Multiple Bad Reasons — and One Good One Homes scheduled to be on Broker Tour ” at least in the Twin Cities, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Tuesday ” get cancelled for all kinds of reasons. The Seller’s cleaner didn’t show up (or didn’t finish); someone in the household is unexpectedly home sick...Read More
Profile in Courage Competence When the virus hit, neither Mr. Trump nor the federal government were technically in charge. Most of the decisive constitutional powers ” closing schools or ordering people to stay home ” lay with U.S. governors and mayors. But the President immediately assumed a leading role, coordinating regular exchanges between the governors,...Read More
Waiting for More Shoes to Drop(??) As the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 244th(!) Independence Day this weekend, an unusual sense of uncertainty if not foreboding looms over much of the nation. Depending on who you are (Black or White, rich or poor, employed or not) and where you live (New York City, Houston, or...Read More
Hiding Highlighting Potential Dealbreakers OK, so the listing agent (representing the Seller) didn’t tell prospective Buyers that they may want to skip her client’s “For Sale” Edina home. She told Buyers’ agents. Specifically, the listing agent used an MLS section only visible to Realtors, “Agent Remarks,” to highlight a potential deal breaker: If your clients...Read More
Deal Maker or Deal Breaker? What is the premium (or discount) for a backyard swimming pool? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a single, reliable number. That’s likely because a pool’s appeal is very much Buyer-specific — not to mention variable by price point and geographic region. Minneapolis vs. Miami So, for example, for a...Read More
How is Minnesota’s Governor Doing? Ask Minnesotans The sad news from the Land of 10,000 Lakes (and nearly 50,000 state employees) is that Minnesota has been implementing the disastrous Covid-19 strategy made famous by New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The essence of the plan is to forcefully reduce the income of people at low risk,...Read More