Saturday, December 31, 2011

Analyst: Home price declines coming, but that could be a good thing

If banks ramp up next year and begin moving backlogged foreclosure inventory onto the market, homeowners and buyers could see further home price drops and those declines could go as deep as 10% to 15%, said Lance Roberts, CEO, economist and chief strategist at Streettalk Advisors.
Yet, Roberts in his forecast for 2012 adds a bit [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/housingwire/uOVI/~3/KcfJ_ijymxE/analyst-deeper-home-prices-coming-could-be-a-good-thing

portland or condo portland or lofts property in minneapolis

Animal Houses

This year, the House of the Day column featured a number of homes with an array of animal decorations. Take a look at four homes with some of the most notable animal trophies and other details.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203413304577088671866143152.html?mod=residential_real_estate

real estate mn,real estate mpls real estate sales data real estate sales statistics

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Foreclosures and Short Sales - February 2011

A comprehensive, monthly view of the foreclosure and short sales situation in the Twin Cities housing market.

Source: http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/market/FSS/fss_2011-02.pdf

Condos Lofts Housing Market

Padilla takes larger role at Marquette after Stofer's death

Ed Padilla has been given a larger share of the responsibility for leading the real estate company owned by the Pohlad Family in the wake of Boyd Stofer's recent death. Stofer, who was president and CEO of Bloomington-based Marquette Real Estate Group, died suddenly Nov. 29, Initially, Marquette Real Estate Group said each of four division heads would continue in their current roles and report directly to Bert Colianni, CEO of Pohlad Family Cos., which also owns the Minnesota Twins. Late last week, the Pohlads announced to its employees that Padilla would assume the title of president and CEO of NorthMarq LLC...

Source: http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/twincities_blog_realestate/~3/YeZHR-4R4n0/padilla-takes-larger-role-at-marquette.html

real estate sales data real estate sales statistics real estate twin cities

Hard Times Can Lift Design

Closer scrutiny to the bottom line and even the need to lop off extras can lead to a sharper and more forceful design.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204553904577102860183544598.html?mod=residential_real_estate

portland or condo portland or lofts property in minneapolis

Friday, December 23, 2011

FINRA fines Barclays $3 million for subprime MBS misrepresentations

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fined Barclays Capital $3 million Thursday for allegedly� misrepresenting delinquency data on residential subprime mortgage securitizations issued by the bank.
Barclays declined to comment on the fine.
FINRA released a statement saying as an issuer of subprime RMBS, Barclays is required to disclose the performance of past securitizations that hold mortgages similar [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/housingwire/uOVI/~3/GK9QtKWI-m8/finra-fines-barclays-3m-for-subprime-mbs-misrepresentations

condo loft Minneapolis condo lofts Minneapolis condo minneapolis

Homes for $765,000

A four-bedroom duplex in Chicago, a three-bedroom Tudor in Charlottesville, Va., and a contemporary house in Idaho.

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=73ab7c410399ee32f6c11d1f40717184

real estate minneapolis real estate minneapolis minnesota real estate minneapolis mn

Home building spikes higher

Home building spiked up in November to the strongest level in almost two years, as record-low mortgage rates and a surge in apartment and condo construction lifted activity.

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~3/Hs1I8hrP9jw/index.htm

portland or lofts property in minneapolis property sales

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Cause of Stofer's death released; Memorial set for Saturday

Boyd Stofer, the CEO of Marquette Real Estate Group, died of medical complications related to a recent surgery, according to an obituary published Friday. Stofer died suddenly while on vacation in Phoenix on Tuesday. It was only known at the time that he had died of natural causes. He was 62. It also was announced that a memorial service for Stofer will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. Click here to read the obituary.

Source: http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/twincities_blog_realestate/~3/z3Js2aL3q48/stofer-died-of-surgical-complications.html

rental minneapolis rentals downtown rentals in minneapolis

On the Market in New York City

A Hotel des Artistes duplex, a Prospect Heights co-op and a NoHo co-op.

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=e5e50b9c19e67c9af1e5a251efb14f33

condo lofts Minneapolis condo minneapolis condo mn

A happy new year for your 2012 taxes?

Real Estate Tax Talk

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/Av4KYEQlK_0/a-happy-new-year-your-2012-taxes

real estate home for sale real estate in minneapolis real estate in minneapolis mn

Monday, December 19, 2011

Texas existing home sales rise 9%

Existing single-family home sales in Texas rose 9% from a year ago in November, the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University said in a report Monday.
The real estate research center found that 15,000 homes sold statewide, with the median home price hitting $147,600. That is up 1% from November 2010 levels.
The state's inventory level [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/housingwire/uOVI/~3/dyYlG5fRYBY/texas-existing-home-sales-rise-9

real estate twin cities realtors mn rent a condo

Mike Hoffman Named REALTOR� of the Year

Also noting other award winners in the local real estate industry.

Source: http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/inside/press-releases/news_2011-04-2.pdf

rent apartments downtown rent apartments minneapolis rent condo

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Payroll tax cut passes House with guarantee fee increase

The House voted 234-193 Tuesday evening to extend payroll tax cuts and jobless benefits, paying in part for them by increasing guarantee fees collected by government-sponsored enterprises.
Representatives voted mostly along party lines, with most Republicans supporting the bill.
HR 3630 includes a provision to up guarantee fees charged by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac "not less [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/housingwire/uOVI/~3/i1y1gj3wD7g/payroll-tax-cut-passes-house-with-guarantee-fee-increase

real estate minneapolis real estate minneapolis minnesota real estate minneapolis mn

'Cloud' Twin Towers: Design Insults 9/11 Victims, Critics Say

Filed under:

An architectural design has evoked a ghastly image in the eyes of some: the burning World Trade Center shortly before its collapse on 9/11.

Renderings of two linked towers slated to be built in Seoul, South Korea, have set off a firestorm because of the design's perceived resemblance to New York City's Twin Towers as they billowed smoke and spewed debris after hijacked jets crashed into them on Sept. 11, 2001. The mockup of the proposed high-rises, which the architectural firm MVRDV introduced Dec. 6th, bears the resemblance in the eyes of some because of the 10-story "pixelated cloud" that connects the two buildings, MSNBC reports..

MVRDV insists that the designs are in no way meant to portray the destroyed buildings. "MVRDV regrets deeply any connotations The Cloud project evokes regarding 9/11; it was not our intention," the Dutch company wrote on its Facebook page, which has drawn angry posts lambasting the designs.

But some, such as Jim Riches, a former deputy chief in the New York City Fired Department whose son perished in the attack, aren't buying it. "I think it's a total lie, and they have no respect for the people who died that day," Riches told The Daily News.

"THIS IS [APPALLING]!" writes one critic on the firm's Facebook page. "How dare you design such a [hideous] monument to our pain and loss."

Some critics outraged by the design have allegedly gone further -- with threatening emails and phone calls "calling us Al Qaeda lovers or worse," the firm asserts in an apologetic Facebook post.

MVRDV says in the post that the cumulus shape of the towers' bridge was designed on the basis of "parameters such as sunlight, outside spaces, living quality for inhabitants and the city" and is thematically consistent with some of the firm's other designs that aim to "reinvent the often solitary typology of the skyscraper." A review of MVRDV's website reveals that the firm does seem to have a history of integrating unconventional, cloud-like shapes into its work. With a hollowed-out block resting on top of two towers, their "Torino Floating Tower" is one example of a past design that resembles the "The Cloud" project.

Nonetheless, members of the firm may not be able to credibly claim that they were totally oblivious to the possibility that renderings could conjure images of 9/11 in the minds of some. The Weekly Standard reports that a spokesman for the firm, Jan Knikker, conceded in an interview to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad that the designs look like the blazing World Trade Center, saying, "I have to admit that we also thought of the 9/11 attacks."

The two towers are projected to open in 2015 and would be situated at the entrance of the $28 billion Yongsan "DreamHub," according to The Daily News. "DreamHub" is an enormous business, residential and cultural center planned for the site of a current U.S. military base. As it turns out, the master planner of the entire project is Daniel Libeskind, who planned the construction of the new World Trade Center in New York, according the Korean English-language newspaper, Korea JoongAng Daily.

A post by the Designboom e-zine about MVRDV's design says that its towers would be 260 and 300 meters tall, respectively. Express elevators would deposit visitors at the 14,000-square-foot cloud, which would contain a sky lounge, eateries and a conference center in addition to other recreational centers. In a stylistic touch that lightens the structure's appearance, the cubes comprising the cloud would be blanketed in gardens, decks and pools.

The outrage sparked by the tower designs could scuttle their construction, especially considering that the buildings are far from a done deal. The Korean development company that is paying for DreamHub said that the design is only one of 19 proposals, according to The Wall Street Journal, and that the winning submission will not be selected until next year, at the earliest.



Also see:
'Earth-Scraper' Will Get Down in Mexico City -- 65 Stories Deep
U.K.'s Speed Roommating Finds a Place in New York
Tennessee Home Burns as Firefighters Watch



%Gallery-140956%
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to
calculate mortgage payments.
Find
homes for sale in your area.
Find
foreclosures in your area.
Finds homes for rent in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/12/seouls-twin-towers-design-insults-9-11-victims-critics-say/

buying a condo minneapolis buy a condo Minneapolis buy condo

I'll drink to that: the making of the twin cities microbrew revolution

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheLineMedia/~3/JgFE92SAS-w/microbrew120711.aspx

rent apartments downtown rent apartments minneapolis rent condo

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Block E silent investor Kessler steps forward

The largest investor in the company that owns the Block E retail development is Irv Kessler, a fund manager who was a partner in the former Deephaven Capital Management. Kessler sat down with me Friday afternoon along with Alatus LLC principals Bob Lux and Phillip Jaffee to talk about Block E and the casino project they've been trying to get approved for the past several months. Details about the ownership of Block E have been a mystery since Alatus bought it last year through a company called Camelot LLC for $14 million...

Source: http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/twincities_blog_realestate/~3/8GRUzhpGDsg/block-e-silent-investor-kessler-steps.html

river view condo river view condos sale lofts

Block E silent investor Kessler steps forward

The largest investor in the company that owns the Block E retail development is Irv Kessler, a fund manager who was a partner in the former Deephaven Capital Management. Kessler sat down with me Friday afternoon along with Alatus LLC principals Bob Lux and Phillip Jaffee to talk about Block E and the casino project they've been trying to get approved for the past several months. Details about the ownership of Block E have been a mystery since Alatus bought it last year through a company called Camelot LLC for $14 million...

Source: http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/twincities_blog_realestate/~3/8GRUzhpGDsg/block-e-silent-investor-kessler-steps.html

condo loft condo lofts condo lease Minneapolis

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Quick tips for wiping out bathroom mold

When a fan won't do

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/igDScb0XZZU/quick-tips-wiping-out-bathroom-mold

sale lofts sale minneapolis Minnesota

House of the Day: Live Outside the Box -- in a Missile Silo

Filed under:



Now, we've seen our fair share of non-traditional urban dwellings (Mushroom House, anyone?) but this one may top them all.

At first glance, the "Silo Home" in Saranac, N.Y., looks like just another swanky mountain retreat -- a charming, luxury cabin boasting a log-sided exterior and soaring cathedral ceilings. But don't let that pretty face fool you. Beneath the 1,800-square-foot main lodge lies a 2,300-square-foot abandoned nuclear missile silo that's been converted into luxury living space.

Yes, that's right: What used to be a radiation-deflecting, Cold War-era launchpad could be your new home. A 125-foot stairwell leads from the main lodge down to two private suites encased in three-inch concrete and steel mesh. There's a state-of-the-art kitchen, spacious dining room, marble-lined bathrooms complete with Jacuzzis and an entertainment center (whose piece de resistance is a giant, funnel-shaped pillar that formerly housed the missile pad's control center). The price? A surprisingly modest $750,000, down from an initial $2.6 million.

%Gallery-140645%
Best of all? With its own private airport and unique underground cylindrical design, you can ensure that this home is 100 percent Rapture-ready. But you only have until Dec. 21, 2012, so place your bids now.

Sotheby's International Realty has the listing.

Click on the images below to see other homes for sale in Saranac, N.Y.:



See more Houses of the Day and more homes for sale Saranac, N.Y., on AOL Real Estate.

Got a tip for House of the Day? Know of an exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale? Please email ann.brenoff@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions and be sure to include links to listing details and photos. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to respond to each submission.)

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to
calculate mortgage payments.
Find
homes for sale in your area.
Find
foreclosures in your area.
See celebrity real estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/01/house-of-the-day-live-outside-the-box-in-a-missile-silo/

condominiums Minneapolis condominiums condominiums floor plans

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Cargill joins local sale-leaseback trend

Cargill Inc. has joined the recent trend of companies trying to find cash in their real estate holdings. The Wayzata-based food giant has put up for sale one of the office buildings at its Excelsior Crossings campus in Hopkins. It intends to remain in the property and lease it back from a new owner. That will free up cash that Cargill can invest elsewhere in its enterprise. The deal follows a trend set by other local large companies, such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and UnitedHealth Group Inc...

Source: http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/twincities_blog_realestate/~3/fCp2ZvV6vx4/cargill-joins-local-sale-leaseback-trend.html

realtors mn rent a condo rent apartments downtown

Living In | Glendale, Queens: Glendale, Queens/Living In - Tucked Away and Neatly Tricked Out

A Queens neighborhood with a varied housing stock, most of it dating to the first half of the 20th century, from one-family Tudors to semidetached and two-family colonials.

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=29d05a7614fe00f16881e77d91da2bd2

real estate builders real estate condos real estate downtown

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Miami Man Found Dead in House With 60,000 Bees

Filed under:

bee attackA woman in Miami uncovered a nightmarish scene recently -- finding her father dead in his home, surrounded by a swarm of some 60,000 bees.

The man was in the middle of renovating the home for his daughter, neighbors told local TV station WPLG. The family had reportedly owned the 1920s-era home for decades. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

A local bee eradication expert posited that the man was trying to eliminate the bees himself, but may have been overwhelmed by the swarm.



In another extraordinary case of infestation, AOL Real Estate reported earlier this year about a home in Idaho crawling with thousands of garter snakes. Two homebuyers already have abandoned the home and, as of our last update, Chase bank is still looking for a buyer. The previous owner, Ben Sessions, claims to have killed 42 snakes in one day.

Both episodes should remind homebuyers of the importance of thorough home inspections and Realtor disclosures before signing on the dotted line. In most states, deaths on the premises must be disclosed if they occurred in the recent past, and sellers often must be even more transparent about violent or unusual deaths. It always pays for a prospective buyer to perform their due diligence, especially in older homes where building violations are more likely to be encountered.

See also:
Real Estate Disclosure: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You
3 Contingencies Ever Home Contract Needs
Snakes on the Plain: Infested Home Still Seeks Buyer
Old Haunts, New Buyers: How to Handle Stigmatized Properties

%Gallery-123614%
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to
calculate mortgage payments.
Find
homes for sale in your area.
Find
foreclosures in your area.
See celebrity real estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/22/miami-man-found-dead-in-house-with-60-000-bees/

real estate and minnesota real estate builders real estate condos