Mom, Apple Pie — and No Banks Probably the most popular term on MLS at the moment — right after “mint,” “move-in condition,” and “experienced short sale agent” — is “traditional seller.” No, that doesn’t mean the owners believe in “Mom and apple pie,” dress conservatively (no face jewelry or tattoos), or otherwise have an...Read More
National Moratorium on ForeclosuresSurprise, Surprise . . . the same banking behemoths that recklessly originated trillions in dubious mortgages — fuel for Wall Street’s securitization juggernaut — are apparently now running roughshod over the rights of delinquent borrowers as they seek to foreclose on their homes. How big a problem is this? And who’s going...Read More
Chain-Reaction “For Sale” Signs It’s one of those anomalies that you see from time to time — and that understandably gives Buyers pause: a block where every other house seems to be for sale. At the moment, that phenomenon seems to characterize Basswood Road, a 3 block-long street just west of Cedar Lake that straddles...Read More
Houses on the Verge (of Foreclosure) As sales pitches go, it’s not quite as lame as the infamous National Lampoon cover at right (“If You Don’t Buy This Magazine, We’ll Kill This Dog”). Still, you wouldn’t exactly label as “enticing” a house that sought to attract Buyers with this hook: “Hurry! Act now before the...Read More
Getting a Realtor’s Attention Want to get a quick response from a Realtor? Here are the four magic words: “I-Have-an-Offer.” The only possible exception to that is a foreclosure. Then, I’m not sure even calling to say the building was on fire would work.Read More
Back on the Market Twice (in 10 days); Third Time’s the Charm? The image I have in my head for this St. Louis Park foreclosure is a traffic light, alternately blinking green, then red, then green, etc. That’s because in less than 2 weeks on the market, it’s already gone “Pending” twice, and each time...Read More
