Top 10 Saint Paul Real Estate Blog Posts of 2011

There is always something interesting happening in the world of Twin Cities real estate. And we've written about many of those events and stories here at the Homes of Minnesota Saint Paul Real Estate Blog! Read on to find out what our most popular posts were for 2011.

Saint Paul & Minneapolis Residents Happier Than Most

In November, Men’s Health Magazine released a list of 100 American cities and the overall level of happiness of the citizens who live there. Both of the Twin Cities ranked in the top 20, with St. Paul receiving an A- for an overall grade and Minneapolis a B+.

Mid-Century Modern Home Tour in the Twin Cities

Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area have many home tours that occur between spring and fall. Seven mid-century modern homes around the metro were open for public viewing. The Mid-Century Modern Home Tour was self-guided through seven homes that ranged from a Frank Lloyd Wright home to a California modern house with courtyards.

Razing Houses to Improve Housing Stock in the Twin Cities

Too much of Minnesota's housing stock is old and outdated. When homes are beyond the scope of reasonable repair or rebabilitation, it can be more worthwhile to demolish them. South St. Paul's Housing and Redevelopment Authority buys and razes these types of properties as part of a program to clear old lots for new housing.

Vacant Buildings Decline in Saint Paul

Not all homes are worthy of demolition, however. The number of registered vacant houses in the city of St. Paul has steadily dropped since its peak in 2008 as more are being fixed up and put back on the tax rolls.

Minnesota Home & Patio Show 2011

The 32nd annual Minnesota Home & Patio Show occurred at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in February. Soon enough, the show will be returning, with more than 400 local and national manufacturers and retailers expected to be on site once again. Mark your calendar!

In-Law Units, Granny Flats and Accessory Dwelling Units

For years, homes in the United States have gotten larger, even as family sizes grew smaller. After the real estate market bust and economic downturn, more extended families have begun sharing space. With more extended families living under one roof, in-law units, granny flats and accessory dwelling units are becomming more popular.

Twin Cities Parade of Homes Spring Preview ~ 2011

In March, the Parade of Homes Spring Preview opened the doors to model homes and neighborhoods throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding Twin Cities. Tour participants had access to 342 new homes and communities. This tour will also be coming in the next few months, so watch for it.

Healthier Indoor Air Radon Mitigation Standards Pushed for New Homes Constructed in Minnesota

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that can be found in soil. Minnesota's rules for mitigating radon gas within homes are some of the strictest in the nation. In 2011, the state Department of Health requested builders do more.

Minnesota Real Estate Market Showing Stability

The housing market in Minnesota has been more stable than in other states. Though there have been some changes in the housing situation since the time this blog posts and its related articles were published. the Twin Cities real estate situation has been much better than in other major metro areas that have seen considerably worse decline.

Those are the top 10 Homes of Minnesota Saint Paul Real Estate Blog posts for 2011. We hope that your year and winter holidays were great. Good luck to you in 2012! We look forward to servicing the Twin Cities real estate community in the coming year!