“Virtual” vs. “Analog” (In-Person) Showings I certainly understand the temptation — in a worsening Pandemic — to substitute a virtual home tour for the real thing.** But, prospective Buyers should be aware that there are some critical limitations. Here’s my “Top Ten” list of things that are difficult (if not impossible) to detect online: One....Read More

BP Gas Station at Lake & Excelsior to Become Hotel-and-Condo “Elevage Development Group’s revised plan for a hotel-and-condo building at Lake & Excelsior calls for a taller, slimmer structure and wider sidewalks . . . in early July, Hennepin County will start tearing down the BP gas station standing on the triangular site.” –“Lake Street...Read More

Better Than Blueprints:  The “Jumping-Up-and-Down” Test One of the issues that can come up for downsizers moving from a single-family home to multi-family housing (condo or townhome) is privacy — specifically, noise. I don’t know about townhomes (see below), but I do know a surefire, albeit not-so-scientific way to test how quiet a given condo...Read More