This page offers links to various resources related to real estate, home products and services, and life in the Twin Cities. New resources will be added as discovered or heard about.
Real Estate Services
Kate and Ellen Walsh, Coldwell Banker Burnet, Minneapolis, MN.
Kate Cell: 612-220-3309
Ellen Cell: 612-220-3304
Kate E-Mail: info(at)designhouse9(dot)com
Ellen E-Mail: emwalsh(at)cbburnet(dot)com
Serving buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN.
Beth Walsh, Tarbell, REALTORS, Los Angeles area of California.
Cell: 951-966-1417
E-Mail: beth(at)walshsells(dot)com
www.bethwalsh.listingbook.com
John Walsh, Downing-Frye Realty, Inc., Naples/Bonita Springs, Florida
Cell: 239-272-1056
E-Mail: waterfrontdreams(at)yahoo(dot)com
Serving the Naples and Bonita Springs area of southwest Florida.
Recalls
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that major appliances caused more than 150,000 home fires each year (based on estimates from 2006-2008). Check your appliances at this site:
www.recalls.gov
And review consumers’ experiences here:
www.saferproducts.gov
All About Minneapolis
Look here for comprehensive information on Minneapolis:
Meet Minneapolis—Official Convention and Visitors Association
Minnesota Unemployed Website
Unemployed? Want to make a career or job change? This site is a one-stop shop for job postings and other resources that will save you time. Job postings extend beyond the Minnesota borders.
MinnesotaUnemployed.com
Natural Built Home
Natural Built Home was founded in 2005 as a one-stop shop for the safest and most sustainable building and finishing materials. Noteworthy: annual warehouse sale, design services, and free classes. Shop located at 4020 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis.
NaturalBuiltHome.com
Painting: Everyday and Artistic Finishes
A fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference to a room, a front door, the interior and the exterior of a home. If you like to be more artistic in your painting, there are plenty of options in this category as well. Steve has extensive experience in both regular painting and in specialty painting such as faux finishing, trompe-l’oeil, murals, etc. He’s also skilled as color selection.
Steve Kleinpaste
612-703-2404
Easy Selling on eBay with iSOLD It
or
How to Clear Your Clutter
Getting your home ready for the market often means clearing out years of accumulated stuff. Some sellers don’t have the time, energy or desire to hold a garage sale. If you have things of value, investigate iSOLD It and let someone else do the work to post and sell it on eBay. It’s reported that iSOLD It auctions get an average of 25% to 30% more than the average eBay seller. Clear your stuff, collect your check!
iSOLD It—The Easy Way to Sell on eBay
6819-1/2 York Avenue South
Edina, MN 55435
952-920-0200
E-Mail: service.mn076@i-soldit.com
Website for iSolditstore.com/76
Financial Assistance Programs for Home Buyers and Home Owners
There are numerous financial assistance programs available to first-time buyers and others. Below are links to some of these programs. If you need more information, feel free to contact me and I’ll direct you to the proper resource.
Making Home Affordable — The Obama Administration’s Making Home Affordable Program includes opportunities to modify or refinance your mortgage to make your monthly payments more affordable. It also includes the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program for homeowners who are interested in a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.
Hope Now — Check here for HUD-approved credit counseling agencies. Hope Now is an alliance between counselors, mortgage companies, investors, and other mortgage market participants.
Minneapolis and Saint Paul City Living Program — A mortgage program that provides below market rate financing to first-time homebuyers who purchase within the city limits of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. It also provides second mortgages to help pay for closing costs and downpayment. There is also information about their “Take Credit” program.
Come Home 2 Edina 2nd Mortgage Program – For both first-time buyers and others buying in Edina. The Edina Housing Foundation offers a below market rate loan program that could lower your total housing payments.
Minnesota Home Ownership Center – Check here to learn more about down payment and entry cost assistance.
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency — The State’s affordable housing bank, offering products and services to help Minnesotans buy and fix up homes. This site also has information on foreclosure assistance.
Setting up Utilities
Set up your home phone, high-speed internet service, electric, gas, cable, and more at this one site. They offer a “Best Price Guarantee”.
www.whitefence.com
School Information
Institute of Education Sciences–Search Schools, Colleges and Libraries
www.schooldigger.com
www.PSK12.com
www.SchoolMatters.com
www.khanacademy.org
Mortgage Information
www.mtgprofessor.com — A comprehensive site with information for both home buyers and sellers. It includes information on refinancing, loan modifications, selecting loan types, how large a down payment to make, own vs. rent, loan locks, second mortgages, and shopping for a mortgage. Additionally, this site offers mortgage calculators and spreadsheets to further enhance your knowledge of this very important topic.
Minneapolis Truth in Sale of Housing Program
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ccs/tih-home.asp — The city of Minneapolis requires all home sellers to have an inspection and provide a Truth in Sale of Housing report to potential buyers. Truth in Sale of Housing reports are valid for two years or one sale.
St. Paul Truth in Sale of Housing Program
http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=1085 — Saint Paul also has a Truth in Sale of Housing program. Saint Paul’s program is a “disclosure only” program with the exception that the Fire Marshal’s office will require the installation of at least one hard-wired smoke detector if there is none in the dwelling at the time of the Truth-in-Sale of Housing inspection.
Twin Cities Sedan Service
Bill Martin is experienced, punctual and friendly. If you need a car and driver, call Bill.
Cell: 651-226-0936 or E-mail: tcsedanservice@comcast.net (MNDOT # 373295)
Center for Well Being, PC
Nutritional/Functional Medicine. “If an issue is not resolving and you would like to pursue the real cause(s), then a functional medicine approach is ideal. It is science based with nutritional deficiencies/toxicities as a core consideration.” Dr. Richard Mayfield worked with my niece with great results. (952) 885-0822
Copying and Printing Services
www.zipcopyshop.com — For all your copying and printing needs, Zip handles them with personalized service that’s second to none. I love this shop and they get all my business! Located near Hwy 100 and Excelsior Boulevard in St. Louis Park, MN.
Donation Centers
www.bridging.org — If you’re needing a place to send unwanted furniture and household goods, this is a wonderful organization that helps disadvantaged people and others in need.
www.goodwill.org — Donate to Goodwill and you help people find jobs. Goodwill takes clothing, shoes, household goods, books, CD’s, DVD’s, artwork, and more. They have numerous locations throughout the Twin Cities and beyond.
Re-Use Centers in Hennepin County
Choose to ReUse Directory — Have something to donate that someone else can make use of? Use this handy search tool to easily find places that are looking for your donations. This site allows you to search by categories such as bikes, appliances, cell phones, eyeglasses, moving and shipping boxes, musical instruments, and numerous other categories. This directory is also a resource for where you might find these same items.
Recycling Centers
Best Buy Stores — Electronics trade-in and recycling programs. Responsibly dispose of your unwanted, broken or outdated electronics.
Best Buy Trade-in Information
Best Buy Recycling Information
Hennepin County Recycling Centers
RethinkRecycling.com — An abundance of recycling information for residential, businesses and kids. When in doubt, start here! Comprehensive site.
Antiques and Occasional Sales
www.AntiquesRiverwalk.net — Located in the “Warehouse District” of Minneapolis and offering a wonderful selection of fine antiques.
www.citysalvage.com — Over 15,000 square feet of architectural antiques and artifacts.
www.guildedsalvage.com
www.coeandchannell.com — Sister store of Antiques Riverwalk, this shop is located in the Uptown area of Minneapolis.
www.indigompls.com — Indigo offers Asian and tribal arts and is located in the Warehouse District. They also provide restoration services, archival textile mounting, and appraisals.
Beyond Minneapolis and Saint Paul:
www.authenticprovence.com — For my fellow Francophiles and those who love all things jardin and interieur.
Home Tours and Home Shows
www.mplshometour.com — The Minneapolis & St. Paul Home Tour. Each year Minneapolis and St. Paul home owners open up their homes to the public so we can see the results of their renovation and addition projects. This year’s slated date is April 30-May 1, 2011.
Minneapolis Home and Garden Show — March 2-6, 2011
Education / Tutoring / Coaching
RepairClinic.com – for the do-it-yourself types. Look up parts, trouble shoot, more.
Khan Academy–offering free world-class education to anyone anywhere.
Dry Cleaning
Mulberry’s Garment Care — 100% Toxin-Free cleaning! This is a Minneapolis-based company with an uncompromising commitment to quality. Winner of the 2008 and 2010 Award of Excellence. Good for the environment, good for you, and wonderful experience all around. Services include wet and dry laundering, tailoring and alterations, shoe shine and repair, pickup and delivery, 24-hour drop-off, and more. Your clothes never had it so good. They’ve earned my seal of approval.
Real Foods
There’s much talk today about returning back to basics when it comes to food. Pasture-raised meats and dairy products, whole foods vs. processed foods, etc. Here’s a real food warehouse: www.traditionalfoodsmn.com
Cakes, Cookies and Other Baked Goods
Home is often where we celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, graduations, wedding and baby showers, retirements, etc. The places below make baked goods from scratch. Yum!
www.lucias.com
www.yumkitchen.com
www.thecakebox.com
www.patisserie46.com
Custom Glass and Mirror Products
Besser Glass and Mirror — I’ve used them and clients have used them. They crafted and installed a mirror back splash for my kitchen. Thumbs up!
Consignment, Resale and Other Bargain Shopping
www.JuneResale.com — This shop sells upscale designer clothing, accessories and shoes; buys items outright rather than taking on consignment. Voted Best Resale Shop, Best of the Twin Cities 2009 – Minnesota Monthly.
www.SecondDebut.org — Second Début is operated by Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota to raise funds for their mission. Revenues from the boutique support education, workforce development and employment services for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. They won the title of Best Used Clothing Store in 2009 by City Pages newspaper. Enough said. Stop and shop for clothing, accessories, shoes, and artwork.
Mainstreet Furniture Consignment — This inviting showroom is located in St. Louis Park and offers a wide array of home furnishings and artwork at discounted prices.
The Sale Room at International Market Square (IMS): Think outlet for the designer showrooms at IMS! Read about this new Twin Cities shopping experience here.
Room and Board Outlet — Lucky us! We have the only Room and Board outlet in the country. Open weekends only with an assortment of goods that change weekly.
Ice Cream Shops
These shops have delicious homemade ice cream. Check them out and taste the difference! One word sums them up: Yum!
Sebastian Joe’s — Two locations in Minneapolis, one in Linden Hills and one in Lowry Hill. The favorite flavor here is Raspberry Chocolate Chip and this distinction means it’s always on the menu. Flavors change weekly. The Linden Hills shop has a great outdoor patio area as well as a fireplace room for winter indulging of this cool treat. Free WiFi.
Pumphouse Creamery — Handmade all-natural ice cream using local organic milk and cream. Owner Barb Zapzalka created her own handmade cones that contain nine grains. Healthy? Yes, and tasty too. Located at 48th and Chicago in the Nokomis neighborhood. Named Best Ice Cream Parlor in the 2009 City Pages Best of Edition.
Izzy’s Ice Cream — “Home of the Izzy Scoop”, a second, smaller scoop atop your cone; a great way to sample a second flavor or to get more of the flavor you love. Izzy’s has won numerous awards over the years. They also had the opportunity to experience a “Throwdown with Bobby Flay”. Izzy’s won the friendly competition. Additional kudos to Izzy’s for installing rooftop solar panels to supply electricity to their shop and to sell back to the grid in winter months. Izzy’s is located in the Merriam Park neighborhood of Saint Paul.
Sonny’s Ice Cream — Made and served up at Crema Cafe at 34th And Lyndale. Local and organic ingredients are used for everything they make. Make the most of your ice cream experience by sitting out on their piazza. They’ve been at this same location for more than 65 years.
Optical Shop
Rose Fashion Optical — A neighborhood shop in St. Louis Park that dots all the “eyes” and crosses all the T’s. When other shops told me that what I wanted couldn’t be done, the good folks at Rose said it could and delivered. I’m ever grateful to them.
Charities
VisionSpring.org — Improving vision and easing poverty around the world.
Habitat for Humanity — Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity website.
BridgesToProsperity.org — Building footbridges that offer a leg up.
American Red Cross — The nation’s premier emergency response organization.
Organizations Making a Difference
Darkness to Light–End Child Sexual Abuse – Their programs raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse by educating adults about the steps they can take to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to the reality of child sexual abuse. A child will never feel safe at home when abused.
Interior Design / Kitchen and Bath Design
Casa Verde Design — Casa Verde Design is a custom kitchen and bath design showroom committed to creating thoughtful and beautifully designed living spaces with exceptional quality cabinetry, home furnishings and accessories that embody earth-sustaining principles. Located at 50th and Bryant in Southwest Minneapolis, MN.
Haute Indoor Couture — A Design in a Day Company based in Bethesda, Maryland. Check out their “Tip of the Week” page for great tips!
All, Inc. – The Appliance and Cabinet Destination – one of the largest kitchen and bath distributors in the Midwest. Browse through their over 18,000 square foot showroom in Saint Paul. Designers are on staff to help with kitchen and bath projects.
Miscellaneous
Weston A Price Foundation – a nonprofit, tax-exempt nutrition education foundation.
Pediatric Alternatives – Information on raising healthy, happy children.
FregoLiving.com – A revolution in food storage and preparation. I love these products!
The 411 on Disposing of Your Cell Phone – Learn how to safely remove personal data before disposing.
###
.
Leave a Reply