One of the ways you can tell that a product is dated or out-of-fashion — or people think it is — is that it acquires an adjective. So, for awhile, “Coke” became “New Coke.” In the wake of Watergate in the 1970’s, Minnesota’s Republican party became the “Independent – Republican” party (at least until Ronald Reagan...Read More
Dangers of Dual Agency: Representing the Seller, and Angling to Represent the Buyer, Too [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced.] I just went through a “For Sale” home on high-profile France Avenue near Minneapolis’ Cedar Lake,...Read More
Killing Three Birds With One Stone What do you do with a dated, functionally obsolete* 1950’s rambler a stone’s throw from increasingly swanky Cedar Lake? In the case of 2425 France Avenue South in St. Louis Park, pop the roof and add a second story. Such an addition, done well, accomplishes three things: One. Cashes...Read More
Corporate vs. Individual Homeowner Owner: National Residential Nominee Services Inc, 7500 Dallas Pkwy Ste 100, Plano , TX Taxpayer: National Residential Nominee Services Inc, 7500 Dallas Pkwy Ste 100, Plano , TX —Property tax statement, Hennepin County One of the first questions I try to answer, as a Buyer’s agent checking out a listing is,...Read More
Smart Marketing: $10 For Yellow Rope, Wood Stakes Like most people in the neighborhood (not to mention area Realtors), I assumed that the lot for sale just southwest of Cedar Lake in St. Louis Park’s Fern Hill neighborhood was a very narrow rectangle. Not so. What appears to be just the backyard of the home...Read More
The Hands-On Approach OK, so the “brush” to be cleared was in our alley by Cedar Lake, not on the back 40 of our Santa Barbara ranch. And the task at hand — belatedly cleaning up after last week’s big storm — is more of a “one-off” than an ongoing chore, and there are not likely to be any photographers commemorating...Read More
