Official Beginning of Winter 2017-2018 in Twin Cities: Yesterday! (Dec. 5) “Welcome to Stanford! Last year, 95% of you were in the top 5% of your class. Today, 95% of you are in the bottom 95% of your class.” –Stanford Dean of Admissions Fred Hargadon, to each year’s entering freshman class (including mine a long time...Read More
Red States, Blue Cities I’ve been filing my taxes for a couple of decades now, and once upon a time was even a CPA. Still, I’d never heard the term “SALT deductions” until yesterday (it’s an acronym for “state and local tax deductions”). Wanna guess what one of the biggest bones of contention in the...Read More
It may seem counter-intuitive, but just because two “For Sale” homes share the same block, are listed for the same price, and are the same size (have the same finished square feet), doesn’t necessarily mean they’re direct competitors. In fact, I can think of two scenarios where there’s virtually no overlap in the pool of...Read More
Aesthetic vs. Functional Ok, so pocket squares a generation ago (or two) had more sartorial flair. But, contemporary pocket squares — also known as “Post-it Notes” — are much more functional. And yes, I do try to color coordinate them with the shirt I’m wearing (button-down, of course) . . . 🙂 P.S.: Sorry, so-called...Read More
“Close Not Close But No Cigar” Department “Missed It By THAT Much.” –Catch phrase, Agent Maxwell Smart (“Get Smart” 1960’s TV sitcom). Maybe the developer meant “St. Louis Park West.” Because the new luxury apartment complex at 1511 Utica in St. Louis Park is nowhere near its namesake, or a park, or anything with...Read More
High Quality Problems to 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. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] Which of the following roles pose a potential conflict of interest for a Realtor? (at least...Read More
