Lloyd Ann's Blog

If you are driving around Minot, take a look around.  You will see new housing going up in almost every area.  There are new homes going up on smaller close in lots, and in larger "overlooking the city" lots.   There are homes where neighbors are close and those further away.

Locating the perfect home is just not possible today any more than it was possible 50 years ago.  There are no perfect homes.  Even those that you have designed and planned and built, once you move in and live there, you will find yourself saying..."if I could do this again, I'd have done it *this way*.

What are your needs.  The first step is determining a price range for the house you buy.  Always get preapproved for the maximum amount you can.  Once you know that, you can determine whether you want to buy at the top of your range or if you want to spend less.  The next First step in buying a home is to find the house that meets those needs.  Working with a Great Real Estate Agent can reduce your stress, and ease the time restraints you have.  What are your wants and desires?  Try to be flexible on those.  What needs to be done before you move in?  What can you do later?  Is is more important to just move in or to replace carpet, paint and clean before you move in.  Flexibility is key in making the move easier and more pleasant.

A great agent will walk you through the process with a minimum of stress, and provide the info you need to make a great decision.  Their job is to help you get the house YOU WANT.

I don't know!  Do YOU know?  We hear things.... this person knows one thing, someone else knows something else or they think they know.  Then there are the people who really do know something and they aren't doing much talking. (funny how that works, isn't it?)

What we expect is that housing prices will edge up over the coming months as more people are finding their way to North Dakota to work in the Oil industry.

Oil leases are big business now.  Every register of deeds in the vicinity of where the Bakken is located have increased activity and that has been occurring for some time.

Who all will be here?  I'm hearing some names, picking up some website comments, various remarks concerning relocation of rigs, etc.

My son who attended a meeting of the mining industry in Alaska, (which includes oil) spoke directly with an owner of numerous rigs that had been hoping that Anwar would open up, but now is pulling every rig and heading for North Dakota.  We are starting to see "info" coming through our local newspaper and I will share a portion of that.  In order to read the whole article you will have to go to their website.

The following is a section from an article in the Minot Daily News:

MAGIC Fund asked to help position Minot for oil development

By JILL SCHRAMM, Staff Writer

"An oil-field service company is requesting $600,000 in start-up help from the Minot MAGIC Fund to establish an operation in Minot that could employ at least 80 people.

The company is looking to locate in an energy park that the Minot Area Development Corp. hopes to develop east of the agricultural park, also with help from the MAGIC Fund.

The MAGIC Fund Committee meets Friday to take up MADC’s request for a $1.1 million grant to build out water, sewer, curb and gutter, pavement and lighting for the new Minot Energy Park. It also will consider the $600,000 request from Pure Energy Services of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Pure Energy hopes to expand into Minot’s proposed energy park this year. The company already has operations in the United States. It entered the U.S. market in 2004 with facilities in Colorado and Wyoming."

If you are thinking of selling and buying in this market, there is no better time than now.  True, the price you receive for your house will be less, but the price you pay for another will be less also.

In actuality, if you are selling and buying in the same market, it all balances out.  If you wait and the prices leap, then you receive more for your house, but when you buy, you are going to be spending more.

If you are planning to move out of the area, You may be able to time your move to when the market is rising.  It is important to remember not to be "greedy" because it usually ends up with a house overpriced and not moving.  A market Analysis will tell you "about" what your property is worth.

There is NO CHARGE for a Market Analysis.  All I ask is that when you are ready to sell you call me first to discuss the marketing and sale of it.

We are beginning to see an increase in the number of people looking for housing.  Some are looking for rentals, but the majority are looking for homes to buy.  If you are thinking of selling this could be the right time for you.

  I will be needing houses in all price ranges to sell, so please touch base with me.  There is "no charge" to inquire.

If you would like the ease and convenience of searching for a home with no hassle, let me know...I will authorize you to use my virtual office and get info on homes before most real estate agents know something has hit the market. 

Interested?

Despite what you may be hearing the numbers are in for 2007 and home prices increased by 5 % and the number of homes sold increased as well!  Minot's employment is also high, and that speaks of a good economy...So don't listen to those who are complaining...Minot is on the move!  And the housing market is STABLE! 

February is a great month to get your house on the market if you are planning to sell.  It is when the first of the spring market will be coming on.  The sooner you are on the market the greater your probability of getting your house sold quickly....

Lloyd Ann

Yes and No...or maybe!  Depends on several factors.  When a seller's market occurs it IS a good time to sell, because sellers usually get their houses sold, in a shorter period of time and at a higher price.

If this seller moves to a different market where the market is low, then it is a great time for that seller to buy.

If this seller is planning to buy in the same market as they sold in.  No, it isn't a good time to buy.

HOWEVER...most of us sell one house and buy another, usually in the same market.  If this is the case, it really isn't significant that they sell high and buy high, or if they sell low and buy low.  It just means that you feel really good when you get top dollar for your current home!  Or if the market is low, you feel really good when you can buy a house for less money, which appears in your life as a good thing.  Lower house payments mean we can do updates on a home when it seems feasible. 

Always it is important to remember when buying any house....buy within your means.  There is nothing worse than having the house of your dreams only to find out you can't afford to pay the electric bill, or fix something when it breaks, or can't afford furniture to put in your new home.  Always borrow responsibly!  You want to own the home....You don't want the home to "own" you!