Brainerd Lakes Real Estate News

     Are you wondering how things are going in the real estate market in Central Minnesota? Things are moving and buyers are coming out of hibernation.

      Despite the cold weather and heavy snow in February, buyers in the Greater Lakes region were very active during the month of February. There were 99 closed sales during the month, an increase of 23.8 percent from a year ago.
     Home prices have shown early signs of stabilizing, but remain relatively soft. The February median sales price of $115,000 was a decrease from a year ago of 1.7 percent.
     Soft prices have combined with extremely low mortgage rates to create an attractive environment for buyers. The Housing Affordability Index in February of 172 is an improvement of 4.7 percent from a year ago, and is up dramatically from the low point seen a few years back. This indicates favorable conditions for home buying. 

     Buying or selling in the Brainerd Lakes area - give me a call.  You will be glad you did - I love my work and it shows.

Remember to help your clients figure in insurances , utilities, possible repairs /replacements etc. I just had  some renters contact me who  figured they coud make monthly house payments  with what they paid out in rent. If only it was that easy!

Home sales in the Greater Lakes region in January were once again up compared to a year ago at 93 closed sales, an increase of 34.8 percent from a year ago. That's the fifth consecutive month where the change compared to a year ago has been positive.

The increase in sales has led to stabilizing home prices. January's median sales price of $124,405 was 1.4 percent higher than a year ago. Yes, rising prices are ordinarily a pretty ho-hum and normal thing, but in light of the drop in prices that most parts of the country have seen over the last several years, "ho-hum" is a welcome phrase these days.

The Months Supply of Inventory in the region has decreased in the last year to 17.3, down 7.8 percent from the mark of 18.7 seen a year ago. That's still a very high mark, which means sellers still face challenging conditions that require smart pricing, home staging and  intensive marketing.

Home not selling -ready to try something different?

Kathleen Lordbock -The Staging & Selling Team

-- Kathleen Lordbock Completes Prestigious LDPD Designation to Specialize in Luxury Home Sales

            Kathleen Lordbock a Realtor with Keller Williams Brainerd Lakes has earned the prestigious Harris Real Estate University Certified Luxury Distressed Property Designation (LDPD), having completed extensive training in negotiating and closing short sales for the higher end market. This expertise is invaluable as the current housing recession forces more luxury homes into foreclosure.

Short Sale real estate agents need to understand the intricacies of representing clients in the sale of their luxury homes and demonstrate expertise in facilitating confidential transactions. As a representative of the home seller, the agent must understand how to negotiate with first mortgage lenders, second mortgage lenders and Home Equity lines of credit in a Short Sale transaction.

“The Harris Real Estate University LDPD designation has been invaluable in work with sellers and lenders on complicated luxury Short Sales. In this economy, luxury homes are more susceptible to lender foreclosure. My brokerage must be able to professionally and ethically advise clients on the differences between a Short Sale, deed-in-lieu, foreclosure and loan modification,” said Lordbock, “so we can assist them in planning the most beneficial foreclosure alternative.”

Tim and Julie Harris, founders of the Harris Real Estate University in Las Vegas, NV, said “Realtors such as Kathleen Lordbock with the HREU LDPD designation have valuable training in listing, marketing and negotiating the short sale of luxury homes. Through our in-depth training and continuous education programs, these agents are trained to aggressively connect luxury home sellers and buyers using our extensive training.”

If you are in need of more information about foreclosure alternatives, or if you are under water on your mortgage payments, call Kathleen for more information at 218-831-8001.

Specializing in the sale of residential properties in the Brainerd Lakes area and listing homes for sale in Aitkin, Crow Wing and Cass Counties contact klordbock@kw.com for more information, or visit

Kathleen Lordbock

Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes

1-218-831-8001

 Website:  http://www.topbrainerdagent.com

Call 218-831-8001 if you want a tour of this home or any home in the Brainerd Lakes area.

Looking to sell? All my listings get a complimentary staging consultation to get them showing way above the competition.

I know everyone wants to blame the bank monsters but there are good points I want you to consider in this blog I am sharing.

     There seems to be some confusion on housing market statistics and as usual , it all depends on who is paying for the report. In my area of the Brainerd Lakes in Minnesota, the sales of homes under $150,000 is picking up.  The median priced range homes have slowed and we are seeing a dip in the luxury home market. With that said - buyers are still buying lake homes on desirable lots, tearing them down and building even bigger and "better". Homes are still selling and people are still buying. It seems that more people are putting their homes on the market to test the waters and then pulling them off or not renewing their listing contracts.

     For this reason, I am only interested in motivated sellers - need to sell or really are determined to make that move.  I have now received certification through two programs on Short Sales and REOs as that seems to be what we will be dealing with more and more.  To not be educated on these and to work them is a big No No in my mind. However, after the studying you do need to go for it.   I see others comment that only agents experienced in Short Sales/REO should do them. They were not always experienced, but that is a good way to cut out any competition.

     I am enrolled in the Harris Real Estate University Coaching program and have found that they do keep me up to date on any changes and hints of changes, along with the ins and outs of the processes. Let the 2010 games begin !

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     When I was young my friends and I were always "digging holes to China". We did not know how far away China was and we didn't care.  We just liked digging.

     China is digging herself a hole now and firmly planting her feet in the sand. Even in a visit and speech from President Obama concerning Internet censorship, free speech was blocked online.

     China has more than 250 Million Internet users and has some of the world's toughest content on what traffic is entering or leaving their network. There are some smart and rebellious Inernet savvy bloggers in China using proxy servers to get around the controls and to speak freely - like we do here in the United States of America every day.  I love the USA- may the name of God continue to stand.