Dramatic Before and After(!) One of THE biggest (and best) home transformations I’ve ever seen is on display (or was, over the weekend) at 4221 Cedar St. in St. Louis Park’s Fern Hill neighborhood, as part of the Remodelers Showcase. The house hit the market just over two years ago as a forlorn rambler that looked...Read More
Market Misconceptions Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink. –Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” All politics is local. –former U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill All real estate is local. –Corollary, Ross Kaplan One of the biggest misconceptions about today’s housing market is that there is a surfeit of homes available...Read More
For Lunch: Quiche and Cold Cuts (Subs, actually) Please join me tomorrow (Jan. 18) at 2615 Monterey in St. Louis Park’s Fern Hill neighborhood between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath stucco charmer has all-new windows, refinished hardwood floors, and new interior paint. Just the right size for first-time Buyers —...Read More
Comparing Apples and Oranges: Case Study #17 I’ve posted previously about how a slow market — combined with a relatively unique property — can bedevil Realtors and appraisers alike trying to estimate a home’s value. That’s because to be valid, a comparative market analysis must include three sales of similar properties no further back than...Read More
Not Ready For Prime Time I just spent 20 minutes or so checking out foreclosures on Google Maps. My conclusion? It’s hard to escape the feeling you are an unwitting beta tester (guinea pig) — plus, it’s apparent that Google’s real aim is use limited free data to goose subscriptions (translation: Google’s business model is...Read More
New-and-Improved in Fern Hill The Seller (my client) moved out in July. Guess who moved in? Not the Buyers — their contractors. Six months from now, this 1937 Colonial will have undergone a top-to-bottom renovation costing well into six figures. Take a project like this, multiply by 10 (conservatively) over the last 2-3 years, and...Read More
