As a Realtor, I love to interview new companies the western metro area of Minneapolis to learn about the community and its people.     The Caim Center, in Waconia MN, is a one of a kind place for you to explore-expand and empower yourself1  There may be centers such as this on the east or west coast but in a small town of 10,000+ it is a rarity.   The community has welcomed it with open arms!   Would you like to take a class in  Saori weaving, drumming circles, meditation or aromatheraphy? Have you watched a movie -not a blockbuster- that really had an impact on you because it taught you somethin>.  Would you like to sit on overstuffed cushions and discuss the merits of this movie with other community members?    Now all these possibilities and more are available to you at the Caim Cent... 11/04/2013

http://www.martabecketthomes.blogspot.com Check out my blog for more information on the Waconia Community Garage sale on April 26th and April 27th!   It is April 10th, an inch of snow on the ground and we are expecting 4-6 inches in the next few days!   Depressingly I have heard we have had only 3-4 nights above freezing all year!  Our whole 2013 has been like this, endless cold, snow and grey. What does this do to a persons spirit? Well let me tell you it ain't uplifting.My days were getting longer and longer and my spirits were sinking lower and lower.  I would get up each morning and go down to my office in the basement and there it was .....  Kick me when I am down...... the blah, blah basement.  Brown walls, old furnishings, miss matched accessories and part tack room with my daugh... 04/10/2013

  Counties throughout the country have created beautiful tours through farmlands ~ bringing people back to rural areas and for some discovering the rural areas for the first time.  With our lives centered around a faster paced lifestyle, supermarket conveniences and technology moving faster than our brains can think sometimes, the farm is part of our pastoral past. Barns once the staple of the farm life, the center of the farm life, too have been vanishing with developments.  Historic structures left to deteriorate are slowly becoming more and more of our past than our present. However, there appears to be a renaissance movement in counties throughout the country including Minnesota to save and restore these historic structures. And, a heart-felt movement to use these historic structure... 12/27/2012

There is quite a bit of behind the scenes activity during a big event like the Governor's Fishing Opener.   You don’t think about all the people volunteering their time and talents to help out in an event because everything runs so smoothly.  Such was the case at the Governor's Fishing Opener in Waconia, MN a few weeks ago. The Saturday after Lions hosted a walleye fish fry for all.  Were they trying to feed the 5000?  Maybe not, but it certainly was a treat for all who were there.    Here are a few pictures of the Governor's Fishing Opener and the Waconia Lions doing their thing behind the scenes.   Miss Minnesota's Teen Volunteers Got the Big One Ladies with Gandor fish hats-gorgeous. A park scene at the Fishing Opener     Lion Kelly Wagener and  Lion Richard Beckett     Lion Chumly(... 05/24/2012

The home values for Waconia, Cologne, St. Boni and Norwood Young America for the month of October are now ready to view. The more information you have, the more comfortable you will feel about making the best decision. For the most detailed appraisal of your home's current value, please contact me for a free, no-obligation consultation. You can visit Area Home Values on my website to view recent sales, sale prices and days on the market. 11/22/2010

The current US housing market and national financial crisis have caused untold stress and heartache for many American families.  The options for foreclosure are many however.   Reinstatement: A reinstatement is the simplest solution for a foreclosure, however it is often the most difficult. The homeowner simply requests to know the total amount owed to the mortgage company to date, and then pays it. Repayment Plan: This plan involves the homeowner negotiating with the mortgage company to allow them to repay back payments over a period of time. Mortgage Modification: A mortgage modification involves the reduction of one of the following: the interest rate on the loan, the principal balance of the loan, the term of the loan, or any or all of the above. This typically results in a lower p... 09/03/2010

The number of homes for sale remains about the same as last month however new listings has dramatically increased from 135 last month to 202 in June.  There are fewer pending properties now at 103 compared to last month's 127.  The average list price and sale price doesn't show a significant change from last month. 07/22/2010

This is a great week to be in Waconia! Bands, Blues, BBQ & Bargains this Saturday, June 19th from noon-5pm in City Square ParkLive Blues: Noon-2 Everett Smith, 2-5 Traveled Ground in City Square ParkMarching Bands: 6 PM 12th Lake Waconia Band Festival Bargains: All Day Long!  Look for blue balloons at participating merchants! 25th Ridgeview Golf & Taste CelebrationJoin Ridgeview Foundation at Island View Golf Club on Monday, June 21General Public is invited to attend the Taste starting at 5pm. Tickets-$35.Dinner and program starts at 7pm (included in admission to the Taste.) Raffle tickets are still available for $25. Bunco Tournament-3pm in the clubhouse. Tickets-$25All proceeds go to support the Marie Steiner Kelting Hospice House in Chaska.  FIREWORKS! If you would like to contribute... 06/18/2010

The Waconia Fire Department is currently comprised of 35 volunteer/paid on call members. In 2009 the department was paged a total of 345 times however 57 of these pages were cancelled and didn't need the fire department after all. So a total of 288 visits were made. The majority of these visits, 121 to be exact, were coded "Medical". This is a service provided to anyone when there is life threatening injury, feeling very ill, injured and/or traumatized. This does not include people who were traumatized in a personal injury accident. Fire Alarms resulted in 46 of these calls. This includes smoke detectors, heat detectors, and any other alarm that might be connected to the fire alarm system and it captures all structures. Actual fires resulted in 21 calls. There was property damage as a r... 05/13/2010

The 6th Annual Sister Saturday in Waconia is May 15th from 9am to 5pm.  This is a day where the ladies get together and shop, enjoying special discounts at select retailers around Waconia. Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends can enjoy shopping and dining for the entire day.  One hundred goody bags filled with treats and special offers will be given away starting at 9am.  Two of these bags will contain $50 in Waconia bucks!  The bags will be distributed at The Stash & Yetzer's Home Furnishings.  Below are just some of the special offers: Lola's Lakehouse - Happy hour specials plus $3 Pomegranate CosmosSalon Trende - 25% off all productsArmanista - 15% off jewelry plus 5% off clothing $50 or moreClearwater Clothing - 20% off storewide for solo shoppers; 25% off storewide shopping with 'f... 04/26/2010

Listing inventories are on the rise, as are prices.  However days on the market is declining.  Buyers and sellers are working in overdrive before the tax credit ends at the end of this month. According to the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors,  there were 2,527 new listings the week of April 10th, a huge jump of 47.9 percent over the same week in 2009. Only 28 percent of these are re-lists of properties that have already been on the market in the last year so many of these listings are brand new. Pending sales were a little closer to year-over year figures, with the 1,084 signed purchase agreements just 3.6 percent above 2009 numbers. The chart below outlines new listings.   04/22/2010

Houses can form a neighborhood but only people can make it a community. Community is an essential part of family, of lifestyle, and of real estate. Understanding local conditions in Waconia 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. Review the tips below when choosing your Waconia 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 park... 04/06/2010

The home owners tax credit that was extended into 2010 will be ending soon so if you are considering purchasing a home, keep this in mind.  A valid purchase contract needs to be signed by April 30, 2010 to qualify for the credit.  Most Waconia buyers will need to finance their home, so I've provided brief financial information to help get you started. FHA Loans are subject to loan limits that are frequently updated.  MortgageLoanPlace.com is a great resource for current information on FHA loans. The current FHA limit for Carver county for a single family home is $365,000.  To view other counties please visit MortgageLoanPlace.com. The United States government offers a number of benefits to its Armed Forces members and veterans for their service. One important example is the VA Home Loa... 03/05/2010

The Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors recently released their Residential Real Estate Activity Report.  The information below is taken from this and reflects information for 2009. Last year, mortgage rates continued to decline and  housing prices remained soft.  Sales were also higher in the affordable price segments due to the first-time home buyer tax credit and increased lender-mediated sales.  Also, total dollar volume was boosted by the increased number of transactions after declining over the last three years. The average square foot of homes bought in 2009 declined slightly, which makes sense since there was a rise in 'affordable home' sales. The price per square foot of area home sales also declined.  Historical levels of lender-mediated activity are taking place in the T... 03/01/2010

It's nice to know if home prices are going up or down in the nation, but most people want to know what is happening in their own back yard. Real estate is local and home owners want to know the value of their own home.  I have gathered statistics provided by the Northstar MLS.  The information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed, and includes all homes and town houses listed on the MLS in the area stated.    02/26/2010

When searching for a Waconia home to buy it is important you also take note of what the community has to offer.  Make a list of all of the amenities that are close by in the neighborhood you are considering as your new residence.  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? What is the proximity to schools? Are there community events or organizations?  If you are a churchgoer it is also important to look at what churches are in close proximity.  Below is a list of churches in Waconia. Promise Community Church - 141 Depot Drive - is a Christian church that provides uplifting worship, biblical preaching and a fun children's min... 02/16/2010

How would you like to live at the end of this blue arrow, waking up every morning to the view of a magnificent 3,000 acre lake.  If you lived at 1240 Waconia Parkway North, you could.  The natural beauty of Lake Waconia is a constant source of joy and inspiration.  It is the second largest lake in the Metro and one of the cleanest in the area. Sailors, windsurfers, boaters and fisherman flock here and now is your chance to purchase a once-in-a-lifetime deal.  Owning a gorgeous home on Wagener's Bay is a rare opportunity. During the summer you can enjoy swimming and picnicing on the facilities provided by Lake Waconia Regional Park.  In the winter this cozy lake community morphs into life sized snow globe scenes. The lake freezes and the ice fishermen arrive.  Thousands of ice-fishing ho... 02/16/2010

The dinner will be held at the Waconia Event Center this Saturday, February 6th, 2010 from 4-7:30.  The evening will start with hors d’oeuvres at 4 p.m. Dinner ends at 7:30 p.m.  There will be great door prizes and raffles.  Prizes include trips as well as sixteen different guns.  A silent auction will be held and live music is provided by Clark Machtemes and Peter Gustafson of Traveled Ground with special guests, Jenn Bostic and Caitlin Nicol-Thomas. Advance tickets are available at Bob’s Barber Shop, Hardware Hank, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods and Waconia Ford Mercury.  Tickets are also available at the door.  See you there! 02/05/2010

Forbes.com gave the 10 best metro areas to go from renting to buying.  As most people know, the first time homeowners tax credit is still available and interest rates are at historically low levels.  However, Forbes states some cities stand out more than others as places to purchase your home now.  In the Minneapolis area, they state "the premium to buy--the spread between what you'd spend on renting and what you'd pay each month for a mortgage--is far narrower now than its 15-year average."  It is also predicted to have a price hike in roughly five years, making the value of your property go up. Forbes details how it decided what cities were the best to go from renting to buying at this time.  First, they used data collected from the US Census, National Association of Realtors, and mor... 01/31/2010

Activity is picking up with more new listings and more recent sales in the entire Twin Cities area.  According to the REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE OF MINNESOTA, INC for the week ending January 16 there were 571 signed purchase agreements, up 4.0 percent from a year ago.  New listings were 8.3 percent higher than a year ago at 1,668. The number of homes listed so far this year in Waconia (1/1/2010-1/25/2010) is 38.  The median list price is $235,300.  The average list price is $265,522. The total number of active single family homes on the market in Waconia is 109 with the median price being $249,700.  The average price is $313,659 but this includes two multi-million dollar homes. If these homes were removed from the equation, the average price would be $283,830.  These homes have b... 01/26/2010