Builders were issued 324 construction permits in May, up 73 percent from a year ago and well above 2008 too, according to the monthly Keystone Report the Builders Association of the Twin Cities issued Thursday.

Financial benefits. The financial benefits of home ownership are significant. Your monthly payments will be applied to building equity in a property that belongs to you, not someone else. Your home will also likely appreciate in value over the years. If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, you’ll have a consistent monthly payment; you won’t be subject to rent increases. And when you move, you can sell the house, usually for as much or more than you paid. First-time home buyers may be eligible for a wide range of other financial incentives. When you rent, all you get is a place to live with no long-term financial benefit.

Mortgage rates remain low. Interest rates are still at very favorable levels and there are still a range of financing options available, including 15-, 20-, and 30-year fixed rate as well as adjustable rate mortgages.

First time home buyer initiatives. While the homebuyer tax credit of $8,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price expired earlier this year for the general public, the U.S. government has extended the homebuyer tax credit for members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community. You may also qualify for other programs that offer assistance to first time home buyers. 

Under current law, homebuyers who signed purchase agreements by April 30 have until Wednesday to close on the sale to qualify for tax credits of up to $8,000. The bill would give buyers until Sept. 30 to complete their purchases.

The extended deadline only applies to people who signed purchase agreements by April 30. The National Association of Realtors estimates that about 180,000 homebuyers who already signed purchase agreements are likely to miss the Wednesday deadline.

• New home warranty. Key Land Homes’ ten-year new home warranty covers workmanship and materials for the first year; plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling systems for the first two years; and major construction defects for ten years. Enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that you won’t have to absorb any out-of-pocket repair costs for warranted items. 

• Customer service resource. When you buy a new home, you have someone to turn to for support and service when you need it. Our customer service team goes beyond the purchase process to help you with information about moving, seasonal maintenance, and even long-term maintenance of your new home.

• Builder incentives. We offer a wide range of incentives that can save you thousands of dollars on your home purchase. 

This marks the second year of Night to Unite in Blaine. In 2009, the city dropped the National Night Out brand and joined the state-operated Night to Unite event. Despite the name change, this summer still will nevertheless mark the 24th consecutive year Blaine residents and Safety Services personnel have gathered on a summer night to celebrate a night together against crime.

Last year, residents hosted 108 neighborhood block parties in the city,most featuring food, fun activities and a brief crime prevention discussion. Police officers and firefighters made appearances at most gatherings to discuss home and neighborhood safety and allow children to inspect their emergency vehicles.

A new home warranty issued by a reputable warranty company is your assurance that your new home is being built by a qualified professional who is examined every year for financial stability, customer satisfaction, and technical competence, and who builds homes that comply with specific construction standards. This means your builder’s guarantees are backed by an independent company that will step up if the builder fails to deliver under the terms of the warranty. 

The Lakes of Radisson provides an abundance of attractive amenities, including lakes, ponds and bays with public accessible shoreline and the new Lakeside Commons Park and beach area; five main parks and open space throughout the development; preserved woodlands; bike and walking trails; and beautifully landscaped boulevards. Lakeside Commons is Blaine’s newest park with a public beach, splash pad, beach house, boathouse with concessions and canoe and kayak rental, playground, volleyball court, and a rentable picnic pavilion.

Timothy and Trina Patterson know this well, because they have owned seven homes in six states. They closed on their most recent home, one built by Key Land Homes in the Twin Cities area, in July.

Career and family demands (the Pattersons have two children) didn’t leave Tim and Trina a lot of free time to deal with home construction—but all Trina wanted for her birthday this year was a house in the suburbs, and Tim wanted her to have it. Tim says that the Key Land team made building their new home one of the best experiences they’ve ever had, in spite of their family’s busy lifestyle that keeps their free time extremely limited. 

The city of Woodbury is one of the fastest-growing suburbs of the Twin Cities. Rapid building and expansion of residential and retail shopping areas began 20 years ago and continue today. Woodbury is located just southeast of St. Paul in close proximity to the St. Croix River Valley with great access to 94 to the north and 494 to the west. Woodbury is known for its attractive residential neighborhoods which are connected by more than 120 miles of multi-use trails and surrounded by 3,000 acres of dedicated parkland.

The stats of the 2010 Fall Showcase^SM are impressive: 331 homes with a total value of $152,631,363 are open to tour. You’ll be able to browse through 815,448 finished square feet and 1,113 bedrooms. Prices start at below $150,000 and top $2 million. 

James Vagle, Director of Public Policy
651-697-7578, james@batc.org

Roseville, MN (September 16, 2010) -- Builders were pleased to see plenty of Twin Cities families out touring new homes during the first weekend of the Parade of Homes (SM). Even better, one builder reported five new home sales and several more in the works. “We’re excited with the kickoff of the Parade of Homes (SM), and seeing more traffic” explained Mike Swanson, Vice President with Rottlund Homes. “With housing affordability incredibly high coupled with interest rates at all time lows, people have realized that there is no better time to buy than now. They’re taking this opportunity to get a durable, efficient home of their own.”

• Have your furnace professionally inspected and your ducts cleaned. Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

• Get your fireplace ready. Have the chimneys cleaned and inspected. Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds. Buy firewood or chop wood and store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home. 

• Inspect the roof, gutters and downspouts. A clogged gutter can cause a flooded basement if the water from melting snow has no place to run off. Consider adding insulation to your attic. 

• Trim trees away from the house and electrical wires. 

The Centers for Disease Control offers this advice for a SAFE HALLOWEEN to youngsters who are heading out for trick-or-treating:

Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.

Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.

Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat. 

Let’s take a look at the things builders know make model homes attractive. 

• Models are clean and free of clutter. Model homes are kept clean by professional crews. And you don’t see clutter littering up a model home—counters and tabletops are clear except for the occasional decorator element. Also, model homes typically contain a minimal amount of furniture; most families will need more to match their lifestyle. Understand this and try to strike a workable balance in your own home. 

• Linens are fresh, crisp, and don’t show signs of wear. New towels for your bathroom or a new spread for your bed will dress up those rooms with minimal effort.

Use an accent wall to highlight a large focal point, such as a fireplace, television, entertainment center, bed, or bookcase. Accent walls are a great do-it-yourself project, whether you are painting or using wallpaper or tile. 

You can make your accent wall a bold color with the other walls in a neutral color, or you can make your accent wall a more vibrant shade of the same color you use on the other walls. Just go up several levels on the color chart to find the right accent color, keeping in mind that the darker you go, the more difficult touch-ups are. 

• Buying more house than you can afford. Take a realistic look at your financial situation and don’t let yourself get “house poor.” Don’t buy a house you can’t afford to furnish and maintain—it will only cause stress and leave you economically vulnerable. Know what your limits are before you begin shopping and only look at homes in your price range. 

Key Land builds new homes for sale at Stonemill Farms in Woodbury, MN. We have a variety of floor plans and home styles to meet your needs.

What are new home buyers looking for in their bathrooms? Simplicity, style and function—and they’re finding it all in new homes in Woodbury, MN. Some of the most popular trends in bathroom design include:?

And here’s a tip for Halloween 2012: Hit the stores in early November to buy leftover decorations, party accessories, and props at a discount, then stash them away until it’s time decorate Andover, MN homes next year.??

Whether the laundry room in your new home in Lakeville, MN is small or spacious, these tips will help make it functional and attractive:?

Whether the holiday parties you’re planning to give in your new home in Savage, MN will be small, intimate gatherings or lavish affairs, these tips will help you add some stress-free pizzazz to your events:?

Traveling for the holidays? These holiday travel tips will help you focus on the fun of your upcoming visit, whether you’re going to see a family member or friend who lives in new home in Prior Lake, MN or somewhere else.

Location Location Location!

Looking for some simple, stress-free holiday décor ideas for your new home in Savage, MN? These ideas will help make your home sparkle this holiday season:?

According to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), released last week, fixed mortgage rates were largely unchanged and near their record lows helping to keep housing affordability high for those borrowers who are in the market.

Key Land Homes Gives Back!

Cracking Grout Lines & Tile Floors
Adding ceramic or porcelain tile to your floors can dramatically enhance the feel, purpose and decor of any room in your home.  So if you are considering spending the extra dollars to add this product/feature to your newly built home or for that matter, existing home, please keep this in mind.

Light switches. With touch-free technology, you don’t need to fumble for a light switch when you enter a room. Talk to your builder about installing hands-free light switches and dimmers while your new home in Lakeville, MN is still under construction.?

Key Land Homes is now building single-family homes in Trout Run of Savage, MN.  Check back for more information to come including a special Grand Opening event happening in February!

For many of us, New Year’s resolutions are easy to make but much harder to keep. As 2012 dawns on your new home in Blaine, MN, these tips will help you stick to your resolutions

 As you’re looking at new homes in Woodbury, MN, you’ll want to keep current home décor trends in mind. According to interior designers and industry experts, 2012 will offer a multitude of options that are easy and inexpensive to do.?

For at least the past decade, the popular window treatments for an existing or new home in Lakeville, MN, were simple, unadorned shades and blinds. Now, fabric is back and being used in all types of interior home decors, from traditional to contemporary.?

City of Savage May Get $5 Million Sports Bubble
The City of Savage MN has started taking steps to construct a $5 million sports bubble that will be home to many area youth sports groups.  The dome will be aimed mainly at soccer and lacrosse teams and will hopefully bring relief to those families who have had to drive to facilities as far as Faribault and Vadnais Heights.

Ready to buy a new home? There are some wonderful new homes for sale in St. Paul, MN for you to choose from. These tips will help you prepare for that important purchase:

No matter how many closets or how much storage space in general a house has, chances are it won’t be enough. How can you maximize the storage space in your new home in Farmington, MN? These tips will help:

In 2011, American consumers saved $4.6 billion using coupons. Want to get your share of that savings for your new home in Prior Lake, MN? It’s not hard.

It was opening weekend for the Spring Parade of Homes 2012.  We saw a great amount of traffic with people anxious to see the new floor plans.  Our Farmington model is? located...

Buyers of new homes in Farmington, MNwant their homes to be adequate and comfortable without any wasted space. They’re putting their focus on larger kitchens and family rooms, and away from seldom-used formal living and dining rooms.

Of course, if you’re decorating one of the exciting new homes in Woodbury, MN, you’ll be starting with a clean slate. If not, now is the time to declutter, get rid of the stuff you’re never going to use, pack up your winter things, and clean so the spring sun can shine through your windows and brighten up everything it touches.??

If you’re shopping for new homes in Lakeville, MN, you’re probably hearing some words you’ve never heard before – especially if it’s your first home. This is by no means a complete glossary of home terms, but as a homeowner, you’ll need to know what these words mean:?

Been thinking about a new home and now you’re ready to start shopping? Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or you’ve owned before and are looking to buy one of the beautiful new homes in Lakeville, MN, it will be much easier to find the right place if you do these things first:?

Are you getting ready to move into a new home in Farmington, MN? The best time to get your kitchen organized is before you move, so you don’t haul all that unnecessary stuff with you. But even if you’ve already moved, these five tips will help you create a beautifully organized and functional kitchen:?

The Grass is Green

Your grass is actively growing now, it’s time to fertilize, control weeds and seed thin areas.  Here are a few tips to help keep your grass at your new home in Shakopee, MN as green as it can be.

Backyards are no longer just the lawn behind a home in Savage, MN that you have to mow but otherwise ignore. More and more homeowners want their outdoor space to be an extension of their indoor living areas. As the weather warms up, here are some things you can do to decorate your backyard to make it a stylish, welcoming place for your family and friends.?

I look forward to the model being finished late next month.  Please contact me about information on this model and other home sites within Donnelly Farm (starting from low 300’s) and Crescent Ridge (starting from the mid 300’s) in Lakeville MN.  Look for June’s blog when Key Lands all new floor plan is released and this floor plan is under construction in Lakeville’s newest addition Crescent Ridge 2^nd addition (located on Holyoke just seconds north of downtown Lakeville).  This new plan has everything you can want in your new home.??

My commitment to you: Timely information, Respect, Honesty, World-class Service. As a real estate agent, you can expect a commitment from me to give you the information you need before making a large financial decision.?

Unfortunately, accidents can happen anywhere – which is why if yours is one of the beautiful new homes in Woodbury, MN or elsewhere, you need a well-stocked first aid kit. Whether you purchase a kit or assemble your own, here’s what your first aid kit should contain:?