Two Homes, One Year

There's always a bittersweet kind of thing, but I feel like everything had to work out the way it is. Everything that had to happen, happened. - Mars

First Home May 2010

Home after flood April 2011

Second Home November 2011

A few years ago I met this awesome couple Stephen and Kira. They were dating for several years at the time and had so many dreams ahead for their first home. We found the house they would make home in no time, they knew the moment they walked in it they would start their lives in it together. It was a cute older home that had been remodeled and all they had to do is move in. Then the flood came a year into owning this home, placing 6 feet of water on their main floor. But they did not give up, I remember going to meet them at the house over the summer as the heat beat down and the house smelled of the river they stood going we dont know what to do. How can we ever fix this, but we can't give up either.

A few months later on August 27th Stephen and Kira were married, spending their honey moon staying with relatives as they still had no home. Then their FEMA trailer came, and so did frozen pipes. One day after that I got the call, we need a home. So on to their 2nd home they went and in November 2011 we found them a house, on the hill, with the most amazing view of Minot. Yet they still kept paying on their flood home unsure of what to do next.

In August 2012 Stephen and Kira called, they were still paying for this flooded home and they were ready to let go of it. Within 3 weeks the house was sold and closed. Their first home, the place they thought would be theirs for years. It was bittersweet day, but a fresh start for them. I want to thank Stephen and Kira for always being optimistic, never giving up, and congratulate them on a fresh start!!

Home the place of Memories

"Either you run the day, or the day runs you..." -Rohn

Someday I will do that. Someday I will blog. That Someday has been over a year since last updated. Yet ironically I believe somedays should always be today. So here I go again! I will blog. I will share the great things happening in Minot. I will share the great things happening in my life. I will share the great things happening in Real Estate.

Since my last update Minot has recovered from a flood. We are back. We are stronger than ever. Yes we still have a ways to go. But as we drive thru the valley now we feel pride in how hard our community fought to come back. We feel pride as we drive by our family and friends houses and think we helped them get back into their home. Home the place where you belong. Home the place you go and everything feels right. Home the place you build your memories.

I recently expierenced the joy I see in so many of my clients when they purchase a home. The joy when you get to a house and by the 2nd room you realize I will make my memories here. You see I have only owned one home. My first home, I bought it when I was 23 years old and spent 8 years there. Yes during that ownership time I bought rentals and a lot. But there is something special about buying a personal home. The excitement, the fear, the waking up at 2am and wondering am I doing the right thing, the placing your furniture in your head, the visions of things you will change to make it you. These stories I tell my buyers as I have lived thru these moments with them, but to feel it for myself is such a great moment and I cant wait to share these stories with my buyers. The stories of how I drove my kids up to the house and I heard screams of joy. The stories of how the garage door broke the day I moved in. The stories of how I woke up there and realized this is home and all my memories will be made here as this is home.

Thank you to all my buyers that have let me share these memories with them as we have found your home. I seriously have the best career in the world, as I get to help you make your memories!!

Are you ready to buy?

Here today, gone tomorrow. With a strong economy Minot's housing market is fast moving. There is a saying I seen in a car dealership once about the same car you looked at yesterday maybe the same one someone else looked at the day before and bought today. I in no way think buying a house is a quick decision to make, however if you have invested in a home already you know that when you find "the one" there is something different about it. It is alot like dating, you know if it is going to work out or not.

When you find "the one" in a good housing market like our's it may not be there tomorrow. To insure this does not happen it is important you get pre-approved before starting your home search. This not only will make sure you don't miss out on "the one" but will let you know what the bank has approved you to spend and to determine if you are comfortable spending this amount. Your lifestyle should not change for a mortgage so it is important you find the payment you are comfortable with.

Items needed for Preapproval:
1. 30 days of paycheck stubs
2. 2 years of W-2 forms and full tax returns
3. 3 months of bank account statements

Cold Winters

The state with the 50 below winters, snow from October- April, and no pro sports teams, is the one the rest of the country is envious of!! In North Dakota we tend to stay close to home with majority never moving out of the county they were born in and being conservative with our money. Which in return has allowed us to be known as a low crime, low unemployment rate, stable housing market state!

With farming being our bread and butter, or more so pasta and flaxseed, we are the country's number one producer of durum wheat. Then there is the oil, production is up 43% which is triple the rate from 5 years ago. So forget being the state of cold winters... we are the state of Wheat and Oil!

Why ND is where it is at:

1. Unemployement LOWEST in 50 states

2. 2010 Best Job Growth in 50 states

3. Low crime rate, 60 % lower than national average

4. Lowest credit card default - WE spend within our means!

5. Stable Housing Market!!

Known for our snow maybe blocks our path to being underwater. Nation wide 1 in 4 home owners are underwater. In North Dakota our equity is keeping us snowboarding along. So next time you visit another state and someone comments on how do you live in ND, you can proudly say why!

30 Minutes or Less

What can you do in 30 minutes or less these days with traffic, I can sell a house as told in the Minot Daily News today and on the local news! I am very excited to say the house they discussed in selling in 30 minutes was my very own listing!! This Old House magazine has featured our very own charming eastwood park among the top 64 neighborhoods in the country! Between the beautiful homes from yesterdays time, to the neighborhood pulling together to hold events this is a great place to live!! No wonder it only takes 30 minutes!

http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/552662/This-old-neighborhood.html?nav=5010

First home journey's

A few years ago I assited TJ & Michelle with finding their first home. At the time the home had been a rental and let go... they transformed this home back into a charming Eastwood Park home. As the military brings them to their next destination I put their house on the market. Within hours of it going on Bobby & Heather knew it was the house for them, in fact they knew the moment they drove by it days before this would be their first home! Thank you to everyone for letting me help you!!

Final Numbes:3 bedrooms, 1.75 baths, 2200 sq ft, Built in 1917.
Home Features: 2 car garage, 328 sq ft master bedroom with 2 large closets, Finished Basement
List Price: $160,000
Days to Offer: 1
DaysClosing Time: 25 Days

After helping Jarid get ready to buy his first home over the last few years, he found the right one! It may have took a while to get here... but it was all worth it!!

Final Numbes:3 bedrooms, 1.75 baths, 1600 sq ft, Built in 1949.

Home Features: Updated kitchen, newer flooring and orginal hardwood, large yard

List Price: $129,500

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

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.