Thick — and Thin-Skinned — Buyers First, two disclaimers: 1) in a decade selling real estate, I’ve never had a Buyer or Seller I represented bring — or defend — a legal action or arbitration claim; and 2) lawsuits (or arbitration actions) over “home sales gone bad” aren’t very common to begin with (I’d estimate that...Read More
“Seller Will Look at All Offers!” Without knowing more about the Seller’s home or personal circumstances, it’s hard to know if this come-on is faux or for real. Sometimes, the Seller IS motivated — but their price is (still) unrealistic (note: the two aren’t mutually exclusive). Other times, such a pitch is essentially bait: intended...Read More
“Strike 1 3/4,” or, There’s Never Just One Cockroach When you pull up in front of a “For Sale” home with a visibly worn-out roof, what goes through Buyers’ — and Buyers’ agents’ — minds? Thoughts like: •“I wonder what other major, capital repairs are waiting for the next owner?” •“If the owner/seller couldn’t keep...Read More
Minneapolis Property Tax Sticker Shock: Exhibit A B C D E W(??) Where: 2737 Lake of the Isles Parkway in South Minneapolis. What: 1903 Dutch Colonial with 5 BR/5 BA and over 5,000 finished square feet. The home is a foreclosed property being sold by the lender, Bank of America. When: approaching 2 years of market...Read More
Like every home I’ve ever shown, this 1917 stucco two-story five doors west of Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis was a mix of pro’s and con’s. First, the con’s: a dated Kitchen and two dated Baths, old windows, somewhat wavy hardwood floors, and a backyard — at least what there was of it — that backed up...Read More
And Exactly What Quality is That? Letting the days go by, water flowing underground Into the blue again, after the money’s gone Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground Same as it ever was, same as it ever was, same as it ever was, same as it ever was Same as it ever was, same...Read More
