So, you've finally made the decision to upgrade from your too tiny, too expensive, too not-homey apartment?! CONGRATULATIONS! You are about to make one of the biggest purchases of your life. Scary, right? How do you know what you can afford? How long does it take to buy a house? What's the difference between an appraisal & an inspection? Do I have to pay for a Realtor®? So. Many. Questions. There is no such thing as a dumb question, so let's dig in! 
In order to ease the huge process of purchasing your first home, there's no doubt you will have to do some of your own research. While your Realtor® might be the expert, it's always a good idea to go into the process with a little bit of knowledge.
So our first tip to you is to educate yourself. Take the time to research the current housing market - is it a buyer's or seller's market? What about loans? Do I need to have a 20% down payment? While 20% is considered a favorable down payment, there are many options ava ...

The famous question for the year ahead: What Can We Expect?? 
We know that with the sudden arrival of a global pandemic earlier last year, the housing market took a huge hit. However, like us, the market was resilient & bounced back towards the end of the year, making up for the abundant loss during the spring season. So, can we expect the same to happen in 2021? 

#1 - Low Inventory 
According to Dave Ramsey, the inventory will continue to be low this year. In fact, in November, it was down 22% compared to the previous year. Which means buyers will have to sacrifice some of their wants. Plan on finding a less expensive home that you can make upgrades to overtime. This also means buyers might need to look into different locations. Whether it's finding another neighborhood or moving to a new town, a Real Estate Agent who knows the area can be an easy way to finding your dream home within your budget. The last tip Ramsey gives is to get preapproved as soon as you c ...

As the New Year begins, it only seems right to take a step back & reflect on the past year. 

Though this year was unlike any we've ever experienced, we were able to grow in many different ways, adapting to this new lifestyle we all lead. We were also reminded of the important things in life, as we're sure most of you were. While 2020 brought many troubles, it also brought a lot of triumphs... 

Here are some of ours:


Our fearless leader, Mr. Troy Krabbenhoft, decided he wanted to invest in his hometown of Moorhead, MN. He established his presence in the community by purchasing the old Country Kitchen in south Moorhead. He spent his summer days gutting the place from top to bottom, designing everything from the color of the walls to the placement of each outlet, & working with multiple vendors to ensure the building would eventually feel like home. Not to mention, he did all this while excelling in his real estate business! To date, this transformation is one ...

The year is 1908... 

The first Mother's Day was celebrated, construction of the Titanic begins, and Henry Ford introduced the first Model T. The growth of the nation and the world lead to many breakthroughs that drastically impacted the way of life. Such growth could be felt in the home, when families would peel through the daily newspaper. Advertisements for this, that, and the third fill the pages to entice families to buy. 
It was also during this time that a Midwest company, Sears, Roebuck and Company started to create a revolutionary business model. They discovered that if they ship building materials straight from the factory, it drastically cuts costs. This model lead to the first ever catalog issued for houses, Book of Modern Homes and Building Plans. This gave people a one-stop-shop to the materials needed for 22 home designs. 
The lumber would arrive via train, and you could begin construction. It included everything down to the varnish. Base models m ...

5 Tips to Make Packing Easier
 

 
 
“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” -Paulo Coelho
 
Although moving brings new opportunities and new adventures, it is not always easy to do. Most everyone hates the idea of packing. To make moving and packing less stressful, follow these 5 simple steps.
 
1. Make A Plan
 

Without a plan, moving can become far more difficult. To help you stay on top of your game, write down a vision of what you want to accomplish. To make sure your vision gets completed, write down goals and deadlines for each project you are hoping to complete. Doing this will help you know how much time you need to set aside for each task. It will also keep you on track and avoid getting overwhelmed or discouraged. It may even be helpful to divvy up your goals with a checklist that can be crossed off when you are done.
 
2. Get Rid of Stuff

 
Moving can be a lo; ...