KricketandMike.com Inc Newsletter

Twin Cities Real Estate Source

July 2011

Greetings!

This is an exciting month for Mike and me. We are officially launching a new redesigned web site. We designed it to be clean, easy to view and packed full of information that will hopefully be useful to you.

You will be able to create your own customer search, order a home staging guide, find links for things like school information and utility connection services, mortgage calculators and so much more.

Additionally, all of our past newsletters can be found on our web site. If you are curious about a previous restaurant review or a featured article, you can peruse archived copies of the newsletters.

We would love your feedback on the new site. Thanks for checking it out at www.KricketandMike.com.

Enjoy your summer.

Sincerely,

Kricket Opheim
KricketandMike.com Inc

Life in the Great 'Outdoors'

May 2011 / Barbara Ballinger

For consumers who are looking for an outdoor space that has the creature comforts of indoor rooms, here are some of the issues they should consider on this kind of home project.

Decks, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens all enhance a home owner's enjoyment of a yard and improve the resale value of the home. But at the top of the wish list for many consumers nowadays is an "outdoor room,".....

To Read More:

Current Market Information

Statistics From Minneapolis Association of Realtors

Weekly Update:

Foreclosure Report:

Monthly Market Indicators:

Coming Soon

Rowland Road, Minnetonka

5544 Rowland Rd

Fantastic townhome a mere steps from the LRT trail. Enjoy the lifestyle of biking to the river bluffs, Lake Minnetonka or the city lakes. The home backs up to a pond and lovely woods. This 2 bedroom 2 bath home has a deck, screened porch and a two car garage. It has been well cared for. More photos and information to follow in the upcoming month.

Offer Price: $139,900

Mortgage Minute

Rita Welton, PHH Home Loans

NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR MOVE!

If a home purchase is in your plans, now is the time for you to act. FHA and conforming loan limits will most likely be reduced on October 1, 2011, which will decrease the availability and affordability of mortgage credit for many home buyers.

DON'T WAIT...CALL ME TODAY TO START YOUR PRE-APPROVAL.

Rita Welton

Loan Officer, NMLS#341309

612-925-8423 direct

Rita.Welton@PhhOnline.com

This statement of current rates is not an offer to enter into an agreement for a loan at a specified interest rate or number of discount points or both. (In Minnesota: an offer to enter into such an agreement may only be made pursuant to Minnesota statutes section 47.206.) Current interest rates and discount points are subject to change at any time without notice to you.

Kricket's Korner

Pairings Food and Wine Market

For those of you who are wondering whether I ever eat outside of the city; I have a "suburban location" for your consideration - Pairings Food and Wine Market. This restaurant and wine store opened a couple of years ago in Minnetonka. They are located along Shady Oak Road in an office/retail space. Judging by how busy they are it seems to be a concept that has been embraced by the dining public.

Pairings is a somewhat unique concept which pairs a food market with a wine market. They offer fresh food prepared daily, ready-to-eat meals to go and a cheese & charcuterie counter. To "pair" with their nice atmosphere and tasty food, they have a respectable wine market to pick your beverage of choice.

Their menu items range from prepared salads to wood fired pizza and special entrees like braised lamb shank and salmon. The food is not frou-frou, but is really quite good; especially for the price. A couple of my favorites include the spinach salad with chicken, goat cheese and strawberries as well as the wild mushroom pizza.

What I really enjoy about Pairings (and what makes it a unique dining experience) is you can order a glass of wine or beer at the restaurant or pick out a bottle of wine or beer at the "wine market", and bring it into the food market. There is no corkage fee and Pairings will bring stemware to your table. The wine market also has one of the better selections of craft beer in the area. They frequently offer wine tastings and beer sampling as well.

This is my favorite time of year to eat at Pairings because they did a brilliant job designing their patio. It's generously sized and in addition to many four-top tables they have patio sofas and chairs with cushions and coffee tables. This is a great spot to enjoy a bottle of wine and a pizza.

Pairings also has a small private dining room and they offer many events such as wine tastings and craft beer dinners. Check out their website for the full calendar of events.

If you live or work in the west metro, I recommend giving Pairings a try.