One Down, Eight to Go If you’re going to close on the purchase or sale of a home on the busiest day (today, the 29th) of the busiest month (this June) for closings in years, it helps to: a) have a cash Buyer; and b) go first. My clients were, and they did. Start time: 9:01...Read More
Besides the Mississippi, Minneapolis has over 20 lakes and wetlands including Lake Calhoun (this blog’s masthead, above). However, only two have private lakeshore; which ones? A. Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet B. Cedar Lake and Diamond Lake C. Lake of the Isles and Brownie Lake D. Lake Nokomis and Grass Lake Correct answer: B. This...Read More
Silver (Gas) Linings Anyone who’s been in St. Louis Park’s Fern Hill neighborhood lately — just north of the Edina Realty City Lakes office — has doubtless seen the massive street construction project in progress. Normally, block after block of torn up streets suggests that homeowners will eventually be on the hook for a major special assessment. Not this...Read More
News Corporation Spin-Off Maybe corporations really are people (the Supreme Court says they are). Egocentric people. Headline News. Not. I couldn’t figure out why, practically the entire last week, The Wall Street Journal was giving (too) prominent play to minute developments in News Corporation’s spin-off plans — especially against a backdrop of truly headline news...Read More
Perils of Listening With One Ear It turns out that the answer to the “Genevieve Lane” question (above) is a “Where,” not a “Who.” Full confession: I was listening with one ear at a meeting this morning, and had to scramble to tweak my answer (I actually did know that it’s a street in Minnetonka, off...Read More
So, The New York Times has finally weighed in on the “Has Housing Bottomed?” debate, casting its vote on the side of the bulls. Its leading example? The Twin Cities housing market: Joe Niece, a real estate agent in the Minneapolis suburb of Eden Prairie, said he recently concluded a streak of 13 consecutive bidding...Read More