Happy New Year

The Singhal team wishes you all a very happy and prosperous new year! We are ready for a fabulous 2007 and feel confident that the housing market will continue to equalize and we will continue to make our clients dreams of home ownership come true!

Safe Driving Tips for the Holidays

Hello Friends!
This time of the year a lot of driving will be going on, to and being safe is every ones concern! Here is a helpful article about safe winter driving tips! We wish every one a safe and happy holidays and a great end to a great year! We look forward to working with you safe and sound in the new year!

The month-long holiday travel season is about to begin, with Thanksgiving marking the beginning of this busy time of year. It's estimated that 33 million people will be traveling over this initial long holiday weekend, making Thanksgiving one of the most traveled holidays of the year, followed by Christmas and New Year's Day.
We have listed some helpful holiday road trip safety tips to help get you to and from your family gatherings safely.
Check on Conditions (Weather and Road)At this time of year, the weather can be unpredictable. Even if the weather and roads look okay in your neighborhood, that may not be the case 200 miles away at Grandma's house. Be sure to check the Federal Highway Administration's website for up-to-the-minute traffic information, detours and road construction before you leave. You may also want to check The Weather Channel's website to find out the weather conditions of the interstates and roads you will be traveling on.
Pack Some SuppliesDepending on where your holiday travels are taking you, you may encounter snow or even blizzard-like conditions along the way. That is why it is a good idea to pack an emergency snow kit, which should include a snow scraper and brush, a flashlight, blankets, booster cables, a shovel, cat litter or sand (to place under your tires for grip, if you get stuck in ice or snow), flares, emergency triangles, and a first aid kit. While you may never have to use these items, you will be happy you packed them in the event of an emergency.
Winterize Your CarThe last thing you want to do is break down and end up missing Mom's famous pumpkin pie all because you failed to have your car winterized. So make sure to have a certified mechanic check your oil level, tire pressure, windshield wipers, heater, defroster, antifreeze, and brakes, before you head out on icy and snowy roads.
Keep Your Cell Phone NearbyYou never know what could happen during your travels, so it is always a good idea to bring your cell phone and car charger with you. If you do not have a cell phone, consider purchasing a prepaid cell phone that you can add minutes to. In the event that you do need to use your cell phone, leave the calling to one of your passengers or pull off to the side of the road to make the call.
Wear Your Seat BeltThanksgiving weekend is one of the most dangerous and deadliest times of the year to travel. That is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding all of us to play it safe this holiday season and buckle up - not only is it the law; it could help save your life.
Proper Seating for ChildrenWhile everyone understands that infants and toddlers need to be in a child safety seat, many us do not know that children under 4'9" must be in a booster seat. If you do not have a booster seat for your child, make sure to pick one up immediately.
Take Your TimeThe heaviest holiday travel traffic occurs during the days immediately before and after Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. With that in mind, consider leaving the Tuesday before Thanksgiving instead of the Wednesday before, or traveling home the Monday after Thanksgiving as opposed to the Sunday after.
Don't RushSpeeding is never a good idea, especially during the holidays. Obey the speed limits and you will get to your family's house in plenty of time to enjoy the holiday festivities.
Don't Eat Too MuchThere will probably be enough food to go around for seconds, thirds…but, for safer holiday driving, perhaps pass on fourths. Over indulging in holiday treats can make you feel uncomfortable and groggy for the ride home; not to mention that turkey has a natural sedative called L-tryptophan which can make you sleepy. If you have a long journey ahead, consider cutting back on the turkey and maybe have a cup of coffee or a caffeinated soda to help perk you up for the trip home.
Never Drink and DriveAccording to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more people are killed in drinking and driving accidents during Thanksgiving weekend than during New Year's Day weekend. That being said, if you suspect that a driver has had too much to drink, contact the local authorities immediately. In addition, if you or a loved one has had too much to drink, call a cab or stay at a friend or relatives house - it will be one of the best decisions you will ever make.

For the story visit the following website
http://www.comparisonmarket.com/LearningCenter/ArticleDetail.aspx/index/490

New tax break for middle-income tax payers purchasing a home in 2007

This week congress approved a new tax break for middle- income taxpayers that plan to purchase a home in 2007! The tax break will let homebuyers deduct mortgage insurance premiums on their tax returns. Most homebuyers who put less than 20% down on a home loan have to pay mortgage insurance, which is designed to protect lenders from default. The cost is typically 1/2 of 1% of the home mortgage, or $75 a month on an $180,000 loan. MI companies estimate that 20% of homebuyers have mortgage insurance either through private insurers or the federal government. It is estimated that the deduction will save homeowners $300 to $500 a year on taxes.

The full deduction is limited to homeowners with adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less. If you are already paying insurance premiums on an existing mortgage, this tax break does not apply. The deduction is available for new mortgages issues after December 31st.

Mortgage demand rises as rates fall

Mortgage applications rose sharply last week, as the lowest interest rates in more than a year prompted a surge in demand for refinancing, an industry trade group said Wednesday.

Read the Full Article at USA Today

Call or give us an email today to know how we can help you in buying or selling a home with the rates so low!

Friday Market Update

Activity in the Twin Cities residential real estate market rebounded for the week ended Dec. 2 following the annual Thanksgiving pause. New listings were 6 percent greater than the same week in 2005, the first year-to-year increase in weekly seller activity since August…Falling interest rates and seasonal price moderation have prompted the positive effect on affordability, and REALTORS should emphasize this improved buying climate to consumers. Our market has bounded back near the affordability range that drove the boom market of the first half of this decade, which will motivate wise buyers to vacate their spectator seats to participate in a housing market that is in their favor.”
--Information provide by the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®

Why We Are Excited About This Real Estate Market

Every where you look, both locally and across country, you see articles about a slowdown in the market. But savvy consumers know how to ignore the negative headlines and dig deeper into these articles to find the true story.

One recent article, for example, began in typical "gloom and doom" fashion but then noted, "Twin Cities area home sales prices held steadier than those in the Midwest in general... sales activity is on the pace to be the third best year ever."

In our region, we have a healthy economy and a wonderful inventory of homes at every price range and in a wide variety of styles, including single-family homes, lofts, condos and town homes. We have a multitude of options for every type of buyer. We are excited about the current market and the many opportunities it affords our clients!

Home Holiday Saftey Tips

Inspect lights and electrical decorations for frayed cords and/or other damages

Remember to shut of decorative lights when you got to sleep or leave the home unattended.

Help your tree resist a fire. Try to purchase a freshly cut tree, as they are more resistant to fire. Keep your Christmas tree watered and far away from open candles. When using an artificial tree, choose one that is tested and labeled fire resistant. Regardless of the type of tree, place it away from heat sources such as radiators or fireplaces.

Don't use open flames or candles on or near flammable materials such as wreaths, natural trees or paper decorations.

Check for a certification mark. When purchasing light strings, extension cords, spotlights, electrical decorations, gas appliances or carbon monoxide alarms, look for the certification mark of an accredited certification organization such as CSA International, UL or ELT to ensure that the products comply with applicable standards for safety and performance.

Never connect more than one extension cord together; instead use a single cord that is long enough to reach to the outlet without stretching, but not so long that it can get easily tangled.

When hanging outdoor lights, keep electrical connectors off the ground and away from metal rain gutters. Use insulated tape or plastic clips instead of metal nails or tacks to hold them in place, and be sure to choose the correct ladder for the job.

Remember that timing is everything. Use a certified outdoor timer to switch lights on and off. Lights should be turned on after 7 p.m. to avoid the electricity rush hour.

Keep the gas behind glass. Do not use your gas fireplace if the glass panel is removed, cracked or broken. Only allow a qualified service person to replace fireplace parts.

Be sure to install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home - especially near sleeping areas - and test the alarms monthly.

To help prevent CO hazards in your home, have a qualified heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and venting system, and clean or replace your furnace filter frequently during the heating seasons.

Clean the clutter. Do not store combustible materials such as gasoline, propane, paper, chemicals, paint, rags and cleaning products near your gas furnace. Gasoline or propane cylinders should only be stored outside the home.

US Home Prices Rise Slighty in 3rd Quarter

Average U.S. home prices rose 7.73 percent over the 12 months to Sept. 30, but the quarter-to-quarter gain was the lowest since 1998 and indicates a sharp deceleration in house price gains, the U.S. Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight reported Thursday.

To Read the whole story visit

MSNBC