Info For St. Paul First Time Home Buyers

Have you been hearing that this is simply one of the best markets ever for the Minnesota first time home buyer, with mortgage payments often lower than rent? Well, if you haven't heard by now please take a moment to read on.

City of St. Paul Information

As both the capitol of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County living in the city of Saint Paul is filled with things to do. Popular attractions such as the Xcel Energy Center and the Science Museum of Minnesota make St. Paul a popular destination for both its residents as well as those living in surrounding suburbs. Employment opportunities abound in St. Paul with major employers such as Ecolab, Lawson Software, Gander Mountain, and nearby 3M. St. Paul housing can be especially affordable for first time home buyers through the Ramsey County's First Home program. Residents enjoy popular regional events such as the Minnesota State Fair and the Winter Carnival. If you thinking of buying or selling a home in St. Paul please send me and email or give me a call as I'd love to help you accomplish your goal.

The great news today is that there are beneficial programs for the MN first time home buyer available with minimal down payments and expansive credit guidelines. Unlike a few years ago, popular options today include excellent fixed rate financing sponsored by the federal government such as FHA, VA, and USDA. In addition to those, some conventional mortgage financing has cropped up such as Home Path loans on select fannie mae foreclosed homes.

MN Down Payment Assistance Programs

In addition to State of Minnesota down payment assistance funds many local communities offer programs of their own as well. Each of these programs vary in terms of qualifications required to access the funds. Depending upon when you are reading this these programs may or may not be funded so we can check on it when you call me.

Get Preapproved Today

The first step in the process of buying a home s to get preapproved for your home loan. This simply means that you talk with a local lender who will review your financial situation. In doing so they can tell you what types of Minnesota first time buyer programs you might be qualified for. This important first step can be done right over the phone and most lenders will even do this with you when you are off from work.

There may never be a better time to buy St. Paul homes for sale. If you are tired of rising rent payments, take this opportunity now to learn more about the benefits of becoming a first time home buyer. I've worked with many MN first time buyers before and am always eager to answer all of your questions. Simply shoot me an email or give me a call and let's see what might be possible!


Robert Phyle,CSP,GRI,RSA
Broker Associate, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Burnet
rlphyle@cbburnet.com
Cell 612-801-4657
Direct 952-997-1955
Fax 952-432-8372
7741 147th St W.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
www.facebook.com/robphylerealestate
Visit my website to find Minnesota homes for sale

Looking For Lakeville Rental townhomes?

Lakeville Rental townhomes: Advantages of Buying vs. Renting

If you are in the hunt for Lakeville rental townhomes, hold on for a moment and consider the differences between renting townhomes versus owning. Since it is more expensive today to rent townhomes than to buy one isn’t it at least worth it to consider saving some money by buying a home?

Lakeville Rental townhomes: Is It Worth The Cost of Renting?

Lakeville rental townhomes will usually have the advantage that you can get out of a lease arrangement within 12 to 24 months. This advantage comes at a cost, however, , in that your rent payments will often times exceed those of a house payment. Additionally the security deposit may well be in excess of the necessary down payment cost required for buying a home when considering all of the down payment assistance programs available for MN first time home buyers. Finally, perhaps the highest cost in renting a townhomes is the fact that you are helping someone else buy their home with your rent payments helping to make the payments of your landlord.

The advantages may certainly be worth it, despite the high cost of renting, to rent if you are planning on moving again to a different city at the end of your lease. I tend to think that if you buy a home today you should plan on staying in it for a few years while the market develops.

Benefits To Buying Lakeville townhomes

With all of the great benefits available to the MN first time home buyer today, this list of benefits is long. The State of Minnesota now offers special loan programs through its Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to offer reduced interest rates as well as down payment assistance. Additionally many communities today offer additional down payment assistance loans or grants that both reduce what you need for cash to close as well as reducing your monthly payment.

The First Step: Get Preapproved!

For many Minnesota first time home buyers the big, intimidating question is where do I start the process? Your very first step towards buying your first home is to get prequalified for a home loan. By doing so you find out how much of a loan you are qualified for so that we can research homes in a comfortable price range.

Lakeville Community Information

For anyone considering buying Lakeville real estate you will be glad to know that Lakeville is one of the fastest growing areas in the Twin Cities metro area. As a suburb of the Twin Cities metro in Dakota County the population of Lakeville is now over 55,000 people according to the 2010 census. It seems there is always something to do in Lakeville, MN because of its highly active Park and Rec Department. Minnesota first time home buyers will enjoy the benefits of special financing qualify for the Dakota County First Time Home Buyers Program If you're planning to make a move to the south metro now is a good time to check out Lakeville real estate.

If you have not yet thought of buying a townhomes I would like the opportunity to discuss with you about the benefits of both renting versus buying. I encourage you to take the first step which is to call or email me.


Robert Phyle,CSP,GRI,RSA
Broker Associate, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Burnet
rlphyle@cbburnet.com
Cell 612-801-4657
Direct 952-997-1955
Fax 952-432-8372
7741 147th St W.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
www.facebook.com/robphylerealestate
Visit my website to find Minnesota homes for sale

Plymouth Homes: How To Find And Buy

There are a few different ways to search for homes for sale in Plymouth that I would like to tell you about. Since most home buyers start their home search on the internet, I find that many miss out on all of the possible opportunities to search for and find the right home. In this post I’ll share with you the benefits and challenges to each of the different methods of search for homes for sale in Plymouth.

Finding Plymouth homes For Sale On The Web

One of the best places to begin is to visit my website to search for all of the available homes from all of the local real estate brokers, with all of the details available. The large national websites leave out much of the critical details such as property taxes of the home. The problem is that when buying a home factors such as property taxes on the homeare one of the single biggest factors in determining the amount of your monthly payments so why would anyone want to look for Plymouth homes on websites that are missing such an important detail? Please take a moment to visit my website and begin your search for Plymouth homes listed on the market today.

Search for Plymouth homes Via Email

If you're serious searching for a Plymouth homes, send me a quick email to tell me what you are looking for. I can send you advanced searches via email that will tell you not only what’s available on the market, but what has just become available. You will be instantly notified via email with new property listings that meet your advanced search critieria when they become available on the market. Because I need to know the critieria of what you are searching for (for example: 2 bedroom homes in Plymouth between $165,000 and $215,000), please email me so we can begin the email search process.

A bit of education can go a long way, does it not? If you can get exactly the listings you want to see via email such as my customized search provides why wouldn't you want it? The Guesswork and Luck strategy involves using the large national websites with limited information! Without a customized approach to finding the house that you want, too many home buyers will rely on the strategy of Luck and Guesswork offered by the larger national websites.

The Community of Plymouth

If you are planning to buy a home, the City of Plymouth, MN is a beautiful Minneapolis suburb to consider. As the state's seventh largest community, theCity of Plymouth is conveniently located just 15 miles from Minneapolis and lies within Hennepin County. But don't just take it from me, Plymouth was ranked by Money magazine as the 11th best place to live in the United States. The city has 53 beautiful parks, an extensive trail system, and plenty to do for everyone with its well-established recreation programs. Whether you are looking for a first home or your next home, let's get out and take a look at Plymouth.

Find Out What You Are Qualfied For

The first step in the home buying process is to get preapproved for mortgage financing. This simply means that you talk with a local lender who analyzes your credit, income, assets, and debts. In the prequalification application they can tell you what types of Minnesota first time buyer programs you might be qualified for. This important first step can be done right over the phone and most lenders will arrange to talk with you when you're off work, even in the evenings or weekends.

Looking For Plymouth homes?

Please take a moment to understand the strategy you are using to search for a home which is possibly the biggest investment you will make in your lifetime. I highly encourage home buyers to be proactive and to take control of the stategy for home searches. Please visit my website and find all of the available Plymouth listings.


Robert Phyle,CSP,GRI,RSA
Broker Associate, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Burnet
rlphyle@cbburnet.com
Cell 612-801-4657
Direct 952-997-1955
Fax 952-432-8372
7741 147th St W.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
www.facebook.com/robphylerealestate
Visit my website to find Minnesota homes for sale

Buying Lakeville Homes With A VA Mortgage

One increasingly common mortgage option in Lakeville for home buyers is available through lenders who offer loans guaranteed by the Veteran's Administration. This type of Lakeville mortgage financing has increased by about twenty per cent over the last few years due in part to the increasing number of our veterans returning from the service. Additionally with the loss of other options for zero down payment loans in Minnesota, the VA offers a benefit that offers eligible buyers a unique opportunity to buy their home with no down payment. Many Lakeville VA home buyers misunderstand the fact that they may use their VA mortgage benefit multiple times. As a result veteran home buyers do not necessarily need to be a MN first time home buyer in order to use their VA benefit. This can be a perfect solution for current homeowners who want to sell their home despite having minimal equity. Since they will be able buy their next home with no down payment with a Minnesota VA loan they might be able to afford to sell their home without receiving any proceeds from equity in order to buy the next.

Lakeville Veterans: Get Your Certificate of Eligibility

Veterans must first determine 2 things to see if they will be qualify for a VA loan. First they should research if they are eligible for a Certificate of Eligibility through the VA. They can apply for the Certificate of Eligibility online or even just through their Minnesota mortgage broker. There are several categories for eligibility and I encourage veterans to check with the VA or to research their eligibility online
While Lakeville VA home loans require zero down payment, there still are closing costs which the veteran must pay in order to get the loan. Thankfully, VA loans allow the veteran to negotiate with the home seller to pay up to 4 per cent of the purchase price towards their closing costs. This is a common strategy used to buy a home today and most home sellers have been prepared to pay this expense as long as they can arrive at the net sales price they need in order to sell the home.

Lakeville Veterans: Get Preapproved

The second thing a veteran must determine is if they qualify for the standards of the VA home loan. I encourage all Minnesota veterans to get preapproved for MN VA loans before we go out shopping for Lakeville homes. By going through the preapproval process the banker will review your financial situation to determine if you meet the requirements for VA financing. This important first step is usually free and requires no commitment to buy on the part of the buyer. In fact, many mortgage lenders offering VA loans will do this right over the telephone.

Lakeville, MN Information

If you are considering buying Lakeville real estate you should know that the City of Lakeville is one of the fastest growing communities in the Twin Cities. As a suburb of the Twin Cities in Dakota County the population of Lakeville is now over 55,000 people according to the 2010 census. It seems there is always something to do in Lakeville because of their highly active Park and Rec Department. Minnesota first time home buyers will enjoy the benefits of special financing qualify for the Dakota County First Time Buyer Program If you're planning to make a move to the south metro now is a good time to investigate Llakeville real estate.

Lakeville Vets: Ready to Buy A Home?

If you are a Lakeville veteran and want to buy a home feel free to give me a call or send me a quick email. Whether you currently own a Lakeville home or are looking to buy your first home, Lakeville VA loans are a great way to buy a home in today’s market. With interest rates at record lows combined with reduced property values many veterans have found that it is cheaper to buy than to rent!

Robert Phyle,CSP,GRI,RSA
Broker Associate, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Burnet
rlphyle@cbburnet.com
Cell 612-801-4657
Direct 952-997-1955
Fax 952-432-8372
7741 147th St W.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
www.facebook.com/robphylerealestate
Visit my website to find Minnesota homes for sale

Apple Valley Down Payment Assistance For Home Buyers

How much money will I need for a down payment to buy my first home in Apple Valley? The great news for first time home buyers is that there are MN down payment assistance programs available that can help qualified home buyers.

Down Payment Assistance Programs for Apple Valley

Most programs for down payment assistance today are designed for the first time home buyer. Each has its own set of qualifying guidelines. Programs might include parameters for income, remaining assets, income-to-debt ratios and credit score. You will want to check with a mortgage professional who specializes in MN down payment assistance to determine your eligibility.

Dakota County First Time Buyers Program

If you are a MN first time home buyer and searching for homes, you might want to consider buying a home in Dakota County. This county has one of the best MN down payment assistance programs available today, which brings the entry cost needed down to less than what you would need for a rental deposit! One of the benefits of searching for homes in Apple Valley is that the Dakota County First Time Home Buyer Program is available to you.
One of the best programs for down payment assistance is available in Apple Valley as well as the rest of the state of Minnesota. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency offers a great program called HAF which can be used for either $3,000 or $4,500 worth of assistance. This assistance comes in the form of a second mortgage with no interest and no monthly payments necessary. The other great thing about HAF is that it can usually be layered in combination with other local community down payment assistance programs if they are available.
Most down payment assistance programs will require that you attend a class for first time home buyers. This class is an all-day session and is offered through several community agencies Schedules for the classes vary and are available through the Twin Cities metro. If you are using a county or city program for down payment assistance be sure to register for a class that satisfies both the state and local community program guidelines. Registation is simple and can be done 24 hours a day because you can register for the Home Stretch Workshop online.
These down payment assistance programs in Apple Valley can be used with many types of mortgage financing. They would normally be used with MN FHA loans to help with the minimum down payment. However, if you already have a sizeable down payment but need some help getting to 20% down to eliminate the need for mortgage insurance, these programs can be helpful as well. They can also be used with VA and USDA loans in Minnesota.

Apple Valley Information

The city of Apple Valley, MN was named in 2010 as as one of the top 20 best places to live in America.in the top twenty of best places to live in America. With over 49,000 occupants, the city has more than doubled in size over the last 30 years. Situated entirely in Dakota County, Apple Valley first time home buyers should learn more about the Dakota County first time buyer program With an extensive Park and Rec department in the city you'll never lack for something to do here. If you're going to be buying or selling Apple Valley real estate please do not hesitate to give me a call!

Get Preapproved Today

The first step in the home buying process s to get preapproved for your home loan. This means that you meet with a local mortgage lender who will review your financial situation. In the prequalification application they can tell you what types of MN first time buyer programs you might be qualified for. This critical first part can be done over the phone and most lenders will even do this with you when you are off from work.

Robert Phyle,CSP,GRI,RSA
Broker Associate, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Burnet
rlphyle@cbburnet.com
Cell 612-801-4657
Direct 952-997-1955
Fax 952-432-8372
7741 147th St W.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
www.facebook.com/robphylerealestate
Visit my website to find Minnesota homes for sale

How To Buy Golden Valley Foreclosures

How to buy a Golden Valley foreclosure

Are you presently searching for one of the properties in foreclosure in Golden Valley? Whether you own house currently or are a Minnesota first time buyer, you will want to learn the basics of Golden Valley foreclosures before going out to buy. While there are many great values in Golden Valley foreclosures you will want to be prepared for how to negotiate your purchase transaction.

Golden Valley Info

The great City of Golden Valley is suburb of the Minneapolis, lying on the western edges of Hennepin County. With major employers such as Honeywell and Tennant, Golden Valley, MN is also has the headquarters of Pentair and General Mills. With an excellent city department for Park and Rec Golden Valley can offer everyone something to do for recreation. Just a short commute away from downtown Minneapolis homeowners of Golden Valley have access to a wide variety of employment as well as cultural activities. If you are thinking about buying or selling Golden Valley foreclosures it is time to give me a call about Golden Valley, MN.

Foreclosures are Bank-Owned

A foreclosure can be a great value because the bank owns it and is paying for all of the upkeep and property taxes. As opposed to a short sale, the selling bank has a distinct motivation to get the home off of their books. At the same time, banks who are selling their Golden Valley foreclosures want to get the highest value they can out of the property. In the lower price ranges it has turned into a sellers market meaning that many foreclosures sell for well above the listing price! Knowing what to offer for the foreclosure is critical in terms of being successful with your purchase.

Foreclosure Purchases: Things to Consider

There are two big factors to consider what you will want to make as an offer to purchase. The first is how long the property has been on the market and the second thing is to analyze the overall condition of the home. A foreclosure listing that has just been listed for sale is apt to sell for near the listing price, while a bank that has a home that has been on the market a long time may be willing to negotiate for deep discounts. Also, a listing that is in poor overall condition may not be able to be financed with traditional mortgage financing so the bank may have to reduce the price far enough to attract cash buyers. I can help you determine these factors as we search for Golden Valley foreclosures.

Tips On Buying Foreclosures

If you are going to be financing the purchase of a foreclosure there are some important things to know as well. First, the property must be in acceptable condition in order to qualify for most loan programs. Foreclosure listings that are in poor condition will either require a cash offer or special financing such as FHA 203k. Selling banks will also tend to limit the amount seller paid concessions towards the closing costs of your home loan. In most cases today the selling bank will limit their contribution to 3 per cent of the selling price, or 2 per cent if you are an investor. Additionally, a selling bank will never look at your offer if it includes a financing contingency for the sale of a home and never if you do not provide a letter of financing preapproval along with your offer.

For many MN first time buyers the big question is where do I start? Your very first step to home ownership is to get preapproved for a mortgage. By doing so you find out how much of a loan you are qualified for so that we can research homes in a comfortable price range.

If you are planning on buying a Golden Valley foreclosure please give me a call or send me an email. There are many great foreclosure values out there but knowing which one takes some time and expertise. I would value the opportunity to help you in your quest for the perfect purchase!

Robert Phyle,CSP,GRI,RSA
Broker Associate, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Burnet
rlphyle@cbburnet.com
Cell 612-801-4657
Direct 952-997-1955
Fax 952-432-8372
7741 147th St W.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
www.facebook.com/robphylerealestate
Visit my website to find Minnesota homes for sale

Apple Valley First Time Home Buyers Tips

Are you planning to buy your first home in Apple Valley, Minnesota? There are some simple things that I would like to share with you about Apple Valley real estate to help ensure you avoid some of the bigger mistakes that many first time buyers make. With some very basic preparation you can avoid some painful pitfalls.

Community Information: Apple Valley, MN

The city of Apple Valley, Minnesota was recently named as one of the top 20 best places to live in America.in the top twenty of best places to live in America. With over 49,000 residents, the city has more than doubled in size over the last 30 years. Situated entirely in Dakota County, Apple Valley first time home buyers should learn more about the Dakota County first time buyer program With an extensive Park and Rec department in the city you'll always have something to do in Apple Valley. If you're planning on buying or selling Apple Valley real estate please feel free to give me a call!

1) Get prequalified for your first time home buyers loan first! I have met far too many first time buyers who find a home first, only to find out they do not yet qualify for financing. It can be an extraordinarily painful experience to go through the work of searching for the perfect home only to find out you are not yet ready to qualify for a loan. You can get preapproved with my preferred MN mortgage lender right over the phone. There is no cost for the service and absolutley no obligation so why not start the process of preapproval immediately?

2) Get educated about the process of buying a home. You can learn a great deal at a first time home buyer seminar or at a Home Stretch Worshop available through many communities around the Twin Cities. There is so much to know about the process that it is well worth it to learn as much as you can, as early as you can.

3) Get a home inspection on the house you buy. While a home inspection is not required it can reveal major potential problems in the house before you are fully committed to the purchase. You can negotiate a transaction with a contingency upon a satisfactory home inspection so that if it comes back bad, you can back out of the transaction. Some first time buyers will skip buying the house inspection because of the cost involved. I think the cost of the inspection is a great value when compared to making a purchase of a home with so many problems that it becomes a money pit.

4) Please take care of your credit after mortgage preapproval. After you have received your preapproval for mortgage financing your Minnesota mortgage company still might need to check your credit again. Make your payments on time and do not open up any new credit. Additionally, avoid additional credit inquiries after your preapproval to avoid a reduction to your credit score.

5) Be choosey when shopping for home insurance. If you were to call 3 different homeowner's insurance companies you will get 3 quotes that could vary by as much as double! Right after your loan application start your search for insurance estimates.

First Step In The Process

For many Minnesota first time home buyers the big question is where do I start? Your first step to home ownership is to get preapproved for a mortgage. In so doing you will find out how much you are qualified for so that we can research homes in a price range with comfortable payments for you.



Robert Phyle,CSP,GRI,RSA
Broker Associate, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Burnet
rlphyle@cbburnet.com
Cell 612-801-4657
Direct 952-997-1955
Fax 952-432-8372
7741 147th St W.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
www.facebook.com/robphylerealestate
Visit my website to find Minnesota homes for sale