Ugly Headlines Existing U.S. Home Sales Pace Down 6.3% Year-Over-Year in March –USA Today U.S. New Home Sales Unexpectedly Decline to Record Low –Reuters Existing Home Sales Drop 9.6% –Marketwatch.com Scan the latest headlines, and you’d conclude that the housing market is a wreck. What the headlines omit, however, is context: one year ago, Spring...Read More
“Post-World War II Conversions” Recycle a plastic bottle, and you get 25¢ (at least in some states). Recycle a pound of aluminum cans, and you’ll make about a $1. But re-use an existing foundation to build new construction, and how much will you save? Try, $25,000 to $35,000. “Lower” Upper Bracket In fact, that’s the...Read More
“The Goldilocks Approach” Anyone who’s done a Web search — which means everyone — knows the problem: type in an overly broad search, and it returns a zillion hits. However, type in an overly narrow or restrictive search, and it returns zero hits. A home’s list price works the same way, albeit in reverse. Too...Read More
It won’t really work with an entire home that needs fix-up. But when there’s a lone, seasonal repair that’s waiting (and waiting) for warmer weather, telling prospective Buyers that the fix is “Coming Soon!” is a terrific idea. I just saw a $1 million Edina home where just such a sign was prominently displayed on the rather rough-looking...Read More
Before (above) and After (below) People get eye lifts. But houses can, too. How? By removing dated and dark awnings (painting the front door helps, too — as does a shadow-free shot).Read More
Back to the Future Once upon a time, owning and operating a private car was expensive, and everyone — at least in big cities — used public transportation. With gas eclipsing $4 a gallon and headed higher, might we be headed back to the future? If so, all those centrally located, well-built older Twin Cities...Read More
