Where the money for the transaction will come from. Typically homebuyers will need some money for a down payment and closing costs. However, with today's broad range of loan options, having a lot of money saved for a down payment is not always necessary - if you can prove that you are a good financial risk to a lender. If your credit isn't stellar but you have managed to save 10-20% for a down payment, you will still appear to be a very good financial risk to a lender.       The ongoing costs of home ownership. Maintenance, improvements, taxes and insurance are all costs that are added to a monthly house payment. If you buy a condominium, townhouse or in certain communities, a monthly homeowner's association fee might be required. If these additional costs are a concern, you can make c... 09/06/2007

Is now the right time financially for you to buy a home? Would you rate your financial picture as healthy? Is your credit good? While you can always find a lender to lend you money, solid lenders are more skeptical if your credit history is not good. Generally, a couple of blemishes on a credit report will make you a good credit risk and could qualify you for the lowest interest rates. If you have more than a couple of blemishes on your report, lenders like Quicken Loans may still provide you with a loan, but you may just have to pay a higher interest rate and fees. Some say that you should refrain from borrowing as much as you qualify for because it is wiser not to stretch your financial boundaries. The other school of thought says you should stretch to buy as much home as you can aff... 09/06/2007

How long the home will meet your needs. What features do you require in a home to satisfy your lifestyle now? Five years from now? Depending on how long you plan to stay in your home, you'll need to ensure that the home has the amenities that you'll need. For example, a two-bedroom dwelling may be perfect for a young couple with no children. However, if they start a family, they could quickly outgrow the space. Therefore, they should consider a home with room to grow. Could the basement be turned into a den and extra bedrooms? Could the attic be turned into a master suite? Having an idea of what you'll need will help you find a home that will satisfy you for years to come.   09/06/2007

  Thinking about purchasing a home of your own? Keep these critical considerations in mind: How long you plan to live in the home. If you purchase a home and get a job transfer or decide to move after only a short time, you may end up paying money in order to sell it. The value of your home may not have appreciated enough to cover the costs that you paid to buy the home and the costs that it would take you to sell your home. The length of time that it will take to cover those costs depends on various economic factors in the area of the home. Most parts of the country have an average of 5% appreciation per year. In this case, you should plan to stay in your home at least 3-4 years to cover buying and selling costs. If the area you buy your home in experiences an economic up turn, the le... 09/06/2007

    A qualified, competent real estate agent will help you navigate the myriad of decisions that arise when buying and selling a home. An agent provides value to the homeowner in many ways: Pays for all marketing and advertising costs. Adds experience and expertise in all aspects of the sales process including marketing, financing, negotiations and more.Handles all showings. Brings a network of known, trusted real estate professionals. If your agent doesn't have the answer, he or she likely knows someone who does. Always has your interests in mind so you always have someone on your side. Can handle and advise on all price and contract negotiations. Provides you with all the possible options and opportunities without holding back. Gives an unbiased, realistic view of your home and your o... 09/06/2007

Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood     1. Make a list of all of the amenities that are close by in the neighborhood you are considering as your new residence.  Keep in mind what distances and routes to each of these places are acceptable and what are not. 2.  Determine what the best features of the neighborhoods are.  This is especially helpful if you are deciding between a few different neighborhoods. Are there parks nearby? Is it scenic and visually appealing? Are there quiet areas, streets, culs de sac? Are the people friendly in the neighborhood? Is the neighborhood clean?  Yards, streets, parks? Are there nice trees and foliage? Do the lots have large or small yards? Are there walkways and are they easily accessible? Is it a safe neighborhood? What are the market values of ... 09/02/2007

Community is an essential part of family, of lifestyle, and of real estate. Understanding local conditions in Maple Grove is important when it comes to buying and selling real estate, but the neighborhood you choose can have a dramatic impact on all other aspects of your life as well. Please feel free to browse through the complimentary Maple Grove information I’ve provided. When it’s time to move, call me to get a representative on your side who has experience, Maple Grove market knowledge, and the confidence to help you make the best transaction possible. Enjoy!  Stephanie Antes &   Community Information   Maple Grove is more vibrant than ever!  There is always something exciting to do or see.  Whether it is taking in a show, enjoyi... 09/02/2007

Unclear title Before you sign any document, be sure the property you are considering is free of all encumbrances. As part of their services, a realtor can supply you with a copy of the title to ensure there are no liens, debts, undisclosed owners, leases or easements. Outdated survey Before the purchase is completed, an updated survey is essential. This report will indicate boundaries and structural changes (additions to the house, a new swimming pool, neighbor’s new fence which is extending a boundary line, etc.). Unexpected repairs For $300 - $500 a professional inspector will conduct a thorough inspection of the home. This way, you’ll have an idea of the cost of future repairs. Make the final contract subject to a favourable report. Shopping without pre-approval It only takes a few ... 09/02/2007

    Shopping for a new home is an emotional experience. It’s also time consuming and  comes with a myriad of details. Some buyers, however, caught up in the excitement of buying a new home tend to overlook some items. Their home purchase turns into an expensive process. These errors generally fall into three areas: Paying too much Losing a dream home to another buyer Buying the wrong home When you have a systematic plan before you shop, you’ll be sure to avoid these costly errors. Here are some tips on making the most of your home purchase:         Bidding without sufficient information What price do you offer a seller? Is the seller’s asking price too high? Is it a deal? Without research on the market and comparable homes, you could lose thousands of dollars. Before you make that offe... 09/02/2007

The ongoing costs of home ownership. Maintenance, improvements, taxes and insurance are all costs that are added to a monthly house payment. If you buy a condominium, townhouse or in certain communities, a monthly homeowner's association fee might be required. If these additional costs are a concern, you can make choices to lower or avoid these fees. Be sure to make your realtor and your lender aware of your desire to limit these costs. If you are still unsure if you should buy a home after making these considerations, you may want to consult with an accountant or financial planner to help you assess how a home purchase fits into your overall financial goals. 09/02/2007

Where the money for the transaction will come from. Typically homebuyers will need some money for a down payment and closing costs. However, with today's broad range of loan options, having a lot of money saved for a down payment is not always necessary - if you can prove that you are a good financial risk to a lender. If your credit isn't stellar but you have managed to save 10-20% for a down payment, you will still appear to be a very good financial risk to a lender. 09/02/2007

Is now the right time financially for you to buy a home? Would you rate your financial picture as healthy? Is your credit good? While you can always find a lender to lend you money, solid lenders are more skeptical if your credit history is not good. Generally, a couple of blemishes on a credit report will make you a good credit risk and could qualify you for the lowest interest rates. If you have more than a couple of blemishes on your report, lenders like Quicken Loans may still provide you with a loan, but you may just have to pay a higher interest rate and fees. Some say that you should refrain from borrowing as much as you qualify for because it is wiser not to stretch your financial boundaries. The other school of thought says you should stretch to buy as much home as you can aff... 09/02/2007

How long the home will meet your needs. What features do you require in a home to satisfy your lifestyle now? Five years from now? Depending on how long you plan to stay in your home, you'll need to ensure that the home has the amenities that you'll need. For example, a two-bedroom dwelling may be perfect for a young couple with no children. However, if they start a family, they could quickly outgrow the space. Therefore, they should consider a home with room to grow. Could the basement be turned into a den and extra bedrooms? Could the attic be turned into a master suite? Having an idea of what you'll need will help you find a home that will satisfy you for years to come. 09/02/2007

  Thinking about purchasing a home of your own? Keep these critical considerations in mind: How long you plan to live in the home. If you purchase a home and get a job transfer or decide to move after only a short time, you may end up paying money in order to sell it. The value of your home may not have appreciated enough to cover the costs that you paid to buy the home and the costs that it would take you to sell your home. The length of time that it will take to cover those costs depends on various economic factors in the area of the home. Most parts of the country have an average of 5% appreciation per year. In this case, you should plan to stay in your home at least 3-4 years to cover buying and selling costs. If the area you buy your home in experiences an economic up turn, the len... 09/02/2007

      A qualified, competent real estate agent will help you navigate the myriad of decisions that arise when buying and selling a home. An agent provides value to the homeowner in many ways: Pays for all marketing and advertising costs. Adds experience and expertise in all aspects of the sales process including marketing, financing, negotiations and more.Handles all showings. Brings a network of known, trusted real estate professionals. If your agent doesn't have the answer, he or she likely knows someone who does. Always has your interests in mind so you always have someone on your side. Can handle and advise on all price and contract negotiations. Provides you with all the possible options and opportunities without holding back. Gives an unbiased, realistic view of your home and your... 09/02/2007

If you are looking to purchase a home in Maple Grove, Minnesota here are some demographics of the area that I thought would be useful to you. If you are moving to the area and would like help with financing or would like me to refer a realtor to you I would be happy to do that for you as well.Maple Grove, MinnesotaPopulation:33294Major City:OSSEOHouseholds:12132County:HENNEPINAverage Household Income:$68,057State:MNAverage Commute Time:24.9 Minutes Household DetailsTotal Housing Units:12274Total Households:12132Total Population in Households:33104Total Households with a member under 18:5174Total Households with a member over 65:2001Total Families in Households:9123Total 2-Person Families in Households:3328Total 3-Person Families in Households:2168Total 4-Person Families in Households:23... 08/08/2007

Maple Grove got started with the Winnebago Indians they were the only inhabitants of the Maple Grove area until 1851 when Louis Gervais arrived and settled in the area. More and more people began to settle here so that by 1855 the settlement of farms and construction of homes, churches, and the first town hall were underway. Children were taught in a vacant house until the first school house was built around 1860. Several of the early school houses are in existence today, remodeled as private homes. Early businesses and agriculture in Maple Grove included potato growing, creameries and saw mills. By 1915, a "commercial center" existed that included general stores, a Great Northern train depot and a cheese factory. Town meetings from 1858 until the purchase of the first town hall in 186... 08/06/2007

#10 Post-Closing   Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! Now that you have taken ownership of the property you will need to have your local services such as electricity, cable, and phone set up. Also, you should already be aware of the expenses that are typically associated with owning a home. Neighborhood Association fees, landscaping costs, and annual taxes should be budgeted for throughout the year to keep from getting into a financial bind.   Your agent can save you time and money by helping you coordinate the set-up of these local services. No doubt your agent already knows who the local vendors are for such services as water and electricity, as well as others, so he or she can help provide you with a list of contacts.     For more information contact Stephanie Antes 61... 07/28/2007

#9 Closing   Closing is where ownership of the home is legally transferred from the seller to the buyer. It is a formal meeting in which most parties involved in the buying/selling process will attend. Closing procedures are usually held at the title company's office or lawyer's office. Your closing officer coordinates the document signing and the collection and disbursement of funds.   In order for the closing to go smoothly, each party involved should bring the necessary documentation and be prepared to pay any related fees (closing costs). There may be more than one form of acceptable payment for your closing costs so ask the closing officer which form of payment will be required and to whom it should be paid.   Sellers sometimes pay for a portion or all of the closing costs, dependi... 07/28/2007

#8 Pre-Close Preparation   A the closing date draws near you will need to be in contact with the escrow company or closing attorney and your lender to make sure that all the necessary documents are being prepared. You will also need to confirm that the documents will be delivered to the correct location so they can be reviewed and that they will be ready on the appropriate date. At this point, you should find out what form of payment you will need to bring to the closing for any unpaid fees. Make sure that your payment is made out to the appropriate party.   Your agent can save you time and money by coordinating the necessary documentation with your closing officer. They can work with the closing officer as your consultant to insure thoroughness, accuracy, and timeliness. Making sure th... 07/28/2007