Minneapolis has a long-standing, two decades old, in fact, garden recognition program that celebrates gardens displayed by pretty much anybody who has landscaping. Businesses, residents, public buildings and community buildings are all considered for garden recognition by Metro Blooms. The program’s intent is to inspire, encourage and promote community pride and beautification. Environment leadership is also an aspect recognized in the efforts of the city’s area gardeners.

This is a great way for citizens to celebrate garden displays [...]

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A federal lawsuit was filed in the Minneapolis federal court earlier this year that sought to block all home foreclosures in Minnesota. Court records state that a new federal program designed to assist struggling homeowners in refinancing their mortgages is failing. It does not provide proper notice of why refinancing is being rejected, nor does it enable homeowners the right to appeal.

The program referenced in the court filing is the Making Home Affordable (MAH) program, which reduces monthly [...]

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The secret is finally out, and the whole nation now knows what metro residents and tourists to the area have known all along.  Minneapolis is one of the most FUN-omenal places to be on the planet!  Well, okay, in the nation.

Rated 2nd in the most fun cities ranking by Ritz Cracker FUNomenal Places Study, Minneapolis was barely beat out by Seattle.  Fifty of the largest metro areas in the U.S. were studied.  Citizen participation in activities like neighborhood barbecues, block [...]

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The City of Minneapolis is making it easier to buy a home here through its Minneapolis Advantage program – $10,000 easier, to be exact. Altogether, $2 million is being made available for home-buying assistance in this twin city. Two-hundred $10,000 loans will be divvied out, which are forgivable after five years. The main caveat is that homes must be purchased in specific neighborhoods hit hardest by foreclosures.

Successfully piloted in 2008, the Minneapolis Advantage program has already assisted [...]

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We’ve heard about all the people that jumped into loans they really shouldn’t have. We’ve heard all the subprime and toxic loans that were proliferating the foreclosure market. But now we are seeing people with prime loans seeking counseling as the recession continues and unemployment rises.

In a report released by the Minnesota Home Ownership Center (MHOC) in St. Paul, a large majority of consumers seeking foreclosure counseling last year had prime mortgages, not the subprime mortgages that launched the foreclosure [...]

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If you’re a landlord in Minneapolis you’re probably struggling to keep your units rented. If you’re a renter in Minneapolis you’re probably amazed at the choices you have and what some complexes are doing to get you to choose them.

The vacancy rate for downtown Minneapolis was a little more than five and a half percent at the end of Q4 2008. With the downturn in the economy and the increased unemployment rate, some apartment communities are seeing a sharp increase [...]

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Over 166 foreclosed homes were sold at auction in Minneapolis this weekend.  The Real Estate Disposition Corporation (REDC) held the event at the Minneapolis convention center to off load properties that had come under bank ownership.

Many at the auction felt the home they bought was a great deal and were able to make the purchase for less than half the original value.  Kenny Williams, interviewed by KARE 11 News, purchased home was “previously valued at $250,000 and we got it [...]

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