First Time Home Buyers Credit in Dakota County Going Fast
August 31, 2009
The $8,000 first time home buyers credit is expiring on November 30th, 2009 which is causing a lot of action in the lower end of the home buying market in Dakota County, Minnesota and the rest of the Twin Cities. Buying in the <$200k price range is fast and furious as first time buyers try to get accepted deals in place by the end of September in order to beat the November 30th closing requirement. In addition to first time buyers there are lots of investors buying properties in that price range so multiple bid situations are common, especially on bank-owned properties.
Today, I had an offer accepted on this bank-owned home with a first time buyer. There were 8 offers on the home and the winning offer was above the asking price. This buyer will have a little work to do to get the home in shape for moving in but with a little sweat equity they will have some automatic equity in this home.
Time is winding down for anyone who wants to get an $8,000 tax credit from the government. Please contact me soon to answer any questions you have. Contact Me Form
Here’s the RE/MAX site with more details – First Time Buyers – Now’s The Time
Farmington’s New High School Opens Next Week
August 30, 2009
The Star Tribune has a story in today’s paper about 4 new high schools opening in the Twin Cities this year (Farmington, Woodbury, Chanhassen & St. Michael-Albertville). 4 New High Schools Will End Era. With our focus on Dakota County and the impact on real estate it make sense to give more attention to the new high school opening in Farmington.
The school has a controversial beginning as the Farmington school district 192 had numerous fights with the Farmington city council about the proposed location for the new school (on Flagstaff Avenue on the far western edge of the city). The school district purchased a nice open piece of land but it was located in an area the city hadn’t planned on developing for some time. The city preferred that any new building be located nearer existing developments. In the end, the school district prevailed.
The school district has had a very nice website tracking the development of the project -
New Farmington High School Site
Most Recent Pictures of School
Earlier in August the school hosted guided tours of the new building – all of which were full. As a part of that they did publish a brochure which gives a GREAT overview of the new building – Tour Guide Brochure
While the school doesn’t open until Tuesday September 8th, the first activity has taken place there as the Farmington Tigers girl’s soccer team opened up as the inaugural sporting event in their new stadium (FHS Debuts New Stadium). The Tigers beat Winona by a score of 6-1.
Edit – The Star Tribune ran an article today (9/2) about the new high school and preceding controversy so I thought I’d add a link for additional flavor – Farmington High Schools – Grand Opening
Lake Conference Changes Coming
August 29, 2009
The primary high school athletic conference serving Dakota County schools is about to go through some big changes for the 2010-2011 season. There are currently 12 teams in the Lake Conference but the Minnesota High School League is forcing the Lake to take 4 large high schools (Wayzata, Minnetonka, Hopkins & Edina) and integrate them into current Conference. While Chaska & Chanhassen were already leaving the Conference, forcing the Lake to have 14 teams and forcing the Dakota County schools to compete with the much larger west metro schools is probably going to get them to create their own conference and blow the whole thing up.
John Millea at the Star Tribune has been following this story closely – Four Teams Shift to Lake Conference
Lake Conference officials did not want all four Classic Lake schools placed in their league and there has been speculation that the Lake would splinter if that happened. After Tuesday’s decision, that became more of a possibility.
The most likely outcome will be that the 4 District 196 schools (Eagan, Rosemount, Eastview & Apple Valley), the 2 District 194 schools (Lakeville North & Lakeville South), District 191’s Burnsville High and possibly the 2 Bloomington schools will defect to create a new conference. This would basically have the effect of booting Eden Prairie out of the current configuration to go join the other 4 new schools. The schools have until October 1st to create a new conference so we’ll know something soon.
Many homeowners buy their homes with their children’s high school sports in mind so the changes happening in Minnesota’s premier high school athletic conference do matter.
District 196 – School District of Choice for Homebuyers
August 23, 2009
Minnesota School District #196 is the 4th largest district in Minnesota with over 150,000 residents and 27,000 students. The district covers Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan and parts of Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville and Burnsville. It has long been recognized as one of the premier school districts in Minnesota for student achievement along with excellent extra curricular programs. As a resident of #196 for the past 22 years I can personally attest to their quality.
As the district gears up for the 2009-10 school year they just published their Spotlight Newsletter for Fall 2009 (#196 Fall 2009 Spotlight) and as usual I turned to the Superintendent’s Message. This fall the district has a new Superintendent, Jane Berenz, so this was her first “Spotlight” message.
As a real estate agent I found it both interesting and insightful that she ended her 2nd to last paragraph this way -
I am confident we will remain a district of choice among people looking for a place to buy a home and raise a family
Let me know how I can help you find that perfect home in District #196!
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