Purchasing your first home in the west metro means navigating some unfamiliar waters. This can seem particularly daunting when it comes to financing. As the acronyms begin to fly in the mortgage process it can be challenging to understand the various options available and more importantly their impact to you.

Selecting and purchasing your first home can seem equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. Success in such an environment requires carefully balancing both the emotional and financial sides of the equation.

Understanding and avoiding some common pitfalls can help.

Takeaways:

• The prospect of buying your …

After a busy year that saw residential real estate values rise steadily and a flurry of activity, what can we expect from 2017?

Several trends can help us discern the future.

Takeaways:

• Residential real estate had a great run in 2016

• …

Recently US News and World Reports conducted an extensive statistical analysis of high schools in Minnesota to determine which did the best job of preparing students for the rigors of secondary education. The west metro fared well with six schools recognized in the top 20. 

Schools were ranked …

Your neighbor’s garage is swept and ready. Rows of crock pots will soon line borrowed card tables. This can mean only one thing. The familiar late summer ritual known as National Night Out (NNO) is nearly upon us.

Thinking about skipping? Think again...

Takeaways:

• …

“Higher prices squeezing both renters and would-be homeowners” – MPR

”Hot Housing Market: With Low Inventory, Prices Increase”-- KSTP

Recent reports of residential real estate shortages in the Twin Cities have led some to question whether this summer is a good …

When vetting a potential new home, there are often many unknowns.

A buyer’s inspection or home warranty can help mitigate risks related to the property itself, but that is really only a part of the transaction. Quality of life in your new home is impacted by many additional factors, …

A famous axiom in real estate says that the three most important factors are location, location and location. Albeit oversimplified (as most cliché’s are) it remains mostly true.  

One consideration that gets a lot less press but can be equally important is timing. While getting the highest possible sale …

Credentials, experience and testimonials are all important things to consider when vetting a potential real estate agent. They also represent a very low bar that a large number of agents will clear. While they are all important, it is imperative to take a deeper dive when interviewing a real estate …

Saddled with student loan debt, little to no savings and more of a job than a career, many 30-somethings are putting off the purchase of a home. In so doing they are shelving something previous generations viewed as core to the American dream. Is this a savvy financial move, or …