There are many items you own that never move from the spot you placed them when you brought them home. Some of these objects are very large like televisions or cabinets. Other belongings are lighter but extremely delicate. Valuable items can either be very expensive or just full of sentimental value. How do you protect them from possible damage or loss during a move to your new Minneapolis loft or condo?
• Beg, borrow, or buy bubble wrap. It protects your valuables better than just paper. However, when paper will do, go to news outlets and ask for old papers you can get either at a great discount or for free for wrapping.
• Use old carpet or moving pads to protect your furniture. Even if items are unlikely to break outside of a catastrophe, they can still get scuffed or bruised. Padding protects your wood furniture from dings and your cloth furnishings from tears or rips.
• Get Insured. Yes, you can get moving insurance, and if you have valuables you can’t afford to replace, it is well worth the expense. With many televisions costing upwards of a thousand dollars a piece, it’s a good idea to make sure that if the unspeakable does happen you can replace them. While some things can’t be replaced, at least you won’t be without both the item and the money it was worth if you have your things insured. Accidents happen whether you hire professionals or move your possessions yourself. So, having insurance is the smart way to go when moving to your new Minneapolis loft or condo.
Don’t forget to protect your most valuable possession—yourself. When moving heavy objects, use care and lift properly to avoid hurting your back or pulling muscles. Keep small children out of the way of traffic. Board your pets, or get a friend to pet sit, to ensure their safety on a hectic moving day.
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Lofts: 47
Checked out the North Loop’s converted Herschel Loft building and came away impressed with various details of this project. Love the nice and high 10 foot plus ceilings and the hardwood floors in many of the units. Each loft home has a view south of the skyline which is great in the evening. The first floor units have 300 feet of patio space while all other floors have a nice spacious modern balcony. The Herschel did it right by incorporating an underground heated garage along with a nice spacious green area in the front of the building. The building is also home to the North Loop dog park and also has plenty off street parking for guests. HOA’s are low but factor in that one pay’s their own cable, gas, and electric. Chief complaint is the workout space is very small and no air movement in the room. Alll in all, very nice spaces for the money in the North Loop where housing isn’t cheap. Let me know, I can help you take a look if interested. Call me at 612.877.1676 or email ben@cityoflofts.com
If you’re like many people today, you not only want to live comfortably you want to live responsibly. That means having a Minneapolis condo that is as eco-friendly as possible.
If you don’t buy a condo that’s already eco-friendly, you’ll have to do your own improvements. Why not look for Minneapolis condos that had eco-friendly features originally built in or recently installed. Here are a few things you can look for to see if your prospective new condo is “green” no matter what color it’s painted.
• Double-paned windows are one very important eco-friendly feature. They keep the cold out in the winter and hold heat in, and vice versa in the summer months.
• Eco-friendly appliances already in the kitchen and utility rooms mean you won’t have to go running out to buy brand new ones. Look for Energy Star symbols and ratings on all major appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, washer/dryers, heating and cooling systems.
• Low water flow fixtures keep your costs down while saving the planet’s water supply.
• Even something as simple as awnings over the windows adds a great energy saving resource to a Minneapolis condo. Retractable awnings are even better because they will keep the heat out in the summer, and in the winter, you can put them up to let the sunlight help heat your condo.
• Color counts: The color of your condo’s exterior should be light to reflect heat, rather than a dark color that will attract and hold heat.
• An on-demand hot water system saves energy because it only heats water when it’s needed.
Looking for an eco-friendly Minneapolis condo or loft? I can help. Call me today at 612.817.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com.
If you are thinking about buying Minneapolis real estate in the near future, there are three activities you should avoid. These are normal things we all do from time to time, but are unwise when contemplating a new mortgage application.
1. Change careers: This is different than just changing jobs. If you have recently gotten a new job in the same field, at the same or better pay, and your past history shows long, solid employment, all should be fine. Changing careers entirely is more of an issue. You have no history of steady employment and income in the new field. Since you’re new to the field, you may be bringing in less income than in your previous career. That’s why a recent career change makes your mortgage application less appealing to a loan officer.
2. Open new bank accounts: When you apply for a loan for Minneapolis real estate you need to provide bank statements for several months. Although your money is still in your possession, moving it to new bank accounts generates a series of big withdrawals and deposits which gives an image of instability. If you have withdrawn large amounts of money and not re-deposited it, that looks even worse. Even if you invested the money in something solid, you no longer have the cash and thus appear less solvent.
3. Buy Big Ticket Items: The reason for this is simple. When reviewing a loan application for Minneapolis real estate one of the biggest things a lender takes into consideration is your debt-to-income ratio. Purchasing expensive items on credit can negatively impact your debt-to-income ratio. Wait until after you’ve closed on your condo or loft to buy new furniture or appliances.
Thinking of buying a loft? I can help you get financing and buy the loft or condo of your dreams. Give me a call today at 612.877.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com.
If your Minneapolis loft has been sitting on the market for more than three weeks, it’s already an “old property.” Being an old property hurts sales because buyers looking in that community wonder what is wrong with your loft that’s keeping it from selling. Even in today’s slower market, that holds true. It’s human nature to think something must be wrong with an item that hasn’t sold quickly. There are things you can do, however, to spruce up your loft or condo to make it more appealing and help it sell faster.
A second look from potential buyers can be a life-saver to you when selling your Minneapolis loft. If a previous looker was on the fence, just a few little changes might make them reconsider. Ask your real estate agent to share negative comments from walkthroughs. Don’t be offended, instead, find a way to overcome that dissatisfaction. If one person felt a room was too dark, too crowded, too cluttered, it is likely others will too.
After you address those issues, consider how your Minneapolis loft really looks. If you haven’t had time to do much landscaping get out there and plant a few border plants along the walk, or line the front of your condo with some attractive flowers. At the very least, make sure lawn, trees and shrubs are trimmed, pruned and weeded to make your yard look as neat as possible.
Paint the inside. If you walls haven’t been painted recently, chances are they could use some sprucing up. Your buyers want a loft to sparkle and a new coat of paint is a cheap way to make that happen.
If you would like more ideas on how to make your loft more attractive to buyers, I can help. Contact me now at 612.877.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com.
Are you considering buying your first loft? I’m sure you already know that now’s an amazing time to buy your first loft. You have the perfect combination of low interest rates, low Minneapolis loft prices and President Obama’s stimulus plan which gives you additional incentive to buy now.
To help make your first time Minneapolis loft buying experience the best it can be, here are some tips:
1) Know What You Can Afford
It is easy to get carried away with what you want versus what you can actually afford. Start with reasonable expectations.
2) Know your Needs and Wants
Consider your current family status and what your immediate future might hold, then decide on the number of bedrooms you require and the amenities you feel you can’t do without. If you love to cook, a well-equipped and spacious kitchen will be important. If you eat out 90% of the time, it is wasted space.
3) Use the Internet to your Advantage
If you’re like millions of other Americans, you spend a lot of time online. Make use of the many available free programs and calculators to give you a better idea of what you can afford and what your mortgage payments will be. There are mortgage calculators that give you an instant idea of what each loft you find will cost you monthly.
4) Always Ask Questions
Call around to get insurance quotes so that you have a reasonable estimation of what to add to the total cost of your monthly mortgage. Check the information on the Minneapolis loft properties you are interested in to find out what the taxes are. Add that amount to your total monthly mortgage cost too.
Buying your first Minneapolis loft should be the thrill of a lifetime and with proper planning it can be.
If you’d like to work with a real estate agent who specializes in helping first time loft buyers get their dream loft at the best price, call me today at 612.877.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com.
Kermit the Frog may beg to differ, but it really is easy being green. There are several simple green steps you can take to keep yourself clean and healthy in your Minneapolis loft.
Surprisingly, one of the most common places chemicals that are hazardous to the environment and your body are found is your bathroom cabinet—and I’m not talking about house cleaning supplies. Do you know how ‘natural’ that stuff you put on your face really is? Keep yourself and your family clean and healthy by choosing truly natural skin care products or with easy to create homemade cleaning solutions.
Oatmeal isn’t just for breakfast anymore: You can buy oatmeal scrubs in the stores but they are often full of extra additives. Read the label, and if you are not completely satisfied that a scrub is all natural, make your own. Not only are homemade oatmeal scrubs usually healthier than store bought items, they’re cheaper too. All you need is some instant oatmeal and water—that’s it. Mix it to the desired consistency: thicker for a masque and thinner for a scrub. It removes dead skin and dirt from your pores and leaves your skin silky soft.
Yogurt is yummy: That plain yogurt in your Minneapolis loft refrigerator has a place in the bathroom too. It makes a fantastic all natural face cream to replace chemically produced cold creams.
Baking soda cleansing: Baking soda is a wonder of nature. Mix it with a little water to form a thick paste that cleans your teeth. Baking soda also makes a rejuvenating facial masque used in much the same consistency as you would for brushing your teeth. Apply a thin layer to your skin and let it set until hardened. Simply wash off with warm water and you’ve given yourself a natural facial.
Going green in your Minneapolis condo really doesn’t take much time at all and the benefits to your loft or condo and family can’t be measured in mere cost.
If you would like more tips on green living, subscribe to my blog. It’s free and only takes a couple of minutes.
Many people go through life one paycheck to the next and never bother to figure out where their money is going. It’s important to know where your money is going and what you can afford if you are thinking about buying a new Minneapolis loft.
Here’s how to start up a monthly budget that will keep you in the know about where your money is running off to each month.
• Find a program you’re comfortable using. Your computer probably came with a spreadsheet program. If you are not used to using one open it up and become familiar with the program. It’s a great tool to use to create a budget. If by chance your computer doesn’t have a spreadsheet program, you can use an online program like Budget Pulse, or other useful online budget systems such as Mvelopes.
• Enter your absolute monthly expenses such as car loans, utilities including cell phone bills, and credit card expenses.
• Enter your monthly bills that can vary such as food, gasoline, entertainment. These expenses can be changed to help improve your bottom line, but make sure you give them fair limits so you don’t cut yourself short on necessities such as food or transportation costs.
• Make sure you figure in some savings for vacations and other unexpected expenses that may pop up throughout the year. Trimming your budget so severely that you have no extra money to cover you when something breaks down, or an extra bill comes in is a sure method for disaster and will make you new life in a Minneapolis loft miserable instead of the happy time it should be.
Once you realize where your money is going, it’s easier to see if you are spending frivolously or strapped to your limits. It is the best way to determine if your dreams of a new Minneapolis loft are realistic or not.
If you have any questions about your ability to afford a new loft, I can help. Call me today at 612.877.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com.
With the current economy, it may seem like a better idea to rent a Minneapolis condo instead of buying one. Let’s explore some of reasons why it’s still better to buy rather than rent.
Throwing Money Away
When you rent that’s basically what you’re doing. You give your money away in exchange for a ‘perishable’ item—one month of living space. Once that month is over, the money is gone and you didn’t get anything of long term value in return.
When you buy a Minneapolis condo or Minneapolis loft you still spend money for a month of living space, but in addition, you’re building long term equity. It may take longer and property may not increase in value as quickly as it did in the past, at least for now, but the money you spend becomes a back end asset instead of just disappearing.
Tax Breaks
When you buy a home, you can deduct the interest and property taxes that you pay every year on your income taxes. That can be a sizeable amount of money. If you buy your first home in 2009, you get an even bigger tax break of $8,000 as a result of President Obama’s stimulus plan.
Saving Money
Yes, you actually end up saving money in the long run if you buy a home rather than rent. According to The New York Times, over a 16-year period you can save as much as $5,000.00 by owning your own home. And, that number doesn’t include the $8,000 tax credit first-time home buyers get when they purchase a principle residence in 2009.
The bottom line is that the housing market troubles have nothing to do with the ‘evils’ of homeownership. They have to do with bad lending practices, and people wanting more than they can afford.
Choose your Minneapolis condo or loft wisely, only buy what you can afford to pay for each month, and pay attention to the loan you are being offered. If you need any advice on the best types of loans or condos available, I’d like to help. Call me today at 612.877.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com.
If you’re like many people today, you not only want to live comfortably you want to live responsibly. That means having a Minneapolis condo that is as eco-friendly as possible. 
Kermit the Frog may beg to differ, but it really is easy being green. There are several simple green steps you can take to keep yourself clean and healthy in your Minneapolis loft. 
Many people go through life one paycheck to the next and never bother to figure out where their money is going. It’s important to know where your money is going and what you can afford if you are thinking about buying a new Minneapolis loft.
