Eagan is an established Twin Cities suburb with access to parks, workplaces, retail and regional transportation. Buyers should compare individual neighborhoods and properties rather than rely on general city rankings.

Why Rosemount, Apple Valley, and Eagan a ISD 196? 

Learn more about ISD 196

📉 Current U.S. Mortgage Rates (February 2026): What Buyers & Refinancers Need to Know

As we head into spring home-buying season, mortgage rates across the United States have been on the move — and the latest data gives both buyers and homeowners cause to pay attention.

🔍 Where Rates Stand Right Now

Recent reports show that mortgage interest rates have drifted lower compared with recent years:

• The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dipped to around 6.0%, nearing or falling just below that key psychological threshold for the first time in over three years.

• 15-year fixed mortgages remain lower still, often in the ~5.3–5.5% range.

• Daily lender quotes vary, and some large mortgage marketplaces are publicly showing 30-year offers under 6% in select markets.

This marks a noticeable shift from the higher rates we saw throughout 2023–25, when 30-year averages often exceeded 7%.

🏡 Why This Drop Matters

A lower average rate can meaningfully affect both monthly payments and overall borrowing costs:

• On a $400,000 loan, dropping even a fraction of a percentage point in rate can lower monthly principal and interest by hundreds of dollars.

• Lower rates also help refinancing activity pick up, especially for homeowners with older mortgages above current averages.

Rates are influenced by bond market movements — especially the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield — which lenders use as a baseline to price mortgage loans. As those benchmarks ease, mortgage rates tend to follow.

📊 Market Trends & Expert Perspective

Economists note that while the sub-6% average is encouraging, several dynamics are still shaping the market:

• Housing inventory remains tight, which keeps overall affordability a challenge even with modest rate improvements.

• Many current homeowners are still “rate-locked” into mortgages well under today’s averages, so they’re less likely to sell — limiting available homes on the market.

• Forecasts from industry analysts (like Fannie Mae and MBA data) suggest that rates may hover near 6% through 2026, with only gradual movement thereafter.

🧩 Bottom Line

Mortgage rates around 6% or below — offer a positive signal for buyers and refinancers alike. 

Preparing & Staging Your Property For Sale

FIRST, AN HONEST ASSESSMENT

We need to look at your home from the buyer's point of view and then consider what you will need to do to market your home quickly and effectively to maximize your sale price while minimizing marketing time.  Each of the categories is outlined in order that you understand the parameters we are using to evaluate your property.

LOCATION:  How does your property compare to the other properties in the area?

CURB APPEAL: What are the first impressions of the buyer as he/she views the property?   Does the home show well and draw people in?   Remember: A buyer will often form an opinion in the first few seconds and mentally decide whether he likes the home!

Read the full guide here

5 Things to Understand About Homeowners Insurance

1.            Look for exclusions to coverage. For example, most insurance policies do not cover flood or earthquake damage as a standard item. These coverages must be bought separately.

2.            Look for dollar limitations on claims. Even if you are covered for a risk, there may a limit on how much the insurer will pay. For example, many policies limit the amount paid for stolen jewelry unless items are insured separately.

3.            Understand replacement cost. If your home is destroyed you’ll receive money to replace it only to the maximum of your coverage, so be sure your insurance is sufficient. This means that if your home is insured for $150,000 and it costs $180,000 to replace it, you’ll only receive $150,000.

4.            Understand actual cash value. If you choose not to replace your home when it’s destroyed, you’ll receive replacement cost, less depreciation. This is called actual cash value.

5.            Understand liability. Generally your homeowners insurance covers you for accidents that happen to other people on your property, including medical care, court costs, and awards by the court. However, there is usually an upper limit to the amount of coverage provided. Be sure that it’s sufficient if you have significant assets.

Mortgage costs depend on loan terms, rates, insurance, fees and the borrower's circumstances.

Buyers who need help bridging the gap between savings and purchase costs should evaluate current programs and financing terms carefully. Not every strategy suits every borrower.

Preparing & Staging Your Property For Sale

FIRST, AN HONEST ASSESSMENT

We need to look at your home from the buyer's point of view and then consider what you will need to do to market your home quickly and effectively to maximize your sale price while minimizing marketing time.  Each of the categories is outlined in order that you understand the parameters we are using to evaluate your property.

LOCATION:  How does your property compare to the other properties in the area?

CURB APPEAL: What are the first impressions of the buyer as he/she views the property?   Does the home show well and draw people in?   Remember: A buyer will often form an opinion in the first few seconds and mentally decide whether he likes the home!

EXTERIOR CONDITION: What is the general overall condition of the exterior of the home?    Does it have curb appeal?  

 Consider the following:

· Roof, Siding, Windows

· Steps, Porches and Decks

· Lawn, Shrubs and Trees

· Fences

· Garages and Outbuildings

· Sidewalks and Driveways

INTERIOR - LIVING SPACE:

· Eye Appeal; how does it look?   (Remember - we are looking from a buyers perspective!)

· Cleanliness

· Space - Are the rooms over crowded?

· Spacious Kitchen - Clean it up and take every thing off the countertops.

 · Closets - spacious (Hint) Remove enough so that they are not filled to give the impression of additional room.

· Clean and Paint as necessary!

· Household Odors - Try to eliminate them.

BASEMENT:

· Remove Clutter; allow buyers to see how big the basement actually is!

· Clean thoroughly; be mindful of odors.

“STAGING” YOUR HOME

So, you’ve made the decision to sell your property sometime in the relatively near future—what’s next?   We suggest that you start thinking of your house as a marketable commodity, and, although it may be difficult to do, attempt to remove emotion from the selling equation. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home—to neutralize it, so to speak, for marketing purposes.

REMOVING CLUTTER, THOUGH YOU MAY NOT THINK OF IT AS CLUTTER

You would like buyers to see your home and not it’s contents; to be able to visualize their furniture and their belongings instead of yours.  Try not to get hung up on showing off Grandpa’s collection of trains, the kids’ artwork or your favorite piece of furniture.  Box up everything you do not use regularly and donate it, sell it, throw it, or store it.  Removing clutter is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house.  After years of living in the same home, clutter collects in such a way that may not even be evident to the homeowner.  However, it does affect the way buyers see the home, even if you do not realize it.  Clutter collects on shelves, counter tops, drawers, closets, attics, and basements.

Take a step back and pretend you are a buyer.  Let a friend help point out areas of clutter, as long as you can accept their views without getting defensive. 

• Clutter in the kitchen—the kitchen is a good place to start removing clutter, because it is an easy place to start.  First, get everything off the counters except what you use daily.  Put everything else in  a kitchen cabinet and take it out when you use it.  Of course, you may notice that you do not have enough cabinet space to put everything.  Clean them out. Put things in boxes and store the boxes elsewhere.  You see, homebuyers will open all your cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen.  They want to be sure there is enough room for their “stuff”.  If your kitchen cabinets, pantries, and drawers look jammed full, it sends a negative message to the buyer and does not promote an image of plentiful storage space.  The best way to do that is to have as much empty space as possible; create open space.

• Clutter in the Closets—Closets are great for accumulating clutter, though you may not think of it as clutter.  We are talking about extra clothes and shoes—things you rarely wear but cannot bear to be without.  Do without these items for a couple of months by putting them in a box, because these items can make your closets look “crammed full.”  Sometimes there are shoeboxes full of “stuff” or other accumulated personal items too.

• Furniture Clutter—Many people have too much furniture in certain rooms; not too much for your own personal living needs, but too much to give the illusion of space that a homebuyer would like to see.  Builders’ models are a prime example of the setting you’re after to stage your own home—cozy, comfortable and homey.  What you will see is furniture and lighting that are appropriately placed and accessories which are neutral, not gaudy or intrusive.  Also concentrate on traffic flow, can you move easily from one room to another without bumping into things?

• Storage Area Clutter—Basements, garages, attics, and sheds accumulate not only clutter, but junk.  These areas should be as empty as possible so that buyers can imagine what they would do with the space.  Remove anything that is not essential and take it to a separate storage area.  Or, have a garage sale---now there’s an idea!

Once you have cleared out the clutter, cleaned out every corner, re-arranged the furniture and tastefully accessorized, leave your house.  Go grab a friend and bring them over.  Walk in together and pretend you are a potential buyer.  Does your home look and feel inviting?  Are you distracted by the stuff, or does this home appear clean and well cared for, a home you could immediately settle into?  Is this a home you would want to buy?

FIXING UP THE HOUSE INTERIOR FIRST

Most real estate advice tells you to work on the outside of the house first, but unless there is a major project involved, consider starting on the inside.  There are two main reasons for this.  First, the first steps in preparing the interior of the house are easier.  They also help develop the proper mindset required for selling—beginning to think of your “home” as a marketable commodity.  Second, most professionals will agree that the exterior is the most important.  Once you have developed the proper mindset for selling by working indoors, the more important exterior work should come easier.

Whether you start fixing up the inside or the outside first, it might be wise at this point in time to consider having a pre-inspection by a licensed home inspector.  A complete inspection of your property will include areas such as plumbing, electrical, heating systems, fireplaces, foundation, roof, exterior and interior wall surfaces, windows and appliances.  This eliminates worries and offers you peace of mind about the condition of the home.  In addition, the inspection report generated for you by the inspector will itemize in great detail just what items need to be addressed in this pre-list “fixing up” stage.

• Plumbing and Fixtures—all of you sink fixtures should look shiny and new.  Make sure all the hot and cold faucet knobs are easy to turn and that the faucets do not leak.  Check to make sure you have good water pressure and no stains on any of the porcelain.  All sinks, tubs etc. need to drain quickly and toilets need to flush efficiently.  Potential homebuyers will check these things out, if they are serious about your home!
• Ceilings, Walls and Painting—check all ceilings for water stains.  Sometimes old leaks leave stains, even after you have repaired the leak.  Of course, if you do have a leak, you will have to get it repaired whether it is a plumbing problem or the roof leaks.  You should do the same for walls, looking not only for stains, but also areas where dirt has accumulated (behind furniture) and you just may not have noticed.  Painting can be your best investment when selling your home.  It is not a very expensive operation and often you can do it yourself.  Choose an off-white color that will appeal to the widest possible number of buyers and also help your rooms to appear bright and spacious.
•  Carpet and Flooring—unless your carpet appears old and worn, or it is definitely an outdated style or color you probably should do nothing more than hire a good carpet cleaner.  If you do choose to replace it, do so with something inexpensive in a fairly neutral color.  Repair or replace broken floor tiles. Remember, you are not fixing up the place for yourself, so be conscious of your return on investment.  Your goal is simply to leave as few negative impressions as possible upon those who may want to purchase your property.
• Windows and Doors—check all of your windows to make sure they open and close easily.  If not, a spray of WD40 often helps.  Replace any cracked or broken windowpanes before you begin showing your home.  Do the same things with the doors; make sure they open and close properly, without creaking.  A shot of WD40 will also make hinge creaks go away.
• Odor Control—for those who smoke, you might want to minimize smoking indoors while trying to sell your home.  You could also purchase an ozone spray that helps to remove odors without creating the tell-tale perfumed masking odor, which indicates that you’re trying to cover up something objectionable.  Pets of all kinds create odors that you may have become used to, but are immediately detectable to those coming into your home from the outside.  Be sure to clean kitty litter boxes daily or oftener, even if they are in the basement.  For those with dogs, keep them outdoors as much as possible.  You might also try sprinkling carpet freshener on the carpets on a periodic basis.  If there are serious pet odor problems, consider hiring a cleaning service to eliminate them with special products and types of service specifically made for that purpose.

FIXING UP THE HOUSE EXTERIOR

Take a walk across the street and have a good look at your house.  Look at nearby houses too, and see how yours compares.  Curb appeal is essential since a buyer’s first impression is formed by viewing the outside of your property.  A mowed lawn or shoveled walks, trimmed hedge and weeded gardens, all help to create a great first impression! 

• Landscaping—Is your landscaping at least average for the neighborhood?  If not, buy a few bushes and plant them.  Don’t bother with trees; mature trees are expensive, and you’ll not get back your investment.  If you have an area for flowers, buy mature colorful flowers and plant them.  They add a splash of vibrancy and color, creating a very favorable first impression.  Bulbs or seeds will not mature fast enough to create the desired effect and you certainly don’t want a patch of brown earth for homebuyers to view.  Lawns should be evenly cut, freshly edged, well watered, and free of brown spots.  If there are problems with your lawn, take care of them before starting on the inside of your home, since lawn treatments frequently take time to become readily apparent.  Back yards need to be tidy also.  For those with dogs, be sure to constantly keep the area clear of “debris”.
• The Front Door and Entryway—the front door should be especially sharp, since it is the entry through which your potential buyers will probably come.  Door windows should shine and the doors themselves be refinished or newly painted if necessary.  Get a new plush doormat.  Make sure the lock works easily and the key fits properly.  When a buyer comes to visit your home, the agent uses the key from the lock box to unlock the door.  If there is trouble working the lock while everyone else stands around twiddling their thumbs, it sends a negative first impression.
• House Exterior—the big decision is whether to paint or not to paint.  When you look at your house from across the street, does it look tired and faded?  If so, a paint job may be in order.  It is often a very good investment and really spruces up the appearance of a house, adding dollars to offers from potential homebuyers.  When choosing a color, it should not be something garish and unusual, but a color that fits well in your neighborhood
• Roof—As for the roof, if you know your house has an old leaky roof, replace it.  If you do not replace a leaky roof, you are going to have to disclose it and the buyer will want a new roof, anyway.  Otherwise, it is a judgment call on the condition.  If it is deteriorated enough that a buy will most likely take an issue with it, then replacing may still be well worth the effort and cost.

IT’S A TEAM EFFORT!

Enlist the help of all household members to get the house ready—and keep it ready—for prospective buyers.  A few minutes spent tidying up each morning can make the difference for a showing in the afternoon.  Your home is your most valuable merchandise on display for sale, so display it in the best possible light!

Security and Safety Tips

 PGP (Pretty Good Protection) Policy

Common sense is the theme here.  It’s about taking reasonable steps to secure your property and protecting your privacy.  Do a couple of walk-throughs, looking for obvious things and using a common sense approach for removing items that may tempt someone, may be broken, or may not be a public display item.  Having someone less familiar with your home can make this easier as they will see things that you simply walk by because of familiarity.  A friend or neighbor can be helpful in this regard.

 · Valuables

Money, Jewelry and small valuable items (anything easily removed)

· Prescription drugs

Secure all prescription drugs in a locked or secured area

· Documents/Information

Credit card invoices, Account numbers, Bank statements and Passwords

(Any personal information you wouldn’t leave out in a public office space)

· Keys

Any keys secured areas such as gun safes, document storage and etc.

· Breakable/valuable objects

Collectables, antiques, heirlooms, etc.  (Think of child proofing your home)

Conclusion

A home is often the largest asset investment we make.  Properly preparing and staging the property will pay dividends both in the sale price attained and in a quicker timeframe.  You are displaying merchandise for a buyer to see, make sure they are seeing it in the best possible light!!

Good Luck and happy staging!

Sincerely,

Shane Maki

Broker

Midwest Realty of Minnesota

651-472-4012

www.MidwestRealtyMN.com

10 Things a Lender Needs From You

1.      W-2 forms or business tax return forms if you’re self-employed for the last two or three years for every person signing the loan.

2.      Copies of one or more months of pay stubs from every person signing the loan.

3.      Copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements for both checking and savings accounts.

4.      Copies of personal tax forms for the last two to three years.

5.      Copies of brokerage account statements for two to four months, as well as a list of any other major assets of value, e.g., a boat, RV, or stocks or bonds not held in a brokerage account.

6.      Copies of your most recent 401(k) or other retirement account statement.

7.      Documentation to verify additional income, such as child support, pension, etc.

8.      Account numbers of all your credit cards and the amounts of any outstanding balances.

9.      Lender, loan number, and amount owed on other installment loans—student loans, car loans, etc.

10.  Addresses where you lived for the last five to seven years, with names of landlords, if appropriate.