The Federal Reserve's statement after yesterday's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting left no doubt as to the Fed's dual commitment to keeping long term interest rates down and encouraging economic growth. No changes to the Fed's current bond-buying program were made during today's FOMC meeting. The Fed's monthly purchase of $85 billion in bonds and MBS works by boosting bond prices, which typically helps with keeping mortgage rates lower. The Fed reaffirmed its position that it will not withdraw or reduce monetary easing until the unemployment rate is substantially lower. Unemployment Rate Improving Nationally: Fed predictions for the national unemployment rate improved; December's outlook for 2013 estimated the unemployment rate at between 7.4 to 7.7 percent; the Fed now exp... 03/21/2013

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released its NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index for March on Monday. The HMI measures builder confidence in the market for newly constructed single family homes. A reading of 50 for the NAHB Housing Market Index (HMI) indicates that more builders are confident of housing market conditions for new single family homes than those who are not confident. Home builder confidence fell for the third consecutive month with a two-point drop to a reading of 44 in March. Several Factors Create New Home Bottleneck An NAHB leader noted that several situations are causing a “bottleneck” in the supply of new homes as compared to those wanting to buy them: Low supply of developed lots available for new construction Rising costs for labor and materials... 03/20/2013

Staging is the art of preparing your Minneapolis home for sale before showing it to prospective buyers. The point of staging is to highlight the house's strengths, downplay its weaknesses and make it more appealing. With the right decorating techniques, you can win buyers over the moment they step through the door. Below are a few staging tips to help make your house irresistible to potential buyers. Put Everything Away: The first step is to put away anything that is not essential. This will open up the house so that it appears more spacious. Even if you have to rent a storage unit, finding a new home for all of your family's projects and collections should clear some space and help buyers imagine their own belongings in your home for sale. Pay special attention to entryways and narrow... 03/19/2013

When you are looking to buy a home, it is important to keep in mind that no real estate price is set in stone. There is always room for negotiation, and with the right techniques you may end up saving thousands of dollars on your dream house. However, it can be tricky to get the right reaction when you are negotiating. Here are a few tips that will help you to haggle your way to the best deal. Find Out The Seller's Motivation: If they really need to move and sell the property, it will be easier to convince them to negotiate on price or other deal points. For example, they might be relocating for a job or the house might be close to foreclosure, which would give them the motivation to sell quickly at the price you offer. Investigate How Long The Property Has Been On The Market: If the s... 03/18/2013

Buying a foreclosed property in Minneapolis and the surrounding area can be different than buying other types of real estate. In many cases you will be able to get a fantastic deal on a home, but you will need to go through quite a bit of work and negotiation. Here are four tips to help you navigate the foreclosure buying process: Find the right real estate agent: The first thing to keep in mind is that your real estate broker will deal directly with the bank that owns the foreclosed property. The bank has the final say in whether they'll accept your bid - so you want an agent who has developed a good relationship with them. Know that cheap doesn't mean good value: Sometimes the tiny price tag on a foreclosed property can be very tempting, but make sure you are asking questions about t... 03/14/2013

Last week's jobs report -- a combination of the Department of Labor's Non-farm Payrolls Report and Unemployment Rate -- provided investors and job seekers with unexpected good news. Job growth for February handily exceeded most economists expectations of 160,000 by adding 236,000 new jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment increased in business and professional services, construction and healthcare: Business and professional services added 73,000 jobs Construction added 48,000 jobs. Of these, 17,000 jobs were for residential construction. Healthcare added 32,000 jobs Since September, construction employment has risen by 151,000. This increase in construction jobs may point to a strengthening in the home building sector. Stronger home building numbers may lead to i... 03/13/2013

Whether you are moving to a new house with children or you are buying your first Minneapolis home with the intention of raising future little ones there, many factors will come into play when making your decision. You will want to find a house with the right size and layout, that has a suitable number of bedrooms and bathrooms, is in an excellent neighborhood and has all of the local amenities your family will need. Here are three important factors to consider during your new home search: Location: Take a look at the area where the property is located. Is it close to a school that your kids can attend when they are old enough? Is there a playground where they can play with their friends? Are you near any convenient shopping areas or stores for picking up groceries? Location is one of t... 03/12/2013

Although the financial markets have tightened lending guidelines and financing requirements over the last few years, the right advice when applying for your loan can make a big difference. Not all loans are approved. And even when they aren't approved immediately, it doesn't have to be the end of your real estate dreams. There are many reasons why a mortgage loan for the purchase of your real estate could be declined. Here are a few things to understand and prepare for when applying for a mortgage: Loan-to-Value Ratio: The loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is the percentage of the appraised value of the real estate that you are trying to finance. For example, if you are trying to finance a home that costs $100,000, and want to borrow $75,000, your LTV is 75%. Lenders generally don't like a hig... 03/11/2013

The previous couple years' doom and gloom outlook is looking like it is turning more upbeat and robust for the rest of 2013. Home Prices Climb Nearly 10% Over Past Year: In fact, a recently released report by CoreLogic stated that home prices were up 9.7 percent from one year previously. That kind of increase is a very good sign that the momentum may be building for a strong real estate market this year. Many other economic experts are predicting that things might be improving this year, including increases in both home prices and sales. Here are some of the ways that these positive changes may impact home buyers and sellers this year.    For Buyers: Attractive Financing Options: Interest rates could remain at the lowest levels they have been in years, which can make purchasing a home ... 03/07/2013

The Standard and Poor’s Case-Shiller Home Price Indices released February 26 show strong growth in the majority of 20 cities and corresponding metro areas tracked during 2012. The S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices measure home prices nationally and locally by compiling data from individual indexes including a 10-City Composite Index, a 20-City Composite Index, and a 20-Metro Area Index that includes metro areas for each of the 20 cities used in the 20-City Composite. Metro Areas Show Nearly Universal Growth: 19 of 20 metro areas showed higher home prices in Q 4 2012 with the New York metro area showing a decrease in home prices; this could be due in part to the impact of Hurricane Sandy. Highlights include: The Atlanta and Detroit metro areas saw Q4 2012 Atlanta home prices increase ... 03/06/2013

With spring right around the corner, you might be thinking about sprucing up your Plymouth home. However, it may not yet be time to work in the garden or on other outside endeavors. If cabin fever has been setting in, this is a great time for indoor improvements to brighten your living space and get you warmed up to work outside when the seasons change. Whether it's over-stuffed closets or cluttered garages, everyone has a problem area or two on their property that has not been touched in a while. Below are a 5 simple ideas to get you started. Maybe you can even get the kids to lend a hand! Organize That Closet: Clear out the things you don't need and make it easier to find the things you do. You can build a closet system in just a couple hours for ranging from $100 - $500 to put every... 03/05/2013

April 15th seems a long way off, but it will be here before you know it. Now is the perfect time to start getting your paperwork in order. Owning real estate can make a big difference on your tax return, so make sure that you're taking advantage of all the deductions you're entitled to. We've outlined a few below: Mortgage Interest: Unless you paid cash for your purchase, you probably took out a loan to buy your Minneapolis home. Mortgage interest is one of the best tax deductions available, so be sure to hang on to that 1098 Mortgage Interest Statement from your lender. You can almost always deduct the entire amount of interest paid per calendar year. Real Estate Taxes: Depending on where your property is located, you are likely paying real estate tax, either to the state or to a loca... 03/04/2013

Whispering Creek is located on the Western Edge of Maple Grove MN at the intersection of 75th Ave N and Peony Lane.  Search our interactive map for Whispering Creek Maple Grove MN Homes for Sale and surrounding neighborhoods. Whispering Creek Maple Grove MN Homes for Sale Myra Jensen 763-227-0618  The Jensen Team - Home Marketing Experts Keller Williams Classic Realty NW Licensed in MN             03/03/2013

Home sales rose for the 11th consecutive month according to the National Association of REALTORS® Existing Home Sales Report for January. This is the first time this has occurred since the period between July of 2005 and May of 2006. National Average Home Price Up Over 12% Annually: The national average home price in January was $173,600, which is 12.3 percent higher than for January 2012. Calculated on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis, Existing Home Sales data is compiled using completed sales of single family homes, condominium units and co-ops. January's existing home sales rose by 0.4 percent to 4.92 million sales nationally as compared to December's revised annual rate of 4.90 million sales nationally. National sales of existing homes increased by 9.1 percent as compared to Janu... 02/28/2013

Not finding the home you are looking for in Maple Grove MN?  With interest rates at the lowest point EVER, there has never been a better time to buy Maple Grove MN New Construction!  Get the home that you want! List of Maple Grove MN New Construction Homes Here!     Myra Jensen 763-227-0618  The Jensen Team - Home Marketing Experts Keller Williams Classic Realty NW Licensed in MN   Maple Grove MN Homes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale Avoid Foreclosure Homes Close to Where You Work What is Your Home Worth? Myra Jensen Keller Williams Classic Realty NW 763-227-0618 myrajensen@kw.com 02/28/2013

SOLD!  MAPLE GROVE MN TOWNHOME This homne sold quickly and so can yours!  Call us to see what your home can sell for today!  Inventory is low and buyer demand is high - now may be the time for you to move! Contact the Jensen Team - Home Marketing Experts of Keller Williams Classic Realty NW 763-227-0618 Licensed in MN http://www.HotHomesMN.com View the Virtual Tour for 9472 Jewel Lane N, Maple Grove, MN Schedule a Showing All Maple Grove Homes for Sale Maple Grove MN Townhomes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale Homes Close to Where You Work What is Your Home Worth? Myra Jensen Keller Williams Classic Realty NW 763-227-0618 Questions?Schedule a Showing! Licensed In:MN L2L Virtual Tours AR    Each office independently owned and operated. 02/28/2013

Maple Grove Market Update   The Numbers Month to Month The Year to Date median sales price for Maple Grove MN Homes for Sale was $179,165 compared to $209,600 in 2012, a loss of over 14%.   Closed sales in Maple Grove MN Homes for Sale were up over 10% in January 2013. 55 Homes sold in Maple Grove MN in January 2013, up from 50 in January 2012. New Listings in Maple Grove MN Homes for Sale are down over 10%. There is only a 3 month supply of inventory in the Maple Grove MN Homes for sale market right now, with only 258 homes for sale in January 2013, compared to 360 in January 2012. This is a rare opportunity for sellers to get their home sold quickly in the winter market.   CONTACT THE JENSEN TEAM IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING OR SELLING A HOME IN MAPLE GROVE MN  Click to see the fu... 02/28/2013

Looking for a Maple Grove One Level Townhome or Main Level Master Bedroom?  Here is a list of Maple Grove Townhomes with a master bedroom on the main level!   Myra Jensen 763-227-0618  The Jensen Team - Home Marketing Experts Keller Williams Classic Realty NW Licensed in MN   Maple Grove MN Townhomes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale Avoid Foreclosure Homes Close to Where You Work What is Your Home Worth? Myra Jensen Keller Williams Classic Realty NW 763-227-0618 myrajensen@kw.com 02/28/2013

The real estate market has started to recover from the downturn over the last few years in many areas of the country, and more people are thinking about buying a new place to live. With this new energy in home buying, an interesting trend seems to be developing. Instead of going for larger homes, which was an overwhelming trend in years past, many people are choosing micro-dwellings. What is a micro-dwelling? There are a number of different styles of micro dwellings being built. This is a relatively new concept for homes in the United States and individual creativity abounds in this space. The most common factor in micro-dwellings are their size. They tend to be less than 500 square feet of living space. Some densely populated metropolitan areas like San Francisco and New York City are... 02/27/2013

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) released minutes from its January meeting last Wednesday, as it generally does three weeks following the most recent meeting. The FOMC is a committee within the Federal Reserve System tasked with overseeing the purchase and sale of US Treasury securities by the Fed. The Federal Reserve makes key decisions regarding interest rates and looks to this committee for advice on how and when to take action. The Future Of Quantitative Easing: One of the main topices that Fed leaders discussed was the future of its ongoing program of quantitative easing (QE). Currently, the Fed plans to continue its monthly purchase of treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) with the objective of keeping the inflation rate at or below 2 percent. The Fed plans ... 02/26/2013