To mow or not to mow

Posted on by Teresa Boardman
long grass
Lawn

I confess we mowed the lawn over the weekend because it was a mess. The “No Mow May” movement started a few years ago. The idea was to leave the lawn and let it grow to feed pollinators and to protect the insects that hybernated in the lawn.

It makes sense to let the lawn grow in the spring but I am not sure letting it go until June is good for anyone. Tall grasses and weeds isn’t a good look. If you mowed your lawn already you are not alone. Does letting the lawn grow really help the pollinators? Once the temperature gets above 50 degrees for a week or so I don’t think anything is hibernating in the lawn. The blooming trees, lilacs, and spring flowers provide food for the bees.

For the last couple of years the grass was brown and crunchy by mid-June due to drought.

Turkeys and other traffic hazards

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

It is Friday and Fridays are for fun. It isn’t unusual to see a turkey walking down the street in St. Paul but lately, they have gotten pretty brazen. Sometimes they stand in the street and stop traffic. They can and do fly when properly motivated. As for other traffic hazards, most are lime scooters.

The Tom in the picture strolled through the neighborhood about a month ago with his seven wives or girlfriends. Turkeys walking down the street or blocking traffic are more common in the spring and the late fall.  I didn’t quite get the face on this one but you can see the pretty feathers.

Turkey
Turkey

Mortgage Interest Rates Matter

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

Will mortgage interest rates go down this year? Some experts are suggesting that rates will go down in September. Even with the higher rates home prices are rising and the number of home sales in 2024 will likely be up from 2023. Go figure!

Please borrow responsibly.  When you borrow it is a win for your employer because you will need to work hard to pay back your loan.

When rates go down the demand for houses will rise, which will drive prices higher still.

Keep an eye on rents. Rent growth was around 2.2% in the Twin Cities last year and less than half a percent for luxury properties. (Axios)

Chart of mortgage interest rates
Mortgage interest rates

Saint Paul is a river city

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

I have always enjoyed living near the river. When some of my suburban friends and family visit they often want to join me for a walk or a ride along the river. The Mississippi River isn’t just for recreation it is also used for shipping. Right now the water is high due to snow melt and spring rains. During droughts the river gets low and that impedes shipping. Barges have been around since ancient times and are low-tech. They don’t have engines they just float and get pushed around by tow boats.

Barges can hold a lot of cargo. A typical barge size is 195 feet by 35 feet and can hold up to 1500 tons of cargo. Newer barges can be up to 209 feet by 50 feet and hold twice as much cargo tonnage as traditional barges. Barges are efficient and cost-effective.

The river is a place to enjoy walking during any season and biking.

Barges
Barges waiting to be unloaded – Mississippi River
downtown St. Paul from the river
Mississippi River as it flows past downtown St. Paul
Robert Street Bridge
Walking paths along the river – Historic Robert Street Bridge

Is downsizing right for you?

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

If there is one thing I have learned over the years it is that there is not one size fits all housing solution for retirees. There isn’t a retirement age either. We used to assume that when we reach a certain age we will retire and want a smaller house. I have had clients who wanted to move into larger houses during retirement. They wanted space for family gatherings and for children and grandchildren.

You don’t have to move just because you are retiring. You can stay where you are. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it if that is what you want to do.

Downsizing is an option for those who can afford it. Buying and selling can be stressful but it has always worked out for my clients.

downsizing info graphic
Perks of downsizing

Call or write for a free consultation if you are interested in downsizing in the next year or so.

April 2024 Home Sales in St. Paul

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

Here are some numbers by neighborhood for home sales in St. Paul Minnesota.  Sales are up from last month but it sure isn’t like the old days, that long ago time when there were three times as many houses on the market in April and twice as many sales. Interest rates are high and so are home prices. When rates go down more people might be interested in moving which means prices will go up more.

The imbalance between supply (low) and demand (high) will resolve but not this year. Buyers should expect to pay more than the asking price for a house this spring and will see some of the highest mortgage interest rates in decades. Sellers can expect a quick sale but cash sales are down slightly from last year.

The data used to make the table below was extracted from the NorthstarMLS (Multiple Listing Service – a database) which is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. These are single-family homes in St. Paul, including condos and townhouses but excluding rental properties.

Table showing April 2024 Home sales
Home sales in St. Paul April 2024

For more local real estate data please see Local Market Conditions & Home Prices