Mark Vickerman
Energy Rebates Worth Exploring!

The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) brings good news for homeowners looking to upgrade their energy systems. Between now and 2032, you have the opportunity to benefit from various tax credits made available under this new law. One significant change from previous legislation is the removal of a lifetime cap on tax credits. While there's a maximum of $3,200 per year, you can claim this amount annually until 2032. To make the most of these savings, consider spacing out your upgrades wisely. Here's a list of some eligible upgrades.

Energy Rebates Worth Exploring!
Mark Vickerman
Housing Prices Continue to Rise.

It's been a year of low volume sales in the twin cities real estate market.  Closed sales are down 25% from last year. Nearly all the indicators suggest we are moving towards a more balanced market: Inventory is down, pending sales have decreased, and days on the market have increased.  However, when you look at the median sale price and housing affordability, it becomes evident that the market still favors sellers.

Housing Prices Continue to Rise.
Mark Vickerman
The Hill: A Prairie Landscape

So, grubs decided to make a feast out of our yard, and we grew tired of mowing that steep hill. The solution? We decided to transform it into a native prairie landscape, complete with a cool switchback trail. We'd been toying with this idea for a while but got stuck in the whole overthinking phase. Then, this year, we said, "Let's just do it!"

The Hill: A Prairie Landscape
Stacie Hunt Vickerman
Money Making Home Improvements – Plus, Projects ...

Homeowners remodel, redesign, and restructure their homes for a variety of reasons.  In smart news, we share a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) that takes a deep dive into the reasons a homeowner remodels, the outcome of taking on projects, and the increased happiness found in the home once a project is completed. The report also contains:

·       The typical cost of 19 remodeling and replacement projects, as estimated by members of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI)

·       How much appeal each project is likely to have for buyers, according to REALTORS®

·       How much REALTORS® estimates that homeowners can recover on the cost of the projects if they sell the home.

Money Making Home Improvements – Plus, Projects That Bring The Most Joy!
Mark Vickerman
First Quarter 2023 Market Update

The word for the year so far is “Uncertainty”. Lance Lambert with Fortune.com said he tracked 27 different real estate research groups and every single one of them is different in their predictions”. Here are the nuts and bolts of what is going on right now!

First Quarter 2023 Market Update

3rd Quarter Market Update

3rd Quarter Market Update

What a year we have had so far. A global pandemic, civil unrest across the country triggered by the death of George Floyd here in South Minneapolis, an economic downturn and mass unemployment and yet the real estate market seems to be buzzing right along. But, is it really? We thought we would try to dig into the numbers and see what is truly going on.

On the surface things look great. The Twin Cities median home price is up, average days on the market is down and pending sales are up from this time last year! Interest rates are still historically low causing a boom in refinancing and for those that are buying in the median and upper price brackets, their employment seems to be un-impacted by all the turmoil.

Zoë Bought a Home!

Zoë Bought a Home!

We recently reached another life milestone when, after some convincing, Zoe (our eldest, recent college graduate daughter) bought her first home! A nice little one bedroom condominium in South Minneapolis complete with an in-ground pool (which of course means Stacie and I now have access to a pool). It needed some serious sprucing up but now that it is done it was well worth the time and effort.

We recently reached another life milestone when, after some convincing, Zoë (our eldest, recent college graduate daughter) bought her first home! A nice little one bedroom condominium in South Minneapolis complete with an in-ground pool (which of course means Stacie and I now have access to a pool). It had a stellar kitchen, but needed some serious sprucing up. But now that it is done it was well worth the time and effort.

So the question today is, should kids buy or rent?

Market Reality Check

Market Reality Check

COVID-19 has and will continue to have an impact not just on how we do business but the real estate market as a whole. We were looking at a strong spring market with the balance swung heavily in the seller’s favor with multiple offers and quick sales continuing to be the norm. With the current state of affairs naturally buyer and seller confidence has shifted. Predictably the number of showings in all price ranges has dropped dramatically as have new listings and pending sales. The link from the Minnesota Association of Realtors spells it out for us. Click here to read an article about COVID-19's impact on the market.

Giving back, because it just feels good. About our experience volunteering to feed the homeless.

Giving back, because it just feels good. About our experience volunteering to feed the homeless.

Several years ago, we were feeling that we weren’t doing enough to give back to our community and environment or helping those that are less fortunate, so we went in search of opportunities to serve others. My sister Kris, had been doing her part for years and said we should join her down at First Covenant Church Homeless Shelter to feed 50 adult men and women experiencing homelessness. We took her up on it and have never looked back.

Let’s Work Together!