Minesota Housing Finance Agency Needs Your Help!

Minnesota Housing eNews Alert   April 15, 2009   Homeownership Assistance Funding Cut – Immediate Response Needed! Today, the House Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division adopted an amendment to the budget bill that reduces the funding for the Minnesota Housing Homeownership Assistance Fund (HAF) by approximately two-thirds over the next two years to only $300,000 per year.  Currently, the program appropriation is $885,000 per year.  HAF is an essential part of the first-time homebuyer programs offered at Minnesota Housing and provides the opportunity for eligible homebuyers who qualify for a Minnesota Housing loan to receive an interest-free, deferred loan to help with down payment and closing costs.  HAF has a long history of providing and promoting successful homeownership to low and moderate income households, serving a typical household income of $35,000 which is 50% of the statewide median income.  The program is also an integral tool in working towards increasing emerging market homeownership, with a high percentage of emerging market borrowers receiving this assistance. We need your help!  We urge our housing partners to please take a moment and send an email to each member of the House Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division, asking for the immediate reinstatement of this appropriation to the House Budget, especially if you live in one of the communities represented by a committee member.  Members of the committee and their contact information are listed below. We need as many individuals as possible to respond immediately, ensuring that HAF continues to support the recovery of the housing market. Thank you. Karen Clark, rep.karen.clark@house.mn, 651.296.0294, Minneapolis Carolyn Laine, rep.carolyn.laine@house.mn, 651.296.4331, Columbia Heights John Benson, rep.john.benson@house.mn, 651.296.9934, Minnetonka David Bly, rep.david.bly@house.mn, 651.296.7065, Northfield Jeff Hayden, rep.jeff.hayden@house.mn, 651.296.7152, Minneapolis Larry Howes, rep.larry.howes@house.mn, 651.296.2451, Walker Thomas Huntley, rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn, 651.296.2228, Duluth Carol McFarlane, rep.carol.mcfarlane@house.mn, 651.296.5363, White Bear Lake Denny McNamara, rep.denny.mcnamara@house.mn, 651.296.3135, Hastings Will Morgan, rep.will.morgan@house.mn, 651.296.4212, Burnsville Paul Rosenthal, rep.paul.rosenthal@house.mn, 651.296.7803, Edina Brita Sailer, rep.brita.sailer@house.mn, 651.296.4265, Park Rapids Peggy Scott, rep.peggy.scott@house.mn, 651.296.4231, Andover Lyndon Carlson, rep.lyndon.carlson@house.mn, 651.296.4255, Crystal   Minnesota Housing 400 Sibley Street, Suite 300 | Saint Paul, MN 55101 http://www.mnhousing.gov/contact/enews/ | 651.296.7608 or 1.800.657.3769 | mn.housing@state.mn.us

Posted by Aaron Dickinson - Edina Realty on 04-16-2009 at 03:04 pm
Posted in Community Issues, Opinion, Personal Experiences with 0 Comments

Edina Realty – Behind the Red Curtain

Star Tribune had a good article today about the successes and struggles of Edina Realty and of our fearless leader, Bob Peltier, who suffered a severe stroke last year and has fought back every day since.

This story does not even scratch the surface on what both Bob and Edina Realty have done and are doing in the face of challenging times.  There are many stories I can tell you of both first-hand experiences and those of my fellow agents that demonstrate the character of our leadership.  Times are harder today but there are still so many opportunities too.  I bleed Edina Realty Red because both the company and its leaders continue to demonstrate strength and fortitude in the face of ever-changing challenges.

Posted by Aaron Dickinson - Edina Realty on 03-01-2009 at 08:03 pm
Posted in Opinion, Personal Experiences with 1 Comment

Looking for Guest Bloggers

I’m looking for guest bloggers for this site and www.TwinCitiesRealEstateBlog.com.  I’m looking for original topical posts regarding the real estate market here (or comparisons to other cities).  Beyond that, there will be almost nothing off-limits.  If you disagree with my opinions and want to blog about it, that’s ok… though I will post a rebuttal!

If you have interest, give me a call: 612-251-5599

Posted by Aaron Dickinson - Edina Realty on 12-22-2008 at 05:12 am
Posted in Info for Buyers, Info for Sellers, Opinion, Personal Experiences with 2 Comments

Edina Realty Mortgage Speaks About Mortgage Market

An Important Message from Todd Johnson,
President and CEO of Edina Realty Mortgage

To Our Customers,

The dramatic events taking place in the financial services industry and economy are historic in scope and proportion. You may be asking yourself, “What does this mean for me as a home buyer or home seller? When I want to obtain a mortgage, will there be funds available?” The answer is simple: at Edina Realty Mortgage, it’s business as usual. Yes, we continue to originate mortgages for home purchases and refinances. Our wide product range features FHA, VA, MHFA, Conventional, Jumbo, Relocation, Renovation, and Reverse Mortgages. We are committed to helping as many customers as possible enjoy the personal and financial benefits of homeownership. We provide competitive, fully disclosed, and responsible and fair pricing for all borrowers.

A Solid, Stable and Secure Lender

We want to assure you that we remain a solid, stable, and secure mortgage lender. We are a well-capitalized company, and we hold fast to our long-standing responsible lending principles. Edina Realty was one of the first real estate companies to offer integrated mortgage services more than twenty-five years ago. For over ten years, Edina Realty Mortgage has been a joint venture between Wells Fargo Home Mortgage (a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.) and HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., is the only bank in the United States, and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest credit rating from both Moody’s Investors Services “AAA,” and Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, “AAA.”

We Are Committed to Your Successful Closing

We stand by our word. Our exclusive On-time Closing Guarantee (1) ensures that you will close on time AND for the amount quoted on the Good Faith Estimate, or you will get money back. Are you already working with another lender? We will be happy to review your Good Faith Estimate and Truth-in-Lending Disclosure Statement. This no-obligation second opinion from us takes just few minutes, and we may be able to provide reductions in interest and/or closing costs. (2)

As a responsible lending leader, we work closely with our customers to help you reach your personal and financial goals through homeownership. Our team works hard to know you, understand your needs, and listen to you. We put you at the center of everything we do.

Thank you for trusting us with your business.

Todd Johnson
President and CEO
October 2008

1. Available on all qualified purchase transactions. Other terms and conditions apply. See a Home Mortgage Consultant for details.
2. If you have a current lock-in agreement with another lender, this is not an inducement to transfer your loan.

All first mortgage products are provided by Homeservices Lending, LLC Series A dba Edina Realty Mortgage. Edina Realty Mortgage may not be available in your area. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ©2008 Edina Realty Mortgage. All Rights Reserved.

Posted by Aaron Dickinson - Edina Realty on 10-15-2008 at 02:10 pm
Posted in General, Info for Buyers, Mortgage Market, Opinion with 0 Comments

Edina Realty is the Best

I apologize that I have not been posting lately… things have been very busy indeed!  In this market today I am so thankful to be at Edina Realty.  Edina provides great management, the best networking opportunities, a fun office environment, and all the tools I need to succeed in my business.  I’ve been working for the last 3 months to get a large loan servicer as a client and finally have the first 4 listings coming up now and without Edina Realty’s support and capabilities, there would be no way that I could have earned this client.  Foreclosure listing agents be warned: I’m going to be setting a new Gold Standard in REOs.

In short:

Edina Realty is the Best

Posted by Aaron Dickinson - Edina Realty on 09-25-2008 at 01:09 pm
Posted in Opinion, Personal Experiences with 0 Comments