How is Minnesota’s Governor Doing? Ask Minnesotans The sad news from the Land of 10,000 Lakes (and nearly 50,000 state employees) is that Minnesota has been implementing the disastrous Covid-19 strategy made famous by New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The essence of the plan is to forcefully reduce the income of people at low risk,...Read More
Wildlife Lost — and Found! Earlier today, I received this email from the listserv for my neighborhood (near Cedar Lake in Minneapolis): This little chick wandered into our front yard today – no signs of a mother or siblings. Does anyone have a duck family in their yard near Sunset and Drew? We’ve checked out...Read More
Real Estate Negotiating Principles “Whomever speak first [in a negotiation] . . . loses.” —Anonymous. “Whomever proposes “splitting the difference” in a negotiation stands to get the better bargain.” —Corollary, Ross Kaplan. Veteran negotiators will attest to the truth of the first statement: if you speak first, you never find out if the other side...Read More
“Hobby Farm” vs. “Farm Farm” When a home on a large lot somewhere in the “burbs doesn’t scratch your itch, what’s next? There’s alway a cabin up north (it IS Minnesota, after all). Other alternatives include a vacation timeshare; a 2nd home in another part of the country; or simply increased travel — at least,...Read More
MLS Style Category Definitions 1. (SF) One Story (ONEST) One story single-family house 2. (SF) One 1/2 Stories (ONEHF) One 1/2 story single-family house. Second floor only has adequate ceiling height in a portion of it. 3. (SF) Two Stories (TWOST) Two story single-family house. Has adequate ceiling height throughout upper story. 4. (SF) More...Read More
“Real Estate Terminology 101” One of the confusing things about residential real estate is that, once a deal closes, the Buyer’s Agent is called the “Selling Agent.” Isn’t the Listing Agent, representing the Seller, the “Selling Agent?” Well, no. Think of it this way: the Buyer’s agent is selling something ” actually, two things: One....Read More
