Saint Paul Vacant Building list

Posted on by Teresa Boardman
dozer
How to make a lot vacant – registered vacant home

If you plan to leave your house or commercial building vacant in St. Paul, you will need to register it with the city and pay a fee. Fees start at $2459 and go up to $5410.

The city puts the address of the vacant property on a publicly accessible website, which is super convenient for thieves.  Your property becomes a magnet for crimes and scams.

Sometimes homeowners are assessed the vacant registration fee while they are still living in the house. The homeowners continue living in the house but sleep in their car at night.  These seniors do not want to vacate their homes and they cannot afford or find alternative housing.

Sometimes the homeowner has a house full of junk that they have collected to the point where there isn’t any place left to sleep or to cook. I have seen homes where the tonnage of stuff has caused structural damage.

I have a pro-tip for homeowners who have houses that are not up to code and who can not afford the repairs. Keep your lawn mowed, and in the winter, make sure the snow is cleared.  If the yard looks good, your neighbors won’t call the city and complain. If no one complains, you will be able to live in your house with little fear of visits from city inspectors.

Building code enforcement in St. Paul is complaint-driven, and it isn’t evenly enforced. Building inspectors have a lot of discretion. They may wait 20 years to condemn a house that has multiple code violations, or they may give the homeowner a month before they condemn and try to force the homeowner to pay the registered vacant building fee.

To learn more about the St. Paul vacant building program, visit Stpaul.gov. If you wish to see a list of vacant buildings, search for the stpaul.gov site.

Thinking smaller

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

While the average family size is decreasing, the average size of a new house is increasing. Part of it has to do with the fact that builders need to make a profit and bigger is profitable.  In 1973, the average size of a new home was 1525; today it is over 2500 square feet.

There are some advantages to buying a smaller house. Generally, they cost less to buy than a larger house, which means a smaller mortgage. There is also less to clean and maintain, and less to heat and cool.

For families with children, it may also mean actually seeing the children and spending time with them. Children do not need all that much space it is generally parents who need the extra space because they have children.

When deciding to buy a home, think about size. Owning a 600-800 square foot home could mean more time and money for travel, or having the flexibility to take a lower-paying job, or being able to afford to have a spouse work less to care for a parent or child.

As we age in place, smaller can mean staying home longer. Less storage space makes it harder to accumulate stuff. Space tends to fill up with stuff.

 

blue house
small house

 

Already State Fair time – 2025

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

Nothing like the Minnesota State Fair, and it starts today  (August 21st) and ends on Labor Day. I go to the fair every three to five years. Our state fair is the largest in the country by average daily attendance and the second largest in the country by total attendance. It is a big deal if you have never been; you should go.

State Fair time is also a great time to check around for sales. I have purchased major appliances and gotten some great deals. Look for siding, windows, and roofing sales. Visit the home improvement building at the State Fair.  

For me, the best days to go to the fair are the first couple of days when everything is still fresh. Going after dark or getting there when it opens is fun too. The State Fair changes a little every year, but never really changes. I still remember going with my parents and grandparents when I was 5 years old.  My dad and Grandfather would head for Machinery Hill and the livestock barns.

My favorite exhibits are in the Creative Activities building, which isn’t for everyone. In fact, it can make children cry. Grown men too.

ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
yarn horse
Crochet Horse outside the creative arts building

 

Rates August 2025 slightly lower

Posted on by Teresa Boardman
Mortgage interest rates
Mortgage Interest Rates

You can’t make me say that now is a good time to buy a house. It depends on who you are and why you want to buy. People who need a place to live for a few years should consider renting. Yes, rates are lower than they were, but with the high price of houses, mortgage interest rates have made owning a home unaffordable for many.

Even though the president of the US was going to make everything more affordable, it isn’t happening, nor will it.