!!!SOLD!!! Near Oldham, SD

Oldham, SD Real Estate Listing #06-660
!!!SOLD!!!-- $134,900

This is a great opportunity to purchase your country home with hobby potential. The ranch style home is situated on 6.6 beautifully matured acres. This property includes 4 outbuildings, of which, one is a hobby/work shop supplied with H2O and electric. This is a great real estate value located in awesome hunting and fishing territory near Oldham, Brookings, and Madison, SD.


For more information and a full photo tour follow the link below:
http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=778744

!!!Sold!!! Real Estate for Sale Oustide Oldham, SD

Oldham, SD Real Estate Listing #06-660
NEW LIST PRICE $134,900
!!!SOLD!!!

This is a great opportunity to purchase your country home with hobby potential. The ranch style home is situated on 6.35 beautifully matured acres. This property includes 4 outbuildings, of which, one is a hobby/work shop supplied with H2O and electric. This is a great real estate value located in awesome hunting and fishing territory near Oldham, Brookings, and Madison, SD.


For more information and a full photo tour follow the link below: http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=778744

Daily Real Estate News | February 2, 2007

Interest Rates Continue to Move Upward

Freddie Mac reports that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.34 percent this week from 6.25 a week ago. Meanwhile, the average interest on a 15-year fixed loan climbed to 6.06 percent from 5.98 percent, and five-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages drifted up to 6.04 percent from 6 percent during that same time span.

"Interest rates moved higher following the latest upbeat economic news," says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac chief economist. He added that while 2006 saw measurable declines in most housing activities, it still ranked as one of the top three years for total home sales on record.

Source: The Wall Street Journal (02/02/07)
© Copyright 2006

Daily Real Estate News | February 2, 2007

Top 10 Best Rural Places to Live

The Progressive Farmer magazine partnered with OnBoard LLC, a real estate research firm, to identify the most desirable rural counties to live in.

The magazine considered household income and spending, home and land prices, crime rates, air quality, education, and access to health care. "We feel our rankings reflect the newfound energy and vitality of rural America and showcase places that offer the very best in quality of life and comfort for their residents and workers," says senior editor Jamie Cole.

The counties selected as the top 10 "Best Places to Live in Rural America" are:

1. Barren County, K.y.: located midway between Louisville and Nashville, Tenn.
2. Warren County, Pa.: on the south side of the New York-Pennsylvania border one hour east of Erie.
3. Randolph County, Ill.: one hour south of St. Louis, just east of the Mississippi River.
4. Gillespie County, Texas: is located in the heart of Texas' Hill Country, about one hour west of Austin.
5. Union County, S.D.: situated in the southeastern corner of South Dakota.
6. St. Lawrence County, N.Y.: across the Canadian border from Montreal and nestled in the Adirondacks.
7. Sac County, Iowa: located in the northwestern part of the state.
8. Garfield County, Okla.: about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City.
9. Amador County, Calif.: just a short drive east of Sacramento, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
10. Polk County, N.C.: 30 miles south of Asheville, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

— REALTOR® Magazine Online

Daily Real Estate News | February 1, 2007

Expect 2007 to Be 4th Best Year on Record

Pending home sales are higher, affirming the stabilization that is occurring in home sales, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in December, rose 4.9 percent to an index of 112.4 from an upwardly revised level of 107.2 in November, but is 4.4 percent lower than December 2005.

The monthly gain was the biggest increase since March 2004 when the index rose 6.9 percent. A steady narrowing from year-ago readings has been observed since last July when the level of unsold housing inventory peaked at an all-time high.

David Lereah, NAR’s chief economist, says a moderate rise in existing-home contracts is a welcome relief.

“Some of the monthly gain may be weather related, but it appears buyers are becoming more comfortable, sensing the timing is good and that their local market has bottomed out,” he says. “I expect modest sales gains throughout the year, with what I believe are sustainable levels of activity. 2007 promises to be the fourth-best year on record.”

What Happened Regionally

The upturn was broad based, with all regions showing an increase.

• In the Northeast, the index jumped 8.1 percent in December to 89.9 but was 4.8 percent below a year ago.
• In the West, the index rose 5.3 percent to 112.2 but was 4.9 percent below December 2005.
• In the South, the index increased 4.3 percent to 129.8 but was 4.2 percent lower than a year earlier.
• In the Midwest, the index was up 3.2 percent in December to 103.2 but was 4.3 percent below December 2005.

What the Index Means

The index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed and the transaction has not closed, but the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.

An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, the first year to be examined and the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales. There is a closer relationship between annual changes in the index and actual market performance than with month-to-month comparisons.

— REALTOR® Magazine Online

Daily Real Estate News | January 31, 2007

World's Most Expensive Home For Sale

Billionaire developer Tim Blixseth is selling a mansion, which he's dubbed "The Pinnacle," at the Yellowstone Club in Bozeman, Mont., which will be completed in a year. The price tag for his 55,000 square foot ski getaway? $155 million.

The sales price makes it the most expensive "publicized" mega-home of its kind, according to Forbes Magazine. It would even trump Donald Trump’s home in Palm Beach, Fla., which he's selling for $125 million.

The Pinnacle will have 10 bedrooms, a heated driveway, wine cellar, indoor/outdoor pools, and a ski lift you can board from inside the house. The view from the front window is spectacular.

"You can't believe the number of people interested in this thing," Blixseth says. "And the guys who are calling aren't going to have to borrow any money."

Source: The Associated Press (01/29/07)

Daily Real Estate News | January 30, 2007

10 Quick Fixes To Sell a Home Faster

Here are 10 quick fixes that make a house more likely to be snagged up by buyers, according to home stager Lori Matzke, founder and president of Centerstagehome.com in Minneapolis:

1. Paint the trim, columns, front door, and the light fixture.

2. Replace the storm door with a full-view one.

3. Clean all the window screens.

4. Add new mulch and a potted plant by the front door.

5. Remove mirrors from over the fireplace so buyers focus on the fireplace.

6. Move furniture 1 1/2 to 2 feet away from the walls to create the illusion of more space.

7. Get rid of any movable storage pieces in the kitchen and take all the clutter off the refrigerator.

8. Clean and regrout the bathroom floor tile.

9. Replace dated bathroom vanities with trendy (and economical) pedestal sinks.

10. Put colorful bedding and matching window treatments in all the bedrooms.

Source: Star-Tribune, Aimee Blanchette (01/27/07)