ROCHESTER HORROR: FRIGHT at the FARM

Fright Farm, Haunted Attraction

Address: 1195 West Circle Dr SW (Cty Rd 22), Rochester, MN 55902 Times: Friday and Saturdays in Oct. 7pm to 11pm, Oct. 17, 18, 29, 30, 31 7pm to 10 pm Admission: $10 pre-sale $12 door Contact: Rochester Horror Phone: 507-491-2639 Venue: History Center of Olmsted County Send Email:galatyt@yaho.com Visit Website:http://www.rochesterhorror.com/ Buy Tickets:http://www.rochesterhorror.com/7.html Come visit Southern Minnesota's most horrifying haunted attraction located at the historical George Stopple farmstead at the History Center of Olmsted County. From the street you will already wish you didn't come. It is truly designed to frighten and amuse you. Guided tours will include an interior look of the original farm house where you will meet the frightening inhabitants of the property, your guide will lead you on a mysterious tour of the property including a haunted tool shed, the barn, the butcher shop, spooky stables and stalls, a labyrinth/maze, and the crypt which includes CAVES on the property, and don't miss the cemetery with haunted hearse! Do you dare enter??? Tickets available at the History Center of Olmsted County or online. "Lights On" Family Friendly Presentation Saturdays October 20 and 27 from 4pm to 7pm. - See more at: http://www.rochestercvb.org/includes/events/?action=displayDetail&eventId=18472#sthash.3LEvL9Jo.dpuf

Organize Your Move

Check List for Moving into a New Home Moving Van (reserve early!): Ace World Wide Moving 288-3341 or 1-800-533-1704 Rochester Transfer and Storage (Allied Van Lines) 289-4515 or 800-622-4515. A-1 Moving and Storage (United Van Lines) 281-5008 or 800-950-5007. Metcalf Moving and Storage (Mayflower) 288-5255 or 800-356-7996. Lochner’s Moving Inc. (Paul Arpin Van Lines, Inc) 282-5694 or 800-769-3005. S&S Moving and Storage (North American) 289-0779 or 800-593-0779. Royal Economy Moving 507-288-9501. Keefe Transfer Inc. 289-4373. Self Moving Options U-Haul Truck Rental 507-288-0633, 507-280-0753, 507-289-6832. Clements Truck Rental 507-285-4777, 800-657-6989. Ryder Truck Rental 507-281-3856, 507-285-0643, 507-288-3401. Utilities: Electricity: Rochester Public Utilities 280-1500 (Rochester proper). People’s Cooperative Power Association (outside Rochester city limits) 288-4004. Peoples Co-op requires a membership form to be completed for new service. Natural Gas: MN Energy Resources 1-800-889-9508. Buyers – Call the gas and electric compaines right away and let them know your closing date which is the date you will take services over. Sellers- Call no earlier than a week before closing. The utility companies want to hear from the buyer who will be taking these services over first Cable: Charter Communications 1-800-581-0081 or Nick Adams Charter personal sales representative 507-208-6401 Telephone: Setting Up Phone Service or Qwest Communications 1-800-244-1111. Waste Management of Rochester 282-2420. Newspaper: Rochester Post Bulletin 285-7600. Change Your Address: Use the Change of Address Order Form to tell the Post Office of your move. Can be done anytime up to 2 days prior to your move. United States Post Office Change of Address Link Give your mailers your new address: .Friends and family members .Banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions .Charge card and credit card companies .Doctors, dentists, and other service providers .State and Federal Tax authorities and any other government agencies as needed. You can do this by sending them Address Notifications or, for magazine publishers and business mailers, by following their change-of-address instructions. Update Your Drivers License: If your coming in from out of state you need to apply in person at the Driver License Exam Station – 506 1st Avenue NE – (507)-285-7412. If your moving from a different address from within Minnesota you can also apply at the Government Center on the corner of 4th Street SE and 3rd Avenue SE.

How to Price Your Home - Do You Need a Realtor?

It is possible for you to repair, list and sell your home on your own, but it is important that your price is right and your expectations are realistic. There is nothing more damaging to the sale of a property than having to continually dropping the price until it will sell (and it may not even sell if you do drop the price). There are important things to do when you decide to price your home yourself. You need to be objective about taking a look at your home and its worth. It is important to take the emotional attachment out of the equation. The prospective buyers of your home aren't going to care about how many memories you have made in your home, how much money you need for your next down payment, or how much you have put into repairing your home over the years. What they are going to care about is getting a fair and agreeable price for what your home is actually worth. Know how much other homes like yours are selling for so that you have a starting point for your pricing. Knowing how much other homes similar to yours are selling for (or have sold for) will give you a good idea of how much you can expect to get for your home, as well as how much you may get for an offer if you decide to price your home a little higher. A good place to start is by looking for similar homes on a website like Realtor.com/ You can expect that your prospective buyers will do their research (or their Realtors will) so you need to be prepared to defend your price or bargain. If your based out of Rochester like I am, try to go to open houses with a Rochester MN Realtor so that you can get a good idea of what it is going to feel like when you are in the same position. It is important to go into their homes just as they would yours, be completely objective and open. However, you need to consider the location, as well as the repairs they have completed on their home and the overall condition of the home. What it comes down to, if all houses were the same price, would you buy your house or their house? That little question will be the driving force behind your pricing technique. It is also important to take into account the condition of the market you are selling in. The house prices may be very high, but are they selling? How long is it taking to sell? Are the prices having to be dropped significantly, in order for them to sell? All of these questions are questions that should be answered before you make a choice on price so that you can make sure you are going to get a fair amount for your home. All things considered, it is still possible to sell your home on your own. It will cut out the Realtor's fees as well as give you the experience for the future to get a good deal on your next house. Being an informed seller can also make you an informed buyer, allowing you to feel more in control of the situation and able to make a good decision.

Real Estate Sales Statistics For Rochester MN

Search Paramerters: Propety Type – Residential Year Total Sales Median Sold Price Annual Appreciation Days on Market List to Sale OLP to Sale 1999 1407 $121,900 93 99.3 98.2 2000 1887 $131,900 7.6% 88 99.5 98.3 2001 2157 $138,000 4.4% 107 99.2 97.4 2002 2227 $145,000 4.8% 117 99.4 97.8 2003 2352 $151,000 4.0% 128 99.0 97.2 2004 2316 $157,450 4.1% 126 99.3 97.6 2005 2433 $160,000 1.6% 142 99.3 97.2 2006 2280 $166,750 4.0% 159 98.9 96.1 2007 2181 $164,890 -1.2% 116 98.4 93.4 2008 1862 $162,000 -1.8% 124 98.0 94.0 2009 1728 $152,650 -5.8% 118 97.6 93.3 2010 1476 $152,500 -0.004% 126 97.1 92.1 2011 1590 $149,950 -1.7% 139 96.6 90.6 2012 1948 $159,900 6.25% 105 97.7 93.5 City – Rochester MN Source: Southeast Minnesota Association of REALTORS Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Market 2010 Update

As we begin the last week of January there are 867 active residential listings in Rochester, Minnesota according to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The average list price for these properties is $223,938 (median $169,900), average market time is 172 days.

Last week (January 18-24, 2010) there were 53 new listings, an increase of 39% over the same time period last year; 14 homes that went under contract, a decrease of 48%; and 8 homes that closed, 1/2 as many as last year.

Last week’s 53 new listings and 33 back on the market listings in Rochester had an average asking price of $180,246 (median $155,000) and $187,963 (median $159,900) respectively. There were 33 listings that canceled, 11 expired, and 32 were extended.

The 14 listings that went to pending (under contract) last week had an average list price of $186,167 (median $159,900) and averaged 128 days on the market.

The average sold price of the 8 homes that sold (closed) last week, $173,231 (median $130,225) was 96.6% of the list price, 93.2% of the original asking price. Average market time for these homes was 153 days.

NEW HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT

During the first round of the government’s homebuyer tax-credit program, only first-time purchasers could qualify for up to $8,000 in tax credits. But this time, many current homeowners could get in on the deal, too.

On Thursday, the House and Senate passed an extension of the popular homebuyer program that would allow people who have owned their homes for at least five years to buy a new home and get up to $6,500 off their tax bill. Why the switch?

By extending the credit to current homeowners, the federal government is aiming to move a more upscale segment of the market into “a more normal cycle of buying and selling,” where people might move to a better home every seven or eight years, Mr. Cottrell says. The five-year ownership requirement discourages people from flipping houses the way they did during the real estate bubble.

President Obama is expected to sign the bill quickly. Here’s what it means for you:

– First-time homebuyers still qualify for up to $8,000 in tax credits; those who have owned their homes at least five years qualify for up to $6,500 in credits.

– Purchases must be secured by April 30, 2010 and closings finalized by June 30.

– Single taxpayers with an adjusted gross income under $125,000 (under $225,000 for joint filers) are eligible for the credit’s full benefits. Those with incomes up to $145,000 (single) or $245,000 (joint) may receive partial credits.

– Homes worth $800,000 and under are eligible for the program.

– Members of the military serving outside the United States for more than 90 days will have until June 30, 2011, to qualify for the incentive.

– The program is expected to cost the federal government $10.8 billion in lost taxes.

Rochester MN Market Update April 13, 2009

There are currently 1083 residential properties for sale in Rochester, Minnesota, with an average list price of $229,183 (median $176,500) and an average of 147 days on the market.
Last week (April 6-12, 2009) there were 70 new listings and 2 listings that came back on the market. The average asking price was $202,685 (median $161,550) and $304,900 (median $209,900) respectively. Three listings expired last week, 10 cancelled, and 8 were extended.
There were 54 homes that went under contract (to pending) last week. Average list price was $164,623 (median $154,900) and average market time was 82 days.
Eight homes sold (closed) last week. The average sold price of $198,200 (median $153,100) was 97.34% of the list price and 97.09% of the original asking price. These homes averaged 89 days on the market.

8,000 Dollar Homebuyers Tax Credit - Better Than You Think!

You've heard about the $8,000 First Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit. And you've thought it might come in handy ... someday.

But you're not sure it'll help you now, today. With the projects that require an urgent infusion of cash.

The house you're planning to purchase is in fundamentally good shape, but the landscaping needs attention and you want to install window treatments, too.

Now you can. A little loophole in the $8,000 First Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit allows you to purchase the house between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 and then immediately file an amendment to your 2008 tax return, in order to take immediate advantage of the tax credit.

"Hold on," you say. "How can I purchase the house in 2009 and take the tax credit on my 2008 return?"

In a word, "loophole".

The federal government is doing everything it can to get the stimulus package into circulation. The intent of the bill is to infuse the economy with cash. The feds want you to spend money on landscaping; they want you to install those new window treatments.

Keep in mind, first time homebuyers are defined as those who haven't owned a home in the last three years. Home purchases must be made between January 1 and December 31, 2009 in order to qualify for the $8,000 tax credit.

So go ahead. Work with your trusted real estate advisor. Select a solid home with a good foundation. Hire a qualified home inspector to make sure it's a sound investment. Move forward with the purchase, enjoying one of the lowest mortgage interest rates in history. And then enjoy the $8,000 tax credit.

Scott Finley a designated GRI, CRS and Broker/Owner of Help-U-Save Real Estate. A prominent name in Rochester MN real estate with over 22 years of Real Estate experience. Visit http://www.helpusavemn.com for details, property listings, and information about finding beautiful Rochester homes for sale.

Rochester MN Market Update April 6th 2009

There are currently 1,090 residential properties for sale in Rochester, MN. The average list price for these properties is $227,165 (median $174,900) and the average market time is 148 days.

Last week (March 30 to April 5, 2009) there were 51 new listings and 16 that came back on the market with an average asking price of $189,641 (median $169,900) and $212,093 ($149,900) respectively. Two listings were withdrawn, seven canceled, 14 expired, and 21 extended.

There were 40 homes that went under contract (to pending) last week. These properties had an average list price of $173,355 (median $154,500) and an average of 113 days on the market.

The 29 homes that sold (closed) last week had an average sold price of $181,221 (median $155,000), 98.69% of the list price, 94.06% of the original list price. These homes had an average market time of 129 days.

Rochester MN Market Update March 30 2009

(March 23-29, 2009) there were 63 new listings and 13 that came back on the market. Average list price was $201,346 (median $165,900) and $233,107 (median $159,900) respectively. Seven listings canceled, one was withdrawn, ten expired, and fourteen were extended.

There were 35 residential properties that went under contract (to pending) last week with an average list price of $175,560 (median $149,500) and an average market time of 90 days.

The 18 homes that sold (closed) last week had an average sold price of $167,641 (median $142,445), 93.22% of the list price, 84.56% of the original list price. These homes had an average of 179 days on the market.

There are currently 1,096 homes for sale in Rochester, Minnesota. Average asking price is $227,482 (median $174,900); average market time is 149 days.