What happens if you go through a tough financial period and you find yourself behind on your mortgage payments for your home? If you are missing mortgage payments and are having difficulty paying, this can become a serious problem. Even just one missed payment can be difficult to catch up on, and if you are in this situation it is important to get help right away. Contact Your Lender: The first step in this circumstance should be to get in touch with your mortgage lender to explain the situation. Simply leaving things alone and not explaining why you have missed a payment will just make things worse. When people are struggling financially, they avoid calling their creditors for as long as they can. This is usually the wrong strategy to have if you want to make sure that you keep your h... 08/06/2013

Summer seems to be slipping away quickly. And, while you've hosted many barbecues on your back deck, you might not have had time to properly take care of it. August is the perfect month to conduct a deck inspection and make any repairs before the time comes to prepare it for winter. Below are tips on some issues to watch for and how to fix them. Inspect The Deck: It's important to do a thorough inspection of your deck every summer. You don't want to step through a rotted board or have a railing break away from under you. Be sure to pay extra attention to places close to the ground or near water sources, such as under planters and next to the water spigot. Check For Rot: Take a screwdriver and poke areas of the deck that look like they could be rotting. If you can push the screwdriver in... 08/06/2013

What is my Maple Grove MN Home worth? What is your Maple Grove MN Home worth in today's market? It's easy to find out today!  Just fill out the short form and we will send you information on homes similar to yours that have sold recently in Maple Grove.   The Jensen Team - Home Marketing Experts Keller Williams Classic Realty NW Licensed in MN   08/02/2013

There was potentially good news for mortgage rates on Wednesday as the Fed's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced that its quantitative easing (QE) program would remain unchanged for the present. Economists expect the Fed to begin tapering the amount of QE toward the end of the year in accordance with Chairman Ben Bernanke's previous statements that "tapering" would likely begin near year-end. No specific date for reducing the QE assets purchases was given. Chairman Bernanke has previously indicated that the Fed will closely review domestic and global economic developments as part of its decision-making process for changing the QE program. Wednesday's FOMC statement reaffirmed this plan. Fed Cites Economic Expansion and Improving Labor Conditions: The FOMC statement cited mod... 08/01/2013

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index (HPI) released Tuesday presented solid evidence that the housing recovery continued during the month of May. The Case-Shiller 20-City Index showed increasing home prices for all 20 cities. Highest Year-Over-Year Gains Included Theses Cities: San Francisco, CA 24.50 percent Las Vegas, NV 23.30 percent Phoenix, AZ 20.60 percent Atlanta, GA 20.10 percent Los Angeles, CA 19.20 percent In surprising news, Dallas, TX and Denver, CO posted record year-over-year price gains that surpassed their pre-crisis peaks. Year-over-year home prices in Dallas increased by 7.60 percent and Denver home prices increased by 9.70 percent year-over-year in May. Home prices grew by 12.20 percent on a year-over year basis in May; this reading fell short of expectations of 12.... 08/01/2013

Imagine how frustrated you'd be to find out that the hot water heater wasn't working - in the middle of your very first shower in your new home! This, among other very good reasons, is why you should have a home inspection before you buy your home. When you buy a home, you need to know exactly what you're buying. A home inspection is an important part of buying your home. Before you hire a home inspector, ask candidates a few questions to make sure you hire a trustworthy inspector. What Does Your Inspection Cover? Not all inspections are the same. Ask for copies of previous home inspections so you can see exactly what they will check inside the home. If you are concerned about something specific, like a leaky faucet in the bathroom, mention that to the inspector so they can check it out... 07/30/2013

One of the biggest improvements that you can make to your home is to bring in more natural light. Sunlight is a powerful mood enhancer and a home design that brings in a lot of natural light will automatically look and feel much more pleasant. Not only will it boost your mood, bringing in natural light will also increase the value of your home. So how can you shed some light on your home's interior? Here are a few ways: Add More Reflective Surfaces: Whenever you add a light and reflective surface to your home, you increase the number of times that daylight bounces around inside the room. Try painting your ceilings and walls with light or off-white colors. Matte finishes are actually better than glossy surfaces, as they reflect light in all directions at once. Add some metal accents and ... 07/30/2013

If you are applying for a mortgage to buy a home, doing your homework in advance before you submit the application means that you will stand a better chance of getting accepted at a desirable mortgage rate. According to mortgage experts, it is a good idea to gather up all of the needed documents in advance before launching your house hunt, as this will make the application process a lot easier. The housing burst has resulted in much harder lending standards, which means that it could possible take weeks or sometimes even months to secure a loan. Here are a few important steps that you should take in advance: Consider What You Can Really Afford: Before you start the entire house hunting and mortgage application process, you should consider what you can really afford to buy. It might be ... 07/25/2013

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, national sales of existing homes in June came in at 5.08 million. June's reading was reported to be the second highest since November of 2009; this should calm concerns about a lapsing recovery in housing markets. Summer typically produces the highest prices for existing homes sold, as families seeking larger homes frequently move during summer months. The June inventory of existing homes improved by 1.90 percent to 2.19 million homes or a 5.20 month supply. June's number of available homes was 7.60 percent lower than in June 2012. The shortage of available homes has been causing buyers to turn from existing homes to new homes in areas where both available homes and/or land for new construction are in short supply. Average Home Prices... 07/25/2013

If you have purchased a new home and are going to move in soon, what are the first few things that you will need to do upon moving into your new home? Moving can be very stressful, but having a checklist can make your move effortless. Here are 6 easy steps that can eliminate any frustration and help you feel safe and secure:  Change Your Address: You will need to change your address for all magazine subscriptions, bills and other services. You can update your mailing address online or visit your local post office to find out what needs to be done. Set Up The Utilities: When you move into a new home, you may get all of the contact information from the previous home owner or real estate agent for the utility companies. Be sure to change the services into your name before you move in, such... 07/25/2013

Any family would feel violated after coming home to a ransacked house. Burglars look for specific things when choosing a home to break into, and many homeowners are unknowingly inviting criminals through the front door. Below are five ways you can avoid drawing the eyes of thieves and deter your home from becoming a target. Beware Of Selling To Strangers: If you're wanting to sell items on Craigslist or another internet-based classified ad website, attempt conducting your transactions outside of the home. If you must meet at home, screen the person over the telephone to ensure that they are truly interested in the item you're selling. Thieves have been known to make appointments just to check out your home. Be Careful If You Tweet About It: Not all of your friends protect their social m... 07/19/2013

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) / Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) rose in July. Home builder confidence in the market for newly constructed single-family homes rose six points to a reading of 57. NAHB reports that this was the third consecutive rise in the HMI and its highest reading since January 2006. Three components used in compiling the HMI reading include current sales, which gained five points for a reading of 60.  Confidence in prospective buyer traffic rose from 40 to 45, and sales expectations for the next six months rose from a reading of 60 to 67. HMI: All Regions Post Gains: Regional data reflected gains in builder confidence for all U.S. geographic regions. Regional data is based on a three-month rolling average of builder confidence in each region.... 07/19/2013

Today I'm going to step into my old roll as a contractor and give you some ideas on how to save money on your A/C bill and how to lengthen the life of your unit. Step 1- Remove any grass, weeds, leaves and dirt from the unit.  At least 2 feet away.  The biggest ting to know is the unit needs to breath. Step 2- Turn off the power to the unit and clean it!  The condenser coils when plugged lower the units use and life expectancy and need to be cleaned at least twice a summer.  Once after all the spring pollen and tree debris has flown and a second time mid summer. Step 3-  Most people think spraying a unit off with a hose will do the job.  In fact it can make things worst.  If you're doing a quick job, simply vacuum the condenser fins/coils off and only use a hose to spray the dirt under ... 07/18/2013

Maple Grove's "Fit For Life" Wellness Program won the Corporate Achievement in Health Care Award presented by Twin Cities Business and Medica in their joint effort to present Minnesota's first annual "Health Care Heroes" awards. These awards recognize and honor organizations and individuals whose efforts advance the quality and enhance the value of health care in their community and beyond. As an award winner, we were also featured in a special supplement in the June 2007 issue of Twin Cities Business, and there was a breakfast event to honor the City and seven other recipients who received awards in various categories. These awards were judged by a panel of health care professionals and community leaders. The "Fit For Life" Wellness Program also won the 2007 Hennepin County Wellness by... 07/17/2013

Getting the best mortgage financing for your new home can sometimes be a complicated process and, unfortunately, things can go wrong. Using a licensed and trusted mortgage loan specialist can help alleviate many of these challenges. There are certain mistakes that many homebuyers make when applying for their mortgages that can seriously damage their chances of being approved. If you are aware of the most common mortgage issues, you will be better able to prevent them when applying for your own mortgage. Make sure that you keep the following tips in mind when applying for a mortgage: Making Large Purchases Before Closing On The Mortgage: Many homebuyers think that they are in the clear once the mortgage deal is approved and they move forward on another large purchase such as a car or hom... 07/17/2013

Just like fashion designs and hair styles, home decor trends are constantly changing and evolving. Each new season brings a new must-have feature for your home. In order to keep your home looking fresh and chic, what are the hot trends for 2013 that you can incorporate into your decor? Here are a few ideas: Bright Paint Colors: Vibrant (and even neon) hues are very popular in fashion at the moment and they also look really chic on your walls. If you are looking for a way to freshen up a dull room, a bright pop of color can really do the trick. It doesn't have to be overwhelming if you keep the rest of the room neutral and use the bright color as an accent. Original Artwork: Decorating your home with unique and original works of art from funky local artists is a hot trend this year. You ... 07/17/2013

Many home owners dream of having a home theater - an entire room of the home dedicated to enjoying television and film. These rooms are usually equipped with a large flat screen television or projector, comfortable seats, mood lighting and perhaps even a bar or a snack fridge. They are very comfortable andthe perfect place to relax after a hard day.They are also lots of fun for entertaining, as you will be able to watch the big game or the hottest new release with your friends in style. However, will spending the money on renovating your home to create a theater room be a smart investment? Does this type of home improvement add a lot of value to the property, or will it turn off potential buyers? Buyers Interested In Tech-Equipped Homes: These days luxury home buyers are becoming much m... 07/17/2013

FOMC Minutes Suggest QE Tapering by Year-End: The minutes for June's meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) suggest that committee members are mostly in agreement that the current quantitative easing program (QE) should begin winding down by year end, but the committee minutes are very clear concerning the committee's intention to monitor inflation and ongoing economic and financial developments before taking action to reduce the current rate of QE. The Fed currently purchases $85 billion monthly in Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Investors fear that if the Fed rolls back QE too soon or too fast, it could cause long term interest rates such as mortgage rates to rise faster. The Fed minutes indicate that factors the Fed will continue monitoring befo... 07/17/2013

If you are applying for a joint mortgage on your property with your spouse or partner, the name that goes first could have more of an impact than you might think. A 2010 study by the Woodstock Institute showed that mortgage lenders were inclined to show favoritism when men were the lead borrowers on joint applications. The study was undertaken within the Chicago area and it tracked joint applications for refinancing as well as home purchases. Over 250,000 applications were studied in the year 2010. Surprisingly, the study showed that home purchase applications that listed the female partner as the primary borrower were 24 percent less likely to be approved. When it came to mortgage refinancing, the application would be 39 percent less likely to be approved if a woman was in the primary ... 07/10/2013

Does the time of year when you put your home on the market affect how well it will sell?  What about the final sales price? According to many studies in housing trends, the answer is yes. The time of year when you sell your home can have an effect on how many people are interested and how much the home will sell for. Of course, if you need to move and sell your home at any point of the year, you will still be able to find buyers and negotiate a price that works for you. In some areas of the country, the currently swift moving housing market can help overcome poor timing. However, if you have the ability to plan for a more advantageous time, it makes sense to make the most of your flexibility. The Best Times Of The Year To Sell A Home: One of the best times of the year to sell your house... 07/10/2013