Wondering if it may be time to buy your first home? Take a look at this before you get started.You Don’t Pay The Agent’s Commission as the BuyerSo many first time buyers wonder, “do you have to pay a real estate agent if you are buying a home?” For some, the thought of having to shell out extra cash when they are already doing all they can to save for their down payment is enough to make them walk away from the entire process before they even get going. Many are surprised to f... read more

When considering what renovations to do in your home, it can feel like you’re a slave to resale value projections, rather than your own desires for customizing your home, not to mention the ever-present third category: necessities such as new roofing. Luckily, the correlation between exciting renovation projects and solid return on investment can be stronger than you think! According to HGTV, a good rule of thumb is to plan to recoup about 75 to 80 percent of your cost upon resale, meaning the renov... read more

Did you know there are 10 MILLION bacteria per square inch of a kitchen sponge? What about the fact that your pillow is as germy as a TOILET SEAT! Those are just two of the mind blowing (and scary) facts about common household items that are probably not getting cleaned as regularly as they should be. With that said, here are items that you should give a little extra TLC to this weekend! Remote ControlGood Housekeeping spilled the dirty truth on the Today Show by reminding us that while we kno... read more

By NorthStar Moving Co-Founder Laura McHolm It’s sweetheart month and you’ve found the one! Sure there’s music, trumpets and fireworks, but mostly it’s just about finding that someone who you want to share your remote control. When you find that special someone that feels like home, moving in together is often the next step. While cohabitation is an exciting step forward in any relationship, merging two homes, decor styles and closets can be a challenge. Moving in with your signif... read more

Here is a look at how the housing market played out for the Albert Lea community this past month. In January, 13 single-family residential homes were sold with an average SOLD price of $122,446. The average days on market for those sold properties were 50 days.  January also brought 14 new homes to the market with an average list price of $143,378 for those new homes added.  Currently there are 83 homes for sale in the Albert Lea community.  (Sta... read more