VIBE Guide RSS Feed

Buying a home is no easy feat, especially in an extremely competitive market. With a competitive market comes an amplified homebuying process. Emotions run higher, it can be more stressful and the process can take longer. So we thought it would be helpful to touch on some aspects of the homebuying process that you may not hear a lot about, the less “tangible” aspects that can make all the difference. 

1. Starting earlier has its advantages and can really give you an edge. If you feel like you’re going to buy within the next year, start reaching out to a few Realtors in your area. Interview multiple people, get to know their processes, and make sure you feel comfortable with them. It’s never too early to get your ducks in a row!

2. …

Some of the most impactful decisions to make when preparing to sell your home are deciding what improvements to take on to get the most out of your home sale. Some projects add value well over the amount they cost - some, not so much. So which ones should YOU take on before putting that lovely sign in the yard? Well, now may be the time to start considering what to tackle, as some projects may take longer than they have in the past.

If your home just needs some sprucing up with some paint and light landscaping, then sure, that may only take a few weeks. But what if adding a deck would transform that standard backyard into a stunning entertaining space? Maybe bringing the laundry room from that old basement up to the 2nd floor would make a big…

Those of us Minnesota dwellers have witnessed a myriad of changes in the housing market throughout the Twin Cities over time. And it’s true — Minneapolis and Saint Paul continue to evolve. Even with changes that COVID-19 has brought upon our economy, along with the ever changing political backdrop of our communities, the demand for housing in the Twin Cities remains at an all time high. Home sales and prices skyrocketed as buyers outpaced sellers in some parts of the metro.

And so this leads us to the buzz term of the year: “It’s a Seller’s Market.” But what does that really mean for sellers, buyers, and real estate as a whole? While the market remains hot across most larger cities in the country, it’s hard not to acknowledge the growth and demand here…

Written by VIBE Agent, Susan Bonne

You’ve likely been hearing, from every rooftop, that we are in the hottest seller’s market in a generation. That listings are scarcer than hen’s teeth. And that buyers have to pay thousands over asking, and throw in homemade cookies, a puppy and maybe a Tesla to be the winning bid and secure a new home. Yes, it’s more than a typical spring real estate frenzy, and multiple offers on desirable properties in affordable price ranges are the norm rather than the exception. 

So what’s a savvy buyer to do? How do you give yourself the best possible chance of winning when you’re working within a set budget, potential time constraints, and the many unknowns in the process, not the least of which is, what is everyone…

The days are getting longer and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, literally. The sun is starting to shine, the snow is beginning to melt, and that only means one thing — spring is in the air. While we aren’t necessarily holding our breath that we won’t see another quick gnarly snow storm in May, (hello Minnesota?!) we can’t deny that the spring market is upon us, AKA peak season for real estate. 

First, let’s face it, doing just about anything in the winter is more difficult and that includes moving in and out of a home. The homes that didn’t sell in the fall are now coming back on the market, and many people want to sell and buy before school starts in the fall and before the snow starts up again this coming winter. Though the market…

It's 2021, and if you've paid any attention to the Twin Cities real estate market over the last year, you may have noticed that things have changed a bit when it comes to selling a home. There's no question that buyer demand is at an all time high, but pair that with a global pandemic, and you've got yourself quite a chaotic home-selling cocktail.

So what's changed? Well, from a real estate market standpoint, we basically skipped the busiest selling season of the year in 2020. Spring market was gearing up to likely be a busy time for buyers and sellers alike, with lots of listings preparing to hit the market that would have helped balance out some of this intense buyer demand. Then, 'round March, that all changed. Overwhelmingly, sellers…

We made it! 2021 is officially here, and there's a renewed sense of optimism in the air for many. That optimism doesn't walk through the door on its own, though...it comes with some baggage. First Monday of the year jitters? Yup. Anxiety around creating (and sticking to) your new Year's resolution? Oh, for sure...and the list goes on. After a long holiday season of relaxing and bending the rules around our normal eating habits, reality has set in that we can't do that forever. Now is just as good of a time as ever to get back into the swing of things.

So what do your 2021 goals look like? This is the time of year where you get to decide what you're going to set out to accomplish, no matter how big or small. Speaking of big, one of your future goals…

Do people actually move in the winter time? Oh ya, you betcha!

While there are definitely busier home selling seasons throughout the year here in Minnesota, life still happens in the winter, and that life often includes buying and selling real estate. So what are some of the key things we see as industry professionals when it comes to moving in the winter versus the other seasons? Let's take a look!

Dealing With Unpredictable Weather

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Minnesota in winter time? It's cold! Well, turns out the same rings true when it comes to moving. Consider that you may end up being outside for a longer period than most humans would typically desire, and on top of that, you'll likely be lifting…

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…

In honor of the 4th of July, we’re reflecting on the joys of independence. Home ownership is considered by many as ‘The American Dream’ and there are dozens of reasons and benefits to owning your own home as opposed to renting. Most of those reasons come down to something we’re celebrating this weekend: freedom. Freedom from a landlord, freedom from design that you didn’t choose, and freedom from rent that gives you no equity. Here are 5 reasons why being a homeowner can grant you the independence that you may be looking for.

You Can Start Building Equity

Renting may come with less work upfront, but the reality is that your hard earned money is likely going toward someone else’s mortgage. That means you’re building their equity, rather…