Hearing Footsteps I certainly didn’t intend to do my preview at the same time that the prospective Buyer and their inspector were in the home. But that’s how it worked out. Judging by the Buyers’ nervous reaction to my (brief) presence, their inclination to aggressively negotiate any inspection issues is now lessened, if only a little...Read More
New Name for City Lakes Real Estate Blog In a shameless ploy to goose traffic, I’m hereby announcing an official change in this blog’s URL. Instead of www.RossKaplan.com, effective immediately, the new address will be www.TwinCities-housewives.com. Just kidding (kind of). #1 — With a Bullet After over 2,000 posts spanning almost four years on subjects...Read More
KIX Field in South Minneapolis The most impressive thing (to me) about KIX field in South Minneapolis wasn’t the throng of kids and families on the field last night. And it wasn’t the brilliant bank of lights illuminating the field after dark, or the lush playing surface. What most impressed me was that the field...Read More
No, I’m not aware of any “overpass incidents” like the one pictured above. However, I did notice a conspicuous, new sign on Highway 7 — just before the exit ramp to Highway 100 south in St. Louis Park — warning that the maximum bridge overhead was 13′ 9″. Best guess: there’ve been some recent, close calls.Read More
All-New Everything Believe it or not, the headline of this post isn’t an oxymoron — or even an insult. On the contrary, a Buyer who intends to do a “stem-to-stern” renovation is the salvation of more than a few Sellers (see, “Tear-Down Economics“), who have neither the inclination nor resources to do needed, major updating — and...Read More
More Zero’s, Same Principles Let’s say you were trying to re-start a stalled negotiation over a house where the Seller’s last asking price was $357,000, and the Buyer’s last offer was $340,000. Where would you expect the middle ground to be? Give or take, somewhere in the high $340’s. Compromise Number Add five zeroes, and that’s...Read More
