MLS: “Immediate Possession Possible” [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.] “Minnesota Schools Will Close for Eight Days to Slow Coronavirus” –Headline, Star Tribune (3/15/2020). What do you...Read More
Proposed Alternatives: “Spam Notice,” “Email Filter,” “Sequestered Email,” etc. Just a helpful suggestion to Microsoft, purveyor of the ubiquitous “Office 360” software suite, while everyone’s sensitivity is, shall we say, “heightened” at the moment: At least for the next several months, you may want to consider using a synonym for “Quarantine notification,” the message I...Read More
Bellwether for Housing: Car Sales “If your parents don’t have kids . . . you won’t either.“ –Adage. “Speak openly and honestly with your seller about the pros and cons of holding an open house. Assess the risk based on your specific location and direct your clients to local and state health authorities for specific...Read More
How Did 2008 Home Buyers Fare? I always do a double take when The New York Times mentions Minneapolis in an article on housing. So, let’s say that today’s article, “Buying a Home During a Pandemic” — which mentions not one but two Minneapolis homeowners — had my full attention. The article’s author, Ron Lieber,...Read More
Quantitative Easing for Stocks [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.] With the Dow in free fall, investors are looking to the cavalry (the Fed) to once again...Read More
Lower Interest Rates vs. Economic Uncertainty How will coronavirus affect the housing market? The answer likely depends on two questions: 1) which Buyers?; and 2) which segment(s) of the housing market — specifically, which price points? So, at the lower end of the market, especially in the Twin Cities, there remains an acute shortage of...Read More
