Shining a Spotlight on Dubious Charges Supposedly, right angles don’t exist in nature. Similarly, people seldom make purchases for even amounts. So, the grocery/gas/dry cleaning bill is almost never exactly $40; rather, it’s $39.72 or $40.17 or some such. “That’s Odd!” (Literally) Consumers can use that phenomenon to help thwart credit card fraudsters who —...Read More
“TheMLSonline” vs. the Real MLS [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.] It’s no mystery who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb, right? So, it’s obvious who’s behind a website called “TheMLSonline.com” — the local MLS, of course. Unh-unh. ...Read More
Did Wells Fargo Management Know? Should They Have?? [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.] Unh-unh. Wrong answer. When you get paid almost $20 million a year to manage banking behemoth Wells Fargo, you don’t get to say...Read More
“What Did the Seller Know, and When Did They Know It?” [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. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] At least in Minnesota, Realtors have an independent duty to...Read More
Good Thing No One Saw It. Not. My take on the meth disclosure on the standard Minnesota Seller Disclosure is the same as my view of accused murderers on the witness stand: if you’re potentially capable of murder, you’re certainly capable of (and motivated to) lie about it under oath. In the same vein, someone...Read More
Fraudulent Wiring Instructions “ANTI-FRAUD DISCLOSURE: Edina Realty and its agents will never provide you with wiring instructions via email without verifying the information in person or over the phone. EMAILS ATTEMPTING TO INDUCE FRAUDULENT WIRE TRANSFERS ARE COMMON AND MAY APPEAR TO COME FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE. If you receive an email directing you to transfer...Read More
