Stupid Stuff I See in Houses that are for Sale.





I see so many ridiculous things in houses that I decided I need to start taking pictures and documenting them. From poor design decisions to embarrassing (or even illegal) things left out for all to see. I always tell clients, "looking at houses is fun, we'll see some crazy stuff."




Gross bathroom. As bad as this looks, believe me, the picture cannot fully convey the ickiness of this home. Kitchen was disgusting and the living room had a spot on the wall that looked like someone blew their head off with a shotgun. The home sold in multiple offers in one day.





This was actually an appealing feature - expose brick in a loft, but upon closer look... there was some graffiti





This property was listed as having a full basement - it just happened to be a gravel floor with a ceiling height of 3.5 feet.

Gravity furnaces are always a bit shocking - especially when covered with mold spores

Hard to tell what's going on here... This is a boiler (hot water heating system) that has had the copper pipes cut.

Nothing wrong with a Colt 45 neon sign - except that it's not plugged in!!!

10 Questions...

I'm going to post these mini-interviews with past clients from time to time. Let's start this week with two.

First up is Felix Havoc: Twin Cities Hardcore Legend. Besides his great bands, Felix been critically involved with the Twin Cities scene in nearly every capacity. He runs the essential Havoc Records and has booked many shows over the years - including the epic Thrashfests I - V.

1) What town / neighborhood do you live in, why did you choose to live there?
Minneapolis, Standish Ericson. I chose to live near the light rail.

2) What type/style of home do you live in?
A classic craftsman style bungalow.

3) What made you choose to buy when you did?
The end of bachelorhood.

4) What do you like most and least about home ownership?
Most-getting to fix up and decorate the house to exactly my tastes. The worst Minneapolis Property taxes.

5) What sort of projects have you taken on with your home?
Whole house remodel! Nothing was untouched.

6) What bands have you been in / are currently in and what instrument?
Destroy, Code 13, Damage Deposit. vocals.

7) What was the last great show you went to?
Kakka Hata 77 at the Rathole

8) Do you have a favorite record in your collection / one you'd never sell?
Bad Brains "ROIR" sessions. Discharge singles.

9) What was the last great record you bought?
Heratys s/t LP

10) Any suggestions to someone thinking about buying their first house?
look really carefully, don't be suckered by a house that's been "remodeled" as often these are cosmetic changes covering bigger problems. Be leery of any house that changed hands during the housing boom as it might have been flipped with only cosmetic work and still needs major repairs beneath the surface. Try to find a classic well built home that hasn't been remodeled too much. If you must by a newer home, research the builder and talk to other people who bought homes from the same builder. A builders reputation good or bad can last for decades in a neighborhood.
You are better off paying more up front for a house in better condition, better location than trying to save money by buying something that needs a lot of work or is in a sketchy neighborhood. But if you DO want a project and buy a fixer upper, give me a call, as remodeling houses is what I do. I just see a lot of eager homeowners buy projects that are way bigger than they can handle. I've seen a lot of people start small and wind up spending more money on their "cheap" starter home in a marginal location than they could have spent on a turnkey deal uptown.

Great advice. Check out Felix's amazing work at http://www.metropolismn.com/ He does unbelievable work.

Next up, short answers from Tim Sieler. Tim plays guitar Ambassador Gun, killer death grind from Minneapolis. Check out the "when in hell" CD (available at Relapse.com). He also works at Humm's so say hi when you're in there.

1) What town / neighborhood do you live in, why did you choose to live there?
Phillips/ Midtown. Close to downtown, uptown & campus.

2) What type/style of home do you live in?
Two bedroom house.

3) What made you choose to buy when you did?
Just sick of paying rent. (& tax rebate)

4) What do you like most and least about home ownership?
No landlord is great, city taxes are not.

5) What sort of projects have you taken on with your home?
Potentially finish the fence this summer.

6) What bands have you been in / are currently in and what instrument?
AMBASSADOR GUN, guitar & vox

7) What was the last great show you went to?
Weedeater & the T Rock

8) Do you have a favorite record in your collection / one you'd never sell?
The Beatles Abbey Road

9) What was the last great record you bought?
Rotten Sound "Cycles"

10) Any suggestions to someone thinking about buying their first house?

Be patient!

Bands I've Worked With...

The Action Slacks

Ambassador Gun

Amp 176

A Summary Execution

Attention

Autumn Leaves

Bellwether

Betty Gone Bad

Billingsgate

Bloodline

Bloodsport
Bodies Lay Broken

Bombsite

The Box Thieves

Cliffhanger

Code 13

Complete Waste

Condominium

Damage Deposit

The Deaf

Defect

Del Toro

Destroy

Dillinger Four

Dink

Dog Day

The Effigies
Elks

Flounder

Formaldehyde Junkies

Getting Even
The Great Depression

Killsadie

Half Fiction

The Hang Ups

Hello Lonely

High Steppin' Nickle Kids

A Hitchcock Blonde

Holding On

The Holy Ghostriders

The Hoolies

Hope You Choke

The Hot

Icepick

Kontrol Panel
The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group

Listen Up!

Martyr A.D.

Matt Marka

Menstrual Tramps

Model Children

Motion City Soundtrack

Naked Bob

Oswald Armageddon

Pandamonium

Pilot

The Real Enemy

Regret

Saddest Girls Story

SAUNA

Season of Fire

The Stereo

Stockpile

Strike Under

Strut and Shock

Three Minute Access

Teenage Remains

Trial By Fire
Unavowed

Western Curses
Working Classless

The Yoleus

It's Clobberin' Time!!! Jan 19th at The Triple Rock!


Pretty stoked for this show. I've seen Sick of it All 4 or 5 times over the years (starting in 1991) and honestly I probably wouldn't have gone if it was at a big club or a dumb metal club in St. Paul. The fact that this is at the Triple Rock is really awesome. Plus I really like the openers. I think Hope You Choke played with Outbreak years ago in a basement - sweet fast hc and Alpha Omega (though named after the worst Cro-Mags record) are really fucking great! Old dudes, show up early and watch some local old dudes. Young dudes, sorry, you can't cross over - you’re stuck with us. Awesome artwork done by past client, Bill Hauser

STAND UP AND SHOUT - What a house!

Ronnie James Dio's (RIP) house is up for sale. Of course, it's just as you'd imagine it - castle like, swords on the wall, English pub, AWESOME!

Just check out the agent's write up

Full of Grace and Old World charm this 5 BD/5BA 5,000 plus sqft English mansion was built w/custom original pieces taken from Europe. Features include 200 year old wood flrs from France, pub bar from the Kings Arms in Chiqwell Essex, England c. 1820 & custom stained antique windows from the 18th & 19th centuries. Spacious cooks kitchen w/all Viking & Meile products. Master BD w/ antique cathedral windows imported from England c. 1790, hand-painted Griffin wall paper as seen in Greystone Manor, 2 walk-in closets, hardwood flrs & master BA. Downstairs level includes a custom built music studio.

For a mere $3,333,000 it could be yours. Seems under-priced, clearly worth $3,666,000. Courtesy of Gibson International Real Estate, the agent Marko Babineau is my new realtor hero (i wonder if he has heavymetalrealtor.com registered?)

I still remember when I got the Holy Diver LP in the mail from Columbia House records. I had to hide the record afraid my parents would find it. And when a friend showed me how you could spell devil out of the Dio logo when it was upside down, I knew this was my kind of record.

Now or Later?

Interesting analysis... Borrower is concerned that home prices are not done falling. Assuming that the home drops $10,000 next year, but the rate increases - how does this impact the monthly payment?

Today:
Sale Price $250,000
Rate 4.375%
Payment $1,248

Next Year:
Sale Price $240,000
Rate 5.875%
Payment $1,420

With a $10,000 drop in price, the monthly payment will increase $172 per month or $2,064 per year!

Interest rates are ridiculous right now - it certainly doesn't seem like they could go down any further. Home pricing is mostly improving to flat, not even negative - this all adds up to a great time to buy.

Eight Year Anniversary

Hard to believe I've been at this for Eight Years now - time flies when you're having fun. Here are some more numbers.

200 - successful closings

25 - avg transactions per year

30 - most transactions in one year

3 - times I had thirty transactions in one year

5 - most transactions with one client

51,077,991 - total cost of the two hundred houses in dollars

4,598,296,168.68 - total cost in Japan Yen

255,389.96 - avg home cost per transaction

41 - cities I've had transaction in

70 - most transactions in one city (Minneapolis)

2 - states I'm licensed in (MN & WI)

1,061 - number of songs in my itunes library less than thirty seconds long

321 - different bands with less than thirty second songs

43 - most sub thirty second songs by the same band (Nasum)

0 - ideas for more goofy number listings

The $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit is Extended!
· Now, qualified first-time home buyers would receive their $8000 tax credit if they sign a purchase contract by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010.
· The home purchased must be their primary residence
· Buyer cannot have owned a home during the past three years
· Tax credit is up to 10% of the home value (not to exceed $8,000)
· Annual income caps to qualify for the tax credit have increased ($125K for single filers / $225K for joint filers). Partial tax credit can be granted for incomes up to $145K for single filers / $245K for joint filers.


PLUS New $6,500 Tax Credit for Current Home Owners Purchasing a Primary Residence
· Eligible home buyers must have lived in their current home for 5 consecutive years of the past 8 years.
· The new home does not have to cost more than the old home.
· Eligible for homes with purchase agreements signed between November 6, 2009 and April 30, 2010, and close by June 30, 2010
· Annual income caps to qualify for the full tax credit are $125K for single filers / $225K for joint filers. Partial tax credit can be granted for incomes up to $145K for single filers / $245 for joint filers.

Buy a piece of Twin Cities Hardcore History Part 2!

You missed out on Jaysin's house in NE Mpls - someone with no idea of the hardcore significance swooped in and scooped it up. So now's your chance to keep Columbia Heights Hardcore. Jason Parker (and his wife Tracy) are selling their home and moving to Milwaukee. You probably now Jason from his many years of volunteering at Extreme Noise on Thursday nights, from hosting Out of Step on Radio K, from his days of putting out THD records or maybe, just maybe from his enormous dreadlocks that he had 20 years ago.

(this is Jason, but not at the house)

3827 Reservoir Blvd NE, Columbia Heights $204,900

Features

• Fantastic 3 bedroom 2 bath Columbia Heights home - truly move-in condition!
• Well maintained, stylishly painted & decorated throughout + many updates including: ceramic tile floors, copper piping, water heater, garage roof, carpet, chimney swept & duct work cleaned
• Mother-in-law apartment in the walkout lower level with its own kitchen and family room
• Large living room with cork floors, cove ceiling and access to dining room
• Good sized kitchen with new appliances, breakfast bar and plenty of cupboard and counter space
• 100 amp circuit breaker electric service, gas furnace and central air - both new 2002
• Large lot with tile patio, nicely landscaped w/ plants, shrubs & mature trees
• All appliances stay: 2 x refrigerator, 2 x stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer
• Attached garage accessible from kitchen plus additional off street parking
• Two bedrooms on the main floor, bedroom and nursery up, plus bathrooms on both main and lower levels
  

Additional HC Cred... Andy Hart of Holding On, The Real Enemy, Martyr AD and the Box Thieves lived in the mother-in-law apartment

Buy a piece of Twin Cities Hardcore / Punk History... sort of.

Jaysin - the original singer of Kill Sadie and Bodies Lay Broken and the only singer of The Real Enemy, Hope You Choke and Getting Even (so far) is selling his house!

It's a nice little house up in Northeast Mpls, on the hill near Audubon Park and it qualifies for the MPLS ADVANTAGE Program. Really, you'd be stupid not to buy it.

Features 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, nice large yard for growing vegan treats, dining room, nice living room and a good sized kitchen. All appliances stay including the ideal refrigerator to support you breaking edge. New furnace 2009!

All this and so much more $140,000

I Want Free Money! I Want Free Money! I Want Free Money! I Want Free Money!




Attention first time home buyers - the government wants you to buy a home. What are they doing about it? How about an $8,000 credit on your taxes? If you owe $500 at the end of the year - you get $7,500 refund. If they owe you $500 at the end of the year - you get $8,500!

• Buy between January 1st 2009 and December 1st 2009
• Any type of home (condo, townhouse, single family home) - must be your primary residence
• Must make less than $75k a year as single person or $150k as a married couple - above that money still available, just less - up to $95k and $170k
• First time buyer is a first time purchaser OR someone who hasn't owned in 3 years
• No repayment if you own for 3 years (recaptured on sale if sold before 3 years)

Of course there is fine print and you should consult a tax professional - but this is a significant improvement over the plan previously approved.

INTERVIEW YOUR REALTOR!!!


Let's face it, there are a lot of Realtors out there - some much, much, much better than others. Most people know a Realtor or know someone who knows a Realtor and they just go with them - whether or not that agent is a good fit. Make sure it's a good fit - INTERVIEW YOUR REALTOR!!!

Generally when a seller hires a Realtor, the Realtor performs a market analysis. Besides providing information about the pricing of the home, the Realtor should review how they will market the home. Typically more than one Realtor does a market analysis - so you've made a decent effort at an interview process. Here are some things you can ask (though the agent should cover these things while presenting the market analysis):

1. How long have you been a licensed realtor or real-estate agent?
2. How far does your area extend?
3. Do you live in the area?
4. How many homes have you sold in the past year?
5. What services can you provide, specifically, in terms of marketing my home? (flyers, ads, open houses, etc.)
6. What other services or individuals can you recommend to assist in preparing my home for sale? (repair people, gardeners, painters)
7. How quickly will my home appear in the MLS? How quickly will the photos be added after it goes online?
8. What is the average number of visitors you expect to get through my home?
9. How long do you expect my home to be on the market? Why?
10. How will you go about setting the price of my home?

One extra step I wish more sellers would take is to look at listings online that a Realtor has. What you can see online might shock you - misspelled words in the description and a lack of photos or worse yet - BAD PHOTOS!! There are so many bad photos out there that people have made websites dedicated to actual real estate photos.

Because of the market analysis process, most sellers interview their future Realtor. Very few buyers (especially first time buyers) interview their future Realtor though. You want to hire someone with experience and ability, but you want someone who you can get along with. Beyond that, first time buyers might need someone who can take more time explaining the process and setting some expectations. Here are some questions that perspective buyers recently asked me:

1. Are you a full-time agent?
2. Whom do you represent (buyer or seller)?
3. What is your office size, support staff, etc. ?
4. How long have you been an agent?
5. Do you have a salesperson’s license or a broker’s license?
6. Do you hold any professional designations? Any courses/classes taken recently? How do you stay current?
7. What is your understanding of my home buying needs?
8. What do you think of the other agents I am interviewing?
9. How many buyers or sellers are representing at this time?
10. Do you work in partnership or use assistants?
11. Can you provide references?
12. Could you provide us an activity report for the last 12 months – concentrating on the areas we are interested in?

• Property address?


• Property type?


• Sales price?


• Date of sale?


• Was the buyer or the seller represented?

13. What was the total dollar value of the property sold during the preceding 12 months?

Another question for both buyers and sellers in regards to an agent with a "Team" is - Who will I work with? You might be hiring the super star Realtor in your area, but never look at a house or negotiate an offer with that Realtor, instead you get assigned to their less experienced underling.
In the end you want someone who you're comfortable with. Comfortable that they'll do a good job for you and comfortable with their personality. You're going to be spending a significant amount of time with your Realtor, you should be confident that they're the right person for the job.

I'm confident in my skills and I'm happy to compete for your business.

Interest Rate Update

Wow, the bond market is soaring with the news Tuesday from the Federal Reserve. The Fed announced that it will initiate a program to purchase toxic mortgages from Government Sponsored Enterprises (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks). Purchases of up to $100 Billion in GSE direct obligations under the program will begin next week. Purchases of up to $500 Billion in Mortgage Backed Securities will be conducted with the goal of beginning these purchases before year-end. The ten year treasury just went under 3% today. Last time it was there might have been in the 1950’s. So rates are now in the 5.25 – 5.375% range. The question is ~ for how long? Usually these events have a short life span. So here is something to keep in mind:

a 1% rate drop equates to around a 10% payment drop for a buyer.

If you are on the fence, this could be the push you've been waiting for.

Perception vs. Reality

Between the media and campaign commercials we keep hearing that banks are in rough shape. There's no doubt that there are some serious economic problems going on - but many people have the Perception that it's impossible to gt a loan right now. The Reality is that there is plenty of money available for loans. People who could get a loan 6 months ago can still get a loan - and interest rates are better! Rather than assuming you can't get a loan, talk to a quality lender and take advantage of this STRONG buyers market! Don't know a quality lender? Get in touch and I can point you in the right direction.

Over 6 months without an update - WEAK!!! What can I say. I am actually busy - people really are buying and selling places. First time buyers, take note - this is a GREAT time to buy.

I'll ease back into this buy updating my, "bands I've worked with" list.

The Action Slacks
Amp 176

A Summary Execution
Attention
Autumn Leaves
Bellwether
Betty Gone Bad
Billingsgate
Bloodline
Bodies Lay Broken
Bombsite
Cliffhanger
Code 13
Complete Waste
Condominium
Damage Deposit

The Deaf
Defect
Del Toro
Destroy
Dillinger Four
Dink
Dog Day
Elks
Flounder
Formaldehyde Junkies

The Great Depression
Killsadie
Half Fiction

The Hang Ups
Hello Lonely
High Steppin' Nickle Kids
Holding On
The Holy Ghostriders
The Hoolies
Hope You Choke

The Hot
Icepick
The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group
Listen Up!

Martyr A.D.

Matt Marka
Menstrual Tramps
Model Children
Motion City Soundtrack
Naked Bob
Oswald Armageddon
Pandamonium
Pilot
The Real Enemy

Regret
Saddest Girls Story
Season of Fire
The Stereo
Stockpile
Three Minute Access
Teenage Remains
Unavowed
Working Classless