“A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” —Mark Twain Once upon a time, unscrupulous people were said to “push” or “peddle” lies. In an era of ubiquitous fake news, apparently that’s not energetic enough. Now, if a lie is to get anywhere (never mind “around the...Read More
Answer: “About 50°” In the middle of August, on an especially humid day, a nice breeze ” if necessary, generated by a ceiling fan ” is especially welcome. Fast forward six months (or three, if you live in Minnesota), when local temps are 40º to 60º(!) cooler. That same breeze is now officially a “draft”...Read More
Meticulous Record Keeping = Meticulous Maintenance? “Are you in possession of prior seller’s disclosure statement(s)? (If “Yes, please attach).” –Minnesota Seller Disclosure; p. 1, line 44. [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,...Read More
Who Qualifies as a “Relative?” At least in Minnesota, licensed real estate agents must disclose if they’re related to their client. The logic: agents are presumed to have a negotiating and knowledge edge over non-Realtor “civilians” ” think, “wolves and sheep,” “sharks and seals(?),” etc. — and therefore anyone closely aligned with them does, too....Read More
TWO Duties to Disclose: Owner’s . . . and the Agent’s [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, it’s permissible for Sellers to tell...Read More
Not Exactly a Non-Issue, But . . . [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.] “To your knowledge, have any of the following previously existed or do they currently...Read More
