But First . . . a Brief History Lesson I don’t know about other states ” I’m only licensed to sell real estate in Minnesota ” but here, residential property taxes are due twice a year: May 15 and October 15. Those non-randomly chosen dates stretch back to when Minnesota’s economy ” like practically every...Read More
Berkshire Hathaway 2020 (Virtual) Annual Meeting [Note to Readers: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.] Perhaps the biggest news from Berkshire Hathaway’s (online) annual meeting yesterday was Warren Buffett’s bearish...Read More
The Opposite of “Easier Said Than Done” Real estate sales is a field (like many other, I’m sure) where a lot of things are “easier said than done.” Get Sellers to price realistically? “Easier said than done.” Persuade homeowners to spend a relatively nominal amount on staging, that will help sell their home faster, for...Read More
Decoding Realtor-Speak [Note to Readers: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.] There’s usually not much mystery about which homes fall into the “fixer upper” category. Either the pictures give it...Read More
The Last Step Before Closing, Pre and Post-Coronavirus [Note to Readers: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] Once upon a time — like, this February — the last significant...Read More
“The Right Things Wrong” How do you know when you’ve found a home that’s a good candidate for rehab/remodeling? In the words of one of my favorite contractors, Phil Raskin, “it has the right things wrong.” Definition: the home has good bones and a nice floor plan, but discrete, correctable problems. Black, White ” and...Read More
