Okay, “10,000+ Reasons to Buy a Home” might seem a bit excessive, but in a new housing initiative called Minneapolis Advantage, the city of Minneapolis is offering just that….up to a $10,000 zero-interest, zero-payment loan that’s forgivin over a 5 year period (a.k.a. totally FREE after the 5 years are up) to qualified buyers that purchase a home in one of the city’s 18 eligible neighborhoods.

Developed in response to the city’s rising level of foreclosures, the Minneapolis Advantage loan program is a downpayment and closing cost assistance program to help rebuild the housing market in key neighborhoods (located mostly within the central South and North communities) that have experienced higher than normal levels of mortgage foreclosures.

In addition, the Harrison, McKinley, Folwell and Webber-Camden neighborhoods are offering buyers $4,000 in mortgage assistance, and Harrison is adding another $15,000 for renovations. That makes $29,000 in forgivable loan money to fix up an abandoned home in that neighborhood.

So, if you’re looking to buy a home in Minneapolis and you have good credit, now you have 10,000+ more reasons to get out there on the house hunting trail and buy today

Make sure to check out these two listings, which both qualify: 2810 Aldrich Ave / 1820 Skyline Curve

For more information on Minneapolis Advantage program details and detail on how to apply click here.

Newsweek has recently published their list of America’s Top Public Schools.  Edina High School ranked number 93, and was the only Minnesota high school in the top 200.  Other notable schools in the top 300 were St. Louis Park High School at 209 and Southwest High School (in Minneapolis) at 215.  To see other schools in Minnesota and Nationwide, here’s a link to their rankings.

The growing masses of eco-minded consumers are continuously seeking out ways of incorporating green design principles into new or existing homes, but figuring out the logistics isn’t always straightforward. Launched only a few short weeks ago and based on the belief that green design should be available to all, FreeGreen is a new site that offers free, downloadable green house plans.

Free Green’s team of engineers and designers works with industry-leading product manufacturers to create home designs that incorporate different combinations of products, materials and vendors. Their team can also modify or customize any of the design plans and they provide 3-D images, energy simulations and written descriptions to help consumers find the right fit for their lifestyle.

The first of the two models currently available on the site is called the ‘Healthy Family’ model, and combines comfortable contemporary living with superior indoor air quality and low energy bills. With functional options like mudrooms, homework nooks and home offices, Healthy Family homes are intended for young, three- to five-person families in cold to mixed climates.

The second model currently available, the modern ‘Suburban Loft’, on the other hand, features open floor plans and high ceiling loft spaces. Designed to perform efficiently even in cold northern climates, the Suburban Loft plan is intended for first-time buyers or downsizing baby boomers.

And coming soon is the ‘Smart Box’ plan, which FreeGreen aims to make a 1,200 to 1,400 sq. ft. home that can be built for less than $100 per square foot.

Consumers who download FreeGreen’s plans get not just the very detailed plan set, but also an energy report specific to the town or city they select and a welcome packet with additional information, tools and resources.

Check ‘em out at www.freegreen.com!

Managing a rental property is no task for the faint of heart, and that challenge only multiplies as the list of properties grows. Fortunately, Massachusetts-based Investment Instruments, —makers of Rentometer, which we covered not long ago—has come up with a tool to help make the job easier. Read the rest of this entry »