Isanti - Sherburne - Wright - Anoka County Minnesota Real Estate Blog: February 2009

Today's the day we are taking Wake Up Moments  to the Top 100 List at barnesandnoble.com. I am a co-author in this book that features over 50 co-authors who are top professionals from all around the world.  

This book is the perfect gift. It is inspirational and full of advice anyone can use to find their life's passion and learn of other people's surprising moments.   So, please order your copy of the book today, that's Thursday, February 26. Visit http://tinyurl.com/wakeupmoments to purchase your copy.   Thank you in advance for your help. It is much appreciated.  

With much gratitude,  

Chuck Carstensen

Wake Up Live Co-author

Isanti County, MN has been one of the hardest hit markets in Minnesota.  There are still many more homes on the market then buyers and there will be a large amount of homes hitting the market this summer and fall.

So what do you do if your a buyer?

1) Buy Smart - There are LOW interest rates and low prices.  There are homes at market bottom prices, or near market bottom prices. There are homes less then rent.  Now is still a good time to buy.

2) Get approved for a loan now - Even if your just feeling things out. Get your finances in order. Know your buying power. Ask about special grant money available.

3) Save now - You need a down payment. Save at least 3.5% of what you are looking to buy.  With nice townhomes at $70K in the area 3.5% is not that much.

4) Work with one Realtor - Many people look on their own earlier on...or Realtor hop according to who has the listing. If you are a buyer you need to find a Realtor that works with mostly buyers.

A HOUSE is a HOME.  This is a great time to find the right home for you. Happy Hunting! I'm happy to assist you!

Chuck Carstensen - RE/MAX Associates plus inc.  612-290-3809

I will be submitting an offer on a home with a septic system in the morning and that got me thinking.  Sure I have helped buyers purchase a home with private well and septic in the past.  Many of those homes were newer and the septic was compliant.

However, every so often you find an home 15 years old or more and typically in this situation you are going to have a septic system that needs to be updated.  The challenge is the BANK owns the home and they are not going to pay for it, and the buyer is putting little money down and the loan needs to have a compliant septic...Where do you go from here?

1) First you ask the seller to do a septic inspection. Again, with a bank owned home this may not get far.

2) You need to be prepared to move on because if the septic does not pass that bank won't fix it. And they can't in February in Minnesota.

3) Perhaps you can use a different loan program that allows for the work to be done after closing.  This is a long shot.

Certainly there are other ways to handle a situation like this. I am not sure if the septic is compliant on the home I am submitting an offer on.  But I would like to see the listings agents for the bank be proactive about this so we would know at this point. 

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Chuck Carstensen is a Realtor with The Discovery Team at RE/MAX; helping buyers, sellers, and investors of residential real estate.  He is a Dynamic Life Coach; The Discovery Coach- "Helping you discover your talents, desires and purpose." Carstensen is a speaker and co-author in the best selling book series Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Your Wake Up Moments (available Feb. 26 go to http://tinyurl.com/wakeupmoments   ).

Tonight I took the time to create a REAL ESTATE related OUTSIDE blog.  I know we have had that option for a while, but I was just cruising along not knowing how to use it.

I have to warn you its real hard for me to narrow down my area because I work with mostly buyers and I work all over the North Metro area of Minnesota.  Most of my sales occur in Sherburne, Anoka, Isanti and Wright County.  So that became my blog title.  Now for the buyers working with me on homes in Chisago, Mille Lacs and Hennepin County never fear I am their for you as well.

These means I am making a commitment to blog specifically about these areas multiple times a week.  That should be hard since I really have not narrowed my area down much!  I go where the buyers are!

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Chuck Carstensen is a Realtor with The Discovery Team at RE/MAX; helping buyers, sellers, and investors of residential real estate.  He is a Dynamic Life Coach; The Discovery Coach- "Helping you discover your talents, desires and purpose." Carstensen is a speaker and co-author in the best selling book series Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Your Wake Up Moments (available Feb. 26 go to http://tinyurl.com/wakeupmoments   ).