How to clean your gas fireplace glass doors

Unfortunately, it is that time of year again here in Minnesota when we have to start getting ready for the cold weather – if we haven’t already. With that being said, many of us have fireplaces that we haven’t used for 6 – 8 months, so here are some steps to bring back the sparkling appearance of your fireplace. Plus cleaning your fireplace glass periodically will help prevent the deposits from building up to the point of more costly repairs.

The process to clean gas fireplace glass is not the same as for cleaning the glass of a wood-burning fireplace so be sure to check your warranty, and do not use any product which would void the warranty. Cleaning a fireplace glass door is not a difficult task but if done incorrectly can ruin your enclosure.

Here are some simple steps to clean gas fireplace glass:

1. Shut off the gas to your fireplace. This will keep you safe, as you clean your fireplace.
2. Prepare a place to clean the fireplace glass that is large enough for the entire glass panel to lie flat, while using several towels for the glass panel to be set on.
3. Remove the fireplace glass, following the instructions of the fireplace manual. (Don’t attempt to remove the fireplace glass when it is hot or warm).
4. Clean your glass fireplace glass using non-ammonia, non-abrasive glass cleaner. Spray the glass cleaner onto the fireplace glass and wipe with a paper towel or soft cloth. (Be sure to read your manual, to see any specific instructions on how to clean your fireplace).
5. With the fireplace glass panel removed, take the opportunity to clean the inside of the fireplace if needed.
6. Now that you have cleaned your fireplace glass, align the glass panel with the correct side facing in and reinstall your glass assembly. After the glass panel is attached, this is an opportunity to clean the outside of the fireplace glass.
7. Make sure you remember to turn the gas back on.

Make sure that you follow the instructions in the fireplace manual and take your time through this process. Cracked, chipped, or broken glass will need to be replaced, and this would certainly cost more than being cautious while cleaning the glass.

Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended and Expanded

Obama Signs Extended Tax Credit into Law

Expected to contribute approximately $22 billion to the economy, Congress overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan measure this week extending the $8,000 home buyer tax credit to April 30, 2010.

The legislation, which is part of a larger bill that also extends unemployment benefits, was signed into law by President Obama today.

More people are now eligible to take advantage of the law, which includes a $6,500 tax credit for buyers who are current home owners and have lived in their home for five of the past eight years.

Income limits for eligible home buyers were also expanded to $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for couples, up from $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples. Qualifying home prices are capped at $800,000.

NAR's Government Affairs Division has compiled facts on the changes made to the current tax credit. NAR members sent more than 500,000 letters to leaders in Congress and made nearly 13,000 telephone calls to Senate offices last weekend to encourage support. So far this year, REALTORS® have spent nearly $14 million lobbying Congress, according to federal campaign finance records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican and a former member of NAR, was key in extending the credit, as well as pushing it through initially. Other prominent boosters include the National Association of Homebuilders and the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Listen to NAR President Charles McMillan's podcast announcement.

NAR economists estimate that approximately 2 million people will take advantage of the tax credit this year.

Sources: NAR and The Associated Press, Julie Hirschfeld Davis (11/06/2009)

Settlers Glen Townhomes

Settlers Glen Townhomes for sale now in Stillwater, MN offer a wide variety of options for first time home buyers and move down buyers. For instance, the current inventory in Settlers Glen include:

• Two bedrooms from the mid 120s to the high 150s
• Three bedrooms from the low 120s to high 150s.

One of the best parts about Settlers Glen is the fact it is located in the quaint river town of Stillwater, Minnesota. The neighborhood is one of Orrin Thompson's premier neighborhoods built on Stillwater's history with the homes and townhomes designed to compliment the city's architecture and enhancing the owners' lifestyle. The result is an exciting combination of old and new, which is an attractive choice in the historic atmosphere of Stillwater. The neighborhood is conveniently located just a few minutes from the historic downtown district, Settlers Glen offers the very best in small town living. Close by you will find every modern convenience and recreational opportunity including schools, shopping, dining, golfing, and boating to name just a few.

While there are single family houses in Settlers Glen, most find that a townhome will suit their needs quite nicely and that it's actually more affordable than you would think. With the first time home buyer's tax credit and FHA financing, it may now be more affordable to buy your own townhome than renting in Settlers Glen.

Take some time to think about it...

Would you rather be paying $1,250.00 a month to rent a two bedroom townhome in Settlers Glen where you're basically throwing money away every month?

Or

Would you rather be paying $1,100.00 a month for your OWN two bedroom townhome in SETTLERS GLEN? (Based on 149,900 list price, 3.5% down, and 5.5% APR, including property taxes and association dues)

I know, it may seem like I'm just trying to get a phone call with these prices, but take a look for yourself and see what townhomes are available in Settlers Glen by searching my website at: www.SettlersGlenLodges.com

If you have any questions and would like to speak with a Realtor that not only lives in the area, but also specializes in the area. Then please free to contact me anytime.

Have a great one and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Real Estate Market in Review - November 3, 2009

Did you get all your screams out over the Halloween weekend? Well here's a scary thought to keep you in the Halloween spirit: we're running out of homes to sell in the lower price ranges!

For the week ending October 24, there were 926 signed purchase agreements, up a monstrous 53.8 percent from a year ago. Over the last three months, sales of homes under $250,000 are up 40.0 percent from the same period during 2008, while sales above that watermark have dipped by 0.3 percent. As a result, compared to a year ago the inventory of available homes below $250,000 has dropped by over 5,300 units.

With the possibility of the federal tax credit for first-time buyers being extended and expanded, there may be significant shortages of inventory for buyers looking in those price ranges as 2010 begins.

Active Listings
Inventory as of: 11/2/2009

• Current Inventory: 23,060
• One Year Ago: 29,490
• One Year Change: -21.8%

New Listings
For the Week Ending: 10/24/2009

• Current Activity: 1,430
• One Year Ago: 1,558
• One Year Change: -8.2%

Pending Sales
For the Week Ending: 10/24/2009

• Current Activity: 926
• One Year Ago: 602
• One Year Change: +53.8%

Month Supply of Inventory

• October 2009: 6.6 Months
• October 2008: 9.5 Months
• Percent Change: -30.5%

Supply-Demand Ratio: November 2009 - 7.69 houses for sale per buyer

*Data collected from the Regional Multiple Listings Service, for residential properties in the 13 county region exclusively.

Nine Banks Fail in One Day

On Friday October 30, 2009 there were nine banks that failed, making it the largest number of bank failures in one day in US history.

Here is the the list of banks that failed:

• North Houston Bank; Houston, TX
• Madisonville State Bank; Madisonville, TX
• Citizens National Bank; Teague, TX
• Park National Bank; Chicago, IL
• Pacific National Bank; San Francisco, CA
• California National Bank; Los Angeles, CA
• San Diego National Bank; San Diego, CA
• Community Bank of Lemont; Lemont, IL
• Bank USA, N.A.; Phoenix, AZ

That brings the total of bank failures for 2009 to an incredible 115. Compared to previous years: In 2008 there were 26, in 2007 there were 3, and in 2006 and 2005 there were none.

Stats from: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html

Good News For Home Buyers!

Originally, the $8,000 tax credit was set to expire November 30, 2009, but the first-time home buyer tax credit may get new life.

Key lawmakers in the Senate have tentatively agreed to extend the existing $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers and also offer a new $6,500 credit for existing homeowners who have lived in their current residence for a consecutive five-year period in the past eight years.

The new proposal requires home buyers to be under contract by April 30, 2010, and close before July 1. House Democrats have expressed concern about the cost of the tax credit for the government, and allegations of abuse have resulted in an IRS probe of the program.

The refundable tax credit is an easy way for homebuyers to score additional money when they file their 2009 income taxes.

If you are a first-time home buyer in the market for a home, the $8,000 tax credit extension is great news! This tax credit extension will help give you an extra bit of money to replenish your savings after your down payment.

Top 10 Lakes & Lake Cities in MN & WI

Lakes

• Alexandria Chain
• Gull Lake Chain
• Leech Lake
• Lake Superior
• Lake Minnetonka
• Lake Mille Lacs
• Lake Vermilion
• Ottertail Lake
• Woman Lake Chain
• Whitefish Chain

 Lake Cities

• Bemidji, MN
• Detroit Lakes, MN
• Ely, MN
• Grand Rapids, MN
• Park Rapids, MN
• Willmar, MN
• Cumberland, WI
• Hayward, WI
• Siren, WI
• Minocqua, WI

Our Top 10 Lakes are the top, most popular lake destinations for lake enthusiasts to visit, explore and to own waterfront. Our LakeshoreDreams.com Top 10 Lake pages give you the ability to quickly summarize the lakes character, size and available property to purchase.

Our Top 10 Lake Cities are defined generally by the lakes within a radius of 10-20 miles around the core of each city's Main Street. The Top 10 Lake Cities are chosen because of the many quality lakes they have around them. There is not one particular lake that draws you to the area, but a number of lakes that give the city in the area its popularity.

LakeshoreDreams.com, Press Release, Rogers, Mn October 20, 2009.

How to Tell Mortgage Rates Are Rising

What are the signs that mortgage rates, now at historic lows, are about to go up?

One way to catch a clue is to read the minutes of the Federal Reserve. For instance, the Federal Open Market Committee said in its September minutes that when it came to interest rates, there is “no policy change.” And the minutes said that while the Fed believes “an economic recovery is underway,” it regards a weak economy as a greater risk than inflation. Upcoming meeting minutes are likely to be just as forthcoming if an uptick is in the cards.

Other signs include:

• Declining unemployment: The unemployment rate is sitting at 9.7 percent. If lots of Americans go back to work, an increase in interest rates is likely.
• Rising discount rate: The rate the Fed charges banks that borrow from it directly stands at 0.5 percent. If it rises or the spread between it and the Federal Funds rate widens, then mortgage rate increases won’t be far behind.

BusinesWeek.com, Marc Roth (10/28/2009)

HOW TO SELL YOUR HOME FOR THE MOST MONEY IN THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME!

The 7 Essential Steps You Must Take To Sell Your Home For The Most Money, In The Shortest Amount Of Time, And With The Least Amount Of Hassle Possible!

Knowing and using these 7 essential, yet simple steps is crucial to achieving the best deal possible - whether you decide to sell your home yourself or hire a professional real estate agent to help you.

Take a look at the seven-step system I have outlined in this report. Then, if this new approach to marketing your home makes sense and you want to learn more, I'll show you how to skillfully and specifically apply each of these critical steps to get your home sold for the most money in the shortest amount of time!

7 crucial steps you must take to get top dollar for your home in today's technically savvy world!

1. Understanding the "Total Market" concept of positioning your home to attract the greatest number of buyers.

2. Using the "Total Market" concept to accurately appraise the value of your home.(The standard CMA is simply not enough!)

3. Pricing Your Home to Appear lower than market value, yet actually asking for more than market value (This one crucial step will get buyers and agents flocking to your door!)

4. Properly advertise and market your home - Using New Technology (Don't use the same old boring ads everyone else is using, and that nobody looks at!)

5. "Detailing" your home for sale. (Your goal is to set your home apart from every other home on the market - instantly attracting buyers to your home.)

6. Learn how to qualify buyers and negotiate offers. (Since we are talking about your money here, the risks of not knowing how to properly qualify and negotiate are too great to ignore or leave to chance!)

7. Understanding and helping the buyer obtain financing, removing contingencies, and closing the sale. (You need a strategy to avoid and eliminate potential problems in escrow, which can undermine your sale!)

The better you understand and systematically apply these seven steps, the better the results you will get. And better results means more money, in less time, with the least amount of hassle possible. Isn't that what you ultimately want, whether you decide to sell your home yourself or use the professional services of a licensed agent to help you?

Please let me know if I can help you impliment these steps for you.

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK ANY AGENT BEFORE GETTING INTO THEIR CAR!

1. How long have you been in residential real estate in our area? If they have not been in local real estate for several years, they have not been involved in the cyclical market that has defined our market to date. Along with this, ask how many transactions they average per year. One agent could have been in business 10 years and have only closed 30 transactions, while another agent could have been in business 5 years, yet closed 500 plus transactions. Experience is relative to the amount of business the agent does.

2. What is your procedure for assisting a buyer from beginning to closing? Make sure that the agent has a precise presentation for you that explains exactly how they work and how they represent only you and your best interests.

3. What is your experience with financing alternatives, and what might they be in my situation? Each buyer's situation is different. We can literally put you in a much better financial situation with the same monthly payments simply by adjusting the financing. You might have many alternatives. Don't depend soley on the lender. Your agent should lead the way.

4. How do you determine my qualifications and when? You would be shocked at how rare it is for an agent to complete your qualifications right away. Even so, it is important to have this done early in the process. This way you are ready to make a strong offer at a moment's notice, increasing your chances for not only finding, but buying the home of your dreams.

5. How do you provide me with information on new homes for sale? Your agent should have a system that automatically updates you when new homes meeting your criteria come on the market.

6. What is your negotiating philosophy, and how do you apply it to me? This is important. Play close attention to how many transactions the agent does per year. More is better. The more transactions the agent closes, the more experience they have in negotiating just about every situation that could come up.

7. How do you find the best value for me? How do you make sure it is a good value? This is important because the agent should have some immediate and concise answers as to how they accomplish this for you. They should have systems in place and be able to explain them to you.

8. How do you protect me from the extensive costs that lenders, title companies, inspectors and others charge a home purchaser? The typical answer is that these charges are just normal. Make sure that the agent has relationships with companies that can offer you good service and some discounts. Also make sure that the agent has an immediate knowledge of what typical costs are.

9. Can you sell us a new, resale or foreclosed home? Most agents will answer affirmatively, but you should follow up with questions about specific builders and areas.
There are many more questions to ask, this is just a sampling. Hope it helps.