“Wasn’t That House Interesting!” — Compliment or Dis? At least outside of Minnesota, “interesting” actually can mean . . . “interesting.” As in, “unique” (in a good way), “provocative,” or “stimulating.” By contrast, when Minnesotans say it ” especially in the context of house-hunting, and they enunciate the word slowing (“i-n-t-e-r-e-s-t-i-n-g”) ” they invariably mean “unique” (in a...Read More
Deal Maker or Deal Breaker? What is the premium (or discount) for a backyard swimming pool? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a single, reliable number. That’s likely because a pool’s appeal is very much Buyer-specific — not to mention variable by price point and geographic region. Minneapolis vs. Miami So, for example, for a...Read More
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
