Practice vs. Theory One of the biggest areas of confusion in residential real estate is, “exactly what constitutes a legal bedroom?” In particular, to be a legal Bedroom, does the room have to have a closet? The short answer: it depends on the local city’s code requirements (some require it, some don’t). MLS Guidance However,...Read More
“Realtor” vs. “Real Estate Agent” vs. “Executive Realtor” (Huh?!?) I know the term “Realtor®” — it’s actually a trademarked name that refers to someone who belongs to the National Association of Realtors (“NAR”). Then there are plain-old real estate agents — licensed professionals who don’t belong to NAR. Similarly, the terms “agent,” “sales associate,” “broker”...Read More
Standard for Buyer’s Walk-Through Inspection “Buyer has the right to a walk-through review of the property prior to closing to establish that the property is in substantially the same condition as of the date of this Purchase Agreement.” –Minnesota residential Purchase Agreement; lines 358. – 360. “I know it when I see it.” —United States...Read More
Nesting Instinct It’s not just would-be Buyers who are tirelessly searching for a home this Fall, before the arrival of colder temps and harsher weather. So are critters (and insects, if that’s a separate category). The list includes bees, wasps, mice, squirrels, & raccoons (a few years ago in the Twin Cities, it was even...Read More
Right Message, Wrong Messenger “Pick you up from school?!? When I was your age, nobody picked me up from school. I had to take two city buses, wait in the cold for a transfer, and sit in traffic for an hour to get home from school.” –Overheard at the Kaplan kitchen table around 7:30 a.m....Read More
Homes with “Great Personalities” & Other White Lies [Editor’s Note: While I do my best to avoid such euphemisms in my own capacity as a listing agent (representing Sellers), let me offer two (sort of) defenses on behalf of Realtors who are less circumspect: 1) beauty is frequently in the eye of the beholder, i.e.,...Read More
