August 2015

Wow, September is almost upon us. When you grow tired of all the back-to-school shopping, the school open houses and adjustments in sleep schedules, it's time for some fun!  There’s so much to do next month as we wring out the last days of summer.

Minnesota State Fair

The state fair is underway and today is seniors, kids and Minnesota State Patrol day, with reduced admission. It’s also Figure Skating Day and you can meet Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi. If you’re in the mood for music, check out Andy Grammer’s free show at the Bandshell or blast to the past with the The Happy Together Tour 2015. This Grandstand concert features The Association; The Turtles with Flo & Eddie; Mark Lindsay, Former Lead Singer of Paul Revere & The Raiders;

As summer winds down a lot of us are working feverishly on all the stuff we need to do to get the kids back in school (September 8).  If you have a young one just entering the system, you may want to consider Johnsville Elementary, in the Anoka-Hennepin School District, otherwise known as ISD 11.

Located in northwest Blaine, Johnsville has been closed for the summer so that new classrooms can be added to the building. The principal, Scott Johnson and his secretary as well as other staff members will be at Sandburg Educational Center in Anoka until this Friday, August 28. The main phone number there is 763-506-5766.

Johnsville Elementary serves nearly 700 students in grades K through 5 with a staff of 38 full-time teachers, giving it a

“So, Kris, is it still a seller’s market?”

It’s a question I hear on a daily basis and the answer is the same this month as it was last month: Yes, it is.

Our local MLS releases its market statistics a month behind, so although these statistics are from July, 2015, they are considered the most recent numbers. Let’s take a look at exactly what makes this current market ideal for Blaine homesellers.

New Listings in Blaine

Last month we saw a big jump in the number of Blaine homeowners who listed their homes for sale. This month, that number has decreased 1.2 percent from this time last year to 166.

It appears that all those homes that hit the market were snatched up quickly. In fact, the number of days that a Blaine home remains on

There’s lots of fun summertime stuff going on this month in Anoka County and beyond. Check out the five we’ve picked out for you.

Anoka Classic Car Show

Every Saturday throughout the month of August you can visit the Anoka Classic Car Show, open from 5 p.m. until dusk. Aside from some pretty amazing classic cars, you can attend the swap meet and enjoy food and music. Entrance to the car show is at 4th Avenue and Van Buren in Anoka and admission for spectators is free. You can learn more about the event at anokaclassiccarshow.org.

Movies in the Park in Lino Lakes

Enjoy the season’s final Movie in the Park! Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, refreshments and the kids for a dusk showing of Walt Disney’s “Up.” Originally released in 2009,

While the benefits of paying off your mortgage early seem obvious, financial experts are divided on whether it’s a smart financial move. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of paying off your mortgage early.

Pros

• You’ll save all that interest that you would otherwise have owed. Keep in mind, however, that this can be both a curse and a blessing, since this interest provides you with a huge tax deduction.
• Peace of mind. What’s not to like about not having a monthly house payment? The additional money every month gives many who pay early a feeling of security and freedom.
•  A reverse mortgage can become a financial fallback for seniors. With a completely paid off home you’ll get more in a reverse mortgage than you would