Personal computers have been around long enough that everyone has experienced or knows someone who has lost their data due to a hard drive crash, accident or burglary. If they had a backup, the loss was inconvenient but not critical. Do you have a backup for your personal belongings? Not that you need duplicates of […]

A recent U.S. Tax Court ruling clarified the IRS position that the $1.1 million limit for mortgage interest deduction applies per residence and not per taxpayer as some high-priced homeowners were hoping. A married homeowner filing jointly can have fullly deductible interest on a mortgage of up to $1,000,000 of acquisition debt and up to […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners Recalls on cars, car seats and household products happen all the time. Miss one, and it could put […]

The Housing Affordability Index was developed over thirty years ago to help consumers determine when it is a good time to buy a home. It’s considered advantageous to the buyer when the index is over 100 because a median income family can qualify for a median price home. Recent figures released by the National Association […]

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What are the top 5 reasons that influence a financially qualified and realistic home buyer in today’s market? The National Association of Realtors has done numerous studies and the results are the same. 1. Location & Neighborhood, 2. Layout, 3. Curb Appeal, 4. Condition, 5. Price.

This information is very value to know because a home seller can only have control of two of the 5 variables. Condition and Price. If a home seller is unwilling to update the condition or fix the any issues, then the ONLY way they can increase value in the eyes of a buyer is with PRICE. In today’s market a home seller has to be priced competitive AND compelling.

FHA has raised the annual Mortgage Insurance Premium to 1.25% beginning April 1st. MIP is required on all FHA loans and used to fund losses by lenders for borrowers who default on their mortgages. As of June 1st, FHA loans in excess of the standard maximum of $625,500, in high-cost areas, will have a premium […]

Regardless of what a lender quotes on mortgage rates, the actual rate paid by a borrower is based on a number of variables. Lenders determine whether to loan money and at what rate based on the risk involved with the transaction. Factors that increase the risk that the loan will be repaid will proportionately increase […]

Similar to Diogenes’ search for an honest man, homeowners want someone to do quality repairs at a fair price. The task appears reasonably easy but if you’ve ever tried to locate someone to fix something, you know just how difficult it is. Finding a list of companies from a phone book doesn’t mean they’ll be […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners Points are prepaid interest you pay to get a lower mortgage rate. In the right situation, they can […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners For years, most homeowners itemized their deductions, because mortgage interest and property taxes added up to more than […]

Work hard, buy a home, start a family and continue to upgrade your home until everyone has enough room. This has been the blueprint for lots of homeowners for the last fifty years but there is certainly a shift in thinking that could change all of that. Interestingly, Americans live in much larger homes than […]

Every year, it seems like the same things are on the list but this could be the year you really do invest in a rental home. Rents are climbing, home prices are cheap and mortgage rates are low for even non-owner occupied properties. A $125,000 home with 20% down payment can easily have a $300 […]

What do they want? What do they need? Will it fit? Do they already have one? These are the common thoughts running through our minds when trying to find the perfect gift. The gift of really listening with no interrupting, no daydreaming and no planning your response is exactly what people want when they have […]

You don’t have to be Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz to feel like there’s no place like home. Home is a place to call your own. It’s a place to raise your family and share with your friends. It’s a place to create memories. A home is a place to feel safe and secure. […]

Consumers are vigilant about buying opportunities like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday along with sales, coupons and rebates. Some cautious buyers will even risk shopping early to find exactly what they want to waiting until the last moment for potentially lower prices. In retail, the hype is more obvious and the signs […]

No one wants to pay more than its value regardless of the product. When you buy bananas for 49 cents a pound at one store and see them for 39 cents a pound at another store, it’s not the ten cent difference as much as it is about overpaying. It seems like the natural way […]

The housing market has been in a downward trend for four years. There is some speculation that inventories will not reduce any time soon which will be necessary for prices to rise. However, there are other factors that can increase the cost of housing, specifically mortgages. FHA accounts for a large percentage of the current […]