Feel The VIBE

Hello again! What's our theme for this month's recap? Let's just say things got interesting...

We knew there was potential for November numbers to be unique-- a presidential election, COVID spikes across the nation (particularly right here in the Twin Cities), and the entry to winter. What we didn't know was whether or not this progressing Seller’s market could help out buyer demand by going against historical November slow downs, and provide a healthy amount of listings to hopefully balance things out. Did that happen?

No. No it did not...

November 2020 brought some of the steepest dips we've seen all year. While normally this wouldn't be a huge surprise, considering the market almost always slows down toward the holidays, it seems surprising…

It’s the season of doing good and giving back. This is our third annual donation drive for Alexandra House as we continue to work together to help them on their mission to end domestic and sexual violence. Here’s to making a change in the lives of those in our community. 

This year due to Covid-19, they are requesting donors to contribute gift cards (with receipts attached) in $25 denominations from Target, Walmart, VISA, Mastercard, or Amazon.com, in addition to grocery gift cards from Cub or Aldi Grocery. If you do prefer to purchase actual toys and gifts for distribution, see the wish list by clicking here.

Drop off your donation at the VIBE office in St. Paul between December 1st - December 7th during our business hours: 9:30am - 5pm…

Interest rates. We know lower is better, but what's considered actually low, and how much does it affect your overall spending on the purchase of your home? Well, potentially quite a bit, which may be why we continue to see record numbers of home sales even in the midst of a global pandemic. Are today's buyers just valuing a home more than before, or are they just cashing in on these ultra-low interest rates? Let's take a look.

So we know we want a lower interest rate when purchasing a home, but that isn't the only factor we should be looking at. For starters, unless you're purely an investor, buying a primary residence has many more factors to consider than just the interest rate, and since we can't really control them anyway, we can't just put…

Agent contribution: Cara Quinn, Mariah Hamm, Meghan Howard

What's not to love about the Nokomis neighborhood of Minneapolis? It comprises eleven smaller neighborhoods, and you get some of the best aspects of the entire city in one pocket! It is chock full of local restaurants and coffee shops, is home to fantastic neighborhood shopping districts, and boasts some of the city’s most beautiful parks and outdoor activities. Minnehaha Creek cuts through the entire area providing miles of shoreline, AND you have Lake Nokomis taking center stage smack in the middle of it all. Read up on our guide to this cherished neighborhood.

The Heart of Nokomis

For a full day of outdoor adventures, start at Lake Nokomis—the heart of the area—and branch out from…

There’s no doubt that 2020 has brought our local businesses many challenges this year, and it’s safe to say we’ve all felt the impact one way or another. With so many businesses closing their doors in the Twin Cities and beyond, their role in our community has never been more transparent.

Just how much of a presence and impact do small businesses have? The SBA (Small Business Administration) reports over 28 million small businesses operating in the U.S. alone. And since 1995, those small businesses have generated 66% of all new jobs in the United States. Small businesses are a big deal. Which brings us to Small Business Saturday, a nationally recognized holiday coming up on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

So what better time to encourage the ‘shop…

Welcome back! This month’s update is titled: Peaks and Valleys 

Actually, it's just titled Market Update for October— it's about peaks and valleys, as that's what the numbers are showing us. Last month we were starting to see some shifts in the market, so let's dive into the October numbers to see if we're still heading in that direction, or if that was just a blip.

Perhaps the biggest indicator for us to look at right now is the total number of homes for sale. This has now gone down for the sixth consecutive month, and we're heading into the time of year where it typically takes an even further dive as it starts to get cold and closer to the holidays. October is officially the lowest number we have seen all year, and there are no signs of that…

This year’s election goes beyond who will be president. Your vote is your voice on issues affecting housing, education, employment and healthcare. Our team at VIBE encourages you to get out there and let yourself be heard on November 3rd (or earlier!) And if you feel disheartened or even just confused about the voting process, you’re not alone. We’ve done our best to curate some valuable information and resources to help guide you during the voting process - whether you’re looking at registering, voting early, or finding a polling location near you.

Registering To Vote

Register Online: It's quick and easy! You will need your Minnesota driver’s license or Minnesota identification card number, or the last four numbers of your Social Security…

Located along the breathtaking Mississippi River Gorge, Longfellow is a welcoming neighborhood centrally located in the Twin Cities. This community is rich in nature and recreation with scenic areas including Minnehaha Falls and miles of parkland, biking and hiking trails. Here, you can enjoy urban city living while still being in close proximity to the river for some gorgeous views. Enjoy a happenin’ retail boulevard that is home to an abundance of antique, vintage, retro and secondhand shops, along with great eating and entertainment establishments.

Longfellow is home to unique Craftsman-style and newer, custom-architect residential housing along with the Minnehaha Mile. The classic older homes juxtaposed with the newer contemporary buildings makes…

Written by VIBE's Broker / Owner Steve Anderson

Welcome to the Market Recap for September 2020. There's been an interesting shift since last month, so let's take a look at the data and see where the Twin Cities real estate market may be headed for the fourth quarter of this undeniably tumultuous year.

Over the summer, we've watched the sales numbers climb, climb again, and then climb some more. Prices constantly going up and days on market consistently going down...but of course, that is unsustainable. I've mentioned a few times in past recaps that it seems we are "waiting for the other shoe to drop" - so did it happen? Honestly, it's probably too early to make the official call, but we are seeing some key indicators from trends over the last two…

The market update of threes! Everything is coming in sets of three this month, so that'll be the theme as we examine just what's going on in today's Twin Cities real estate market.

For starters, let's call out the major outlier here...average sale price for 2020 is now almost $100k higher than it was this time in 2019 - wow! August last year was just under the$290k mark, and for this year we are broaching almost $380k. While it has certainly been a difficult year to track, there is no doubt that the limited home inventory this year has caused a surge in home prices like no other.

As for our other indicators, most everything seems to be happening for the third month in a row. New listings are slightly up over last month, and at the same pace…