“If you don’t like the weather . . . wait 5 minutes.” –Mark Twain After record-setting March warmth that had locals comparing Twin Cities weather (favorably) to San Diego . . . . the last few weeks feels much more like Seattle. Believe it or not, many Minnesotans (I’m one of them) are more sensitive to sunlight...Read More
Lake of the Isles Classic Original character? Check. Terrific location? Check. Great curb appeal, condition, updates, and well-priced at $1.295 million (below the tax assessed value)? You betcha. So, what’s the . . . uhh, hold-up? A whopping $26,329 annual property tax bill! If the City of Minneapolis was trying to dissuade upper bracket Buyers from...Read More
The Serial Cancel-and-Relist Property If early May is when perennial flowers bloom (at least in Minnesota), it’s also when the real estate equivalent (re)appears: the oft-listed, oft-cancelled property that comes back on the market each Spring after not selling the previous season(s) — albeit at a better price. By definition, these properties are characterized by one (or more) of...Read More
What’s the Catch? “Earn 5% Cashback Bonus when you shop at Rainbow Foods with Discover.” –Credit card promotion Five percent back sounds awfully good, especially when most credit cards are only offering 1% or 2% these days. So, what’s the catch? How about four of them? Catch #1: the purchases have to be at Rainbow...Read More
Multiple Choice Quiz The marketing verbiage on MLS touts the home’s “brand new, state-of-the-art Kitchen.” Who’s going to take notice? A. Prospective Buyers. B. Prospective Buyers’ agents. C. The appraiser sent out by the lender. D. The title examiner. Answer: all of the above. And why are title examiners scrutinizing MLS marketing verbiage? Because they’re looking...Read More
Overpriced Continuing Education There’s a story about Admiral Hyman Rickover, the famously intimidating Navy Admiral (mentor to Jimmy Carter, among others), and a particularly harsh interviewing technique that he supposedly employed. Namely, Rickover would offer the candidate a chair opposite him that sloped forward uncomfortably, and commence the interview. If the interviewee did not speak up within...Read More
