Saint Paul Real Estate Blog 
Irish Fair of Minnesota
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 10:19pm. 193 Views, 0 Comments.
St. Paul is a city famous for its Irish heritage, with about 12 percent of residents claiming roots in Ireland, it’s no surprise that it’s the location of the largest free celebration of Irish heritage in the Upper Midwest. The three-day Irish Fair of Minnesota, now in its 30th year, opens this Friday on Harriet Island in St. Paul. This event attracts well beyond the "heritage circle," though, as last year it drew an estimated 100,000 people, about 35 percent of whom have no Irish blood at all.
The weekend is a celebration of all aspects of Irish culture. It show a reverence for Irish immigrant settlers in Minnesota and at the same time, it recognizes the impact immigrants are making today. Additionally, the Irish Fair Legacy Fund awards grants to…
Saint Paul's Six Point Plan
Monday, August 4th, 2008 at 11:16pm. 188 Views, 0 Comments.
Mayor Chris Coleman has releases a six-point economic development plan for the City of Saint Paul. It was devised in conjunction with major St. Paul business organizations and states goals and responsibilities for improving commerce.
Acknowledging that St. Paul can do more to attract new businesses and keep the ones it has, the plan outlines common-sense ways for the city to:
• Cut through some of the red tape.
• Retain businesses and recruit new ones.
• Revitalize downtown as well as neighborhoods
• Ensure the schools are doing their part to build an educated and skilled workforce.
If St. Paul is going to become a better place to do business, it's going to take teamwork. But it's not the city that creates jobs and wealth, according to the plan…
Interest Free $7,500 for First Time Home Buyers
Friday, August 1st, 2008 at 8:07pm. 220 Views, 0 Comments.
A home purchase tax credit is available now through a housing bill approved by Congress in July. If you have never owned a home or haven’t owned a house during the past three years, and you can close within the qualifying dates, you may be eligible for up to a $7,500 credit against your federal taxes for 2008 or 2009 ($3,750 if you file taxes as a single person).
If you have or will close on a house between April 9, 2008, and June 30, 2009, you could be eligible for the tax credit. It can be a new or old home, a house in any location or condition, and within any price range so long as it is bought during the selected time period
Essentially, Congress is offering tax credits to draw in more home buyers in order to jolt housing sales and sell off high…
Como Zoo’s Newest Resident
Friday, August 1st, 2008 at 12:00am. 98 Views, 0 Comments.
A Chilean flamingo is the first flamingo in Como Zoo’s history to have a baby chick. Como has been exhibiting flamingos since the late 1960s.
The small hatchling burst from its egg on Thursday in the Zoo's Bird Yard.
Due to their unusual breeding practices, many zoos and other institutions have been unsuccessful producing flamingo chicks. But with increased research, zoos have been becoming more successful in recent years. In fact, within the past week Lincoln Park Zoo and Denver Zoo reported their first eggs in history too.
Como keepers attribute the success on a few other factors. The birds were outside a little earlier this season, as well as the wetter than normal spring. This hatchling is one of three eggs laid in late June, the other two…
Ford Plant Receives Reprieve
Thursday, July 24th, 2008 at 12:18pm. 191 Views, 0 Comments.
On Thursday, Michigan-based Ford Motor Co. announced that it’s Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood will continue producing the Ranger small pickup through 2011. Previously, the plant had been scheduled to close just over a year from now.
"This is great news for the City of Saint Paul. Ford has been an integral part of our community for more than 80 years, with a legacy of providing good jobs in Saint Paul — a legacy we are working to extend as long as possible," said Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman in a statement.
In April 2006, due to decreasing sales in pick-up trucks and SUVs, Ford announced that its Twin Cities Ranger plant was to close in 2008. Then last year, the automaker extended the plant's life until 2009…
Saint Paul, Release the Hounds!
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 at 7:48pm. 192 Views, 0 Comments.
In the past, residents on St. Paul's West Side that wanted to take their four-legged canine friends to an off-leash dog park needed to travel to Minneapolis. Dog lovers, that may be changing quite soon! On Wednesday, the St. Paul Parks Commission approved a plan to build several off-leash dog parks, ranging from "destination" parks to "neighborhood" parks, with a promise to satisfy a range of dog lovers.
Included in the recommendations is having special little parks for little dogs. At these parks, larger breeds of dogs can be in one area away from the smaller dogs in another fenced in area so like can play with like. City leaders foresee something for everyone.
As spokesman for Mayor Chris Coleman said on Wednesday after the release of a task force…
Wild West Frontier Fest on the Mississippi
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 at 11:05pm. 191 Views, 0 Comments.
Summer is the season of festivals here in Saint Paul, Minnesota! Going backwards, in the last month we’ve had Highland Fest, the West End Art Show, the Dragon Festival, St. Paul Fourth of July Fireworks displays, and the Taste of Minnesota. I’m sure I’ve missed some along the way, as well. Prepare yourself: It’s time for more fun!
Spur on your inner Cowboy and head to the grandest Family Frontier Festival this side of the Mississippi! Beginning on Friday, July 25th, and running through Sunday, July 27th, the Wild West Frontier Fest on the Mississippi will be in full swing. This event will be located at Harriet Island on the St. Paul Riverfront.
There will be plenty of food and entertainment. There will be three stages for live music and inside a…
Last Day of Highland Fest This Year
Sunday, July 20th, 2008 at 10:11am. 217 Views, 0 Comments.
I truly meant to write about this event on Friday, but it has been such a busy summer here it didn’t quite make it in time. Luckily, Saint Paul’s Highland Fest is a three day celebration and there are still entertaining events happening today!
Held in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul, this year’s Highland Fest began on Friday, July 18, and goes through today, Sunday, July 20. The festival features a juried art fair, music, entertainment, amusement rides, and plenty of food. Highland Fest draws between 60,000 and 65,000 visitors each year, with the largest turnout on Saturday.
Highland Fest is an annual festival organized and promoted by the Highland Business Association, which works hard year-round to highlight the Highland Park community…
Saint Paul Real Estate Market Analysis for June 2008
Friday, July 18th, 2008 at 3:04pm. 198 Views, 0 Comments.
New listings for homes fell in Saint Paul, Minnesota, during the month of June, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors’ Market Update for 100 Twin Cities Communities. There were 632 new listings in the City of Saint Paul throughout the month. In June of 2007, there were 694 new listings, which reflects a drop of about 8.9%, much better than May 2008’s new listings drop of 23.8%. St. Paul’s Downtown, for the second month in a row, has experienced the greatest decline in new listings at -51.2%. This time it was the Phalen neighborhood which experienced the greatest increase in new listings over last year at 111, 18.1% more than June 2007.
When you look at Saint Paul’s posted new listing for the 2008 from January through June for the…
Short Sales Explained
Thursday, July 17th, 2008 at 3:03pm. 223 Views, 0 Comments.
There has been a lot of talk these days about “short sales.” As these types of sales used to be more uncommon, they are a growing trend. Not everyone knows what a short sale is, though!
A “short sale” is what happens when a seller negotiates with their lender to sell a home for less than the debt owed on the mortgage. Short sales are an alternative to foreclosure or bankruptcy proceedings for owners who can no longer keep their mortgage payments current. Because it means the lender is accepting less than what is due, not all of them will be so keen to allow short sales or discounted payoffs. Furthermore, not all sellers or properties qualify for short sales.
If you’re a seller that can’t make your next payment or you’re a buyer thinking of…
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