I photographed the rose at the rose garden in Duluth Minnesota. It is definitely worth a visit but not on Valentine’s day because it is covered in snow instead of roses. The garden is large with roses in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow and even white. It is on a hill that overlooks Lake Superior.
Happy Valentine’s day. If your day isn’t filled with roses you will have this one to look at.
I was touring a home with some buyers when I noticed a camera on one of the bookshelves. The camera was plugged in but I am familiar with the particular model and I don’t think anyone was watching us or recording because the little green light wasn’t blinking.
These cameras are popular as baby monitors and can be set up as motion detectors that will send an email to the owners who can activate an app on their tablet or smartphone or use a computer to get the same view the camera is getting.
In other words, a homeowner could be away and watching people inside their home. The cameras can see and hear, zoom in or out and pan the room.
I originally posted this in early 2014. I have found cameras in homes several times since then. Sometimes it is best for buyers to wait until they are outside the house to talk about it.
There isn’t any rule that I know of that says a homeowner can not have a camera recording in their home. It isn’t easy letting strangers in and for some a camera makes them feel more secure.
The dollar value of homes sold went up in 2017 for the 6th year in a row but the number of homes sold went down, slightly for the first time in three years. I got to thinking about this because there are so few homes for sale but real estate agents are not quitting right and left like they were during the bottom of the housing market crash in 2010 and 2011.
It was tough during the great recession, it seemed like it would never end and yet it did. The vacant lots are a reminder to me.
There is a change in the air this year but right now my crystal ball isn’t working very well. Maybe as we move into spring it will become clearer.
The data used to make the chart was extracted from the MLS and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
It is Friday and Fridays are for fun. I decided to write a letter to our new Mayor. It was about bringing back fireworks. Back in the day before CHS field was built, we used to have these beautiful fireworks on July 4th. They were launched over our great natural resource, the Mississippi River.
After CHS field was built it became the new home of July 4th fireworks. The field is in the lowest part of St. Paul and is surrounded by tall buildings. If there is a baseball game the fireworks might be delayed by an hour or so.
The CHS field venue guarantees the smallest possible audience. There are rules about how high the fireworks can be launched because there is an airport close by and it is the lowest point in St. Paul. I suppose it would be worse if they were set off indoors someplace.
I never would have supported CHS field if I had known it would mean the end of public fireworks on July 4th. We used to go outside and head for the nearest bridge or river bluff. We would meet neighbors along the way and talk amongst ourselves as we waited for the big display.
The fireworks could be seen for miles. Some people would grab blankets and watch them from the parks. Others watched then from boats. It really was beautiful. I am happy that I took the time to take some pictures.
I really miss those fireworks. I hope there is someway we can celebrate July 4th like we used to. Like they do over in Minneapolis with “Red, White, and Boom”. The fireworks are launched over the river and are free for everyone to see.
Did you know that you can live in a downtown condo and have a dog? Most if not all condo buildings have pet restrictions but most will allow a dog or even two. Cats are allowed too.
In some of the buildings, there are height and weight restrictions. Smaller dogs are allowed and large ones are not.
Ask about pet restrictions before making an offer on a condo. After making an offer that is accepted by the seller, buyers have ten days to review rules. Pet restrictions will be in writing.
There are condo associations that do not allow pets at all. I know of one building where residents can have one goldfish and another where the only pet restriction is that birds are not allowed.
There are numerous places downtown to walk dogs and even a small off-leash dog park up against CHS field. Mears Park has “pet areas”. Lowertown is pretty close to the river with the parkland and trails.
I pretty much know the pet rules for every downtown building which saves a little time.
Yes, homes are sold in January. Here are some numbers I pulled from the NorthstarMLS. The data is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
January was a cold month and we did set a new record for the fewest homes for sale. Fewer homes for sale means fewer home sales it is that simple. Median prices went up from December which is pretty typical.
Home prices are rising the fastest in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood and on the Greater Eastside. Both areas took big hits during the housing market crash and the great recession.
Total home sales in St. Paul for January was 198 and the average days on the market crept up to 54, which is actually super low especially for January. Activity usually picks up after the super bowl and I am seeing some evidence of home sellers coming out of hibernation.
If you are interested in selling your St. Paul home, please call, text or email for a free no obligation consultation.
For more local real estate numbers please see Local Market Conditions & home prices. Real estate is local.