Home Ownership Matters

In this day and age we dream of alot of things as Americans... fame, money, and home ownership. Obviously as a Realtor I think everyone should partake in home ownership. But as a member of the community and having my own family I truely believe everyone should partake in this. Yes all of us have our sisters cousins friend, or someone to that affect, who we think would not be an ideal home owner... after all they are not financially ready and they do not take care of their rental. However are we ever financially ready for everything life throws at us, and the pride one feels with ownership will change the care they take.

Owning a home is not just a place to live your life, but an investment towards your furture. The networth of a home owning family is more than $200,000 while another family that rents is about $5,000! Even in the strong housing market in Minot you are still able to increase your equity in owning a home... after all renting is just buying someone else a house!!

There Benefits of Home Ownership:
1. Higher Academic Achievement
2. More Cohesive Communities
3. Stronger Families
4. Improved Health & Safety
5. Stronger Economy

Kudos

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel. " -Angelou

The best part of my career is the people I get to meet. The expression on their face when they know its the house for them or the squeal you can hear down the street when I tell them their offer was accepted is such a rewarding expierence for all parties involved, especially me.

To have a client take the time to send a letter to my Broker, Scott Louser, after they have moved into their house just blows me away. I can not thank Donna enough for allowing me to assist her in finding her first home and sending this awesome letter... not sure I deserve all this but it sure made my year!

Thank you!!

I may have said this a time or two before, but I seriously have the best career ever! I get to make something out of nothing. I take a dream and make it reality. I get to help people make the biggest purchase of their lives. All the while this is called a career, but the real reward comes when I hand over the keys. The keys that allow them to make their house a home, or a building a business, and change their lives. I want to thank everyone who has allowed me to assist them!!

This past year was an awesome year! I met ALOT of great people!! Many of which of moved into their homes, and some who will soon be. I had a baby, my 3rd in fact, I am going to need a bigger sign in the picture at this rate! Then there was my 30th birthday, I suspect I did get a wrinkle, but I also realized 30s is where it is at! Not sure this decade is ready for me, but I am ready for it!

As a goal junkie, successful people plan their success, or at least they write a list of goals? My goal in 2010 was to volunteer, in 2011 it is to help promote awareness of how others can help!

I just REALLY want to thank everyone for all their support over the last 5 years I have been in Real Estate. I appreciate every referral and all the people have let me be part of their lives!!

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