New Business in Apple Valley!

Dog owners in Apple Valley will soon have a place to bring them to be professionally bathed and groomed! Wishbone Pet Parlor is finishing up construction and expects to open in early April! Wishbone Pet Parlor will be located at 14722 Pennock Avenue next to the ACE Hardware store.

 

Darla St. Martin, a partner in the business, says the salon will offer a variety of dog-grooming services for walk-in clients and scheduled appointments. One of Wishbone's unique services is to provide a space for dog owners to bathe their own pets without having the mess in their home. They have four wash stations for customers, they also provide brushes and combs.

Low Inventory Levels Means High Prices.

The number of new listings was down in 143 of 146 metro areas this January. The listings inventory fell to a six-year low according to a monthly report from Realtor.com. Supply is low, and with the economy coming back strong, home buyers who have been patiently waiting to buy, are now ready. Supply of homes is dropping, and the demand for homes is rising. That means one thing, higher prices!

 Inventory is probably close to as low as it will go. With home prices going higher, we will start to see more listings as home owners are looking to sell and move up, that is good news for both home buyers and home sellers!

Home and Leisure Show!

 

 

March 15th and 16th marks the 14th annual Home and Leisure Show hosted by the Eagan Civic Arena! The show hours are Friday from 3-7 P.M. and Saturday 9A.M. to 3P.M. Over 80 Vendors will be there to showcase their products and services! Admission is free! So if you are looking for your next home related purchase, or you just want to get a feel for the latest trends, this is your event! for more details click here.

Apple Valley Market Update!

Changes in the real estate market are happening, and the recovery of the market is becoming more publicly known. Since last January, the inventory of available homes in the twin cities has gone down 32.2%! The recovering economy and low interest rates means more people are looking to buy houses, therefore, demand is rising. If you aren't sure why this is significant, it means that prices are rising! The median sales prices of homes in the twin cities has risen 14.3% since last January.

The Apple Valley real estate market is booming! The median sales price has risen 30.2% to $185,000 in the last year! Home owners are finding relief and peace of mind in this market turnaround. The average time on the market for a sale is under 100 days. This is all good news for people who are looking to sell their house. It is also good news for buyers, knowing that the market will more than likely put them in a good position for a quick gain in equity. Click here for a more detailed look into the Twin Cities market.

Valentine's Day Party!

 

Valentine's Day is just two weeks away! Do you have any plans yet? Take your pre-schooler to ECFE's Valentine's Day party on February 9th, from 10A.M. to 12P.M. The cost is $5 per child ($15 cap). Some of the activities will include arts and crafts, face painting, and temporary tattoos! Refreshments will be available. This is a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your child, and get to know other parents within the school system. Click here to register.

NYE South of the River

Don't want to drink in the new year? Have no fear. For New Year's 2013, Burnsville, Apple Valley and other south metro cities will have plenty for you to do.

•  Big Baby Boomer with Louie Anderson: The gap-toothed comedian is back by popular demand. Anderson will perform two shows back-to-back at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center on NYE. The first show begins at 7:30 p.m. followed by an encore at 10. Prices range from $31.95 to $71.95 per ticket. Reserved VIP tickets are also available for $101.95.

•  A Wicked-Cool NYE at Buck Hill: Party-goers at Buck Hill will be able to ski, ride, or tube until midnight, enjoy Kevin Hall's Amazing Magic Show, listen to music from the Rythym Junkies with Dean Weisser & Leslee Mckee, and feast in the Whittier Room. The event will be capped off by a fireworks display at midnight. Free "Glitter Glam Hair-Dos" and tarot card readings will also be available. Regular prices apply to many of the activities. There are no additional charges for the extra perks on NYE. to reserve seating for dinner in the Whittier Room, contact Diane at 952-432-6566 x3 or email diane@crystallakegolfcourse.com.

• Enjoy! a Sumptuous Dinner: Enjoy! in Apple Valley will be offering a special menu full of classy confections like Lobster Bisque, Oyster Rockefeller and half-roasted duck.

• Ring in 2013 at Lebanon Hills Regional Park's seventh annual family New Year's Eve Party.
  The party, scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center in Eagan, is $10 per person at the door or $8 per person in advance. Children ages 5 and under are free.
  
  Activities include snowshoeing and hiking by candlelight; sledding on the lit sledding hill; s’mores at the bonfire; and readings by storyteller Roy Edward Power, magician Matt Dunn and live animals from Dakota Wild Animals.
  
  Participants can also welcome the New Year with a countdown and ball drop at 7:59 p.m. Hot concessions will be for sale and the snowshoe rental open. Bring your own sleds and ice skates. All ages are welcome.

Rosemount Leprechaun Days

Rosemount's annual festival begins on Friday, June 20th and runs through June 29th.  Leprechaun Days has existed in some form since the 1950s and has developed into a wonderful community event with many family-friendly activities.  The Leprechaun theme was chosen to honor the many original settlers of Rosemount that came from Ireland.

Highlights of the 10 day festival  include the Bluegrass Americana Festival in Central Park which includes a farmer's market, Rib Feast, bands, and children's entertainment, the Grand Day Parade and fireworks.  The Leprechaun's Lost Medallion Hunt begins July 23rd with the first clue at 9 AM and has a $500 cash prize.  There are also numerous tournaments such as whiffle ball, golf and basketball. Younger children will enjoy the puppet show, hula hoop contest, petting zoo, Trike, Big Wheel and Scooter Races and kiddie parade.  Here is a full calendar of events.

The City of Rosemount is located 15 miles south of the Twin Cities bordered by the Mississppi River.  It has a rapidly growing population with hundreds of homes under development.  It boast 23 parks, a Community Center, award winning schools and a vibrant business community. 

Simple Steps

Join the walking program that fits your lifestyle. Enjoy time walking with friends, family and coworkers while boosting energy, reducing stress and improving our health. Join the thousands of people living and working in Dakota County that have participated in Simple Steps since 2007. Be eligible to win prizes just by tracking the number of minutes you walk. It's easy--simply grab a friend and start walking. The program is free. You can register online anytime between now and June 15th, or call 651-554-6100.  

Planting for Clean Water Workshops

Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in conjunction with area cities, watershed management organizations, and Dakota County will be offering "An Introduction to Planting for Clean Water." This free workshop will be held in various cities throughout Dakota County, including Apple Valley on Thursday, April 5, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.The presentation will focus on native gardens, raingardens, and native plant shoreline stabilizations. Attendees will be invited to attend more in-depth design workshops later in the spring. To register for this free workshop, contact the SWCD at 651-480-7777 or visit their website.

Dakota County Community Development Agency Hosts Foreclosure Information Session

If you are facing foreclosure, information is your most valuable resource.  The Dakota County CDA is hosting a free seminar on Thursday, March 22nd from 6 to 7 PM covering general foreclosure information, the forclosure process and possible foreclosure alternative options for homeowners.  The session is being held at CDA’s office located at 1228 Town Centre Drive in Eagan.  The CDA is a local government agency serving the community and residents of Dakota County.
After the presentation, certified housing counselors will be on hand and individual appointments.  Pre-registration is requested. To pre-register, please call the CDA’s foreclosure intake line at 651-675-4555.

Our World Speaker Series

The Minnesota Zoo is pleased to offer the 2012 Our World Speaker Series. This free series introduces you to experts in local and global wildlife conservation and environmental issues. Registration will open one month prior to each event. Pre-registration is required. Learn more about each event here. 

The next event is The Art & Science of Animal Training and will be held Sunday, February 12th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Space is limited so register for this event now!