In the long run we are all dead.” –Economist John Maynard Keynes. With the Dow Jones Industrial Average** on the cusp of 30,000 — in the middle of a raging pandemic(!) and teetering economy, no less — it’s not long till prognosticators turn their sights to the next milestone. Most likely target: 36,000. Lest...Read More
How Realtors Grade Clients Clients occasionally may have a select few words for their Realtors, but Realtors also have some favorite words for their clients. No, not “%!%#!” Rather, how “cooperative” they are. What do I mean by that? For Sellers, client cooperation boils down to these three things: 1. Pricing. A cooperative client picks...Read More
When it comes to the best time of year to wash a home’s windows in the Upper Midwest, there seem to be (at least) two schools of thought: School #1: Spring-Summer is best (the most popular view). That’s because that’s when there is the most daylight ” over 15 1/2 hours locally on June 21...Read More
Porsches, Picasso’s, and Stradivariuses A Steinway piano is a hand-made marvel, full of intricate detail and workmanship, sought by collectors and valued accordingly. A true “piece of work,” one might even say. Ditto such treasures as a Stradivarius violin, a Picasso painting, a Porsche sports car, and a Rolex watch. So . . . how...Read More
Cost: More Than a Furnace, Less than a Roof (Usually) One of the biggest stealth expenses for homeowners is a new driveway. Depending on the driveway’s size and construction material (concrete vs. asphalt), the cost can easily exceed $10k. When should would-be home Sellers contemplate replacing it?** The Consistency Criterion; Eliminating Any Achilles Heels My 2¢:...Read More
Letting Buyers — and Sellers — Off the Hook What do you do as a Buyer if you really like the first (or second) house you see, only to be told a couple hours after you went through that it’s in multiple offers, and that you have until 8 p.m. that night to make an...Read More
