I learned over the weekend that a friend, Vera Peck, is among the missing in the aftermath of the 35W bridge collapse.  Vera was with her 20 year old son, Richard Chit, who has Down's syndrome. Vera is a wonderful person, sweet and kind, respectful and respected.  You just feel good in her presence.  She will be missed by many.  After hearing that she is missing, I have been following the story more closely.  I went to a touching memorial service Sunday, and later viewed the site from the neighboring Stone Arch Bridge.  I've lived in this city all my life and have crossed that bridge many times.  It's all so hard to believe. I've read about all of those lost and missing.  They were all very special.  And then everything changed in an instant.  Let's be thankful for the lives of Vera and... 08/07/2007

Well, you've made the decision.  You're ready to move, upgrade, down size, transfer or other.  Regardless of the reason or form that it will take you have decided that it's time to get your home listed and begin the buying "process".So where do you start?  Who will you be asking to advise you?  Is it time to call one of the agents that you worked with in the past?  Uncle Tom who just got his Real Estate Lics?  Or other???And what about all of those other questions: What do I list my home for?  Should I put my home on the market first or go find my next home first?  Should I order an appraisal or just have 3 different agents give me their opinions on a listing price?  How do I determine exactly how much home I should be looking for next?All of these are great questions, and will most lik... 08/04/2007

What a day it has been for all the people involved in some way or another with the loss of the I35W bridge over the Mississippi River between downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota. It all started Wednesday evening just as the rush hour was nearing it's end but while the bridge, because of construction work that took away some of the lanes, was bumper to bumper with cars, trucks and buses going to their various destinations. Shortly after 6 p.m. the steel understructure in some horrible, bizarre way gave out, twisted and started a chain reaction of crumbling steel that took away the support from the concrete road bed it was supposed to hold up for many more years and allowed them to pitch, drop, and turn into a distorted mass of horror for people on the bridge and people w... 08/03/2007

Greetings all.  It is a very somber morning here in Minneapolis.  For those who have not heard yet we lost a major Mpls bridge last night right at the tail of rush hour.  Most reports show that there were at least 50 cars, trucks and buses (one bus had 60 children on it) on it while it was going down.As of right now we have 4 confirmed deaths, 20-30 people are still missing, and others that are still at the hospital in critical condition.We would appreciate any prayers that you could provide.  Along with your prayer please also be aware of all that the Red Cross is doing to funnel money and resources to the situation.  Please feel free to visit their web site that is devoted to this situation.  That web site is http://www.redcrosstc.org/ 08/02/2007

"So what have you done for ME lately?" - Sometimes this seems like the only question that a customer could honestly ask us.As agents, brokers and business owners we spend A LOT of time, money and energy talking and worrying about what we can do to help promote ourselves and our business, BUT what exactly are we doing to help our clients accomplish their goals?If you could put together a list of The Top 10 Things That Should Be Done To Get A Clients Home SOLD what would they be?Examples (I'll try to help get us started here):Better original listing price.  Making sure that I have done EVERYTHING I can to price it right the FIRSTtime.  Bringing my clients out to preview their top 3-5 competitors in the area to show them exactly what they are up against.  Etc, etc, etc.Front yard sign with... 07/31/2007

When selling and or buying real estate in todays market, consumers are always seeking reliable resources and information pertaining to their potential real estate transactions. Real Estate is America's single most important asset. Making informed decisions with trusted sources is more important than doing business with someone simply holding a license to do real estate. Think About This! Most people developing personal wealth utilize a professional manager or stock broker. Is the Real Estate person you know a Strategic Real Estate Investment Professional? America's biggest and greatest assets evolves around your personal real estate acquisitions. You owe yourself the right to be aligned with entrusted professionals utilizing creative wealth building strategies. Our mission is simple: We... 07/30/2007

When selling and or buying real estate in todays market, consumers are always seeking reliable resources and information pertaining to their potential real estate transactions. Real Estate is America's single most important asset. Making informed decisions with trusted sources is more important than doing business with someone simply holding a license to do real estate. Think About This! Most people developing personal wealth utilize a professional manager or stock broker. Is the Real Estate person you know a Strategic Real Estate Investment Professional? America's biggest and greatest assets evolves around your personal real estate acquisitions. You owe yourself the right to be aligned with entrusted professionals utilizing creative wealth building strategies. Our mission is simple: We... 07/30/2007

Greetings all.  Just a little idea that I will be working on that I thought some of you may be interest in.Although some of you may work very large or non-specific area, this idea is directed towards those of use that truly concentrate on a specific geographic area or neighborhood.I specialize in the South West Mpls area (SW Mpls), and one of the fun little projects that I will be working on this summer and part of fall (around the time school starts) I will be putting together a fun little neighborhood campaign to help say thank you to our local fire department.What I plan to do, and you may have seen this done recently at a wedding, I will have professional photographer take a picture of our local station, or something that will mean a lot to our local guys, and will be having it fram... 07/28/2007

Just the other day I was asked by someone in the mortgage business exactly what he would need to do to help lock in some business and/or referrals from other Realtors.  He wanted to know exactlty what he could teach his loan officers that would help them gain more business from Realtors.And to give him credit, he had some great ideas, and I could not disagree with any of them, but I also felt as though his ideas needed to go one LARGE step further.  That step was completely based on results, and I was not talking about his loan officers results, but rather the results of anyone that they were networking with.So what exactly was I getting at?  Well in a nut shell, here is a summary of my entire idea and philosophy of a good network:Never expect someone to send you any business until you ... 07/25/2007

South West Minnapolis (SW Mpls).  There is simply nothing like it.From the "great" lakes of Harreit, Chalhoun and others, the incredible 50 & France area (http://www.50thandfrance.com/), to the great Linden Hills neighborhood and shops (http://www.linden-hills.com/index.htm), to great homes, schools and people.Please take some time and take a stroll through my SW Mpls Page (http://www.djbreck.com/sw-mpls-page.asp) and see all that this area has to offer.DJ BreckheimerReal Estate BrokerSW Mpls Specialistwww.djBreck.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Welcome to the South West Minneapolis (SW Mpls) area of my web site. There are very few areas that I love more than SW Mpls. This area of my site is dedicated to ensurin... 07/25/2007

North Minneapolis Seeking to Re-invent Itself If you would like to give your input on how you would like to promote the North Minneapolis area, now is your chance.The Northside Marketing Task Force is inviting you to attend the final two public sessions to give ideas on the public perception of the area. Results will include a new logo, new brochures, slogan, and ads.  July 26, 7-9 pm, Webber Recreation Center, 4400 Dupont Ave N July 30, 7-9 pm, Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave NSnacks will be provided! 07/25/2007

Q: So what are the most frequently asked questions that I get from today's sellers?A: So when is the market going to turn around?  And why is my home worth so much less than I thought?First off, let's understand that although this is a very different market than what many home owners are used to, it is not necessarily a "bad" market.Although not always the case, most sellers intend on buying a new home, and most sellers are also planning on "upgrading" rather than "downsizing".  *Which really means that there couldn't be a much better buying situation for them than what we are experiencing today.Mathematically speaking most sellers are in a GREAT situation.Sure, they may be getting less than they had hoped for their home, but the seller of the more expensive home, that they tend on buyi... 07/25/2007

Lowry Hill Historic Home #1 Along with the homes I post for St Paul, I will periodically be highlighting historic homes in Minneapolis as well. This is the first one of the Lowry Hill series so check back every now and then for new featured historic home in Minneapolis. The first featured Historic Home in the Lowry Hill district of Minneapolis is 905 Douglas AvenueBuilt in 1900, the home is most likely similar to when it was first built, though the area surrounding it has changed greatly. Designed as a Colonial Revival mansion, the home has distinguishing characteristics of the style including full height column Corinthian capitals, dentils at the cornice with decorative molding, and a broken pediment above the door. The front door is also typical with its fanlight above the door and si... 07/24/2007

About UsPutting Customers First We pride ourselves on providing superior customer service and creating satisfied customers. We work hard to satisfy the mortgage needs and exceed the expectations of our customers. Lower Mortgage Costs Through Cutting-edge Mortgage Origination TechnologyOur customers save money and close their loans quickly because we employ the most advanced mortgage technology available. In a rush? We welcome you to try our mortgage calculators! The Internet, advanced mortgage processing software, and automated mortgage underwriting systems are coordinated to speed the mortgage process and deliver the best rate and terms.Highest Quality Mortgage ServicesFrom mortgage processing and underwriting, to loan closing and funding, our expert mortgage staff will efficiently exp... 07/23/2007

Find youself wondering how the market here in the Longfellow neighborhood really is? Here is how it compares so far to last year.   2006:  178 homes sold from 1/1/2006-7/15/2006 Avg list price     Avg sale price     Avg List-to-Sale Price  Days on market    Avg FSF   Avg. $ per sq. ft. $237,535          $234,867             98.9%                         45.2                     1,350     $173.96 Now let's compare the same time period in 2007 here in the Longfellow market.  1/1/2007-7/15/2007 (173 homes sold) Avg list price     Avg sale price     Avg List-to-Sale Price  Days on market    Avg FSF   Avg. $ per sq. ft. $238,740          $233,669             98.9%                         77                     1,376       $169.82 You may have heard from a certain source that the Longfellow m... 07/21/2007

The Metro area is home to many private and Montessori schools for those that seek an alternative education to public school options. Many denominations are available including, but not limited to, Catholic, Jewish, Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Christian, Interdenominational, and also non-sectarian.Grades available per school differ, with some being Elementary or Secondary only, while others are a mixture of both. Saint Thomas Academy, founded in 1885 serves young men in grades 7-12, while Convent of the Visitation is the only all-girls secondary school (grades 7-12) in Minnesota.For a list of private schools in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, as well as some Montessori schools, visit my website. 07/17/2007

An established but quite, residential neighborhood, Home to Anthony Middle School and Kenny Elementary, the neighborhood is adored by is residents, but not as well know as many other Southwest Minneapolis neighborhoods.  Its boundaries are West 54th St. to the north, Lyndale Ave. South and Highway 121 to the east, West 62nd St. (Highway 62) to the south, and the alley between Knox and Logan Ave. South to the west.  The major construction work occurring on Hwys 35W and 62 is a constant struggle in Kenny, and will be for a while.The neighborhood, its park and its elementary school were named for Sister Elizabeth Kenny, an Australian nurse who developed the Kenny method of treating polio. The neighborhood has a lake on its south end called Grass Lake. Homes in Kenny tend to be one and half... 07/03/2007

Tangletown is a neighborhood in the Southwest community of Minneapolis. Minnehaha Creek traverses the southern part of the neighborhood.  The neighborhood boundaries are 46th St. to the north, Interstate 35W to the east, Diamond Lake Road to the south, and Lyndale Ave. South to the west.  Tangletown is most well known for its bounty of beautiful, high end, old homes.  Some of the area most ornate and unique historic homes line the curving, hilly, roads of Tangletown.The neighborhood was officially known as Fuller, after its elementary school named for Margaret Fuller, until 1996 when it was changed to Tangletown, which reflects the winding streets in the neighborhood that do not conform to the regular grid of the cities streets and avenues.  Margaret Fuller was an American feminist, poe... 07/03/2007

In the southwest corner of Minneapolis, Fulton is most well known for Lake Harriet, Minnehaha Creek, Southwest High School and the 50th and France shopping district.  Fulton's boundaries are W. 47th St. to the north, Penn Ave. S. to the east, W. 54th St. to the south, and France Ave. S. to the west. Nearby neighborhoods include Linden Hills, Lynnhurst, Armatage and Edina lies to the south and west. Lake Harriet sits in Fulton's northeast corner and Minnehaha Creek runs through it. The neighborhood takes its name from Robert Fulton, the engineer and artist who invented the steamboat in the 19th century. Fulton is a large residential neighborhood made up of single family home primarily, that were originally built in the 1920's and 1930's.  New development is occurring regularly.  There is... 07/03/2007

FYI - Full Disclosure: I personally organize and sponsor this event.  It's my little way of giving something back to the community. The Remodeled Home Tour is a self-guided, one day tour of recently remodeled homes throughout Southwest Minneapolis.  It's a fundraiser for Southwest Minneapolis neighborhoods.  Visit the tour website for information and to get your ticket!Both large and small projects are featured.  Guests will see how even small changes can make a big difference.  There are even a couple of brand new homes, which are shining examples of how new construction can fit seamlessly into historic, urban, neighborhoods.  Emphasis is placed on older homes remodeled to meet the needs of modern lifestyles and culture.  Special consideration is given to green remodeling as well.   Ti... 07/02/2007