sale See Property Details 612-581-5375 Visit Property Website Fabulous updated home in great Maple Grove location. New finishes including entire unit painted, new carpet throughout and other touches. Large end unit on paved trail system with easy access to Weaver Lake Park. Wonderful open concept with large kitchen with breakfast bar, informal dining room and living room with fireplace. Flowing floor plan great for living a... 09/07/2013

You have found your dream home and you are eager to get a mortgage, move into the property and start enjoying life there. However, there is only one problem standing in your way – the fact that you have been through some hard financial times in the past. If you (or your partner) have been bankrupt previously, will this affect your chances of being able to buy the home you want? The good news is that it is still possible to obtain a mortgage even if you have been bankrupt before. Here are some tips that will help you to increase your chances of mortgage success: Choose the right lender. Some lenders may not approve your new mortgage if a bankruptcy shows up on your credit history. However, there are some that do as long as you are able to prove that you have the income to make your payme... 09/03/2013

Not only does the Labor Day weekend signal a little time off work, but it also indicates a close to the summer season, which means it's time to get ready for colder weather. So get in the spirit of the long weekend and put the labor of love into your home by creating a cozy hideaway that your family can retreat to once the outdoors become too chilly. One of the best places to create this snug space is to mimic hibernating animals and go under ground — to the basement. Whether your lowest level needs a facelift or is completely unfinished, Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to make a game plan and get started on remodeling your basement. Step 1 – Obtain A Permit: Before you can just slap up insulation and drywall, you need to make sure your basement is even fit to dwell in. Check with... 09/03/2013

The National Association of REALTORS reported Wednesday that pending sales of existing homes fell by 1.30 percent in July. According to the organization's Pending Home Sales Index, this was the second straight month that pending home sales dropped. July's Pending Home Sales Index reading was 109.50. Signed Purchase Contracts For Existing Homes Tracked In The U.S. ·Northeast:  - 6.60 percent ·Midwest:    - 1.00 percent ·West:        - 4.90 percent ·South:       + 2.60 percent Pending home sales were 6.70 percent higher year-over-year on a national basis. This indicates that the housing recovery is progressing, but at a slower pace. Short supplies of available homes have also impacted sales. In some areas homebuyers are facing competition from multiple buyers for individual homes. Another... 09/03/2013

Home prices are still rising, but at a slower pace according to the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for June.  Home prices for the cities surveyed in the HPI rose by 12.10 percent on an annual basis as compared to May's reading of 12.20 percent. This is the highest rate of monthly growth for home prices since the peak of the housing bubble in 2006.  June's home prices remained approximately 23 percent lower than peak prices, but economists consider the bubble peak an anomaly and caution against comparing current home prices to the peak prices seen in 2006. Overall Housing Price Increase Strongly: Regional home prices reported in June's HMI were mixed. Case-Shiller publishes a 10-city Index and a 20-city Index of home prices. 13 of 20 cities saw their rates of rising home prices decl... 08/28/2013

The National Association of REALTORS reported that existing home sales for July came in at 5.39 million on a seasonally adjusted annual basis. July's reading exceeded both expectations of 5.21 million existing homes sold and June's reading of 5.06 million homes sold. This suggests good news for home buyers who've been constrained by limited supplies of homes for sale. As home prices continue increasing in many areas, more homeowners are likely to list their homes for sale. Existing home sales for July rose by 6.80 percent year-over-year. The Federal Housing Finance Agency Home Price Index reported a 7.70 percent year overyear increase in prices for homes financed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. This reading was slightly higher than May's year-over-year reading of a 7.60 percent increase i... 08/28/2013

You're brushing your teeth and you turn on the faucet. It's not draining and starts to back up. Here's the dilemma; do you spit and let it sit or run to the kitchen? One thing is for sure; having a clogged drain can be a major annoyance. Clogs not only frustrate a homeowner but they can be hard on your plumbing. The added pressure they create puts stress on your pipes and can shorten their lifespan. So end the issue by following the guidelines below. You'll learn how to prevent clogging and clear the ones you already have. No Food Down The Drain: Even if you have a disposal, it's not good for your pipes to have sticky, mushy food shoved through them. Peel vegetables and scrape plates into the trashcan. Also, avoid pouring grease down the drain. Animal fat can congeal into a solid and fo... 08/27/2013

The minutes of last month's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting show significant support for tapering the Fed's current amount of monthly securities purchases. These purchases, known as quantitative easing (QE), are an effort to maintain lower long-term interest rates including mortgage rates. The Fed has been buying $85 billion per month in Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve and FOMC has hinted at "tapering" the Fed's securities purchases by year-end in recent statements. The FOMC minutes released Wednesday further suggest that tapering based on strengthening economic trends is likely. FOMC Members Express Mixed Views: The minutes for the last FOMC meeting, which took place on July 30 and 31, states that many... 08/22/2013

As lenders tighten mortgage guidelines for Minneapolis home buyers, minimum down-payment requirements are increasing. Several years ago, you could finance a home with nothing down. Today, most conventional mortgages require at least 5 - 10 percent. Incidentally, these guideline changes have led to an increase in the number of home buyers accepting cash gifts from family. Gifts are allowed in most cases but the problem is, if you don't accept the gift in a "lender-friendly" way, the mortgage underwriter could reject it, and negate it. Three Steps To Success With Your Down Payment Gift Funds: You can't just deposit a cash gift into your bank account. You have to follow a series of steps and keep records. Provide an acceptable gift letter signed by all parties Provide documentation of the ... 08/22/2013

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported Thursday that its Housing Market Index rose three points to a reading of 59 for August. Confidence among builders is likely growing in connection with stronger housing markets and high demand for homes. These conditions are being driven by short supplies of homes for sale in many markets. Builder confidence in current market conditions rose by three points to a reading of 62, while builder confidence in market conditions within the next six months rose by one point to a reading of 68. Confidence in buyer foot traffic was unchanged from July’s reading of 45. Readings above 50 indicate that more builders surveyed view housing market conditions as positive rather than negative; there was some concern that the high builders’ confiden... 08/20/2013

August means it's time to get your children ready for school once more. Picking out backpacks, going clothes shopping and finding all the right school supplies can be hectic enough. However, when you've moved and your children have to start all over in a new district, there's even more to worry about! Summer fun can make the sunny months fly by. It's easy to forget that with the beginning of school comes excitement and anxiety for your little ones — especially if they're starting out somewhere new. So help them get adjusted with the back-to-a-new-school strategies below. Explain Why You'll Be Moving: Whether you're moving states or just school districts, it's best to give your children as much notice as possible and explain to them the reason for the change. They'll need time to get use... 08/16/2013

A mortgage loan approval is never final until it's funded. And that means after you've signed the final paperwork and the bank has wired funds to escrow. Mortgages are made up of many moving parts, any of which might "go wrong" while your home loan is underway. Some are in your control, like deciding to purchase new items on credit during the mortgage process, many more are not. These "not in your control" items are the ones that you may not be thinking of. Just being aware of some potential pitfalls could help save your loan down the road, and your peace of mind today. What Many Mortgage Articles Don't Say: Many mortgage related articles offer similar things like buying a car before closing, or opening a bunch of new credit cards, but there are  more uncommon factors that can lead to a... 08/15/2013

Are you applying for a mortgage on your home? Keep in mind that a mortgage is a major financial decision and choosing one will have a significant impact on the rest of your life. Many people go into this decision without understanding all of the essential mortgage information they need to know. This means that they may not make the best choices which could result in paying much more than they need to. If you want to save yourself from throwing away your hard earned money, here are a few common mistakes to avoid: Trying To Time The Mortgage Interest Rate Market: Many people will wait too long to make a decision to lock in their mortgage rate, trying to wait until they think that the rates have hit bottom. However, unfortunately most of the time this leads them to wait too long and end up... 08/14/2013

The old real estate cliche' about "location, location, location" is true, as the area of the city where your home is located will have an impact on its future value as well as your lifestyle. So what factors should you consider when you are choosing which neighborhoods to house hunt within? Proximity to Your Daily Needs: If you work downtown, living out in the suburbs means that you will be adding time for a commute onto your day. While this might be worth the cheaper prices for properties out of the town center, it is something to consider when making your decision. You will also need to consider whether the house is near shopping centers, schools, doctors, dentists and other services that you will need regularly. Planned Developments: When you are choosing a neighborhood to buy in, d... 08/14/2013

Summer always brings with it a hard choice: Do you turn down the thermostat to stay cool and resign yourself to high power bills? Or, do you sweat it out to save some dough? If you've been struggling with this dilemma, don't fret. With a programmable thermostat, you can beat the heat and save money, too. They are easy to install and can save you over $100 a year. The key is that they have different temperature settings for certain times of the day. The latest models can be self-installed, are easy to program and can be controlled over the Internet. Save Energy: This is obviously the biggest perk. Not only are you helping the environment, you're also helping your monthly budget. You can preset the thermostat to adjust the temperature when you're away from the house, so you're using less ... 08/14/2013

U.S. housing markets continue to drive the economic recovery according to data released by RealtyTrac Inc. National home prices rose by 11.90 percent year-over-year for June. 48 states reported rising home prices with only Delaware and Mississippi reporting lower home prices. Nevada led the states with a 26.50 percent gain over June 2012. Cities also fared well on housing prices; 99 of the 100 largest U.S. cities reported gains in home prices. Rising Home Prices And Mortgage Rates, Short Supply Of Homes: According to Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic, home price trends are rising at their fastest pace since 1977. While good news for sellers, homebuyers may find fewer affordable options over time while also contending with rising mortgage rates. In spite of rapidly rising home ... 08/08/2013

If you're looking to purchase real estate, keep in mind that the homes you are considering might be in need of repairs or improvements. In a recent study done by a major home inspection company, at least 40 percent of previously owned homes on the market have at least one serious issue or defect. When buying real estate, you should have a professional inspection performed on the property to look for any issues that might not be visible to the untrained eye. It's better to identify this damage before you buy so that you are not stuck with budget-busting renovations. Below are a few major red flags you should look for when buying a home. Foundation Damage: Look at the slope of the yard. If the land slopes towards the house, this could be causing water to run down into the foundation, whi... 08/08/2013

I know right?  The greatest mobile app for searching for homes for sale sounds too good to be true.  Well not for residents in Minnesota that are looking for an app that allows them to search by true GPS mapping and not by cell towers.  This new app allows for Map search, List search, Detail search and Area search and it lets you contact an agent direct from the app by phone, text or email to ask questions or to set up a showing so you can be the first one in the door.  Looking for a new home?  Get this app now!     08/07/2013