The Chris Fritch Team

    Selling your home in the winter isn't as bad as you may think. Here are 10 tips to keep it jolly! 1.        Deck the halls, but don’t go overboard. ·          Be careful not to overdo the #holidaydecorations. While homes tend to look the best during the Holidays, you don’t want to overwhelm buyers with too many decorations or big items that may clutter the home. Also, opt for more general decorations rather than religious themes.   2.        Hire a reliable Real Estate agent ·          When hiring a Real Estate agent , make sure they are going to be there for you through everything, even the Holidays. You don’t want an agent who will drop you when the Holiday seasons come around. 3.        Look for those motivated buyers. ·          Typically,...

We have all heard a lot about the new tax plan , which was approved and sent to President Trump to be signed on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Depending on where your politics lie and your individual financial situation, you may have a positive or negative take on the tax bill. But how does it impact real estate ? That also depends on a few things, like where you are buying a house, how much money you have, and what you intend to do with it. "The new tax plan has been framed as a deathblow to the  American dream by some real estate professionals and groups, who warn of falling home prices, a new generation trapped in renting, and an exodus of residents from the highest-cost cities and states,"  said Realtor.com . "But are these fears surrounding the new, lower cap on mortgage interest deduction - and the incentive for taxpayers not to use it - overblown? Or are there indeed big repercussions to come? That all depends on whom you ask - and where they live." We're b...

If you're looking to buy a home and you would really like to get something in escrow before the end of the year, you might be facing a "slim pickings" situation. Inventory issues have plagued the market for several years, and despite a positive real estate outlook, the lack of homes has kept many buyers out of the game. That's one of the reasons home buyers have been choosing new U.S. homes jumped last month to the highest level since October 2007, a sign that Americans - unable to find existing homes - are turning to new construction,"  said USA Today . "New home sales leaped 18.9% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 667,000, the most in a decade. Sales rose in all regions including the South, where they increased nearly 26%." Existing home inventory isn't expected to get better until at least the last half of 2018. So, if a brand new home is something you'd consider, think about this: the next two weeks could be the...

Question . Our house is free and clear. We have a $100,000 home equity line of credit, and the interest rate is somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 percent. We itemize tax deductions and are in a high federal tax rate, and hoping that any new tax laws will reduce our taxes. My question concerns using the home equity loan for investment. We are considering using $50,000 of the home equity line of credit and investing it in a growth stock for the next five years. An accountant/tax advisor, however, is strongly in favor of having an unencumbered house especially as we are close to retirement. Answer . It is a strong belief that homeowners -- of any age -- should make use of the equity they have gained from their real estate investments. As this column has suggested in the past, there are too many retired persons who are "house rich and cash poor." Hopefully, your house will appreciate in the future, and this appreciation will continue whether you have equity or not in ...

WRITTEN BY JAYMI NACIRI Strapped for cash and desperate to buy a home? We hear ya. While today's homeownership rate is trending back up after reaching its lowest level since 1965 last year, there are still thousands upon thousands of people who would love to become homeowners but who are stymied by the lack of a down payment . Homeownership Photo by  Lea Böhm  on  Unsplash Yes, loans you can get through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) require as little as 3.5% down, and some other loans out there drop that minimum down payment even lower. But rents that just continue to rise across the country can keep cash-strapped folks from being able to get together the savings required to get in the door - literally. Rent-to-own company  Home Partners of America  may have an answer. Yes, rent-to-own. Before you scrunch up your face at the idea of something that sounds too good to be true or something that brings back memories of "old school" ...

The lawn and landscape outside your home can be your own personalized creation, and it does not have to be expensive. It is through the effort of creating what you want within your limitations – both financial and physical – that you come to love the space you craft. By learning frugal methods to care for your lawn and landscape, you can have the lawn you want within the budget you can afford. Xeriscaping By installing native plants, mulching appropriately and minimizing the size of your actual lawn, you can save a lot of money on maintenance and watering. Your local Master Gardener group, or the local city government, will likely have information on xeriscaping for your area. Lush green lawns are certainly beautiful and pleasant to play on, but they are also resource intensive. Unless you are one of the lucky few that live in an area with heavy rainfall, you will spend large amounts of money keeping a large lawn alive. According to Bankrate.com, a 4,000 square foot lawn t...

12 Ways to Make Your Kitchen Look and Feel Bigger Brought to you by the Chris Fritch Team Keller Williams Classic Realty 763-746-3997

Research has lead us to info on what Millennials might want in a new home: 1. Environmental designs delivers in small spaces Millennials are creative when it comes to creative solutions for outdoor spaces. They embrace outdoor living. They want fire pits and fireplaces outdoors as well as vegetable beds and love the idea of growing their own food. 2. Environmentally friendly choices Millennials will opt to use recyclable materials because it is the responsible choice. 3. They love landscapin g This group is fine with landscaping as they love to spend most of their time outdoors. Smartphone apps that can control irrigation and lighting systems are a must. 4. Not really into pools, hot tubs, and water features. They are expensive and high on water usage. Spending so much time outdoors they don't want anything that will inhibit their weekend travel plans because of their regular maintenance schedule. 5. Playtime Would rather meet at a nearby park than have a ...

WRITTEN BY JAYMI NACIRI Getting ready to fill out the dreaded Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? It's the form that strikes fear in parents of college students and college students-to-be who have been cautioned about the tedious process involved, and the disappointing results. And while there is a ton of advice out there about how to properly prepare, what you need, and what to expect, there's another layer of concern for homeowners and homebuyers: How does the FAFSA affect you if you're in the market, already own a home, have investment property, or are thinking about refinancing? We're breaking it down. First, a little bit about the FAFSA for those who have not yet had the pleasure: "Based primarily on your family's income and assets, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) qualifies students for federal grants, loans and work-study programs,"  said Bankrate . "The purpose of the FAFSA is to calculate your expected family contrib...

Fall is a good time to take care of big home repair projects before shorter days (ice and snow) make outdoor work too difficult. And if you live in Minnesota with cold winters, take some time this fall to boost energy efficiency throughout your home and prevent damage from winter storms with proper tree care. Tackle these 15 items on your list this season, and you can rest easy knowing that your home and yard are buttoned up and ready for winter. 1. Care for trees and shrubs.  Trees are going dormant at this time, and are less likely to get a disease. Because trees are slowing growth in the fall, it’s not an ideal time to plant a new tree, as the roots may have trouble getting established. It’s also a good idea to observe your trees throughout the fall, keeping an eye out for signs that signal a need for intervention. Early change in leaf color, pines looking thin and/or needles turning brown, and dead branches are all signs of diseases. 2. Rake leaves.  Le...