Residential construction in the Twin Cities remains lethargic, according to the Builders Association of the Twin Cities’ (BATC) Keystone Report. There were 203 permits issued in April for a total of 230 units, a decline of 33% and 38% respectively from April of 2010. Those are the lowest numbers for April local residential construction in at least the past five years, according to the BATC.

Year-to-date it is a similar story. During the first four months, there have been 758 permits issued for a total of 851 units. That is lower than the number of permitted units during the same time period of any for the last five years.

BATC President Rich Riemersma said the organization expected construction to be down in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 2010 due to the frenzy of interest last spring’s federal homebuyer tax credits generated. There is no such incentive now.

“But while new housing nationally is expected to remain down, we have hopes that the Twin Cities will catch up and surpass last year in single-family construction,” Riemersma said.

Maple Grove saw the most building activity in April with 28 permitted units. Blaine followed closely with 22 units, trailed by Plymouth with 16, Minneapolis with 15 and Woodbury with 13.

Source: Local Residential Construction Still Struggling
Source: A bootless month for builders

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Legacy Creek | 3548 127th Ave NE | Front Exterior

Legacy Creek | 3548 127th Ave NE | Interior Framing

Legacy Creek | 3548 127th Ave NE | Back Exterior

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Blaine Haven | 869 104th Lane NE | Exterior View

Blaine Haven | 869 104th Lane NE | Cabinets being installed

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Blaine Haven | 901 104th Lane NE | Great Room

Blaine Haven | 901 104th Lane NE | Vaulted Ceilings

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Blaine Haven | 913 104th Lane NE | Exterior View

Blaine Haven | 913 104th Lane NE | Great Room

Blaine Haven | 913 104th Lane NE | Kitchen

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Legacy Creek | 3500 127th Ave NE | Exterior View

Legacy Creek | 3500 127th Ave NE | Living Room & Fireplace

Legacy Creek | 3500 127th Ave NE | Stairway

Legacy Creek | 3500 127th Ave NE | Detail

Legacy Creek | 3500 127th Ave NE | Bathroom

Legacy Creek | 3500 127th Ave NE | Detail

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The winners and losers in the Great Housing Crash are obvious throughout the Twin Cities suburbs. A project in Woodbury languishes with a single house stands in contrast to acres of bare lots. Yet across Cottage Grove Drive a thriving development boasting 600 homes and working on its seventh addition. Location doesn’t explain the difference. Nor does the quality of houses.

Winning developments have good timing low prices, and sales pitches that understand the psychology of homebuyers in the midst of the Great Recession. They also have homes that fit the new economy, trimming some of the extras and average square footage. The losers acquired too much debt, have houses that are too big, and started their projects too late. As many as 100 home builders in the metro area have gone out of business.

For winners like Norton Custom Home Builder, with their Legacy Creek and Blaine Haven developments in the thriving Blaine MN community in the northern Twin Cities, things are very different. Construction is nowhere near the pace it was before the real estate crash, but it’s steady. And buyers are stepping up even before the $250,000 to $300,000 homes are completed.

Not all developments are making progress. Part of the problem with developments that started before the real estate crash was bad timing. Another drawback to some developments are amenities: Without a few extras, it can be daunting for potential home owners to become “pioneers” in these new neighborhoods. Some don’t even have trees!

Legacy Creek in Blaine MN offers a quiet, pedestrian friendly environment that is like a retreat. Landscaped trails and sidewalks are flawlessly integrated with the Blaine trail system. Large community gathering areas combine to create a neighborhood that encourages both recreation and socialization.

The beautiful neighborhood known as Blaine Haven features 34 homes. This quiet development is adjacent to Madison Elementary School. Walkout and lookout lots offer a picturesque setting.

Another difference between housing development winners and losers is the builders’ relationships with real estate agents. Many developers try to forgo them. Some even bicker about sales commissions when a home is sold.

Not Norton Custom Homes. They have partnered with Barker & Hedges Real Estate and Homes of Minnesota RE/MAX Realtors to attract prospective buyers. When there is work to be done, houses to be sold and families ready to move into a new home at the right price, its time to work as a team so everyone can win. This effort has been so successful with the Blaine MN developments, Norton Homes will soon be building new homes in Farmington’s Hometown Addition and in Apple Valley’s Eastwood Ridge second Addition.

Homes and lots are available in both of the Blaine MN developments right now. More information will be coming soon regarding construction in Farmington’s Hometown Addition and Apple Valley’s Eastwood Ridge second Addition. Contact info@twincitiesbuilder.com
if you just can’t wait for more details.

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