When they release, changing over your user ID to token-free will be a simple online process that you can complete anytime at your convenience over a 30-day period. Once you changeover, your key fob token will automatically be deactivated, and you will log on with your User ID and a single password, to the MN MLS,  that you create and use each time you login. You will no longer need the key fob token or a PIN number. The new password you create for yourself will be 8 characters, case sensitive, and will include at least one number but no symbols. You will be able to keep it as long as you wish and not have to change it every 90 days.

The switch to tokenless SafeMLS access will NOT reduce the security of NorthstarMLS access. In fact, the new tokenless technology provides improved security with much less inconvenience for you. Also, you can continue to be assured that NorthstarMLS’ convenient Single Sign On and administrative support logins will continue to offer you the benefits to which you have become accustomed.

The funds area provided by the Federal Government as grants to state and local governments as well as non-profits.  These entities must compete for the limited funds available.  Minneapolis submitted the application in conjunction with the Cities of Brooklyn Park and Hennepin County.  Saint Paul was the only other city in Minnesota to receive grant money.

Minneapolis will used the funds to purchase and rehabilitate or demolish homes and other properties that have been foreclosed and/or abandoned.  The vacant lots from the demolished properties will then be held by the city for future development.  These may be sold to non-profit groups that can afford to build properties despite the decline in the housing market.  Some of the funding will also be used to develop financing programs for homeowners or developers that wish to purchase and renovate foreclosed properties.

The city was awarded $14 million in similar funds in 2008.  It used $12.5 million to purchase properties for renovation or demolition.  $6 million of that was used to demolish vacant or foreclosed homes that the city deemed were not worthy of rehab.  If you are interested in finding any foreclosed properties, you can search the Minnesota MLS on this site.

Northstar MLS sent over 8,000 compliance notices during the 4th quarter of 2009.  The majority of these were for missing, incorrect or incomplete listing information.  The goal is to ensure that listing data is correct and that agents/offices learn from any mistakes to avoid recurrences.  They achieved 100% compliance on these notices, with less than 6% resulting in an actual fine to the listing office (for 94% of these notifications, there was no fine or the fine was waived).  Typically if you get a notice from the MLS police, you snap to attention and do whatever they want!

In all seriousness though, I do appreciate the fact that they are as diligent as they are when it comes to keeping the MLS updated and accurate.  Our job as real estate agents is tough and frustrating enough at times.  Having mis-information in the system could be unbearable (and embarrassing for our customers).

Are you thinking about buying a home?  Have you been out looking and feel overwhelmed?  Not sure who to trust or where to start?

If you are thinking about buying a home in the next 2 years we would love to answer your questions and help you make a solid home purchase, without paying too much.  Anyone in the Minneapolis St. Paul area of MN should come on down to one of our monthly seminars.   Our two presenters – Steve Howe and Darcy McDonald – have teamed up to give you the full spectrum of buying your first house in the Buyer’s Market today.  You will find out how to get pre-qualified, how to search from properties on the Minnesota MLS, and everything you wanted to know about the first time home Mibuyer tax credits.

Register here.  Location details will be sent once you register.

From his experience of owning 15 rental properties, Ryan O’Neill will teach you a concrete way to build wealth through real estate. This seminar will be a one and a half hour presentation and an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about our process: how you get pre-approved, what type of loan product to choose, and then how we step you through the process of finding the property and helping you get it rented out.

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced investor, this will be a great chance for you to learn more about how you can build your long term wealth through buying real estate.

Register for the seminar here.

• CMA Wizard: A new and easier way to create your CMA’s step-by-step.
• Speed Bar: A quick search bar available from wherever you are in Matrix. Use it for quick shorthand searches of listings, tax records, open houses and agents. You can even create your own shortcuts!
• My Matrix and Contacts Management: Redesigned to better organize everything by client with special filters to help you work more efficiently.
• Price Search: Search for prices in “000’s” meaning you no longer need to enter the three zeros at the end. For example, to search homes in the $200,000 to $350,000 range, you will enter “200-350″ instead of “200000-350000.”
• Drop the asterisk: When searching Street Name in listings and tax records, you can drop the asterisk at the end for wild card search. The system will automatically assume it there.
• Search Criteria on PDF Reports: Your search criteria will now display at the end of any PDF Report you run. No more writing them in by hand! (Note: This is currently available in Single Family and Multi-Family, except the ”Comprehensive Report” and will be configured for the other property types and Comprehensive Report later today.)

Unfortunately, the upgrade does not appear to have go so well.  Users of the MN MLS experienced a 4 hour outage on Thursday afternoon of various parts of the MLS system including Homebase, which is used to upload new home listings and make changes.  Today we have experienced another complete outage of the entire system for about 2 hours starting at 11:00 am.

I firmly believe these upgrades will be worth the pain, but it would be nice to have the outages limited to the night time.  Being a former IT Director myself, I can understand the stress level of the computer department at the NorthstarMLS!

MAAR and NorthstarMLS understand that the tokens have been an inconvenience. With the latest technology advancements, the new tokenless version of SafeMLS provides an even higher level of protection. Best of all, you can be assured that NorthstarMLS’ convenient Single Sign On and administrative support logins will continue to offer you the benefits to which you have become accustomed.

Over the next couple of months, you will start to see this next generation of SafeMLS Secure Login taking shape. The new Secure Login combines information you enter at login—a user ID, PIN and password—with a technology that recognizes your own personal keystroke and computer use patterns to verify your identity.

Until we get there, the SafeMLS key fobs are still required for NorthstarMLS access and must be replaced if broken or lost. A lost key fob will still require payment for replacement. Even though they will be phased out soon, we still incur the full cost from the vendor for all replacements that are not the result of a defect.

We are very excited to bring back the convenience of quick login without losing any of the protection for Minnesota MLS listings and systems. Stay tuned for more information.

From his experience of owning 15 rental properties, Ryan O’Neill will teach you a concrete, non-infomercial way to build wealth through real estate. This seminar will be a one and a half hour presentation in regards to wealth building through real estate. There is no charge at all, no contracts you sign with us, no consultation fees, no hidden agenda.

The seminar simply will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about our process: how you get pre-approved, what type of low-down loan product to choose, and then how we step you through the process of finding the home and helping you get it rented out. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced investor, this will be a great chance for you to learn more about how you can build your long term wealth through buying real estate.  Our team leader, Ryan O’Neill owns 15 single-family homes, and our mortgage coach Rob Bonahoom has over 20 properties. All of us have experienced the benefits of real estate, and we’re excited to share a free seminar with you on how you too can get into the game (or continue on).

This is an invaluable seminar for anyone that is serious about buying their first home.  It will fill up fast so sign up on our registration form or call 612-281-5419 for more information.

The first step towards home ownership is learning about the process and finding a team of professionals you trust and feel comfortable with.

That’s where we come in. Join us for a FREE 90 minute seminar where you will learn everything you need to know about buying your first home. We’ll show you the importance of getting Pre-Approved for a Loan, how to Search for Properties Online, and how to become an Expert Negotiator in the process.

It’s totally free, we have no products to sell you, and there are no documents to sign. We’re all about educating buyers in order to help you with the biggest financial decision of your life. If you’re a fan of a low-pressure and laid-back atmosphere, you’ll feel right at home.

This is an invaluable seminar for anyone that is serious about buying their first home.  It will fill up fast so sign up on our registration form or call 612-281-5419 for more information.