July 2014

Hope you enjoyed your weekend. Temperatures in the 80s and 48 percent humidity made it feel a little like I was sitting on Waikiki Beach, but I guess it beats the alternative, right?

I have all these bits and pieces of info I’ve been meaning to share with you so I thought I’d get it taken care of this week, all in one blog post.

Let me Know when it’s Safe to Eat Again

Did you read about the local E.coli outbreak? A couple of weeks ago there was an outbreak of E.coli at several Minnesota Applebees Restaurants, two of them right here in Blaine. As of last Thursday there were 15 confirmed cases.

Experts aren’t sure, but they think it started with fecal-contaminated greens served by the restaurants. Since I don’t even want to think about how

PMI is one of those things in life that is both a curse and a blessing. Without it, cash-poor homebuyers can’t get a loan. With it, your payments are higher, it takes a long time to get rid of (with some loans it never goes away) and it only protects the lender.

PMI is short for “private mortgage insurance.” If you have an FHA-backed loan it’s called MIP for “mortgage insurance premium.” If you put down less than 20 percent when you take out a conventional loan, you will be required to pay a monthly mortgage insurance premium to cover the lender in the event you mess up and default on the loan. FHA loans have different requirements.

Mortgage Insurance and the FHA Loan

Borrowers who were granted an FHA-backed loan prior to June 3, 2013 can get rid

By far, the most popular homes in Blaine are those on the water. The Lakes and Club West Pond typically draw the most interest.

Currently there are a number of homes for sale on the water in Blaine, with prices from just under $200,000 to more than $800,000. I thought it might be fun to take a look at what those dreaming of a waterfront home can purchase right now in Blaine.

Least Expensive Waterfront Homes in Blaine

Townhome living is carefree living and throw in water views from the living room and master bedroom and this home is one heck of a deal. Priced at $187,900, this 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom one-level townhome has 1,716 square feet of living space. Amenities include a clubhouse with exercise equipment, bike trails, a community pool, tennis