Thursday, September 29, 2011

Selling Your Dakota County Home Today

Selling a home today in Dakota County can be a big challenge, especially with all the competition from nearby foreclosures and short sales. Home values have been coming down in part because of the low sales prices offered by banks who need to unload their inventory of their real estate owned. Roughly half of the closed sales in the curret market has come from non-bank home sellers. Are you looking for help to sell your home in Dakota County?

Benefits of Using A Realtor To Sell Your Dakota County Home


It has never been more important to enlist the help of a Dakota County real estate agent who understands the recent trends in Dakota County market values. When we come out and visit your property to complete a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA), we will compare your home to all of the recent sales in your neighborhood. We need to look at all of the properties that have sold within the past few months to see what the actual sales prices have been. By doing this we will be able to estimate what price a buyer might pay for your house within a reasonable period of time.

The big challenge for many home sellers today is trying to get enough for their home to pay off the existing mortgages on their home. If a property seller owes more on their home loans than what we can sell it for we will either need to discuss paying down the mortgage, attempting a short sale, or listing the current home for rent and in order to move to another home. With the rapidly rising rents in today's market home sellers are often finding that they can cover all of the investment expenses for the home through the income from the rental.

Lenders have guidelines for the Dakota County sellers who will rent out their home to buy another. Depending on the equity that you have in your home, a mortgage lender may or may not consider the rental income you receive when they qualify you for the new mortgage. The only way to know this is to call a lender to get preapproved.

Once we meet to discuss your home's current market value it is critical that you go through the process of getting preapproved for a mortgage loan. Your mortgage lender can help you decide which of the options are best whether renting or selling your current house. The process of mortgage preapproval is is usually free and contains no loan obligation. A good mortgage banker will be able to analyze all of the options available to you such as MN FHA loans, VA, conventional, or other types of loans.

Dakota County Information


Dakota County, situated in the southeastern portion of the larger Twin Cities area, is the third largest county in MN. Some of the largest cities of the county include Burnsville, Apple Valley, and Eagan. The county seat for Dakota County is situated in Hastings,MN. As one of the fastest growing areas in the Twin Cities, the population has more than doubled since the 1980 census. MN first time home buyers benefit from affordable home prices in the area as well as the Dakota County First Time Buyers Program.

Are You Ready To Talk?


If you think you want to learn more about selling your Dakota County home call or email me. I will create a market analysis of your home for free. We will discuss your options available in the market today. Feel free to send me an email or call 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

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Rent Out Your Bloomington Home To Move

Many Bloomington home sellers are faced with the problem of being "upside-down" on their mortgages. The fact is that in order to sell your home in this market today you need to pay off your mortgage in order to convey clean title to your buyer. Unless you want to arrange a "short sale" with your mortgage lender, this means you will have to bring money to the closing table to pay off the remaining mortgage owed. As a result many home sellers in Bloomington who want to move are considering the possibility of renting out their current home in order to buy a new one.
 
The good news today is that with the tougher real estate market, rents have increased significantly. Renters find that they are competing with each other to rent out your home as their is a shortage of quality home rentals available today. Many home sellers are finding that they can more than cover the expenses for owning the home with the increased amount of rents.

The goal, of course, is to rent the current home out long enough to allow the Bloomington real estate market to recover in terms of values. Hopefully within a few years the value of your rental home will rise sufficiently to sell it for enough to pay off the mortgage. The key to accomplishing this is to see if you will qualify for a new mortgage if you have rented out your current home.

Lenders have specific guidelines for those Bloomington sellers who will rent out their home to buy another. Depending on the equity that you have in your home, a mortgage lender may or may not consider the rental income you receive when they qualify you for the new mortgage. The only way to know this is to call a lender to get preapproved.

Once we have a chance to meet to discuss the value of your current home it is important that you go through the process of getting preapproved for mortgage financing on another home. Your mortgage lender can help you decide which of the options are best whether renting or selling your current house. The process of mortgage preapproval is generally free and contains no loan obligation. A good mortgage banker will be able to analyze all of the options available to you such as through MN FHA loans, Conventional, VA, or other types of mortgage financing.

The Community of Bloomington, MN


The City of Bloomington, MN is the 5th largest city in MN and is situated within the boundaries of Hennepin County Bloomington's residential neighborhoods include upper-tier households in the Bush Lake area as well as traditional middle-class families in its rows of single-family homes in the central to eastern portions With a stable economy, Bloomington actually has more jobs per capita than either Minneapolis or St. Paul. Major employers in Bloomington such as Toro, Ceridian, Donaldson Company and Health Partners are all headquarted in Bloomington. With an extensive Park and Rec department it seems there is always something to do in Bloomington, Minnesota!

If you are considering renting out your current home, please call or email me for more information.




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

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Shakopee Real Estate: How To Sell Your Home

Selling a home in Shakopee today can be a challenge, especially with the tough competition from nearby short sales and foreclosures. Market values have been reduced in part because of the low sales prices offered by banks who need to unload their inventory of their real estate owned. Roughly half of the sales in today's MN real estate market has come from non-bank home sellers. Are you searching for help to sell your home listing in Shakopee?

Benefits of Using A Realtor To Sell Your Shakopee Home


Perhaps it has never been more important to use a Shakopee real estate agent who understands recent trends in market values. When we visit your home as a Realtor to complete a market analysis, we will compare your home to all of the recent sales in your neighborhood. We need to look at all of the houses that have sold within recent months to analyze what the actual sales prices have been. By doing so we can estimate what price a home buyer might pay for your home within a reasonable period of market time.

The big challenge for many home sellers today is trying to get enough for their house to pay off the current mortgage on their home. If a home seller owes more on the mortgages for their home than what we can sell it for we will either need to discuss paying the mortgages down, attempting a short sale on their home, or listing it for rent and in order to move to another home. With the quickly rising rents in today's market, sellers are quite often finding that they can cover all of the investment expenses for the home through the income from the rental.

Lenders have guidelines for the Shakopee sellers who have made the decision to rent out their house to buy another. Depending on the equity that you have in your home, a mortgage lender may or may not consider the rental income you receive when they qualify you for the new mortgage. The only way to know this is to call a lender to get preapproved.

Once we have a chance to meet to discuss the value of your current home it is important that you go through the process of getting prequalified for a home loan. Your mortgage lender can help you decide which of the options are best whether selling or renting out your current home. The process of getting preapproved is is usually free and contains no loan obligation. A good mortgage banker will be able to analyze all of the options available to you such as MN FHA loans, Conventional, VA, or other types of mortgage loans.

Located just southwest of Minneapolis, Shakopee is a rapidly growing suburb of the Twin Cities. As the county seat of Scott County the city of Shakopee has more than tripled in size over the last twenty years. Shakopee is also home to popular entertainment destinations such as the Canterbury Park horse race track, the Valley Fair amusement Park as well as the Renaissance Festival. As an outer ring suburb many Shakopee residents commute to downtown Minneapolis for employment. Minnesota first time home buyers in this area in this area will want to look into the Scott County home buyers club for up to $4,000 in down payment assistance.

The Call Is Free


If you want to learn more about the process of selling your Shakopee home call me. I will create a market analysis of your home for free. We will discuss all of the options available in the market today. Feel free to send me an email or give me a quick call.




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

Monday, September 26, 2011

Getting A Deal on Eden Prairie Foreclosures

How to buy a Eden Prairie foreclosure

Are you thinking about buying one of the properties in foreclosure in Eden Prairie? Whether you own house currently or are a Minnesota first time buyer, you will want to learn the basics of Eden Prairie foreclosures before going out to buy. While there are many great values in Eden Prairie foreclosures you will want to be prepared for how to negotiate your offer.

The Community of Eden Prairie


Located just 12 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis, Eden Prairie is a popular commuter city to the Twin Cities. Growing now to over 60,000 residents, the city has tripled in size over the last thirty years. Business such as Digital River, Super Value and CH Robinson have their headquarters here. Eden Prairie has been listed in Money Magazines "Best Places to Live" in America since 2006. With low mortgage rates and plenty of affordable housing, this is a popular place for MN first time homebuyers and move up buyers alike. If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Eden Prairie please give me a call or send me an email.

A bank-owned foreclosure can be a great deal sometimes because the bank owns it and is paying for the maintenance of it. As opposed to a short sale transaction, the selling bank has a big motivation to get the listing off of their books. At the same time, banks who are selling a foreclosure 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.

Factors in Foreclosures


There are two big factors to consider what you will want to make as an offer to purchase. The first factor is to consider how long the property has been on the market and the second thing is the general property condition. A foreclosure listing that has just been listed for sale is apt to sell for near the listing price (or even higher), while a bank that has a house that has been on the market a long time might be willing to negotiate for deeper discounts. Also, a listing that is in poor overall condition may not be able to be financed so the bank may reduce the price far enough to attract cash buyers. I can help you determine these factors as we go out looking for Eden Prairie foreclosures.

Financing and Foreclosures


If you will need a mortgage loan to buy the 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 mortgage financing such as the FHA 203k program. The selling banks will also usually 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 three per cent of the selling price. 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.

First Step In The Process

For many Minnesota first time home buyers the big question is where do I start? Your very first step towards buying your first home is to get preapproved for a first time buyer's mortgage. In so doing you will find out how much you are qualified for so that we can search for homes in the right price range.

Ready to Find A Foreclosed Home?

If you are planning on buying a Eden Prairie foreclosure please send me an email or give me a call. There are many great Eden Prairie foreclosure values out there but knowing which one to buy will take some time and expertise. I would very much like to help you in your search for the ideal house!




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

Sunday, September 25, 2011

How to Buy Your First Home In Savage In 3 Steps

Most Minnesota first time home buyers are totally surprised when I show them all of the affordable Savage Real Estate. The fact is that the housing affordability index in Minnesota has not been this low in years. While many renters have only read the negative press about values in real estate, others have seen it from a completely different angle The combination of reduced property values and low interest rates make your house payments quite often lower than your rent payments. So if you would like to meet with me and talk about becoming a Minnesota first time home buyer, I would truly love to talk with you.
In order for you to take advantage of the great market values in today's market, there are three easy steps to get started.

Step 1: Call Or Email Me To Discuss Your Goals


There are more things for you to consider when buying a house than just the monthly payment. I will want to have a discussion with you what your goals are for home ownership. After I learn more about what you want to achieve we will talk about the types of homes for sale, ideal locations, as well as how to get a great value. Depending upon when you want the move to happen we will discuss the benefits of buying your home from a traditional seller versus a short sale. After our discussion I will set up an automated listing search of all the listings that could possibly meet your needs in the location and price range you desire.

Step 2: Get Preapproved For A Loan


Before we go out looking for houses, you need to talk with a mortgage lender. In order to find out how much you can reasonably afford for monthly payments as well as down payments, you will need to get preapproved through a lender for mortgage financing. When you have a discussion with your mortgage broker, you will learn about all of the great programs available for MN first time home buyers. Did you know that there are down payment assistance programs for Savage first time buyers that can help you put as little as $1,000 down? The only way to determine your eligibility as a buyer is to get preapproved for a loan.

Step 3: Let's Look At Homes


Once you have been through the process of getting preapproved we can start looking at property listings. After looking at so many homes on the internet, this is the fun part of the whole process. We will look at as many homes as it takes before you find the one that ideally suits your needs. Once we find one, your mortgage lender and I will guide you through writing an offer, finalizing the loan and closing on your home!

Savage, MN Community Info


Developing into a bedroom community to the Twin Cities, Savage has nearly tripled in size over the past 20 years. Filled with affordable homes for sale, Savage, MN has become a favorite spot to look for real estate deals for the MN first time home buyer. Conveniently located just west of Burnsville, living in Savage means you will have a 20-30 minute commute to some of the largest employers in Minneapolis. Since the community has a busy Park and Rec program, it seems like there is something to do for everyone in Savage, MN. If you're thinking of buying or selling Minnesota real estate, please call me and I'm glad to help!

Do you feel like you are ready to get started with the process of buying a home? Please take a moment to call or email me and we'll discuss what you want for your Savage home!




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

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Savage Real Estate: How To Sell Your Home

Selling a home today in Savage can be a big challenge, especially with all the competition from nearby foreclosures and short sales. Home values have been coming down in part because of the lower asking prices offered through banks who need to bring down their real estate owned inventory. Roughly half of the sales in today's MN real estate market has come from non-bank home sellers. Are you searching for help to sell your Savage home?

Using a Savage Real Estate Agent


Perhaps it has never been more important to use a Savage real estate agent who understands the recent trends in Savage market values. When we visit your home to complete a market analysis, we will compare all of the features and benefits of your property to the competing homes for sale in the area. We need to look at all of the houses that have sold within recent months to determine what the actual sales prices have been. By doing so we can estimate what price a home buyer might pay for your home within a reasonable period of market time.

The big challenge for many home sellers today is trying to get enough for their house to pay off the current mortgage on their home. If a home seller owes more on the mortgages for their home than what we can sell it for we will either need to discuss paying the mortgages down, going through the process of a short sale, or listing the current house for rent and in order to move to another one. With the quickly rising rents in today's market, sellers are quite often finding that they can cover all of the investment expenses for the home through the income from the rental.

Lenders have guidelines for the Savage sellers who have made the decision to rent out their house to buy another. Depending on the equity that you have in your home, a mortgage lender may or may not consider the rental income you receive when they qualify you for the new mortgage. The only way to know this is to call a lender to get preapproved.

Get preapproved before listing your home for sale


Once we have a chance to meet to discuss the value of your current home it is important that you go through the process of getting prequalified for a home loan. Your mortgage lender can help you decide which of the options are best whether selling or renting out your current home. The process of preapproval is is usually free and contains no loan obligation. A good mortgage banker will be able to analyze all of the options available to you such as through MN FHA loans, Conventional, VA, or other types of mortgage financing.

Savage, MN Community Information


Developing into a bedroom community to the Twin Cities, Savage, MN has almost tripled in population over the past twenty years. Filled with affordable homes for sale, Savage, MN has become a favorite spot to look for real estate deals for the MN first time home buyer. Conveniently located just west of Burnsville, living in Savage means you will have a 20-30 minute commute to some of the largest employers in Minneapolis. As a city with a well developed Park program, it seems like there is never a lack for something to do for residents of Savage. If you're planning on buying or selling MN real estate, please call me and I'm glad to help!

Do You Want To Get Started?


If you want to learn more about the process of selling your Savage home call me. I will work with you to complete a competitive market analysis for free. We will discuss all of your available options available in the market today. Feel free to send me an email or give me a quick call.




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

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Farmington Home Sellers: Should You Rent It Out or Sell It?

Rent It Or Sell It?


Many Farmington home sellers are challenged with the problem of owing more on their home loans than what their property is worth in today's market. The fact is that in order to sell your home in the MN real estate market today you need to pay off the entire mortgage in order to sell the home. Unless you want to arrange a short sale with your mortgage lender, this means you will bring money to the closing in order to pay off the remaining balance that you owe. Many home sellers who need to move now are considering the possibility of making their current home available to rent with the hope of buying a new house.

Benefits of Rising Rents in Farmington

The good news today is that with the tougher housing market, the amount you can get for rent has increased significantly. Renters find that they are competing with each other to rent out a Farmington home as their is a shortage of quality home rentals available today. Many home sellers in this position are finding that they can more than cover the expenses for owning the home with the increased amount of rents.

The goal, of course, is to rent out the current home long enough to allow the Minnesota real estate market to recover in terms of values. Hopefully within a few years the value of your rental home will rise sufficiently to sell it for enough to pay off the mortgage. The key to accomplishing this is to see if you will qualify for a new mortgage if you have rented out your current home.

Will rental income offset my mortgage payment when qualifying for a new mortgage?


Lenders have guidelines for the Farmington sellers who will rent out their home to buy another. Depending on the equity that you have in your home, a mortgage lender may or may not consider the rental income you receive when they qualify you for the new mortgage. The only way to know this is to call a lender to get preapproved.

Once we have a chance to meet to discuss the value of your current home it is important that you go through the process of getting preapproved for a mortgage loan. Your mortgage lender can help you decide which of the options are best whether selling or renting out your current home. The process of preapproval is is usually free and contains no loan obligation. A good mortgage lender will be able to analyze all of the financing options available to you such as through MN FHA loans, Conventional, VA, or other types of mortgage financing.

Farmington, MN Info


The city of Farmington, MN is a rapidly growing outer-ring suburb of the Twin Cities. With plenty of affordable real estate, Farmington, MN has almost doubled its size over the past decade, now with over 20,000 residents. Convenientlyocated just south of Rosemount in Dakota County, many first time home buyers have used the have used the Dakota County first time buyers program to buy in Farmington. If you want to buy or sell real estate Farmington, MN MN real estate please don't hesitate to give me a call.

If you are considering renting out your current home, please email me for more information.




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

Friday, September 16, 2011

Beautiful Eagan Home For Sale

How To Sell Your Eagan Home

Selling a home today in Eagan can be a big challenge, especially considering that nearly half of the competitive listings are short sales or foreclosures. Market values have been reduced in part because of the lower asking prices offered through banks who need to bring down their real estate owned inventory. Roughly half of the sales in today's MN real estate market has resulted from "traditional" home sellers. Are you in the search for help to sell your Eagan home?

It has never been more important to enlist the help of a Eagan real estate agent who studies recent trends in Twin Cities market values. When we come out and visit your property to complete a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA), we will compare all of the features of your home to the competing homes for sale in your neighborhood. We need to look at all of the houses that have sold within recent months to determine what the actual sales prices have been. In so doing we can estimate what type of price a home buyer might pay for your home within a reasonable period of market time.

The challenge for many sellers today is trying to get enough for their house to pay off the their current mortgage. If a seller owes more on their mortgages than what the can sell it for we will either need to talk about paying the mortgages down, going through the process of a short sale, or listing the current house for rent and in order to move to another one. With the rapidly rising rents in today's market home sellers are often finding that they can cover all of the expenses for the home through their renter's income.

Lenders have specific guidelines to follow for those Eagan home sellers who will rent out their home to buy another. Depending on the equity that you have in your home, a mortgage lender may or may not consider the rental income you receive when they qualify you for the new mortgage. The only way to know this is to call a lender to get preapproved.

Once we have a chance to meet to discuss the value of your current home it is important that you go through the process of getting prequalified for a home loan. Your MN mortgage lender can help you discover whether you should rent out or sell your current house. The process of getting preapproved is free, and if you decide not to proceed, there is no obligation to borrow money. A good lender will be able to examine all of the options available to you such as MN FHA loans, VA, conventional, or other types of loans.

Eagan MN Information


If you are planning a move to the southern metro you should really check out Eagan real estate agentCITY. Due to its convenient access to the Twin Cities metro, the City of Eagan has grown rapidly over the years. As recently as the 1960's, Eagan had only about 3,000 residents, but as of the 2010 census now has over 64,000. This means, of course, that most of the housing stock is in newer neighborhoods. Because Eagan, MN is located in Dakota County, qualifying first time buyers might want to check out the Dakota County First Time Home Buyers program. For a taste of what's happening in Eagan, go to their Community Events page.

The Call Is Free


If you would like to learn more about selling your Eagan home call or email me. I will work with you to complete a competitive market analysis at no obligation to you. We will discuss all of your available options available in the market today. Feel free to email or call 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

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Information On Buying a home In Burnsville

Are you wondering about how to buy a home in Burnsville? Learning how to buy a home can be confusing for many buyers, especially for the MN first time home buyer. As this process can be quite complext I would like to take a moment to share with you some tips of how to accomplish your goal.

How To Buy A home in Burnsville


Most Minnesota home buyers start their search on the internet, of course. There are many internet sites to begin this but a good place to start is to use the search engine on my website. There are thousands of real estate sites out there but you will soon find that many of them lack some of the important details you need when finding a home. National real estate websites do not show the annual property taxes due for each of the Minnesota real estate listings which is one of the biggest factors your lender will need to determine what your monthly payments will be.

Search for a home in Burnsville on my website


When you search for homes in Burnsville on my website you will find all of the property listings from all of the real estate companies. Because I am a member of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), my real estate website will offer you complete details on every property from every company. One of the other things I can do is to set up an advanced search for you so that I can notify you by email when listings in your price range come available.

Get Preapproved To Buy A home in Burnsville


How will you know what price range you should be searching for? In order for you to determine home much the monthly payments you will get for a home in Burnsville you will have to get prequalified for a home loan. Getting preapproved is the most important part of the process for how to buy a home in Burnsville Since there is no cost or obligation when you get prequalified by one of our local MN mortgage lenders, you should do this right away so that you can clear any roadblocks there might be in the process of getting a home loan.

Let's go look at homes!


After you have been preapproved by one of our trusted local mortgage lenders I will take you out to look for homes in your price range. I recommend that we look through at least 15 or 20 of these before you make your offer to buy one. By doing a thorough search you will know homes that are a good value to buy. When a home comes available meeting your needs you should be ready to make your offer since properties now sell fast.

After the purchase agreement, and before closing

Once you’ve made your offer it normally takes about 30 to 45 days before closing. During this time your mortgage lender will collect all of the documentation they require from you to complete your loan commitment. They will also order an appraisal on your home to make sure the price of the home you are buying is in line. They will also order a title policy from a title company to make sure the title to the home is clean.

Closing on your home

After you receive your complete loan approval from your lender you will be ready to close on the purchase of your new home. At loan closing, all of the involved parties get together to sign documentation and to exchange keys, garage door openers, etc. After you have gone through closing on your home you will now be a homeowner!

As the 6th largest community in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Burnsville, MN is a popular bedroom community to both Saint Paul and Minneapolis. While experiencing an explosion in population from 1970 through 2000 to over 60,000 residents, Burnsville is now fairly well built-out and its total population has stabilized over the past ten years according the 2010 census. Large employers in Burnsville include the Burnsville School District, Fairview Ridges Hospital, and Pepsi Cola but most residents work in the Twin Cities or surrounding suburbs. Burnsville, MN has homes for sale for both for the Minnesota first time buyer as well as the move up buyer.

Do you believe you're ready to start the process of looking for homes? Just send me a quick email as I am eager to help you begin your search for a home in Burnsville!
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

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Dakota County Townhomes For Sale: Pros and Cons

Searching for Dakota County townhomes for sale?

If you are searching for Dakota County townhomes for sale, let’s take a minute to talk a little bit about the pros and cons of townhome living. Millions of Americans have enjoyed living in townhomes and it just might be a perfect solution for you as well. As with any type of Minnesota real estate purchase it’s important that you understand the subtleties of any home style that you purchase before signing on the dotted line.

Prices for Dakota County townhomes for sale


Dakota County townhomes are often priced quite a bit less than traditional single family housing largely due to the shared walls and common areas. The townhome association to which you will be required to belong is responsible for upkeep of these common areas as well as some of the exterior maintenance of your home as well. This can make buying a Dakota County townhome especially appealing to busy first time home buyers as well as to retirees who prefer not to deal with that type of upkeep.

Townhome Association Dues


This does not mean that the maintenance is without cost, as you know. As part of your financial responsibility for owning a Dakota County townhome you will be required to pay a monthly association fee. These dues cover a variety of things but the extent to what it covers can vary from one association to another. For example, while your association fees might include home insurance in one association, you might have to shop and buy that on your own in another. It is important to review this information before you sign a purchase agreement to buy a Dakota County townhome as your monthly costs could vary significantly depending upon the association.

Dakota County Community Information


Dakota County, located in the southeast portion of the Twin Cities area, is the third largest county in Minnesota. Some of the largest cities of the county include Burnsville, Apple Valley, Eagan, and Lakeville. The county seat for Dakota County is in Hastings,MN. As one of the fastest growing areas in the Twin Cities real estate market, the population has more than doubled since the 1980 census. Minnesota first time home buyers benefit from affordable homes in the area as well as the down payment assistance from the Dakota County First Time Buyers Program.

One item to note is that in almost all associations, the interior contents of your home will not be covered by the association insurance. All this means is that you will need your own separate policy for the interior contents of your Dakota County townhome, which is an additional annual fee to your insurance company. If you need mortgage financing for your Dakota County townhome your lender will require you to buy this type of insurance for your Dakota County townhome.

Dakota County townhomes for sale: The Pros


  • Lower maintenance lifestyle
  • Less expensively priced housing
  • Shared amenities such as recreational areas l
  • Often a small back yard
  • No neighbors located below or above as is common in condos



Dakota County townhomes for sale: The Cons


  • Townhome association monthly dues
  • Small yard or occasionally no yard at all
  • You will share walls with neighbors

      First Step In The Process
      For many MN first time buyers the big question is where do I start? 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 search for homes in the right price range.

      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
    • Friday, September 9, 2011

      Buying A Dakota County Home With A VA Mortgage

      One increasingly common financing option in Dakota County for home buyers is available through the VA. This type of Dakota County mortgage financing has increased by about twenty per cent over the last few years due in part to the increasing number of our Minnesota 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 veteran 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 eligibility. This can be a great solution for current homeowners who want to sell their existing home to buy another but who don't have a lot of equity in their home. Since Minnesota VA loans do not require a down payment they can more easily sell their home despite receiving no proceeds from the sale.

      Dakota County Veterans First Step: Determine Your Eligibility


      Dakota County veterans should discover two things to see if they will be eligible for a VA mortgage. First they must see if they are eligible for a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE). 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 VA mortgages require no down payment, there still are closing costs in Minnesota which the veteran is responsible for. To address this issue, the VA allows the buyer to negotiate with the seller to pay up to four per cent of the purchase price towards their costs. This is a very common strategy to buy homes today and most sellers have been prepared by their real estate agents that they will need to pay these costs.

      The second thing a veteran must determine is if they qualify for mortgage financing. I encourage all Minnesota veterans to get preapproved for MN VA loans before we go out shopping for a home. By going through the preapproval the lender will review your financial scenario to determine if you meet the requirements for a VA loan. This critical first step is usually done at no charge and requires no commitment on the part of the veteran. In fact, many mortgage lenders offering VA loans will do this right over the phone.

      Info About Dakota County


      Dakota County, situated in the southeastern portion of the larger Twin Cities area, is the third largest county in MN. Some of the largest cities of the county include Burnsville, Apple Valley, Eagan, and Lakeville. The county seat for Dakota County is in located in Hastings,MN. As one of the fastest growing areas in the Twin Cities, the population has more than doubled since the 1980 census. Minnesota first time home buyers benefit from affordable homes in the area as well as the Dakota County First Time Buyers Program.

      Dakota County Veterans: Are You Ready To Buy?


      If you want to buy a home in Dakota County using VA financing please just give me a call. Whether you currently own a home or are looking to buy your first home, Dakota County VA loans can be a great way to buy a home. With rates at record lows combined with lower property values many veterans have found smaller house payments than what they are currently paying for 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

      Thursday, September 8, 2011

      Burnsville Home Sellers: Meeting The Challenge of Today's Market

      Selling a home today in Burnsville can be a big challenge, especially with the tough competition from nearby short sales and foreclosures. Real estate values have been declining in part because of the low sales prices offered by banks who need to unload their inventory of their real estate owned. Roughly half of the sales in today's MN real estate market has come from traditional home sellers. Are you searching for help to sell your home in Burnsville?

      Using a Burnsville Real Estate Agent


      It's never been more important to work with a Burnsville real estate agent who studies recent trends in Twin Cities market values. When we visit your home to complete a market analysis, we will compare all of the features of your home to the competing homes for sale in your neighborhood. We need to look at all of the houses that have sold within recent months to analyze what the actual sales prices have been. By doing so we can estimate what price a home buyer might pay for your house within a reasonable period of time.

      Choices When You Owe More Than The House Is Worth


      The challenge for many sellers today is trying to get enough for their home to pay off the existing mortgages on their home. If a home seller owes more on the mortgages for their home than what we can sell it for we will either need to discuss paying the mortgages down, going through the process of a short sale, or listing the current house for rent and in order to move to another one. With the rapidly rising rents in today's market home sellers are often finding that they can cover all of the resulting expenses for the house through their renter's income.

      Lenders have specific guidelines for those Burnsville sellers who will rent out their home to buy another. Depending on the equity that you have in your home, a mortgage lender may or may not consider the rental income you receive when they qualify you for the new mortgage. The only way to know this is to call a lender to get preapproved.

      Get preapproved right away


      Once we have a chance to meet to discuss the value of your current home it is important that you go through the process of getting preapproved for a mortgage loan. Your MN mortgage lender can help you discover which of the options are best whether selling or renting out your current home. The process of preapproval is free, and if you decide not to proceed, there is no obligation to borrow money. A good mortgage banker will be able to analyze all of the options available to you such as through MN FHA loans, Conventional, VA, or other types of mortgage financing.

      As the sixth largest city in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Burnsville is a popular bedroom community to both St. Paul, Minneapolis, and neighboring suburbs. While going through a rapid population expansion from 1970 through 2000 and tripling in size to just over sixty-thousand residents, Burnsville is now pretty much built-out and its population has stabilized over the past ten years. Large employers in the city include Independent School District 191, Fairview Ridges Hospital, and Pepsi Cola but many residents find employment in the Minneapolis, St. Paul or surrounding suburbs. Burnsville, MN has homes for sale for both for the Minnesota first time buyer as well as the move up buyer.

      Are You Ready To Talk?


      If you would like to learn more about selling your Burnsville home call or email me. I will work with you to complete a competitive market analysis at no obligation to you. We will discuss your options available in the market today. Feel free to email or give me a quick call.




      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

      Wednesday, September 7, 2011

      Renting Out Your Apple Valley Home To Buy Another

      Many Apple Valley home sellers are challenged with the unfortunate problem of owing more on their home than what they can sell it for. The fact is that in order to sell your property in the Minnesota real estate market you need to be able to pay off your entire mortgage loan in order to sell it. Unless you want to arrange a short sale with your mortgage lender, this means you will bring money to the closing in order to pay off the remaining balance that you owe. Many home sellers who need to move now are considering the possibility of making their current home available to rent with the hope of buying a new house.

      Apple Valley Home Sellers: Is Renting A Good Option?


      The good news today is that with the tougher real estate market, rents have gone up significantly. Renters find that they are competing with each other to rent out your home as their is a real shortage of rentals available today. Many people are finding that they can more than cover the expenses for retaining the home with these increased rents.

      The goal, of course, is to rent the current home out long enough to allow the real estate market to recover in terms of values. Hopefully within a few years the value of your rental home will rise sufficiently to sell it for enough to pay off the mortgage. The key to accomplishing this is to see if you will qualify for a new mortgage if you have rented out your current home.

      Lenders have guidelines for the Apple Valley sellers who will rent out their home to buy another. Depending on the equity that you have in your home, a mortgage lender may or may not consider the rental income you receive when they qualify you for the new mortgage. The only way to know this is to call a lender to get preapproved.

      Get preapproved right away


      Once we have a chance to meet to discuss the value of your current home it is important that you go through the process of getting preapproved for a mortgage loan. Your MN mortgage lender can help you discover which of the options are best whether selling or renting out your current home. The process of preapproval is is usually free and contains no loan obligation. A good mortgage lender will be able to analyze all of the financing options available to you such as through MN FHA loans, Conventional, VA, or other types of mortgage financing.

      Apple Valley: Community Overview


      The city of Apple Valley, Minnesota was recently named in the top twenty of best places to live in America. With over 49,000 occupants, the community of Apple Valley has more than doubled its population over the last thirty years. Located in northern Dakota County, Apple Valley first time home buyers can enjoy the benefits from the Dakota County first time buyer program With a well-developed Parks and Rec department you'll never lack for something to do here. If you are looking to buy or sell Apple Valley real estate please do not hesitate to give me a call!

      If you are considering renting out your current home, please email me for more information.




      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

      Tuesday, September 6, 2011

      Use An FHA Loan to Buy Stillwater Homes

      One of the most common methods of financing Stillwater real estate is through the use of FHA loans. This federal program originated back in the 1930’s to help with a similar situation we have today when home foreclosures were growing rapidly. FHA loans have many advantageous guidelines for both the MN first time home buyer as well as the homeowner who is renting out their current home to buy another.
      While zero down payments have most gone away, Stillwater FHA mortgages offer down payments as low as 3 and one half per cent of the sales price. This fact along with the fact that most negotiated offers today involves “seller paid closing costs” allows for a much more achievable entry cost. This is also helpful for current home owners who are selling their home with little or no equity and need a program featuring a small down payment to buy their next home.

      Stillwater buyers will also find that FHA loans offer more expansive credit guidelines than other types of home financing. Home buyers who have struggled through some credit challenges may more frequently qualify for a loan with FHA. Additionally, unlike conventional loans which have significant pricing adjusters based on the home buyers credit scores, rates and discount points with FHA loans vary only slightly based upon the borrower's credit score.

      One compelling fact about FHA mortgages is called assumability. This means that in the future when you are ready to sell, the new home buyer of your house may have an option to take over your mortgage if they qualify. This could be an attractive selling feature to your home if interest rates are higher when you put your house up for sale. When a home buyer assumes your loan they will make up the difference between the sales price and your loan amount through a down payment.

      MN FHA and Down Payment Assistance


      First time home buyers in Stillwater may benefit through beneficial interest rates and down payment assistance programs through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. This state agency makes use of FHA's special features which allow for second mortgages on the property to be used as a method of reducing the first time home buyers required down payment. While maximum income limits apply for this program, many Minnesota first time home buyers are making use of these loans today.

      Get Pre-qualified


      The first step in the process of buying a home s to get preapproved for your home loan. This means that you meet with a local mortgage lender who will review your credit, income, etc. 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 arrange to talk with you when you're off work, even in the evenings or weekends.

      Stillwater MN Community Info


      Stillwater, MN is located in Washington County and is a relaxing commute from Saint Paul. Situated within the St. Croix River bluffs, Stillwater, MN is commonly referred to as Minnesota's birthplace. While a popular day-trip destination to enjoy its historic features, there has also been growth in new housing on the outskirts of the city in recent decades. Whether you are looking for an older home or new, consider Stillwater a great place to call home. If you want to learn more about buying Stillwater please email or give me a call to start looking at homes!

      If you want to learn more about buying a Stillwater home using FHA financing, please email me or give me a call. With great rates and low prices today, it is a great time to buy in Stillwater!


      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

      Saturday, September 3, 2011

      North Saint Paul Down Payment Assistance

      How much money will I need for a down payment as a North Saint Paul first time home buyer? The news I have for you today for first time home buyers is that there are MN down payment assistance programs available that can help you!

      Down Payment Assistance Programs for North Saint Paul


      Most programs for down payment assistance today are created to aide the first time home buyer. Each of these programs will have its own unique 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 Count First Time Buyers Assistance


      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 North Saint Paul is that the Dakota County First Time Home Buyer Program is available to you.

      North Saint Paul Down Payment Assistance Programs


      One of the most common down payment assistance program is now available in North Saint Paul as well as everywhere else in MN. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency offers the HAF program which can be used for either $3,000 or $4,500 worth of assistance. The HAF down payment assistance program is a second mortgage on your home but has zero interest and no required monthly payments. One great thing about the HAF program is that it can be used along with other local community down payment assistance programs if they are available.

      Most down payment assistance programs in Minnesota have a requirement that must attend a class designed for first time home buyers. You will need to plan for a one-day classroom training and it is is offered through several community agencies Dates and times for the classes vary but are available evenings and weekends. If you are using a local community down payment assistance program 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.

      North Saint Paul Home Buyer Programs


      These North Saint Paul down payment assistance programs can be used with many types of mortgage financing. Most commonly they would be used in conjunction with MN FHA loans to help with the minimum down payment. On the other had, if you already have a significant down payment but need some help getting to 20% down to eliminate the need for mortgage insurance, these programs can be helpful as well. Most down payment assistance programs will work with USDA and VA loans in Minnesota.

      North Saint Paul: Community Info

      The city of North Saint Paul is one of the more mature suburbs in the Twin Cities area with friendly neighborhoods lined with mature trees. Conveniently located in the eastern metro, North Saint Paul is conveniently located in Ramsey County. With a population of about 11,000 residents living here get a friendly feeling of a small town. With an ample supply of affordable housing, the city of North Saint Paul can be a great location for the MN first time home buyer. If you are planning to buy or sell North St. Paul real estate please give me a call to discuss the opportunities.

      First Step: Get Preapproved

      The first part in the process of buying a house 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 Minnesota first time buyer programs you might be qualified for. This first step can usually be done right over the telephone and most lenders will arrange to talk with you when you're off work, even in the evenings or weekends.


      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

      Thursday, September 1, 2011

      Tips for Shakopee First Time Home Buyers

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

      5 Tips For Shakopee First Time Buyers


      1) Get preapproved for mortgage financing 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 finding the ideal home only to find out you are not yet ready to qualify for a home loan. You can get preapproved with my preferred Minnesota mortgage lender even during the evenings or on weekends, and generally right over the phone. There is no cost and no obligation so why not start the process of preapproval immediately?

      2) Get educated about the whole process of home buying early on. 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 are planning to 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 home buyers will skip the home inspection because of the $300 to $500 cost of the inspection. The inspection cost is cheap when compared to making a purchase of a home that later reveals multiple problems.

      4) Please take care of your credit after preapproval. After you have received your preapproval for mortgage financing your MN 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 application to avoid potential problems with your credit score.

      5) Do not spend your down payment money prior to loan closing. Your mortgage banker will give you a good faith estimate at loan application showing how much money you will need at closing. Just save your money so that you're not caught in a bind on the day of closing.

      Located just southwest of Minneapolis, Shakopee MN is a popular bedroom community of the Twin Cities. As the county seat of Scott County the city of Shakopee has more than tripled in size over the last twenty years. Shakopee is also home to popular entertainment destinations such as the Canterbury Park horse race track, the Valley Fair amusement Park as well as the Renaissance Festival. As an outer-ring suburb many residents commute 20-30 minutes to downtown Minneapolis. MN first time home buyers in this area in this area will want to look into the Scott County home buyers club for down payment assistance up to $4,000.

      First Step In The Process


      For many MN first time home buyers the intimidating question is where do I start? Your very first step to home ownership is to get prequalified for a home loan. 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