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From Finding a House to Making a Home in the Twin Cities Real Estate Market

1. Minnesota’s 10-Second Weather Report (According to Saturday Night Live)

Getting One Out of Three Right We’re in Minnesota, so here’s the weather forecast: the rest of April: cold; May: cold; June: cold; July: somehow hot as hell. Back to y’all.” –Saturday Night Live; cold open (April 10, 2021). As a Minnesota native and long-time Twin Cities resident, I can attest to the “perpetually cold”...

February 21, 2021

2. Last Tango in Halifax: Translating “British-speak”

England and America are two nations separated by a common language.” –George Bernard Shaw. One hardly needs to be British to enjoy “Last Tango in Halifax,” the terrific comedy-drama that debuted in 2012 (and that my wife and I recently binge-watched — who says that the pandemic doesn’t have any silver linings??). As a service...

August 11, 2020

3. So, Who Pays For That Post-Closing Special Assessment ” the Buyer or Seller?

Home Sale “Bones of Contention”** ” and How to Avoid Them [Note to Readers: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] Sellers don’t want to pay special assessments that are...

Recent Blog Posts

June 10, 2021

In-bounds or Out? The Standard for Buyers’ Walk-Through Inspection

“Substantially the Condition,” Defined (Sort of) [Note to Readers: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] “Buyer has the right to a walk-through review of the property prior to closing...

June 9, 2021

“What You Get For $200,000” Feature in The New York Times: A Minneapolis Condo Near Bde Maka Ska

Minneapolis condos for $200k normally don’t get national exposure — in this case, in The New York Times’ Real Estate section. So, kudos to Edina Realty’s Stephanie Chandler, for scoring the publicity for her listing at 3150 Excelsior Boulevard in Minneapolis, just west of Bde Maka Ska (formerly “Lake Calhoun”). The two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo is actually listed...

June 8, 2021

Paying Attention to What the Listing DOESN’T Say

MLS: “3rd Bedroom on Upper Level is Large & Has Lots of Storage” There’s certainly nothing wrong with an Upper Level Bedroom (pictured above) that’s large and has lots of storage. But, what’s notable — at least to me — is what’s omitted. Errors of (C)omission Namely, any mention of a Bathroom, or whether the...

June 7, 2021

Taking Would-Be Sellers on a Tour of Competing Homes? Bad Idea

When Subjectivity Isn’t Just Superficial If the Comp’s aren’t convincing enough, Realtor “Jane Doe” will take Sellers on tours of comparable properties. “They can see this other house is in much better condition, and it’s priced $20,000 less than theirs. It’s eye-opening.” –Spokane agent, sharing her strategy for working with unrealistic Sellers in “Setting Them Straight”; Realtor Magazine. ...

June 4, 2021

Why the Neighbor’s House Usually Isn’t a Comp (“Comparable Sold Property”)

Comparing Honey Crisps to Braeburns One of the more quizzical looks Realtors get is when they (try to) explain to a prospective home Seller that their neighbor’s house isn’t a “Comp” (Comparable Sold Property). In plain English: it isn’t relevant — at least directly — for pricing their home. For the uninitiated, a Comp is...

May 26, 2021

Avoiding Real Estate Clichés Like the Plague (see what I mean??)

“Not a Drive-By!” “Must See!” Yada, Yada, Yada One of my favorite Mad magazine cartoons (circa 1970) shows a vendor in front of a food stand with the following sign: “turkey burgers,” “chicken burgers,” “buffalo burgers,” “tuna burgers,” “veggie burgers,” etc. etc. The caption: “we have some with ham, too, but we don’t know what...

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Ross Kaplan has been selling homes all over the Twin Cities since 2002. His blog, “City Lakes Real Estate,” is recognized by Google as the #1-ranked Realtor blog in the Twin Cities – and ranks in the “Top 10” Realtor blogs nationally.

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