Best Home Selection. Ever.

Forget the negative hype about the housing market. There is an excellent inventory of homes for sale. If you are wondering whether you should purchase a home, consider these facts:

• As of Dec. 3, 2007 there were 33,146 homes for sale in the Twin Cities metropolitan area compared to only 30,183 homes for sale at this same time last year, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®. That’s 9.8 percent more choice for home buyers!

• There is a wide variety of high quality homes available in all price ranges and communities in the Twin Cities. You can choose from new construction, existing homes, starter homes, luxury properties, condominiums, co-ops, townhomes, and lofts.

• The greatest opportunities are with single-family detached homes. In November of this year, there were 12.9 percent more single-family homes for sale than in November 2006.

• First-time homebuyers looking for a great starter home will be pleased with the numerous choices. This November compared to last November, there were 100.4 percent more homes priced under $120,000, 47.5 percent more homes priced from $120,001 to $150,000, and 19.7 percent more homes priced from $150,001 to $190,000.

• The inventory of homes priced at $1 million and above was 18.5 percent more this November than last November. This provides tremendous opportunities for consumers interested in purchasing upper-bracket homes.

• Real estate is one of the best and safest long-term investments. Over 10 years, a $10,000 investment in the stock market at a normal 10 percent market rate of return would yield nearly $16,000. Compare that to a 5 percent ($10,000) down payment on a $200,000 home at a normal appreciation rate of 5 percent over the same 10 year period. Through the power of leverage, your return would be $125,000—nearly eight times the stock market return.

• Homeowners benefit from favorable tax laws, including deductions on mortgage interest and property taxes and up to $500,000 in capital gains tax exemptions on personal residences at the time of sale.

With the best home selection ever, you’ll wish you bought today.