Old Friends

A good friend is cheaper than therapy. - Unknown

A few years back, lets not date me but it may have been in the 90's, I met Donna. Back in the days of attending Minot State Univeristy her and I were two peas in a pod. We went to school together, worked together, lived together, and met my husband together. As time went on moved on from the days of college and we let time get away.

A few months ago the house search began for Donna and her first home. We reunited and it felt like time stood still since college. After searching some interesting properties... a curvy foundation at the top of that list... we found Donna a great two story first home with a strong foundation!

Final Numbers:

3 bedrooms, 1 Office, 1 Bath, Built in 1906, 1970 sq ft

Home Features: Updated Kitchen, Dining Room, Large Deck

List Price: $124,900

Closing Time: 58 Days

Why Prudential

“Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.” -O'Neal

There is a saying that just because you are right, doesn't mean I am wrong. Just because I represent one company, does not mean there is anything wrong with another. But I believe there are some that are just a step ahead of others. The same goes with my belief in Prudential Real Estate. Prudential companies are chosen based upon outstanding performance records, high levels of customer service, and shared business values. There are approximately 60,000 Prudential sales associates in 1,700 offices. What this means is Prudential as a whole sold around 402,000 properties equivalent to $110.2 Billion in Sales Volume in just one year!

I represent a company that believes the most important words in real estate are Reliability and Trust. This is what Prudential stands for and sets us apart from all other real estate organizations. As a Prudential Minot sales associate I have a commitment to always putting my clients first, office second, and self last. After all I am here to represent my clients by providing professional real estate knowledge. This career is my passion, it never feels like work to me. I am so "lucky" to be my own boss, yet have a great company that gives me the tools I need to go above and beyond what my clients expect.

If you know me, you know I do not believe in luck. I believe that hard work has a future and makes the path for "luck". My priority is giving this "luck" to each of my clients and making sure they have a great real estate transaction!!

Minot's Changing Schools

"Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know" -Boorstin

Over the past few years Minot has grown by leaps and bounds. The Woodside addition, in the southeast corner of Minot has become the hot new area to build. With houses ranging in price from $180,000 to $1,000,000 there are a wide variety of families making this their neighborhood. Yet in this neighborhood your kids may not all attend the same school, or even be allowed to.

The Woodside addition is not in the Minot Public School District, it is Nedrose School District. There are 49 lots that are annexed into MPS, their property taxes reflect this. There are 100 plus other lots are not on this annex pattern right now and the students are not allowed to attend MPS thru open enrollment. Open enrollment is the process that has allowed us send our children to any school in our district, but it is quickly coming to a hault.

A few years back when Washington School opened it had 214 students, as of today it has 469 students. As of now Washington, Jim Hill, and Ramstad, are no longer excepting open enrollment being they are filled to capacity.

When choosing a home, it is important you know all the facts. I believe that the MPS and Nedrose School District are both great educational options. We are lucky to live in an area that has such high standards in education. If you would like more information please contact me and I can send you additional provisions on this addition to our growing community!!

YP + BP = $$ for Souris Valley United Way

This past weekend the Minot Young Professionals Network did their 2nd annual fundraiser for our local United Way. Us Yp'rs like to volunteer and put a new spin on everything in our path. Food, Drinks, and Door Prizes,$10 and you were in to the Barley Pop for some fun! Local business's donated everything from the food, to drinks, to random prizes including lots of gift cards! In 3 hours we had over 100 people attend, raised around $850 for United Way, and gave out hundreds of dollars in prizes. Giving back to your community is really this fun when YP is involved! Now thats cooking with oil there!

http://www.svunitedway.com/

A Family Affair

One of the best things about my career in Real Estate is I am always meeting new people. Each one of them becomes part of my life, as I want the best for them. Earlier this year I met a couple, Lyle and Helen, who shared my love for the artist Steve Hanks and were ready for one level living.

Lyle and Helen packed their boxes, while I organized my marketing plan of flyers, mailings, emails, and ads so that when they did move I was ready to go full force with getting their empty home sold. With a great help from their family of watching over their home, it sold quick! A few bumps came up along the way, but in the end they were happy and that is what is most important to me!!

Final Numbes:
3 bedrooms, 2.25 baths, 2704 sq ft, Built in 1992.
Home Features: 3 car garage, Large Shop in garage, 30 plus spruce trees
List Price: $249,900
Days to Offer: 16 Days
Closing Time: 57 Days

A Great Garden, A Great Family Moving

Michael & Liz lived in this wonderful southwest Minot property for over 10 years when they decided it was time for a simpler way of life. In other words time to get rid of the stairs and hopefully someday they take my advice of getting rid of yard work! Now I have sold a house or hundred before, but this was my first time listing a house for my relatives, my in-laws, the ones we all want to impress after marriage. There is a saying that the difference between law and in-law is you can justify yourself before law, but never before in-laws.

With this in mind I threw a garden party at their home for all the Realtors in town, held an open house for the public, and set up a fast passed marketing plan. It paid off within 4 days on the market they had an accepted offer! I suspect they are happy with the results since I am still invited to Christmas dinner this year!

Final Numbers

3 bedrooms, 2.75 baths, Double Garage, 3424 sq ft, Built in 1986. Home features cul-de-sac location, 4 living rooms, custom garden

List Price: $244,900

Days to offer: 4 days

Closing time: 58 Days

Service Members Homebuyer Tax Credit!

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." - Campbell

The past few years I was able to help many buyers take advantage of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit and the $6,500 tax credit for

repeat homebuyers. Unfortunetly not all service members were here to use this tax credit. However congress has extended this offer to active duty service men and woman who were gone at least 90 days between December 31, 2008 and May 1, 2010!!

If you are a Service Member you have until April 30, 2011 to find your first or next home and possibly qualify for this tax credit! With interest at all time lows and a tax credit on the horizon sounds like it is even a better offer than last year! Please view the site below for details on the taxes....and call me for the details on Real Estate!!

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=215594,00.html

Young Professionals...

Have you ever had a moment where you realized I am part of something huge. I had this moment this week. I realized I am going to help lead a group of business professionals ages 21-39 who want to do more with all aspects of their lives. A group who remember the days of Hammer pants and portable CD players, a group that experienced Beastie Boys and grunge rock... we are tech savvy and we are all very independent people. We are a group that likes to get things done now vs waiting for the tomorrows. I am so excited to be the next Vice President of the Minot Young Professionals Network!

I joined YP in 2007...right in its newborn stage. It has been a journey of new friendships and growing my business. It is so exciting to know there is an entire group out there that thinks just like me! With Yp I have served as Service Chair for two terms helping organize events such as the Barley Homecoming Bash for United Way, helped Fill a Bus, plan a New Years Eve Gala, and experienced so many exciting networking events with my fellow Yp'rs.

I look forward to all the great things the Young Professionals will do this next year! I have said for years I LOVE YP, it is me! Now I get a chance to show how much I do!!!

http://www.ypminot.com

Did You Know?

"Technology makes it possible for people to gain control over everything, except over technology" - Tudor

I may have not had to walk up a hill both ways to school, but I was born B.G. Yes that is right kids, Before Google there was life. There was a time when online was just the thick book on my parents bookshelf. There was a time even when online was called the World Wide Web. Oh and lets no forget the days of the portable CD player. Forget strapping on an iPod to your arm, this portable player was large enough to hold in your hand and encouraged no rushing due to it skipping if you tried to rush.

Now in 2010 there are 31 billion searches on Google a month. I traded in my Pager for a Zack Morris phone and now a Smart Phone that truly runs my life. What about facebook, would you shout out loud in a band what you are doing...."Kausha Bakk is wondering how many time Favre can retire". Yet we find ourselves shouting online daily and wondering peeking into the lives of others. We choose everything from our hair dresser, to popular fads, to where we are going for dinner off the word of posts on Facebook.

What is next? I love how technology has changed my life. Yet I wonder where social media will go...

Fill The Bus

"Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has"

-Mead

This past month the Young Professionals Network joined up with Sunrise Rotary to Fill the Bus! The goal was to provide the Salvation Army with school supplies for over 300 kids. As our population grows, more families need our help. Crayons maybe $.25 on sale, but by the time you buy back packs and all the other items on the school supply list many families cannot afford these items.

Thanks to the realtors at Prudential and Lezlie at Farmers Union Insurance I was able to add 3 boxes of supplies to the bus! What really made this an exciting for me is I learned about the power of Facebook. I mentioned I was collecting items and a local car club, Northern Animation, who I have been a member of for over 10 years stepped up to help. Northern Animation members donated $350 for supplies to be purchased!

What a great event Filling the Bus was! I cannot wait to see the happy faces of the children picking up their supplies on September 23 at Oakpark. If you need help with giving your kids school supplies please contact the Salvation Army to find out how to receive these items.