🎄Oh What Fun It is!

Hello Friends!
Big news in the real estate world this week came with the Federal Housing Finance Agency announcing a significant increase in conforming loan limits to $647,200. That’s an 18% increase and the largest in records dating back to 1970, surpassing the 15.9% 2006 increase of 2006. Some lenders such as Bell Bank had already begun pricing loans around this level as “conforming” in anticipation of the Fed’s increase. What does this mean for buyers and sellers? It means better rates for some borrowers who would otherwise have to use “Jumbo” loan products which typically carry higher rates and qualifications. If you are buying or selling in the upper bracket price ranges, conditions just became a lot more favorable. 
As always, please reach out with any real estate questions and don’t miss all the fun that is coming up around town! Scroll down!
Be well,
Anne

Local Happenings

Owl Prowl – Wisconsin Campus

Friday, December 3

This time of the year, many of the Midwest’s 12 owl species are vocalizing to attract mates. Explore CNC’s Wisconsin Campus on a guided night hike to look and listen for these owls.Click HERE to learn more.

Christmas at the Courthouse

Friday, December 3 – Sunday, December 5

It just isn’t Christmas until you hear us sing! Join us for Christmas at the Courthouse as we celebrate Home for the Holidays with a festive and sparkling array of traditional, popular and new holiday favorites.Click HERE for more info.

Holiday Tea at Historic Lowell Inn

Friday, December 3 – Sunday, December 19

Relax in the beauty of the inn’s classic dining room specially decorated for Christmas and enjoy a leisurely tea every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the holidays.Click HERE to learn more. 

Twinkle Party and City Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 4
Bring your family and join the fun for our Twinkle Celebration at 4:00 p.m! Twinkle lights will be given out and feel free to wear your own lights to add to the fun! Watch for Santa to arrive around 4:30 p.m. and then celebrate the official lighting of the City of Stillwater’s Christmas Tree on Chestnut Street at 5:00 p.m.
Click HERE for more info.

Cheers with Santa

Sunday, December 5

Santa is coming to Lift Bridge Brewery on Sunday, December 5th from 10am-3pm, and instead of just waiting in line with the kids – adults can wait in line with a fresh beer, root beer or hard Seltzer and get food from the Elevation 5280 food truck or a pie from Sara’s Tipsy Pies!
Click HERE to learn more.

GLOW Holiday Festival

Sunday, December 5
GLOW Holiday Festival is Minnesota’s newest holiday light experience and must-see wintertime attraction at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Click HERE to learn more.

Business Spotlight: Matchstick at Hotel Crosby

Bellied up to the St. Croix River Valley in the happening town of Stillwater, MN, the Crosby welcomes you home! Retreat to Hotel Crosby, where stress is unheard of and simplicity is the name of the game.

Hotel Crosby hosts Matchstick, a farm-to-table restaurant with over 700 rare, unique spirits, wines and beer. This hotel/restaurant combo is perfect for tourists and locals alike. It’s one of our favorites!

Click HERE to visit their website!

ICYMI: Social Media Recap

??Why now is a great time to sell your home!

?Recent data from realtor.com shows a larger share of homeowners are planning to list their houses this winter. So, that means more homes are about to hit the market, which will lead to more choices for buyers too.

DM me to discuss how you can benefit from today’s sellers’ market! ?

❗️Price improvement ❗️
? Our beautiful Stillwater listing is now listed for the remarkable price of $899,900.
✨ Enjoy nature and wildlife views from almost every window of this professionally renovated home that boasts modern, tasteful finishes & feels like new construction in a superior location close to downtown Stillwater & the Brown’s Creek Trail.

✨UNDER CONTRACT✨
Our Newman Trail property is now under contract! Are you considering taking advantage of the sellers market? Buyer interest and activity is still very high! Reach out today for more info.

Did You Know?

It’s officially holiday season!
Whether you’re just doing the finishing touches on your decorations or have yet to make it to the store, consider using solar holiday lights this year! According to Forbes, Americans spend about $645 million dollars to run their Christmas lights through the month of December. Not only is that a ton of money, it’s also a ton of energy! By switching to solar lights, you save money, cut down on fossil fuel use, and save yourself the headache of trying to connect everything outside. The mini solar panel that comes with each set recharges the batteries throughout the day and comes on automatically each night. They come in all colors, shapes, and sizes so you can stick with your favorite holiday decorations. LED lights are also a great option to help cut down on energy consumption. Whatever works best for you, we hope you enjoy the bright, beautiful season!