Marketing Hyperbole. Not. It may not exactly come as a shock that not everything in real estate marketing is “as billed.” So, the “mint condition” home isn’t quite, the “spacious Dining Room” is actually 10′ x 8′ (no one’s idea of roomy), etc. However, the Kitchen (above) truly deserves to be called “gorgeous.”Read More
Stealth Factor: ‘% of Original List Price Received’ “Sellers received an average of 95% of their list price, up 3.6% from July, 2011 and well above the 88.3% seen in early 2011.” –“The Skinny“; August 10, 2012 While everyone focuses on “headline” gauges of home prices — indices compiled by Case-Shiller, MAAR, etc. — they’re...Read More
Incentives for Buyers’ Agents “Agents – Complete this feedback in total and Earn Points Towards a Vacation Travel Incentive.” –Showing Feedback Form Savvy shoppers can get miles (points) when they shop, fly, fill their gas tank, etc. So, why not offer Buyers’ agents an incentive to fill out showing feedback forms? Great idea! Missing from...Read More
Toppling Realtor “Open House” Signs While it happens all the time, you almost never catch ’em in the act. What am I referring to? The practice of self-appointed neighborhood vigilantes (busy bodies? cranks?) to topple Realtor “Open House” signs — in this case, directing Realtors to a hard-to-find Edina home hosting this week’s Exceptional Properties meeting....Read More
Where: 2250 Delaware Avenue in Sunfish Lake. What: 4 Bedroom/3 Bath home with 4,500 finished square feet, built in 1870, and set on almost 19(!) beautiful acres. How much: $2.5 million. When: listed July 31. Who: Seller represented by Karen Antone and Sheri Fine, both in the Edina Realty City Lakes office. Lest anyone (mistakenly) think that...Read More
New Lender Refrain: “These Rates Won’t WILL Last!” or, Three Buyer Worries With home prices now rebounding in many markets nationally, prospective Buyers these days usually have two main worries: 1) that prices will rise (further), making a purchase unaffordable — or at least more expensive; and 2) that interest rates will rise . ....Read More
