"Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck." ~ Dalai Lama
Spring is bursting out all over... it seems like the trees are filling out almost overnight! Cool, rainy days interspersed with warm, sunny ones have made everything very lush and green. Tulips and flowering crab trees are in full bloom. We have had so many cool days it's hard to believe that this weekend is Memorial Day already.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
This week's recipe is based on one from the Food Network Kitchens. It was very tasty and delicious, definitely a keeper!
CAPRESE CORN SALAD
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
16-ounce bag frozen whole kernel corn
1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls, cut in half
1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves, rolled and thinly sliced
Whisk the vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a steady stream, to make a smooth dressing.
Thaw whole kernel corn, and mix with tomatoes, green onions and mozzarella balls. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat. Top with basil. Cover and let set for 15 minutes, up to 2 hours. Before serving, stir basil into the salad mixture and toss to coat.
NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It's my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian 'Quote Cup' passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, and sometimes some photos of family fun. I love trying new recipes...and love getting recipes you would like to share!
Kickout flashing might be one of the most important details to get right when it comes to preventing major water damage to a building. Kickout flashing is a simple little piece of metal that directs water out and away from a building when a roof surface ends at the wall. The illustration below, used with permission from the fine folks at CodeCheck, shows how this works.
Here's an example of kickout flashing not installed, along with major water damage below the area where the kickout flashing was missing.
The rotted siding shown above is just the beginning; the real damage will be inside the wall. Here's another photo showing some more obvious damage.
Kickout flashing has been a requirement in Minnesota since 2007, when the 2006 IRC was adopted. The 2006 IRC made no reference to kickout flashing, but the Minnesota State Building Code amended section R703.8, and this text was added on:
[Approved corrosion resistant flashing shall be installed at all of the following locations:]
9. Where the lower portion of a sloped roof stops within the plane of an intersecting wall cladding in such a manner as to divert or kick out water away from the assembly.
This is still the building code that is in force in Minnesota today. My only beef with this language is that it's not very specific, making cheesy installations like the type shown below 'legal'. Arguably.
I guess it's better than nothing, but come on! That's just silly. The only reason I find goofy installations like this is because of ignorance; it's quite simple to make a perfectly effective piece of kickout flashing with a standard piece of step flashing. If everyone knew how to do it, it would always be done right. Here's a short how-to video that I made, which shows how to easily bend up a piece of step flashing to create a kickout.
First-time homebuyers have long searched for Nokomis area homes for sale because of their affordability and charm. Most of the homes were built in the early 1900s... in comfortable neighborhoods that still have have local businesses like a corner hardware store and neighborhood market you can walk to.
The Minnehaha neighborhood is one of four neighborhoods located between Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Falls Park that make up the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association. They share a shopping district on 34h Avenue between 50th and 54th Streets which has a post office, library, banks, a grocery store, award-winning restaurants, and a variety of other businesses.
The Minnehaha neighborhood borders Minnehaha Parkway on the north and the LRT light rail transit on the east, bordering Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Falls Park. It extends south to 54th Street and west to 34th Avenue.
This area is rich in Native American History including its name, which, like the Falls, means 'Laughing Water'. Its location has easy access to not only lakes, parks, the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway of 50 miles which includes Minnehaha Parkway... but also transportation to both Minneapolis and St. Paul as well as the airport.
A unique piece of history of this neighborhood is area in the northeast corner where Minnehaha Parkway crosses over Minnehaha Creek where it widens before going over the falls. (click on the photo below to enlarge)
If you continue on Minnehaha Parkway over the bridge you find yourself next to an open area named Longfellow Gardens. It has nice views of the homes across the creek and although they have started a new garden area at the top of the hill, there isn't much there besides Longfellow House, the former home of the man who once owned this property, R. F. "Fish" Jones.
The Longfellow House in the center photo above is a 2/3 scale replica of Longfellow's house in Massachusetts, built by Jones in another Minneapolis location and moved to this site in 1996... the former site of Longfellow Zoological Gardens. He obviously must have been a fan of the poet!
Mr. Jones opened Longfellow Gardens, which was part zoo and part amusement park, in 1906. It featured free roaming flamingos and seals along with assorted other attractions including caged lions, tigers and bears.
Much as zoos are today, Longfellow Gardens was a popular family destination.He even had a well dug and pump installed to create a reservoir to hold water for regulating the falls display.
The zoo was only open from 1906 to 1934, with the grounds donated to the Minneapolis Park Board in 1924 and animals donated to the Como Park Zoo when it closed.
Today all that remains of the zoo is the statue of Longfellow, which today stands alone in a meadow near the creek. If you look at the photos above you can see it in a current photo and two of the historic photos. Click on the photo below for a short TPT video on the Longfellow Zoological Gardens.
This site is in the upper northeast corner of the Minnehaha neighborhood, next to Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Falls Park. This is a great neighborhood for first-time homebuyers, with lots of small tudors... check out Minnehaha homes for sale. There are currently 21 homes for sale in the Minnehaha neighborhood, ranging in price from $110,000 to $425,000... 16 houses with an average year built of 1931 and average list price of $215,050... 5 condos with average price of $141,980 and average year built of 1997, most of them near light rail.
The term ‘home improvement’ usually evokes a good feeling. You are improving something so that’s good isn’t it? Plus it is being done to one of your biggest assets so even better right? Well maybe.
There are some untruths or myths about Home Improvements that you need to be aware of and consider before you invest your time and/or money.
1)“Any Remodel is a Good One.” NOT THE CASE. You need to check out and consider many things before considering any home improvement.
2) “I Can Do It Myself.” Sure you can. :) All of us have seen the DIYP (Do it Yourself Project) when our best friend or spouse is so proud of their work but they really should have let a professional do it. Unless you are well trained and have experience in that area….it may be best to spend the money to have it done correctly.
3) “Adding A Pool Always Add Value.” Not so. Pools only add value if they are in a climate where they can be used year round. It also depends on the type of pool and the condition of the pool. In many cases a pool decreases the value of a home.
4) “I Should Follow the Latest Design Trends.” The key word here is ‘trend’. That is what it is and it will be on its way out before you even get it finished. Trends are great for $12 throw pillows. Not for major improvements.
So make sure you know what you are doing when you start those Home Improvements.
The median sale price of $182,312 for April 2013 was the highest median sale price since 2008, when prices crashed the last part of the year. This increase reflects not only the short supply of homes available for sale, but also more traditional sellers getting back into the market.
Foreclosures and short sales have been dominating the market since 2008. The rise in median price is driven not only by the short supply of homes for sale, but also by the rise in traditional market share, finally getting back to pre-crash levels as illustrated in this graph from the Minnepaolis Area Association of Realtors.
Traditional closed sales in April commanded 68.4% of the market... but even more impressive is the 77.9% market share of traditional listings that pended in April 2013. This is a sign that the market is indeed recovering.
We are still short on inventory, but even new listings are increasing... only to be snatched up by eager buyers, leaving the total number of homes mostly holding steady.
Pending sales are strong, not surpassed since 2006 according to this graph from the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors.
With traditional sellers back in the market place, buyers are again seeing higher quality homes and a much smoother process. But with the continued shortage of inventory, many buyers find themselves competing with other buyers rather than negotiating with the seller.
The figures above are based on statistics for the combined 13-county Twin Cities metropolitan area released by the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors.
Never forget that all real estate is local and what is happening in your neighborhood may be very different from the overall metro area.
Click here for local reports on 350+ metro area communities
Click here for current interactive market analytics by area, city, county, neighborhood or zip code
Once you decide to look for a new home, you need to get an idea of what you can qualify for. The best way to do that is to meet with a loan officer, either in person or over the phone. The loan officer will ask you several questions and usually get the information to pull your credit report. This can give a loan officer enough information to put together a prequalification letter (prequal letter).
If you are at the point of writing a purchase agreement, a prequal letter won't go very far. It doesn't show that your income or assets have been verified, honestly, sometimes they are written without the loan officer even pulling your credit report. Basically it doesn't mean very much! In this current market where homes are selling quickly and usually in multiple offers, you definitely need a stong approval letter.
An approval letter means that your loan officer has pulled your credit report, gathered your information to verify your income and your assets. They have taken the time to run your loan through an automated underwriting system such as desktop underwriter. The loan officer should have gone over everything to make sure you meet the criteria for the loan you are applying for. If there is something unique, the loan officer may have talked to an underwriter to verify that you will be approved based on your situation.
I recently had a client that had been approved with me, however I now needed their 2012 income taxes. As I went over their tax return, there were several new items that affected that loan approval. They were going to write an offer on a new home and I had to tell them that they would not be able to qualify based on the new tax returns. If I hadn't taken the time to look over the tax return, I woudn't have known that their situation changed. They did think about talking to another lender, however the agent did remind them that we all underwrite our loans to the same guidelines. The other potential issue would be a loan officer not going through the tax return completely and not asking some of the questions that could lead to problems later on.
When you talk to your loan officer, make sure they are going over everything. If you are self employed, you need to send your entire federal tax return to the LO - that's the only way they can accurately calculate your income. If you have more than one property, they will also need your tax return and your current mortgage statements to calculate your income. Discuss your down payment, make sure you are comfortable with the amount you will need for closing.
One other letter that is sometimes requested is a loan commitment letter. This is different than an approval letter. This means you have written a purchase agreement, the appraisal and titlework are done and your file has been reviewed by an underwriter. When I write a commitment letter, it means that buyer is ready to close. Usually this is requested on the purchase agreement and the sellers want it anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before closing.
With the current market, you will want to make sure that you are getting a stong approval letter to help you get the home you want. Lately, it seems like I am getting phone calls from the listing agents wanting me to verify the information on the approval letters. I am always more than willing to help my buyers by talking to the listing agents and trying to make sure my buyers get their offer accepted!! If your loan officer asks you for more information, make sure you get it to them - it can help to get your a better approval letter which means a better chance at getting the home you want!
"Minds, like diapers, need occasional changing. ~ The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman
This was a busy week, both with buyers and sellers and with life in the spring! Our grandson pitched his first inning on Saturday when it was so cold that even my husband was huddled under a hood!
In contrast, yesterday was in the 90s! We had our son's annual rib cookout on Mother's Day... when I also saw my first tulips of the season and our daughter again hand picked truffles from The Painted Turtle for me for Mother's Day!
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
This week's recipe is based on a recipe from allrecipes.com... good flavor, be careful not to overcook.
SPICY GARLIC LIME CHICKEN
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspooon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspooon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
Juice of 1-2 limes
In a small bowl, mix together salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and parsley. Rub spice mixture onto all sides of chicken breasts using all the mixture.
Heat butter and olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken until golden brown and juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side (do not overcook). Sprinkle with minced garlic and lime juice, cover and about 5 more minutues, stirring to coat evenly with the sauce.
One of the most common home inspection concerns for home buyers is ceiling stains. While it’s not always possible to determine exactly what caused a ceiling stain, the location of the stain will often give away what caused the stain. For example, the photos below show an improperly flashed chimney at a home in Saint Paul, and a corresponding stain at the ceiling in the bedroom directly below.
The most obvious concern with ceiling stains is roof leakage. When a home inspector finds a suspicious ceiling stain, they’ll typically use a moisture meter to help determine whether it’s an active leak or not. The video clip below shows me using the non-invasive feature of a moisture meter to confirm that the ceiling stain shown above was caused by active leaking.
If a stain is wet, most home inspectors will be able to trace down the source of the moisture and recommend a repair. When a stain is dry, it means the cause of the staining has been corrected or the conditions that caused the staining to occur are no longer present. In these cases, it’s a good idea to ask the seller about the history of the staining; specifically, what caused the staining and has the cause of the staining been corrected?
There are a number of other types of ceiling stains that are quite easily identified.
Stains below bathroom exhaust fans
This is one of the most common ceiling stains you’ll find in Minnesota, and it’s caused by condensation. When a bathroom exhaust fan is connected to an un-insulated duct that runs through the attic space and doesn't make an airtight connection to a proper roof cap, the moisture that’s supposed to exhaust to the exterior is going to condense like crazy.
I know I've shared this photo below, but I have to share it again. The duct pictured below was completely filled with condensate in the attic. I set my flashlight behind the duct to take this photo showing how full of water it was.
As all of this moisture condenses inside the duct, it eventually drains down to the bottom of the duct and then leaks on the ceiling next to the fan. Boom. Ceiling stain.
The fix for this condition is to make sure the duct for the bathroom exhaust fan is properly installed; this means an insulated duct, a short run, and airtight connections.
Stains at outside wall/ceiling corners
When stains appear at the ceilings along outside walls at the corners, it’s typically the result of ice dam leakage. If the insulation in the attic is insufficient and there are attic air leaks, it’s very likely that ice dams caused the leaking.
In these cases, our recommendation is often to have the attic air leaks sealed and more insulation added to the attic. This is typically what it takes to prevent roof leakage from ice dams.
Random ceiling stains, no roof leaks
Condensation that occurs in the attic is a common cause of ceiling stains. When enough frost builds up in the attic, it can leave enough water when it melts to create stains in a bunch of random places.
To help determine if an attic experiences condensation problems, take a close look at the nail heads; if they’re rusty and there are stains on the roof sheathing around nail heads, it’s a condensation issue. The fix for this is to seal attic air leaks and reduce indoor humidity levels.
Stains below plumbing fixtures or radiators
These are both pretty obvious, right? When a home inspector finds a stain below a plumbing fixture, the next step is to use a moisture meter to see if there is active leaking. If the stain is dry, the plumbing fixture above should be thoroughly tested, and then the stain should be checked again.
This list makes up the vast majority of ceiling stains that we encounter during home inspections. Stains on ceilings are definitely worth further investigation, but most of the time they’re only indicators of past leaks, many of which occured a long time ago. Why? Because active leaks will quickly destroy ceilings and they're extremely difficult to hide.
The #1 preferred home feature buyers want for aging in place is high-speed Internet access!
According to a study by MetLife Mature Market Institute and the National Association of Home Builders, the top 10 home features for Aging in Place are...
High-speed Internet access
Washer and dryer in the home/unit
Storage space
Easy-open windows
Easily usable climate controls
Master bedroom on first floor
Attached garage with door opener
Private patio, front and back porch
Bigger bathroom, on entry level
Grab bars in bathroom
While 37% want an environmentally friendly home, they are not willing to pay more for it. However, if it saves $1,000 annually on utility costs, 12% would pay up to 5% more.
The most preferred green features are: energy efficient appliances, solar heating, and a water filtration system.
Whether buying, building or remodeling, always be looking ahead to what buyers want when you are ready to sell... and enjoy them yourself in the meantime. Most of the preferred features would be appreciated at any age!
A Great Relocation Experience We flew in from NYC with anxiety and expectations to find a place in three days. With seemingly infinite patience, kindness and compassion Sharlene found us the perfect home, the perfect neighborhood (and the perfect commute)...she made our dreams come true.
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
