The Geography of Jobs

The Geography of Jobs from TIP Strategies, Inc

And if you’re looking for the low down on your own neighborhood or contemplating moving to another, check out the Minneapolis Association of Realtors’ “Your Neighborhood At a Glace”  chart for statistics on median prices, property taxes, crime, and more.   » Go there now

The ranking touts Plymouth’s “topnotch” schools, plentiful jobs, affordable housing, low crime rate and active outdoor culture. In addition, the report shows that Plymouth has a significantly higher-than-average median family income, family purchasing power, math and reading test scores, and percentage of residents with a health plan (91.2%); AND lower-than-average auto insurance premiums, shorter commute times, and lower median home prices. Here are a few other things they say about our little gem of a city…“Home prices are within reason: The typical three-bedroom, two-bath house goes for $350,000. The city’s main school district is ranked among the top three in the state, and for culture, Plymouth’s open-air amphitheater, the Hilde Performance Center, hosts numerous summer concerts. Residents are a quick drive from the Mall of America, the nation’s biggest mall.

And did we mention the outdoors? Plymouth boasts more than half a dozen sizable bodies of water. Of course, this being Minnesota, winter can be brutal: January’s average low temperature is about 13°F. But when the mercury plummets, the locals get busy. In February the city hosts a Fire & Ice Festival that includes mini-golf, bowling and basketball – all right on the ice.”

Money ranks the communities based on financial data, housing, safety, crime rates, weather and similar factors. And while no other Minnesota city made the top 10, the state was well represented, taking 9 of the top 100: Eagan came in at #17, Apple Valley at 24, Lakeville at 26, Eden Prairie at 40, Maple Grove at 41, Burnsville at 43, Rochester at 70 and Blaine at 93.

To read more about why Plymouth is such a fantastic place to live, click here for Money Magazine’s full report on the city. And if you want to get your hands on your own piece of this small city oasis, be sure to check out our latest listing at 18205 County Road 24 in Plymouth or any of our other great properties at www.donedam.com/listings.

One fifth of all Americans – 20 percent – move every year! That means that the average U.S. resident will move a total of 16 times over their lifetime – about once every five years! That’s a lot of moving!

Moving supplies such as boxes, bubble wrap and other packaging materials remain piled up in landfills long after people have settled into their new abodes. EarthFriendlyMoving has set out to change that by offering eco-friendly moving supplies available at consumer-friendly prices.

Founded in 2006, EarthFriendlyMoving™ is the country’s first comprehensive, zero-waste do-it-yourself (DIY) packing and moving system developed entirely from recyclable trash mined from local landfills. The first significant advancement in packing and moving in more than 200 years, EarthFriendlyMoving gives relocating Americans a revolutionary, eco-friendly alternative to cardboard boxes, petroleum-based bubble wrap, Styrofoam and other environmentally destructive packing and moving supplies.

Their signature innovation The RecoPack™ (Recycled Ecological Packing Solution) is a series of lightweight, stackable moving containers made by EarthFriendlyMoving from recycled plastic waste products like bleach, detergent and oil bottles, and rented to relocating customers for a weekly fee of $1 each. The company mines these hard-to-recycle waste products from Southern California landfills before sorting, scrubbing, grinding and remolding them into five sizes of RecoPack containers, plus a delivery pallet (known as the “Poopy Pallet”) made from 500 recycled baby diapers. Following the move, the containers are picked-up at customers’ new homes by EarthFriendlyMoving’s fleet of lime green, vegetable oil-powered trucks.

In addition to the RecoPack, EarthFriendlyMoving manufactures the RecoCube, a biodegradable loose-fill cube made from paper sludge that can be used as fertilizer after the move. The company also expands precut Geami™ packing paper made from recycled paper. In all, EarthFriendlyMoving trucks offer more than 100 other time-, money- and earth-saving packing and moving products for sale or rent.

For every 100 RecoPack containers they manufacture, EarthFriendlyMoving removes an average of 256 pounds of trash from the country’s landfills!

This translates into 7,400 hard-to-recycle plastic bottles, 600 used diapers, 83 pounds of paper, 13 pounds of hydro carbons,and 64 pounds of carbon dioxide.

It also saves three healthy green trees from being cut down and made into disposable packing products like cardboard boxes!

For more information go to: www.earthfriendlymoving.com

Green is the new black during this, the final weekend of the 2008 Parade of Homes Spring Preview^SM presented by Builders Association of the Twin Cities’ members.

This year’s Guidebook includes plenty of great Green articles to help us make sense of this growing movement and the homes in this year’s 14-home earth-friendly mini tour are built to showcase Green building practices, products and design, and many of them will host education seminars and other interesting events to give home buyers a better understanding of their Green options.

Some of the seminars that are taking place this weekend include: “Landscaping for a Green Community”, “Light up Your Home AND Your Energy Bill” and “Geothermal Heating and Cooling: A Systems Approach.” And I’m thinking about checking out an event with eco-friendly design expert, Jackie Kanthak, who will be will answering questions, giving green design ideas, and offering advice on the the hard to find eco-friendly products for the kitchen and bathroom.

Green or not, the homes on parade cover a broad spectrum of prices to fit the needs of every buyer, ranging from the lowest priced home by S.W. Wold Townhomes, Inc. in Cambridge, priced at $119,900, to the most expensive home by Stonewood LLC, located on Loring Drive in Minnetrista and priced at $2,950,000.

So come on out this weekend to take advantage of the longer days and beautiful spring weather that’s rolled our way, and peruse the preview parade!

For more information go to http://www.paradeofhomes.org.

Happy house hunting!!!

:: Kelly ::

I wanted to take a moment and introduce myself. My name is Kelly Carlson, Marketing Manager for the Don Edam Group, and I’m going to be contributing to this blog (and to the real estate industry in general) in the days to come, from a completely new and different perspective than your typical real estate professional.

Hoping to utilize a trifecta of my favorite hobbies (trend hunting, exploring new places, and trying new things), as well as tapping back into the service journalism and editorial voice that my U of M education once afforded me, my intentions are to keep you posted on all the latest news, statistics, tips, and trends in real estate and to scope out and share with you all of the food and dining, shopping and style, arts and entertainment, health, education, and local events that make our Twin Cities neighborhoods unique and fabulous places to live!

Although I am relatively new as a licensed real estate agent, I’m excited to know that the combination my background, work and educational experience, and personal interests can lend something new to the industry. While my expertise (& nearly a decade of experience!) lies primarily in promotions, marketing, and trend research, I also have 2 years experience as a credit analyst for a local mortgage services company and 4 years experience in title insurance research, giving me a range of knowledge and skill that can only add to our clients’ success.

I get a kick out of being a social anthropologist and spotting changes in consumer behavior, scoping out new trendsetting products and services, and just about any super-smart thinking on where our societies are headed at large. I look forward to developing new and innovative ways of marketing your homes and neighborhoods so that others can see why you called it “home” for so long, and I hope you enjoy the information I can share with you about the people, places, and events that form our great Twin Cities communities.

In the meantime, happy house hunting and speedy sales to all!

Kelly

U.S foreclosure filings continued their upward climb in December, rising 97% from the previous year and 7% from the month before. Total foreclosures rose 75% in all of 2007.

According to MSN Real Estate’s latest report, hardest-hit markets were along both coasts, which experienced a more severe boom and bust in the latest cycle, as well as areas hard hit by auto-industry layoffs such as Michigan and Indiana.

The surge in foreclosures is expected to continue at this same pace until after the next wave of risky loans resets in the middle of 2008.

2007 foreclosure filings by state

Every parent of young children has an unwanted-toy graveyard somewhere in the home. Today’s prized playthings inevitably become tomorrow’s cast-offs, ready to be given away, discarded or boxed up in the garage. According to the folks at Springwise however, the alternative, offered by Texas start-up Babyplays, is to receive four to six toys by mail each month. Parents can keep the toys as long as they like, and send them back to receive a fresh batch. Monthly subscription rates range from $36.99 to $64.99.

Babyplays offers a range of age-appropriate toys, and depending on their membership level, parents can rent up to 10 toys a month. Besides reducing clutter, members can save money by renting instead of owning. You could call it the Netflix rental model applied to toys. We’ve seen start-ups tweak the rent-not-buy concept in innovative ways: a German company, Lütte-Leihen, sends parents a fresh batch of baby clothes that can be exchanged for new ones each month and the same model has been applied to women’s accessories, with companies like Bag, Borrow or Steal offering members access to designer handbags and jewellery.

A factor all of these firms must reckon with is the need to acquire an adequate inventory of items to accommodate customer whims—a potentially expensive proposition. That said, the rental model still has plenty of new potential applications. What’s key is that many consumers are becoming less interested in full ownership, opting instead for the convenience and flexibility of renting or fractional ownership.

According to the Center for Media Research and the BIGresearch Consumer Intentions & Actions Survey in February, over 8,000 consumers provided unique insights & identified opportunities in a fragmented and transitory marketplace. On the downside, only one in four (26.2%) are confident/very confident in chances for a strong economy in February, a five year low. A sinking housing market, credit collapse, and record prices at the pump provides the impetus for only half as many consumers holding high hopes for the future than in February 2007.

On the upside, Phil Rist, Vice President of Strategy for BIGresearch, concludes that “Many Americans will be wisely using their rebate checks to save, spend, and pay down debt, so the overall result will be positive for the U.S. economy… some will splurge on big ticket items, many… will use the checks for important day-to-day purchases.”

While women will spend a larger percentage of their rebate check than men (42.2% vs. 38.7%), both genders will plan to set aside the same percentage for savings (18.7%) Young adults 18-24 will spend more of their checks (46.2%) than any other age group. And:

• 30.3% contend they’ll save the money in their piggy banks
• 25.4% will use it to pay down credit cards, while
• 15.7% say they’ll pay down debt (installment loans)
• 14.6% reveal that they’d purchase necessities with their checks, with 22.5% of those earning under $50,000 buying necessities

And while 39.7% of those aged 18-24 are the most likely group to save their checks, 14.9% of this age bracket is the most likely to use their checks toward paying off student loans. 13.3% will buy apparel, and 11.2% expect to purchase electronics.

While confidence in the economy is plummeting, only two in five contend that they’ve become more practical in their purchases, down a point from January, and still on the rise from ’07.

50.4% of the respondents contend there will be “more” layoffs in the next six months, up from 41.5% in January and the highest reading since March ’03 (50.4%). While consumers foresee a dreary outlook for employment, it seems they have the “it’s not going to be me. 5.5% fear becoming laid off, up slightly from January’s 5.2%.

With pump prices rising to today’s average $2.972/gal (source: AAA), driver’s budgets are increasingly strained by additional fuel expenditures. While 40.5% are attempting to cope by simply driving less, 35.3% say pump pressures have led them to reduce dining out and 33.6% decreasing vacation/travel/ 29.8% are spending less on clothing. while 22.4% are delaying a major purchase, such as a car or furniture

Seasonal demand for spring merchandise, such as Easter apparel and lawn & garden supplies, lifts the 90 Day Outlook from January, according to the BIGresearch Diffusion Index, but the current economic outlook is expected to put a damper on spending compared to February 2007.

Consumers aren’t as likely to be considering purchasing high-dollar durables in the next six months compared to last month and last year. Purchase intentions are down for computers, furniture, home appliances, housing, jewelry, DVD/VCR, and digital cameras…major home improvements and vacation travel flat from January (though still down from ’07), while TV remains flat from last month and rises from last year.

Six month purchase intentions for autos remain stable from last month at 11.8%. Among those planning to buy, 43.5% still plan to buy new, while 16.7% aren’t yet sure. The average price auto buyers are planning to spend has lowered from $21,150 in January to $19,830 this month.

For more from BIGresearch, please visit them here.

Whether you have your own office or are part of a larger office environment, you can make some dramatic changes for your pocket book and the environment quickly and easily. Here are some ideas from RISMedia to get you started.

- Use both sides of writing paper. Copy documents on both sides as well. This reduces paper costs enormously and saves a considerable amount of wasted paper.

Statistics: It is estimated you can save 20% on paper by everyone following these simple rules. This can save $70 per employee, per year or $7000 in just a 100 employee office! An employee in a typical business generates 1.5 pounds of waste paper per day, most of which is NOT recycled.

- Paperless payroll can create a large savings as well. Asking receivers of your e-mails and documents to only print them out if it is absolutely necessary. Create a common statement that is at the bottom of all your e-mail communications.

- Buy office supplies that disintegrate in landfills. Avoid aluminum, PVC, and styrofoam.

- Buy recycled paper that is PCF (processed chlorine free). Use unbleached or uncolored paper. If you need to use colored paper, use pastels. Buy products in bulk to minimize packaging.

Statistics: A ton of 100% recycled paper saves the equivalent of 4,100 kWh of energy, 7,000 gallons of water, 60 pounds of air emissions and three cubic yards of landfill space. In the U.S., 40% of solid waste is paper!

- Change light fixtures to compact fluorescent lamps. Replace old fluorescent lighting fixtures that are likely using T-12 lamps with T-8 fluorescent lamps. You’ll get better color, less flickering and use 20% less energy.

- Use occupancy sensors in conference, break and bathrooms. They are easy to install and relatively inexpensive.

Statistics: Changing to more efficient lamps can achieve 50-80% savings, and they last 10X longer. Lighting is generally 29% of the energy use in an office.

- Need new heating and cooling equipment? Opt for the highest energy efficiency equipment possible. Go to the ENERGY STAR Website for information. Turn your thermostats down by one or two degrees and save about 10% on your electricity bill!

Statistics: Heating and cooling office space is responsible for 40% of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. and it eats more than 70% of electricity usage.

- If you are searching for office space, look for green certified buildings. Contact the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the US Green Building Council to start.

Tax Savings: Building owners and tenants who can reduce energy costs by 50% or more can get a tax deduction. Go to the government’s ENERGY STAR Website for more information. Many local utility companies are now offering energy audits for free. Contact your local utility and get started.

- Use power strips for all equipment that can be turned off at night in your home, as well as your offices.

Statistic: 40 watts of energy can be lost for each piece of equipment remaining plugged in, but not in use.

- Upgrade older computer equipment by adding memory capability or RAM and make repairs.

Always purchase new energy efficient equipment if you must replace it, and make sure it has expandable memory slots. For computers the Green Electronics Council’s Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool can help.

- Place equipment into sleep modes automatically – screensavers do not count – they actually waste more energy.

- Always recycle older equipment & cartridges with the manufacturer or at recycling drives in your community. Never just throw away cartridges or equipment in the garbage.

- Recycle cell phones and rechargeable batteries at sites such as www.call2recycle.com

Statistics: Office equipment typically uses about 16% of energy costs. If every US computer and monitor were turned off at night, the nation could shut down eight large power stations and avoid emitting 7 million tons of CO2 every year. And the energy savings in just your own office will add up to real dollars!

- Have a recycling program for paper, glass, plastic at your office. Many times recycling bins are provided free of charge. Search the Internet or phone book for your city’s program and get started. Make sure everyone knows where the recycling bins are and what you expect.

- Reward employees for good energy conservation and recycling behavior. You can even give incentives for ride sharing, bicycling and walking to work, paper savings, energy savings and more. Communicate what they have saved in money, energy and materials. Create office Green Guidelines.

- You will find many ways around the office to eliminate landfill waste and conserve energy if you look. Even smaller items like eliminating styrofoam coffee cups, plastic forks, knives and spoons. The kitchen is a great area to review. And, again, it will save money too!

- If you are too busy and have a large office or numerous offices, consider hiring an energy manager/transportation coordinator. This person can pay for himself in a very short time and preserve the environment for future generations. Full Story