Robbinsdale Retrofit: Finding Opportunities in Today’s Housing Market In the stock market, there are periods when the proverbial “high tide raises all ships”: it doesn’t matter which stock(s) you own, so long as you’re in the market. When the vast majority of stocks are instead treading water, it’s known as “a stock picker’s market.” Success takes...Read More
Old Houses and Fresh Orange Juice Here’s how I introduced the concept of (orange juice) sweat equity to my three kids: You can go to a restaurant and order eight ounces of fresh orange juice for $3.50. Or, you can buy 5 pounds of fresh oranges at Target for the same price, and use your...Read More
Playing Housing “Leapfrog” on Huntington Where: 28xx Huntington Ave. South, in St. Louis Park’s Fern Hill neighborhood What: whole house renovation Who: Mike Sward, agent; Edina Realty, broker When: due back on market late Summer How much: projected selling price = low $800’s No, you won’t recognize this home driving by — it won’t look...Read More
Why Such a Big Discount For Big Homes Needing Updating? Want a novel — but not at all far-fetched — (additional) explanation for why so many nicer, bigger homes are facing significant discounts in today’s market, especially ones that need significant updating? Keep reading. Far and away, there are three big reasons why such homes...Read More
The Rehab “White Elephant” When isn’t bigger better? (Try saying that 3 times!). When it’s a major rehab. The dividing line seems to be about 3,000 finished square feet. Below that, and “bringing up” a house with the proverbial good bones can be done for as “little” as $150k or so, spent strategically (Kitchen: $40k;...Read More
Spring Foreclosures Make Their (Re)Debut Sorry for the Dr. Seuss-inspired headline (guess who’s got little kids they read to?). My point was, enough time has now elapsed since this Spring’s flurry of deeply discounted foreclosure sales that several are now re-appearing on the market as for-sale rehab’s. And selling — quickly. A good example is...Read More
