Yearly Archives: 2011

Saint Paul - November 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Property tax levies are proposed to increase an average of 1.2 percent statewide if proposed local tax levies are adopted by local governments later this year. Levy increases combined with the elimination of a state-paid homestead credit during the 2011 special legislative session will increase the amount of taxes paid by Minnesota taxpayers by an estimated 4.7 percent, or $379 million.

EUGENE, OR - November 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. welcomes Jen Geisinger of Luke Team Real Estate to the growing network of agents and brokers who have integrated an IDX solution onto their real estate website. Geisinger can now seamlessly display thousands of Northstar MLS listings on the convenient search page she hosts. By enabling IDX Broker software on her website, she has given her clients and other Maple Grove, Minnesota home seekers the ability to quickly and easily search for homes online.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - October 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court, a Minnesota couple was indicted in connection with a $5 million mortgage fraud scheme. James Warren Hoffman, age 51, and his wife, Teresa Gay Hoffman, age 52, both of Stillwater, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud through the use of interstate wire and nine counts of mortgage fraud through interstate wire.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - October 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a 45-year-old Burnsville man was sentenced for conspiring with others to bilk mortgage lenders out of more than $43 million. United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced Troy David Chaika to 102 months in prison on seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. Chaika was indicted on April 12, 2010, and was convicted by a jury on May 24, 2011.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - October 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- To date in 2011, more than a dozen people have been charged federally with mortgage fraud and related crimes in the District of Minnesota. These complex cases are the result of lengthy investigations by federal agents, in particular, Special Agent Andy Gibart of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division (“IRS-CID”), Special Agent Jennifer Khan of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Inspector Christine Kroells of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”).

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - September 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a 28-year-old Webster man was sentenced for bilking more than $7 million from at least 15 real estate mortgage lending companies between 2005 and 2008. U.S. District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced Dustin LaFavre to 48 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. LaFavre was charged on November 5, 2009, and pled guilty on December 7, 2009.

EUGENE, OR - September 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce Minneapolis, Minnesota real estate broker Kevin Huntington has opted to enable a custom IDX solution on his website. Home seekers can now experience an online property search like never before available, thanks to the partnership between IDX and the Northstar MLS. Thousands of detailed property listings are now synced to Huntington’s search page, giving potential buyers a comprehensive database of homes to search, without ever leaving the website Huntington hosts. The convenient and easy-to-use IDX-enabled website of Hungington has forever changed the Minneapolis home search.

Eugene, OR - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. announces the addition of the Minnesota Home Venture, Inc.’s Chris Mehalovich to its suite of real estate based search applications online. Mehalovich now uses the latest version of IDX Broker to display and completely integrate the Northstar MLS listings on her personal website. This allows him to retain leads generated from direct traffic, rather than losing out to the listing broker through the use of traditional framed MLS search tools.

Golden Valley, MN - September 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As Renters Warehouse continues to grow, promoting internal staff and selecting a President and COO will encourage more scalability and increased efficiency for the company.

Golden Valley, MN - September 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to sell more franchises nationwide, Renters Warehouse hires Bill Stecker, former Franchise Sales Consultant from RE/MAX who was the #1 RE/MAX Franchise Sales Consultant in North America in 2008, and #2 in 2009 & 2010.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - September 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court, a 52-year-old man was charged for his role in a $20 million mortgage fraud scheme that involved 57 properties. Douglas Rex Butler was charged via an information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Golden Valley, MN - August 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- From #983 in 2010 Inc. 5000 to # 132 in Inc. 500 in ranking for America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies, Renters Warehouse and CEO Brenton Hayden continue to grow at a remarkable rate. Founded in 2007, Renters Warehouse three-year growth has been an unbelievable 2, 085.2%, with 2010 revenues of $3.3 Million, and projected revenues in 2011 to be around $5 million. Renters Warehouse also ranks #3 in fastest growing real estate company in the United States.

Golden Valley, MN - August 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Coming off his recent acceptance into the MIT Sloan Executive Education Entrepreneurship Development Program, Mr. Hayden continues to expand his knowledge in ways to improve his company and continue to grow in today’s ever-changing market. While his schooling at MIT was more focused on general entrepreneurship, the Harvard Business School Real Estate Program focuses heavily on: how to adapt and survive in a challenging real estate economy, understanding the global financial crisis, leading in uncertain times, responding to troubled assets and troubled companies, and how the instability in the global real estate industry has heightened the need for in-depth analysis and greater efficiency

Golden Valley, MN - August 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Being selected for Professional of the Year in Real Estate 2011 is something Mr. Hayden is thrilled to be selected for. Owning a real estate company in buying and selling of real estate, flat fee MLS listing services, and residential property management, Mr. Hayden covers all areas of real estate in his industry. Being successful in all three areas of real estate has been a key driver to him winning this award.

Minneapolis, MN - August 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 55 winning companies, determined by anonymous employee surveys compiled by Omaha, Neb.-based Quantum Workplace, will be ranked by their scores and featured in a special section of the Business Journal on Aug 19, 2011.