“The best gifts come from the heart. They come when we look at each other. Really look at each other and say,”You mean a lot to me’ or, “I’m so glad you’re a part of my life’ ‘A gift like that will never go out of style or be forgotten or be returned for a different size.  A gift like that can change the world.”   -Ron Atchison

The best gifts really do come from the heart. And at this time of year, The Cheryl Brenna Group extends sincere appreciation to all who bring special meaning to our lives.

We look forward to the holidays and rejoice in celebrating the true essence of the seasons-love, joy, happiness, healthful living, being in tune with our surroundings, and making each day a meaningful day. We are grateful to have you all to share in this spirit.

Even though it’s a very busy time, we hope everyone will take a moment to honor and savor what is important-not just the presents and parties, but the unique specialness of each and every person we encounter.

The still-struggling economy has made for a particularly challenging year in real estate. At the same time, it has been an extremely rewarding year because of all of the people we have met and worked with, both professionally and personally. You have all enriched our lives

May the good things of life be yours in abundance. Enjoy the journey and have a wonderful holiday season! Blessings from the Cheryl Brenna Group

Important note-We cannot bring this to a close without saying, God Bless to all of our troops and to all of their families! They sacrifice so much for us, and we pray for them every day…

This is their story-Last June, as bride-to-be Jill Peterson, her fiancé Kevin Heinz, and 16 wedding attendants rehearsed the couple’s wedding procession, they put on Chris Brown’s recording of “Forever” and let loose their inner hip-hoppers. Their super-sassy, booty-busting, uninhibited wedding dance down the aisle, captured on video, is five minutes and 10 seconds of utter joy.

It released a flood of happiness that spread way beyond the St. Paul, Minn., church as the video of the event went viral, garnering more than 31 million views to date. The happy couple beamed from morning news programs and talk shows and even inspired an episode of “The Office.”

But while many people in today’s reality-TV world might have taken their 15 minutes of fame and sought endorsements, Jill and Kevin went another route. They turned their video into an anti-domestic violence fundraising tool–very apropos, as it turned out, since a month after the wedding, singer Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend Rihanna.

Fans of the video can click onto the couple’s website and make a donation to the Sheila Wellstone Institute. To date, it has generated more than $15,000 in donations to the charity.

Enjoy the video, even if you have seen it before, it will still make you smile…

Woodbury, Minnesota
Nearest city: St. Paul, Minn.
Population: 58,566
Median family income: $114,156
Runners-up: Rochester

 Exciting Information from Yahoo!

Woodbury a vibrant growing suburb just 10 miles southeast of St. Paul, is close to major employers, including the state government and 3M, which makes everything from post-it notes to safety equipment. It has 100 miles of multi-use trails and is surrounded by thousands of acres of park land. The city is served by three independent public school districts and is home to the Math & Science Academy charter school.It is only minutes to the beautiful St. Croix River, and as you cross over the bridge you will delight in the historic city of Hudson, WI. Woodbury also offers an easy and relatively timely commute to the Mpls.Airport, which is approximately twenty miles from Woodbury, and for a fun day of shopping or going on rides, go the few extra miles to the fabulous Mall of America . People come from all over the country to experience the pure pleasure the Mall has to offer- Something for everyone! Check out their web site-http://www.bloomingtonmn.org/page/1/mall-of-america.jsp

The information below is provided by the Woodbury’s city web site.  http://www.ci.woodbury.mn.us/

September 2002, the Central Park facility opened in the City Center area. The indoor park is the central space linking the R.H. Stafford (Washington County) Library on one end and the Southeast Area YMCA on the other end. Central Park houses Lookout Ridge indoor playground as well as School District 833′s Early Childhood Family Education program.

  Woodbury is the home of major employers, such as The Hartford, Assurant (formerly Fortis), Target.com, eFunds, EcoWater Systems, Long Term Care Group, and Dean Foods/Land O’ Lakes, plus many smaller businesses and retail shopping enterprises. Woodbury is also home to Woodwinds Health Campus, which is anchored by a full-service acute care hospital.

  Woodbury’s greatest asset, however, is the people who live and work here. Hundreds of residents volunteer in city-sponsored programs and on advisory boards; many more take an active role in community life by donating their time through local churches, schools, civic and youth groups, and other organizations.

 The Cheryl Brenna Group has specialized in this great community for twenty four years, and we are here to help guide you through the process of buying or selling a home or both. Even though we are dealing with challenging times in our world, which has affected almost every facet of life both personally and professionally, we are here to help ease the stress through the process of making a lifestyle change. You can count on the Cheryl Brenna Group -http://www.woodburyrealestatemn.com/   We sincerely care and look out for our clients best interests.

Below is a sampling of information about the city.

New Resident Packet

History of Woodbury

Demographics

Federal/State/County Elected Officials

Schools

Library Information

License Bureau

Woodbury Chamber of Commerce

City Map

Please take the opportunity to read the interesting information on the city’s web site and also on our web site as well. We offer many wonderful recommendations for referrals for just about any need you may have. Once in our web site, click on Favorites to check out our favorites- restaurants, home staggers, handyman, remodeling companies, painters, great places to shop, you get the picture?  We would love to hear from you, so if you have any thoughts or questions, please contact us or leave a comment and we will get back to you in a very timely manner. Click here to meet our group-.http://www.woodburyrealestatemn.com/about.html 

 Have a wonderful weekend and Savor the moments, life gets so busy and time goes by so quickly…take time to pause and enjoy!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ySSg4QG8g

The end of the first-time home buyers tax credit looms just 30 days beyond a Halloween horizon, and home sales remain strong in the lead-up to tricks and treats and the impending tax credit DEADline. For the week ending October 17, there were 954 signed purchase agreements, howling upward 54.4 percent from a year ago. Almost two-thirds of these pending sales were priced below $190,000—evidence that first-time buyers are carrying a heavy share of the activity.

The strong sales we’ve seen over the last 15 months mean that our inventory of available homes has shrunk like the heads in a witches’ brew. The 23,896 homes on the market right now represents a 21.2 percent decrease from the decidedly more scary market of 2008, and it is the lowest mark at this point in the year since 2004.

So, for those if you who are even considering if it is a good time to put your home on the market, the answer is YES due to the low inventory and  the appealling low interest rates. There are buyers out there that may just very well become bewitched with your home!

The Cheryl Brenna Group has buyer’s  we are working with, and unfortunately we have not been able to find them a home they love. Let the Cheryl Brenna Group guide you through the process of selling or buying a home or both. We have a genuine vested interest in each and every one of our clients. It is at least worth considering …a lifestyle change can be the beginning of  a very exciting new journey…

It’s that time again for “goulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night.”  In just a few short days Halloween will be here, and in Woodbury and the surrounding community there’s no lack of spooktacular fun–activities for the whole family, and even a haunted house or two!  Check out the details at the link below. . .if you dare (make sure to have the volume turned up on your computer)!

http://www.woodburybulletin.com/pages/halloween

Meanwhile, don’t forget to look out for the costumed kiddies on Saturday night, lurking from home to home in search of sugary snacks and tasty treats–they’ll be EVERYWHERE! For interesting facts that most people are not aware of- check out our blog from last years Halloween article about what does not have to be legally disclosed when selling a home.

Spooks

There’s a goblin at my window,

A monster by my door.

The pumpkin at my table

Keeps on smiling more and more.

There’s a ghost who haunts my bedroom,

A witch whose face is green.

They used to be my family,

Till they dressed for Halloween.

From The Cheryl Brenna Group, Wishing Everyone a Safe and

Happy Halloween!

http://www.woodburyrealestatemn.com/about.html

(Poem by Sandra Liatsos)

Should I Make an Offer on a Short-Sale Property? 

Given the state of the economy, short-sale and foreclosure properties are a fact of life. Many homeowners wonder, “What happens if I can’t afford my home?” And potential buyers ask, “Should I made an offer on a short-sale property?”

Both questions can be complicated. There are myriad details to consider. It could, for example, take six to nine months before either party gets an answer from the lender. Even longer if there are two separate mortgages!

CERTIFIED DISTRESSED PROPERTY EXPERTS
Being Realtors, we are asked such questions almost on a daily basis. As a result of the market’s being saturated with these properties, The Cheryl Brenna Group is Certified Distressed Property Experts. We are prepared to assist both sellers and buyers.

SELLING
Homeowners need an advocate — someone who sincerely cares about them and is dedicated to making the process less stressful from beginning to end. We have the expertise to help: to evaluate the options and guide the seller through an appropriate course of action.

For us, it is not just about the financial benefit of a commission. The Cheryl Brenna Group has a genuine interest in helping people who are going through one of the most trying periods in their lives. We know how emotional it is. We also understand that there are many homeowners who do not fully comprehend what their options are, or if they even have options!

We appreciate the sense of loss. Life is not easy and we are all tested on a daily basis. There are always lessons to be learned, but once we realize what we’re suppose to discover in the experience, we are usually stronger and better people. As the song says, “Mama said there’d be days like this … Mama said, Mama said!”

I am not, by any means, making light of circumstances that leave a homeowner contemplating a short sale. But hanging on to your sense of humor — if possible — sure helps. If you are one of the thousands who find yourself in this situation, we hope that you will put your trust in The Cheryl Brenna Group. Count on us to get you through this distressing time.

BUYING
The Cheryl Brenna Group is willing and able to help in the purchase of a short-sale or foreclosure home. Buyers need to know how to navigate what can prove to be a complex transaction. There are pitfalls — and we know how to avoid them.

Let the Certified Distressed Property Experts at the Cheryl Brenna Group be your inside guide to short-sale and foreclosure properties.

The Labor Day fluctuations came and went, and the Twin Cities housing market is better for it. Pending sales for the week ending September 13 rose dramatically to 1,043, which is 33.5 percent above last year’s total for the same week. We must assume that a healthy chunk of this buyer activity can be attributed to first-time home buyers taking advantage of the tax credit before it expires on November 30.
 
New listings came in at 1,846, up 3.2 percent in a year-over-year comparison. Home sellers have recognized a window of opportunity in recent months and are listing with a little more frequency, but the overall inventory of houses for sale is still below that of the last three years and our Supply-Demand Ratio (which measures the number of houses available per buyer) remains 30.3 percent better than where we were a year ago. 

Traditional home sellers should consider making that price reduction now in order to lure buyers to your home and benefit from this window of opportunity.  This fall you can take advantage of the nearing deadline of the $8000 tax credit for first time home buyers.  Other advantages for the traditional home seller include the drop in foreclosure inventory, the opportunity for multiple offers on foreclosure properties and the length of time it takes to complete a short sale transaction.  Even the local media has picked up on the positives occurring in the Twin Cities real estate market.  The Cheryl Brenna Group invites you to view the attached from Fox 9 News on the Metro Housing Market Showing Signs of Recovery which aired Friday, September 25, 2009.  See the video by reporter Tom halden below.

The encouraging news and it creates many reasons for optimism: 1) Growth in sales is no longer confined to lender-mediated homes as it had been earlier this year.  2) The median sales price has grown from $154,125 to $175,000.  3) Prices are stabilizing due to strong buyer demand – especially in the lower prices ranges. Let us help you with all your real estate needs.  The Cheryl Brenna Group will look after your best interest and work diligently for you whether you are in the market for a new home or selling your current home!  The time is now…whether you are a buyer or a seller in this market!

In 2008, Labor Day fell on September 1; this year, it fell on September 7. That six-day gap is enough to make our year-over-year comparisons of weekly market activity look a little goofy for the first couple weeks in September. Labor Day is a holiday that notoriously silences the local real estate market for several days.

For the week ending September 12, you’ll see a steep drop-off in new listings and pending sales, but there’s no such dip last year.
 
New listings for the week ending September 12 were 1,624, a 12.9 percent drop from this period last year. Pending sales agreements also dropped precipitously to 840 from 1,070 a week ago, 7.3 percent higher than this week last year.
 
Next week’s figures should begin to provide more relevant year-over-year comparisons. As the final days of the tax credit tick down (72 days and shrinking), we’ll be watching market activity with heavy interest. Stay tuned!

September’s Monthly Skinny Video is narrated by Deb Greene, past-president of the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors, and is another quick-fire update on the Twin Cities market.  Enjoy…

Myth:  It is not a good time to put your home on the market.

Fact:  It is a great time to put your home on the market!  Inventory  is low and buyer’s are ready to buy.  Plus, the $8000 tax credit for first time home buyers is still available if you close before November 30, 2009. 

Let the Cheryl Brenna Group help you with all your real estate needs!

Buying a home can be one of the most emotional events in your life.  And it should be!  The purchase of a home will most likely be one of your largest single expenditures.  It is your sanctuary and possibly the place you will raise your family.  You want it to fit you! 

Looking for a home seems fairly easy.  You drive around neighborhoods, visit open houses and search real estate web sites to find properties that interest you.  Things become more complex when you become serious about putting in an offer on a home.  Whether it is new construction or an existing home, the time to avoid re-sale problems is when you decide to purchase. 

It may be hard to think about re-sale when you are just considering buying a home.  However, some time in the future you may want or need to sell that home.  Remember, no home will be absolutely perfect.  But once you find the home that fits your needs, it would be wise to look ahead and consider any possible issues that could affect the re-sale of the property.  You will want to have a home that is in high demand by future buyers and one that will get you the highest price possible in the market at the time you decide to sell.

Here are a few potential items to consider in order to avoid future re-sale problems:

1)  Lack of Yard 
Buyers may pass on a home that has a significantly smaller or unusable yard.

2)  Unusual Easements or Restrictions 
If unusual easements or deed restrictions are discovered on the title work, it could be cause for re-consideration and it would be in your best interest to carefully evaluate the situation before making a final decision.  Some examples:  Is there an access easement to another property?  Is there an encroachment on the property?  Is flood insurance required?  Is there a lot boundary issue?

3)  High Tension Wires
The general reaction by buyers to nearby high tension wires is to simply cross the property off their short list.

4)  Steep Driveway
From past experience if a drive way is too steep, some buyers won’t even get out and view the home.

5)  Busy Street
The noise and traffic related to a busy street is a turn off to many buyers regardless if the street is located in the front or to the rear of the home.

6)  Uncommon Style
Homes that are atypical for the neighborhood may be problematic in selling in the future.
 
7)  Non-Functional Floor Plan
Floor plans that make living in the home difficult may turn buyers away.  Some examples:  Excessive level changes, low ceilings and rooms that are out of proportion.

8)  Water Drainage Problems
Poor water drainage can create serious and costly structural remediation problems.

9)  Over Improved
It may be difficult to recoup the cost for homes that are over improved for the area.   Some buyers may feel safer purchasing at the mid level of a neighborhood.

10)  Inspection Issues
Excessive repairs noted in your inspection report may indicate the house was not maintained or was poorly constructed. 

These are just a few of the things to consider when purchasing a home in order to avoid re-sale problems in the future.  Some of these issues may be fixable but be sure to thoroughly assess the situation and get expert advice when considering the cost of repair or improvement.  Now is the time to look ahead and anticipate possible sales objections that you may encounter with this property.

The Cheryl Brenna Group is committed to helping you find a home that you will love to come home to!  Choosing the right real estate agent to look after your best interests is critical.  You want a professional who is highly knowledgeable of the market as well as in tune to your specific needs.  We want to find the right home for you!

For the first time in 9 months, the number of weekly new listings coming on the market was actually higher than it was a year ago. The 1,641 new homes on the market during the week ending August 29 represent a 3.3 percent increase from a year ago. The slight year-over-year uptick is due in part to growth in the number of new, traditional, non-lender-mediated listings.
 
For the most recent reporting week, the number of brand new traditional listings (excluding re-lists that have already been on the market sometime in the last 12 months) has grown 20.3 percent compared to a year ago. Home sellers are becoming more active, likely in response to the increase in home sales seen throughout the year.
 
And if you look at three of our newly updated metrics, it becomes obvious why more sellers are jumping in:

• Days on Market Until Sale – 133 days, a drop of 7.1 percent from a year ago.

• Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale  – 94.1, up 1.5 percent from a year ago.

• Supply-Demand Ratio  – 5.46 homes per buyer in September, down 30.3 percent from a year ago.

For more detailed statistics and information, click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report provided by the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors.