ONLINE RESOURCES INDEX

Arts & Entertainment - Lots of information and links here about what to do, where to visit and special events.

Community Information - Want to know more about Minnesota and the Minneapolis/St. Paul area?  Click here for links to city government sites, area newspapers, calendars of events and more.

Education - Complete information on Minnesota school districts. private schools, colleges and universities.

Glossary - Confused by all the industry jargon?  Come here for plain-English answers to your questions.  If it's not listed here, I'll find it for you.

Home Improvement - A lot of ways to spruce up your home, even if you don't intend to sell it right away.   Click here for access to ideas for fixing up, gardening and lawn care, services, contractors and more.

New Construction - If you're interested in building a new home, check here.

Internet & Web Resources - All about websites, internet marketing, tools and information.

The Loan Process - An explanation of the loan process from start to finish. For new loans and refinancing of existing homes.

Maps and Directions - How to find wherever you're looking for.

Media - If you'd like to know more about media in Minnesota, including newspapers, publications, radio and TV, click here.

Newsletter - A very interesting and timely newsletter full of great information about buying and selling Real Estate.

Preferred Mortgage Lender - Lots of calculators and information about home finance.

Relocation - This is a whole collection of sites designed to provide information, tips and services to make your move go smoothly.

Shopping, Cooking, Travel, etc. - An ever-changing assortment of sites, including cooking, furnishings, clothing, food, gardening, travel, pets and just plain fun.

Sports & Recreation - Lots of information and sites on sports teams, both amateur and professional, and other leisure-time activities.

Weather - Current weather conditions in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area... or if you're traveling, check out your destination.

Miscellaneous - Inevitably, you wind up with a group of sites that are interesting and helpful but don't fit neatly into specific categories.  I put all of those here.  Enjoy.


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT - return to index
MUSIC THEATRE
The Minnesota Opera
The Minnesota Orchestra
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
The Ordway Music Center
Chanhassen Dinner Theater
The Children's Theater Company
A Prairie Home Companion
The Guthrie Theater


Ticketmaster Online
MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITS
The Minneapolis Institute for the Arts
Science Museum of Minnesota
Walker Art Center

COMMUNITY INFORMATION - return to index
FEDERAL & STATE GOVERNMENT PLACES OF INTEREST TRANSPORTATION
The White House
Official State of Minnesota web site
HUD - Minnesota
The MN Dept. of Tourism
Guide to Minneapolis/St. Paul
Minnesota landscape Arboretum
Minneapolis Visitors Bureau
CitySearch.Com - Twin Cities
St. Paul Visitors & Convention Bureau
Mall of America
Metro Transit
REGIONAL BUSINESS INFO
Fedgazette
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Minneapolis StarTribune
CITY & COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Dakota County, MN
City of Shoreview
Minnesota Regional Directory

EDUCATION INFORMATION - return to index
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Minnesota K-12 Schools Bethel University
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hamline University
Minneapolis College of Arts and Design
Northwestern College
The College of St. Catherine
St. Olaf College - Northfield, MN
University of Minnesota
University of MN Extension
University of St. Thomas

HOME IMPROVEMENT - return to index
HOUSE & HOME LANDSCAPING & GARDEN
Corner Hardware
Handyman USA
Home Depot
Home Warehouse
Kitchen Web & related sites
Remodeling Online
Today's Homeowner Magazine
U-Bild Woodworking
Improvenet
michaelholigan.com
This Old House Online
American Horticultural Society
American Nursery and Landscape Assoc.
Association of Professional Landscape Designers
Garden Web
GreenMediaOnline
The Irrigation Association
Landscape Online
Rebecca's Garden
Burpee
Flower Delivery Flowers
HOME SECURITY
Brinks

NEW CONSTRUCTION - return to index

Over the years, we've come to know and trust numerous reputable builders, big and small.  We would be glad to refer and recommend construction companies in all price ranges that build every style of home imaginable.  We also have access to architects, lot information in developments, on lakes, with country views, on acreage, etc.  The best way to find out more is to email or call me.  We look forward to working with you to build your dream home.

TEN SMART REASONS TO BUILD A NEW HOUSE

1.  Have it your way. One of the most satisfying reasons to build is being able to design your home the way you choose, rather than learning to live with someone else's choices.

2.  Save on energy costs. New homes consume half as much energy as homes built before 1980, thanks to more efficient heating and cooling systems, better windows, controlled ventilation and improved insulation.

3.  The pampering factor. New homes afford more luxury and convenience with state-of-the-art kitchens, central heating, air and vacuum systems, abundant electrical outlets, basements and bathrooms with heated floors, opulent owner's suites and, finally, enough storage!

4.  Greater safety and security. New homes can be equipped with the latest smoke detection systems, circuit breakers, sensors and alarms, as well as devices to assist elderly family members or those with disabilities.

5.  Lower maintenance, less hassle. With windows and trim that never require painting, in-ground lawn sprinklers, recycling centers and the like, new homes are easier to maintain.

6.  A healthier environment. New homes clearly reduce health risks. Asbestos, lead and formaldehyde are no longer used in building materials. Air exchangers and water purification systems now being built into new homes further improve the quality of the home environment.

7.  Stronger, quieter construction. New kinds of trusses for roofs and floors increase strength, and allow builders a much wider range of design possibilities. New materials also make for stronger and quieter roofs and floors than in older homes where board sheathing was used.

8.  An investment to appreciate. Studies show that new homes often appreciate as a percentage of original cost than older homes do. In some master planned communities, home values do even better because neighborhoods, streets, landscape and land uses are all planned in advance.

9.  Choose an ideal neighborhood. The location of your home &endash; the distance of the commute, proximity to shopping and recreation, the physical and social environment largely determines your home's value as well as your satisfaction.

10. Time is on your side. Conventional wisdom used to hold that building a new home took longer than finding an existing home. Not any more. To find the features they want in a home, today's buyer may take longer to make a buying decision than before and see many more homes than previously necessary.

Builders' Association of the Twin Cities Parade of Homes

INTERNET & WEB RESOURCES - return to index
WORLD WIDE WEB SEARCH ENGINES
Digital Design Technologies
Internet Crusade
Internet.com
Internet Day
Keyword.com
Switchboard
WebPosition.com
Wired Magazine
About.com
Ask Jeeves
InfoSpace
Google
SEARCH FOR PEOPLE
US Search - Search for people, court records, judgements, etc.

MAPS & DIRECTIONS - return to index
Google Maps
Google Earth
Yahoo! Maps
Mapquest
Rand McNally
Expedia

MEDIA INFORMATION - return to index
RADIO STATIONS TELEVISION STATIONS
KQRS 92.5
KS95 94.5 FM
KTCL 97.1 FM
KTIS Radio 98.5
KDWB 101.3 FM
Minnesota Public Radio
WCCO Radio 830 AM
KSTP Radio AM1500

KTCA Channel 2 (Public Television)
WCCO Channel 4 CBS
KSTP TV Channel 5
UPN Network Channel 9
KARE TV Channel 11 NBC
Channel 29 Fox Network
NEWSPAPERS & PUBLICATIONS
Minneapolis StarTribune
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Lake Country Journal
Minnesota Monthly
Mpls/St. Paul Magazine

RELOCATION INFORMATION - return to index
Rick's experience has proved helpful to many people relocating to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In addition, because of our own network of agents elsewhere, as well as that of Coldwell Banker, we have also been resourceful in helping people move to another city or state from the Twin Cities.

Relocating involves timing and sensitivity. As a young boy, Rick moved with his family to Europe for his father's assignment with 3M. As an adult, he has personally moved to and from California as well as various locations while in the Navy during Viet Nam. He knows what it is to be transferred and have to leave familiar surroundings and start over in a new city and culture.

Rick is a trained Accredited Relocation Specialist and can help you relocate to your next city or country. Just ask the folks we've worked with who work for some of the Fortune 500 companies based in Minneapolis and St. Paul; they'll tell you what it's like to work with a pro.
MOVING COMPANIES TRUCK RENTALS
Allied Van Lines
Bekins Van Lines
Mayflower Transit
NorthAmerican Van Lines
United Van Lines
U Haul Truck Rental
MOVING SERVICES
Moving boxes and a lot more

SHOPPING, COOKING, ETC. - return to index
HOUSEHOLD FOOD GENERAL
B Home
Bombay Company
Eziba
Frontgate - Outfitting America's finest homes
Martha Stewart
Silk Flowers

Key West Seafood
Maine Lobster
Bottomdollar - A shopping search engine
mySimon - A shopping search engine
Mall of America - The largest shopping mall in the US - right here in Minnesota!
Mercata
Land's End
Office Depot
Bizrate Shopping
Wireless Signals
Stamps Online
Ron Jon's Surf Shop - Swim and beachwear
COOKING
AJs Fine Foods - International fine foods delivered directly to your kitchen
Chefs Catalog - Professional restaurant equipment for the home chef since 1979
Cooking.com
King Arthur Flour
Martha Stewart
Sur la Table - Fine equipment for cooks and professional chefs
Williams-Sonoma
Frontera Kitchens - Mexican cuisine
Burt Wolf, Master Chef


PETS
Dog Owners Guide - A great source of information about man's best friend.
Petco
TRAVEL
Travelocity
Northern Experience - Great getaways
Club Regina, Raintree Resorts - In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

SPORTS & RECREATION - return to index
SPORTS PLACES OF INTEREST
Lynx ( Women's Basketball)
Timberwolves (Basketball)
Twins (Baseball)
Vikings (Football)
The Minnesota Wild (Hockey)
The Minnesota Golden Gophers
St. Paul Saints
The MN Dept. of Tourism
Guide to Minneapolis/St. Paul
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Minneapolis Visitors Bureau
St. Paul Visitors and Convention Bureau
Mall of America

RECREATION EVENTS & FESTIVALS
Golf Course Guide
Golf Resources
Minnesota Birding Network
Mystic Lake Casino
Children's Museum of Minnesota
Knott's Camp Snoopy
Valleyfair
Tee Times Online
Slice of Shoreview
Renaissance Festival
Minnesota State Fair

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION - return to index
FAMILY & CHILDREN REFERENCE CHRISTIAN
Our Family Place - Hints and tips for a rewarding family life. Roget's Internet Thesaurus
Maps & Directions
Library of Congress Home Page
Quotations Database
yourDictionary Online
Yahoo - Reference
Thomas - Federal/Congressional Site
Kelly Blue Book for auto sales
AutoTrader
Web MD
How Stuff Works
TerraServer

Audio Bible - Hear the Bible out loud.
Gospel Communications Network

Focus on the Family
OTHER
Intellicast