MLS Shorthand for “Potential Tear-Down” Test your knowledge of today’s housing market, and field this question: How can you determine that a “For Sale” home on MLS is a potential tear-down? A. The MLS photos show a home in decrepit condition — or, there are no photos. B. In the “Seller Terms” field on MLS,...Read More
“Did You Hear? Sue Got That Plumb Job in Marketing!” I actually got into an argument recently with my 14 year-old about whether the adjective “plumb” was a dictionary-approved synonym for “choice,” “desired,” or “sought after.” The rub? None of the alternative meanings under “plumb” matched my definition. A few days later, I realized what...Read More
Volatile Stocks, Slow-Changing Housing At the beginning of the year, I remarked on home buyers who worried that housing may be in a new bubble — a bubble that would inevitably burst the minute they bought something. See, “Anxious 2017 Buyers Fret: Is Another Housing Bubble Brewing?” Entering the 2nd half of 2017, there seems to be...Read More
“Surge” Pricing Want a nice (or not-so-nice) compare-and-contrast between St. Paul and Chicago? Back in 2010, the City of Chicago sold its parking concession to a private corporation that immediately raised rates and extended hours. The latest wrinkle? So-called “surge” pricing for high-demand periods (top photo). “Minnesota Nice” By contrast, St. Paul’s street parking is still run...Read More
Realtor Humor (I think) Under the category, “you know you’re spending too much time at work — Realtor version”: when a colleague mentions a new program called “The Bachelorette,” and you immediately think she’s referring to a loan program (if you didn’t know, there are hundreds of these, covering everyone from first-time buyers to veterans...Read More
Realtor Pet Peeves: When Less is More Once an editor, always an editor (in my case, heading the venerable St. Louis Park high school newspaper, the Echo, a long time ago). These days, the object of my ire is fellow Realtors and their (occasionally) less than efficient marketing verbiage. In that vein . . ....Read More
