!!!SOLD!!! Home For Sale in Volga, SD

!!!SOLD!!!
Volga, SD Real Estate List #07-275
List Price $111,900
Sold Price $115,100

What a looker! This charming ranch style home features 3 bedrooms, 1 bath on a beautiful lot in the heart of town. This is a wonderful location to start a family in. Call me today to see this gem.

For more information and a full photo tour visit: www.brookingshomes.com/124.htm

!!!SOLD!!! Spec Home for Sale in Brookings, SD

!!!SOLD!!!

Brookings, SD Real Estate Listing # 06-771

List Price $279,900

This home is nearing completion. It is a very spacious Split-Foyer house featuring over 3000 sq. ft. of finished area. The main level totals 1577 sq. ft., featuring a Master bedroom suite, second bedroom, full hall bath, kitchen, dining area and living room. The lower level will include over 1500 sq. ft. of finish. The lower level finish will offer a large family room, three additional bedrooms, a full bath and utility room.

For more information, room dimensions and progessive pictures visit the following link and click on listing #06-771: http://www.brookingshomes.com/220.htm

Daily Real Estate News | May 24, 2007

American Homes Grow in Size

Despite a decline in the average household size to 2.6 people from 1990 to 2005, according to the Census Bureau, the size of the average U.S. home expanded to 2,434 square feet from about 2,000 square feet over the same time span.

Indeed, about 20 percent of dwellings in 2005 had four or more bedrooms, versus about 17 percent in 1990. The Census report shows that many of these properties are located in Utah, where close to 40 percent boast four or more bedrooms.

In addition to extra bedrooms, today's homes have more bathrooms. Media rooms are also gaining popularity.

Source: Investor's Business Daily (05/24/07)

Daily Real Estate News | May 1, 2007

Home Owners Take Green to the Next Level

More home owners’ to-do lists are beginning to go green. “After two decades of rising costs, home owners are now putting energy efficiency near the top of their remodeling concerns,” concludes the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University in their 2007 report on the remodeling industry.

From 2005 to 2006, demand for energy management systems jumped to 54 percent from 38 percent, according to a national survey of architects. More than one-quarter of remodeling builders and contractors surveyed by the National Association of Home Builders at the end of 2006 reported increased consumer demand for green remodeling; only 6 percent reported less demand for green projects.

Also fueling demand is an aging housing stock. Homes built before the 1970s’ oil embargo use 30 percent more energy per square foot than those built since 1990, according to the Joint Center.

Whole House Approach

“The only way to bring green into 120 million existing households is through remodeling,” says Mike Nagel, NAHB Remodeler’s Council chair. “Americans spent more than $230 billion last year in home remodeling, with energy efficient and sustainable products representing an increasing share of the market.”

Although a majority of remodeling contractors incorporate energy-efficient projects, such as low-energy windows, insulated exterior doors, upgraded insulation, and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, going green increasingly means more than replacing a component.

“Simply putting in that low E window doesn’t solve the problem,” says Michael Strong, a member of the NAHB Green Building subcommittee. “Home owners need to look at the whole room and eventually use a whole house approach to maximize efficiency.”

Top Green Tips

The top eight considerations for home owners, according to NAHB remodelers are:

• Installing maximum insulation in the area to be remodeled.
• Installing high-efficiency windows instead of those that just meet the energy code.
• Sealing all exterior penetrations in the area being remodeled.
• Purchasing only Energy Star–rated appliances.
• Installing only low-flow water fixtures.
• Upgrading to an Energy Star–rated water heater or, better yet, a tankless water heater.
• Purchasing the highest efficiency HVAC system you can afford.

— By Camilla McLaughlin for REALTOR Magazine Online

Merger.

Best Choice, Coldwell combine sales, service


-Kneip and Norgaard announce major real estate merger
BY ASHLEY BOLSTAD
The Brookings Register
Published: March 8th, 2007


Register photo by Ashley Bolstad
-David Kneip and Best Choice GMAC Real Estate are on the move. The Brookings broker just concluded a deal that merged his firm and Coldwell Banker Select, making Best Choice one of the largest real estate companies in the region.

Best Choice is getting bigger. Much bigger.

Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate is joining Best Choice GMAC Real Estate, the two Brookings firms teaming up to keep pace with a growing community.

David Kneip, broker and owner of Best Choice, and Mark Norgaard of Coldwell Banker announced this week that the agents formerly associated with Coldwell have become part of the Best Choice team and are now housed at the company's offices at 611 Sixth St. "This merger is the most recent step in the tremendous growth of Best Choice GMAC Real Estate in recent years," said Kneip.

The move, he said, "will help prepare (the real estate companies) for the future economic expansion we anticipate in the Brookings market." Norgaard and his expertise in commercial real estate will be utilized at Best Choice, where he will serve as a broker associate. The Coldwell Banker office building on Sixth Street will no longer house agents but may still be used by Best Choice. Kneip said his firm is considering its options, whether to sell or keep the Coldwell office building. A decision to sell the building has not been made, Kneip explained, because the location offers an opportunity to expand the merged firm's services.

With the merger, the 16 Best Choice agents are now "blended " with the eight agents from Coldwell Banker Select. Best Choice recently expanded the lower level of its headquarters building to add offices to accommodate the former Coldwell agents.

"This was a great blend," Kneip said. "It brought quality people to a quality company."

Kneip purchased the firm in 1995, and it has been the market leader every year since. Best Choice GMAC Real Estate was one of the first in the state of South Dakota to have homes featured online (at brookingshomes .com) and to offer a moving truck to its customers.

At the time Kneip bought the company, Best Choice had just six agents and a moving truck he acquired as a trade-in on his wife’s car. The business was located in a converted house on Main Avenue.

Over the years, more and more sales agents joined Best Choice to help build the company to its present level of 24.

The Best Choice-Coldwell union already appears to be a good fit, Kneip says.

"As market leaders in the area, our progressive and unique marketing styles will be combined," he said.

"This merger, along with the outstanding Realtors currently at Best Choice GMAC Real Estate, will allow us to serve the Brookings community even better."

!!!SOLD!!!--Real Estate for Sale in DeSmet, SD

!!!SOLD!!!

DeSmet, SD Real Estate Listing #06-722
List Price $171,900

Immaculate, single owner, ranch home in DeSmet, SD with over 3000 sq.ft. finished, built in 1983. The addition, with full basement, was completed in 1996. This home features 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 gas fireplaces and a nicely finished basement. The garage provides 4 stalls for the hobbyist or 4 frost-free cars. This real estate is a must see. Call today to schedule a showing.


For more information and a full photo tour
Click Link: http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?T=814632

!!!SOLD!!!--Real Estate for Sale in DeSmet, SD

!!!SOLD!!!
DeSmet, SD Real Estate Listing #06-723
List Price $35,000

This is a wonderful, landscaped addition to my DeSmet, SD listing (#06-722), a great possible building site for a few spec homes or just a beautiful, large lot for your new home. Current oweners added landscaping and concrete work. Lots of space. Lot sale is contingent on the sale of owners home, listing #06-722.


For more information and a full photo tour
Click Link: http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?T=816138