Did you know that a 1% increase in interest rate means that you decrease the amount of house you can buy by $19,000? Read the entire article at HomeWorthTV.

As Mark Allen, CEO of the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors stated:

This edition also features an updated Supply-Demand Ratio (SDR) for December 2006 of 11.01, which means that there will be roughly 11.01 homes on the market for every active buyer in the month of December. This is 54 percent higher than December 2005 and means a longer wait for area home sellers. The SDR is always at its highest point in December while buyers take a pause during the holiday season. See the complete report.

Check out HomeWorthTV for the complete post.

Bottomline, if you are a first-time-buyer there are plenty of homes to choose from in Carver County. The downside is that if you are looking to move-up to a newer, bigger home, then it may take a little longer to sell your current home. Also remember that general statements about a region’s real estate market may not apply to your specific situation. Speak with a REALTOR^®.

Having a tough time selling your home in today’s market?

Check out my post on HomeWorthBlog.

Are you using “Bad Math?”

Just above Harrison Lake is Chanhassen’s aptly named Lakeview neighborhood. Lecy Homes is presenting homesites in conjunction with Lennar Construction.

The attention to preserving backyard trees helps guarantee privacy for the new owners when the homes are built.

Watch for future developments and postings on this new neighborhood. If Lecy is on board it’s sure to be worth the wait. They know how to add the right details to a well-built home.

The wildlife that already lives here includes a gaggle of Canadian Geese who seem to be quite comfortable crossing the street at whatever speed they wish. Maybe they’re some of those Rochester, MN Geese that just aren’t bothered by interruptions from humans?    

High over the rolling hills of Chanhassen is a neighborhood that is sure to have some of the area’s most splendid views. Yes, some of the family homes on Highover and Lake Lucy Road actually do overlook, you guessed it, Lake Lucy!

Others of us who grew up on the plains of the midwest will always have a soft spot in our heart for a good sunset…as is seen from the homes on the western side of the neighborhood. Hazeltine Blvd. and Lake Minnewashta Park are in the foreground of this sunset view. Something tells me that budding meteorologists get their start when they watch the storms roll in from the west, also.

Various builders and the original developers somehow managed to preserve many of the great older trees when these homes were being built. Today we thank them for that extra effort. The result is the rare find to have that northwoods lodge feel when you’re right here in the 952 suburbs.

Boulders are strategically located for maximum impact and aesthetics and blend well with the newer landscaping. Finer details are encorporated in to these homes that begin at about $500k. The kids will be in the Chanhassen ISD # 112 School District and nearby Minnetonka ISD #276 as this meandering school boundary winds through Chan. Both schools are known for offering and excellent education.

One of Chanhassen’s larger developments is Longacres. The area between Galpin Blvd. and Hazeltine Blvd. can be accessed either via Longacres Drive from the west or Hunter Drive if from the east.

(”Hunting” is a prominent theme of several of the winding streets in this community, so let’s go out on a limb and speculate that there is some fine taxidermist work that decorates the walls of the original land developer, OK?)

Minnesota’s own Lundgren Bros was the exclusive builder/ designer for this family neighborhood in the late 90’s early 2000’s and all homes sit on standard, suburban sized lots. Most homes have three-stall attached garages. A nice mix of angles and upgraded brick details combine to make these homes unique and inviting, yet familiar and coordinated. Current values range from Mid $400’s to high $600’s. Harrison Lake is on the north side of the development and provides a beautiful view from the decks of homes on several cul de sacs. The trails nearby are popular with the locals, and with good reason.

Longacres Park is multi-purpose oriented so the parents (or grandparents or nanny?) will appreciate the shade that is offered right by the assorted play areas. Kids of a wide array of ages can learn those life lessons about sharing, teamwork and healthy activities that take place in Minnesota’s great outdoors.

And you thought this was a restaurant in St. Paul. Nope! It is a Chanhassen neighborhood that really welcomes you home and makes you thankful that you are there.

The builder designed the homes on Majestic Way and its continued loop, Walnut Curve, to encircle the cul-de-sacs in the center. (All of the homes on the North side of the street have a famous neighbor with an affinity for all things Purple)

The outer ring of homes has the in-demand feature of backyards that have a stand of trees where the grass ends and then Lake Ann off to the east beyond that forest.

Drive through the neighborhood and you can’t help notice the number of basketball hoops in these nice, relatively flat driveways! You know what that means: Either there are some future Chaska Hawk hoopers that are working on their jump shots or there are even more “Weekend Warriors” who are ready to strap on the ankle supports at the drop of a hat. Maybe both? If the smell of Ben-Gay is noticeable on Sunday nights then that answers it! The old saying of, “The family that prays together stays together” just might be adapted to include the word, “plays.” In either case, it’s all good.

Galpin Blvd. and Brinker Street is the entrance to Windmill Run. Relax, this is a nice array of 90’s built homes, not a wind farm that you’ve seen in the news. It’s just that the many farms of old Chanhassen needed their own windmills so the carry-over adds a nice nostalgic touch.

OK – back to the 21st century: The cul de sacs of Windmill Run provide an ideal play space for bikes and balls and the kids that love them. Low maintenance siding is blended with brick and other materials to finish these mid-range homes. Current values are from the Mid $300’s.

Most homes have attached two stall garages and are well suited for family living. It’s great to see the children get to know their neighbors and build those life-long friendships that come from long hours on the swing sets. That’s why we love living here in Carver County.

Chanhassen has another well-designed mixed development neighborhood near the corner of Hwy. 5 and Galpin Blvd.

Walnut Grove on Prairie Flower Blvd. offers convenient living in both Townhomes and single-family homes. The posting of a 15 MPH speed limit on the private roads means you can feel a bit more at ease when you go out for a walk.

The back yards of these Rottlund built homes meet to provide some nice open space that just begs for a soccer ball! A gathering space under the bright white gazebo helps support that sense of community that makes Carver County such a special place to live. Watch for senior pictures from this neighborhood – that just might make a nice backdrop for the outdoor shots.

Chanhassen’s Bluff Creek Elementary is just across Hwy. 5. The U of M Landscape Arboretum is just west on Hwy. 5 and you already know that parks are plentiful in Chanhassen. Enjoy the great outdoors and the sun or snow of Minnesota!

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories include her childhood tales from Walnut Grove. Maybe that could be some favorite reading around here, too.

Just south of Hwy. 5 on the east side of Galpin Blvd. is the neighborhood called Timberwood. If you know many of the street names in Chanhassen you might recognize that stone and wood names are very popular around here, so this fits right in. The amazing thing about Timberwood, however, is that lot sizes range from two and a half to five acres each. Yes, ACRES.

Several different custom builders selected this area in the 1990’s and made sure that every home had a comfortable yard that pretty much made it impossible to hear your neighbors, “every time they sneezed.”

With that, there comes some debate, however. We all know about the debates over Coke vs. Pepsi, Ford vs. Chevy, and so on. Well with several acres of lush green grass underfoot there is another series of questions to be debated: John Deere or Kubota? 48, 54 or 62 inch cut? Gas or Diesel? Maybe you’d rather not go there and just have it professionally done by a lawn service so you KNOW you’ll get those magical stripes like you see at the ballparks & country clubs. What ever you select, just remember it’s called a lawn tractor, not a lawn mower.

Yes, Timberwood is a community of great homes filled with fine people. Some of the homes have even undergone extensive remodeling and expansion to include the most current updates, inside and out.

The kids can almost walk to nearby Chanhassen Rec. Center and Bluff Creek Elementary School. Convenient shopping is nearby on Hwy. 5.

HomeWorthBlog.com, one of the RE/MAX AdvisorsWest sister sites, has a re-post of an interesting article from RealtyTimes.com.

The columnist, Kenneth Harney, provides an insightful answer to the question: “Is it a housing bust or a media-driven panic?”

If the media hype has caused you to re-think your real estate investments, check out this article.

There’s a great place to call home on the east side of Galpin Blvd. and it’s called The Oaks on Lukewood. You will find lovely homes, most with surprisingly deep back yards for a southwestern suburb!

The backyards provide the wide open spaces that you thought were only still available in North Dakota. (The good news is that it’s less windy here, there are more trees and it’s a much shorter drive.) Seriously, these homes were built in the late 90’s by various builders who really kept the focus on delivering a sense of community.

Stone Creek Park is just south of the neighborhood, as is the new 312 access. If you love the look and feel that trees add to the property then you’ll appreciate what The Oaks has to offer. Yes, there is plenty of birch and maple also, but we’re still trying to figure out what kind of trees Lukewood and Benwood are. Maybe a creative nod to the family of the developer?

Chaska Schools ISD #112 is the district that helps educate these children.

“Hi honey, I’m home!” just might be echoed throughout the quiet streets of Trotter’s Ridge. It is just a nice suburban neighborhood at Birdle Creek that incorporates a comfortable mix of elements.

One remarkable sight is the mix of grand old trees that few might expect to find in a neighborhood this “young” by suburban development standards. Somehow various builders were able to preserve them during construction and we reap the benefits of their majesty and shade today. Apparently there are some fine folks with a good sense of humor and some strong throwing arms when it comes to setting up a thorough “TP” attack on one of the residents.

On the north side the Chanhassen Nature Preserve guarantees that the view from the decks will be spectacular. Even the wild turkeys who live nearby venture out occasionally and remind us that we’re not stuck in the big city…and we’re so very thankful for that!

Chaska ISD #112 educates the children who live the Trotter’s Ridge area.

Sometimes real estate developers come up with names that they wish the area could be. Stone Creek, on the other hand is aptly named and actually an honest representation! Yeah for truth in advertising!

Boulders are prominently displayed in the landscape work that surrounds these impeccable homes on the east side of Galpin Blvd. Keystone retaining walls also provide that nice finishing touch. Local Builder Hans Hagen did a fine job of paying attention to these fine points when they were working.

Construction started in the neighborhood in the late 90’s and continued very early into the new millennium and have current values from the Mid $300’s to the mid $500’s.

Hey – what about the “Creek” in the name? Stone Creek Park, Bluff Creek Preserve and Bluff Creek Elementary School are all nearby.

Many of these homes have all brick facing the street and beautiful pond views. And what about the boat and/or the other toys you ask? No problem. That’s what that third stall in the garage comes in handy. Keep the bikes or the Burley near the door though because the nearby trail is just too good to pass up. “No Motorized Vehicles Allowed” there, so make sure you’re wearing the right shoes.

Marsh Halberg of Halberg Criminal Defense loves living in Carver County.

Nathan Dao, State Farm Insurance Agent in Chanhassen, loves living in Carver County.

John Olson, of the Waconia Fire Department and Co-Program Manager of the Carver County Community Emergency Repsonse Team (CERT), loves Carver County.

And John loves making sure the community is prepared for emergencies, disasters and all of the things most people don’t want to think about. Things happen, and it is good to know that John and people like him are prepared.

CERT, a program of Citizen Corps, is also part of “READY CARVER COUNTY,” a joint effort of Carver County Public Health, Red Cross, and the Medical Reserve Corps of Carver County.

Send an email to MRC@co.carver.mn.us for an information packet on emergency and disaster preparedness.

You can also visit the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.

Lavonne Kroells, Chapter Executive of the American Red Cross Carver County Chapter, loves living in Carver County.

They are based in Norwood Young America at 315 West Elm Street.

THINGS TO KNOW: Though the Red Cross was federally chartered in 1917 by the federal government, the American Red Cross receives no funding other than from private donations.

If you are looking for a charity, this is one of the best. Not only does the Red Cross provide a crticial disaster preparedness service, but anyone willing to make a contribution, in addition to being rewarded in heaven, will be the first to get blood. Not really, but they do provide a critical service.

Mary Welch loves living in Carver County. But as Executive Director of the Chaska Land Trust, Mary also helps others buy a home in Chaska and Carver County.

What is a land trust? According to Mary’s web site:

A community land trust (CLT) is a non-profit corporation created to provide secure, affordable access to land and housing for community members, attempting to meet the needs of those least served by the prevailing market.

A community land trust helps lower income people own homes on land that is leased from the land trust through long-term (99-year), renewable ground leases.

Governmental and private grants further subsidize homes on the ‘front end’ thereby “locking in” the benefit of these subsidies one homeowner after another.

This innovative service is worth looking into if you think buying a home is out of reach for you.