Rise of the Guardians

This is how I ended up at the movie, Rise of the Guardians. Friday morning I told Hayden that if he got a 12 out of 12 on his spelling test I would take him to the movies. I knew I would take him to the movie, but I didn't really expect him to get a 100% on his spelling quiz. He's a smart boy, but spelling has been a challenge for him so far this year in school. BUT...he did it. The movie was a definite event and so we went Sunday.

The movie was one of the better kid's movies I have been to. It was fun to watch and the boys stayed entertained the whole time. That's all I can ask for when I spend $70 on tickets and popcorn.

Your Last Chance to Save Money on FHA Loan?

Your Last Chance to Save Money on FHA Loan?

Cowboy Christmas

Tis the season for Cowboy Christmas in Medora. My family and I went last year and it was a nice "opening weekend" to bring on the Christmas spirit. They had plenty of quality acitivities to do and the people in Medora were very welcoming. So, we're going to go again this year!

You can find more information at Facebook. Just type in Medora Cowboy Christmas and you should easily find it. Last night my son wrapped up the Chinese class, Clever Dragons. The whole class went out to the China Star and ate and the children put on a nice presentation. Teacher Karmen gave every student a certificate. The kids were very proud of themselves.

In Real Estate: A lot of new construction is going on around town. You should use a REALTOR(R) if you are planning to build. A REALTOR(R) represents YOU and YOUR best interests. They can help you throughout the process from: A) Signing the contract; B) To how much to pay in earnest money; C) To help guide you if your home is not completed in time; D) What if your home does not appraise out; E) Everything in Between Be proactive with your build from the beginning. Many builders will pay for your REALTOR's commission. It's well worth the investment to have guidance when building.

Thanksgiving Day Vacation

I hope everyone had a Great Thanksgiving! I spent time with my family. I was able to pull off a great ham thanks to Sam's Club. I did end up peeling and cutting potatoes because I showed up to my cousin's house before anyone else. Not a big deal. I remember being on potato duty when I was 10 years old. Grandma made pies. Then we all sat around and played Apples to Apples until my older son had a meltdown. At least one person has to fall apart at the holidays. The meltdown was caused by a hurt foot. Couch Cushions on the floor + 2 boys running around = foot injury It also equals a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I DID NOT DO ANY EXTREME SHOPPING FOR BLACK FRIDAY. Saturday rolled around and I took my 5 year old to bell ring for the Salvation Army on behalf of Rotary. He did not last long. He fell asleep like a homeless man on the bench inside the entry way of Scheels.

I followed up Sunday with an Open House at 1120 S 7th St in Bismarck. Afterwards I tackled my artificial Christmas Tree and other Christmas decorations. I still fit in plenty of movies :)

Open House

November 25, 2012: Open house today from 1-2:30 at 1120 S 7th St in Bismarck.

Virtual Tour - New Listing!

Funny Cat Video

Cake Baking

  

We had a long weekend at home.  There was no school on Friday or Monday.  Plus, we had a snow storm.  So, I was sliding around a little in my car on Friday at 4:30 in the afternoon and decided it was time to slip and slide home and stay put.  There I was watching Christmas movies (already!) and doing a little laundry.  My 7 year old wanted to bake a cake. 

So we made a Pineapple Up Cake.

Here is the recipe we put together.....

Grab a 13"x9" pan and spray it with non-stick spray
Heat the oven according to the directions on the cake box.

Melt 1/3 cup of butter in the microwave.
Add 1/2 cup of brown sugar to the butter and stir.  Spread in the bottom of the pan. 

Place pineapple rings on top of the butter and sugar mixture.  Place 1/2 a maraschino cherry in the center of each ring.

Take a box of cake mix and prepare it according to the box directions.  I chose pineapple cake mix.  Spread that evenly into the cake mix.  Bake according to the box directions.

Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake!

Home Buying Guide

Follow this guide so that you know what to expect when you buy a home.  Call me to get started on your home search today!

November! (ALREADY?!)

I made it through Halloween!  My boys were characters from Skylanders.  Here are Chop Chop and Spyro.

We had a lot of fun.  Grandpa and Tracey came and visited the boys after school.  Then we drove up to my Grandma's apartment to see what treats Grandma had.  She had glow sticks, funny glasses, and candy!  Next, we went to Good Shepherd Church for their Trunk or Treat Party.  They did a great job and had games, movie, haunted house, and the treats! 




Now that we are headed into a new month, I thought it would be a great time to check the local numbers in Real Estate in Bismarck and Mandan.  The amount of homes that have sold are about the same as last year at this time.  The Listing and Sold Price are up 13% and the days on market are down 17%.  This tells me that if you price your home well at a fair market price, it should sell more quickly than last year!  Buyers, be ready to offer close to full asking price if the home if you find a decent home at the right price.  It's going to go fast.

Halloween

I made it back from vacation in Massachusetts.  The fall colors were wonderful to see.  I spent time in Boston, Salem, and Auburn.  










Halloween is almost here!  I still have to finish my kids costumes.  They both want to be characters from the Skylander's game. I am taking my kids to the Haunted House/Silent Auction/Carnival at Prairie Rose School (south of Bismarck) on the 27th.  It's open to the public.  The carnival has a cake walk and games.  It's a fun and inexpensive activity.  Tickets are $0.25.  

I found a fun recipe for Brain Dip! Brain Dip

Local news reported that a site has been chosen for the new Bismarck High School.  Go to the following link to read more: Bismarck Tribune

Automatic Reply: Vacation Notice

I am going on vacation to Massachusetts and my sister agreed to come with from Utah.  This will be a fun girls getaway!

Erin Barry (Sister)

See you in a week!

Monday Mayhem

Predicting the Future (weekend)

Oh, the places that I will go this weekend.... First, I am officially obligated by my boys to go to the Pumpkin Patch tomorrow because I let the cat out of the bag. I am excited to go too, but sometimes a laziness sets in on the weekend and it's REALLY hard to leave the house :)

I will definitely follow up the Pumpkin Patch with a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte as long as a world shortage on Pumpkin flavoring hasn't taken effect. (I heard a terrible rumor about this).

I am going to follow it up with church on Sunday and then an Open House at 539 MARILYN DR, Mandan. I would love to see you out there and I would enjoy some company! SUNDAY 1-2:30.

Seller Tip

Bismarck Happenings

I am a big fan of Papa's Pumpkin Patch. I am planning to take my kids this weekend.

SEASON: The 2012 season at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch is Sept. 10 – Oct. 20. We haul pumpkins and all of our other produce like squash, gourds, straw bales, corn stalks and decorative corn into the yards each week in September so you always see a fresh supply of fall color. HOURS: Papa’s Pumpkin Patch is open 12-7 pm daily, weather permitting. Always double check the home page of Papa’s website or Facebook fan page if you’re uncertain about the weather or our hours. We try to post our intentions for each day by 11 am. If we need to close the patch during the day, we will post our closing on the website and fan page as soon as we make the decision. Mother Nature in North Dakota can be challenging sometimes! COSTS: General admission at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch is $3/person. Infants and toddlers age 2 or younger are free. If you are visiting Papa’s Pumpkin Patch on Monday through Friday as part of a pre-scheduled group or party, the cost is $1/person.

Why Do I Need a REALTOR?!

All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR "®" logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again. But if you're still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are a dozen more reasons to use one: 1. Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power, he or she can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. 2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search. 3. Your REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. 4. Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate. 5. Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. 6. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders. 7. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly. 8. When selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. 9. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property. 10. Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to advertise your property. 11. Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. 12. Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home. "http://www.realtor.com/Basics/AllAbout/Realtors/Why.asp?source=web"

What is YOUR home worth?

Book Giveaway

I am giving this book away.  Enter for a chance to win by liking my fan page at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bismarck-Beth-Keller-Williams-Roers-Realty/169677599735092

Clever Dragons and more

Later today, my friend Karmen, is teaching one of her first Chinese classes of the season.  It's called Clever Dragons and my 7 year old seems to enjoy.  He loves everything Chinese.  This can be linked back to Pokemon in some way.  None the less, I am glad Hayden is showing interest in another culture.

If you are interested in Chinese classes for your kids, it is called "Clever Dragons" and it is through BSC Enrichment.  You can also email me for details BismarckBeth@kw.com

My other son, Tyson, is learning Spanish at school.  He is in Preschool.  I don't have any idea of how much he retains of this, since I don't speak Spanish.  He could be fluent or just throwing random noises my way and I can't really tell the difference.

The only issue that I can see wrong with my bilingual children is that I am awful at languages.  I seem to make it okay with English.  I am happy my young children are already ahead of me when it comes to different languages.  I imagine that only will surpass me as they get older and ultimately our goal as parents is to pray that they are better than us as they grow.

Let me know if there are any fun activities that you would like to share!
 

3619 Palomino Dr. N, Mandan, ND

http://www.bismarckmandanhomes.com/mls_detail;jsessionid=2B4040CE278D00B4DCAF64469F6E244D?mls_number=318265

The Home Selling Process: Determining Value of a Property

Let’s begin with this direct statement:

I am not the one who decides how much your home is worth.   The market does.

It tells us exactly where to price your property to sell and how to approach the marketing of your property.   Here are the factors that will affect the value in today’s market:

Price

Pricing your home properly from the start is the deciding factor on how long it will take to sell it.

Location

Location is the single most important factor in determining the value of your property.

Condition

The condition of the property affects the price and the speed of the sale.

As prospective buyers often make purchases based on emotion, first impressions are important. I’ll be able to help in optimizing the physical appearance of your home to maximize the buyer’s perception of value.

Competition

Prospective buyers are going to compare your property – both the condition and the price – to the other listings in and around your neighborhood. Those buyers will determine value, based on properties that are listed or have recently sold in the area.

Timing
Property values are affected by the current real estate market. Because we can’t manipulate the market, we’ll collaborate on a pricing and marketing strategy that will take advantage of the first 30 days your property is listed. It’s the  window of opportunity when buyers and their agents discover your property and are most likely to visit and make offers.

STEP BY STEP HOME BUYING PROCESS