St. Paul Real Estate

Spring Green

It has been a beautiful weekend and we earned it after the winter we just had.  This shot was taken at Pickerel lake, which is located just west of Harriet Island Regional Park.  it is a small lake, across the road from the Mississippi River.  It is also on the bike trail system.  One of the great things about living in St. Paul is that there are lakes and rivers right in the city.  Motorized boats are not allowed on the lake but fishing is.   A great spot for bird watching, peace and quiet, and photography too. 

Sesquicentennial Party

By Erik Hare

Last week was the Sesquicentennial of Minnesota statehood, but the real party is this weekend.  If they were holding out one week for better spring weather, they got it.   On a 70 degree day there were just a few billowing clouds to frame the fly-overs from old warbirds like these trainers which are maintained by a few Minnesotans who are very much into preserving and showing off that part of our history.

The strange part of the event was how it was centered on the State Capitol, because today is the last day of the Legislative session.  Our Constitution requires them to finish up their work before the Monday after the third Saturday in May.  Like nearly everyone stuck with a hard problem to solve, it often gets put off until the last minute. 

This year, the whole rest of the state was invited to a big party on the lawn while our legislature was stuck inside wrangling.  They were locked inside like the bad kids while the rest of us enjoyed recess.  How does it come to this?

Actually, Minnesota was born in a partisan controversy even more childish.  Figuring out the details of our Constitution became a tough contest between the evenly matched parties leading up to the day that they actually passed it.  Tight restrictions on various powers, such as the one that limits when the Legislature can meet, caused a lot of hurt feelings.  There was a time that it looked like they weren’t going to get it done at all.

Finally, in the cold days of January 1858, it was made clear by Governor Ramsey that if they didn’t get it together, statehood itself was in jeopardy.  There were enough problems in Washington without admitting a state that wasn’t getting its act together.  They sat down at got to work, crafting a Constitution, but the bitter feelings remained. 

In the end, the Democrats still refused to sign the same document that the Republicans would, and the Republicans felt about the same towards the Democrats, so they agreed on a compromise.  Each party signed their own copy, the Democrats the one in Blue and the Republicans the one in White.  These two are on display today in the capitol, carefully eyeing each other from either side of a display case.  The Republican White Constitution is pictured here.

So will our Legislature work together well and make this last day productive?  History tells us a lot about it.  Yes, it’s ugly and bitter, but they find a way at the very end.  Meanwhile, we can see that the strength of Minnesota isn’t in the marble halls of the Capitol, it’s outside.  The people gathered on the lawn, the carefully restored fighters and bombers, and even the realized promise of Spring are what we’re really all about. 

It’s been a pretty decent party so far, and a lot of fun.  It continues today up at the Capitol if anyone’s interested.  If you’re lucky, you may see a few Legislators popping out for some Mini-Donuts or other festival food.  But if you don’t, remember that they’ve got work to do.  And that it’s going down pretty much the way it always does, right down the last painful minute.  We have some odd traditions in Minnesota, but as long as you’re on the right side of the Capitol they’re pretty fun.

Around, and Around since 1914

Cafesjian's Carousel, Operated by volunteers in St. Paul's Como Park, this 68-horse carousel was built in 1914, in Philadelphia and moved to the Minnesota State Fair Grounds in St. Paul.  (see history)   It is beautiful with all the hand painted horses and the kids seem to like it too.

If you have not seen it, check it out, and bring the kids too.

How Do You Like My Hat?

It is Friday and Fridays are for fun.  It has been a challenging week but like I always say neither real estate or writing a blog are for wimps or whiners.  My job takes a lot of stamina, nerves of steel and a  lethal sense of humor.  It also helps to wear a tin foil covered baseball hat.

Do you like my hat?

Don't miss out

The crabapple trees are blooming.

Meet the Parents

Some of my clients are in their twenties and buying their first home.  I am always thrilled to be a part of the process.  Some couples really work together on it and other couples discover that they don't have quite the same vision so they end up compromising a bit until they find the home that makes them both happy.

We look on the internet and visit homes for months.  When they have it narrowed down to a home or two, I get the call asking if it would be OK to have the parents and in laws come and check out the house.  It is always a good idea to have another set of eyes when buying a home.  The parents think of things that the buyers never considered. The parents know the buyers better than I do and see things that I would never think of and neither would the buyers.

It is always fun for me to meet the parents. I kind of hang back as they go through the home.  I like to stay close enough to be able to answer questions but far enough away so that the families can talk amongst themselves.

Sometimes parents talk the children out of buying a particular home, other times they say go for it.  I would like to make one suggestion though to parents and their twenty somethings.  Shopping for a home is comparison shopping.  Buyers compare one home to another and are usually working in a particular price range, looking in a certain neighborhood and looking at a limited style of house that fits their needs.

If the parents have not been kept in the loop they don't have anything to compare the home to.  The children select a home and bring the parents but the parents don't understand that the home was in the best location, best condition and for the best prices as compared with the other 25 that the buyers looked at.  The parents see the home and raise objections.  The buyers explain that they really think the home is the best one for them.

To the buyers I suggest keeping the parents in the loop.  Email them links to some of the homes that are being considered.  Tell them about last weekends adventure in house hunting.

Parents need to understand that the buyers have spent many hours shopping on the internet and visiting homes in person.  They have done their homework and I have provided them with a great deal of information.  The process is almost like a treasure hunt and when the children bring you along to see the home they would like to purchase they have put a lot of thought into it.  Without anything to compare it to parents should point out the good and the bad as they see it but should also recognize that they have not seen enough homes to judge weather or not the home their children have selected really is the best home.

I could write an entire post about dads and daughters.  If I am working with a couple and they each bring both of their parents it is always the father of the of the woman buyer that raises objections.  He looks at the furnace and the roof and comments on the cracks in the foundation. He may be the person who has the most influence over the process.   He may understand the mechanicals, but sometimes he doesn't.  I will never contradict what the dad says even if he is wrong.  Dad should keep in mind that he does have a lot of influence and wield it with care.

Harriet Island at Night

I do go out during the day but lately it seems easier to get some photos at night.  I went to Harriet island a few nights ago.  It looks deserted but it isn't.  There are people out walking when the weather is nice. 

Harriet Island Regional park was named after Harriet Bishop and is over 100 years old.

They can get away

It happens all the time.   I don't think people believe me when I say if you want the house you need to make an offer.  Some buyers like to wait until the price goes down a bit.  The price may go down tomorrow or in six months or someone may buy the home today.    If the home is over priced, offer less.  When the price does go down sometimes several buyers will make an offer.  It is a buyers market but not all houses are equal and some go in a hurry. 

Every year I have  clients who need to miss out on at least one home before this all makes sense.

My dog ate my Appraisal

Did you ever write a blog post and have it dissapear?  It happened to me, and I had to start all over again.   I would rather just say that my dog ate it and get on with my day, and write about appraisals.

Appraisals  are part of the lending process and they have tightened up a bit.  In 2004 and 2005 it seemed like homes appraised for whatever amount the buyer wanted to pay.  No longer the case. Sellers can set a price, and buyers can make an offer but the bank will only finance the appraised amount and it might be lower than the agreed upon purchase price. 

The bank will only lend the amount of money that the home is appraised for, that  means that buyers either have to find some exptra money, or sellers need to accept a lower offer.  In most cases if a home appraisal comes in low the buyer can cancel the purchase agreement and get their earnest money back.

It is hard to imagine that in today's market that a home that is overpriced would get an offer but they do.   It is even harder to beleive that they would receive offers that are above market value but they do. I think it is a good thing that appraisers are being a little more conservative than they have been in the past. 

 

150 Years!

By Erik Hare

One hundred and fifty years ago today, May 11, 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd state.

The bill was finally ratified by Congress on this day after months of wrangling.  This was a perilous time for the union, and the careful balance between free and slave states had to be maintained.  In just a few short years, however, that thin veneer of agreement would be shattered and Minnesota, a new state, would find that statehood came at a price.  It was a price they would gladly pay to be part of the great Union they struggled to be part of.

Just three years later, in 1861, Fort Sumter was fired on and the Civil War began.  Governor Alexander Ramsey (pictured) was in Washington at the time, and was the first Governor to volunteer troops to President Lincoln.  The first Regiment of all the grand army of the republic was raised from this promise, the 1st Minnesota Regiement.

They found themselves stationed in Pennsylvania when Gen. Robert E. Lee decided to take the war to the North and invade across the Mason-Dixon line.  On the second day of that conflict, on July 2nd, 1863, Lee was about to break through the Union ranks.   General Hancock, in charge of the field, realized that he needed just five minutes to reorganize his troops to form a line that could repulse the rebels.  Looking around, he saw the 1st Minnesota was there to do the job.  He ordered them to counter-charge against Lee’s men and give them the needed time.

The 1st Minnesota did not question the order, and immediately did as they were told.  Five times their flag fell, but each time they raised it back up.  In the end, they suffered the death and wounding of 215 of their men, an 82% casualty rate.  But they held the line for fifteen minutes, ten more than the Union line needed.  Their action, at great cost, saved the Battle of Gettysburg and in so doing saved the Union.

When it was all over, people across the United States, but especially in Minnesota, were proud of what happened that day.  In this state. people talked proudly of the heroism that had kept Lee from making his invasion fruitful.  More importantly, they talked of how Minnesota was the first state since the original thirteen that had proven itself worthy of admission to the Union.  Statehood wasn’t just a right, it was a promise.

Since that time, many things have passed and Minnesota has made many contributions to the United States.  Our first great contribution, proving that the Star of the North was worthy of addition to the constellation that makes up the canton of Old Glory remains one of our most impressive. 

The flag that was carried that day at Gettysburg is in our capitol, just to the right when you enter the rotunda from the front.  Time and rot have taken a toll nearly equal to the rebel guns on that day long ago, but it’s still with us.  As we remember the hard people who settled this place so long ago, it’s worth remembering that there is some of this that we still carry proudly today.  We once saved the Union.  We earned our right to be here.  Not many can claim that.

The Sidewalk Artist

I spend a fair amount of time in and around downtown St. Paul.  Now with the warmer weather downtown is more fun.  There are people outside eating, walking, and  playing music.  Jimmy Walace plays his saxophone in front of the Heimie's Haberdashery on St. Peter Street.  His wonderful music can be heard for blocks.

The Magic Camera

Last Friday I posted some photos that I took down by the river because Fridays are for fun.  Fridays  are also for work but I try not to think about that.

Someone who calls himself "The Man in the Red Shirt", like I am supposed to believe that his real name isn't David Smith, saw the pictures and asked what kind of camera I use and asked if I use a tripod.  I have to admit I was inspired.   David is quite the photographer.  None of his pictures are blurry, he always remembers to take the lens cap off,  and he gets some really great shots.     He is  the kind of person who would think to use a tripod.   It never occurred to me to use one and it took some time to figure out how to get the camera on the tripod.   My Kodak disposable camera's don't come with tripod instructions.

As always I used office supplies and it all worked out.  It is amazing the things that can be done using office supplies, which is why I carry paper clips in my car.  Now I have to learn how to use the tripod, it only has three legs, and honestly that doesn't make a lot of sense to me right now but I am a fast learner.