Preparing Your Home For Winter

As quickly as the temperatures rise, it is already time to start dropping again. While everyone is excited for fall or winter, it is important to prepare your home for the cooler weather. If you are a season homeowner or a first time renter, it’s very important to take the right steps to prepare your home for the colder months. By preparing your home for the colder months, you will feel more confident, cozy, and warm inside your home. With the help of our Maintance Manager, Ben Dickson, we have complied a list of tips to help prepare your home.

  • If you live in a place with a wall AC, turn it off, unplug it, and put the cover on.
  • Dust off radiators.
  • Make sure your windows seal up to prevent letting in cold air. Keep the windows closed and locked during the winter.
  • If you have a ceiling fan, set the fan to circulate clockwise. This helps your apartment stay warm without turning up the temperature.
  • Test out your heat to ensure it is working properly. If it is not, put in a work order.
  • Swap out your summer bedding for winter bedding to keep you warm while you sleep.
  • If you are using a space heater, only two space heaters can run at a time in one unit. If more space heaters are running, this will cause a power outage.
  • Buy winter essentials before the first snowfall.
  • Keep a shovel inside in case the snow is blocking the doorways.
  • Bring out or purchase a shoe tray for your boots.
  • Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If they seem to be working incorrectly, put in a work order.
  • Do not turn off your heat if you are leaving for an extended period. Keep your heat set to 68 – 70 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing up and to maintain a warm unit.
  • If you have an outside area of your apartment or home, cover up your outdoor furniture or store it for the winter to prevent damage.
  • Keep furniture, curtains and blanket’s away from baseboard heaters as this will block your heat from keeping your apartment warm.

By taking these proactive steps, you’ll be on your own way to enjoining a cozy and invite home or apartment throughout the fall and winter months. Stay safe and warm in the upcoming months!

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Roers Announces Downtown Moorhead Development Project Plans

Moorhead’s downtown will be revitalized with expanded opportunities for lifestyle, diversity and a growing expressive culture. Roers has unveiled the initial concept plans for the Downtown Moorhead Development project, inspired by a vision of “More to Moorhead.” The reimagined downtown area is the steppingstone for the future growth and value of Moorhead.

Roers will oversee the planning and execution of the development, which may be upwards of nine city blocks. “Roers is investing in this project as we feel there is a fantastic opportunity for Moorhead, its business community, and its residents,” commented Jim Roers, CEO of Roers.   Roers will work with and bring on other developers to complete the project. “With a project of this magnitude, partnering with other developers in the community will bring new ideas and enhancements to the development. We have already held conversations with interested developers and welcome others to get involved,” said Roers. Roers is the lead developer of the project and is working with the City of Moorhead to establish design standards for the entire project. This will streamline the process for developers who want to be involved in the project.

Roers is partnering with JLG Architects and Stantec to help bring the vision to reality for the development. Building off of Moorhead’s Downtown Master Plan and Comprehensive plan, the design team has worked closely with stakeholders to set the framework for a development that would support the growth and continued prosperity of Moorhead. A vibrant downtown is the heartbeat of any thriving community. Great consideration has gone into developing an intentional master plan that can serve as a framework for development, with the goals of being fresh and exciting for Moorhead residents, as well as existing and new businesses. In the research for the Downtown Moorhead vision, the most common responses were the need for opportunities for Moorhead residents to live, work, and have entertainment options.  

Development Vision

Combining cultural architecture from Moorhead’s roots to all heritages represented in the community, JLG has designed the concept to be a place where people from all cultures can come together. The plan envisions place for people to live, work, shop, relax, learn and celebrate together. Incorporated green space will include water features tying in the connection to the riverfront, entertainment opportunities in an outdoor plaza area or street sections will add to the “gathering” atmosphere. Established museums and new opportunities for art, education and theater will provide a thriving cultural destination.  Unique local and global dining options will attract those visiting but also those living in the development. Housing options may range from rooftop patio condos, walk up townhomes or studio river view apartments. The Downtown Moorhead vision is to create a place where all people can see themselves.

Plans include multiple phases of the project. As the plans are still being finalized, the first phase may include four new buildings and will be located at the east end of the existing Moorhead Center Mall area. The second phase would be on the south section of the Moorhead Center Mall with new buildings added. Each of the spaces within the mall is privately owned, therefore Roers is working with each owner to understand their needs and opportunities for their businesses as part of the new development.  All businesses are welcome to be a part of the development and remain in downtown Moorhead. The City of Moorhead anticipates studying the renovation/relocation of City Hall, however no decision has been made.

“The plan captures a vibrant and inclusive vision for our downtown. It pays homage to the roots of the people of this region, while also creating space and opportunity for people to see themselves living, working, and playing in our downtown,” says Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson. “The City of Moorhead is excited to be part of this incredible redevelopment that will provide the catalyst Moorhead needs to ignite our downtown and create places filled with amazing experiences.”

For more information on this project, to keep up to date on the development status, or if you are interested in being a part of the development (builder or retail), please visit www.moretomoorhead.com. 

Project Background

Roers and the City of Moorhead entered into a predevelopment agreement in 2019 with the option for Roers to purchase City-owned property. The partnership involved identifying redevelopment opportunities for the existing Moorhead City Hall (located at the 500 block of Center Avenue in Moorhead), Moorhead Center Mall and surrounding City-owned property. As part of the partnership, Roers and the City of Moorhead will focus on a development options mutually beneficial for all parties including the Moorhead Center Mall property owners, Downtown Moorhead Inc., residents, and business owners of Moorhead.

Roers is a Fargo-based development company specializing in development, construction, real estate and property management. Roers has a proven track record for building success in the communities we serve, and we can’t wait to take on this huge project with the help of other reputable companies in our area and the City of Moorhead.

Head to our Downtown Moorhead Development project page HERE.

The Road to Homeownership: 9 Steps to Success

In today’s market, there are many uncertainties with buying a home. When is the right time? Can I afford it? Is it the right move for me with my goals? It can be very stressful when determining what suits your needs and if buying a home is worth the investment in this market.  If you need a basis on where to start, take a look at the following nine steps: 

1. The Funds:

First off, it is crucial to get a handle on your finances. You’ll want to figure out what your income is, your expenses, and your credit level. Sometimes, reducing spending habits, even if only temporary, may be necessary in securing a mortgage on a home. Being open and honest with your realtor will give you the best start on your search and getting pre-approval from a lender will help you to know your budget and keep your search narrowed down. 

2. How Much Should You Put Down?

Figuring out how money you are willing or able to put towards the down payment is the next step. It is typical to put down at least 6% of your loan balance. However, the more you can put down the better! 

There are many advantages to putting 20% down on a home. This will allow a shorter loan payment period and save you thousands on interest fees as well as mortgage insurance premiums.

3. Choosing A Realtor

The road to owning a home, especially in the busy market today, is a daunting task. Finding a realtor with a proven track record is crucial to a smooth transaction. With Roers, we have the history and reputation proven to serve our clients with trust and dedication.

Our realtor, Anne Kallhoff, is very experienced with over 14 years of residential and commercial selling under her belt. She has sold over 500 homes and says that there is no such thing as a stress free home buying process. However, Anne says that going with an experienced realtor is the key to a low stress home buying process.

4. Decide Your Budget

As we all know, navigating the financial end of the buying process is unarguably the biggest concern of any real estate transaction. Luckily, our expertise has been proven to help our clients work out just how much they can afford. Many people typically decide to use 30% of their annual income towards buying a home. However, that can vary greatly depending on what your personal preferences are. 

For another bit of help on deciding your budget, check out this blog article with different items to think about when choosing your price range on your new home!

5. Finding The Perfect Home

 Now for the fun part! Looking for a house can be very fun. Envisioning your future can be very exciting. Just be sure to know your deal breakers, needs, and wants!

This will ensure a smooth process. Some things to consider are:

  • Number of Bedrooms
  • Number of Bathrooms
  • The Kitchen
  • Location of The Home
  • Amount of Acreage
  • Garage & Storage Space

These are some things that we believe most people consider the most when buying a home. As these take some futuristic planning to determine what will suit your needs for the years to come.

Anne Kallhoff: Roers Real Estate Agent

6. Submitting An Offer

 In this competitive market, submitting an offer is tough. You must assess what the home means to you as the seller is likely getting other offers. Roers will make this as stress-free as possible for you by negotiating the price and particulars of the deal through your approval. Anne Kallhoff (realtor) says that even in this crazy market, it is always wise to invest in real estate. With that said, it is currently smartest to make a fair offer initially.

7. Getting Your New Home Inspected And Appraised

Once your house is bought, it is important to get an expert opinion on the home. They will determine the exact value of your house and inspect the home for any damages or code violations. This is nothing to stress about, just a precautionary measure.

8. Closing

Congratulations! You’re officially a homeowner. During this stage, you’ll gain legal ownership of the house, sign paperwork, and get the keys. Now that the stressful part is done, the real work begins!

9. The Big Move

A very chaotic day, but very rewarding. It’s time to settle in, and enjoy your new home. Some tips for moving include:

  • Setting a budget
  • Get rid of items you wouldn’t buy again
  • Leave your clothes on their hangers
  • Find free packing supplies

Utilizing these tricks will help you save money and lead to a less stressful move! 

Searching for your forever home? Check out our listings or contact our real estate agent.

Anne Kallhoff
Roers Real Estate Services LLC
701-866-4425
akalhoff@roers.com

It’s Time for Townhomes

Roers files permit application for Roosevelt Neighborhood Townhome Project 

Jim Roers, President of Roers Construction and Development, announced that Roers Construction filed an application for the building permit to construct seven townhomes on the block near the Newman Center Church and the View Apartment building in Fargo. 

“As we’ve promised the Roosevelt neighborhood from the beginning, we are committed to providing affordable living solutions as a part of this project that will welcome new families into the neighborhood.  Working through supply chain issues, construction delays, and cost increases that came about due to COVID, we have found a solution to ensure that these units remain reasonably priced for families and that we are able to construct them in an expeditious manner,” said Roers. 

Roers said that Roers Construction is prepared to break ground as soon as the building permit is approved and anticipates the townhomes will be ready for occupancy by the end of 2022.  As has been reported, this project represents the final phase of a multi-year project on the north Fargo site.  The townhomes represent the last $2,000,000 of the $50,000,000 total project budget. 

When it was originally approved by the City, it was estimated that the project would provide $9,000,000 of taxable value for the City, but even without the completed townhomes the project has already increased the taxable value to $10,700,000.  This value increase on this block will serve to reduce property tax burdens for citizens throughout the city. 

Roers is committed to working proactively with the City of Fargo on this project and in the future to better the community.

Check out the three projects below to see how this multi-property project all comes together!

St Paul Newman Center

The View on University

Faith Based Student Housing

Buying vs. Building – Roers Real Estate

Buying a home is a big step and can be overwhelming, whether you are a first-time homeowner or have gone through the process before. Roers Real Estate is here to help you with the purchase process. There are two options when it comes to choosing your home. You can search what it currently on the market, or you can look into the option of building a home custom for you. What steps should you take when purchasing a home? Is building or buying a better option for you?

We met with our Roers Real Estate agent, Anne Kallhoff, to ask her some questions to help you.

In general, what are the benefits of buying a home?

When you buy a home, your money is going toward equity in your home. When you rent, the money you are putting toward your rent each month, isn’t money you will ever get back. When you are paying toward a mortgage, you are building equity in your home and you will usually see a return when it comes time to sell your home. When you own a house, you also have the ability to make any changes you want (paint, flooring, remodeling, etc), and you can have pets if you choose without penalty.

What is the first step a person should take when they are thinking of buying a home?

I always tell my clients to meet with a lender in person or over the phone to get an idea of how much they can afford. This will help so they aren’t looking at homes out of their budget and will ensure they don’t miss out on features they could have that are within reach with their budget.

What are the benefits of building vs buying a home?

When building, you’ll see the same benefits as purchasing a house already listed on the market. In the building process, homes can be fully customized, you can choose finishes you want throughout your entire home and find or design a layout that works well for you. If you purchase one that is already on the market there are other benefits such as being in established neighborhoods, lower specials and character homes.

As far as price, is there a difference between building and buying?

The costs with building and buying can vary. One of the biggest benefits of buying is a tax abatement provided by the local cities. Depending on the builder you work with, the lending process can be quite different.  A construction loan has to be taken out by someone when building a home. Most of the time, the builder does this and you only have to take out a standard mortgage loan, but occasionally the builder will require you to take out the construction loan. When purchasing an existing home, you typically have to take out a standard mortgage loan. The specials can tend to be higher with new construction.

What is the average time to close when buying or building?

When you buy an existing home, you can typically close within 30 days pending appraisal and inspection. With new construction, you are looking at anywhere from 90 days to a year, depending on the builder and the level of customization.

Who can new homeowners contact to go through options?

A realtor and/or lender are the best people to contact first to start the home buying process. A lender can tell you how much you are pre-approved for, and a buyer’s agent is there to assist you, the buyer, with any questions regarding finding the right fit for your next home. 

We hope this information helps! Roers, Real Estate agent Anne Kallhoff is here for you with any questions.

Happy house hunting!

Visit our real estate page here!

 

Anne Kallhoff
Roers Real Estate Services LLC
701-866-4425
akalhoff@roers.com

 

Roers Closes Sale of U32 and T Loft Apartments

U32 Ph 1 & 2 exterior

Roers recently announced it has closed on the sale of U32 Apartments and T Loft Apartments in Fargo, ND.

In 2005, Roers brought the concept of premier private student housing to North Dakota State University and has become the leader of off-campus student housing with top notch amenities, security, and all-inclusive rent payments. Between T Lofts and U32 Apartments these projects have provided 414 units of premier housing to the North Fargo community. The Roers team developed, constructed, and managed T Lofts and U32 Apartments. During this time, the team served thousands of residents with a premier living experience and had the opportunity to be a resource for college students to have a great living experience right next to campus.  “With the recent success of leasing our buildings with over 95% occupancy rates, we were aware these properties were in optimal position to sell, especially with the current low interest rate environment, commented Danielle Paulus, Roers Chief Operating Officer.

HB Ledges Management, based in Arizona, has taken over ownership and property management of both properties. HB Ledges has experience in student housing and is excited to invest in North Dakota. The Roers team will continue to be a resource for the new owners as consultants during the first year.

“We are excited to be investing in the Fargo market and look forward to continuing the premier experience Roers provided at the buildings,” said Howard Berger, Managing Director for HB Ledges.

T Lofts is located across from the NDSU campus just off 12th Avenue. Built in 2012, the property has 181 units and is equipped with amenities perfect for students to enjoy from fitness rooms, study rooms, lounge with billiards, and underground parking. All amenities plus air, heat, internet, and cable are all included in one bill for added convenience. Students transitioning from on-campus living find T Lofts an excellent option as it is within walking distance to campus and many other local attractions in North Fargo.

U32 Apartments  was built in 2017 and has 233 units. U32 is known as Fargo’s first amenity-rich, lifestyle-driven, all-inclusive living experience. Some of the sought after amenities include state-of-art fitness center, outdoor courtyard with basketball court, beach volleyball court, patio grill, and fire pit areas, indoor swimming pool and hot tub, sauna, racquetball court/yoga studio, community lounge, study rooms, underground parking and more. U32 is located at 1151 32nd Ave N in Fargo.

Jim Roers, CEO of Roers, is excited as he looks forward to the next development. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Roers to take this success and invest back in the community with future projects. We have excellent opportunities for additional projects near campus and throughout this community and we are already working behind the scenes to determine our next steps,” Roers commented.

Roers currently manages properties for outside owners as well as owns and leases various properties including apartment complexes, several townhomes and single-family homes throughout the Fargo-Moorhead and Dickinson communities. 

For more details on Roers including development, construction, property management or real estate, please visit roers.com.

Homes For Heroes Program at Roers

Have you heard of our Homes for Heroes program? Homes for Heroes is a special program designated to provide our local heroes a benefit when they purchase a home.

This program is for Firefighters/EMS, Law Enforcement, Military (active, reserves and veterans), Healthcare Professionals and Teachers. On average, heroes are able to save over $2,400 when they buy, sell or refinance a home using this program. Roers Real Estate is happy to offer this incredible program.

Whether buying or selling,  those who qualify will have the chance to receive a Hero Rewards Check (amount varies, depending on purchase price). Once this check has been received, the recipient is welcome to use it toward whatever you would like. 

Want to hear the best part about Homes for Heroes? Every time a hero uses this program, they help other heroes in need. A portion of Homes for Heroes earnings is donated to the Homes for Heroes Foundation. This is a non-profit organization which awards Hero Grants to local nonprofit charities serving heroes in need.

“Buying a home is a big deal and you should make sure you have an agent who is going to work for you and understand your wants and needs,” commented Anne Kallhoff, Realtor with Roers Real Estate.  “Homes for Heroes is a great program Roers is able to take part in and help our Heroes through the buying and selling process but also helping them save money.”

If you are interested in this program or have real estate questions, please contact Anne Kallhoff akallhoff@roers.com

Introducing Anne Kallhoff to Roers Real Estate

Introducing Anne Kallhoff

Roers is proud to announce and welcome Anne Kallhoff as a Real Estate Agent.  Anne will be leading the Roers Real Estate Team for both commercial and residential properties. With nearly 15 years of experience in real estate, she has grown to be a leader in the industry in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Anne’s drive and passion to find buyers and sellers the property they desire has developed strong relationships with clients.

Anne stays busy outside of work volunteering with the Moorhead Youth Hockey Association, Good Shepard Church and various United Way of Cass-Clay programs. You can also find her often watching her three kids playing hockey.

Roers Real Estate

Roers Real Estate has over 40 years of combined experience with the entire team. In addition to our expertise,  clients can count on us for our reliability, relationship building and excellent communication..  Between residential and commercial  our team can find the perfect property.  For commercial clients, Roers Real Estate can either help you purchase or lease a property. Anne and the team can assist residential clients on first time homes to that perfect retirement home.

For more information about Roers Real Estate or to view available properties, please visit our Real Estate page online

Exciting Times for the City of Moorhead

Roers and the City of Moorhead (the “City”) have recently announced their plan to enter into a predevelopment agreement with the option for the City to purchase real estate property with Roers. The partnership will lead to identifying redevelopment opportunities for the existing Moorhead City Hall, located at the 500 block of Center Avenue in Moorhead, and surrounding City-owned property.The predevelopment agreement provides Roers Real Estate Services to take representation of City-owned property in order to explore potential partnerships, which may lead to a comprehensive redevelopment plan for the City owned property. Roers and the City have entered into a professional services agreement, therefore a public bid for the services was not required. Roers will not be compensated in any manner until a City approved plan is developed.As part of the joint venture, Roers and the City will focus on a win-win situation for all parties including the Moorhead Center Mall property owners, Downtown Moorhead Inc., residents and business owners of Moorhead. Moorhead Center Mall is privately held, therefore these properties will maintain standard operating. Both the City and Roers recognize these businesses have been vital to keep the mall a destination for the community. Roers will partner with Moorhead Center Mall property owners to identify future opportunities as plans for the City progress. Downtown Moorhead Inc. and the City of Moorhead have begun to embark on a downtown planning effort, which is currently engaging citizens and business owners in creating a vision for Downtown Moorhead. Any project concept Roers would develop for City-owned property will be consistent with the vision of the Downtown Master Plan currently being drafted. “We anticipate this partnership with the City of Moorhead is just the beginning of major growth for the entire Moorhead community. With the excitement the Moorhead residents and business owners have around the plans for revitalization in the downtown sector, there are abundant opportunities for growth. Its an exciting time for the community,” commented Jim Roers, CEO of Roers.

Spring Parade of Homes: Crestwood

Spring Parade of Homes features homes for families in different life stages
FARGO — This year’s Spring Parade of Homes focuses on the homebuyers’ stage of life — and how it affects their home’s size and design.
The Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead’s Spring Parade of Homes features 93 newly constructed homes by 50 local builders, including options for those age 55 and older, first-time buyers, families looking to expand and those wanting to downsize.
Builder: Roers ConstructionValue: $243,900Size: 1,450 square feet, two bedrooms and two baths (For those who need a little extra space, there is a three bedroom, three bath (2,200 square feet) option with an elevator, valued at $322,900.)Address: 2860 Calico Dr., Unit D, FargoStand out details:    – 9′ ceilings – Heated 2-stall garages – Large private patios and courtyards“What makes these homes special is that they are truly one-level living, says Matt Nygard, Roers development research analyst and executive of residential sales. “You pull into your garage and you walk right into your condominium.”During the fall of 2016, Roers – which primarily builds multifamily and commercial housing – decided to build reasonably-priced Crestwood Condominiums for buyers 50-and-older.“We did some research and saw that there were a lot of people in the 50s and 60s looking for this,” Nygard says. “We decided to build these homes at the mid-$200,000 to lower $300,000 price points.”Nygard says by building a spacious one-level condominium at this price point, many people could downsize their current home without going into debt to purchase a new home that would include some aging-in-place features, like the wide, wheelchair or walker accessible doorways and spacious bathrooms.“All units have butler pantries which helps keep the kitchens less cluttered with coffee pots, mixers or toasters,” he says.Nygard also points out the mobility and freedom each home allows its owners. Conveniently located between 45th Street and 42nd Street and just north of 32nd Avenue South, each unit includes snow removal and lawn care.“Owners have peace in mind going on extended vacations knowing that the condo property is secure and taken care of,” Nygard says.
Read the full article here: http://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/home-and-garden/4431329-spring-parade-homes-features-homes-families-different-life-stages