| | The BUSIEST time in the MN real estate market is NOW! |  | IN THE NEWS: See the newsletter from last month - April 2022.
Higher Interest Rates Are Here
Purchase mortgage applications rose 5% over the previous week. Although apps were down 8% from a year ago, that number is shrinking.
Apps for adjustable rate mortgages, which often have a lower starting rate than 30 yr fixed, surged to a 14-yr high, comprising 11% of apps.
Lumber and REAL ESTATE?
Lumber prices are falling, down 30% and reaching their lowest level for the year. Prices are still above historical levels but could continue to drop.
Twin Cities Homes Sales
While sales are slowing in some segments, others are still growing. Interested in what your market segment is doing? Contact me for a 10 minute zoom call that will drill deep into stats that matter specifically to you.
Inflation.
With the Consumer Price Index (CPI) skyrocketing 8.5% YoY in March, inflation is at the top of everyone’s minds. As inflation rises, the consumer’s purchasing power decreases, which is why it’s generally a bad idea to keep an excess of cash and a good idea to diversify one’s assets.
FROM MY BLOGS:
What's happening in TODAY'S Twin Cities Market?
{VIDEO} What does the Twin Cities real estate market look like right now and what do we predict going forward? Tim Erickson, a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist at Luminate, and Sarah Marrinan, a Real Estate advisor at E&V and Certified Residential Specialist, share an impromptu conversation about exactly what they are seeing.
Avoiding Regret
Buying a home is almost always a great investment, and of course it’s exciting to find and close on a home that you will get to call your own. That feeling of joy and confidence can fade quickly though if certain things are overlooked during the process. 43% of homeowners have at least one regret about buying their home, and that number jumps to 64% for millennials, according to a recent Bankrate survey. Here are a few tips for ensuring your home purchase is regret-free.
Own A Second Home With Less Hassel
A modern way to buy and own a luxury second home for significantly less cost and removes the typical hassles of homeownership. Read More
Homeowner Spring Checklist
It's OK if you are behind on your spring checklist - spring was behind! You can get started now.
Track Your Home Equity
The equity you have in your home is the difference between the value of your home and the debt you owe on the home. Learn More
High Taxes – Can You Get a Refund?
If you don’t qualify based on income, but have had big property tax increases, you may qualify under the special refund requirements. Read More
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| | Conserve Water on Your Spring/Summer Landscaping | | Now is the time of year when lawns come out of dormancy - a time many gardeners eagerly await. This is also the time of year that we trade large heating bills for sometimes equally large water bills. As you consider your gardening plan this spring, why not resolve to use less water?
We use a lot of water
The US Environmental Protection Agency claims that, across the country, watering our landscaping accounts for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day. In addition, some experts estimate that as much as 50 percent of water used for irrigation is wasted due to evaporation, wind, or runoff caused by inefficient irrigation methods and systems.
 Start with the lawn
Sure, a lush, green lawn can increase a home’s curb appeal, but if you plan to stay put for a while, you can consider reducing your lawn’s size by replacing some areas with mulch or hardscaping. To maintain size, but reduce water usage, you can replant with a less thirsty variety of turfgrass and/or not cut your grass so short. Longer grass promotes deeper root growth, resulting in a more drought-resistant lawn, reduced evaporation, and fewer weeds.
Water more efficiently
Water your lawn before 10 a.m. for max efficiency. ThisOldHouse.com recommends watering between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. “At this cool time of day, it’s less likely the moisture will evaporate before your grassroots can absorb it from the soil,” they explain.
Plant early
Planting new plants in spring (vs. summer) gives them numerous advantages. Milder conditions are less harsh on the young leaves and buds, and lower temperatures require less water for the plants to get established.
Go native
Choosing plants native to your area is another way to save effort and water. Native, drought-resistant plants require less maintenance and less water once established and have the added benefit of providing habitats to beneficial pollinators and soil organisms.
Conserving water doesn't mean you have to convert your yard into a rock quarry. Making some minor changes can reduce landscape water use but still leave your property looking beautiful and alive. |
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| THEN & NOW - 10 year challenge
2012 vs 2022  
Thinking about moving but hesitant about selling because you are nervous about nothing to buy? I can help! Contact me about my Perfect Home Finder program! (Reply to this email and let me know that is what you are looking for.)
Interactive Video/Social Content
We live in a fast paced world largely driven by technology. While it's hard to stay consistent in creating content for my clients and potential clients, I have certainly been making an effort in recent years and I look forward to continuing in 2022. If you would like to see video content, follow me on YouTube and my Facebook page...or Instagram.
instagram.com/callsarahfirst
facebook.com/CallSarahFirst
Reply to this email for a list of my upcoming webinars! |
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