St. Cloud, MN - Real Estate Blog

I am so thankful that Hilary Clinton is dropping out of the Presidential race today.  I have two little girls and couldn't be happier that Hillary will not be the first female president of the United States.

Why you ask?

Because if she had succeeded I would need to think of something else to use as an inspiration for my daughters.  Something grand that they could achieve in their lifetimes.  I don't know how many times I have told my oldest that she can be whatever she wants when she grows up - even the first female president of the United States.  With Hillary out of the picture, now this dream is still alive. 

There is just no motivation to the phrase, "You could be the 2nd female president of the United States."  I also wasn't real keen on the "first female on the Stanley Cup" phrase.  Beyond that, most of the things that are generally reserved for just men I wouldn't necessarily want my daughters achieving.

With that, I would like to give a big "Thank you" to Hillary Clinton for finally stepping aside and leaving the dreams of millions of little girls unscathed.  You had us scared for a little while, but now all of my cliché phrases for parenting are still in tact.

Jason Tangen - Real Estate Broker Associate with Edina Realty in St Cloud MN

www.StCloudEdina.com - Get a free list of the foreclosed properties on the St Cloud MLS

http://jasontangen.edinarealty.com -Lakefront and recreational land real estate search in Minnesota

Posted by Jason Tangen at 05:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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If you haven't caught it in the media recently, we are headed for the "R" word.  Early last fall I started hearing this proclamation about how we are headed for a recession and there is nothing that anyone can do to stop it.  The government even went so far as to pass the economic stimulus package to send out billions of dollars to prevent this so called recession from happening.  I think it's working (even before they sent out the money).

So here we are, half way through the second quarter in 2008 and we have yet to have the negative numbers necessary to declare a recession.  We haven't even had one quarter's worth of decline in the gross national production (it takes two consecutive quarters to declare a recession).

So my question is, why do I keep hearing about this inevitable recession?  Anyone??

My guess - it's an election year.  Read into that phrase whatever you would like.

My hope - we don't have a self fulfilling prophecy and create a recession by constantly stating that there is going to be one.

Jason Tangen, GRI - real estate broker associate with Edina Realty in St Cloud MN

www.StCloudEdina.com - Search the MLS for real estate in Sartell MN

Posted by Jason Tangen at 08:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Attached below is a spreadsheet breaking down all real estate sales from Sartell MN off the St Cloud MLS to aid a gentleman thinking about buying a home for his elderly mother.

Download file

Jason Tangen, GRI - Real Estate Broker Associate with Edina Realty in St Cloud MN

www.StCloudEdina.com - Search real estate in Central MN.

Posted by Jason Tangen at 07:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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My Sister (Jodi Bartley) and her Husband (Caleb Bartley) are leaving to start their Appalachian Trail walk this afternoon.  They are going to drive down to Georgia and start to walk North on the trail from there.  They have decided to try and make this little trek worth something a little bigger by deciding to try and raise some money for breast cancer research and treatment while on their hike.  Please visit Jodi's blog and more specifically her entry regarding how to join her Google Group to follow her trials and tribulations along the trail and more importantly, donate to a worthy cause.

The link to her blog with directions to join Jodi Bartley's Google Group is: http://wrinklednotes.blogspot.com/2008/03/our-google-group.html

Jason Tangen, GRI - Real Estate Broker Associate with Edina Realty St Cloud MN

www.StCloudEdina.com - Search real estate for sale in central MN.

Posted by Jason Tangen at 05:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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I would love it if everyone could do me a big favor.  My sister is an aspiring writer looking to get her first publishing deal.  She has told me that it would help her chances if she could get a large number of people to visit her blog and post comments.  With that being said, I would like to get her at least 100+ or so comments for her within the next month or less.  Please take the time to help this "starving artist."  She is what I would like to describe as the new age Andy Rooney with her random thoughts.

Jodi Bartley's blog is located at www.wrinklednotes.blogspot.com

If you want to read my favorite post of hers read the one about the her walking through cement and trying to escape (if only in her mind).  My personal thought is that it is going to be tough to cover up cement covered footprints leaving the scene of the crime.  The link to this article is http://wrinklednotes.blogspot.com/2008/02/cement.html

Thank you for helping,

Jason Tangen, GRI - Real Estate Broker Associate with Edina Realty in St Cloud

Posted by Jason Tangen at 06:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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They say you are only as old as you feel.  That makes me either 62 or 5 depending on when the aspirin kicks in.

I threw out my back today trying to help my youngest daughter (Vivian) learn how to walk.  Her big sister (Abbie) and myself were working pretty hard to get the littlest Tangen member to become a biped today.  As it turns out, it worked.  With just a little encouragement from her big sister, Vivian cleared the whole living room floor without falling.  This was repeated several times (we had to verify that it wasn't a fluke).

It is with this information that I am putting my stamp of approval on it.  With Abigail's help, Vivian Ruby Tangen took her first steps (without falling) and accurately maneuvered around a room at just under 11 months of age.  I am such a proud Dad.

Either the aspirin is kicking in or the thoughts are making me feel better already.

Posted by Jason Tangen at 04:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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I was listening to the news yesterday and a strange fact hit me.  I was told that the Clinton and Obama campaigns had raised a combined 80 million dollars last month.  Granted, February was a leap year this year, but doesn't that seem like a ton of money to you?  We'll break it down

$2.759 million/day

$114943/hour

$1916/minute

Wow, at that rate, we as a country could theoretically raise over 1 billion dollars every year without raising our taxes a dime.

I realize that it takes money to run a campaign for president, but we should ask ourselves, is this really what we should be spending our hard earned money on?

Posted by Jason Tangen at 07:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Hey everyone, super Tuesday has finally come.  I encourage everyone to get out and do what they feel is correct when it comes to their own political beliefs.  With issues like the budget deficit, health care, Iraq, and the economy on everyone's minds, be sure to get your individual voice heard.  If you are unsure where you need to go during this portion of the election process, visit the Caucus Finder at  http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us/.  Here's to hoping that we all get out and get the candidates that we want on the ballot.

Jason Tangen, GRI - Real Estate Broker Associate with Edina Realty in St Cloud MN

Posted by Jason Tangen at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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I wish I could remember which conservative radio personality said this, but I cannot.  The phrase was basically:

"This new economic stimulus plan is being given to the people who don't make a lot of money because they will not save it or put it toward their existing debts.  They will instead buy new TVs or other items that will push the economy forward."

I hate to hear that philosophy.  It's tough enough to get a "freebie" from the government when there is so much more that they could do with that money.  Social security, affordable health care, and paying down the national debt are just a few possibilities.

But no, this "stimulus plan" is being set forth because we, as lower and middle class Americans, are viewed as frivolous spenders that cannot manage our finances properly.  We will wastefully spend any money we receive from the government according to this radio personality's philosophy.

I suppose with that philosophy, you can't honestly believe that we should push forward any form of privatized health care because the majority of us are too busy watching "Hee-Haw" to properly manage our own money.  Wouldn't that go against some of the prominent conservatives' philosophies and platforms?

Now before you go attacking me because I am taking the liberal side of this issue, remember that this was endorsed in landslide fashion in the House and Senate.  Both sides of the isle believe that this will help our economy.  I say that again in different terms -  Both the Democrats and Republicans believe that lower and middle class Americans are stupid and will spend any extra money they receive and not sensibly manage their household finances.

Let us take this chance to prove our government wrong.  Take the money use it for your kid's schooling, bills, credit card debt, retirement or whatever (but spend it wisely).  We seem to manage our specific household budgets and we would like our government to adhere to the same principles.

By the way, where are they coming up with this money that will afford most lower and middle class tax payers $600-$1200 dollars?  I'll give you a hint if you need one.

I'd love to hear some other takes on this issue.

Jason Tangen, GRI - Real Estate Broker Associate with Edina Realty St Cloud, MN

www.StCloudEdina.com - REAL ANSWERS for REAL ESTATE in St Cloud MN

     (and I guess some political commentary as well:)

Posted by Jason Tangen at 09:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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In honor of Veterans Day, I thought it only appropriate to give a very big "Thank You" to everyone who has served in the armed forces.  It is sometimes a thankless job protecting our freedoms because of the politics that are always associated with any military action.  I encourage everyone to call the Veterans they know and thank them personally for the time they served our country.

I also would like to propose that the following four movies are the greatest war/military movies of all time.  I might be slightly biased in my choices due to my age and prior military service.  What do you think?

1.  "Saving Private Ryan" - Tom Hanks' line to Matt Damon and following scene with the elder Private Ryan emotionally hit me every time.

2.  "Platoon" - I love the distinct differences in the leadership styles of Tom Berenger's and Willem Dafoe's characters.

3.  "Full Metal Jacket" - R. Lee Ermey in one of the finest military roles of all time.  The closest depiction of Marine Corps boot camp available.

4.  "Glory" - A powerful Civil War masterpiece that captivates and motivates anyone who watches it.

Others needing serious consideration:  Gone with the Wind, Schindler's List, Letter's from Iwo Jima, Flags of our Fathers, The Bridge Over the River Kwai, M*A*S*H, Apocalypse Now, Patton, Heartbreak Ridge, Pork Chop Hill, The Deer Hunter, The Patriot, Good Morning Vietnam, Black Hawk Down, and We Were Soldiers.

Jason Tangen, Veteran of USMC

www.StCloudEdina.com

Posted by Jason Tangen at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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