Is an “alcove apartment” easier to rent than a “studio?” Apparently, at least one Twin Cities developer seems to think so. So far, the term only seems to be a feature of the rental market: out of almost 1,000 condo’s currently for sale on the local (NorthStar) MLS, only five use the term — and...Read More
Overheated Housing Market Prompts MLS Rule Changes [Note to Readers: 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.] Combine an overheated housing market with seemingly zero inventory, rampant multiple offers, and...Read More
“The Home Showing Honor System” COVID-19: Due to nationwide concerns about COVID-19 and as a courtesy to home sellers, please do not schedule showings if the buyer’s agent or buyer exhibits cold/flu-like symptoms or meets any of the criteria for self-quarantine mandated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By proceeding with scheduling a showing,...Read More
Trying to Keep the Playing Field Level “As you are no doubt aware, allowing a showing on your listing while it is in TNAS (Temporarily Not Available for Showing) status is a NorthstarMLS rule violation. We have changed the fine for this violation to the List Agent from $100 to $1,000. This reflects its more...Read More
Real Estate Acronyms 101 Thrown by an unfamiliar acronym, I just got off the phone with Northstar MLS, who helpfully cleared things up. It turns out that “C-SOAP” stands for “Contingent on the Sale of Another Property.” The status isn’t new, just the acronym (in the last month, in fact). MLS Status So, “C-SOAP” refers...Read More