Does it Matter Why They’re Selling? Exquisite home available only due to job transfer. –Generic blurb on MLS Does it matter why someone’s selling their home? Prospective Buyers certainly seem to think so; seasoned Realtors, not so much. Here are three reasons why Realtors place much less emphasis on Seller motivation than the general public....Read More
“Inspect All You Want” (They Said) Welcome to the Hotel CaliforniaSuch a lovely place, such a lovely faceThey livin’ it up at the Hotel CaliforniaWhat a nice surprise (what a nice surprise) bring your alibis Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on iceAnd she said we are all just prisoners here of our own...Read More
Inconsistent Provisions, Fees, Enforcement: A-Not-So Necessary EvilUntil recently, I’ve always defended municipal point-of-sale inspections — required by 14 municipalities locally, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, and St. Louis Park — as a well-intentioned (if annoying and occasionally, expensive) hurdle for home Sellers. Typically, so-called Time of Sale Inspections focus on safety-related concerns such as the...Read More
No Free Lunch Selling “As Is” is a popular choice for banks, estates and other third parties who don’t know the condition of a property (because they haven’t lived in it), and don’t want to be responsible for any repairs. Occasionally, however, “owner-occupant” sellers — especially ones with deferred maintenance — view selling “as is”...Read More
“Sold, Subject to Inspection” — Explained Upper bracket Twin Cities homes may not be moving quickly (if at all), but the pace of sales for more affordable housing — say, under $300k — is surprisingly brisk. Accordingly, more would-be Buyers are being told that the home that they just asked to see is already “sold,...Read More
Balancing Home Disclosure GoalsToday’s New York Times has a tragic story detailing the various health (and financial) calamities that befell one Tennessee family after they unwittingly bought a home that had formerly been used as a meth lab. As recent Minnesota home buyers and sellers can attest, Minnesota requires Sellers to disclose whether their home...Read More
