blog
Minneaplois Condo | cityoflofts

Posts Tagged ‘Minneaplois condo’

Europe’s Crisis a Plus for Minneapolis Condos for Sale?

Friday, June 11th, 2010

118982

Europe, or more correctly, Greece, is having a debt crisis that may end up being a great boon for national and Minneapolis loft condos for sale. The euro, Europe’s currency, dropped drastically and Europeans responded by exchanging euros for the American dollar.

Help for Minneapolis Condos and Minneapolis Lofts for Sale
As more money pours into the U.S. “safe haven,” interest rates drop. Although interest rates may rise again once global economies begin to recover, the real estate market will benefit during this period of European instability. In fact, the mortgage markets are already benefiting.

On May 20, Bankrate.com, known for its accurate reporting of average national mortgage rates, reported the lowest 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in almost 25 years. At the time of the report, national averages hit at 4.96% for a 30-year fixed mortgage, 4.34% for a 15-year fixed and 4.14% for a 5-year ARM (adjustable rate mortgage).

Pessimists vs. Optimists
Pessimists believe that the low mortgage rates won’t affect home sales, because of the large influx of buyers who beat April’s tax credit deadline. In short, their view is that all the eligible homebuyers have already signed closing papers.  They think that a few more buyers may trickle in before the busy season for real estate is over, but their general attitude is that the fat lady has already sung.

Optimists, as usual, have a much brighter point of view about the economy. Banks, they say, are finally letting some of the much-talked-about shadow inventory into the light. Unemployment seems to have slightly reversed, retail sales are up and manufacturing inventories are increasing – all of which indicate a stabilizing economy. Although even optimists aren’t betting on a huge real estate boon, they do point to an uphill trend.

Questions for You
Which are you, an optimist or a pessimist?  And, how can there be such a big difference in real estate market outlook when all the experts are looking at the same information? Lastly, if you’re trying to sell your Minneapolis loft condo, can you really afford to be pessimistic?

Here’s a hint: the attitude you have about your chances of selling will carry over to the results you achieve. Think positive, even when you hear about downturns.  You’ll have a better chance of getting your Minneapolis loft condo sold than other Minneapolis condos for sale!

If you’d like to sell your Twin Cities condo loft, I can help. Call me at 612.877.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com for more information.

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Keep Your Minneapolis Condo Clean the Green Way

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Lots of people think about ways to save the environment in a physical manner such as changing light bulbs from incandescent to florescent and recycling, but many drop the ball when it comes to cleaning their Minneapolis condo. Keeping your condo clean in a way that is healthy to you, your family, and the environment just takes a little extra thought and soon becomes second nature.

Danger, Danger

Get rid of any products under your sink, in your bathroom, or your cleaning closet that have danger cautions.  If they are bad for you, they are probably bad for the environment too, and why have such hazardous materials in your Minneapolis condo?

Labels that have cautions such as poison, hazard, and danger on them are not only bad to have around small children, the toxins leak into the air when you use them causing health problems for your family. They also leech into the environment when you use them and are hazardous for the environment.

Re-usable and Natural

Buy mop heads and sponges made from natural materials that are bio-degradable and replenishable. Check for recycled materials labels on paper towels, toilet paper, and other disposable objects so that you know those products are making the best use of production materials.

Conserve

recycle_fotolia_m

Use as little water as possible when doing dishes by turning off the faucet while you are washing and only using running water when you are ready to rinse. Don’t just think about conservation when cleaning your condo. Turn off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth as well for extra savings. Remove your shoes or put a rug by the entry doors of your condo to help cut down the need to wash floors.

Bring in the Green

Bring nature into your Minneapolis condo in the form of hanging and potted plants. Plants clean the air around you and take in harmful carbon dioxide in the air.

Want top buy a clean, green condo?  Let me help.  Contact me today at 612.877.1676 or email me at ben@cityoflofts.com.

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

What to Look for in an Eco-friendly Minneapolis Condo or Loft

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Green LivingIf 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.

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

home | view downtown properties | featured property | experience downtown minneapolis | blog | about | contact
2007 cityoflofts.com. all rights are reserved interactive web design & arizona web development by Phoenix Web Design & Phoenix Internet Marketing gatesix