September 23rd, 2008 Nick
According to the Minnesota Area Association of Realtors, home sales in the Twin Cities market increased in July and August compared to a year ago. There was a 15% increase in sales and a 9.2% decrease in inventory in August compared to 2007.
It seems as though more buyers are taking advantage of the great prices that are currently available. Contact a neighborhood consultant if you’d like to find out more about our low pricing on new homes.
Click for the full news release.
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September 9th, 2008 Nick
The first weekend of the Fall Parade of Homes has passed, and traffic through our models was great. We are showcasing five brand new models this fall, so even if you’ve passed through our neighborhoods lately, stop in to see our new designs.
# 317 - Blaine - Single Family
# 318 - Blaine - Detached Townhomes
# 330 - Blaine - Attached Townhomes
# 331 - Blaine - Single Family Lake Lots
# 352 - Lino Lakes - Detached Townhomes
# 354 - Lino Lakes - Single Family
Parade hours are Thursday & Friday 3pm - 7pm, and Saturday & Sunday noon - 6pm. The parade runs through October 5th.
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August 28th, 2008 Kari
Sharper Homes is proud to be a Gold Sponsor for Blaine’s 1st annual World Fest. Join us on September 6th, 2008 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Blaine City Hall for a cultural exhibition of dancing, music, food and arts. This is a free event open to all ages. Our models will be staffed on September 6th for the Parade of Homes from 12:00-6:00, so, after World Fest, stop by one of our 4 Blaine model locations.
See www.blaineparks.com for more information.
See You There!
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August 21st, 2008 Nick
Storm Shelter
One of the common concerns about a single level townhome is where you’ll take your family in the case of dangerous weather. In our new Emerald Glen Model, we have customized a master bathroom closet for such a purpose. With 3.5″ concrete walls and a steel ceiling, this storm shelter will help protect your loved ones in case of a disaster. If you are interested in hearing more, contact Paul Stanger at (651) 248-8618, and check out our Emerald Glen neighborhood page for more information about our single level (with lofted second floor option) townhomes.
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August 6th, 2008 Kari
It’s no longer a secret. Blaine is a gem.
CNN’s money magazine has listed the top 100 small cities to live in nationwide, and Blaine, Minnesota, has made the list.
Blaine isn’t the biggest city, or the most metropolitan. But with an eye to the future, the planners of the city have been “right on the money” when it comes to attracting residents, entertainment, and an entreprenurial spirit. Check out the story: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2008/snapshots/PL2706382.html
We have four neighborhoods in Blaine, at The Lakes, each with unique character and appeal. If you need some room to grow and space to call your own, our single family homes in Crown Woods are completely customizable. In Crown Shores, people love our affordable lake lots. And for those who want a truly maintenance free lifestyle, we have two types of town homes. Crown Meadows combines the benefits of spacious two-story attached town homes with all the outdoor advantages of living in The Lakes. But, if a two-story is a ‘thing of the past’ for you, we also have one-level, maintenance-free living in Emerald Glen.
Blaine, a Gem? We’ve thought so all along.
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July 31st, 2008 Nick
Knowing how to present your home for sale can be a key factor in how fast it sells. The truth is that there is an art to showing your home. You may know what you like, but few homeowners know how to arrange and decorate a home that appeals to the masses.
In a tight real estate market, any edge you can give yourself is crucial. If you’re willing to spend some time and money to make sure you have that edge, it could add thousands on to your sales price, and knock weeks or months off your time on the market.
A few tips for getting your home ready for sale:
Clean your home before showings. It takes time, and it’s a hassle. However, showing a clean house keeps potential buyers from being distracted by neglected housework, and allows them to focus on the positive aspects of your home. Clean and organized rooms seem bigger, sparkling floors are a valuable selling point, and clear windows let in substantially more light than dirty windows.
Declutter your home. Potential home buyers don’t want to see what the house looks like with your stuff in it, they want to imagine what the house will look like with their stuff in it. So get rid of the magazine rack, the hamper, the shower caddy and the toaster oven on the counter. Hide them or rent storage and put all of these extra items away until you’re ready to move. Not only will it help a buyer personalize your space, it will create the illusion of larger room sizes.
Rent furnishings. You love the way your home is decorated. You spent years of time and thousands of dollars collecting your favorite stuff and putting it in the right spot. It is what makes your house your home. But ask yourself, do you love the way your friends decorate their homes? How about your kids or parents? Rental furniture is a convenient solution to refurnishing your home so that it offers the maximum appeal to all many different design tastes. And there are plenty of companies that will drop off a storage unit, let you fill it up with your furniture, and store it for you until necessary.
Make sure all rooms are well lit. A dark room seems small and dingy. Make sure your windows are clean, your shades and curtains are up, and a light is on in a room without windows.
These tips represent the basics of how to stage a home. We recommend that you seek out a professional staging company to help you prepare your home for showings, and hopefully a quick and lucrative sale.
Posted in Buying and Selling Homes | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2008 Nick
It certainly is a buyer’s market.
Unfortunately for most, to become a buyer, we must first be a seller.
People who are buying homes right now are cashing-in on the great prices that are available. But, they must also be willing to style their existing home to best showcase the homes uniqueness and livability. This is where staging comes in.
Our client’s home on Able Street in Blaine was recently listed by Rick Olson at $249,700. Rick and the client called upon a staging company to make suggestions to decor, furniture placement, and clutter management. The client agreed to follow the advice of the stager including placing much of their own furniture in storage and using the stagers furnishings.
A purchase agreement arrived less than one week after the property was listed for sale, and all the details were settled in two weeks time. Hence, a seller becomes a buyer.
Posted in Buying and Selling Homes | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2008 Nick
- A view of our new front page.
We’ve updated our website to make it more informational, and hopefully easier to navigate. We now have some information about each separate development that we’re building in, as well as more information about each of our current models.
Check our “Current Specials” page often to see our latest incentives, financing programs and reduced priced listings.
Our “Homeowner Resource” page has a lot useful materials for both prospective and current homeowners, including resources for people who plan on moving, new home warranty information, home maintenance tips, and more.
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