by Ross Kaplan on April 22, 2012
Fern Hill Value
Where: 4812 W. 28th St. in the heart of St. Louis Park’s Fern Hill neighborhood. Less than a mile to Cedar Lake and Lake Calhoun; minutes to downtown Minneapolis and Uptown.
What: Sprawling 3 BR/3 Bath walkout rambler with just under 3,000 finished square feet on a .3 acre lot.
How much: $317,500.
Who: listed (and hosted) by Ross Kaplan, Edina Realty City Lakes.
When: 12:30 to 2 p.m. today! (Sunday, April 22).
If you’re looking for a great value in a terrific neighborhood, please stop by my open house in Fern Hill this (early) afternoon.
Home highlights: three large BR’s up including a Master w/private Bath; a huge Living & Family Room (each with a wood-burning Fireplace); a Den with Deck; and abundant Office/exercise space.
*Photo below: the light and open Living Room, with a picture window and fireplace (not visible).
*Professionally photographed by Kyle Chiodo, 20/20 Virtual Tours.
by Ross Kaplan on March 26, 2012
Layout Problem . . . Solved!
“One nerd is an island. Two are a club. Three are a clique.”
–Ross Kaplan, based on observing my 12 year-old son and his friends.
Non-Realtors would have no reason to know this, but photos on MLS are designed to lay out horizontally.
So, if you input 17 horizontal photos and one vertical one (18 is the max allowed), the result is unaesthetic and odd-looking.
The solution?
Input two such photos, side by side.
That creates a symmetric — and appealing — layout.
Thanks to Mare Sukov at Edina Realty’s front desk for figuring that one out.
P.S. The photos above are from my new listing at 4812 West 28th Street, in St. Louis Park’s Fern Hill neighborhood.
by Ross Kaplan on March 23, 2012
Fern Hill Value
Where: 4812 West 28th St. in St. Louis Park’s Fern Hill neighborhood (go to Minnetonka Blvd. east of 100; then 2 blocks north on Princeton to 28th st.)
What: 3 Bedroom/3 Bath walkout rambler with over 2,800 finished square feet. Listed this Monday (March 19); days on market: 5.
When: 2 p.m. to 4 .m. this Sunday, March 25.
How Much: $317,500.
Who: listed by Ross Kaplan; broker is Edina Realty. Sunday open house is hosted by Edina City Lakes agent Jim Hubal.
You’ll love all the 
possibilities of this spacious walkout rambler in the middle of high-demand Fern Hill.
The first floor has over 1,600 square feet of living space, including a Living Room with Fireplace and Picture Window (left); large Dining Room; and Den with a Deck. The lower level features a huge Family Room with Fireplace; extra space for an Office, Exercise Room, or 4th Bedroom (non-conforming); and opens to the huge, walkout lot (.3 acre).
The location is terrific: just west of Uptown and the Lakes; minutes to downtown Minneapolis.
Please stop by Sunday!
by Ross Kaplan on November 16, 2011
Want to Be Ready for Spring, 2012? Start Now
One of the questions that can come up when you list a home that needs significant updating is, “If we buy this home and put $50k — or $250k — into it, will we overshoot values on the block?”
Fortunately, when a $1 million-plus new home is being built literally next door — the case just to the west of my listing at 4200 Basswood Road (above) in Fern Hill — the answer is self-evident.
Just to underscore the point, I updated the “Public Remarks” on MLS as follows:
Twin Cities’ hottest neighborhood for tear-down’s and new construction (including next-door-neighbor’s, now in progress). Terrific opportunity for remodeler/owner who wants a canvas to create their dream home. Start now & be ready for Spring, 2012!
Per the above, the best time to tackle such a project is . . . now!
P.S.: In fact, there have now been at least half a dozen tear-down’s/upper bracket new construction the last few years on the west side of Cedar Lake.
