Thriving businesses in Minnetonka

Minnetonka is located west of Minneapolis. It has approximately 50,000 residents. It is a busy town that is home to several huge companies, some of which are even known as the biggest of their kind in the United States. Below are two of these businesses.

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

UnitedHealth Group, Inc. is a huge company. How huge? It’s sixth on the Forbes 500 list of companies in the United States. The company has two operating businesses – United Healthcare and Optum. In Minnetonka, United Healthcare employs over 2,300 residents, and in 2011, it received the highest employee satisfaction for self-insured health plans from J.D. Power and Associates. It has also won a “Readers Choice” award in the past.

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Cargill

Cargill is the biggest employer in Minnetonka, employing well over 4,500 people in Minnetonka and surrounding areas. It’s American-owned, but it’s also a global corporation. It is so big that as of the moment, it is the largest privately-held company in the country based on revenue. It was calculated that as a private company, Cargill would be number 12 on the Fortune 500 list, which means it’s even bigger than AT&T. Cargill has so many businesses such as trading, purchasing, and distribution of agricultural products like grain and palm oil. It also trades in energy, steel, and has its hand in livestock raising and feed production.

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Though these two companies are the biggest employers, there are a lot of other great companies for people to apply to in Minnetonka, making the city a great place to invest in.

Steve Liefschultz specializes in helping people invest in real estate in Minnesota. For more updates, follow this Facebook page.

Why People Should Invest In Minnetonka Real Estate

People moved to Minnetonka in the middle of the 1800s, but it took a bit of time for communities to be established. Some local governments weren’t established until almost a century later. Although its namesake is a huge lake, a small portion of the city is the only part of Minnetonka that touches the lake.

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It is a beautiful city, which makes investing in its housing market more than a good idea. There are around 50 parks in the area, with seemingly endless trails that span on forever. There are over a thousand acres of nature where anyone can walk around and enjoy. And since companies like Cargill and Carlson have made Minnetonka home, business is flourishing. There are a lot of stores for everyone’s favorite products. Minnetonka is indeed a great mix of city and natural life, which is perfect for almost any prospective homeowner.

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Minnetonka is just a short eight miles from Minneapolis. It has the fourth highest rate of businesses with 15.75 for every 100 people, and an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent, which is very low by all accounts. As mentioned above, Cargill is situated in Minnetonka. It is a large food company, so large in fact, that Forbes ranked it as the largest private company in the country. Minnetonka is also home to other mammoth companies such as SuperValu, UnitedHealth Group, and St. Jude Medical.

Steve Liefschultz helps people in Minnetonka invest in real estate. For more on Minnetonka, subscribe to this Twitter feed.

The Advantages Of Leveraging Investment Property Loans

Most fledgling real estate investors who lack cash at hand typically would use the same financing options they used in acquiring their own homes for their investments. Through investment property loans, however, they can leverage more resources faster and expand their portfolio of properties and subsequent revenue streams in the short and long term.

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There are two basic types of investment property loans that share common advantages but apply to vastly different applications.

Residential investment property loans are reminiscent of mortgages and are similarly priced and are usually reserved for single-family and smaller multifamily rental properties. Its counterpart, commercial investment property loans, involve larger more substantial properties like larger apartments and malls, which are capable of handling more tenants at once.

The two types share between them the to include rental income as part of the declared income of an individual borrower; more established landlords, thus, have a greater chance of getting their loan applications approved because of their larger available income translating to better security on the part of the borrower.

There are key differences beyond just scope and scale. Commercial investment property loans also have the more stringent requirements, demanding landlord experience on top of financial requirements and credit standings to approve. Approval also requires a different take on the debt-to-income ratio, focusing not only on the ability of the borrower to capacity to back but also on how well the income reflects potential cash flow. Commercial investment property loans, therefore, should be left for more seasoned investors.

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Headed by Steve Liefschultz, Equity Bank of Minnesota provides a broad array of real estate and enterprise financing options for investors and entrepreneurs in Minneapolis and Minnetonka. Visit this Facebook page for more on securing financing business and investment ventures.

The Investment Appeal Of 18-Hour Cities

A significant part of an investment portfolio that is well-diversified and profitable is a real estate entry. And those who have extensive experience in real estate investment understand that the choice locations for putting in dollars are the big six cities: New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

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For the past few years, though, the industry’s traditional focus on these metropolises is shifting because midsize, 18-hour cities have suddenly become appealing.

This type of city houses a rather large urban setting, characterized by an above-average increase in population, a booming economy, and a substantially lower cost of living compared to the aforementioned metro areas. Conducting business in these 18-hour cities commands less expensive costs.

Because of this, not only do businesses love investing, and companies prefer situating their offices in these locations, but millennials seek homes and jobs there as well. These cities are even targets for retirees who yearn for quality healthcare and urban living amenities.

There are a lot of locations that have risen as alternatives, with Minneapolis one of the leading cities.

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Its infrastructure woes have been solved creatively with rapid transit systems and public-private partnerships. And even if Minneapolis does not have as many universities as other cities, the metro, along with neighboring St. Paul, has benefited from a healthy growth in the medical and education sectors.

Led by Steve Liefschultz, Equity Bank is a Minnesota-based financial institution that helps its clients attain business and financial success. Visit this blog to read more about the economic condition of Minnesota.

Peer-To-Peer Loans: a Safe Haven For Borrowers

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Peer-to-peer lending is a common topic of interest among borrowers and their financial advisers. Peer-to-peer lending, otherwise known as P2P lending, is a practice in which individuals borrow money from a business or group online. Since the entire process is online, there is a fundamental assumption that interest rates are lower and that the loan nature yields a higher return rate compared to traditional bank lending. It is also known as crowd-lending.

The number of applications for P2P loans has gone down in the last few years. Most financial advisors attribute this to the unstable local economy. Nevertheless, there has been a shift in how P2P loans are seen, with economic groups encouraging more people to utilize peer-to-peer lending, particularly if an individual has a high-interest debt on their credit cards.

There has been an unhealthy practice of applying for loans to pay off existing ones, an irrational move, but one that has ensnared many borrowers, nonetheless. The consequences are obvious: people spiral into more debt and do not find a way to properly pay off their loans. The borrower usually speaks with his or her local bank and some form of compromise is made, usually in the form of the borrower paying a high penalty.

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This can be potentially avoided with a P2P loan, which offers an alternative means to break out of the cycle of debt-aggravation. It must be emphasized, though, that peer-to-peer lending is not a fail-safe method. There are inherent risks involved in conducting business online. Individuals also have to be wary of sensitive data being stolen, especially in sites that have not been properly secured.

Steve Liefschultz is the chairman and chief executive officer of Equity Bank, a locally owned and managed finance company that specializes in investment lines of credit and real estate loans in Claremont and Minnetonka, Minnesota. Peer-to-peer lending is part of its services. Learn more tips about lines of credit by visiting this Facebook page.

A Mortgage Guide For First-Time Homebuyers

Applying for a mortgage is easier when one understands what needs to be done beforehand. Listed below are a few essential techniques that will benefit any first-time buyer.

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Be very diligent with monthly payments: What is listed as the mortgage rate is just the premium. This does not include hidden costs to homeownership. Failing to recognize this can often lead to trouble. First-time homebuyers should take this into account and diligently assess their budget. Talking to their real estate agent or a financial expert dealing with real estate loan is a good idea. This allows the homeowner to create effectively a monthly budget that is transparent and honest.

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Know closing costs: Many first time buyers focus on the upfront expenses of purchasing a home. This is understandable. However, other expenses should not be overlooked. These include closing costs such as settlement fees, taxes, and other things such as homeowners’ insurance or similar association fees. Homebuyers should speak with their consultant on these or look at an online mortgage calculator.

Be very aware of one’s credit score: This is of particular importance to real estate loan advisors. Successful mortgage applications rely heavily on one’s credit score. Having a low rating, or worse, a notification of one’s inability to afford a home or pay monthly dues, reduces significantly the chances of having one’s mortgage approved. There are ways to improve one’s credit score, and these can be discussed with one’s financial advisor.

Purchasing a home is an incredible milestone in any adult’s life, and this can be easier when one is educated on the process.

Steve Liefschultz of Equity Bank has helped hundreds of people obtain their real estate loan in many states, including Minneapolis, which is one of the bank’s newer branches. To learn more, like this Facebook page.

A Look Into The Top Industries In Minnetonka

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Minnetonka is a suburban city located in the Hennepin County, eight miles west of Minneapolis. It is one of the best places in the state to look for a job or start a business with its robust roster of big corporations and small businesses. The city also boasts of a low unemployment rate of 4.3 percent.

The top industries in Minnetonka are retail and wholesale trade, health care, and travel, hospitality, and tourism. Minnetonka is home to industry giants such as Cargill, an international food conglomerate ranked by Forbes as “the single largest private company in the U.S.” The UnitedHealth Group, a preeminent healthcare organization ranked six in the Fortune 500 list, is also headquartered in Minnetonka. Other distinguished companies providing employment and business opportunities in the city include SuperValu, St. Jude Medical, and Carlson.

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In addition to these corporations, Minnetonka also houses a significant number of small businesses. There are over 200,000 small businesses in the city, which indicates a lively entrepreneurship environment in the community. According to personal finance website NerdWallet.com, the city of Minnetonka has the fourth highest rate of businesses per 100 people in the state of Minnesota.

The city of Minnetonka offers plenty of opportunities for both job seekers and entrepreneurs. Its proximity to downtown Minneapolis is also a great advantage for the thriving suburban city.

Read more about the city of Minnetonka by following this Facebook page for Steve Liefschultz, Equity Bank, chairman and CEO. Equity Bank is a finance company specializing in investment lines of credit and real estate loans in Claremont and Minnetonka in Minnesota.