Lake of Isles
Did you know-Current & Future Housing Data
March 3, 2011 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Watch this video-then call me to help you buy or sell a new home or investment property.
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8 Tips For Finding Your New Home
February 15, 2011 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
A solid game plan can help you narrow your homebuying search to find the best home for you.
House hunting is just like any other shopping expedition. If you identify exactly what you want and do some research, you’ll zoom in on the home you want at the best price. These eight tips will guide you through a smart homebuying process.
1. Know thyself
Understand the type of home that suits your personality. Do you prefer a new or existing home? A ranch or a multistory home? If you’re leaning toward a fixer-upper, are you truly handy, or will you need to budget for contractors?
2. Research before you look
List the features you most want in a home and identify which are necessities and which are extras. Identify three to four neighborhoods you’d like to live in based on commute time, schools, recreation, crime, and price. Then hop onto REALTOR.com to get a feel for the homes available in your price range in your favorite neighborhoods. Use the results to prioritize your wants and needs so you can add in and weed out properties from the inventory you’d like to view.
3. Get your finances in order
Generally, lenders say you can afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. Create a budget so you know how much you’re comfortable spending each month on housing. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to investigate financing.
Gather your financial records and meet with a lender to get a prequalification letter spelling out how much you’re eligible to borrow. The lender won’t necessarily consider the extra fees you’ll pay when you purchase or your plans to begin a family or purchase a new car, so shop in a price range you’re comfortable with. Also, presenting an offer contingent on financing will make your bid less attractive to sellers.
4. Set a moving timeline
Do you have blemishes on your credit that will take time to clear up? If you already own, have you sold your current home? If not, you’ll need to factor in the time needed to sell. If you rent, when is your lease up? Do you expect interest rates to jump anytime soon? All these factors will affect your buying, closing, and moving timelines.
5. Think long term
Your future plans may dictate the type of home you’ll buy. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in the home for five to 10 years? With a starter, you may need to adjust your expectations. If you plan to nest, be sure your priority list helps you identify a home you’ll still love years from now.
6. Work with a REALTOR®
Ask people you trust for referrals to a real estate professional they trust. Interview agents to determine which have expertise in the neighborhoods and type of homes you’re interested in. Because homebuying triggers many emotions, consider whether an agent’s style meshes with your personality.
Also ask if the agent specializes in buyer representation. Unlike listing agents, whose first duty is to the seller, buyers’ reps work only for you even though they’re typically paid by the seller. Finally, check whether agents are REALTORS®, which means they’re members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. NAR has been a champion of homeownership rights for more than a century.
7. Be realistic
It’s OK to be picky about the home and neighborhood you want, but don’t be close-minded, unrealistic, or blinded by minor imperfections. If you insist on living in a cul-de-sac, you may miss out on great homes on streets that are just as quiet and secluded.
On the flip side, don’t be so swayed by a “wow” feature that you forget about other issues—like noise levels—that can have a big impact on your quality of life. Use your priority list to evaluate each property, remembering there’s no such thing as the perfect home.
8. Limit the opinions you solicit
It’s natural to seek reassurance when making a big financial decision. But you know that saying about too many cooks in the kitchen. If you need a second opinion, select one or two people. But remain true to your list of wants and needs so the final decision is based on criteria you’ve identified as important.
G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who has found happiness in a brownstone in a historic Chicago neighborhood. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.
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4 Tips to Determine How Much Mortgage You Can Afford
February 14, 2011 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
By knowing how much mortgage you can handle, you can ensure that home ownership will fit in your budget.
Here are six surefire ways you can get your finances in order before you buy a home.
Homeownership should make you feel safe and secure, and that includes financially. Be sure you can afford your home by calculating how much of a mortgage you can safely fit into your budget.
Instead of just taking out the biggest mortgage a lender qualifies you to borrow, consider how much you want to pay each month for housing based on your financial and personal goals.
Think ahead to major life events and consider how those might influence your budget. Do you want to return to school for an advanced degree? Will a new child add day care to your monthly expenses? Does a relative plan to eventually live with you and contribute to the mortgage?
Still not sure how much you can afford? You can use the same formulas that most lenders use, or try another of these traditional methods for estimating the amount of mortgage you can afford.
1. The general rule of mortgage affordability
As a rule of thumb, you can typically afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. If you earn $100,000, you can typically afford a home between $200,000 and $300,000.
To understand how that rule applies to your particular financial situation, prepare a family budget and list all the costs of homeownership, like property taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, and community association fees, if applicable, as well as costs specific to your family, such as day care costs.
2. Factor in your downpayment
How much money do you have for a downpayment? The higher your downpayment, the lower your monthly payments will be. If you put down at least 20% of the home’s cost, you may not have to get private mortgage insurance, which costs hundreds each month. That leaves more money for your mortgage payment.
The lower your downpayment, the higher the loan amount you’ll need to qualify for and the higher your monthly mortgage payment.
3. Consider your overall debt
Lenders generally follow the 28/41 rule. Your monthly mortgage payments covering your home loan principal, interest, taxes, and insurance shouldn’t total more than 28% of your gross annual income. Your overall monthly payments for your mortgage plus all your other bills, like car loans, utilities, and credit cards, shouldn’t exceed 41% of your gross annual income.
Here’s how that works. If your gross annual income is $100,000, multiply by 28% and then divide by 12 months to arrive at a monthly mortgage payment of $2,333 or less. Next, check the total of all your monthly bills including your potential mortgage and make sure they don’t top 41%, or $3,416 in our example.
4. Use your rent as a mortgage guide
The tax benefits of homeownership generally allow you to afford a mortgage payment—including taxes and insurance—of about one-third more than your current rent payment without changing your lifestyle. So you can multiply your current rent by 1.33 to arrive at a rough estimate of a mortgage payment.
Here’s an example. If you currently pay $1,500 per month in rent, you should be able to comfortably afford a $2,000 monthly mortgage payment after factoring in the tax benefits of homeownership.
However, if you’re struggling to keep up with your rent, consider what amount would be comfortable and use that for the calcuation instead.
Also consider whether or not you’ll itemize your deductions. If you take the standard deduction, you can’t also deduct mortgage interest payments. Talking to a tax adviser, or using a tax software program to do a “what if” tax return, can help you see your tax situation more clearly.
G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who’s owned her own home for more than 20 years. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.
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Two Special Twin Cities Home Buying Programs
February 9, 2011 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
One program is called FPP-Foreclosure Partnership Program, and the other is NSP2 Homebuyer Assistance Program. Both programs offer incentive money for a purchase. I can use these financing programs with one of our mortgage investors. Consider checking them out to see if they’d work for you.
HennipenCounty-Non-forclosedHomes-overview |
HennipenCounty-Nsp2-overview |
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Rebuilding Credit To Get A Mortgage
January 13, 2011 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Often, especially in this market due to the recession, we find potential home buyers who have had a life event or “bump in the road” that affects their ability to obtain a new loan. If you want to buy a home, you will have to have a certain number of reporting trade lines and for certain length of time. MOST mortgage programs require 3-5 trade lines and a minimum of two years of reporting. The other criteria is the actual credit score-which generally has to be 620, 640 or even 660 as it is all lender dependent. A manual underwriting where they use alternative credit such as rent payments, cell phone bill, utility bills, and the cable bill might be able to be used-but only with a few certain programs and lenders. So, the best bet is to re-establish credit as quickly as possible. HOW ABOUT NOW!! Don’t wait-it will only extend the time until you are going to be eligible. I have put together a list of resources that might be helpful. This list is only a starting place for your research. If you find another good resource please post it in the comments below so that the list can be expanded upon.
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Buying Rental Property In The Twin Cities
January 11, 2011 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Have you ever wanted to own rental property, but were unsure where to start? I teach a class on the topic. I’ve decided to make the outline into a PPT. I cover the information in my class in much more depth and breadth, but this will give you a lot of useful information. If you are interested in discussing purchasing a rental property as an investment, just give me a call and we can set up a time to meet and review how I can help you become a “real estate mogul”.
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Mortgage Insurance May Still Be Deductible For Some Buyers
January 6, 2011 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Yipee-It looks like mortgage insurance will remain deductible for some home buyers. When we look buying a home, you need to consider all aspects. One main one is mortgage financing. There are ways around mortgage insurance by doing split loans-like and 80/10/10 for example or LPMI-which stands for lender paid mortgage insurance-which means the interest rate is higher. Rather than confuse the matter with all the options-some of which may have no bearing on your situation-just give me a call. I would be happy to help you do an analysis so you can make the right choice. Click the link below to read the latest news about MI(mortgage insurance)
http://www.mortgageinsurance.genworth.com/pdfs/Marketing/MITaxDeduct-Consumer.pdf
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Is There An Opportunity Right In Front Of YOU
January 4, 2011 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
I just watched an amazing video which I’ve posted below called the Money Tree. There are so many different interpretations. One that struck me was that people are oblivious to opportunity that is right in front of them. How many of us are looking for something that we already have or is within our reach? How many people are NOT buying real estate today when they could be looking at this as an incredible wealth building opportunity for what it is over the long term-assuming properties rise again in value? I was showing homes this past weekend. It was incredible to see townhomes in great communities selling for 40-60% less than they had sold for just as little as 5 years before. Luckily for my client, we are going to make an offer and ACT. Watch this video and don’t let the opportunities in your life pass you by. Don’t let life pass you by. Happy New Year and may 2011 be your best yet!
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December Is The Time To Reflect
December 16, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Are each of us doing all we can to make the world a better place? Many of us have our favorite charity and organizations we support. RE/MAX is a very large sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network. Many people don’t realize how much has been given. Each time I sell a home, I automatically donate a portion of my commission to this organization. Other RE/MAX agents like myself contribute from their commission checks as well. Together, with RE/MAX we have collectively given over 100M. I would encourage everyone to consider finding an organization they believe in and make giving a part of their life. Just imagine what the world could look like?
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City Of Minneapolis Brochure
December 14, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
The City of Mpls produced this great brochure which highlights the benefits of city living.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/docs/WhyMplsBrochure.pdf
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Getting Ready to Sell Your House
December 14, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
While most experts see little good news in 2011’s housing market, economic downturn is no reason to neglect maintenance on a home or lose sight of future plans to relocate.
The critical issue is planning intelligently for what spending you do now to make sure it’s worth your money later. And even if your plan to sell your property is more than a year away, it’s not a bad idea to get your finances in order as well. In the coming months, you’ll be addressing tax issues, so it’s a good time to look at your overall financial picture with a qualified financial planner as well as a trained tax expert.
The October MacroMarkets Home Price Expectations Survey doesn’t see a meaningful increase in home prices until 2012, though appreciation is expected to go up on average more than 14 percent through 2014.
As you wait for your opportunity, here are some ideas to incorporate in your planning:
Check your credit report and score: If you plan to finance a new property once you sell, it makes ample sense to lower your debt and clean up any discrepancies in your credit data well in advance of any move into the market. Remember, you are entitled to one free copy of each of the major credit reports in any given year, and you can obtain them from one resource – www.annualcreditreport.com. Avoid all the services with expensive TV commercials calling themselves “free” – if they ask for a credit card number, you are not getting a free report. Also, so you can spot discrepancies and keep a watchful eye on the possibility of ID theft throughout the year, stagger your receipt of your reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion (the major credit ratings agencies) at different points during the year.
Get a home inspection: Go through local channels – lenders, friends, real estate professionals you trust – to find a licensed home inspector who can look over your property and help you develop a list of potential repairs and upgrades that you can do economically given that you’ll have months before you put the property up for sale. Checking your home’s structure – roof, foundation, windows, etc., as well as its mechanical parts – heating/AC, installed appliances, plumbing – can give you an early warning system for expensive repairs that a prospective buyer’s inspector would find anyway. Try now to make sure there are no problems that will kill a deal later.
Ask a trusted broker for advice: Structural experts can determine whether your home is working properly – real estate brokers may or may not be equally expert at spotting these flaws. But generally, they can be trusted on matters of appearance – whether the grounds around the home are well maintained as well as whether the home’s interior is inviting to the eye of potential buyers.
Don’t overinvest in improvements: In the 1990s, spending $40,000 on a kitchen in many neighborhoods could recover that amount of money and more in the final sales price. In today’s market, those payoffs are a distant memory. Experienced brokers generally do a good job steering you away from overpaying for improvements, but there are other resources to doublecheck the spending you’re planning to do. Remodeling Magazine’s latest Cost vs. Value report provides estimates on specific projects by region, including projections on cost recoupment.
Appeal your property taxes: If you’ve never appealed your property taxes before or have not done so in many years, do so when your appeals period is open. Lowering your taxes as much as possible may help make your property more salable.
Declutter and don’t re-clutter: Start making a list of items you might donate – furniture, clothing, household items, etc. Make sure they’re in good condition and if you’re having trouble setting a value, check on eBay or other auction sites to see if you’re being fair to yourself while not drawing the attention of the taxman.
December 2010 — This column is produced by the Financial Planning Association, the membership organization for the financial planning community, and is provided by John Mazzara 952-929-2577 john@johnmazzara.com , a local member of FPA.
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Getting Ready to Sell Your House
December 9, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
While most experts see little good news in 2011’s housing market, economic downturn is no reason to neglect maintenance on a home or lose sight of future plans to relocate.
The critical issue is planning intelligently for what spending you do now to make sure it’s worth your money later. And even if your plan to sell your property is more than a year away, it’s not a bad idea to get your finances in order as well. In the coming months, you’ll be addressing tax issues, so it’s a good time to look at your overall financial picture with a qualified financial planner as well as a trained tax expert.
The October MacroMarkets Home Price Expectations Survey doesn’t see a meaningful increase in home prices until 2012, though appreciation is expected to go up on average more than 14 percent through 2014.
As you wait for your opportunity, here are some ideas to incorporate in your planning:
Check your credit report and score: If you plan to finance a new property once you sell, it makes ample sense to lower your debt and clean up any discrepancies in your credit data well in advance of any move into the market. Remember, you are entitled to one free copy of each of the major credit reports in any given year, and you can obtain them from one resource – www.annualcreditreport.com. Avoid all the services with expensive TV commercials calling themselves “free” – if they ask for a credit card number, you are not getting a free report. Also, so you can spot discrepancies and keep a watchful eye on the possibility of ID theft throughout the year, stagger your receipt of your reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion (the major credit ratings agencies) at different points during the year.
Get a home inspection: Go through local channels – lenders, friends, real estate professionals you trust – to find a licensed home inspector who can look over your property and help you develop a list of potential repairs and upgrades that you can do economically given that you’ll have months before you put the property up for sale. Checking your home’s structure – roof, foundation, windows, etc., as well as its mechanical parts – heating/AC, installed appliances, plumbing – can give you an early warning system for expensive repairs that a prospective buyer’s inspector would find anyway. Try now to make sure there are no problems that will kill a deal later.
Ask a trusted broker for advice: Structural experts can determine whether your home is working properly – real estate brokers may or may not be equally expert at spotting these flaws. But generally, they can be trusted on matters of appearance – whether the grounds around the home are well maintained as well as whether the home’s interior is inviting to the eye of potential buyers.
Don’t overinvest in improvements: In the 1990s, spending $40,000 on a kitchen in many neighborhoods could recover that amount of money and more in the final sales price. In today’s market, those payoffs are a distant memory. Experienced brokers generally do a good job steering you away from overpaying for improvements, but there are other resources to doublecheck the spending you’re planning to do. Remodeling Magazine’s latest Cost vs. Value report provides estimates on specific projects by region, including projections on cost recoupment.
Appeal your property taxes: If you’ve never appealed your property taxes before or have not done so in many years, do so when your appeals period is open. Lowering your taxes as much as possible may help make your property more salable.
Declutter and don’t re-clutter: Start making a list of items you might donate – furniture, clothing, household items, etc. Make sure they’re in good condition and if you’re having trouble setting a value, check on eBay or other auction sites to see if you’re being fair to yourself while not drawing the attention of the taxman.
December 2010 — This column is produced by the Financial Planning Association, the membership organization for the financial planning community, and is provided by John Mazzara 952-929-2577 john@johnmazzara.com , a local member of FPA.
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HUD Has A YouTube Channel-Here Is There Vid On Buying A Home
December 5, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
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Google lets you create cool templated websites
December 2, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Just an idea for anyone who wants to set up something quick and easy:
https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?continue=http%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com%2F&followup=http%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com%2F&service=jotspot&passive=true&ul=1
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Song About The Twin Cities
November 30, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
How cool is this. I had no idea the band Everything But The Girl produced this video. Makes me wish for a warm summer day fishing by a lake.
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Can Home Ownership Contribute To Your Wealth?
November 23, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Based on the implosion of equity in the past few years, one begins to wonder. At the same time, if you look back from a historical perspective, home ownership and home equity have contributed to the net worth of many. Recently, there was a study/survey done by the Federal Reserve. NAR presents and interprets the resultshttp://www.realtor.org/research/economists_outlook/didyouknow/dyk111610dh
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Minnesota Foreclosure And Distressed Home Fact Sheets PLUS Twin Cities First Time Buyer Special Programs
November 19, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
I have mentioned it before, but I really am impressed with the Minnesota Home Ownership Center. I frequently get calls from people who need to find information about how best to deal with a distressed real estate situation. You must visit their website and bookmark it for future reference. Here are just some of the links you need to look at:
Foreclosure & distressed property fact sheets
http://hocmn.org/en/fp-factsheets.cfm
Counseling Agencies that work with HOCM
http://hocmn.org/en/partners.cfm
List of Down Payment/Grant Assistance in Various Areas
http://hocmn.org/Stock/Editor/file/Matrix/EntryCostMatrix_Oct2010.pdf
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Twin Cities Foreclosure Update
November 18, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Here is our latest newsletter that has updates on foreclosures in the Twin Cities.
Also, watch the video below
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Minnesota First Time Home Buyer Tips
November 17, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
A buyer in Minnesota, and specifically the Twin Cities area-Minneapolis/St Paul, should consider visiting the board of Realtors site at http://www.MplsRealtor.com On the tab regarding market activity, they will be able to click through and find out aggregated information that is compiled into city specific reports. For example, Minneapolis real estate will be broken down into the various areas of our MLS. All the data mining and statistical information is done for you. This is an excellent resource, as it gives you average market time, sales prices, and percentage of list to sales price.
Another resource is Http://www.Hocmn.org This site provides information for homeowners in distress and explains all the Minnesota laws regarding the foreclosure process and debt forgiveness. Visit this site and download the PDF fact sheets. Buying distressed properties today represents an opportunity. Understanding how the law works in our state is imperative.
Crime reports are also a useful tool. Some cities have the information aggregated and reported better than others. Minneapolis is one of the best. If you visit the Google search engine and type in “shots fired Minneapolis” you will be taken to the crime statistics area. You might want to use this to determine how close in proximity your desired home sits in relationship to previous criminal activity. Along that same thought, if you want to research registered sex offenders, visit http://www.corr.state.mn.us
Another site that can help source down payment assistance and grants for Minnesota home buyers ishttp://www.Workforce-resource.com This links with the MLS and actually becomes specific to a property in which you are interested. You will find that not all lenders will work with these programs. So, you may need or want to switch lenders if you want to access some of these special programs.
Lastly, we have sourced various discounts with local & national companies. For example, at this time, I can get you a discount coupon at Lowe’s, Pods, and other national firms. Many companies have discounts arranged for their agents to offer buyers and sellers. Not every Realtor is aware of this, so you might require that they check in with their corporate office and find out-or you could just work with me.
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Top Seven Tips For Home Buyers
November 16, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Recently I was asked to create a list of top tips. Here is my list. I have been selling homes for over 25 years. I hope these help you make better choices and improve your real estate making decisions.
1) Before you begin to search for a home, always get prequalified FIRST. Seek out an experienced mortgage broker to arrange your financing. Even if you think you want to use a large bank, at least see what a broker has available. In fact, you may find that a broker can deliver the same mortgage to you cheaper from the “same” large bank you were considering. Generally, brokers have access to wholesale pricing as well as more products and programs than traditional large banks or in-house type lender arrangements that you find at large real estate companies. Besides pricing, you might find special grant money or unique loans that otherwise would not be made available. Also, regarding special programs, if you can identify the cities or areas you might be interested in, you may want to call the local HRA (housing redevelopment authority) and see what they offer. Today, we are seeing special programs for purchase or post purchase rehab of foreclosed and short sale properties from the cities themselves. The FHA 203K loan is a program that can be used for rehab on any home. It is not tied to any city or any property specific status. There are a couple of versions of this loan-limited and extensive rehab. FHA loans have size limits that vary based on the geographic location of the property. Not all lenders make this loan available, so seek it out if it is of interest.
2) Look at all homes for sale. Don’t exclude any specific sector of the market. Initially, you may have wanted to run away from short sales, foreclosures, and auctions. Ultimately, once you get a feel for the marketplace, you may actually decide to focus on distressed properties. When buying in the distressed segment be prepared for a more complex process. Knowing that upfront will help. Depending on the community, almost 50% of the transactions are not “traditional” sales. Distressed sales often sell for what the market will bear, whereas traditional sellers may be unable or unwilling to adjust to the realities of the market. Until job creation comes back and our economy starts growing beyond anemic levels, expect distressed home sales to be a large part of the market. Frustration may set in but don’t allow it to influence an otherwise good decision in your purchase. Don’t be put off by some dirt and light repair, analyze the structure and the location.
3) Look to your Realtor as a partner. Loyalty works both ways. An agent only gets paid upon a successful closing. We only stay in business with happy repeat clients and referrals. Most Realtors will work extremely hard for you if you work exclusively with them. Agents work on commission, so they need to know that they will eventually get paid for their time invested in helping you find the right home. If you are an investor and you approach five different agents to “call me” when you get a really good deal, you will probably never get a call. If on the other hand, you work with one agent who you assume is competent, you will get a phone call when they see something that meets your criteria.
4) If you are an investor or want to become one, seek out agent representation from someone who knows the rental property market. The rental real estate game can be rewarding but can also cost you a lot of money and aggrevation if you make a mistake. How can an agent who has never been a landlord really give you good advice on how to buy and manage rentals? Not all agents have the same level of experience. This is a recommendation not to be taken lightly. You want to be “educated” not provide someone an education at your expense.
5) Be prepared to engage technology in your search. Twenty-five years ago we used MLS books and did open houses. Today, we use virtual tours, websites, blogs and auto generated emails to deliver properties to your in box. The internet opens up information to everyone in a very user friendly way. If you are a younger buyer, you are probably engaging in texting, email, and video. The agent you choose should be embracing technology and be able to deliver the information you need in the way you want it delivered.
6) Have a home inspection upon an accepted purchase agreement. Don’t come away from the inspection and expect that everything in the home that is reviewed must be fixed at the seller’s expense. An inspection, in my opinion, is to discover hazardous items or items that would require a very large expense to change or repair that you were not initially aware of. Remember, an existing home is not a new home. This means it will have various amounts of obselecense and required repairs. An inspection report is not meant to be a renegotiation tool or checklist. I think the best home inspection is the one that makes you feel comfortable after “getting to know” your new home so you can make a purchase with “your eyes wide open”. Give your inspector permission to tell you are buying a great home. Otherwise, he or she may feel they have to manufacture some item of concern in order to justify the expense of the report.
7) Use an independent title company to do your closing. The buyer is allowed to choose their title company. The captive title companies (known as affiliated business arrangements) which are tied to the real estate or mortgage company are often not as competitively priced as outside vendors. When have you or someone you know ever directed the selection of the closing/title company? If you are like 99% of the people, the answer is never. Yet, this one simple recommendation could save you hundreds of dollars.
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Data.gov – A Cool Site With Lots Of Great Info
September 8, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
http://www.Data.gov I just found this site and wanted to share it. It has a ton of info and reports. If you have a project or just an “inquiring mind”, this is sure to be a hit. Check it out and get the data you need.
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Vacation Activities in Presque Isle, Erie, Pennsylvania
September 3, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
By Susan Morr
Four million people visit Presque Isle State Park annually, according to the Visit Erie center. The park, which resides on a 3,200 acre peninsula that juts into Lake Erie, is a natural wonder that is the home to beautiful sandy beaches and lush green forests. This state park provides a bounty of activities for all family members.
Presque Isle State Park Beaches
Seventy-five percent of the people who visit Presque Isle State Park come to bask in the sun and swim. The park boasts thirteen beaches and is rated in the “Top 100 Swimming Holes” by the Conde’ Nast Traveler magazine. All beaches are family-friendly; however, swimming can only occur at the guarded beaches. Public restrooms are available at most beaches. Some beaches provide food and beverage concession stands; while other beaches have picnic areas. For outdoor recreation, enjoy the volleyball court on Beach 6. Those who are handicapped may access the water at Beach 7. All of the Presque Isle beaches are open to tourists from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
Hiking and Biking Trails
Presque Isle State Park sustains seven ecological areas ranging from the beach region to the forest region. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the park furnishes about 11 miles of walking and hiking trails for nature lovers and 13 miles of paved picturesque trail (Karl Boyes Multi-purpose National Recreation Trail) for joggers, walkers, in-line skaters and bicyclists along the bay and the lake. Beginning Memorial Day, weather permitting, daily bike rentals are available to families at Yellow Bike Rentals.
Waldameer and Waterworld Park
In 1896, the Erie Electric Motor Company leased the land and renamed it Waldameer park, which in German means “Woods by the Sea.” The park, which started with a merry-go-round and a dance hall, now takes pride in offering 75 dynamic attractions and a waterpark. Park guests can experience the exhilarating rides, savor the delicious amusement park food and attend any of the three daily musical shows. The 2010 amusement park season begins on Saturday, May 8, weather permitting; and during May will be open weekends-only (Friday – Sunday). The 2010 waterpark season begins Friday, May 28, weather permitting. Everyday riding in both parks begins Memorial Day weekend.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Morr
http://EzineArticles.com/?Vacation-Activities-in-Presque-Isle,-Erie,-Pennsylvania&id=4342178
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Cory Lake Isles – A Retreat For Life
September 3, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
By Lance Mohr
Cory Lake Isles is distinctive in many ways. From the entrance, a drive along well-groomed and beautiful landscape and decorative lampposts align the boulevards paved with hand laid red brick. You will see the ten mile shoreline one of Tampa’s largest lakes, Cory Lake, and the neighboring 17,000 acres of protected wetlands and forests. Distinctive Cory Lake Isles homes for sale are surrounded by canary palms, boat docks, and flowered medians.
One of the amenities of the exclusive community with manned gates is the Beach Club. The Beach Club offers a variety of activities for everyone: Tennis courts, volleyball nets, canoes for the lake, boat docks, a fitness center and a playground. There are jogging paths, as well as bike paths through nature to absorb the great outdoors. There is even a roller hockey rink, and a recreation island, if time affords. There are also a number of inviting golf courses located nearby: Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Pebble Creek, and Saddlebrook, to name a few. The school district includes schools, such as Pride Elementary School, Benito Middle School and Wharton High School. Just outside the main entrance lies the New Tampa Regional Library.
New Tampa homes for sale are located within nine different regions of Cory Lakes Isles: Bahama Isle, Bermuda Isle, Bimini Isle, Cachet Isle, Canary Isle, Cory Isle, Martinique Isle, St. Croix Isle, and St. Lucia Isle. Cachet Isle, in particular, is surrounded by Cory Lake, and is accessible only by bridge and secured by an electronic gate. The homes range from $250,000 to $2,000,000 which includes a span from a quarter acre to three-quarters of an acre. Most sites offer access to the lake, the canals, the lagoon, and the wetlands.
Cory Lake Isles is near I-75, just a few minutes north of I-4, and approximately thirty minutes from downtown Tampa. The Tampa International is merely forty minutes from Cory Lake Isles. The waterfront island homes offer a spectacular beauty unmatched, and the lakeside properties offer an appeal that is second to none. The wetlands are a preservation that is literally at your doorstep on a daily basis to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds Cory Lake Isles. If you are a prospective buyer of New Tampa real estate, Cory Isles is a place to see.
Lance Mohr is a full time professional Tampa Realtor. If you have any questions about Cory Lake Isles or New Tampa homes for sale please give me a call.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Mohr
http://EzineArticles.com/?Cory-Lake-Isles—A-Retreat-For-Life&id=1208336
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Check Out Energy Rebates
August 22, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
EnergyStar.gov – Check Out Energy Rebates
This is a government site that offers lots of energy saving tips as well as explains what energy saving grants or credits might be available.
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Foreclosure Trends Newsletter
August 21, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Here is the latest issue of my foreclosure trends newsletter. As you can see, the trend is not our friend, in the sense that the housing market has not recovered. Until jobs come back and people are employed and feel safe in their employment, they will tend to avoid making a committment.
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Twin Cities Foreclosure Trends-From our MLS & Realty Trac
August 4, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Besides the board of realtor sites: http://theThing.mplsrealtor.com and market data posted elsewhere at http://www.MplsRealtor.com I have a subscription to Realty Trac. My subscription gives me additional data about foreclosures and trends within certain zip codes. This is in addition to my daily subscription to Finance & Commerce (a business newspaper that prints all the foreclosure information as well as very timely articles regarding the business community). If you are looking for someone who has experience and access to information about distressed sales, we need to be working together. Whether buyer or seller-I can help you understand the market we are in and the options and opportunities available to you. Give me call today.
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Real Estate Information
August 4, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
These are a couple of my newsletters that have a ton of valuable information. Go check them out.
Foreclosure Market Trends Newsletter
http://www.realtytrac.com/MarketTrends/NewsLetter.aspx?guid=131bd355-1b69-4bd1-99cd-2f0c9a936810
Real Estate Cyber Space Tips
http://www.REcyber.com/cybertips/r11627
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Minnesota
July 26, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
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Outstanding Video-An Inspiration To All-Be The Best You Can Be!
June 18, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
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Twin Cities Home buyer book
June 10, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Thinking about buying a home but don’t know where to start? Why not start by reading the home buyer hand book that we have provided below. It is a great place to start to get the information you need. When you’re ready, we would love to help you find and finance a new home.
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Open Source Documents-Unbelievable Resources-Find YOUR topic of Interest
February 2, 2010 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
If you’ve never visited http://www.Archive.org, you are missing a wonderful site. From this site, you will find many resources that are out of copyright and you can download and use them as you wish. You will find all the classics and some fun things as well. Just for fun, I have the download of a book called “Little Gardens” which is a book about setting up a garden on a city lot. This is just one of the MANY fun things you’ll find. You can download and watch old music, movies, and cartoons as well. Plan to spend some time on the site should you decide to visit, as it is very cool. Click here to download the book Little Gardens
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Sell Your Home Faster-Learn The Home Selling Secrets Of Successful Sellers
December 22, 2009 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Here is a special report that outlines over 450 ideas on how to sell your home faster. This report is just one of the many home buyer, home seller, and investor reports that I can make available to you. Read this report and call me to arrange a time to see how I can help. Download Now
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Extension And Expansion Of Home Buyer Credit-4/30/2010
November 18, 2009 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
A Big WOW!! The credit has been expanded to include homeowners who have owned their home for the past 5 years. No longer do you need to be a first time buyer. The dollar limit is $8000 for first time buyers and $6500 for move up buyers. This GREAT news. Combine this with 50 year lows in interest rates, and you’d be crazy not to consider making a move. If you feel secure in your job, think hard about buying home at this time. We can help you make the right move. Visit this site-which is from the National Association Of Home Builders http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq2.php This site give you all the rules and regulations as they now apply.
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Why Foreclosure Is Often Preferred By The Loan Servicer Instead Of Offering A Loan Modification
November 11, 2009 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Have you ever wondered why a foreclosure occurs when a better solution might have been a modification? Would you like to read the facts and figures and see how mortgages are bundled, sold and serviced? You will soon see it is isn’t pretty, we are in the midst of a crisis, and it is likely to get worse before it gets better. That being said, you can probably guess why-it’s about the money. It is a little more complex than that-the report is 60 pages-but is explains the incentive and disincentives that are at conflict within the mortgage market today. Once you understand how all the pieces go together, you can see that something “different” needs to be done. I am a strong free market believer, but in this case, the government needs to have a mandate and rule that is guided towards keeping people in their homes. Left to current industry solutions, the mortgage mess will continue to play out and get worse. If you click on the link below, you will find the free report from the National Consumer Law Center.
http://www.consumerlaw.org/issues/mortgage_servicing/content/Servicer-Report1009.pdf
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Home Buyer Tax Credit Information Update
November 10, 2009 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
It’s now official!! The tax credit has been extended and expanded. YOU NEED TO HURRY! You now have until the end of April 2010. The following summary of the credit is provided by the National Association Of Realtors. The following two documents cover the changes in the new law. Now get out there and buy a home!!
NAR FAQ: Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes
NAR Issue Brief: Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes
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Minnesota Real Estate Newsletter Gives Access To Great Computer & Life Tips
October 2, 2009 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
I maintain a number of real estate sites, blogs, and newsletters. One newsletter that provides a number of computer tips to help you function better with a computer is http://www.REcyber.com/cybertips/r11627 The site is full of cyber space tricks and great places to visit. We have link to this site on the list of MN Real Estate links, but I wanted to highlight this particular newsletter because it different from what most agents provide. From this newsletter, you can also access all the back issues-from 2001 and beyond. It is really quite a useful resource-spend some time there if you have a chance.
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Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
September 29, 2009 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
You will be amazed at the activities available throughout the Minneapolis Park System. Use the convenient search finder to locate your lake of choice and the events that follow.
http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=5&advSearch=parks
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Lake Of The Isles MN
March 16, 2009 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
If you are looking for a great place to do a little winter ice skating and hockey then Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, Minnesota is the place for you to be. This lake minneapolis is connected to Lake Calhoun and Cedar Lake. But this lake is known for more then just a great place to kick back and do a little relaxation, it is also known as a party place for that one Holiday a year where millions of people will stand out in the freezing cold just waiting for the clock to strike twelve. That’s right, Lake of the Isles is known for their New Year’s Eve celebration where tons of marshmallows are roasted and where hot chocolate is served.
But it was not until the early twentieth century that the lake was created into its current state. Dredging of a small lake and marsh area was done to create the lake that many people see and know today. The materials left over from the dredging were used to form about thirty-six of land, which would be a park around the lake. These materials were nothing more then mostly silt and peat. It was a good idea to use these left over materials and try to put them to good use. Why just throw it all out when it can be put to good use? While it seems like a good idea at the time, this material was not the most durable to use and it has created an unstable shoreline and the water quality is not as good as it should be. Because of this the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has started and is in the middle of a project that is going to last for several years. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is trying to renovate the parkland due to damage caused by the 1997 flood and the 1998 windstorm. They will also stabilize the shoreline, and also point in twelve stone lake points of access. Paths will be reconstructed as well. Basically, the entire park is looking at getting a large facelift. It will be basically brand new and completely improved by the time everything is said and done. But even with all of that going on, it is no surprise that this lake is full of entertaining things as it has an area of 109 acres and a shoreline length of 2.86 miles. There are an average of 5.5 million visitors each year to the park who enjoy all aspects of the beauty of the lake and the surrounding land. The lake itself is 31 feet in depth at its deepest point, which means it is a great place for many types of water sports. As the name, Lake of the Isles, would portray, there are little islands in the middle of the lake. In fact, there are two wooded islands along with a long extended north arm. There are many stately houses in the neighborhoods of Kenwood, Lowry Hill, and East Isles. All of these little neighborhoods with lake of the isles homes surround the lake. If you are thinking of exploring the two wooded islands in the middle of the lake you will find that it is prohibited which is clearly marked by several signs. On these islands are protected wildlife and virgin woods. The island to the north of the lake is called Mike’s Island and the one to the south is called Raspberry Island. While they are beautiful to view from a distance, that is about as good as it will get for those interested in exploring those islands. There is truly a little bit of something for everyone at the lake of the isles. The park land surrounding the lake has enough room for walking and running trials. There is also plenty of space to throw a Frisbee around, have a little mid-day picnic or to spread out a blanket and soak in some of the sun. There is even an off-lease dog park, which is located at the south end of the park. This is a great solution for those who want to give their dog something to enjoy while on vacation. With so many leash laws out there, it is nice to know that this park still takes into consideration all of their visitors, not just the human ones. Maybe you live in a lake of the isles home nearby and never found yourself yet exploring the wonders of lake minneapolis. Maybe you are just looking for a nice place to visit for a weekend getaway with your family. In either case, you should look into visiting the historic Lake of the Isles. You will find many things to do and will enjoy seeing the lake and park surroundings in the state they are in now compared to what you will later see in a few years. With so much going on in the world, it is sometimes nice to sit back and enjoy the beauty of nature. Getting involved in history, by seeing the “before and after” of lake of the isles will be something to talk about and remember for many years to come. Take pictures, enjoy the scenery, and just imagine how wonderful the park and lake will be once all of the reconstruction is finally completed.
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Lake Harriet, Lake Nokomis and Lake of the Isles
March 10, 2009 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
If you ask residents of Minneapolis what sets their city apart from other major metropolitan areas, you will quickly learn about the extensive lake system that runs through the southern part of the city. Though you can easily find the urban lifestyle and towering skyline in downtown Minneapolis, the lakes offer a terrific alternative for those who prefer the solace and beauty of living near water. Between Lake Harriet, Lake Nokomis, and the Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis offers a tremendous amount of outdoor recreational opportunities, and with plenty of available and affordable real estate nearby, the time has never been better to finally invest in your dream lakefront home.
The lakes are connected as part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, an elaborate system of trails and bike paths that are widely popular for exercise and recreational walks. Lake Harriet connects with Lake Calhoun on its north end through the William Berry Parkway. Harriet is home to two beaches, which many take advantage of during the summer months, as well as its famous castle-shaped bandshell. From June to September each year, the bandshell hosts concerts nightly, offering an eclectic assortment of music from big band to bluegrass to rock and roll. The Minneapolis Pops Orchestra makes its summer home here, offering a blend of popular and traditional music each Saturday. Additionally, Lake Harriet contains a brand new picnic shelter, tennis courts and fishing docks, so there are plenty of outdoor activities to indulge in.
On the other side of Lake Calhoun is the Lake of the Isles. Restored by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board in the early 1900’s, the Isles has been transformed from a shallow lake and marsh area into one of the most majestic lakes the city has to offer. In addition to its summer offerings, this lake is one of the most winter-friendly, offering an ice skating and hockey rink. In warmer weather, its bike paths, soccer field and fishing docks are very popular.
For those especially interested in fishing, Lake Nokomis offers some of the richest waters for fishermen in the entire state, with many game fish found here. Along with Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun, it is one of the three lakes used for sailing, and is one of the hosts for the popular Aquatennial, an annual celebration of Minneapolis’ aquatic tradition, featuring shows and competitions that draw large audiences. Nokomis is also a popular sporting lake, with fields available for football, baseball, softball, soccer and tennis.
Some of the most beautiful architecture in all of Minneapolis real estate can be found near the lakes. Many large single-family and multi-story homes and condominiums boast luxurious porches and balconies with a beautiful view of the water. If you are lucky enough to own a boat, there are plenty of homes with a large enough area to accommodate you with easy convenient access to many of the lakes’ boating docks. With the real estate market currently in favor of those seeking to buy, the time has never been better to locate the home of your dreams at a reasonable price. If you are more interested in renting, there are scores of apartments and duplexes for rent immediately near the lakes, as well as in the Uptown district, which is well within easy walking distance to the lakes and trails. I strongly encourage you to contact me to set up an appointment; I am confident that I can find a home that suits your own, as well as your family’s needs.
For your convenience, we are a fully cooperating member of the Twin Cities real estate community. The multiple listing service, or MLS, allows all member agents to view what is available in the market so you don’t feel compelled to go with an agent you are not comfortable with. So regardless of the company sign in the yard, please feel free to give me a call to arrange an appointment to view a home that you are interested in. Our website contains many helpful tools to get you started on your journey today, including mortgage rate calculators, mortgage rate quotes, and online mortgage applications. If you would like to browse for yourself, check out our Search Online Now! application. This will grant you access to all of the homes currently available through our multiple listing service.
If you are looking to relocate to Minnesota, I will be happy to help you out with our relocation package and guide. I, as well as many of my clients, are relocation specialists, and depending on your situation, there are various employee and corporate relocation packages available. Many of us own rental property ourselves as well and would be happy to assist you in finding a rental, or to arrange a tour with you to acclimate you with the area. Please check my website as well for our convenient relocation salary calculator and other relocation services.
I’m extremely familiar with the area and have lived in the Twin Cities my entire life. When making an important life decision, such as relocating and/or purchasing a home, it is important to have someone on your side to give you honesty and expertise. I strongly encourage you to contact me with any questions you have or to set up an appointment. I look forward to working with you.
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Twin Cities Lakes
March 10, 2009 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
The Twin Cities is a beautiful area. It’s also an area that has quite a bit of water around. Of course the cities are divided by the great Mississippi River, but there are a variety of different lakes that are in the area as well. There is a chain of lakes in the area, and there are five different lakes that are quite popular. Some of them include parks and recreational opportunities as well. The names of the five lakes include Lake Calhoun, Lake Nokomis, Lake of the Isles, Lake Harriet, and Lake Hiawatha. Here’s a closer look at these lakes and what they have to offer those in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul areas.
Lake Calhoun
You’ll find that Lake Calhoun is one of the lakes that makes up the Chain of Lakes in the area. It is a very popular place for a variety of different activities, including swimming, fishing, walking, roller skating, jogging, wind surfing, sailing, and even canoeing. It’s about 3.2 miles around the entire lake, great for people who want to run, walk, or cycle. There are also three beaches that are supervised on the lake as well. You can rent watercraft on the lake by going through the Wheel Fun Rentals company right there. There are also gondola services available as well. Right on the lake you’ll even find that there is a nice restaurant – the Tinfish Restaurant. Over the past 100 years, there have been quite a few great improvements to the area. Originally this lake was known as the Lake of the Loons, “Lake Medoza.” However, the name was changed to honor John Caldwell Calhoun, who was a United States Senator, then later Vice President serving with President Monroe.
Lake Nokomis
Another lake you’ll find in the Minneapolis park system is Lake Nokomis. This is a sailing lake, just like Lake Calhoun. The park along the lake offers a community center, ball diamonds for baseball, concessions, canoe racks, sailboat racks, paths to walk, and two different beaches that are well supervised as well. They now offer a special playground system that allows kids between the ages of five and twelve to play. This system is made to help kids become more agile, to help with coordination and balance, and to help with strength in the upper body as well. During the warm months, often there are sailboat races on the lake and people can rent watercraft as well.
Lake of the Isles
The Lake of the Isles is another lake that happens to be a part of the Chain of Lakes as well. Millions of people end up visiting these lakes every single year. People come to bike, picnic, enjoy the scenery, bike, canoe, and more. During the winter months, many people come to this lake to go ice skating. There is a dog park located by the lake as well where people can bring their dogs to enjoy some time out and about. This lake was engineered, and was made in the early 20th century. It was originally a very shallow lake but it was turned into a wonderful lake and a beautiful park as well. The area has been renovated and turned into a lovely park. Wetlands have been enhanced, the plants have been restored, and paths have been reconstructed. It is definitely a lovely place to enjoy if you love the water.
Lake Harriet
Lake Harried is part of the chain of lakes and is very picturesque. There are 344 acres that are all water, as well as 67 land acres in the park as well. This lake is known for the great walking and biking trails, and many different water based activities take place. In the band shell located by the lake, various summer concerts take place as well. This is the 5th music facility to be put in this area. The first one that was built back in 1888 ended up being totally destroyed in a terrible fire. The trailers for skaters, bikers, and runners are almost three miles long. There is a small totlot available as well for young children. You’ll also find a concession building available and a well available where you can get water.
Lake Hiawatha
Last of all is Lake Hiawatha. This lake is beautiful and the park around it has beautiful trees to enjoy. The entire park is 234 acres, although the lake is only 52 acres large. Over the years this has been taken from a swamp to be a beautiful park that people in the area can enjoy. Some of the improvements that have been done in the past few years include adding boulders, ornamental trees, perennials, shrubs, and a special flagstone path as well. There is a playground that takes up eight acres, there is a beach, athletic fields, and even tennis courts. On one side of the lake there is a special golf learning center and a golf side as well.
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Twin Cities Minnesota
March 10, 2009 by Financemyhome · Leave a Comment
Interested in visiting the state of Minnesota? If so, you definitely won’t want to miss taking the time to visit the twin cities. These cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis are two of the biggest and most visited cities in the entire state. So, you definitely won’t want to miss them. Of course there are those that are not entirely familiar with these cities, their long history, and how exciting they can be. Here’s a closer look at these two cities, what defines them, their history, and the cities as they are today.
The Twin Cities
So, you may be wondering what exactly the twin cities refers to. Well, the “twin cities” are comprised of the huge metro areas of both Minneapolis and St. Paul. Between the two cities there are many sporting events, cultural productions, and many different avenues of entertainment as well. Both of the cities in MN have many different museums that people can tour as well. The two cities come together and definitely make up a huge metro area that includes many things to do, for visitors and locals alike.
Separated by the Mississippi River
There is one thing that basically sets the twin cities apart – the Mississippi river. This river runs right in between the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Not only is the river the divider between the two cities in Minnesota, but the river is also a place where a huge amount of recreational activity takes place as well. Even the history of the two cities is based around the river, so the Mississippi river definitely plays an important part for both of the twin cities.
History of St. Paul
When it comes to the twin cities, it’s a great idea to take a look at the history of St. Paul. This city happens to be the second largest city that is in the state of Minnesota. This city was spurred off of the Fort Snelling, which was a military presence that was in the area. It was actually the first presence in the area for the U.S. military. It was located on the Mississippi River and was first established back in 1819. The fort was actually established in the area so that the Americans could establish their own dominance over the fur trade on the Minnesota and the Mississippi rivers.
One bootlegger who was a retired fur trader decided to move his operation down the river a bit and he put it on the North bank. It eventually got the name of Pig’s Eye. Later the area would formally get the name Saint Paul, which was suggested by a priest in the area. The area is basically the gateway on the river towards the Midwest, and many steamboats found their way through the area. For some time the town was a railroad time as well and is often known as “The Last City of the East.”
History of Minneapolis
On the other hand, of the twin cities, you also have Minneapolis, which also has a rich history that originated in much the same way. It is the largest city in the state and it too originated from Fort Snelling. However, this city had a lot to do with Saint Anthony Falls as well, which gave the power needed for various flour and saw mills that were run. Once the land in the area was able to be settled, there were two different towns that were established. On the west side was Minneapolis, and on the east side was Saint Anthony. Later in 1872 these two towns would become one city. The industry in the area was mainly based on milling and soon the city was the top center of flour production. It earned the common name, “Mill City.”
It also began to become quite big in the railroad and banking industry as well. In fact, still today this city is a center in the banking industry. The area still has two of the biggest milling companies in the world, the Pillsbury Company as well as the General Mills company, although the two have now merged together.
The Cities Today
Today you will find that both of the twin cities, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, are growing cities. The skylines have definitely changed over the years, with tall buildings easily seen from the Mississippi River. There are now parks, museums, and various modes of entertainment to be found in both of the cities. However, as you cross the river, you will find the two cities to be quite different. In fact, you may even find that they are competitive. With the rich history and unique culture, they are definitely worth visiting if you venture into Minnesota.
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